Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's policy is on the number of daily cases of covid-19 that would result in reintroduction of shielding advice and support.

Shielding is an intervention of last resort, due to the potential mental, physical and other harms caused by social and financial isolation.

To date, clinical advice has not set a threshold for reintroducing shielding. The Chief Medical Officer include multiple factors when considering the need for the reintroduction of shielding advice, of which incidence rates are one element.

Although shielding guidance is currently paused, the National Health Service will continue to maintain the Shielded Patient List allowing us to maintain targeted advice and support to those who are most vulnerable and to change advice and support if necessary. We will continue to listen to medical advice on the level of clinical risk the virus presents to different groups of people at different points in time.