Restrictions for people who are shielding to be eased ‘very soon’
THE 2.2M people in England who are currently shielding are to be given more freedoms shortly, the Health Secretary has said.
Matt Hancock said an announcement on shielding will be made “very soon” following reports that it is to be axed at the end of July.
Those who are shielding are currently told they can leave home if they wish, as long as they are able to maintain strict social distancing.
They should only go out with members of their own household, although those who live alone can spend time outdoors with one person from another household, ideally the same person each time.
Responding to reports that shielding would be lifted at the end of July, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “I want to say to your viewers, if you are in the shielded category we will announce very soon what the plans are and we will write to you personally through the NHS so that you can get the direct clinical advice.”
He said those who have been
shielding indoors have “sacrificed an awful lot” but added: “We want to do this properly based on the clinical advice.”
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick will publish details soon, Mr Hancock said, and the changes will be “based entirely on the clinical evidence of what it is safe for you to do”.
“But the good news is that, because the virus is coming right under control in this country – only 4,500 new infections a day, far, far lower than at the peak – it means it is much safer to do more things than during the peak and we’ll be setting that out in detail.”
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether he could confirm that shielding would finish at the end of July, Mr Hancock said the Government would “set this out very shortly” and write to those involved.
The Health Service Journal (HSJ) reported on Tuesday that shielding would end next month, adding that food packages and medicine deliveries for the group would also stop.
The HSJ said the decision to end the shielding programme was made because levels of coronavirus in the community are now sufficiently low.
Age UK said any loosening of the restrictions would be “very good news – provided they have confidence that this is truly in their best interests”.
We want to do this properly based on the clinical advice.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock.