New rules ease vulnerable who
AROUND 130,000 people “shielding” from coronavirus in Wales will be able to exercise outdoors from today, the Welsh Government has announced.
They will also be able to meet people from another household but must not go into another house or share food – and they must remain two metres apart.
The change comes into force on the day which sees lockdown restrictions for those not shielding ease slightly in Wales, allowing people from two different households to meet for the first time since March – as long as the meeting takes place outdoors, is socially distanced and is “local”, defined “as a general rule” as being “within five miles” of home.
The Welsh Government has not made any other changes to the advice for those who are shielding because they have very serious health conditions.
Those in the group should not go shopping or attend work outside their home, and must continue to have food and medicine delivered to them.
Health minister Vaughan Gething yesterday spelt out the major changes to the advice for this group.
As well as being able to meet members of another household – within the strict conditions set out above – outdoor exercise is now unlimited, but again only as long as individuals strictly follow social distancing rules and hygiene practices.
Around 130,000 people in Wales are currently shielding, including vulnerable patients such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
The changes come after shielded individuals have spent more than two months indoors, with minimal exposure to other people.
Yesterday, Public Health Wales said a further 11 people had died in the previous 24 hours after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths in the nation’s hospitals and care homes to 1,342, though the true number – including cases outside those settings – is known to be more than 2,000.
A further 82 people have also tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in Wales to 13,995.
Dr Frank Atherton, the chief medical officer for Wales, said:
“Risk can never be completely eliminated but we advise those shielding to exercise at times that are less busy, so the risk of contact with others is reduced.
“We have advised everyone in Wales to maintain social distance of two metres and keep good hygiene when meeting outdoors. For those who are shielding, strictly following these rules is vital.”
Dr Atherton is continuing to develop his advice for shielding people and will send a letter to them in the next few weeks to set out the next steps, the Welsh Government said.
Health minister Vaughan Gething paid tribute to those who had provided “vital support” to enable people to shield.
“I am pleased that so many have been shielding so diligently – not only protecting themselves but also helping to protect our NHS,” he said.
“We recognise how challenging these last few months, with minimal face-to-face contact with others, has been.”
However, opposition parties last night raised some issues with the policy change.
Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru shadow minister for local government, said: “The last few months have been incredibly challenging for those who have had to shield. They have had to go months without leaving the house and months without seeing loved ones. The huge sacrifices they have made must be recognised.
“However, questions must be asked on why the advice is changing for this extremely vulnerable group of people whilst the virus is still at the same rate of transmission as it was a few weeks
ago.
“The First Minister himself confirmed on Friday that the ‘R rate’ was still at 0.8 – which is dangerously close to 1 [the figure above which the virus will spread exponentially]. What advice have the Welsh Government received to make them change this policy? Can they guarantee the new guidance will protect this vulnerable group of people? “And why was this change in
Risk can never be completely eliminated but we advise those shielding to exercise at times that are less busy, so the risk of contact with others is reduced
Dr Frank Atherton
I am pleased that so many have been shielding so diligently – not only protecting themselves but also helping to protect our NHS Health Minister Vaughan Gething
policy communicated to the press before the very people it will effect?
“Letters should have been sent to keep shielding people updated weeks ago, so that they could prepare for any changes. This will affect their lives hugely.
“Telling the press first and people second was both wrong and disappointing. No one should have found out about this change through reading confused reports in the press.
“Without a robust test and trace system in place we cannot possibly know where the virus is spreading in our communities. Loosening the lockdown without such a system in place risks a second wave.
“Getting track and trace right must continue to be the Welsh Government’s top priority going forward before we can even think about easing restrictions further.”
Welsh Conservative MS Darren Millar said: “It is surprising that this announcement regarding shielded patients wasn’t made on Friday.
“Let’s hope the letters telling people of this change actually go to the right addresses this time.
“While good news for some, this decision rubs salt into the wound for hundreds of thousands of less vulnerable people who still can’t see their families because of the five-mile cruel rule.”
The latest summary of advice from the Welsh Government’s tactical advisory cell suggests that between 2% and 3% of people in Wales have had coronavirus and developed antibodies.
Analysis of 1,006 adult samples from the Welsh Blood Service found the likely number of people with antibodies is 2.6%.
Figures from Public Health England indicate that between 13% and 17.4% of people in London have antibodies for Covid-19.
The tactical advisory cell said further sampling was needed in Wales.