My husband had the letter. He hasn’t left the house in 5 weeks and I haven’t in 3. We now have separate bedrooms and use separate towels , clean everything that comes into house etc. I have just been informed by our surgery that we still should be isolating within house and he should stay in one room. I’m in melt down... I thought quitting work and also self isolating would be ok... apparently not😭. Why can’t you shield a whole household?
What’s the reason?
I am high risk but in the us. My family has been at home without leaving together for almost a month now. My town shut down on March 9th. We are living together for none of us have aquired the virus. We eat together, watch tv together and go in our yard and for walks as a unit as approved by my doctors.
Ironically I am the only breach in our self isolation for I need weekly blood tests. I also might need to shop soon. I was having good luck with online but now all spots are closed and the system crashes. I would be surprised if your delivery systems will also crash soon :(.
Glad your all together. Keep safe
You might want to ask your GP but if none of you have left the house for three weeks and no one has to you should be able to interact within the house.
I totally agree. Why do you feel you need to stay away from each other? If you’ve all been in for over two weeks and no one has shown symptoms, then you should be clear to be around each other.
Agree with Brook - my family and I have been under the shield for 3 weeks as I am on steroids for and no one has yielded any symptoms. We eat together, play together, chill together. My husband goes off the premises for an essential trip once a week to collect prescriptions and bits of shopping and completely sanitises when he gets back. (He takes a shower, his clothes go in the wash). Everything else gets delivered and all items get wiped with sanitiser spray. We are meticulous in our regime. Hopefully your GP will provide some guidance.
We did the same. I isolated within the house for 2 weeks. No one else went out at all. After 2 weeks no one had any symptoms so we are all living in the house together. No one will be going out for as long as possible and luckily we’ve got people who can deliver food. I can’t see the harm in this.
We are the same. Creates a bit of sanity and my specialist said this was reasonable.
Hi, I am shielding for 12 weeks. My hubby is working still, but in isolation, 1 son home as school closed, but my eldest is a manager at a supermarket. We don't have enough rooms for separate beds. Currently I am OCD cleaning surfaces etc twice a day with disinfectant, and we are maintaining distancing as far as possible. I wipe over shopping that comes in too. When my son comes home he goes straight to his room, strips, showers, changes, clothes go in the wash and he again washes his hands after doing this. Then we sit opposite ends of the living room or I go upstairs to watch TV. Everytime anyone washes their hands they lather over and rinse the taps. Everyone has their own towels. I am trying to behave as I would, plus a bit, if they all had a diarrhoea bug ! Cleanliness, good hygiene, and distance. Living in a separate room on my own is not an option either space or sanity wise so we are doing our best this way.
Hi I think the guidelines are there for a reason but if you are all doing the right hand washing and cleaning of surfaces as
Well as clothes stripping and washing I would say separate rooms is up to you and I f as a family again is up to you if you are happy that no one is contaminated .
It is about being sensible and if seperate rooms
Is a step too far and making things worse for all
Of you than decide as a family what you feel comfortable with. It really depends on who is the at risk person and how they feel .
The guidelines are for maximum protection and not as easy to live with for long periods it is more about health and also peace of mind .
I am shielding too Cancer op and Lupus SLE so immunosuppressed and now taking Thyroxine for life and immunosuppressants . We are isolating from outside world but happy to share our space Indoors as we know we are doing the strict hand washing etc and no one else comes into the home.
Ultimately is a risk to weigh up between yourselves . Stay safe and ride the storm we’re in this together ! 🙏🏻❤️
Practice nurse just called - 3 days later. She now says yes I can stay in same room as my husband .. phew. Not sure if she realised how much upset she caused...
Self Isolating + Family Members
Support for people who are self-isolating and shielding from coronavirus (COVID-19)
Shielding 
Looking for advice please, what does everyone think
Government Guidelines 
