Food drops to 1.5m isolating for 3 months

UP to 1.5million people at highest risk from coronavirus who are told to stay at home for 12 weeks will be supported with food and medicine drops.

Letters are being sent today that ‘strongly advise’ recipients not to go out for three months in a move that could save their life.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick insisted they would be supported with food and medicine drops by local councils and pharmacies – helped by military planners.

People most at risk include cancer and transplant patients and those with respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis. In a press conference at Downing Street yesterday Mr Jenrick said that now was the time to ‘go further’ to shield the vulnerable.

Those living with at-risk people can go out but must ‘stringently’ minimise contact.

Mr Jenrick said the Government is creating a network of local hubs to deliver medicines by pharmacists to the most vulnerable and lonely people. Groceries will be delivered by councils working with supermarkets, with ‘parcels left on the doorstep’. Mr Jenrick said: ‘Nobody needs to worry about getting food and essential items.’

Those affected will receive regular text messages with advice and guidance on how to manage their condition while at home and there will be a helpline for support.

Mr Jenrick said there would be opportunities for members of the public to volunteer and those receiving care parcels from the community hubs will be able to do so free of charge, with the Treasury footing the bill.

He added: ‘If over time we’re able to refine it into a more sophisticated offer which is more tailored to individuals’ needs – and we’re working with supermarkets to see if that is possible in time – then it may be a different arrangement.

‘But to begin with it’s going to be free to ensure that the people who really need it get the supplies as soon as possible.’

Others worried about their condition but not on the list could be entitled to support too but would need to contact their GP.

Military planners, already helping councils and local resilience forums in their responses to the outbreak, have been involved in setting up the network.