People ‘shielding’ in Wales can exercise outdoors from today

PEOPLE in Wales who have been shielding due to coronavirus will be able to exercise outdoors from today.

They are also able to meet people from another household but must not go into another house or share food.

People from the West are still unable to legally cross the Welsh border in most circumstances.

The Welsh Government has not made any other changes to the advice for those who are shielding.

Those in the group should not go shopping or attend work outside their home, and must continue to have food and medicine delivered to them.

On Sunday, Public Health Wales said a further 11 people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths in the country to 1,342.

A further 82 people tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in Wales to 13,995.

Dr Frank Atherton, the chief medical officer for Wales, said: “Risk can never be completely eliminated but we advise those shielding to exercise at times that are less busy, so the risk of contact with others is reduced.

“We have advised everyone in Wales to maintain social distance of two meters and keep good hygiene when meeting outdoors. For those who are shielding, strictly following these rules is vital.”

Dr Atherton is continuing to develop his advice for shielding people and will send a letter to them in the next few weeks to set out the next steps, the Welsh Government said.

Vaughan Gething, minister for health and social service, paid tribute to those who had provided “vital support” to enable people to shield.