Free at last... the 4m shielding from Covid
Lockdown rules lift for most vulnerable
EXCITED Oliver Kelly will today see his friends at school for the first time in a year as almost four million people deemed clinically extremely vulnerable no longer have to shield.
The advice urging Oliver, 10, who has Down’s Syndrome and multiple health issues such as diabetes, to protect against Covid-19 lifts this morning, but he has been desperate to go back to school for a year.
His mum Katie Kelly, 36, from Alwoodley in Leeds, said he woke every morning asking: “School?”
And when he found out he could go back this week, he signed: “I’m excited to go back to school.”
So excited, he got himself ready to return a bit too soon.
Katie said: “He got dressed up in his uniform ready to go to school
It’s nice that he is excited and looking forward to going to see his friends
KATIE KELLY OLIVER’S MUM ON HIS RETURN TO SCHOOL
and sat in the hall. But it was four days too early. It was Monday.
“His brother William, who is seven, was getting ready for school and Oliver thought he was going too. He had his coat on, shoes on and bag packed, waiting. He hadn’t even had his breakfast.
“He was disappointed when I explained it wasn’t until Thursday and stayed in his uniform all day.”
Katie is anxious about him going back. She said: “It has been difficult. It’s hard really. I’m still reserved about it because it’s been a long time since he’s been at school.
“It’s nice that he is excited and looking forward to going to see his friends. He’ll be excited to play with the equipment they have there.”
Cindy Vamplew, 70, who has multiple sclerosis, has spent the last year shielding at her home near Lincoln. She and husband Michael, 72, have relied on their daughter to leave their food inside the porch.
And the couple, who have three children and seven grandchildren, have only been able to see their family through the window, but can now meet up outside at last.
Retired librarian Cindy said: “I’ve missed my family so much and all those special occasions, like birthdays and Christmas. I followed the rules strictly so the only way I could see my children and grandchildren was through the window.
“If it was raining they all stood in the back garden under umbrellas.
“Once I’m allowed out of the house I can’t wait to see all the family and to get back to the hairdressers as soon as they reopen.”
Initially, 2.2 million people at risk, such as those with cancer, or on immunosuppression drugs or with severe respiratory conditions, were told “to keep all contact with others outside of your household to a minimum”.
In February, 1.7 million people with multiple risk factors were added. From today, they can go to shops and work, or meet up to five other people outside. Sick pay for shielders ended last night as the official advice changed.
The shielding advice was lifted as figures showed more than 35 million vaccines had been administered, with
30,905,538 first doses and 4,108,536 second injections.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “We’re making amazing progress with the vaccine roll-out.”
Charities warned some patients would continue to protect themselves until they had got their second jab.
Scope head of policy and campaigns Louise Rubin said: “When only 8.5% of clinically extremely vulnerable people have received their second vaccine dose, many disabled people will be filled with anxiety, as what little support remains for shielders could now be removed completely.”
The European Medicines Agency yesterday said there was “no evidence” to support restricting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after Germany suspended use for under-60s due to fears of a link with rare blood clots.
The regulator said a causal link was “not proven, but is possible”, but the benefits outweighed the risks.
People in England were yesterday making the most of the sunny weather and new rules allowing two households or six people to met up outdoors.
A high of 23.9C was recorded in Weybourne, Norfolk, missing the March record of 25.6C set in 1968.
It will cool down in the run-up to Easter Monday, when it will be cold and windy with a chance of snow.
Until then, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick urged people to “exercise caution” and avoid “the most crowded places” when enjoying the sunshine.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “You can go out, have fun, enjoy the great outdoors and the sunshine, while trying to be careful.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak last night admitted he opposed a “circuitbreaker” lockdown in September, insisting there “wasn’t a clear-cut case” for imposing one.
On ITV’s Peston show, he shifted blame on to Boris Johnson, saying it was “ultimately” up to the PM.
He said: “You’d expect me in my job to talk about the impact on people’s jobs and livelihoods. These are difficult decisions to make.”
Yesterday another 4,052 people tested positive for Covid, with 268 more hospital admissions and 43 deaths, taking the toll to 126,713.
@benglaze
I followed the rules strictly so the only way to see grandkids was through the window
CINDY VAMPLEW GRAN ON SHIELDING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS