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Plans to ease guidance for those shielding

The Health and Social Care Secretary has today (22 June) announced that those shielding from coronavirus will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July.

From Monday 6 July, clinically extremely vulnerable people 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. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable 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 will no longer be advised to shield. They will continue to have access to priority supermarket delivery slots if they have registered online before 17 July for a priority delivery slot. NHS Volunteer Responders will also continue to offer support to those who need it, including collecting and delivering food and medicines. The food and medicine boxes facilitated by the National Shielding Service will stop as of 1 August as individuals are advised they can visit shops and pharmacies.

To register and access a priority delivery slot: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

From 1 August, 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.

Clinically extremely vulnerable people should continue to follow strict social distancing measures, taking particular care to minimise contact with others outside their household and practise good, frequent handwashing.

The government will be writing to all individuals on the Shielded Patient List with updated information on shielding advice and the ongoing support that will be available to them.

The updated guidance for those classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable will be published on 6 July and 1 August as these measures come into force.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-to-ease-guidance-for-over-2-million-shielding