Over 50s lockdown: Will people over the age of 50 be told to stay at home?
"NUCLEAR" plans to avoid lockdown could put millions of over 50s back on house arrest.
Boris Johnson has asked his team to prepare a series of measures that could help avoid shutting the country down again.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Will people over the age of 50 be told to stay at home?
This is a possibility that Boris Johnson and his closest aides have been considering.
Brits aged between 50 and 70 could be given personalised risk ratings in a move that would add to the 2.2million people who shielded during the Spring peak, The Sunday Times reports.
A war games meeting on Wednesday had senior officials discuss with the Prime Minister different options in different scenarios if the virus spirals out of control again.
It included possibly tailoring personalised advice to those aged between 50 and 70 with a letter in September or October "before it gets cold."
One scientist told The Sunday Times: “At the moment, shielding is binary, you’re either on this list or off it."
“But we know there isn’t a simple cut-off at age 70. People would get a personalised risk assessment.
"The risk rises after 50, quite gently to start with, and then accelerates after age 70.”
What is the current advice for over 50s?
Coronavirus is thought to have harsher effects on older people but there is currently no specific advice for the over 50 age bracket.
Clinically vulnerable people and over 70s were told to shield during the peak in Spring.
But everyone regardless of age should still be taking all the necessary precautions to prevent themselves from either catching the virus or from passing it on.
Who should still be shielding?
Millions were put on house arrest when the country first went into lockdown in March and were told not to leave home at all because either their age or health condition put them at high risk of dying from the disease.
In July the rules were relaxed a bit and from August 1 the advice was put on pause completely.
It means those who previously shielded can now fully reintegrate with the rest of the country.
If you were shielding you now can go into work provided the workspace is covid-19 secure – but everyone is still being urged to work from home if they can.
You can go outside as much as you like, although it is still recommended to keep social interactions low.
Clinically vulnerable children canreturn to school if they are eligible and meet their friends again.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures – and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun’s Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply ‘Like’ our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain’s best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – find out more.
It is possible to go outside to buy food, to places of worship and for exercise – always maintaining strict social distancing.
The new rules mean that you will no longer receive free food parcels, medicine deliveries and basic care from the National Shielding Service.
Local authority volunteers and NHS Volunteer Responders will still be on hand to help, and you can get priority delivery slots.
Source: Read Full Article