Despite official guidance falling to April, a fifth were still protected last month.
Around 3.7million people in England were considered most at risk from dying from Covid. They were encouraged to stay home during the worst days of the pandemic.
Official figures show that hundreds of thousands of people continue to go out of their way to protect themselves, despite the fact that the warning was lifted after the second wave of devastating flooding in the spring.
Today’s polling data revealed that 22 percent of the group stayed indoors and avoided social interactions during the month.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 68% of respondents were taking extra precautions like following social distancing or avoiding crowded areas.
Following the initial lockdown in spring last year, shielding guidance was issued to 2.2 million people in England. This was because they had a pre-existing condition like kidney disease or cancer. The Government then advised that an additional 1.5million people be protected after conducting a Covid population risk assessment.
The graph shows that 94% of clinically extremely fragile people left home during the week leading to October 16. Only 6 percent stayed home. Only 35% of those who did venture out were able to socialize with others. The top reasons for leaving home were to exercise, shop or go to the pharmacy. To give an example, in April, when the winter peak was over, 89% of people had left their homes in the week before, while only 18% had left to go out and socialize.
The ONS survey found those who continued to shield reported lower life satisfaction — 6.3 out of 10 when the national average is seven out of 10. Both those who did not take precautions (7.2%) or those who lived a normal life (7.5%) reported higher life satisfaction.
The advice was halted April 1, after the second wave of infection was over. Infection levels were low, and the vast majority had been invited to receive their Covid vaccines.
The programme was officially ended on September 15. The cohort was instructed to follow the national guidelines and to consult a doctor if necessary.
Shielding is the act of staying at home for as long as possible, with the exception of essential reasons like exercising or medical appointments.
The ONS survey of 1,025 clinically extremely vulnerable people in England between October 11 and 16 found nine in 10 were aware that Government guidance to shield had been lifted.
22 percent of respondents were still adhering to the old advice.
Nearly half of the group had received both vaccines, but 96% said that Covid still posed a major or significant health risk.
47% said they were’very, somewhat, or very worried’ about the effects of the pandemic on the quality of their lives. Only a fifth said that their mental health was much or slightly better than last month.
The most common reasons people ventured outside were to exercise (58%) and to go to the shops (79%), while only a third went out to socialize.
Seven in ten people took extra precautions.
One in ten said they weren’t taking extra precautions.
And those who continued to shield reported lower life satisfaction — 6.3 out of 10 when the national average is seven out of 10.
One in 10 shielders reported feeling lonely more often than the national average, which is six per cent.
Both those who didn’t take precautions (7.2%) and those who lived a normal life (7.5%) reported greater satisfaction in their lives.
Tim Gibbs is the head of the ONS public service analysis group. He stated: “Though shielding in England has ended, many clinically very vulnerable people have continued taking precautions against Covid with almost one-quarter still shielding.
“This has had an affect on their mental well-being and mental health with one in ten feeling lonely often or always.”