Vulnerable people in England who have been asked to remain at home since the coronavirus lockdown began are to be allowed outdoors once a day with members of their household from Monday.

Those living alone will be able to meet one other person from another household while maintaining social distancing.

The guidance – in place for 10 weeks – had indicated shielding measures would remain until 30 June.

Support for shielders, such as food and medicine deliveries, will continue.

In Wales, people have been asked to shield until 15 June and in Northern Ireland and Scotland people have been advised to shield for at least 12 weeks from when they were first told to do so.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick will announce details of the changes in England at Sunday’s government Downing Street press conference.

Around 2.2 million people were asked to stay at home as lockdown began, because they were identified as being at particularly high risk of needing hospital treatment for coronavirus symptoms.

Most were notified by their GP.

They included solid organ transplant recipients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, pregnant women with heart disease and people with severe respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and severe asthma.