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Social distancing restrictions for night shelters lifted
Night shelters for homeless people will no longer have to implement social distancing measures as all lockdown restrictions are lifted in England.
In guidance published today, the government has lifted all social distancing guidance, stating instead that it is up to individual providers to decide whether to limit the contact of guests.
Other COVID-19 rules, including restrictions on food and drink, also no longer apply to night shelters, however the government said that basic hygiene rules, such as hand-washing, remain essential.
Like in the rest of England, face masks will also no longer be required by law, however the government said that “their use should be carefully considered in shelters”.
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The guidance comes on the day that almost all COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted in England, in what has been dubbed ‘Freedom Day’ by prime minister Boris Johnson.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the UK in March last year, night shelters were ordered to close their doors and those sleeping in them were moved to self-contained accommodation such as hotels.
The move has been praised for limiting the number of COVID-19 casualties amongst the UK’s homeless population, with much higher rates being recorded in countries such the US and France, where shelters remained open.
In October last year, the government released guidance on how night shelters could “safely” reopen for winter, but this move was widely criticised by charities, which said the move was too dangerous.
The government has now told councils to close the hotels used to house rough sleepers during the crisis, however a small number remain open for those with complex needs or immigration issues.
At the same time, the number of people being recorded as sleeping rough has risen in some parts of the country.
As a group, homeless people have been given prioritisation for the COVID-19 vaccine, however it is not clear how many homeless people are currently vaccinated.
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