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Everything you need to know about the big changes to shielding rules

Here’s what you need to know…

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From July 6th, those with underlying health issues will no longer have to shield or avoid contact with others. 

Those people who were deemed clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 have been self-isolating throughout the pandemic, with a total of up to 2.2 million people in England having to do this.

Since the end of March, these people have been in their homes for 12 weeks, avoiding face-to-face contact with others and keeping their distance from those we live with. 

On June 1st, the measures were slightly relaxed allowing one trip outside of the home a day and a socially distant meeting with one other person from another household. 

From July 6th, the guidance for those shielding will be relaxed even further. 

Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash

The new rules, coming into place July 6th, will mean those shielding will be able to meet up outside in groups of six people from different households, as long as they can keep two metres apart. 

They will also no longer have to keep the two-metre distance with the rest of their household. 

If a shielding person has been living alone they will be allowed to form a ‘support bubble’ with another household. Experts have stressed the importance of physical distancing and strict hand hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.

From August 1st, Matt Hancock has explained that the shielding scheme will be ‘paused’ and will be resumed if needed.

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This could mean that those who have been shielding will be able to see other people, go to the shops and from the start of August potentially go back to work if they are ‘COVID-secure’.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries has said that young children who have been shielding, for instance due to asthma, are at a greater risk of being left behind in their education than of getting COVID.

She said: “In terms of the long-term health outcomes, that would be far worse,” 

From August 1st, it also means statutory sick pay and free food boxes will be stopped for shielding individuals.

Supermarket delivery slots will still be given as a priority to those shielding, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Andre Ouellet/Unsplash

Regarding a second wave, Dr Harries said that the government will ‘continue to monitor the evidence closely and adjust the advice accordingly’.

New research by the University of Oxford has also provided a new model which improves the identification of those who need to shield.

This means that if shielding needs to resume, those who have been shielding over the past three months might not have to do so again with the new more precise targeting being applied.

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Manchester’s historic Portico Library awarded huge grant to secure its future

The funding has helped secure the future of the 218-year-old building

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David Dixon / Geograph

The Grade II-listed Portico Library will receive almost half a million pounds to transform the historic building.

The funding has helped secure the future of the 218-year-old building – a much-loved gem standing proudly on Mosley Street.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the £453,000 will see the treasured library undergo a huge revamp and preserve its book collection. 

Robert Wade / Flickr

During its development, local communities in Manchester will be invited to help work on the project.

With particular focus on environmentally sustainable architectural plans, it aims to unite all three original floors of The Portico Library for the first time in 100 years.

The ground floor will be transformed into a ‘Northern bookshop’ which will hold educational activities, with areas for dining, exhibitions areas and meeting spaces.

David Dixon / Geograph

While the upper floors will showcase the library’s incredible book collection and archives, which includes the first edition of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

John Carpenter, Chair of the Portico Library, said: “The news that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting The Portico Library’s bold scheme to open up and share its extraordinary heritage and collection, to Manchester residents and visitors, is a major cultural signal to Manchester, the North and the UK.”

David Dixon / Geograph

He added: “This visionary project, years in the making, fulfils our mission of working with the many people in Manchester to explore, share and celebrate their diverse stories and the city’s literary and global heritage.

“Embracing creativity, collaboration and inclusivity, the project will unlock the Library’s past to plan for the future. We would like to thank the National Lottery players who have made it possible to realise our vision.”

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Handwritten note with ‘plan to kill’ Brianna Ghey found in accused girl’s room

The note was found during a police search

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Cheshire Police

A handwritten note with alleged details of a ‘plan to kill’ transgender teenager Brianna Ghey was found by police in the bedroom of Girl X.

The crumpled paper note (pictured) was discovered by officers during a search conducted at the accused’s home in March, more than a month after the tragic death of the 16-year-old.

Brianna was found after being stabbed 28 times in Culcheth Linear Park, Warrington, earlier this year.

The teenager was discovered by dog walkers just after 3pm on Saturday, February 11th.

Cheshire Police

Girl X from Warrington and Boy Y from Leigh both deny murder. During the trial, jurors at Manchester Crown Court heard how Girl X sent a picture of the handwritten note to Boy Y on February 3rd.

The note began with the header: “Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey.”

It continued: “Meet Boy Y at wooden posts 1pm. Walk down to library…bus stop. Wait until Brianna gets off bus then the 3 of us walk to Linear Park.

“Go to the pipe/tunnel area. I say code word to Boy Y. He stabs her in the back as I stab her in the stomach. Boy Y drags the body into the area. We both cover up the area with logs etc.”

Cheshire Police

In her opening speech, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the jury: “It is clearly, the prosecution say, a plan to kill Brianna Ghey.” During the same search on March 17th, officers found a note found in a drawer headlined ‘plan’.

Details in the note continued: “Give them alcohol with sleeping pills.

“Slit throat. I kill her. Dismember body. Place pieces in bin bags, bury bags 7ft underground, bones including.

“Get her to go to Linear park, go to the hidden spot near the bridge I usually go to. Someone jumps out and restrains her (plan B). I kill her.”

During the search, police also found a computer tablet and a black notebook.

Cheshire Police

Jurors heard that written in the notebook was the word ‘anarchy’ on one page, and on another there was a list of ‘what is right and wrong’. Another page had a ‘spider diagram’ with ‘good and ‘evil’ in the middle.

The ‘legs’ of the diagram lead to the words ‘forgiveness, justice, morality, good, suffering, evil, sin and free will’, the court heard.

On another page there were the words ‘Valentine’s gifts’ and on another the words ‘revision HW’. Prosecutor Cheryl Mottram said: “Homework, perhaps.”

Written on another page were the words ‘types of serial killers’, with a list under the heading.

Brianna Ghey / Go Fund Me

Words underneath included ‘organised and disorganised’, ‘mass murder’, ‘psychotic’, ‘organised crime’ and ‘copy cat’. On another page were the words ‘films’, and ‘faves’.

Another page was headed with ‘Jeffrey Dahmer’ and then a ‘list of characteristics’. There were also notes about ‘John Wayne Gacy’, the ‘killer clown’.

The notebook also had written inside it a note which read ‘potential threats’ and ‘people that need to go’.

Another page had Boy Y’s name on it followed by a ‘list of qualities or attributes’. Underneath was written the words ‘trustworthy, funny, sociopath, good sense of humour, very very smart, genius level and not sociable’. 

Mikey / Flickr

Officers also recovered a black purse inside a ‘cubby hole’ with a handwritten note inside.

The note read: “Friday 11th November, attitudes to forgiveness.” Jurors were told the note contained two names, including Gee Walker.

“Forgives her son Anthony’s killer,” it read. And continued: “Julie Nicholson, who could not forgive the terrorists who killed her daughter Jenny.”

Three handwritten notes were also found on the floor of the room. One read ‘serial killer facts’, with a ‘list of facts relating to serial killers’ including ‘killing themselves in police custody can be a final act of control’, ‘hedonism’ and ‘power and control orientated’.

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Other notes made were ‘cruelty to animals’, ‘bed wetting past age of five’, ‘USA has the most serial killers’, ‘lack of empathy for others’ and ‘can be superficially charming’.

One note read ‘Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, aka Dr Death’, followed by the words ‘classification, serial killer’.

And jurors were told there was also a note in relation to ‘Richard Ramirez, or the ‘Night Stalker’.

The trial, which began on November 27th at Manchester Crown Court, continues.

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Hugh Grant and wife Anna donate £20,000 ‘Britain’s kindest plumber’

A lovely Christmas gift to help those in need

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Tine Hemeryk / Flickr & @Depheruk / Twitter

Hugh Grant and his wife Anna have donated £20,000 to Burnley plumber James Anderson.

Dubbed ‘Britain’s kindest plumber’, James Anderson set up Depher, which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response, back in 2017.

Originally a plumber who offered services to those in need for free of charge, Mr Anderson now runs the community interest company.

Tine Hemeryk / Flickr

Depher provides plumbing work free of charge for those who are struggling in the cost of living crisis.

Since it began in 2017, Depher has helped more than half a million people across the country and relies on donations from the public.

Now, Hollywood actor Hugh Grant and his wife Anna, who both arrived in Manchester on Thursday December 7th to attend the Chanel Métiers d’Art fashion show, have made a donation of £20,000 to help those in need this winter.

@Depheruk / Twitter

The couple have also donated tens of thousands of pounds to the Depher cause in the past.

Anderson called the kind donation a ‘Christmas gift’ and said it brings the total they have donated to £75,000.

Sharing the news on the Depher Twitter page, Mr Anderson wrote: “After speaking privately to @HackedOffHugh and Anna Grant I have permission to share their wonderful #Christmas gift to @Depheruk. 

“This wonderful and humbling donation of £20,000.00 will give hope to thousands of people, families and children, especially with the #CostOfLivingCrisis.

“They both have my lifetime of respect and love.”

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