The UK is set to ease restrictions. While this is the great news that most of us have been been waiting for, it does not make much difference to extremely vulnerable people. Life in lockdown continues for many who have been directed to stay home for 12 weeks without even going out to get food.
Helena Noor is mum to one-year-old Alisha, who has suffered from chronic lung disease since birth. This is what it’s been like for them to be stuck at home:
‘We get food packages delivered from the government once a week, but they don’t include baby food, nappies or wipes. I can’t leave home because I have to take my daughter with me, and there’s no one else to help. We’ve had to rely on volunteers to help us if they can. It’s been really hard’.
Helena says that however hard shielding is, she will listen to the government and follow advice to keep her daughter safe.
What is shielding?
Shielding means that you should stay at home at all times and not have any face to face contact with anyone. This means no walks or even shopping trips. You can not have any visitors unless your visitor is a person who provides essential care. You can go out in to your garden if you have one.
Anyone living with you and not shielding must follow guidelines to shield you, this includes staying two metres distant from you.
Who should be shielding?
- Solid organ transplant recipients
- Some people with cancer who are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- People on immuno-suppression drugs
- Women who are pregnant and have heart disease
- People with severe respiratory conditions – cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and COPD
- Some people with rare diseases
If you need to shield you should have received a letter or text from the government. If you believe that you are at risk and need to be shielding, contact your GP.
Further information is available from the gov.uk website.
