Fury is mounting at Boris Johnson’s “survival of the fittest” decision to scrap England’s face mask laws from Monday.
The Prime Minister is accused of throwing 3.7million people “to the wolves” after saying it will be recommended to cover up in crowded indoor places, not a legal requirement.
The government will “expect and recommend” people in England to wear face masks in “crowded areas such as public transport”. But £200 fines will be axed.
And by comparison, guidance late last night to the “clinically extremely vulnerable” makes clear it is on them to control their behaviour while others can be “free”.
They’ve been advised to avoid unvaccinated people and crowded places - at the same time as people in England are urged to get back to workplaces from July 19.
This has enraged charities and MPs, who say society should be throwing its arms around the clinically extremely vulnerable, the group who had to shield last year.
Will you still wear a mask after July 19? Join the debate in the comments below.
And Nicola Sturgeon has made clear Scotland will take a different approach. The First Minister said mandatory masks will stay “for as long as necessary” and told the clinically vulnerable: “We will not abandon you.”
The guidance will be in place until a review at the end of September - meaning disabled people will be disadvantaged all summer. It’s voluntary but recommended.
While most ‘CEV’ people have been double-jabbed, the vaccine is not 100% effective and it doesn’t work as well in many immunocompromised people.
Louise Rubin of disability charity Scope said: “Throughout the pandemic, clinically extremely vulnerable people have felt forgotten and that their lives are seen as expendable.
“This guidance will make many clinically extremely vulnerable people feel they are on their own, having to rely on others taking responsibility, and without the support to keep themselves safe.
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“The Prime Minister himself has said the pandemic is not over. Why has the government taken away vital support?”
Labour called for mandatory masks to continue in some situations, while Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson asked if ministers were “pursuing a survival-of-the-fittest policy, whereby the most vulnerable will be thrown to the wolves.”
Green MP Caroline Lucas added: “Frankly, the Government seem to be pursuing a Darwinian strategy, relying on immunity by natural infection.”
So what does it say? Here’s an explanation of the main bits of advice or you can read the full guidance for yourself here.
Avoid unvaccinated people
The government guidance gives a string of examples of what CEV people “could” do to ensure they think “particularly carefully” about their risk from Covid.
It includes to “consider whether you and those you are meeting have been vaccinated”.
The guidance adds: “You might want to wait until 14 days after your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before being in close contact with others.”
This has drawn scorn online - because it’s all well and good to make sure friends and family are vaccinated, but what about public transport, workplaces or the shops?
Avoid indoor spaces
The guidance says clinically extremely vulnerable people could “meet outside if possible”.
It adds: “The particles containing the virus that causes COVID-19 are quickly blown away, which makes it less likely that they will be breathed in by another person.”
People may also want to “consider continuing to practice social distancing if that feels right for you and your friends”, the guidance says. This is despite the rule of six on indoor gatherings, and rule of 30 outdoors, being axed from Monday.
Avoid crowded spaces
The guidance stops short of telling CEV people to avoid public transport - presumably because that would be a massive equality and political headache for the government.
But it says they should “particularly” consider the risks of close contact with others, and the risk of catching Covid is higher “in crowded spaces, where there are more people who might be infectious” and “in enclosed indoor spaces where there is limited fresh air”.
Which sounds a lot like public transport to us…
Only go out at ‘quieter times of day’
CEV people were advised not to go to shops or pharmacies in the latest lockdown.
This is now revoked, but the guidance says: “You may still wish to consider going to the shops and pharmacy at quieter times of the day.”
Once again, it does not recommend using public transport at quieter times - which would likely have led to claims of discrimination.
Instead, it says the watered-down guidance saying people are “expected and recommended” to wear a face mask on public transport “may ensure those who are clinically extremely vulnerable feel more relaxed”.
Ask friends and family to get tested every time you meet
One of the things people could consider is “asking friends and family to take a lateral flow test before visiting you”, according to the guidance.
These rapid tests, while not always accurate, are widely available and can be picked up for free through the gov.uk website or in most pharmacies.
Contact a regulator if you think your work is unsafe
The guidance for CEV people on going back to the workplace is, well, complicated.
It says “it will no longer be necessary for the government to instruct people to work from home” in England after July 19.
But it also says employers haver a “legal responsibility” to protect vulnerable staff.
So it basically leaves it to firms to follow Health and Safety Executive guidance, and urges staff to report a firm to the HSE (or discuss concerns internally) if unsafe.
Those who need support at home or in the workplace can contact the Access to Work scheme. Those kept at home can claim furlough until September 30, or the low-paid rates of Statutory Sick Pay or Employment and Support Allowance.
But there’s no single employment right by which you can demand to work from home because you are clinically extremely vulnerable.
Get a jab, even if your doctor says it might not work on you
The not entirely comforting guidance says: “Although the vast majority of the population, including the clinically extremely vulnerable, will be well protected by the vaccine, no vaccine is 100% effective and there is emerging evidence that suggests that some immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals may not respond as well to COVID-19 vaccines as others.
“However, all COVID-19 vaccines should offer some degree of protection. Therefore, it is really important that you have both your first and second dose of the coronavirus vaccine.”
Wash your hands and don’t touch your face
The guidance also says everyone might want to continue to “wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face”.
Which, after everything we’ve been through in the last 18 months, you’d hope might be embedded in people’s brains by now.
