Shielding rules have changed for most vulnerable

THE Health Secretary has explained why the rules for people who have been shielding changed yesterday.

Over the weekend, the government announced that some of the nation’s most vulnerable people would be allowed to leave their homes yesterday for the first time in 10 weeks.

Those who have been shielding can now venture outdoors once a day, either with members of their household or one person from another household, while continuing to follow social distancing guidelines. The new guidance was published on Sunday.

Previously, the government had said people who had to shield classed as the most vulnerable in our society - would have to remain indoors until the end of June.

When asked what had changed on May 30 for a change in the rules from today, Matt Hancock said it was because the incidence of coronavirus is now ‘down to the levels that it was before’ the policy was introduced.

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, he said: “When the clinical advice said that it was safe to be able to advise those who are shielded to be able to go outside - so long as they stay two metres away from others - then I think that is a small step, it’s a very positive step for those who have been shielding.”

Mr Hancock added: “We announced it when it was safe and ready to do so, and as I think you can see from the charts that we put up, one of the reasons that we could make that change is that the rate of incidence of disease is now back down to the levels that it was before we introduced the shielding policy.”

But Blood Cancer UK said the new guidance was created ‘with no warning or consultation with charities and clinicians.’

In a lengthy statement posted on Twitter, the charity said the guidance lacked clarity and has ‘created confusion’ with vulnerable people, including those diagnosed with blood cancer.

It said: “While this is something people with blood cancer have looked forward to, the government’s handling of it has added to the worry in our community.

“The way it has announced this on a Saturday night with no warning or consultation with charities and clinicians has created confusion.”