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Experts decry easing of coronavirus lockdown for England's shielders Experts decry easing of coronavirus lockdown for England's shielders
(about 3 hours later)
Relaxing restrictions for most vulnerable has no scientific rationale, says top virologistRelaxing restrictions for most vulnerable has no scientific rationale, says top virologist
The government’s surprise announcement that more than 2 million of the most vulnerable people will be allowed outside from Monday lacks any scientific rationale and amounts to a public relations exercise, a leading virus expert has said. The government’s surprise announcement that more than 2 million of the most vulnerable people will be allowed outside from Monday lacks any scientific rationale and amounts to a public relations exercise, a leading virus expert has said. 
Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor at Leeds University’s school of medicine, said the relaxation of measures for shielders - those most at risk from severe Covid-19 symptoms - “seems to lack any obvious rationale other than to add to an ongoing ‘good news’ narrative that appears to have little grounding in reality”. Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor at Leeds University’s school of medicine, said the relaxation of measures for shielders – those most at risk from severe Covid-19 symptoms - “seems to lack any obvious rationale other than to add to an ongoing ‘good news’ narrative that appears to have little grounding in reality”. GPs also criticised the advice saying that it was changed without consulting them and did not make clear whether vulnerable people could now receive treatment in surgeries.
Ministers’ announcement on Sundaythat the rules to protect about 2.2m of the most vulnerable people sparked confusion among groups that represent them. Clinically extremely vulnerable people will be able to go outside with members of their household from Monday, while continuing to follow physical distancing guidelines. Those who live alone will be allowed to meet one other person from another household outdoors. Ministers’ announcement on Sunday that the rules to protect about 2.2 million of the most vulnerable people sparked confusion among groups that represent them. Clinically extremely vulnerable people will be able to go outside with members of their household from Monday, while continuing to follow physical distancing guidelines. Those who live alone will be allowed to meet one person from another household outdoors.
Groups including the Residents and Relatives Association, which represents people in care homes, had called for steps toward lifting the tightest restrictions on the most vulnerable because of fears for their mental health, but the move came faster than many expected.  Groups including the Relatives and Residents Association, which represents people in care homes, had called for steps toward lifting the tightest restrictions on the most vulnerable people because of fears for their mental health, but the move came faster than many expected. 
Rob Burley, the director of campaigns at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said advice to shield people with muscle-wasting conditions was already confusing, but that the sudden change risked making things worse.Rob Burley, the director of campaigns at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said advice to shield people with muscle-wasting conditions was already confusing, but that the sudden change risked making things worse.
“We are now faced with further confusion about why the advice has changed so suddenly when only a few weeks ago the government’s recovery strategy said shielding would have to remain in place for a further period,” he said. “We are now faced with further confusion about why the advice has changed so suddenly when only a few weeks ago the government’s recovery strategy said shielding would have to remain in place for a further period,” he said. 
Phil Anderson, the head of policy at the MS Society, said his organisation was extremely concerned that the news has come out of the blue. “People who are extremely vulnerable will rightly want to hear a lot more about the scientific evidence showing this will be safe for them.”Phil Anderson, the head of policy at the MS Society, said his organisation was extremely concerned that the news has come out of the blue. “People who are extremely vulnerable will rightly want to hear a lot more about the scientific evidence showing this will be safe for them.”
Prof Jonathan Van Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, said at the Downing Street press conference on Saturday that the UK was at a “very dangerous moment” with coronavirus infections poised to rebound “like a coiled spring … if we don’t stay on top of it”. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies estimated that the R number was 0.7-0.9 on Friday. If the number is above one, it means the epidemic is growing again. Prof Jonathan Van Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, said at the Downing Street press conference on Saturday that the UK was at a “very dangerous moment” with coronavirus infections poised to rebound “like a coiled spring … if we don’t stay on top of it”. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies estimated that the R number was 0.7-0.9 on Friday. If the number is above 1, it means the epidemic is growing again.
Sally Bloomfield, an honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, back Van Tam’s view on Sunday. She questioned why so many lockdown relaxations were being introduced at once. Most people will be allowed to meet non-household members in parks and gardens from Monday, schools will take in pupils and there have been announcements about the resumption of horse racing and Premier League football. Responding to the lifting of restrictions for the most vulnerable people, Dr Rachel Clarke, a palliative care expert in Oxford, tweeted: “Why on earth would you announce this without first communicating with primary care teams? Do headlines mean more than best patient care?”
“Why introduce all of these measures at the same time, which means that if the situation deteriorates it will be impossible to know which measures need to be re-imposed and we will just have to go back to lockdown,” she said. “This does not look like gently lifting the lid, and from what I have seen these past three days I fear that our desire to socialise means that the critical nature of our situation is being forgotten.” Dr Richard Vautrey, chairman of the British Medical Association’s GP committee, said it remained unclear whether shielded people were not allowed to visit doctors’ surgeries for routine medical treatment, which GPs believe could be safer in terms of infection spread than clinicians paying house visits. 
Images of packed beaches and seafronts with people apparently not adhering to continued orders to remain physically distanced filled news bulletins over the weekend as the UK basked in sunshine. “We hadn’t been informed directly about [the new guidance],” he said. “The strong advice had been that patients should receive all of their healthcare in their home setting wherever possible.”
Justifying the lifting of restrictions for the most vulnerable, the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “Incidence rates of coronavirus are now significantly lower than before these measures were put in place. In fact, NHS England guidance to GPs updated on Friday, made no mention of lifting the lockdown on shielded people and repeated the long-term position “to shield themselves and stay at home”.
However, Vautree said it was welcome that shielded people should be allowed out, when they were physically distanced, because it could improve their mental health and boost their levels vitamin D.
News bulletins at the weekend were full of footage of packed beaches and seafronts, with people apparently not adhering to continued orders to remain physically distanced, as the UK basked in sunshine.
Justifying the lifting of restrictions for the most vulnerable people, the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “Incidence rates of coronavirus are now significantly lower than before these measures were put in place.
“That’s why we are focused on finding the right balance between continuing to protect those at the greatest clinical risk, whilst easing restrictions on their daily lives to make the difficult situation more bearable, particularly enabling the contact with loved ones they and we all seek.”“That’s why we are focused on finding the right balance between continuing to protect those at the greatest clinical risk, whilst easing restrictions on their daily lives to make the difficult situation more bearable, particularly enabling the contact with loved ones they and we all seek.”
Boris Johnson, the prime minister, said: “We have been looking at how we can make life easier for our most vulnerable, so today I am happy to confirm that those who are shielding will be able to spend time outside with someone else, observing social distance guidelines. I will do what I can, in line with the scientific advice, to continue making life easier for you over the coming weeks and months.”Boris Johnson, the prime minister, said: “We have been looking at how we can make life easier for our most vulnerable, so today I am happy to confirm that those who are shielding will be able to spend time outside with someone else, observing social distance guidelines. I will do what I can, in line with the scientific advice, to continue making life easier for you over the coming weeks and months.”