SCOTTISH Government coronavirus advisers are looking at alternatives to vulnerable individuals not leaving their homes.
An expert committee heard claims the shielding policy was “very onerous” and confirmed looking at “different” approaches overseas.
As part of lockdown in March, around 120,000 people were judged to be clinically at high risk of coronavirus.
They were advised to self-isolate and minimise all interactions with others, which included not leaving home.
Although the policy is likely to have helped reduce community transmission, critics believe long-term application of the policy is not tenable.
Many in the shielded category are over 70 years old and some campaigners believe the policy could be discriminatory.
On May 14th, the Scottish Government’s covid-19 advisory group met to discuss a range of issues relating to the pandemic.
On shielding, a note of the meeting stated: “The Advisory Group held a deep dive discussion on shielding, noting that the primary aim of the policy is to save lives but that shielding is very onerous for those being asked to isolate themselves completely for an extended period of time.”
It added: “The group noted the importance of making use of scientific knowledge to determine which groups are truly at highest risk.
"The group considered different approaches being taken to shielding internationally, noting a wide variation in approach.
“The group discussed that age is the strongest general risk factor, but that rare conditions by their nature may be difficult to accurately determine a level of risk for as they won’t show up in statistics.”
It comes after Professor Devi Sridhar, who sits on the advisory committee, outlined her scepticism about shielding.
She told a newspaper: “[Shielding] works in models, not in real life, when the healthy and the vulnerable are integrated in households, communities and care homes.”
“The other point I’ve been raising is what kind of society is that — separating the young and the healthy? All I can do is make and show the analysis from other countries,” she said. “I guess politicians have to make up their minds.”
Speaking today, Sturgeon said of shielding: “It is really important that as we ease lockdown we do not forget about people in the shielded category.
“The current position is that they were advised to shield for three months at the start of this which will be up to the end of June I believe.
“But after that what we are looking at if, frankly, there are less restrictive ways we can continue to protect people in that category without having them completely isolated in their ow homes the way they are just now because that is not sustainable for anybody forever.”
