so how does everyone feel about the easing of lockdown for people shielding?
I personally feel that I won’t be changing anything I am doing now.... the scientists are saying the government are lifting lockdown too soon for the general public so how can they think it’s ok for people shielding to meet one person from outside their household. The virus hasn’t gone away it’s still here so I feel this is not safe for people shielding. We are still having 8,000 infected cases a day.... what do you all think?
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Dazakella2010
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I think it’s a valid question. I checked world meters the daily UK rate is between 1.5k and 2k The German daily rate is around 700 but the population is larger. Germany had no shielding for the vulnerable just general advice
I live in Berlin our city daily rate is 30 out of 3 million so that is low.
Everything here is open including schools gyms restaurants beer gardens etc
I try to avoid crowds and public transport
I wear a mask in shops. I meet a few friends but social distance as best l can
I haven’t eaten out yet but will do as it seems safe. Desperate for some good Thai food . No infections have been reported in Restaurants here yet! This virus maybe around for years if they do not find a vaccine. Who knows? We all have to find a way to live with it and the right time to adapt.
Which is great! Hopefully that low rate will be replicated across the UK. So far here it’s holding despite many no longer observing rules. Track and trace is key and managing clusters
I will be carrying on as I am now going out for a walk once a day, when it is quiet. Not been out for any reason other than that and no intention of changing at the present time.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels like this.... of course I want to go out but when it’s safe.... as you I have been going for a walk when it’s quiet.
I’m not even allowed to go out to have my blood done I have been having it done at home. We are still at threat stage 4.... how can they be making all these decisions??
Any medication that I need has been delivered to my home and I have already been informed that my next appointment with my Consultant, towards the end of July, will be a telephone consultation.
I am really lucky in that I am able to work from home and have an understanding employer. Hopefully I can continue on the same basis until the daily infection rate is far lower and generally under control.
Yes I was surprised at this news today as like you I have been shielding since early March and likewise on advice at the time of my consultant have done a daily walk with dog which was on the proviso that I did it early morning when no one around which I have been doing at 5am daily me and woofer walk the local roads very quiet no people at all. Will I be changing tomorrow - no keep doing that and what advice of consultants in due course to this latest. It is nice shielded now being mentioned by government in the daily update and some recognition of what's it taken to do it (and I know charities been fighting our corner on that) but I will be glad to see consultants reaction before any more done by me much as I would love, as I live alone, to meet up with someone else - but surely strange just as all the "someone else's" are interacting with so many others is that not more of a risk ?? Who knows!!
Yes I thought about that and as said on the recent webinars our own consultants advice is the best one as personal for us and also our own decisions knowing our situation so as to decide risk over benefit - I have been so fortunate from the start as I am under such a good team who from the start said yes you need to be in that clinically vulnerable group, put it in a letter straight away to confirm but also agreed for me no harm in a early morning walk as above, in fact both physically and mentally that would do me good (it has!!) so I feel grateful for good direction on a personal level from the start. I hope this latest announcement doesn't leave more confusion for all! All the best
Sceptical. Not sure I have any faith now in the current government and it’s directions. Seemed to have lost its way since Boris rather premature Sunday press conference a few weeks ago. I really think people are not quite sure of the rules anymore and it seems many are back to normal eg look at the beaches. I’m going to do as I have been - walking dog and having a friend sit in the garden every now and then. Take care Jx
Well, like you I will not be changing my behaviour much. But then again, I have been taking the guidlines as just that -advisory rather than compulsory - I certainly don't want to put anybody else at risk but given that vaccine development seems painfully slow I'm not going to be a total hermit for ever!
My view is that this virus is with us and we are going to have to adjust to it carefully, and we in this community know better than most how to be careful with our health.
The 8000 cases a day figure is based on a survey sample of 885 people so I treat this with some caution!
Rabb was doing an interview this morning and in so many words he said they do listen to the scientists but they make their own decisions at the end of the day. We are still on treat level 4... which states “current social distancing measures and restrictions” why are they lifting the lockdown when we haven’t even moved onto stage 3.... they have said Over the last 3 weeks we are moving into 3.... this has not happened.... they seem to say things are not going to happen until certain criteria’s are met but when they are not met they lift the lockdown anyway..... the whole pandemic has not been handled very well at all and I hope an investigation into this will happen Once this is finally all over.
As for the beaches, I live near Southend beach, this have been over the news and I can tell you it was disgusting.... hundreds and hundreds of people gathering, no social distancing at all.... people walking round like nothing was happening.... no one would think nearly 39,000 people I’ve lost their lives!
There will be a second wave we can all see that coming!
Definitely think it's far too soon! Why send us all letters stating we must shield till 30th June then suddenly go against the scientists advice and tell us we can go out when the statistics are still very bad. I most certainly won't be going out for a while yet and will keep isolating.
Very well stated. I quite agree, that all we would all love to get out and about again. i am sure the more time given to see how the viral transmission rate goes, the better. Its hard to be patient but i ma sure we can just wait a bit longer to keep our distance a while and look after ourselves and others.
It’s to distract us from the DC saga! Thursday at Covid -19 update Boris said we would have to remain shielding until the end of June and he hadn’t forgotten about us ! He understood how we all must be feeling Friday he was considering opening pubs. That was obviously squashed as being to soon! So it’s back to us! That’s the way I see it.
I agree it is all very sudden. I shall continue going for a walk most days, when it is not busy. I certainly won’t be going to any beaches or popular tourist places. Any people I have seen have stuck to the social distance guidelines.
I must admit I think there could be a second wave, so we need to take care.
When I last saw my haematologist I mentioned how much I was missing my walks with the dog. She said she thought if I went out at a quiet time, masked and practising social distancing I should be ok. I began today by getting up and going out with our cavapoo Molly at 5.20am. We are fortunate in having a nature park adjacent to our estate. I walked her there and saw only birds. On the way back there were two other dog walkers who crossed the road to avoid passing us. I hope to continue doing this in the early hours when only dedicated dog walkers are likely to be out. I have shielded up until now and this crack of sparrowfarts walk will be the only outing I will have for the time being.
I for one will be staying put, I think it is to soon to say when this second wave is going to happen although judging by recent pictures in news not as far away as we might think. My kids will not be going back to school yet ( year 10 & 12) even the teachers they have spoken too are apprehensive about going back.
This lockdown easing in England at least is a complete shambles. What precisely changed from Sunday to Monday that inspired the government to abandon the shielding advice that was supposed to be in place for at least another month? If we should all make informed decisions based on scientific evidence then please give us the evidence.
We’re in no hurry to go off anywhere. Though it’s getting tougher and more challenging as lockdown restrictions ease. The youngest has an orthodontist appointment on Tuesday. Probably safer than a walk in the park. 🙂
We're supposed to be shielding until June 30th and it's not up to the government to change this. We are shielding for a good reason, and it's not supposed to be punishment. I think it's because of the "one size fits all" version, where most shielders cannot go out of the door, that the restriction is being lifted. I've been out for walks and I've been to the hospital. I have a friend who is also shielding and has recently had surgery. When she feels better, I hope we will meet, but we won't be able to share a coffee or lunch. After all, neither of us has been in contact with anyone with the virus, so the danger can exist only in places where there are other people and possibly contaminated surfaces. I don't think we will rush to meet; the new recommendation will allow family members to meet up without a pane of glass between them, so long as they don't have to travel far.
I think for everyone else to be able to meet up with five others will be open to abuse and second wavery.
It would be nice if the government would say something to show they have really thought about all of this.
I think the government have lost the confidence and respect of the population and have very cleverly handed all of us (personally and in business) the responsibility of the direction that the country will now head in.
They are fully aware that people all over are breaking the advice that they have given and at least they can now hold their hands up and say “we did advise you”
It is down to us now as individuals, most people are respecting each other and are being responsible, however there are some that have no respect for the consequences of their actions, I have found that when I have taken my dog for a walk most people social distance, there are still a lot of people who don’t seem to care.
For this reason, I who was asked to social distance till 30th June will still be doing this, I don’t want to take the risk myself. I do believe they have relaxed lockdown to early and there will probably be a second wave, I don’t trust what the government tell us so will be using my common sense!
I don’t believe much has changed since the start of this apart from the fact that the NHS could potentially now handle another wave of it, we are the number one country in Europe for highest number of deaths per million people and we had the worst delayed reaction from our government, and this morning I heard that when people were being tested (nose swab & throat swab) this could have been counted as 2 tests! So the numbers that they told us could have potentially been completely inaccurate.
I think it depends on where you live, as risk of exposure varies quite widely. It is also a matter of your own individual health profile. Looking at how your MPN and medications affect your individual risk is also an important issue. Finally, it also depends on your own level of risk-tolerance. We each have our own approach to this and there is no right or wrong answer, just what is right for you. Hopefully it can stay a matter of individual choice. Unfortunately, some people do not have a choice. They have to be able to support themselves, get access to essentials, and perform necessary tasks.
Fo myself - I am out and about as needed. Not hopping on an airplane anytime soon, but I am doing what I need to do - carefully. My plan is to be careful, but I refuse to live in fear. I did eat out a a restaurant last night where they we being very careful and keeping diners spaced out, staff wearing masks, and cleaning up after each diner. It was really great!
The gov. only talks in numbers. Have you noticed? I won’t be changing my routines until the hospital that told me to shield (Guy’s) suggests I can lighten up/lower my shield. I suspect the haematologists know more about MPNs than any of the 80 members of SAGE. Just as important, they are the ones who know me and my MPN’s peculiarities.
Agree.... how can they say EVERYBODY!! They don’t know peoples history and how it could affect them.... I don’t trust the government I’m afraid and I have come to the conclusion they do things to take the public’s eye off of other things....
Well, having read all the above reaction s from my MPN family I’m sorry to say that, like many of you I am completely confused.
I know if I were retired and comfortable I would continue shielding with occasional outdoor exercise .
As someone who is self employed I have to consider going back to work to earn a living.
The problem I have is meeting customers scares the life out of me. Colleagues carrying out the same duties as me have said that the majority of people they deal with do not wear masks and gloves or recognise that social distancing is still necessary. In short many simply don’t follow the rules and guidelines.
I really am at my whits end with the whole thing and certainly wouldn’t feel safe going back to work.
On the other hand, if I leave it much longer I may have a job to go back to!
So sorry to hear your dilemma. As a self-employed person you are in a really difficult place. All I can say is that today I was advised by the hospital to stay shielding until the Covid-19 cases are very stable. This is unlikely to be before the end of June. Each of us is different and we come from many places. Why not get some expert health advice too. With every good wish.
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