End of shielding for thousands of people across the region

Shielding Nurse Papworth
Credit: ITV News Anglia

Shielding has come to an end for thousands of people across our region.

People with underlying health conditions, who have been staying inside due to the risk of coronavirus, can now venture out.

It is an extra special day for one nurse at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.

Anie Ponnaberanam has returned to work for the first time having spent the last 12 months only being able to support patients remotely.

Credit: ITV News Anglia

Anie was shielding due to her diabetes and because people from minority ethnic communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus.

She says this is something that scared her at the time when she had to shield.

Credit: ITV News Anglia

Abi Halstead, from Hilton in Cambridgeshire, has also been shielding with her family since the start of lockdown due to her cystic fibrosis.

Abi has said she is excited to get out and leave the village but is nervous about having to go back into shielding if people do not follow the rules.