There is no evidence that shielding benefited vulnerable people during the Covid pandemic, according to a study, with the high rate of in-hospital transmission blamed for the failure of the policy.
Hot on the heels of Frances Ryan in the Guardian calling for the return of masks, mass-testing and self-isolation, Channel 5 presenter Jeremy Vine has said vulnerable people should stay home and shield once more.
Vulnerable people are no longer advised to shield in England, and almost 70% of them have been fully vaccinated against Covid – but new data shows that half are choosing to carry on shielding anyway.
The four million people in England and Wales who have been told to shield during lockdown will no longer have to do so from Thursday, but are still being advised by the Government to keep social contacts at low levels.
