Shielding for vulnerable put ‘on hold’
SHIELDING for the most vulnerable people in Wales will be “paused” next month providing Wales continues to see a decline in coronavirus cases.
During a press conference from the Welsh Government buildings in Cathays Park, Wales’s chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton said these groups will be able to go out shopping, return to work and school from August 16.
“The declining rate of coronavirus, particularly over the summer months, has given me an opportunity to look again at the advice I have provided the people who are shielding in Wales,” he said.
“I have advised this group – about 130,000 people in Wales – to take a series of shielding measures to protect their health until August 16.
“If we see the virus continuing to decline, the advice to shield will be paused.”
The pause in shielding will also allow other measures to be changed.
These include: ■ The weekly food box scheme will come to an end when shielding stops after August 16 but supermarkets will continue to offer priority delivery slots for this group; ■ The prescription delivery service will remain in place until September 30 for those who need it.
Dr Atherton added: “Tens of thousands of people have made some very significant personal sacrifices to follow the guidance and to protect their health during the height of the pandemic.
“I want to thank them for that because it has not been easy. I also want to thank everyone who has supported those who have been shielding.
“Shielding is a huge request for someone to undertake, so it’s important that we don’t ask people to shield for longer than is necessary.
“As the level of the virus in our communities is now low, shielding should pause from August 16.
“This means those who have been shielding can gradually resume day-today life, but taking extra care around physical distancing and hand washing.
“We will keep this under review and if we see transmission levels increase, we may need to consider advising the shielding group to take extra precautions and measures to protect themselves in the future.
“I know this will be an anxious time for people who are shielding, but there are a few weeks ahead for people to prepare.
“I will be writing to everyone in the shielding group.
“While shielding will have helped to protect people from coronavirus, spending long periods at home indoors can have a negative impact on people’s mental and physical health.
“It is very important we do not ask people to take shielding measures for any longer than is necessary.”
Although shielding is pausing, the list will be maintained. Over the summer, a review will be undertaken of all children on the shielding list.
The Welsh Government will look at latest guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to determine whether each child needs to remain on the list.
Dr David Tuthill, Wales officer for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “We now know more about coronavirus than we did a few months ago and have been able to update our guidance based on the evidence developed over those months.
“Serious illness from the virus in children is very rare and shielding itself brings its own problems for children.
“The lockdown has been tough for all children who have missed out on school, play and seeing friends - but especially for those who have been shielding.
“Should we face further outbreaks, we can be confident that the vast majority of children, including those under the sole care of a GP, will not need to shield. We hope this announcement will be good news for many families.”