'I'm terrified and won't set foot outside'- Britain's shielding population on lockdown being lifted
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Monday that the millions of vulnerable people who have been told to shield themselves from the coronavirus will be able to meet friends and relatives from July 6.
Those that have been shielding, some 2.2 million people, will now be able to meet up to five other people outdoors and if they live alone they will be able to form a “support bubble” with one other household.
While the news may come as a relief to those who are desperate to leave their homes, others have greeted the news with trepidation.
We’ve spoken to some of the Britons preparing to leave the safety of the shielding programme on how they’re feeling ahead of a return to the UK’s ‘new normal’.
‘I’m terrified, there are still new cases in my local area’
Christine Pryce in North Shropshire:
"Shortly after the shielding measures were announced, in a phone consultation with my GP I was told in no uncertain terms that the combination of my multi-layered health conditions meant I should self-shield. Three months on and ahead of shielding restrictions being eased, I’m terrified.
"I'm scared that others will now be treating me as if shielding is over, and that I won't have the same rights to say "no". What do I do if my landlord wants to come into my flat to do inspections or repairs, or if pharmacies will no longer deliver because they feel I'm now able to collect medicines?
"Socially, family members will now be expecting me to be able to visit and invite them to my home. I would ideally wish for shielding to continue according to regional variations in infection
"I live in rural North Shropshire, and we've really only just started seeing cases of COVID-19. Just because the R rate overall is down, and London feels it's all over bar the shouting, it doesn't mean it's the same elsewhere in the country, which is at least three or four weeks behind the curve."
'It's too early. There will definitely be a second spike'
Angela Eames:
"I have been shielding because I have Crohn’s disease and my immune system is very compromised. At times, I have found the lockdown very scary and stressful, although I have enjoyed being able to spend time in my garden. I have found a lot of information coming from the government very confusing and contradictory.
"It is too early for the shielding measures to be lifted. The decision has been taken because of the economy and doesn't take into account the concerns of the people. There will definitely be a second spike and then the country will be in trouble because no one will be willing to return to a lockdown situation.
"I am desperate to see my family, especially my daughter who is nine months pregnant, but at the same time I am terrified because this virus hasn’t gone away and the risk is still there."
'I'm looking forward to enjoying my new privileges'
Barry Cook:
“I am over 70 with two underlying health conditions. I am classed as diabetic but my diabetes is under control. I continued to exercise daily during lockdown to maintain that control.
“I will welcome the added freedom that the end of shielding will bring but I will continue to maintain my existing precautions while enjoying these new privileges.”
'I won't resume my normal life until a vaccine is found'
Ian Brown:
"As an overweight 72-year-old with asthma, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure I definitely fall into the "at-risk" category. I have remained at home since lockdown began, with my wife doing all the shopping, wearing a mask and disposable gloves, and changing her clothes on returning to the house.
"Participation in clubs I belong to has been reduced to Zoom meetings, which seem to be far more tiring than meeting in person. The days seem to blur into one – when I wake up I have to remind myself which day of the week it is, and ironically with so much time on my hands I have less drive to get things done.
"I am apprehensive about going out and meeting people again. While I am confident that my close circle of family and friends will try to take precautions to avoid passing on any infection, will they be able to do so with greater contact with a wider public who are perhaps not so responsible? Until a reliable vaccine is available I doubt that I will be resuming my normal activities."
'I'm very anxious as I know I will be hospitalised if I catch Covid-19'
Emma Zubko:
"I have been shielding because I take three different autoimmune suppressants for my underlying health conditions.
"Despite having to shield during lockdown, I was allowed to go out for my routine blood tests and attend some of my hospital appointments that hadn't been cancelled. I got to drive and wear outdoor shoes again and at that time, that was exciting for me!
"When the news broke that those shielding could go out for exercise a few weeks ago, it was an exciting and anxious moment. To go outside, to see all the colours of the outside world, breathe fresh air, feel the wind on your face, smell the flowers and to see the sea was wonderful, yet to see people going about their own business was scary. I immediately became quite panicked and wanted to return home after a short time. I felt safe back in back my bubble at home.
"I would then find excuses not go out for a walk, just to avoid panicking that would then effect my breathing for days. My husband has been wonderful and patient. He is a key worker, so that on its own brought challenges in the home with social distancing. It's been a challenging time.
"To hear the news this week that the shielding programme would end brought many emotions, especially anxiety at the thought of being in close proximity with others again. I would more than likely be hospitalised if I caught Covid-19.
"But I'm also excited at the thought of total freedom again. The best way to deal with this is baby steps and to only do what I feel comfortable with."
'I don't want to carry on being a virtual prisoner'
David Lee:
"If the rate of infection of Covid-19 is back to where it was before shielding was introduced, then shielding per se is no longer required.
"For clarity, I am one of the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and have been for the past 10 years. Never before has anyone suggested that I need to shield in the winter months when respiratory infections are prevalent. Even a common cold is potentially very serious and, for that reason, I have practiced good hand and respiratory hygiene together with common sense distancing for the last 10 years.
"To be honest, I do not want to be a virtual prisoner at home indefinitely. Life needs to come out of suspended animation and carry on."
'My life will be affected into the near future'
Derek Cockburn:
“I live in Scotland and I am 71-years-old. I have had kidney transplant therefore I'm taking immunosuppressants.
“I am still shielding and have been since the beginning of March. It has been a lonely existence. I've tried to stay occupied by doing small computer projects for example, backing up all my data and cleaning up all my files.
"Thank goodness for Amazon. It has allowed me to buy various parts for work around the house. Without it life would be a lot worse. I used to play golf twice a week and walk four to five miles a day with my son's dog. It is three and a half months now since any of that has happened. I'm finding it harder now to remain positive as I will still be high risk after the lockdown has been lifted. My life and my wife's will be significantly affected into the near future.”
'The government has made the right decision'
Sally Radford:
"At 76 with underlying health conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes and having had a stroke, I have been busy with daily chores, cooking for my 82-year old husband who is awaiting hip surgery and my disabled daughter. Keeping in contact through professional societies and exchanging news with friends and relatives by phone and email has helped.
"Being mobile I am happy to be able to venture out beyond shopping for food. I am sure the government is doing the right thing since the weather is warm and people need sunshine and fresh air for good health.
"The best antidote is keeping busy, helping others and being positive. People should use common sense, eat well and seek knowledge."
'I'm hopeful'
Kate Heusser:
"I'm shielding because My husband is on 'the list' and needs care that means I can't socially distance from him. It's tough emotionally but, financially, has made no difference to us.
"I'm hopeful that the prevalence of the disease in the community is very low at present. I won't take any steps outside our protected zone without my husband's agreement but I'm working on him."
'I won't be setting foot outside yet'
Marie Anacoura:
"I have been shielding as I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I'm very anxious and I feel that now they are relaxing lockdown and reducing social distancing for the rest of population, and then lifting sheilding, it puts us at greater risk than before.
"We have now become the guinea pigs, there will be more chance of numbers increasing from July 4 and new cases won’t show for 14 days therefore we are being encouraged to go out at the worst possible time. I will wait and see what the effects of easing lockdown are before I set foot out there."
'I've been told to carry on shielding'
Naomi Sherred:
"I have been shielding for several months. As I am also disabled and a mum of two so lockdown has been harder for my children than me. I don't really go out that much anyway, so that part hasn't been so hard.
"Even though the government has said it is safe for people to stop shielding, I had a telephone appointment with my hospital consultant and they have advised me to carry on shielding as they don't believe it's safe enough to stop and I personally agree with them.
"At the end of the day there's no vaccine, no real treatment options and the virus is still there. If you look at other countries who had hardly any cases, who were doing a lot better than us, they're already getting flare ups.
"Our levels of new infections are too high for to relax lockdown, I fear that most people are ignoring lockdown rules already and I think we could have another wave."
'I will continue to shield'
Josie Bruce:
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early February 2020 and immediately started chemotherapy. I am totally alone and isolated in a small flat with no outside space. My GP has only just issued my vulnerable letter, so I lost three months of food parcels and money has been tight. I walk for a short period each day when I feel well enough. No-one talks to me or even says hello.
"Fortunately, I am computer savvy so I have been able to buy groceries and things but the financial cost has been high as chemotherapy severely affects the digestive system and I have thrown hundreds of pounds of food away.
"I have been terrified most of the time, not just about Covid-19, but succumbing to any infection whilst my immune system is compromised. I have not been able to visit my mother in her care home since February. I could not participate in her 100th birthday celebrations in mid-May and now she is dying.
"As shielding measures are eased, I'm not so much terrified, but apprehensive. I don't mix with anyone anyway and will continue to stay totally shielded. I won't be visiting any shops and I don't have family to visit . I managed to get face masks from the internet as these are compulsory now for the blood tests and chemotherapy visits."
