To ask the Minister of Health what input people clinically-vulnerable to COVID-19 have had in relation to the evidence on which the ongoing decision to pause shielding is based.

A dedicated group, The Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) Cell, has been established in my Department to give particular consideration to the needs of CEV people with respect to our response to the pandemic. This group, which is chaired by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and includes representatives from across the HSC as well as clinical experts, meets regularly to review the advice in relation to CEV people.

The Cell considers a range of evidence before making recommendations on the advice to CEV people, including information on the spread of the virus in Northern Ireland and the capacity of hospitals to adequately care for CEV people should they fall ill to Covid-19. In addition, Cell members take account of the restrictions that are in place across Northern Ireland, and the advice to CEV people that is in effect across the rest of the UK.

Membership of the CEV cell includes representation from the Patient and Client Council (PCC), which ensures that the patient voice is heard in decisions around the advice for CEV people.