Who has been shielding, the rules and what comes next

People with medical conditions which put them at much higher risk of serious or fatal complications if they were to catch coronavirus.

This included transplant patients who have to take drugs to prevent their immune system from rejecting the organ, as well as some cancer patients.

People with cystic fibrosis, severe COPD or other chronic respiratory diseases, pregnant women with heart problems, and patients requiring kidney dialysis were also in this high-risk group. It did not automatically include over70s although they were classed as vulnerable.

Roughly 180,000 people.

Individuals in this category were advised in March to stay at home for 12 weeks - subsequently extended to July 31.

They were told they should not go outside, even for exercise or to pick up food and medicines.

They were also expected to physically distance from others within their own household.

From June 18, shielding guidance was eased to allow “shielders” to go outside for exercise for the first time.

This also included meeting outdoors with people from one other household – up to a maximum of eight people – and being able to take part in non-contact outdoor activities, such as golf, as long as two-metre physical distancing was maintained.

Since Friday, the restrictions have been relaxed further. People in the shielding category are no longer asked to physically distance in their own home; they can meet outdoors with up to eight people from two other households. If the person shielding lives alone or is a single parent living with children under 18, they can now form a “bubble” with one other household – including overnight stays. Children aged under 11 who live with someone who is shielding are also allowed to play outdoors with friends.

If infection levels remain low, shielding will be paused from July 31.