Obese may be told to stay at home if virus rebounds

OBESE people could be told to stay at home in coronavirus hotspots as part of a targeted approach to tackling a feared second wave of Covid-19 this autumn.

The Government is understood to be examining plans for a “more sophisticated model” for shielding to avoid mass lockdown if Covid-19 returns over the next few months. One Cabinet minister described the plan as a “sti

letto not a sledgehammer” approach, with people who are especially vulnerable told to remain indoors.

The plans are understood to have been wargamed in Whitehall as part of civil servants’ preparation. The minister said: “There will be more microstuff – that is a clear direction of travel.”

Officials are looking at how NHS data can be used to target vulnerable groups, such as those who are obese and over-50, if there is a second spike so they can be contacted and told to stay indoors, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose. A Cabinet minister said: “They are understanding that age does come into it. The shielding cohort is way too broad – you can’t say that every fat person has to shield. It will be more subtle.”

The news came as new tougher lockdown measures were imposed in Preston, where young people were urged by the local council to abide by them and “don’t kill a Granny”.

Tighter lockdown measures were

continued for another week in Bradford, prompting Tory MP Philip Davies to complain to Boris Johnson it had cut the village of Menston in half.

Ministers have been struck by the degree of transmission that is now taking place indoors, where people are not required to wear masks, compared to workplaces like hair salons where face coverings are mandatory.

One minister said: “The main transmission is through people getting a bit more relaxed – it is about you going

round for dinner to see a friend you have not seen for ages. That is why it must be a micro-lockdown.”

The local lockdowns will continue to be based on council boundaries, while in rural areas they might only apply to market towns and villages because the size of shire counties would be impractical to shut down.

No 10 declined to comment. However, a Government source said that medical advisers were “looking at doing things in a more targeted way”.