Coronavirus: what changes mean for people shielding in England
With the government relaxing lockdown for those shielding from Covid-19 in England, we explore what this means for the most vulnerable in society.
Who has been shielding?
People who are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 were asked at the end of March to stay inside their homes for at least 12 weeks and avoid face-to-face contact with others, even keeping a distance from those they live with while at home.
This group of around 2.2 million people included those with cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy, people who have had organ transplants, pregnant women with significant heart disease, and people with severe respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis.
What is the latest news?
From 1 June, the measures for those shielding in England were relaxed slightly, allowing trips outside the home once a day and even meetings, at a distance, with one person from another household.
But from 6 July the guidance for people shielding in England will be relaxed further: people who have been shielding will be able to meet up outside in groups of up to six people from different households, provided they keep 2 metres apart, and they will no longer have to remain 2 metres apart from the rest of their household at home.
If a shielding individual lives on their own, or is a single parent, they will also be allowed to form a “support bubble” with one other household. However, experts have continued to stress the importance of physical distancing and hand washing in reducing the risk of infection.
The government says the guidance will be relaxed because levels of infection in the community have fallen sufficiently that the risk, even to the most vulnerable, has reduced enough for such measures to be safe.
From 1 August, the government has said, people in England will no longer need to shield. However, Matt Hancock, the secretary of state for health, said the shielding scheme is in reality being “paused”– the idea is that shielding could resume if needed.
What does that mean for social interactions?
People who have been shielding will