For all of us who are shielding at this challenging time. Can someone give me an idea of what happens after lockdown is lifted. Do we stay locked away until there is a vaccine available ??
Just heard a cheery soul on the news saying he thinks we will have to except Covid 19 as part of our daily lives comparing it to cancer....that is a scary thought for someone with low immune system.
I know. Some light at the end of this very long tunnel would be good right now.
If they say to wait for vaccine that could be a year away I dont want to stay away from my family & friends for that long.
Somebody give us an answer !!
Unfortunately as somebody here has already said If anyone could give us the answer ....he/she would be awarded the Nobel Prize.
Do you really think if our Government had answers they are not giving to us - our Prime Minister would have become so ill?
The Government do know we need answers...but it’s the right answers we want...not Pie in the Sky hopes.
Ordinary people in Laboratories all over the world are working extremely hard to find an answer & they are acutely aware that in the past acceptable vaccines have taken years to perfect. They all have families they want to protect ASAP too......they aren’t faceless robots.
I am sure scientists will be speaking with doctors & some sort of compromise will be settled on.......but I doubt it can happen tomorrow.
If the tests that are starting today are successful, there will be some idea of what % people are testing positive & the statisticians will be able to give forecasts to the decision makers on how soon the rules can be relaxed.
I do know it is very upsetting.....I‘m elderly & live alone & it is very difficult not to be able to have visitors or go out to socialise.....but I don’t want to catch this virus.......so I am forcing myself to find things to do to occupy myself.
I understand everything you're saying but your rant isn't helping sometimes people need to state the obvious just listen and be kind. Thsnk you for your common sense xx
It wasn’t a rant Pasjc.....it was just the plain old truth....if a bit longwinded .....& from looking above 14 people agree with me.....so I can’t be that far off base. If you read all the posts I think that will make my reply clearer.
If I should happen to test positive...I certainly would not want to infect anybody by being out & about too soon.....or worse still be infected by someone if Shielding/Isolation is softened too soon.
I am sure most people feel that way.
Unfortunately although the best scientific brains are looking for a solution....until they find it....we wait.
👍 I totally understand what you're saying Pasjc I felt it was more of a lecture than a rant. I know that nothing is going to change anytime soon but a bit of hope would be nice.
Totally get AgedCrones comments as well just think could of softened it a little
If anyone can think of an easy solution I think they'd get a Nobel Prize, its a sad fact that no one knows and I do think we are in until a vaccine or herd immunity happens.
I like everyone else misses the friends and family too but aren't we luck with technology we can still communicate easily. Just look at the stats for the 1918 epidemic of Spanish flu over 18 million died and no NHS or ICU you just lived or died ! Whole families wiped out in days. So yes it's hard, but no government can give false hope or afford to keep the lockdown going for ever. I believe its going to be a long slow process and we have to be patient and do our bit and stay safe.
Absolutley , lockdown is hard, but I'd rather be in lockdown for a while longer than be dead, or have dead /ill family and friends. So plod on for now and see what happens.
I just think every morning count your blessings. Then think of jobs to keep husband busy as he can't escape to play golf. Next is tidy the hedge and clean BBQ as going to be nice this weekend. A friend dropped through the porch a huge back of fresh asparagus. That really is lovely, looking forward to that tomorrow. I've made some (like dozens ) of scones and fairy cakes for elderly friends, so people are helping each other and it does really make me feel so lucky that I can help pass around good cheer. Luckily I had flour and sugar in the cupboard get eggs for nothing and like the smile that goes around the world so does a good turn.
Totally agree with you all but I can't get a reassuring hug from my mother through a screen or a kiss to say it's ok to feel low sometimes ,especially when you live on your own as I do.
Don't get me wrong I'm coping pretty well with this lockdown but when you get time to think it's just nice if we could have something good to think of on the horizon.
Take care Stay Safe
I know I've a four month old granddaughter and a son in London helping the NHS and yes just want to give them a hug and the DIL of course too. And really miss them, but we all are in the same boat these days. I'm happy to wait if it means that Lockdown ends in parts and it protects the NHS. It's the unknown really and so I try not to think about it too much. This is a hug from someone else's mum(me) to you.xxx
Aww that's so nice Medway-lady. Thank you.
You must be a very proud mum with a son working for NHS.
Thank you x
I have a question. How was the Spanish flu in 1918 eradicated? I know there weren't antibiotics. Did it just die out? I know all about the flu and how many people it killed, including my own auntie who died at 7 years old with it, There were 8 other people living in a two bedroomed house but no-one else got it. All very strange. x
I really don't know but understand that Spanish Flu was still a concern in the UK up to the 1950s.
Viruses mutate regularly, hence the yearly scrabble to develop an appropriate vaccine for the likely winter strains.
I expect today's population will have some immunity too.
I've also read that Spanish Flu was a precursor to what we might now call avain flu.
In truth the 1918 Spanish flu killed over a 100 million worldwide that was a third of the worlds population at that time
Yup my family on my dads side have been in this village since the 14c and the graves line up whole family of parents and 4 children died in a matter of days would have been my great great uncle. I do think in part they were all weak from WW1 and lived in very cramped housing. We're lucky as don't live like that but still some do and might be a reason so many cities have been hit so hard.
We just carry on being sensible.
There is nothing else to do until a suitable reliable vaccine is found.....so we must get on with living our lives the best we can....there is nothing to be gained from worrying about when the advice will change.
I’m sure as time goes on, the way rheumatology advice is given may be levelled off ....after all....this is an unknown one off situation....so the advice given now is for worst case scenario. The more doctors know about this virus the better they will be able to moderate their advice.
Maybe Shielding for all except those really seriously compromised, like transplant patients & people receiving high powered chemotherapy will be less onerous.
We will just have to be patient & hope our situation isn’t as risky as it is now thought to be.
However, like everything with RA what will be possible for one .....will not be suitable for another.
The number of infections and deaths may be decreasing , but this virus ain't going nowhere and neither am I until a proven vaccine is available.
One of the reasons for shielding is to make sure there is hospital capacity to treat people as if people can be treated then this is probably no more fatal than the flu.
So if the peak passes then the numbers of cases will be more reasonable so I agree with AC and imagine they will relax shielding for all but the very compromised people. We will probably still need to practice fairly strict social distancing for some time to come, but not the level it is at present.
Somehow we will have to learn to live with it, and change behaviours if need be to suit.
Yes, there has to be some opening up as people cannot shield indefinitely until a vaccine is produced, that is assuming one is forthcoming. Some decisions might need to be made regarding acceptable personal risk.
I think much longer than a few months, but the guidance will most probably change as we progress our knowledge.
I think you might have misunderstood.
When the vaccine which started being tested today appears to be effective & safe it will be have to be given to all front line NHS workers & care home staff & then thé priority will have to be getting people back to work in key industries.
That is unlikely to happen this side of Christmas.
Another question, is will tests have to be carried out before it is given to people with underlying health problems. ...how much more research will be needed?
It’s really best not to get hopes up about imminent vaccines for all.
Good they are trying something and that’s hopefully Better than not trying anything even if it’s going to take some time to prove it’s efficacy and safety.
I suppose much depends on how vunerable someone is. From what I can make out there are people in the shielded group more vunerable than others, so obviously it will be more dangerous for some people to venture outdoors. Unfortunately I class myself as extremely vunerable so as I said in my previous post...I ain't going nowhere until a proven vaccine is available! Who knows, in a couple of months time the government or whoever might come out and say that things have improved and the risk is much lower for people like me than it was, but if someone did tell me that, then unless some sort of miracle had occured, I simply would not believe them. So it looks like I'm stuck in self isolation for the forseeable future. It's my wife I feel sorry for as she would not qualify for the shielded group yet is self isolating with me, plus she's more of a socialite than me so finds it tougher going.
I also think that as time goes on there will be much better knowledge about who is and isn’t vulnerable. At the moment they are just making educated guesses about which groups of people should be protected more than others.
It seems clear already that people with lung problems are at a greater risk. However I wouldn’t be that surprised if it turned out that we’re not! (I am an eternal optimist of course!!)
I'm desperately trying to get my daily prednisolone down, so perhaps can move out of the shielding group and have some protection from tocilizumab too !
I'm forever hopeful too 😉🤞
This is the difference between shielding and self isolating. I'm afraid that those of us that are shielding need to weigh up the not inconsiderable risk . The prospect of dying in hospital without being able to say goodbye to my family is enough to make me stay safe at home.
I don't think it will be safe to go out until we get a vaccine .........or a cure.
I think in general the answer to your question is how long is a piece of string? At this moment in time we simply do not know and I'm not sure those in charge could tell us with confidence too. We can't change what has been done and we can't know what is to come, so I'm afraid until there is some clarity or answer, I am just taking each day as it comes.....and going with my feelings as I know it isn't easy, but here and now is all I've got. So I'm shaking those tail feathers of mine and doing the best I can till the time comes when we can all be together and doing the simple things in life again. Keep strong and have hope x
Hi. It is very scary. I am shielding and have said from the start that I won't be going anywhere again unless I can be promised that a vaccine is 100% effective and I have been given the jab. In my more lucid moments I realise that this is not realistic. It's a bit like telling your children they are grounded for 1 month. It's not going to happen is it? I think realistically that our lives will never be the same again and we will just have to adjust the way we behave with people. I am a very 'huggy' person but I will never be so free with hugs in the future. I will be reserving my hugs for family only. It is sad but probably quite sensible anyway as lots of bugs and viruses must be passed on this way. Stay safe. x
I’m not holding my breath for a vaccine - how long has it been that they’ve been trying to find a vaccine for the coronavirus that causes the common cold??
I’m banking on better knowledge about how to treat it so that it rarely becomes life threatening.
It’s difficult isn’t it. I’m such a people person and haven’t seen a single human in three weeks now. I know I cannot go on for long like this.
When I heard the possibility of being isolated for a year, I went into a meltdown. For me personally and I know we’re all different, it wouldn’t be a life and there would be no point trying to convince myself otherwise. I would probably take my chances as isolation would be worse than not being here at all. Sorry, that’s horribly negative. One thing I’ve found out, I definitely couldn’t be a hermit 😊
If, in due course you do decide to venture into the great wide open then at least be sure to wear a proper FFP3 face mask, that's if you can find one.
I'm five weeks almost six weeks in, live alone and haven't seen a soul apart from the postie and a few delivery men. I think because we are naturally social creatures and it is hard for us to be starved of the very thing we need, but at this moment in time the thing we need (human interaction) could be the thing that has the potential to harm us. Not a thought we want to contemplate but for the meantime this is something we have to come to terms with and try as we might to stay focused. It is so hard and no one can tell what impact this will have on us not only physically but emotionally and mentally too should this go on for some time. That's why I am trying to live in the moment and not allow myself to think too far ahead. Take care and sending my best wishes to you. x
Well life is a series of risks as we know. Recently had a long lasting flare that I needed a steroid injection for, and now also follow up with oral steroid for 4 weeks.
In my discussions with the RA nurse we discussed my vulnerabilty state., which it turned out was quite low but increased by having a flare and the subsequent steroid medication.
So once my RA stablises I know I am at less risk.
Whereas my daughter-in-law is in a high risk group with a different health issue.
So although I maybe able to start going out to places not possible now, probably won't so I can continue contact with the family and not be a cause of concern to my daughter-in-law.
Expect for ones like her a vaccine is going to be the only solution.
Guess we'll all need to weigh up out own risk issues as well as ones near and dear to us, and make as informed as possible decision about this situation.
Chins up 
My situation is impossible really. We are abroad and stuck, small island airport and harbour closed . But all family are in England and can only see them on zoom, 1 son has set it up for us all and we miss them badly. We haven't seen them since early December as we were due back just before lockdown and being on mxt I was too nervous to fly then. Sorry to rant but just needed to get it off my chest. Hope everyone is as well as you can be.
Rant away, I can't imagine how this must feel for you so hope you are keeping as well as can be in the circumstances. Take care and sending some supportive wishes to you.
Hoorah, a cure is on the horizon!...President Trump has announced a new disinfectant vaccine for the lungs! It's all sorted the UK will use Domestos though it is being said that Germany is going with Dettol. Anyway, the government just needs to sort out a contract with local UK companies and bob's your uncle! Three cheers for President Trump ... hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip groan........................ 
I heard him on the news this morning, isn’t he just the best president they’ve ever had 😐
Yeah I went out and threw dettol all over me and sat in the sun as The President said it, it must be true!
He does give us the daily laugh. American hubby is so cynical about heads of state anyway and this just makes him show he is right on so many counts!
I wonder if that's why he's so orange, he has been using eau de disinfectant all these years and not telling us the secret. I'm afraid if Dettols the answer then that's me scuppered as I'm allergic to it! Think I may just wait for a vaccine then 
I prefer Zoflora myself😊
Me too but I wont be ingesting or injecting myself with Fresh Linen, Lavender or Spring Bouquet any time soon! 
Please do not listen to Mr. Trump and do not use any forms of disinfectant other than to wipe your surfaces/ floors down. He is not medically qualified to say these things, as equally I am not but I know you don't drink or inject it.
Absolutely bonkers!I cant believe even he would say something as stupid as that.
No one knows what will happen after lock down. My guess is this virus will change the way we live for a long time to come. Just because you have low immunity doesn't make you more at risk than anyone else.
I think if your immune system is low your at more risk of not being able to fight it than a "healthy" person plus you pick up bugs viruses etc much easier than anyone else.
With Covid 19 it may be an advantage to being immuno suppressed as its the immune systems response to the virus that determines how serious your symptoms are. They just don't know enough about it yet. I don't think people who are immunosuppressive are on the at risk group.
My daughter is neutropenic and therefore has almost no immunity and she never received a letter saying she was anymore at risk than anyone else.
I would of thought anyone with a low immune system would be at risk. Can't understand why your daughter never received a letter.
Hope she's well.
Hi, in truth no one can answer your question as nobody knows the answer; the government are just as much in the dark as we all are; it is like asking when will the world end? nobody really knows but life as it was will be different from now on and I am sorry to say that people need to realise that this will not be the last pandemic; five years ago Bill Gates told the world that this was coming and nobody wanted to know; make the most of what you have now xx
I got very upset the other day when I heard that shielding might have to continue until a vaccine is found.And now this comparison to cancer.I dont think this was a helpful comment at a time when we need hope and positivity.I rarely watch the news now as its so gloom and doom.I 'll resist the temptation to go on an anti -media rant😊
I know shielding is advisory but there's no way I want to put myself or others at risk. It's a hard slog but I try to be positive as much as possible.
It is hard to know that we may be in the shielding group for a long time, but that is the way it is and we just have to make the best of it. Personally at the moment I am trying to do all the jobs that I have said I would do when I had time. Some have been waiting for years. I don't think I will ever run out of ideas. I am also enjoying sitting in the garden when the weather is nice, so that I get some time outside. I do miss hugs from my husband and son a lot but have to be sensible.
Last year we couldn't have a holiday because I was waiting for a major operation. The year before we couldn't because we were having an extension built, so we had planned to have several holidays this year, but now of course we can't and goodness knows when it will be safe to do so. We had booked a cruise and would have actually have been going on it today, but when I think of the people in hospital gasping for breath and people who have lost loved ones, I know I am lucky.
I too have loads of jobs to do -most of the rooms need decorating.I have resigned myself to the fact that we won't be able to go to Italy this year and will miss our friends there but hopefully next year....like you I know I am lucky.
Hey I haven't read the replies but I have heard even when lock down is lifted those that are in a high risk should really stay home till the virus eventually goes away. Which ok there are no guarantees it will and gotta take things one day at a time but this is just what I have been told by a few people in the medical industry. Lol in regards to the vaccine I think it is important for people to do there own research before taking anything because my main question is if this vaccine will just treat covid 19 or are they aiming to find a vaccine for every type of corona strain. Don't mean common cold and I know It won't happen but those who are taking part in vaccines trials will goverment ever be honest about the amount of people who might end up with side effects or passing away from these trials, doubt it. Take care stay safe. :))
Virus isn't going away. We have to stop it. We will all have to practise social distancing for as long as it takes.
Of course everyone needs to stay away but for me personally I am very positive this strain of Corona will go away, take good care, stay safe.
How are you positive it will go away? Where and how will it go? Just wondering how you can be so sure. I hope you are right.
I just always want to be as positive as I can about things but I do have a science background etc etc, take good care best go to bed
If being positive is all it would take then the virus would be under control by now. I'm still wondering where the virus will go and guess what I've just woken up and still think the same.
Have a lovely day!
if you want look at hong kong, see how they dealt with the virus first time around, long story short the public took control, dealt with SARS knew they had to go into isolation etc etc, only new virus cases were coming in from Europe, they have had a second wave but if you look there is a prob an explanation as to why it happened but the country is proof, three months later no new cases from people living in the city. People are unfortunately spreading this virus, you have a great day and take good care.
It's not clear at all, is it!
There could be more information to come about those who are asymptomatic. My fingers are crossed that I'm in this group and, without actually knowing it, I've already had the virus. Once mass testing for antibodies gets underway, we will then know if we are safe to start wondering about again.
Then again, this test could come back negative, so staying home will be the only option. It'll be doubly hard to carry on like this when quite a significant number of folk are out n about enjoying life to the max.
Maybe they'll allow folk like us to meet up - at a virus free venue, but this assumes we will have developed some sort of virus in the air/on surfaces detector (I'm thinking along the lines of how blood splatters are detected using light or like cancer patients can be spotted by dogs). Is this far fetched?
The thought of spending another year indoors I can maybe cope with, at a pinch, but what if the virus mutates, and we never catch up with it to find a fool proof vaccine?
Or maybe the government could put aside a lovely island somewhere for us all? Are there any spare?!
Enough - too much over thinking.
L
You do make some valid points and I know tons of people saying most of us will be working from home till the end of the year but even though I might not be a dr and nothing is certain I am really am hopeful this strain of corona will go away. For me personally I am just hoping and praying goverment's can work together to make sure we don't get hit by another strain in the future. Who knows if they are really thinking about things like banning these animal markets but even with things like anti body testing etc can they find a vaccine to treat all these different Corona strains. Lol there isn't a vaccine to treat all these different type of flu's but gotta hope for the best.
We are looking equally at risk of catching this virus. Not sure what you mean by "people like us".
Unless you have one of the underlying diseases mentioned you are not at any more risk because you have arthritis and take meds. You would know as you would have received a letter saying you are more at risk than healthy people.
I'm sure immunosuppressed was on the at risk list.
My meds like many on here lower my immune system.
I was advised to shield and received a letter
Really?
Are you sure?
Okay, so I get that all people are human beings.
I'm confused.
L
Am I sure about what ?
No need for confusion. I said all people run the same risk of catching the virus as immuno suppressed people. They don't know whether you would be worse off than anyone else because you have arthritis and take immune suppressing drugs. They think you would be but are guessing. No evidence yet.
Hope that explains what I meant.
Also just because you may have had the virus once doesn't mean you are immune. They don't know this yet. Our only hope is a vaccination or drug that works.
What does it mean to shield? I thought we were all doing that anyway. I'm confused.
Shielding is being strongly advised to stay home and avoid any face to face contact not to leave your home at all.
Exactly. That is my point.
It's not all bad when you've got these diseases .....
Have I slept through lockdown??
Lockdown 
When is the heatwave going to come............
