In England, most legal restrictions to control COVID were lifted from 19th July, and it’s likely that similar easing will follow in other parts of the UK in the near future. What does this mean for the Crohn’s and Colitis community?
Monday 19th July was dubbed ‘Freedom Day’ by many, but it probably doesn’t feel that way if you’re more vulnerable to COVID-19 complications because of your immune system. Excitement at the prospect of resuming activities and getting together with people you’ve missed during lockdown may be mixed with anxiety about the increased risks of social mixing. And we’ll all need to make more individual decisions about how we manage risk.
Throughout the pandemic, we have worked hard to keep our COVID-19 information and guidance up to date and we will continue to do this over the coming weeks and months. You can see all of our key information and guidance in one place on our website.
Know your risk
Having a diagnosis of Crohn’s or Colitis alone does not increase your risk of getting COVID-19 or developing severe illness if you do catch it. However, other factors such as the medication you take and whether you are in a flare may affect your risk.
Now is a good time to reassess your risk level – you’ll find lots of information on our website about what your risk means for you. This will help you make informed decisions about the level of risk that’s acceptable to you.
Get vaccinated
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective way to reduce your risk of both contracting the virus and of becoming seriously ill if you do catch it. The vaccine is now available to everyone over 18, as well as young people aged 12 to 17 years old who are clinically extremely vulnerable or live with an adult who is immunosuppressed. All COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK are safe for people with Crohn’s or Colitis and the British Society of Gastroenterology strongly recommends that anyone who is eligible and living with either condition receives both vaccine doses.
You can find lots more information on the COVID-19 vaccines on our website. If you still feel hesitant about getting the jab, talk to your IBD team about any concerns.
Return to work safely
If you’ve been working at home during the pandemic, the easing of restrictions may mean you will now be asked to go back to the workplace. All employers should have carried out a risk assessment and put in place appropriate safety measures to protect their workers from COVID-19. It’s important to talk to your employer about the steps they’ve taken and explain that you may be at increased risk. Our website’s returning to the workplace section has tips on how you can help your employer understand your condition and its implications, as well as lots of other insights.
You may also be eligible for the government’s Access to Work scheme.
Plan ahead
Thinking ahead and preparing for situations you’ll encounter in day-to-day life will help you reduce any potential risks and make you feel more confident and in control. For example:
- If you need to use public transport, try to plan your journey to avoid busy times.
- When you’re getting together with friends, suggest meeting outdoors and don’t be afraid to ask them to take a rapid COVID test beforehand.
- Find out if people you’re coming into contact with have been vaccinated. If they haven’t, you may want to take extra precautions.
You can find more tips for staying safe on our website.
Sometimes, it can be hard for other people to understand why you’re still being so cautious. We’ll soon be adding some resources to help you talk to people about this, so keep an eye on the website. Meanwhile, our It Takes Guts resource has more ideas and advice.
