The whole nation has had to make drastic changes to their lifestyles over the past three months.

For some it has only meant exercising once a day and essential trips to the shops. For others it's meant not leaving the house at all.

In Kent, 68,205 people, 3.69% of the population have been "shielded" and not allowed to leave their homes for 12 weeks. This includes people who are over 70 regardless of medical conditions, under 70 with underlying health conditions including those with long term respiratory problems, neurological illness, cancer, diabetes and pregnant women. The full list can be found here.

Thanet, with 6420 vulnerable people has their highest in relation to the population size at 4.53%.

The Medway Towns had the most people shielding with nearly 10,000, just 3.57% of the total population.

For some it has meant isolation and loneliness. But others, including Medway Messenger reporter Nicola Jordan and her husband Kevin, the status has seen her family and friends rally around them to help them through. Here's their story:

The first reaction to being told that you have to "shield" is a strange and puzzling feeling of vulnerability.

Me? Vulnerable you ask yourself, not quite grasping the fact that you are no longer fully control of your life.

My husband and I have only been placed in the high-risk category because of his current medical condition, not on age grounds. And we were born into a generation very much used to doing what they want and when they want to do it.

While the thinking behind it, is quite rightly, to protect my husband, it still feels like an affront. It also makes you feel suddenly old.

Initially, what needs sheilding is the fridge, food cupboards and booze stash.

Once all those kitchen units have been cleaned, wardrobes slimmed down and the spice rack put in alphabetical order, boredom sets in.

We have been married for 40 years, but always had our own space both at work and socially.

What has worked for me is turning the bedroom into a makeshift gym where I can work out for an hour or so. Kevin is more than happy sitting in the garden with a crossword.

But the frustrations soon start to kick in. Not being able to see the kids and grandchildren for the forseeable future is particularly hard.

Then there is the nightmare of shopping. Despite our status, which should have given us priority, we initially could not get on to any supermarket online delivery services. And even now, slots are so scarce that unless you re-order the moment your shopping arrives on the doorstep, you could end up waiting another 10 days for provisions.

Inevitably, some items are not available or we forgot to add them. In normal times this would be rectified with "I'll just nip down the road to the Co-op".

Not now. Our neighbours, friends and family have been brilliant in helping us get over such problems, but you do find yourself loathe to keep asking them to make up for your own forgetfulness. It can get a bit embarrassing asking them if they could pick up some plasters and toilet flush on their weekly shop.

The only compensations have been the community spirit and kindness this awful time has engendered.

Since lockdown, our road has created a WhatsApp group which has helped us keep connected. Having lived here for more than 30 years, we have suddenly discovered neighbours we never knew existed.

My husband recently celebrated his birthday and, unprompted, people in our road turned up with cakes,balloons and cards.

And when the local community marked VE Day by everyone having alfresco drinks and picnics in their bunting-adorned front gardens, we were very much made to feel part of it - albeit at a safe social distance.

All very nice. But please let it end - SOON.

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