Two thirds of shielders ready to return to a safe workplace

TWO THIRDS of working people who are shielding would now feel comfortable returning to work, government figures show.

The Office for National Statistics released data yesterday revealing that 68 per cent of clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people who were in work until the Government’s shielding advice were now comfortable about returning to work if protective measures were in place.

Only 6 per cent of CEV people who normally worked were planning not to return to work in the next four months.

The data assessed the impact of coronavirus on those who are shielding or CEV in England from July 9 to July 16.

It also found that 65 per cent of CEV people reported receiving no visitors except for support with personal care. This marks a statistically significant decrease from 77 per cent between June 24 and 30, reflecting the guidance, which advises CEV people that they can form a support bubble with another household.

Tim Gibbs, of the public services analysis team at the ONS, said: “As the advice for CEV people to shield was paused from Aug 1, those who previously worked are planning what happens next. “Before being advised to shield, almost a third of CEV people worked.

Most are planning on returning to work or continuing to work from home in the next four months but around one in 20 are not planning to return to work.

“Of those who said they would return to work outside the home, 68 per cent reported they felt comfortable doing so, if either they or their employer put protective measures in place.”

Vulnerable people were advised in March to stay at home or shield to avoid contracting Covid-19.

However, following government guidance issued last week, more than two million people shielding against coronavirus in most of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can now leave their home and return to work.

In Wales the advice stays in place until Aug 16.