‘Extremely vulnerable’ Brits still shielding from COVID

‘Extremely vulnerable’ Brits are still shielding from COVID despite shielding guidance being dropped months ago.

Official guidance on shielding from the coronavirus was dropped in April. During the worst part of the pandemic in the UK, about 3.7 million vulnerable people in England were asked to shield themselves.

When the second wave of the coronavirus waned in the spring the shielding guidance was dropped. According to official figures, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people are still protecting themselves carefully from the virus.

The latest polling data came in on Tuesday, November 2. The data shows that 22 per cent of people asked to shield previously were still shielding last month. These vulnerable people are avoiding social interactions and staying inside.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, 68 per cent are still avoiding crowded places and following social distancing measures.

The ONS survey involved over a thousand people who are deemed to be vulnerable. Around 90 per cent of the survey participants were aware that the government had dropped the shielding advice.

According to the survey many people who were previously asked to shield still believe that COVID is a ‘major or significant risk to their health’.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged everyone eligible for the booster vaccine to get jabbed as soon as possible. Booster jabs are now available at NHS walk-in centres without appointments.

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