In a dilemma: At-risk ‘shielders’ back in work
Others ‘in limbo’ as they are told to stay at home - but they don’t want to
BALANCING the welfare of the nation with the health of the economy has been at the heart of the Goverment’s battle with Covid-19.
And as thousands of people who have been ‘shielding’ since the start of the pandemic returned to work this week, that impossible conundrum is playing out in homes across Greater Manchester.
Shielding ended nationwide last weekend, just days after more stringent rules were introduced in certain areas of the country, including Greater Manchester.
Due to rising infection levels there has been a ban on gatherings of two or more people from multiple households in private dwellings or gardens.
But as shielding guidelines are eased, some staff have been called back to work and have gone reluctantly, while others feel they are in ‘limbo’ because their employers have chosen to keep them off for now. There are also those who are grateful that their employer is not making them work.
One woman who suffers with uncontrolled diabetes and has been shielding since March told the M.E.N. she felt ‘unsupported’ since her return to work on a hospital ward this week.
The 60-year-old from Bolton, who asked not to be named, said: “I had to return despite being in local lockdown.
“I found shielding stifling and brain numbing. I felt isolated and down in mood. But I had no contact from my employer until I was told to return to work when the Government ended shielding and I wasn’t offered a phased return.
“But now I’m back at work I don’t feel supported and the risk assessment was carried out on the day of my return. I’m wearing the same surgical masks as non-shielding staff.
“I have to maintain social distancing yet I can carry out patient care.”
The M.E.N. also spoke to a retail worker who has been shielding throughout lockdown.
The woman had been asked to shield because she has an autoimmune disease and serious asthma that puts her at greater risk from coronavirus.
The immunosuppressant drugs she takes make her more susceptible to respiratory infections, while two of her children also have asthma.
Now she has had to go back to her customer-facing job in retail, commuting by bus, and is deeply concerned about being in close contact with the public.
As a single parent she is particularly worried about bringing the virus home to her children, or falling ill herself and not having anyone to care for them.
She says she feels it is illogical that she was still required to shield in June and July, when the R rate was lower in her hometown of Bolton than it is now. She
is calling for steps to be taken to protect people who have previously been required to shield.
She said: “It just doesn’t make any sense. Now the R rate is above one and I am being asked to go back to work. I can’t get my head around it.
“I haven’t been asked how I get to work. All my employer has said is that they are Covid secure.
“My friend has also been shielding and she had to go back to work, also in retail, on Monday.
“She is texting me a lot asking if the government is taking any action, she’s very anxious. It is ridiculous.”
On the flip side, some employers have chosen to ignore Government advice and allow their staff to keep shielding amid the rising rate of infection.
Last week, the M.E.N. spoke to a dad, 55, from Walkden, who has been shielding his son, 14, since the start of the outbreak because he has a serious medical condition.
At the time the dad, who asked not to be named, was bracing himself for a return to work as a support worker on Monday.
However, he received a call ‘out of the blue’ from his employer at the weekend to say he could keep shielding. He said: “They said because of how poorly my lad is I could keep on shielding. I’m really happy about that because it was quite a concern. Them just doing that is protecting my son.
“They said I’m on full pay until anything changes.”
Some workers are keen to get back to the office - but their employers have chosen to continue their shielding status against their will.
Tabitha Fung, 37, has type 2 diabetes, had her gall bladder removed last year and is disabled.
Having shielded throughout the pandemic, she has not returned to her job as an administrator. After completing a risk assessment for work weeks ago, she has not heard from her employer since.
She said: “I feel like I’m in limbo. At first I did things to keep myself occupied, like new baking skills. But as it goes on I feel more and more trapped.
“You almost feel guilty about going out because your work’s told you you’re on medical suspension and you’re not sure what you can and can’t do.
“I play wheelchair tennis but can’t do that now. To have that taken away from you is very difficult to cope with. I’d really like to go back to work.”