Coronavirus shielding to be stopped in England from August 1

Important changes on shielding were announced (Picture: Getty; PA)

Shielding from coronavirus will be brought to a ‘pause’ in England from August 1. Guidelines will relax in stages, provided the disease continues to be brought under control. At the daily press briefing today, Dr Jenny Harries said that from July 6 people will be able to start meeting in groups of up to six outdoors, including those from outside their households. People in single households will be able to form ‘support bubbles’, including staying overnight in another home.

From August 1, shielding will be ‘paused’ with people allowed to go out to more places and see more people, e.g. go to the shops or a place of worship. Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live This means food parcels and statutory sick pay for those shielding will also come to an end.

Support packages will stop at the end of July, but people will retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots, and can still access help with shopping, medication, phone calls and transport to medical appointments, according to the Department for Health and Social Care. Those who need to work and cannot do so from home will also be able to return to work, as long as their workplace is Covid-secure.

Around 2.2 million people at particular risk from coronavirus have been ‘shielding’ – mostly staying indoors and not meeting anyone from outside their households. Health minister Matt Hancock said he would be writing to everyone on the shielding list to advise them of the changes to guidelines. Mr Hancock said: “I want to thank all those who have been shielding for so many weeks for their commitment to the shielding programme.

“I know this has been incredibly tough. Shielding has involved not leaving your house for months, not seeing people you care about, not being able to wander to the park for some fresh air, or even pop to the shops for something you need.

A woman’s daughter and granddaughter visit her and speak to her through the window (Picture: Getty)

“This sacrifice has been for a purpose, and I want to thank every single one of you. “We knew it was a difficult ask, but these measures have been vital in saving lives. “Now, with infection rates continuing to fall in our communities, our medical experts have advised that we can now ease some of these measures, while keeping people safe.

” England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said: ‘We know how difficult this period has been and the impact shielding has had on many people’s mental health.

‘The prevalence of the virus in the community is now lower and chances of getting infected are reduced, so we believe it is the right time to relax some of the advice so people can start to regain a degree of normality once more in their daily lives. ‘People should continue to follow social distancing guidance when outside their homes, as well as frequently washing their hands, to minimise the risk of becoming infected.

‘We will continue to monitor the evidence closely and adjust the advice accordingly if there are any changes in the rates of infection that could impact on this group.

’ The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that fewer than one in 1,700 people in in the community have coronavirus, down from around one in 500 a month ago. The Department of Health said those who have shielded should still continue to remain at home when possible, wash their hands and limit contact with too many other people.

 

Source:metro.co.uk/