Coronavirus: Millions could be asked to stay at home again, reports say

Millions of people who are at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 could be asked to start shielding again if infection rates continue to rise, according to reports.

Officials are planning to send out letters telling the most vulnerable either to stay at home or to follow advice specifically tailored to their health conditions.

The Daily Telegraph  reports that the new programme will initially target those living in areas with dangerous levels of coronavirus but went on to quote an anonymous official as saying it could be applied to the whole of England if necessary.

If so, it could affect up to 4.5 million people – more than double the number who were asked to shield at the start of the lockdown in March.

The new shielding scheme is reportedly based on a "stratified risk model" which would target individuals based on factors such as their underlying health conditions, age, sex and weight. 

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Source: 13 September 2020