Coronavirus: ‘Mixed messages’ blamed for failure to inform thousands of vulnerable Britons they must shield themselves for 12 weeks

From Churchill to Blair, how Westminster has dealt with an ill PM | Sunak will take over PM duties if Raab incapacitated, says No 10 | Raab insists government will deliver 100,000 coronavirus tests a day Trouble viewing this? [View in browser]( [indy-logo]( Follow us [twitter]( [facebook]( Daily coronavirus briefing Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust ‘Mixed messages’ blamed for failure to inform thousands of vulnerable Britons they must shield themselves from coronavirus exposure for 12 weeks Thousands of vulnerable Britons at high risk from coronavirus have [not yet been told they should stay indoors]( for 12 weeks, it has emerged, as officials admit there have been “mixed messages” about who should be shielding themselves from exposure. Last month, the government announced it would contact 1.5 million people to tell them they should be in isolation, but GPs tasked with finding out more information on at-risk patients have, in some cases, been unable to add people to existing lists due to technical issues. Boris Johnson remains in intensive care after contracting Covid-19 but is in [a “stable” condition](, according to his stand-in Dominic Raab. The British prime minister is still receiving oxygen but does not have pneumonia, the foreign secretary said on Tuesday. The [first patients have been admitted]( to the NHS Nightingale hospital in London after the ExCeL exhibition centre was transformed into a unit capable of treating 4,000 critically ill people. The temporary facility was put together in less than a fortnight to provide further healthcare capacity to the capital, which remains the UK epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Podcast The Independent Coronavirus Podcast [Subscribe now wherever you listen for all the latest coronavirus news.]( [Listen now]( Click here to [register for more Independent newsletters](, to learn more about our [subscription services](, or to [support truly independent journalism](. Top stories PREMIUM [From Churchill to Blair, how Westminster has dealt with an ill PM]( [Sunak will take over PM duties if Raab incapacitated, says No 10]( [Raab insists government will deliver 100,000 coronavirus tests a day]( More news [Government says rate of coronavirus spread 'slower than predicted']( [UK does not have clear exit strategy, says leading Covid-19 scientist]( [How China stopped coronavirus]( [Trump says US may withhold funding from World Health Organisation]( [Teenage pilot flies medical supplies to hospitals during pandemic]( [Mental health support line set up for NHS workers after PTSD warnings]( [Get 3 months for £3]( Suggested for you [Coronavirus news you might have missed overnight]( [Johnson to stay in hospital amid concerns of 'power vacuum' - live]( [Fury as Wisconsin voters forced to risk coronavirus at polling station]( [Republican in protective gear tells voters it's 'safe to go out']( [Sharon Stone trolls Bernie Sanders ahead of Wisconsin primary]( ['What a terrible image': Trudeau says 'moistly' in briefing]( [Trump denounces mail voting as corrupt, but he will do so]( Please do not reply directly to this email. You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.