A simple question as the government eases lockdown

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

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.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

To answer your question, the Government will be pretty useless with the advice. It'll say one thing one day, and then the opposite the next day.

It's up to every one of us now to look after ourselves and our families - to try and study the information and make our own decisions.

I know for sure that if I can get an approved ( non cowboy con ) antibody test, then that will very much inform my decisions going forward.

 

[darkwolf666]

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?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

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.

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.

 

[Trevor]

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.

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.

 

[darkwolf666]

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.

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.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

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.

There's going to be loads of us.

Having owned a number of businesses myself I have a lot of sympathy for companies as well, what a nightmare.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Nothing to add but read the posts to date with interest ..my best to those facing this dilemma

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

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.

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.

 

[BLOCK F]

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.

Chin up, Harry.
Hopefully you will be able to continue to work from home and remember the odds are still in your favour!
Down with electric stilted, bellcheesed dickheads the worldover.........I've met a few and still curse one in particular, the ba---rd!
Best Wishes from a slightly fat, little bit wheezy almost 72 year old!
P.S.Am editing this post to say I have just had the doctor on the phone and I've got to go for a nasal endoscopy re a persistent sore throat. Not a pleasant experience, I understand, but better safe than sorry!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

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?

 

[The Clamp]

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.

Whatever confusing gibberish that useless bag of dicks tip out onto the public, as soon as he says one group can go out, everyone will go out.
Unfortunately it’ll be the older generation that are asked to stay in. And a large proportion of our current crop of pensionable citizens are rather selfish and a bit “me first”. So they’ll be straight out, jumping on buses and cluttering up shops.
And they’ll be encouraged by businesses because they all have money to spend.

But the again, there’s plenty of young morons around too who seem to think a slight relaxation on rules/guidelines/gobbledegook gives them license to stage some sort of mass Up The Arse Corner at skate parks and beauty spots up and down the country.

I think age range should be discarded. Go for intelligence and common sense . Problem is stupid, selfish people don’t know that they are stupid and selfish. it’s the rest of us that suffer.

Let’s keep banging our pots and hoping that Bhonson manages to get us out of Lockdown without needlessly killing tens of thousands of people. He won’t.