Shielding community: "We are petrified"

People with underlying health conditions who are clinically extremely vulnerable say they are 'shocked and frustrated' after the Chief Medical Officer said they should return to work from April 12 if they cannot work from home.

In England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote to the shielding community advising them to continue the practice, even after the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

On February 12, Downtown Cool FM asked the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the current advice.

A spokesperson said: "People who are shielding in NI and have received the second dose of the vaccine should continue to follow the shielding advice until further notice."

However, the Chief Medical Officer in Northern Ireland has scrapped the term 'shielding' and on Wednesday he revealed people who are clinically extremely vulnerable will be advised to return to their workplace if it is safe and they cannot work from home.

Dr Michael McBride said it's an 'important step to helping CEV people re-engage with everyday life with confidence.'

But those who are clinically extremely vulnerable say they have huge concerns.

Emmy Kelly is Campaigns Manager for Shield Us:

"I spoke to so many people today who are petrified, who are in public facing roles, who know their workplace is not safe, who know that because of this advice they have no option but to attend.

"Unfortunately we've already had employers threatening our CEV of losing their jobs.

"Removing the term shielding in removing almost the CEV status is going to make it even more difficult for our employers to actually be able to work with their employers."

Downtown Cool FM asked the Chief Medical Officer what they should do if they do not feel safe to return to work.

Dr Michael McBride said: " What I would encourage them to do is engage with their employer there is support available and signposting to that support is available on the NI Direct website...which will be updated in the coming days.

"If there are difficulties they're having in those negotiations or those assurances from their employer I would please ask them to reach out for those supports that are available to assist them in making that determination and that decision to return to the workplace."

When asked why the Department of Health in Northern Ireland scrapped the term 'shielding,' Dr McBride cited mental health concerns:

"In terms of the terminology, we here in Northern Ireland at the Minister's request did a very extensive piece of work with those who were previously referred to as shielding and I want to extend my thanks to the Patient and Client Council who facilitated that and the many thousands of clinically extremely vulnerable who contributed to that.

"What we learnt from that was the very significant harm caused by using terminology such as shielding, the very significant impact that it was having on people's mental health and wellbeing, the sense of isolation.

"We've always said... this was not about isolating people from society but basically isolating the virus from those people and it was quite clear that it was having a huge and very detrimental impact."

However, Emmy told Downtown Cool FM the shielding community feel let down and ignored by this:

"What has been harder is the lack of information, the lack of involvement.

"The CMO spoke about working with clinically extremely vulnerable people in Northern Ireland, everyone I have spoken to has asked me the same thing: Were you involved, did you see that survey?

"Everybody feels it's based on outdated information.

"I'm going to quote one of our members, they said 'what about the very significant harm caused by removing our protections or not putting them in place at all?

"Or the lack of information or contradictory information, removing the term shielding is an absolute insult to our intelligence."