Shielding is being paused in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland from Saturday, 1st August 2020 (in Wales it will be 17th August).
You may still be at risk of severe illness if you catch coronavirus, so stay at home as much as you can and continue to take precautions when you do go out.
We are working on updates to our guidance, which will be published next week - lupusuk.org.uk/coronavirus/
Hi, thanks for the information Paul. Unfortunately it's going to be very hard for some folk to stay at home due to work obligations. I'm an agency nurse, and now that shielding is paused, my company will no longer furlough, no doubt because they've now been asked to contribute. Personally I'm not going back just now but some of my shielding colleagues have no choice
Hi CarolMcl . Sadly we are aware that some people will be pressured into returning to an unsafe workplace. The petition we circulated recently calling on the Government to extend the furlough scheme for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable has received over 10,000 signatures and we are awaiting a response from officials.
In the meantime, we have this article with some guidance available - lupusuk.org.uk/covid19-work/
Thanks Paul, appreciate all your help
Hi Paul, unfortunately I can’t use Facebook for secure reasons so I can’t join the Lupus group.
There are so many questions I would like to ask as my Hospital , UCLH, really don’t go into the do’s & don't etc.... Being on here has been great but as you know everyone is different.
Last week I had a telephone consultation with the dermatologist (they was not the doctor I usually see), so when I received the copy of the consultation, it was the totally the opposite or what was discussed. Also the misspelling was appalling. I’ve had Lupus for a year, but it’s no way under control, the creams & lotions they have prescribed makes my skin worse. So I really can’t go out (in my garden), even if the UV is 1-2 I flare up.
Because I have Lupus, APS, Under active thyroid, Liver failure etc, I’ve been on lockdown from day 1. My GP & some of my consultants said that I should be ok, but some consultants told me to stay in.
Now I’m totally confused.....
Sorry I’ve go on but I wanted to give a wider picture.
What do you think I should do? It is low for the virus where I live......
Regards
Teanna
Hi Teanna.ive been shielding since day 1 due to the immunosuppressants I take.the advice given to me by my hcps is stay at home as much as possible but if I do go out protect myself as much as I can.i will have to go out at some point but I'm limiting it to things i really need like bread or milk.i bought full ppe which i keep in the car and will go into a shop wearing all of it.im going to continue to keep my distance from family and friends.stay safe x
Hi, thanks for replying... the PPE are given to me free from Islington council. So I’m pretty lucky.. but I need a bit of air (if u know what I mean). But it does scare me when people take it for granted and don’t wear a mask etc, that really bugs me & being wheelchair bound too, (even before Covid) your treated as a burden to most of the teens & early 20’s, and the girls can be worse..... As I said, I need air and to see another human being..
Thanks again, Keep safe
Teannna
Hi Teanna ,
I'm sorry to hear about the negative experience at your recent appointment and the conflicting guidance you've been given.
From tomorrow, 1st August, shielding will be paused in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, it doesn't mean that you necessarily have to change the measures you've been taking for the past few months. I'm not medically qualified and therefore cannot tell you what risk category you may belong in. It is a very personal decision about what you will feel safe and comfortable doing over the coming weeks.
Thanks Paul, Rather worryingly yesterday had highest cases for more than a month!
I’ve had to start work again last 2 weeks... As I’m self employed and hubby can’t do everything in our shop, so it’s screens and sanitation at the ready 😱 not braved supermarkets yet!
I’m so confused by the PM’s briefing. Lots of tomorrow’s changes not happening now, but what are shielded meant to do? Is the pause in shielding going ahead still????
Hi Cathyan ,
Shielding is still scheduled to be paused from tomorrow in England. Some of the other restriction easing has been postponed for two weeks, but shielding hasn't changed. We don't understand the rationale for this and will be calling for a more detailed explanation next week.
Thank you Paul, that’s helpful to hear the Lupus UK view. I hope the shielding community will get a more nuanced response next week then. Best wishes and thanks for all you do on our behalf.
