But for people like us who are shielding, that normality seems very far away.
As a group of individuals and parents affected by a muscle-wasting condition, we or our children are classed as ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ by the Government and have been shielding since March.
We all have different experiences of shielding. Some of us will continue past 1 August, when it is paused, because we still don’t feel safe leaving home. Others in this group have started to gradually venture out, while some of us haven’t decided yet what we will do. There’s no right or wrong answer, and every person is different.
We can and will take every measure possible to protect ourselves whenever we do go out, but the reality is that isn’t enough. Other people need to act responsibly, too.
We’re urging members of the public: please stay two metres away from people outside your household. This will reduce the risk of us and our families getting Covid-19, but can also help us feel safer when leaving home, which is already a scary prospect.
We’re also joining the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK in calling for support to continue for people who have been shielding.
Medicine and basic supply packages remain vital, particularly for people who choose to continue shielding. For those who do leave home, reserved periods at supermarkets and pharmacies would be invaluable.
People also need to feel safe when returning to education or work. If you are an employer or school, please consider now how will you make your environment safe. And remember, not everyone who is shielding is ready to stop just yet.
Hayley Lloyd
Vicki Dennis
Kieron Sales
Dr Alison Kay
Freya Levy
Lizzie Deeble
Chloe Ball-Hopkins