Over 70s Isolation

[VladPutin]

I'm the sole carer for my father, who's 80 and has a history of heart disease. Am I entitled to self-isolate to make sure I don't pick up the virus and pass it on to him?

[darklighter]

You can but must take a lifestyle break or use your holidays, apparently.

[Welshie]

Someone in our store is off now due to type 2 diabetes,  I have to say I was surprised type 2 was covered  . As although it is serious it is usually something that has come on in later life and unlike type one has not taken its toll on your body for many years  , damaging your organs  .
I think the flu jab thing is for who should be extra careful , not for who employers should pay to self isolate.  The best thing to do is contact your gp,  clinical nurse specialist  or consultant and ask them do you need to take the time off and if they say yes  ask if they can you send you a letter  stating that . Tesco do need medical evidence of your condition.

[lucgeo]

So the schools shut down yesterday...and the worry started of whose going to look after the kids if not a key worker, as advised, grandparents shouldn't be asked?? Really??

How much of the workforce are grandparents? Going in doing shifts every day? There's more chance of them giving it to the kids than the other way about! Yesterday I was at a checkout being served by an older lady, who had no gloves or protection on! In fact non of the checkout operators were wearing gloves.

Obviously, more frail or elderly grandparents shouldn't be asked, but other than that, it seemed a silly sweeping statement to make by the government.

[beahead]

I have to say I'm really impressed with the company , my husband employer is not paying vulnerable,  in fact I dont think many companys are , so hats off

[Dogsbody]

I would just like to clear up the confusion over type 2 diabetes and social distancing. Diabetes of any kind is a serious illness, every diabetic  has a suppressed auto immune system and is liable to contract infections therefore you ARE vulnerable. Do the right thing, stay at home. You are not lazy , letting the team down etc, it is not an extra holiday. We need to help the NHS by not becoming ill. This is the whole point. Nothing else matters.

[Civil-ladies]

I am so confused about all this. There are 4 of us in my family and we are all mildly asthmatic (not needed a blue inhaler for a long time). My husband's work might close any day and we don't know where he stands if he is laid off. My kid's school and collage are closed (they are old enough to stay home alone). I've been on holiday this past week and have a few days holiday remaining been following the news and reports sent out from work. My daughter has applied for a temp job in my store.
I just don't know if we should :
A: Call into duty to self-isolate for 12 weeks
B: Take the chance and I continue to work hoping that my daughter gets a job (which will be her 1st job).
C: Wait until my holiday is over, by then we should know if my daughter has a job, before deciding. 

[Adywebb]

I think firstly you should speak to your Doctor and get his opinion as to how vulnerable you may be...that may help make your decision clearer.

[gomezz]

Just re-read the latest revision of the government guidelines regarding vulnurable groups and it now specifically refers to "severe asthma" which is defined as that which is not well managed by the sufferers regular medication.  So while I am an asthma sufferer and qualify for the free flu jab it appears I am not (as yet) being advised by the experts to take myself out of the fray.

(I prefer to read the government's expert scientific advisors' recommendations rather than the company's current policy when it comes to deciding what is best to do for me, my colleagues and the community at large)

[Loki]

You’ve misread it. You ARE in the group listed by the government who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19).

What you are referring to with regards to severe asthma, ie requiring hospitalisation or courses of steroid tablets, this is a separate group to that of the group which includes diabetes, over 70’s, asthma etc.

The people at even higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are those with severe asthma, leukaemia etc etc. These people will be contacted next week by the NHS.

HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT for everyone to understand that ALL of the above (as per government guidelines) are vulnerable.

[gomezz]

Just re-read the guidelines again today and the reference to "severe asthma" is no longer there.  Still not making it mandatory for the elderly and vulnurable to self-isolate though just practise distancing.  The company are ahead of the curve in allowing these groups to go off work.

[Welshie]

NHS England are sending out letter to people that need to adhere to the 12 week isolation,  I'm sure the other parts of UK will follow shortly . I believe the decision is made by your GP who would have information on all someone's illnesses.  Hopefully this will clear up  any doubts people have x

[Loki]

Just re-read the guidelines again today and the reference to "severe asthma" is no longer there.  Still not making it mandatory for the elderly and vulnurable to self-isolate though just practise distancing.  The company are ahead of the curve in allowing these groups to go off work.

Whether one has asthma or severe asthma... both are covered by the Government advice guidelines.....
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

You are in vulnerable category so look after yourself gomezz. Genuinely mean that.

[Vir2ous]

I've been asked about steroid inhalers my concern is with everywhere closed more people are going to come into contact with staff there is no way you can be 1 metre away from everyone!!!

I've been told(by a manager) that the company require you to be in receipt of the flu jab, *and* be taking a steroid inhaler. I've also been told that my steroid inhaler doesn't count as it is the wrong colour. (My manager told me that it isn't a steroid inhaler, which was interesting).

Does anyone have a link to the criteria that managers are using? Ourtesco makes no mention of what I have been told, only makes reference to vulnerable people.

[Mickymouse1962]

All I can say if you get free flu jab go home NOW

[Wozbee]

I’ve been told as of today I have the option to self isolate for 12 weeks -10 weeks full pay 2 weeks holiday

I have asthma

[Zx81]

I’ve been told as of today I have the option to self isolate for 12 weeks -10 weeks full pay 2 weeks holiday

I have asthma

Were you given a option? I was told i wasnt allowed on the site as I have asthma all be it really mild asthma. If I'd been given a option I'd have stayed.

I’ve been told as of today I have the option to self isolate for 12 weeks -10 weeks full pay 2 weeks holiday

I have asthma

[Redshoes]

Asthma is asthma, it's a chronic condition. Some people do get it worse than others but if you are prone to chest infections, regardless of how bad your asthma is you should be off. If you want to continue working there is now a "wish to continue working" form. We are not medics, if at all unsure play safe.

[Zx81]

Have you seen this wish to remain in work form as I've not been offered it, even if it is a risk I l feel useless sat at home when the stores are so empty, especially if this goes on longer than the initial 12 weeks. I'm sure some frontline NHS  staff have some of the conditions colleagues are being sent home with and are still working.

[Jonathan1970]

I get sent by the doctors for winter flu jab every year for coeliac disease,  (A serious autoimmune disease ).
I should be taking this 12 weeks off then ??

And this is coeliac uks writing

New government advice about at risk groups now includes criteria which includes people with coeliac disease.

We should all be taking social distancing measures, but at risk groups should be especially stringent in following these. Social distancing aims to reduce social interaction between people. This is different to the advice for self-isolation for people with coronavirus symptoms such as a persistent cough or temperature. 

What is the risk for adults with coeliac disease?

As coronavirus is a new illness, there is no specific research on the risk to people with coeliac disease.

The government’s recommendation means that some people with coeliac disease should be included within the high risk group based on the increased risk of having reduced spleen function (called hyposplenism). The spleen has an important role in fighting infection and around 30% of people with coeliac disease have hyposplenism.

The latest government advice categorises people who have problems with their spleen or who are offered certain vaccinations as at risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Spleen function is not routinely assessed so most people won’t know whether they have hyposplenism or not. As a precaution our Health Advisory Council think it is reasonable that adults with coeliac disease may consider themselves to be within the at risk group and to follow the associated advice.

[Charlie Harper]

Today is day 1 of 12 weeks off for me. My asthma is not a problem day in, day out, I would consider myself to have mild asthma nowadays (it used to be far worse) but when I do get ill with flu etc then it hits me hard.

I also had the conversation about requiring hospitalisation or courses of steroid tablets (which I don't) but was told at the end of our chat that, ultimately it was up to me & that if I felt uncomfortable with coming in then not to.

I took the weekend to think about it, but decided, this thing isn't going away anytime soon, it's just the tip of the iceberg, I have a young family & if me being off & self icolating (the best I can) results in 1 less NHS hospital bed taken up then that is what I should do.

I'm fortunate enough have an incredibly good understanding manager (yes, they do exist).

[gomezz]

This is the NHS horse's mouth info which I am taking as best advice

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Who is at high risk?

You may be at high risk from coronavirus if you:

    have had an organ transplant
    are having certain types of cancer treatment
    have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
    have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma

My emboldening of "severe asthma".   I have found this authoritative source of how severe asthma is defined

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/severe-asthma/what-is-severe-asthma/

So for now, with chronic but mild and manageable form of asthma then I will continue working until the authorities say no.  All deliveries bagged and only to the doorstep will be a big factor in swaying my personal risk assessment into KBO.

[Jonathan1970]

This is the NHS horse's mouth info which I am taking as best advice

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Who is at high risk?

You may be at high risk from coronavirus if you:

    have had an organ transplant
    are having certain types of cancer treatment
    have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
    have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma

My emboldening of "severe asthma".   I have found this authoritative source of how severe asthma is defined

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/severe-asthma/what-is-severe-asthma/

So for now, with chronic but mild and manageable form of asthma then I will continue working until the authorities say no.  All deliveries bagged and only to the doorstep will be a big factor in swaying my personal risk assessment into KBO.

If you get the annual flu jab due to a medical condition i really think its in your best interest to take the 12 weeks as soon as you can and keep safe.

[Zx81]

With regards to people with mild asthma still working is the company policy different from store to warehouse and dot com  as there appear to be mixed messages I've been told I cant work no if's or but's.

[Jonathan1970]

With regards to people with mild asthma still working is the company policy different from store to warehouse and dot com  as there appear to be mixed messages I've been told I cant work no if's or but's.

With the sound of what i read on here, if you carry on working and you do receive the flu jab you have to sign a disclaimer,  I think this covers Tesco if you catch Coronavirus in the time frame they offered you, ie it was your call to carry on working.