Sheilding

[Cookyboy1]

As from tomorrow in the U/K we can go out for a walk with our partners as long as we self distance, what's your thoughts on that and was wondering when will they suggest for those of us that can still work, for us to start again?

[Galaxy2]

Hi There

Personally I am really surprised, I was quite expecting to continue staying in until the end of June and wait for an update then. Instead of being pleased I'm a little uncomfortable with it at the moment, as lockdown is relaxed more from tomorrow for most people I would have thought that maybe the effects of that would be monitored before they decided on a plan for us.

I live in a flat and as much as a walk seems so appealing I need to get downstairs and through the communal area before I can get out in the air and that does concern me, if someone is coming up as I'm going down there is no where where a 2 m distance would be possible.

As for going back to work I would have thought was a little way off but then know that balancing the financial situation against not working for many is so hard and not a nice dilemma, I work from home so am lucky in that regard.

I am going to be very interested in everyone's views on this one.

Take care all

[Main1234]

We are going to wait until at least the 15th June when I understand there will be more detailed tailored information.

I feel it’s strange that with more relaxed rules the government are not waiting to see what happens.

We have already done 10 weeks so will wait a few more.

[Warralife]

I’m waiting! They originally gave us 12 weeks, so I’m sticking to that. I’m lucky enough to live in a rural area with a small garden to enjoy. After seeing the chaos the mindless idiots have caused in some places over the past few weeks, 2 weeks seems a small price to pay. I want to wait and see the effects of a wider opening of towns, schools and the effects on the NHS of releasing shielded people.

I realise I’m probably becoming slightly agoraphobic, but I’m willing to take baby steps. My first baby step is to get my brain used to the idea of potentially going out in a fortnight’s time!

[Reggie1411 in reply to Warralife]

I’m with you on this one about taking baby steps outside. I’m beginning to feel a bit scared about getting out there into the big wide world. Home is my ‘safe place’. I’m trying to think of the words to describe how I feel and the one word I’ve got in my head is ‘institutionalised’. It’s not the right word but does anyone else feel like this?

X

[Warralife in reply to Reggie1411]

Institutionalised is how I’ve been describing it to family and friends. Garden is safe! Outside garden is danger!

[wobblypat in reply to Warralife]

My feelings exactly. I can only go outside on an electric scooter, which I feel may not be manoeuvrable enough to always keep my distance.

Perhaps I have just been institutionalised because I feel scared.

[Grannybean]

We are planning to go for our first walk in 10 weeks this morning. We plan to take quiet streets and cross the road if anyone comes the other way - but we feel we really need a walk!

[Nell]

I have just been out for my first walk in 10 weeks and it was wonderful. I only went round the houses in a loop but everyone I saw was very pleasant and kept well away. I do appreciate others will have differing circumstances and views. Whatever you decide take care and stay safe

Nell

[Tbrz]

I’m very uncomfortable with the government’s current guidance. To me, it seems like they have just shrugged off any responsibility or guidance and have decided to let people make up their own minds! Therefore for my situation, which I understand is fortunate, as I have a garden and am currently not working, I will be staying put to see if there any spikes in infection rates before I venture anywhere. I have noticed that since lockdown I have not been picking up little bugs, which I used to regularly do, so I know when I do venture out I will be susceptible to picking things up, which is a worry. This is dangerous times, as the infection rate is higher than when first went into lockdown and I do not have a lot of faith in the government track and trace system, but I suppose the government are now allowing people to make own judgments on risk, which is a little trickier for people like us. Take care everyone.

[jgold]

Their track record so far means that I would not pay any attention to what government ministers say. Nor would I pay too much heed to what the officials who appear with them at press conferences say, as they have to toe the ministerial line. However I do listen out for the coded phrases they sometimes use to signal a difference from ministers' remarks.

Whilst I'm sure the initial advice on shielding, which had to be put together rapidly on the basis of relatively few known facts, was sound, it was inevitably generic and could not be tailored to the circumstances of individuals.

The medical profession now knows much more about Covid19. Whilst there are still many uncertainties I thnk they now know enough to be able to give tailored advice to each individual. I would therefore suggest that personal decisions on how to go forward should be based on advice from your own vasculitis professionals.

I would offer one personal thought. That is that the 2 metre 'rule' (of course it's not a rule, it's guidance) has to be viewed in conjunction with the length of time one is in the vicinity of another person. I think there is very little chance of catching anything from walking straight past someone at close quarters, and as there is no such thing as no risk in life it's a chance I'm prepared to take. However as I say, that's an entirely personal view and is the sort of decision we each much take for ourselves.

[NacMacFeegle]

I live in a flat and had been taking half hour walks up and down the street maybe once or twice a week for a while (would have gone insane otherwise). Personally I think going out is more dangerous now - there are noticeably more cars and people about. I am not afraid of contracting the virus during my walks - I am not touching anything (and have gloves on anyway) and keep vigilant to keep away from others. When I get home, leave shoes outside, take my gloves of, change clothes and wash my hands.

However, I fear I will not be back to work any time soon. The rate of infection in "normal" population by their own admission is still high and from what I can see most people are not wearing a face mask (that way WE would be more protected). I am hoping our GP's and clinicians will start giving us more tailored advice soon, that is the only advice I would be willing to consider at the moment. Advice from government "you can take a walk once a day" sounds more like "throw them a bone, they are starting to make a lot of noise" kind of pacifying move to me.

[Debbie_50]

I won’t be taking the risk until there are no new cases of corona virus , and if I do and don’t have a partner and go for a walk am I breaking the rules, not that the government care about rules

[saltrock]

Have I misunderstood the message on the radio news that a number of people who were on the vulnerable list were contacted by text and told they could go out but it didn't apply to everyone?

My rheumy has told me to continue to shield until end of June.

[Suzym2u Moderator Vasculitis UK]

There is an update via the VUK website vasculitis.org.uk/news/coro...