This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Shielding guidance to ease from 6 July
Matt Hancock has announced that millions of people shielding from coronavirus will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July.
The Health and Social Care Secretary said that from that date, those who have been shielding will be able to spend time outdoors in a group of up to six people, including those outside of their household, while maintaining social distancing. As previously mooted, those who are shielding and live alone or are single parents with children will also be able to create a ‘support bubble’ with one other household of any size, following the same rules already in place for the wider population.
From Saturday 1 August, the guidance will then be relaxed so clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer be advised to shield, but support will remain available from NHS volunteers and local councils. Additionally, from the same date, those who need to work and cannot do so from home will be able to return to work as long as their workplace is coronavirus secure, adhering to the guidance available.
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. 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.”
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