Health Secretary @JeaneF1MSP: "This afternoon I want to talk directly to those who are shielding, about the next set of changes that will be introduced for you."
JF: "As you know, on the 8th June we asked you to shield until the 31st July at least. But we also announced that throughout July we would ease our shielding advice as the evidence allowed."
JF: "Because the infection rates across Scotland have continued to fall, I'm pleased that we can advise some important changes today, that will be effective from 10th July."
JF: "As I know you understand, many of the recommendations for the general population are not yet right for you if you're shielding. We're changing our advice for you gradually."
JF: "Most importantly, because we want you to stay safe, but we also want you to feel comfortable as you come out of shielding."
JF: "So the changes we are making are as follows. From Friday, if you are shielding we no longer advise you to physically distance yourself from the people you live with."
JF: "I know that, for many of you, doing this has been extremely difficult and has been painful. I hope this change allows you to resume a more normal and more relaxed life with those who are closest to you."
JF: "If there are children in your household under 12, they no longer need to physically distance from other children outside as long as those other children are not shielding."
JF: "I also note that those of you who are single parents or living alone have missed the support of family and friends. So also from Friday, if you're shielding you can now form an extended household."
JF: "What that means is, if you're living alone or living only with other people under the age of 18, you can join another household."
JF: "You and the members of that extended household do not need to physically distance from each other and you can stay the night in each other's houses."
JF: "And of course many of you who are shielding also support your loved ones. This means you can care for children under 12 within that extended household, again, without physical distancing."
JF: "I need to stress that households must partner exclusively. You can only form an extended household with each other."
JF: "Also from 10th July, you can book holiday accommodation or go to a second home provided neither has shared facilities. This is in line with the travel restrictions lifted across Scotland last week and I hope many of you can take advantage of the change."
JF: "However we do strongly advise that you only do this with people you live with or with whom you have made that extended household."
JF: "Finally, if you're shielding, we advise that you can now meet up with two other households outdoors rather than one. Our advice is also that you can go inside to use the toilet of a household you might be visiting outside, or allow a visitor to go into your house to do so."
JF: "We still advise that you meet in groups of only eight people and don't meet any more than two households each day."
JF: "Tomorrow we will give you more detail on what more you can expect to hear from us over the month of July, and from tomorrow, letters will issue to all of you outlining the changes that I'm announcing this morning."
JF: "I hope the changes that I have announced, and those that I hope will continue to come, will help to ease what I know has been an extraordinary burden that shielding has placed on you over the last few months."
JF: "I can't say enough to express how grateful I am to you for following the advice. It has been stressful. I know at times it has felt frightening. It has been very restrictive."
JF: "Right now we can begin to ease those restrictions because of the falling infection rate. Right now, if you follow precautions, our clinical advisers tell us the risk of you catching the virus is low."
JF: "That's very different from the start of the pandemic as you well know. I hope you are able to resume much more of your lives than you have been advised to do in the last few months."
JF: "If you work, our objective of moving slowly and carefully towards the end of this month, where we hope we will be able to pause shielding, if you work, you could return to Covid-secure workplaces with physical distancing."
JF: "Children who are in the shielding group could return at the same time as their classmates."
JF: "I know that what I've outlined is positive news for many of you but also know that for some it might be daunting."
JF: "If you want more information on the risks you face and what you can do to live safely, that information will be available on nhsinform.scot as well as the letters we will send out to you."
JF: "But finally, I want to reassure you of two things. Firstly, we will only advise you can stop shielding if the evidence supports it. Secondly, no matter when the advice to shield ends, you will have guidance and support to help you transition back to your pre-Covid lives."
JF: "The last thing I want to say to those who are watching, who aren't shielding - please do continue to follow the rules and guidance that has got us all this far. It doesn't just keep you safe."
JF: "It will allow shielding for your neighbours, friends, those in your community, to come to an end as soon as possible. It will give those who are shielding the confidence they can go back to live their lives safely."
