To ask the Minister of Health to detail the circumstances under which he would recommend the re-introduction of shielding for people with particular clinical vulnerability to COVID-19.

The need for further advice for those who were shielding is being kept under continuous review. If it is decided that the current advice needs to be updated further, this will reflect improved understanding of who is at most risk from the virus and the level of transmission of the virus in the community. This will be influenced by the R value (the number of individuals who, on average, will be infected by a single person with the infection) but more importantly by the number of cases present in the community. While I am aware that the need to shield was hugely challenging for many people, where it is necessary to protect vulnerable people, I will not hesitate to issue updated advice.