New measures to protect UK’s most vulnerable from coronavirus

The government has made moves to protect the thousands of people in Britain who are most at risk to coronavirus.

Britons vulnerable due to underlying health conditions have already been told they must stay at home for 12 weeks and avoid face-to-face contact. Speaking at the daily briefing today, Robert Jenrick MP said that the NHS has written to almost one million of the 1.5 million people who fall under that description to outline the steps they need to take to protect themselves.

He announced a dedicated web page that the government has set up so that those in receipt of the letter could say if they need further assistance in the coming 12 weeks.

Mr Jenrick also said that those who could not rely on family, friends or neighbours would have their medicines delivered by the NHS through the communtiy pharmacy network. And 50,000 food parcels will be delivered to vulnerable households in the next week.

Earlier today, it was reported that thousands of Britons had begun to receive their food parcels as part of the government’s ‘social shielding’ plan.

The first batch of 2,000 boxes containing pasta, cereal, fruit, tea bags and toilet paper were left on the doorsteps of those who cannot leave home.

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‘This weekend sees the start of extraordinary steps to support the most clinically vulnerable, while they shield from coronavirus,’ Mr Jenrick said.

‘We will support these people at this difficult time.’

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