Islanders who are judged to be the most vulnerable to coronavirus are being told to remove themselves from society and not to leave their home for the next 12 weeks, the Government has announced.
Letters will be sent out to around 1.5million people across the country next week advising individuals that they are considered the most vulnerable when it comes to COVID-19. This next step is being called ‘shielding’.
Those who receive letters – which will arrive from Tuesday – are being told not to leave their homes at all and to avoid face-to-face contact for the next 3 months.
Others in the household won’t have to isolate themselves, but must follow the social distancing measures already in place.
For those that live alone without a support network around them, the Government has announced that local hubs are to be established up and down the country. Medicines will be delivered by community pharmacists, whilst food and essential items will be delivered by local councils and food distributors. Parcels will be left on the doorstep.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made it very clear today that if people do not follow the guidance in place, he will be forced to take further measures – hinting that a lockdown is looming.
As of 09:00 on 22nd March 2020, there were 5,683 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. 281 patients have died nationwide.
Further information about those considered to be the most vulnerable can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-new-measures-to-protect-people-at-highest-risk-from-coronavirus.
I am in this group as I have cystic fibrosis. None of the supermarkets have delivery slots free. I can not get anything delivered. I hope all the people that have booked a delivery are people who need it and not people stocking up more. I have about 9 days of food left. Last week have not been able to get to the big supermarkets as too many people ignoring the advice and panic buying. I have always tried to be independent (and always been in work) and been proud to not need help, now I have been forced to ask friends and family for help because of the actions of the selfish.
I think the supermarkets should have anticipated the necessity for priority need delivery slots. After this announcement, I would hope the supermarkets and government do something to ensure the 1.5 million vulnerable (12 week shield) are getting adequate access to food. There will be some that don’t have people to rely on so the government has to support this. They gonna have to bump some non-essential deliveries down the slots.
I had an email through from Sainsburys today saying that they are making special arrangements for people in your position including priority delivery slots.
I don’t know if the other supermarkets have followed suit yet but it can’t be long.
Sainsburys would not let me make an account, they said because of too much demand. Ihave accounts at four others. I hope at least one will help. I do hope something is done. In the mean time friends have offered me help. I do feel guilty imposing on them and putting them at greater risk. Even if you’re healthy, by all accounts it is not nice. A lot may not have people they can ask, their friends may also be at risk.
I work for tesco in Ryde and as far as I’m aware, we are jus taking orders normally when basically, we should be doing what other supermarkets are doing, giving priority to disabled, vulnerable and NHS staff
The supermarkets should employ local taxi drivers making more slots available. Helping taxi drivers not go under, less risky than the vulnerable being in the store or taxi
People are selfish. You are lucky you have family to help you and shop for you. Many don’t. Is it too much of a burden for your family to shop for you? I don’t think so. They will be happy to do this, I’m sure. Keep safe and don’t get angry.
Morrison’s still has some but not until the beginning of April
This crisis has exposed the true nature of the British people, totally different from the 1940s, hang your heads in shame.
You all know who you are! Bloody Selfish!! Ignorant, obese, fat, over eating bas..st..ards.
This behaviour will go down in history, and your mindset will stay with you for a very long time…..
Hope your proud to be British….
more than willing to help you if needed, just leave message on here
I am too. I can’t find anything. I have allergies and I am type one diabetic. So much for looking after the high risk!
Horrible time for you and others in vulnerable position. Sadly many are here due to age, and ill health luck. Many people come here to escape the misery from imported trouble into the UK, but this adds to the burden now. Not their fault as no one saw this happening. But we need to have less people in the UK, not more, as many elderly will sadly die and jobs will be rare for decades now. This will not go away, and should it mutate, then it could take much younger people.
We need to listen and do what HMG suggest, as they are ‘playing’ it down to ease panic.
Good luck and hopefully if we can wait a year and a half maybe you will get first chance at a vaccine if one is available by then.
Same here people that received text or letters should be put first for delivery
Can’t island roads stop tarmacing paths and wasting money money could be spent on giving old people food free electric/ gas surely this can happen and let’s go on lockdown please food / medicines on boats only please
You would not be able to get your medicines as most of the Pharmacists on the Island commute daily from the mainland and they need to check the prescriptions before they can be handed out
Old bean, it’s not the old people who need free stuff! Their income isn’t affected by this. It’s the younger people with families & mortgages or rent to pay, who’ve lost their jobs or income because of this, who need financial help
& No! The government’s announced assistance doesn’t apply to a lot of them.
Exactly
Not just the old please. What about people forced out of work and no pay they need help too. Older people will still get their pensions and benefits will still be paid. Four people all earning in my family but that won’t last if we go to lockdown or sooner and we have mortgages bills food etc to cover. This hits everyone
No, I agree. It does hit everyone, obviously in different ways and to different degrees but it becomes quite divisive when some folks attempt to judge who is deserving and who isn’t. Not everyone wants to make their circumstances public.
We will get through it though , we CAN do this.
Remove themselves from society, how horribly put, surely this could have been worded better ?…..
Good point – social isolation can lead to depression (and worse) so it is important to consider the mental as well as the physical wellbeing of those affected.
Unless of course you are another old fart ‘ who doesn’t give a toss from the mainland who is going to carry on with their holiday break on the IoW regardless !
II thought all the old farts were over here (joking!) Holiday break. I don’t think so. There will be nothing for them to do as everything is going to be shut down. So very few mainlanders will be coming over. Its so sad for the holiday industry on the Island
I wish I was on the international space station…
Daemy this country has screwed the old for years and years give them what they deserve everything free how would you like to sit in a room and not see anyone for 14 weeks least you have family to talk to who have they got ????
Would make a nice change from being out in public having to interact with people just as yourself
Everyone is supposed to be social distancing not seeing family and friends unless essential it’s sad but we all have to get through this somehow
I wouldn’t really notice 12 weeks stuck at home.
I mean maybe, just maybe, I’d finally get through the backlog of shows and stuff I’ve been meaning to watch.
Here’s a thought: test everyone and quarantine only the infected. Job done! 🙂
Yet people slate those who buy as much food as possible, but people don’t wish to shop more than they have to as it is a huge risk of catching this virus and death, so you can hardly blame people buying in bulk.
Once they have enough to survive for a few weeks should the ferry not arrive, or if the ‘usual’ lot hijack and loot food delivery lorries, then the supplies which do arrive will suffice the normal demand.
My worry is can food producers get enough of the raw materials needed to keep producing foodstuffs. If cargo ships crews are hit by the virus, then, like the Germans tried to do in the War by subs and torpedo’s our nation will be facing growing starvation.
Thank goodness we never imported half the world to live here as well as our own…………A huge price now to pay for ‘cheap labour’ especially as it will never be needed again in a generation now.