How long do we envisage 'shielding' to go on for?

[Bayum]

Was talking to my headteacher this morning about various bits and pieces that cropped up in the headteacher virtual meeting this morning. One of the things that we were discussing was the impact on those that are shielding. As it is, I'm not likely to be in school until mid-June when the shielding period has reached three months. A reporter asked last night or the night before whether the various bigwigs in the trio whether that meant those in the shielding groups would have to extend the time they shield as the virus isn't going to 'disappear' after the three months has been and gone. Obviously, they didn't get an answer.
So. What do you think? Am I likely to be able to leave the confines of my garden, other than to go for my hospital treatment anytime soon?

 

[bramling]

Was talking to my headteacher this morning about various bits and pieces that cropped up in the headteacher virtual meeting this morning. One of the things that we were discussing was the impact on those that are shielding. As it is, I'm not likely to be in school until mid-June when the shielding period has reached three months. A reporter asked last night or the night before whether the various bigwigs in the trio whether that meant those in the shielding groups would have to extend the time they shield as the virus isn't going to 'disappear' after the three months has been and gone. Obviously, they didn't get an answer.
So. What do you think? Am I likely to be able to leave the confines of my garden, other than to go for my hospital treatment anytime soon?

My place is working on the basis that the 12 weeks is likely to be extended, I’m guessing this must have filtered out of government in some way. Whether this will apply to all or some is another matter.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My place is working on the basis that the 12 weeks is likely to be extended, I’m guessing this must have filtered out of government in some way. Whether this will apply to all or some is another matter.

While the "shielding" thing is just advice anyway (so you can choose to ignore it if you prefer), if the option is taken to loosen the overall lockdown I could see them extending the shielding advice to a larger group, rather than reducing it (e.g. all over 70s and all with any form of underlying condition). It's hard to say, though.

 

[Bayum]

While the "shielding" thing is just advice anyway (so you can choose to ignore it if you prefer), if the option is taken to loosen the overall lockdown I could see them extending the shielding advice to a larger group, rather than reducing it (e.g. all over 70s and all with any form of underlying condition). It's hard to say, though.

I'd prefer to not die, personally.

 

[bramling]

While the "shielding" thing is just advice anyway (so you can choose to ignore it if you prefer), if the option is taken to loosen the overall lockdown I could see them extending the shielding advice to a larger group, rather than reducing it (e.g. all over 70s and all with any form of underlying condition). It's hard to say, though.

The question was raised on another thread about what might happen if this shielding goes on indefinitely. How long can firms sustain keeping people on the books who have no prospect of being able to carry out their normal work? Especially anyone who is close to their nominal retirement. Thoughts on what might happen?

For something like the railway this will be problematic as we run into the traditional problem that replacement of some staff has a long lead-time.

I suspect that if a vaccine isn’t forthcoming by next year then some difficult questions are going to have to be tackled.

 

[theblackwatch]

My own thought is that the 'shielding' advice will change and different groups received differing extensions, this being (to use a government phrase) "guided by the science". I suspect over the next few weeks, more patterns will emerge - which will obviously have to be looked at scientifically. On a related topic, while I realise the three musketeers at the daily press briefings cannot give definitive answers to many questions, I do wish sometimes they would be a bit more open about what options could be implemented, depending on the science.