Hopes of freedom for vulnerable 2m
TWO million people currently ordered to stay at home will get new government guidance “very soon”, Matt Hancock has vowed.
Updated advice on shielding is to be published following speculation that the self-isolation recommendation for those particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 may be dropped at the end of next month.
Responding to the speculation, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “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.”
He said those who have been shielding indoors have “sacrificed an awful lot”. But he stressed: “We want to do this properly based on the clinical advice.
“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 and we’ll be setting that out in detail.”
Mr Hancock said the advice would be published shortly by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Concerned
Asked on Radio 4’s Today programme if he could confirm shielding would finish at the end of July, Mr Hancock said the Government would “set this out very shortly”.
A spokesman for PM Boris Johnson said: “We’ve always said that we’ll be looking at making life easier for those having to shield when it’s safe to do so.
“We’re considering the next steps for the programme beyond the end of this month, but no final decisions have been made.”
The Health Service Journal 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 infection in the community are now sufficiently low.
Age UK said any loosening of restrictions would be “very good news” provided the Government has confidence it is justified by the current level of risk”.
Charity director Caroline Abrahams warned: “If the shielding
scheme is to be wound down from the end of July, it will be really important to ensure that older people are not left high and dry if support is
withdrawn before they can take a full part in our society again.”
Blood Cancer UK said it would be “extremely concerned” about the plans. Chief executive Gemma Peters said: “We are worried that if the Government withdraws support
it will put many people with blood cancer in a position where they feel forced to go back to work but don’t feel safe to do so.”
And Nick Moberly, chief executive of the MS Society, said: “While we support all efforts to help vulnerable people regain some normality, we’re concerned to hear the Government is considering stopping shielding in England.
“For millions, a blanket lifting of the guidance now will leave them feeling even more anxious.”