This morning I’m reflecting on being #CEV or clinically extremely vulnerable to #COVID19. Some of us knew in advance we’d be considered vulnerable and weren’t surprised to receive The Letter. We knew our daily lives must look different based on whatever condition we had... 1/
Some of us knew one of our immediate family members had a vulnerability or a disability or something that prompted a life lived slightly differently to others even outside a pandemic. This was lived experience and adapted to. 2/
But some of us were taken completely by surprise. A surgical procedure decades ago or illness long since recovered from or a “background” diagnosis that didn’t *seem* to affect daily life. And suddenly, we too had The Letter. 3/
This letter included terrifying warnings that we must not step out of our houses, not even to go into our gardens (at first) and if we lived with others, we must completely isolate ourselves from them and disinfect everything in sight before sharing facilities. 4/
Family members also faced a dire choice to either completely isolate from their CEV beloved and live separately (either in the same building or in separated quarters) in order to continue going out themselves, OR to adopt a form of voluntary imprisonment isolating together. 4/
(Oops that was 5)
The #pandemic itself was a shock and trauma to many, as was #lockdown but to be on The List was an additional, added trauma that for some affected so much it triggered a form of #ptsd Many became “institutionalised” in that staying home became normalised..... 6/
And even leaving the house for a short walk (say to the post box) eventually became terrifying because it seemed that death just lurked in the air. Does this sound melodramatic? I’m not surprised, but no less true. 7/
Then suddenly, 1st August, #shielding was paused, allegedly we were safe once more and could go out, return to work etc. But many (most?) of us didn’t feel that way. Instead we felt abandoned, left behind, suddenly overlooked in favour of economy. 8/
And now, a #SecondWave is confirmed and #locallockdowns are all around the country, but no #shielding (yet?) infections soar and so too does our #vulnerability but where is the protection? So far, absent. Is it any wonder we’re scared???? End/
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