When does shielding end?
SHIELDING Brits no longer have to stay at home or limit their social life.
Four million clinically vulnerable Brits stopped shielding in April after it was repeatedly extended under lockdown measures.
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What is shielding?
"Shielding" aims to save lives by asking the most vulnerable to avoid all contact, minimising the risk of catching coronavirus.
Those asked to take part in shielding are advised to stay at home at all times.
To protect the millions of people in this category, they have been told it was especially important not to have any contact with someone with coronavirus symptoms, including a dry cough or a fever.
They have also been warned against going to the shop, the park or to any public places.
When did shielding end?
People shielding were told to stay home and limit their social activity until March 31.
In an address to the nation on March 17, 2021, Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked by a nurse if she could return to work on April 1.
Now all vulnerable and elderly Brits have been offered the jab.
What are the current shielding guidelines?
The government webiste says that shielfing guidelines are currently paused.
It reads: "Although the advice to shield has ended, clinically extremely vulnerable people must continue to follow the that are in place for everyone.
"We are also advising clinically extremely vulnerable people to continue to take extra precautions to protect themselves.
"You are advised to follow the practical steps described below to minimise your risk of exposure to the virus."
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Who was on the shielding list?
The list of people who were told they needed to be shielding includes:
- solid organ transplant recipients
- people with cancer who are having chemo
- people with lung cancer having radical radiotherapy
- people with blood cancers - leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma - at any stage of treatment
- patients having immunotherapy or other antibody treatments for cancer
- those having targeted cancer treatments that affect the immune system - protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors for example
- people who've had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months or who are taking immunosuppression drugs
- people with severe respiratory conditions like cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and COPD
- people with rare diseases and inborn errors of the metabolism that increase the risk of infections - SCID or homozygous sickle cell for example
- people on immunosuppression therapies that increase the risk of infection
- women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired