Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, has announced that shielding guidance in England is changing, subject to clinical guidance:

From 6 July, for adults who are 'extremely clinically vulnerable' ie shielding, can:

• meet up to 5 other people (from other households) outdoors.
• People who are shielding and live alone or are single parents will be able to form a 'support bubble' with one other household of any size, following the same rules already in place for the wider population.

From 01 August, the shielding advice will change to advise people who previously shielded to stringently social distance (ie the guidance for extremely clinically vulnerable people (adults) will be the same as the guidance as for clinically vulnerable people.

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 COVID secure, adhering to the guidance available.

Shielding guidance continues to be advisory.

Everybody in the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ categorisation will be written to from today outlining these steps.