I think there are split opinions about the clapping but it's a personal choice, each to their own, and on the positive side it does seem to be helping to bring some neighbours together more I was hospitalised in a very busy London hospital during the virus peak (not covid related) and I asked a doctor if they would be standing outside clapping on Thursday and the response was that whilst the initial clapping from the public was appreciated they felt that the weekly continuation was more to do with the feelings of those who were clapping, rather than those they were clapping for. Speaking to my sister who works in the NHS and some of the carers at mum's care home it seems that they also appreciated it the first time it happened but it seems to have lost the initial meaning now. There's an interesting article here from an NHS doctor about the subject, saying that people shouldn't feel the need to clap or be shamed into joining in, and what is needed is practical input into making improvements:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/21/nhs-doctor-enough-people-clapping
My neighbours are a nurse & policeman & I notice they stay indoors during this time when we are outside clapping, even going so far as to pull blinds down. They are lovely people but I think maybe a bit embarrassed by it all now. They are committed professional people who just feel they are doing their jobs albeit in sometimes difficult circumstances like many other people.