Coronavirus: Shielding group still uneasy about COVID-19 threat

Some of those people most vulnerable to the coronavirus have said they are reluctant to venture beyond their own properties, despite being told they can do so safely from Monday.

When coronavirus began to take hold of the UK in March, letters were sent to millions of people telling them that, due to their health, they would need to stay inside for at least 12 weeks.

They could not even enjoy the albeit limited exceptions enjoyed by the healthy population - exercise away from home or food shopping, for example.

Just days ago, however, many were surprised to hear these rules were being eased and they would be able to leave their homes from Monday.

On Sunday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: "Now we've flattened the curve and reduced new infections, from tomorrow, the 2.2 million people who have been shielding can safely go outside."

However, some of those who spoke to Sky News were worried, as figures show that the virus is still infecting thousands of people daily and that deaths are at a higher rate than that seen in many European countries which took the same lockdown steps.

Reverend Paul Gill Rider, who has been shielding at his home in Norwich due to severe asthma, said he was surprised to learn about the changes.

He said: "I'm eager to get out but I'm also hesitant because I'm thinking this is too early to ease up on restrictions.

"I'm afraid there will be another spike and I just don't know we're prepared for it.

"I'm very grateful to the NHS for all they've done for everyone. I feel very grateful they told me to shield because of my asthma and that I'm getting regular contact with them, but still somewhat concerned about the easing of things tomorrow."

During his time in lockdown, Mr Rider has received a few deliveries at the door and hosted the Sunday morning church service and Wednesday coffee morning by video conferencing software Zoom.

He walks in his garden every day, from where he can hear "people around me who are able to go outside, walk the pavements and be with other people and their families".

He walks along the gravel path in front of his house once a week, but says "I dare not get any more than that".

Stephen Wright is from Middlesbrough and was told to stay at home due to his severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), nasal polyps which affect his breathing, combined with his recent recovery from cancer.

He said the time spent indoors had been "very strange" and "not easy", adding: "I'm used to being very much an outgoing person so it has very much changed my personality, I believe, in the last 12 weeks."

Mr Wright said he had been "quite shocked actually" to hear on the news that the rules for those in the vulnerable health group were changing so soon.

He added: "I'm extremely worried.

"I know we're allowed out tomorrow. Will I be going out tomorrow? Probably not.

"I'm petrified of the outside world at the moment, and that's not me."

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

He said he had received a phone call early in the lockdown offering help but he had refused, saying he had his wife to help him and that there were "other people in greater need than me".

"I'm blessed to be inside safe," he said. "There are a lot of people, key workers in this country, my heart goes out to them.

"My wife is trying to convince me to go out tomorrow. I haven't made my decision yet but I will try."

Caroline McKay, from Blackpool, has been shielding at home with her husband and six-year-old daughter.

She has been unwell for several years but was diagnosed last April with relapsing polychondritis and other auto-immune problems, asthma and emphysema.

She said she received contradictory messages about whether she needed to shield so had, out of caution, decided to do so.

She told Sky News: "Normally we spend a lot of time outside in parks and on the beach, visiting different places, visiting family but obviously with the virus we have not been able to.

"We have just had to make the most of what we can at the moment, trying to work together as a family and a team.

"(Her daughter) has had some challenging behaviours, mainly through anxiety and me being unwell, but there's not a lot we can do until we all feel more safe to be out."

Next week from Monday to Thursday, Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After the Pandemic: Our New World - a series of special live programmes about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over.

We'll be joined by some of the biggest names from the worlds of culture, politics, economics, science and technology. If you'd like to be in our virtual audience - from your own home - and put questions to the experts, email afterthepandemic@sky.uk