Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of easing COVID-19-related restrictions in England on those who are (1) ill, and (2) disabled.

The Government have considered the impact that COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions are having on those with disabilities, and poor physical and mental health.

We keep these impacts under constant review assessing them to ensure that restrictions continue to be necessary and proportionate based on available scientific evidence, which includes up to date data.

The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the risk of exposure to the virus in the community is now significantly reduced from where it was at the peak of the pandemic. Therefore it is appropriate to pause shielding in England from 1 August 2020, as this was designed to protect clinically extremely vulnerable people during the peak of the risk of exposure to the virus, and in recognition that asking people to shield for longer than necessary would also cause harm for example increased social isolation and impacts on mental health.