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Am I allowed outside for a walk?

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Austin Mini

Austin Mini

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I have been shielded (type1 COPD and Asthma ) I received my letter telling me to isolate 70 days ago and yesterday they announced that I can go outside. In the garden or out for a walk keeping a 2 meter distance from other people? I am confused my wife argues I can’t leave my front door. Thanks for reading.
 
Austin Mini said:
I have been shielded (type1 COPD and Asthma ) I received my letter telling me to isolate 70 days ago and yesterday they announced that I can go outside. In the garden or out for a walk keeping a 2 meter distance from other people? I am confused my wife argues I can’t leave my front door. Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
At yesterday’s briefing, it was announced that shielded people could go out for a walk with members of their household, or with one person from another household, provided strict 2 metre distancing was observed.All other restrictions re working, and receiving food deliveries remain the same. The updated details are here.
www.gov.uk

COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk

Guidance for people aged 12 and over whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected with COVID-19.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
 
In England, the advice is here: Government guidance and yes, it allows people who are shielding to go for a walk (with physical distancing, etc.).

(There's controversy over why this change was made now. I think the consensus is that it's a mistake and really you should continue with yesterday's rules until the end of June at least. It probably depends quite a bit on where you are (some regions have a much higher prevalence than others, and in some places you're likely to meet more people than in others).)
 
“The government also announced that from Monday, the 2.2 million people who have been “shielding” from Covid-19 in England because they are deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable will be allowed to spend time outdoors for the first time in 10 weeks. They will be able to go outside with members of their household while continuing to follow physical distancing guidelines. Those who live alone can meet outside with one other person from another household.”

Seems like you’re correct - “outside with a member of your household whilst maintaining socially distance...”

Don’t know where you live but be prepared for there to be almost no semblance of social distancing in most places.
 
It very much depends where you live, I went out yesterday and didn’t meet a soul.
 
We have been arguing as it says I can go out but is it in the garden only or in the streets for a walk. However the gov website says yes I can now go out but be careful. Thank you all
 
I do not know about other nations, but in England shielding has always allowed you to go in the garden.

To quote from section 7 (Looking after your mental well-being) of the shielding letter: "Get out into the garden or sit on your doorstep if you can, keeping a distance of at least 2 metres from others."

You have also always been allowed to go for a walk, if you felt it was appropriate and safe. Shielding is just advice, very good advice, but has never been a requirement.

However as stated by others, the British government (for England) and Welsh governments yesterday changed their advice. You can now go outside your home (a garden is part of the home) so long as you observe social distancing of two metres. You can go outside with the people you live with, or if you live alone you can meet one person from another household. But you still should not go into shops or other buildings.

The Scottish and Northern Irish governments have not changed their advice and still do not recommend going outside.

But no matter where you live, it remains ultimately a personal decision you have to take for yourself, as the risk will vary depending on your health conditions and where you live.

www.gov.uk

COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk

Guidance for people aged 12 and over whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected with COVID-19.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

gov.wales

Public health guidance for the general public | GOV.WALES

Public health advice for living alongside coronavirus.
gov.wales gov.wales
 
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Austin Mini said:
We have been arguing as it says I can go out but is it in the garden only or in the streets for a walk. However the gov website says yes I can now go out but be careful. Thank you all
Click to expand...
I see what you mean, the guidance doesn’t specify whereabouts you can go outside. But assuming a lot of people will be in flats with no outside space, it must mean, into the wider area, if you feel it’s safe to do so.
 
My mum had started to go out for short walks anyway in the last few weeks, even though she's supposed to be shielding, because she was going stir crazy stuck at home. The shielding advice is only advice and you don’t have to follow it if you don’t want to. Mum is lucky though, they live on a very quiet street and it's very easy for her to avoid people.
 
Sally71 said:
My mum had started to go out for short walks anyway in the last few weeks, even though she's supposed to be shielding, because she was going stir crazy stuck at home. The shielding advice is only advice and you don’t have to follow it if you don’t want to. Mum is lucky though, they live on a very quiet street and it's very easy for her to avoid people.
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Just as long as she’s not having sex with people outside the household as that’s now illegal! 🙂
 
ColinUK said:
Just as long as she’s not having sex with people outside the household as that’s now illegal! 🙂
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That really made me laugh - my mum believes that sex outside marriage is a sin, so I don't think we have to worry about her misbehaving in that way!! :D
 
When my husband was 40 and had to tell his mother that his eldest daughter was pregnant his own grandma immediately said whatever anyone said about it, one way or the other, that the baby would be no less loved because of it. That baby herself now has 2 boys. In fact we have 7 grandkids, 2 of whom were born in wedlock, the other 4 weren't. Not one of our great grandkids' parents was married and only 3 live with both mum and dad.

And what Grandma said is 100% true!
 
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