"Keep Calm & Carry On" - Preparing for Social Distancing/Self-Isolation

My name is Owen Walker, I’m 29 years old and I’m a journalist at BBC Radio 5 Live. I have a neurological disability which affects my muscles throughout my body. I use an electric wheelchair but my biggest concern, in this climate around coronavirus, I have reduced lung capacity; 1/3 of normal. When I was a teenager, I had pneumonia three times; two of which resulted in me being on ICU. I will be one of the “vulnerable” categories that the government talks about protecting from coronavirus.

I’m taking precautions in this uncertain times – I always ask my friends who come round, “Have you been around someone who has a cold or do you have symptoms of coronavirus?” I told two friends to not come on the weekend because they had a runny nose and a dry cough. Any visitor has to wash their hands after they come in and I always wash my hands after I had been out. However, all of that is about to change.

On Sunday the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said that over 70s and vulnerable people would have to self-isolate for “a very long time”. The next day the chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, said these people and pregnant women should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" and he added that this restriction would last around 12 weeks.

Three months is a very long time to not see your friends and family, not go to work and not to go to any restaurant, cinemas, theatres and sporting grounds. I will not even be able to go to the supermarket to stock up on supplies. It will be lonely and challenging experience.

I’m worried about my grandparents and their mental health. My Grandad lives in a supported living apartment but he visits my Grandma who lives in a care home in the same town. Now they are prevented from seeing each other for three months for the own safety. I think it will have a devastating impact on their mental health if my Grandma, who has Parkinson’s/dementia, doesn’t understand the new restrictions.

Self-isolation will impact me as well. I have just returned to work after 18 months off sick. I had a stroke in September 2018 and it affected my speech and writing. After a lot of hard work, I started a phased return in February but that has been cast in doubt of the current situation. I think I will have to do work from home but without the support of colleagues and friends in the office. We have to sort out a solution and I think it will be achievable but it’s so disappointing to come back and then sent away again.

My disability means I have to be help with any with all part of my life; getting up in the morning, cooking food and going to bed. I’m lucky that I have a care package that the carer lives with me and my Mum but that has some problems as well. My main carer is Romanian and he is returning there this week for his holiday but he is struggling to get back. However, I’m worried if he will return to work after his holiday in a month - who know what restrictions the government will place on foreign visitors.

I’m preparing myself for self-isolation or social distancing. Writing this blog/diary will keep me occupied and my work will make me busy for some of the time. I will connect with my friends on Skype or playing computer games online. Maybe I will get through my library of books on my shelves and finally start The Sopranos or Mad Men.

Above my desk at home I have a poster – “Keep Calm And Carry On”. Hopefully I can manage that.