People who shielded earlier in year recommended to ‘take extra care’ as Chief Medical Officer writes to them

Residents across Wales who shielded during the first wave of the pandemic are not yet being asked to do so again, however will be getting a new letter.

In March around 130,000 people across Wales, including those who have received organ transplants and severe respiratory conditions, were advised by take extra precautions and stay indoors until mid-August.

With cases of coronavirus now on the rise again across Wales, there has been questions over whether those individuals will once again be asked to stay indoors for several more months.

This week the Chief Medical Officer for Wales (CMO) Doctor Frank Atherton has written to those on the shielding list encouraging them to “take extra care” and advice on how to keep safe.

In his letter that should be landing on doorsteps this week, Doctor Atherton said: “The Chief Medical Officers from across the UK continue to discuss the best way to support people who are most likely to have a poor outcome from the effects of Coronavirus.

“We know that shielding helped to make some people feel safer, but for many others there was a significant downside to the advice given, especially from the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

“As we understand the impacts of coronavirus more fully now, we also know that many groups of people who are most likely to be very seriously ill or die are not covered by the medical conditions approach we took previously.

“This includes certain ethnic groups and those from our most deprived communities. We are looking to apply the learning from the last 6 months in any advice that we give to you, the wider public and Ministers.

“In that time all of us have learned that a number of simple measures, as long as we follow them strictly, can help to keep us safe. Different rules are in place to ensure public spaces are COVID safe, and employers have worked hard to provide a safe working environment.

“This virus is likely to be part of our lives for some time yet and so I want to support you to live safely alongside it.

“I recognise that this is a very worrying and challenging time for you and your family. I want to help you understand the choices you can make to minimise your own risk and also help you discuss with your family and friends how they can support you by following the same advice.

“The guidance here is not just for those who were shielding before – everybody can follow it to reduce their risk.”

Advice within the letter includes encouraging social distancing, mask wearing and hand- washing, along with getting the flu vaccine if eligible and downloading the NHS app.

He adds: “Even though I have advised that you do not need to shield at the moment I want to reassure you that we are keeping a record of the people who were shielding, so we can contact you and update you if we need to.

“In case you do not feel comfortable going to the shops, your access to priority slots for supermarket deliveries remains in place.

“The food box scheme ended when the advice to shield was paused and the National Volunteer Prescription Delivery Scheme ended on 30th September, but if you still need help with receiving your medicines please speak with your local pharmacy.

“If you need support and you do not have anyone to help you, please speak with your local council.

“If the advice changes for your area we will communicate with the public via local radio and television, and I will also write to you if I need to advise you to shield again.”

You can view the full letter in this PDF, or below: