Sick pay and food parcels for those told to shield from the coronavirus will end on August 1 in England, the Government has confirmed.
On Monday, Health Secretary Hancock confirmed that more than two million people shielding from coronavirus in England will be able to spend more time outside their home from next month.
From Monday, 6 July, those shielding from coronavirus can gather in groups of up to six people outdoors and form a ‘support bubble’ with another household.
Shielding will then be completely paused from August 1.
It means people with serious underlying health conditions including respiratory diseases, some cancers and transplant patients will follow roughly the same rules as the rest of the public.
But the plans prompted alarm because they mean some of the current support for shielded people will be withdrawn from August.
NHS Volunteer Responders will still be able to help with collecting shopping or medication, a regular friendly phone call, or transport to appointments. Shielding people will also retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots.
Sick pay and food parcels ending for shielding people from August 1
Charities have raised fears over the changes which come as the Government ‘pauses’ shielding
Sick pay and food parcels for those told to shield from the coronavirus will end on August 1 in England, the Government has confirmed.
On Monday, Health Secretary Hancock confirmed that more than two million people shielding from coronavirus in England will be able to spend more time outside their home from next month.
From Monday, 6 July, those shielding from coronavirus can gather in groups of up to six people outdoors and form a ‘support bubble’ with another household.
Shielding will then be completely paused from August 1.
It means people with serious underlying health conditions including respiratory diseases, some cancers and transplant patients will follow roughly the same rules as the rest of the public.
But the plans prompted alarm because they mean some of the current support for shielded people will be withdrawn from August.
NHS Volunteer Responders will still be able to help with collecting shopping or medication, a regular friendly phone call, or transport to appointments. Shielding people will also retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots.
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But the government’s direct food parcel and medicine deliveries will end. Matt Hancock confirmed they “continue to the end of July”.
And shielding people will no longer be paid Statutory Sick Pay – unless they develop symptoms or are told to isolate. That brings them in line with the rest of the population.
And the Government has said that those who cannot work from home will be expected to return to work, with them asking employers to show “good will” in making that return as easy as possible.
Campaigners voiced fears over the lack of legal powers to force bad bosses to support those who have shielded back to work.
Mr Hancock said the shielding programme was being “paused” but could be reinstated if the clinical guidance changed.
“I use the word ‘pause’ very deliberately because the (shielding) list will continue and should the clinical advice be that we need to bring it back in, then that is what we will do,” he told the daily No 10 press briefing.
Nick Moberly, chief executive of the MS Society, said people “are desperate to get back to normal life” but added: “We are gravely concerned that certain key support measures – such as food packages and Statutory Sick Pay – will be taken away prematurely.
“Without this help, and with many people still terrified of infection, for some the idea of normal life returning will feel more like a threat than an opportunity.
“Additionally, those who now may have no choice but to return to work must be given the right information so that – together with their employer – they can ensure their working environment is safe.”
Alison Cook, director of external affairs at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said: “Most people will have a choice about what they are going to do, but for people who aren’t able to work from home that may not be the case.
“It is vital that before anyone in the extremely clinically vulnerable group goes back to work that employers can clearly demonstrate how they are going to be able to keep people safe, whether that’s through socially distancing or providing protective equipment.”
Lynda Thomas, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “For those facing a return to work, the Government needs to make sure there are no gaps in the support available.
“No-one should be forced to choose between protecting their health and making ends meet.
“The Government must ensure employers are meeting their legal obligations to support people to return to work safely and those who are unable to work safely should be able to continue to access support from the Government’s job retention scheme, whether they have been furloughed before or not.”
But Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries said now was the safest time to make the change.
Dr Harries said the coronavirus transmission rate meant it was “as safe as it is likely to be for a while” for those shielding.
She said: “It is the epidemiology that is driving the programme – it is whether you are likely to meet, if you like, the virus when you head out.
“We can never say absolutely 100% none of us will meet this virus at the moment – that’s not possible
“But we can say that the levels are now so low. So as the Secretary of State said, the data at the week before last was that on average for people in our communities you would have to meet 1,700 people before you came across a case of infection.
“So it is trying to get that perspective and proportionality into people’s understanding.”
She added: “Now is as safe as it is likely to be for a while.
“When it gets back to the winter, we’re going to have a different tool and that is going to help the individual and the employer.”
