Shielding support will not stop in North Yorkshire at the end of July

Following the Government announcement that the national programme of food parcel and prescription deliveries to people who are currently being shielded will end on July 31, the county council has stated that it intends to continue with support.

Of the 24,700 people shielding in North Yorkshire because they are clinically extremely vulnerable to being hospitalised as a result of COVID-19, about 12% have needed support.

Gary Fielding, the county council’s Director of Strategic Resources, said: “There are more than 3,000 people in North Yorkshire who have relied on food and prescription deliveries while they stayed at home to protect themselves from coronavirus.

“Over the next six weeks we will be contacting those people on the shielding list to help them prepare for the end of July and put alternative methods of support in place should they need it. We want to reassure people who have been shielding for the last three months and those who are self-isolating that our support for people who do not have anyone else to call on will continue.

“We hope that in time the demand will reduce and that infection rates continue to fall, but whilst there is a need we will be there with partners to help.”

Since March the County Council has been working alongside 23 community organisations and district councils across North Yorkshire to coordinate the voluntary sector network in each locality, providing a safety net of support.