What The New Covid Rules Mean For People On The Shielded List
The prime minister has revealed a raft of new measures designed to curb the rate of Covid-19 infection in the UK.
People have been told to work from home if they can; pubs, bars and restaurants in England and Scotland are subject to a 10pm curfew; and the number of people able to attend weddings has halved from 30 people to 15.
But what happens for those who were shielding earlier this year? From August 1, the guidance to shield, and the support provided, was scrapped entirely in England. But news of rising cases is likely to concern them.
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Boris Johnson said: “I want to speak directly to those who were shielding early in the pandemic and may be anxious about being at greater risk.
“Following advice from our senior clinicians, our guidance continues to be that you do not need to shield – except in local lockdown areas – and we will keep this under constant review.”
The prime minister’s announcement comes after the UK government’s chief medical and scientific advisors warned there could be 50,000 Covid-19 cases a day in the UK by mid-October with a daily death toll of 200 or more by mid-November if the current growth in the rate of infection is not halted.
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What do those on the shielding list need to know?
In some areas subject to local lockdowns, the advice is not to shield. In Bolton and Greater Manchester, for example, the government’s guidance states people who are clinically extremely vulnerable do not need to shield, but should continue to take precautions.
In Leicester, the picture is different: people who are clinically extremely vulnerable are urged to shield until the 5 October. After this time, shielding will be paused. It’s best to check your local authority’s website for further guidance on shielding in your area – and follow the public...
