Shielding for vulnerable to end next month

MORE than two million people who are under orders to stay home and be fully “shielded” will be told they can stop isolating at the end of next month, it emerged last night.

After being forced to “cocoon” themselves at home since the beginning of lockdown, vulnerable people will reportedly be released from self-isolation.

Although Downing Street insisted that no final decision had been made, other government sources said reports that the policy would be relaxed in July were accurate. Separately, senior Cabinet members indicated that two other major lockdown relaxations – cutting the two-metre social distancing rule and the creation of air bridges – were expected to be finalised by the “end of next week”.

Boris Johnson also suggested he would raise the idea of an air bridge with France when he meets President Macron later this week, with Department for Transport officials hopeful a list of initial countries will be ready by the time a review of the quarantine policy is completed on June 29.

According to the Health Service

Journal, food parcels and medicine de- liveries will cease from August when people who are shielding are released from the measures.

However, they will still retain priority for online food deliveries and will remain on a Government list in case they are asked to shield again if a second wave of the virus hits next winter.

A Government spokesman said: “We are considering the next steps for the shielding programme beyond the end of June, based on the latest medical and scientific advice.

“No final decision has yet been made and we will set out more detail shortly.”