Shielded people can leave their homes tomorrow for the first time in 10 weeks
PEOPLE forced to “shield” themselves during lockdown can go outside with family or exercise with a friend from tomorrow after the Prime Minister eased the restrictions they have been living under.
Around 2.2million of those most medically vulnerable have had to stay indoors for the past 10 weeks and avoid seeing anyone they do not live with, but Boris Johnson said their “patience and sacrifice” could now be rewarded.
Anyone who lives with family members can go outside with them from tomorrow, as long as they are careful to follow social distancing guidelines.
Those who live alone – many of whom have had no face-to-face contact since March – can meet outside with one person from another household as long as they stay two metres apart.
It comes after Government scientists estimated the average chance of someone catching the virus to have fallen from 1 in 40 to 1 in 1,000.
Mr Johnson said: “I want to thank everyone who has followed the shielding guidance – it is because of your patience and sacrifice that thousands of lives have been saved.
“I do not underestimate just how difficult it has been for you, staying at home for the last 10 weeks, and I want to pay tribute to your resilience.
“I will do what I can, in line with the scientific advice, to continue making life easier for you over the coming weeks and months.”
The advice to people in the shielded group will be reviewed again later this month, Mr Johnson said, as he paid tribute to volunteers who have helped the vulnerable by delivering medicines or shopping or simply checking in on people living alone. Support for shielded people, including deliveries of food parcels, will continue.
People in the shielded category remain at risk, Mr Johnson said, and are advised to leave the house only once a day. They should not go to work or the shops and should avoid crowded places where they cannot social distance.
People who have been told to shield themselves include those being treated for cancer, those with severe respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and organ transplant recipients. Full details of the easing of restrictions will be announced in today’s Downing Street press conference by Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary.
Last night he said: “Those shielding from coronavirus have made huge sacrifices over recent months to protect
‘They have made huge sacrifices over recent months to protect both themselves and the NHS’
both themselves and the NHS – they deserve our thanks and our support.”
The shielding programme has become increasingly chaotic in recent weeks, with some people removed from the at-risk list without the knowledge of their GP.
Charities and MPs expressed alarm earlier this week when it emerged individuals suffering from symptoms such as brittle asthma or who had been treated for certain types of cancer received a text message saying they were no longer required to isolate.
The Government said patients should have been contacted by their doctors in advance, but many claimed the text was the first communication they received.