A simple question as the government eases lockdown

Harry Wilson's tackle said:

I have struggled to express my concern about the imperative to ease lockdown while new cases of Covid still appear every day, and we have no vaccine. I understand the need to ensure our economy doesn't tank. I also understand that those of a certain age and health are at almost zero risk of death from Covid, and rightly feel frustrated they can't get on with it, contribute to the wealth and wellbeing of society, and get back to living.

By the same token, others are at major risk. A regular poster on here has let it be known that a member of his family will almost certainly die if she gets the virus owing to her risk status.

Meanwhile many of us are unsure what our risk (of death if we get Covid) is, but suspect it is high. If we are over 70. Or 60? Or 50 and a bit fat and wheezy?

My question is this. Will the government publish clear guidance on who must remain isolated as lockdown eases (till we have a vaccine etc see above)? Or will they just tell people like me, unsure of my exact risk - or my rights if I refuse to commute to London to work - to 'be alert'?

I'm not feeling particulatly relaxed about this at the present moment.

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Harry Wilson's tackle said:

I have struggled to express my concern about the imperative to ease lockdown while new cases of Covid still appear every day, and we have no vaccine. I understand the need to ensure our economy doesn't tank. I also understand that those of a certain age and health are at almost zero risk of death from Covid, and rightly feel frustrated they can't get on with it, contribute to the wealth and wellbeing of society, and get back to living.

By the same token, others are at major risk. A regular poster on here has let it be known that a member of his family will almost certainly die if she gets the virus owing to her risk status.

Meanwhile many of us are unsure what our risk (of death if we get Covid) is, but suspect it is high. If we are over 70. Or 60? Or 50 and a bit fat and wheezy?

My question is this. Will the government publish clear guidance on who must remain isolated as lockdown eases (till we have a vaccine etc see above)? Or will they just tell people like me, unsure of my exact risk - or my rights if I refuse to commute to London to work - to 'be alert'?

I'm not feeling particulatly relaxed about this at the present moment.

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PILTDOWN MAN said:

You maybe indicating my position with my wife's condition.

i'm currently furloughed due to my industry being closed (draught beer quality manager), we are though expecting to return mid to late June to start up the business. This will again put me in the front line of the industry and all that goes along with it. Being part of management I feel I'm less likely to be protected and we are not unionised. I will probably be the one to write the H & S guidance (risk assessment) for the technical services of the company however there will be pressure to conform.

Not comfortable at all, and we need definitions from government and what they will support in the long term. If I was to be "left" at home to isolate indefinitely, my role would have to be filled. Being quite a specialist role it would be unlikely that a temporary person would or could fill in.

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darkwolf666 said:

It’s incredibly hard. If there is a fortunate side to our story, it’s that I don’t work, being retired, which does mean I am not concerned about having to go out of our home and bringing the virus back in with me...

I have sought medical advise regards the 3 kids that live with us, and the general consensus is stay put!

The problem is, for how long? There has to be an end game of some sort, just fortunately for me I don’t feel under the pressure that you or HWT does about returning to work.

Good luck and stay safe.

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Trevor said:

Not wishing to be nosey, are you in the shielded group and had a letter to that effect? If not you are the same as me, i.e. elevated health risk but not shielded - there are about 6 million or so of us. I can't see there being specific advice telling you not to go to work - which is a worry. I also commute to London a couple of days a week but luckily for me my employer is happy to let me work at home and I am advised this won't change in any way soon.

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Harry Wilson's tackle said:

Good questions. I am in exactly the same boat as you. Six million of us, you say That should be enough to swing a general election.....if we live long enough.

I'm a university lecturerer and I do research so I have two bosses. The teaching has already been scheduled as online till Jan 2021. The research is another story but I won't have to go in unless my 'managers' decide to be dick heads. There is a 20% chance of that, only, but I'm not an optimist. And some of my colleagues are candidates for the bellcheeses at work thread, on stilts. Electric stilts.

Not good is it? I feel highly expendable. The b'stards.

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darkwolf666 said:

HWT, I understand your concern. I feel us “shielding” people could well soon become the forgotten people!

My feeling is that the government will gradually “release” those with underlying health issues and HOPE not too many need hospital beds at the same time. Over time this will reduce the numbers shielding and probably not overwhelm the hospitals - you know the mantra - protect the NHS, not lives, the NHS!

I am not sure what they will do with the Very Vulnerable, like my wife, I’m guessing they are hoping we hunker down and stay indoors indefinitely, or until we can’t stand it any more and come out of the dark to die, just not all at once, please?

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Harry Wilson's tackle said:

I have struggled to express my concern about the imperative to ease lockdown while new cases of Covid still appear every day, and we have no vaccine. I understand the need to ensure our economy doesn't tank. I also understand that those of a certain age and health are at almost zero risk of death from Covid, and rightly feel frustrated they can't get on with it, contribute to the wealth and wellbeing of society, and get back to living.

By the same token, others are at major risk. A regular poster on here has let it be known that a member of his family will almost certainly die if she gets the virus owing to her risk status.

Meanwhile many of us are unsure what our risk (of death if we get Covid) is, but suspect it is high. If we are over 70. Or 60? Or 50 and a bit fat and wheezy?

My question is this. Will the government publish clear guidance on who must remain isolated as lockdown eases (till we have a vaccine etc see above)? Or will they just tell people like me, unsure of my exact risk - or my rights if I refuse to commute to London to work - to 'be alert'?

I'm not feeling particulatly relaxed about this at the present moment.

Click to expand...