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People with underlying health conditions say they have mixed emotions as protection ends up for around 130,000 in Wales.
Those most vulnerable to Covid-19 have been asked to stay indoors since the start of the pandemic.
Richard Bluck, 37, is so vulnerable that he says he may not be able to hug his daughter until a fax machine is found.
People who were protected are advised to pay strict attention to physical distance and good hand hygiene.
And the Welsh government has said that the situation could change again in the future as cases start to arise.
But some groups working to stop sun protection is too much of a risk, with patients for transplants told by the Renal Association and Kidney Care UK to ignore “government advice” on stopping the shield.
The Welsh Government advised these people to talk to their doctor.
Mr Bluck, who has cystic fibrosis (CF) and underwent a double lung transplant in 2018, has been protected since early March.
His eight-year-old daughter Evelyn lives with his ex-wife, who is a nurse.
“It may be when a vaccine is found that it will be the next time I hug my daughter,” he said.
“The hardest part of the initial lockdown was not seeing my daughter for long at all.”
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Richard Bluck
Richard Bluck, pictured with his daughter before the pandemic, says Evelyn mostly understands the situation
He added: “Even when the lockdown ended, Evelyn came over to visit me in the garden, but that was still at a distance and that is a very unnatural thing, no hugs and playing and talking at a distance.
“When she was eight in July, it was really strange not to give your daughter a hug on her birthday. That’s the hardest part of it all.”
Mr. Bluck said his daughter mostly understands why her contact is so limited.
“It’s so hard to say, but it could cost me my life.
“The mind of a child will not think in time as an adult does and there will be tears and emotions from both of us.
“I’m just being honest with her and explaining what would happen to Dad if I caught the virus.
“Because she’s seen me before at death, she knows I had a second chance at life.
“She would never forgive herself if she thought she could be responsible for her father’s death, is basically what comes up. That I do not want to put her in that situation.”
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Richard Bluck
Richard Bluck’s only chance of survival was a transplant
Mr Bluck, from Glamorgan’s Llysworney in Vale, has been living with CF since birth and is on immunosuppressive therapy – which lowers his immune response to stop it from damaging organs or damaging it.
He almost died before his transplant, with his lung function declining as his CF in his 30s diminished. By March 2018, he was hospitalized in Llandough, Cardiff, and remained there for six months until he was taken to Harefield Hospital in London, the largest specialist heart and lung center in the United Kingdom.
“My left lung had started to disintegrate and the infection was leaking from the lungs and into the bloodstream causing sepsis.
“I also had a small heart attack. My only chance of survival was a transplant.”
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Richard Bluck
Richard Bluck nearly died, but was fortunate to be able to receive a double lung transplant soon
Mr. Bluck was only on the waiting list for two weeks before a suitable set of lungs became available and he could have the transplant.
“It gave me a second chance at life, so for me to be impatient and to say we’ve forgetting this virus for a moment is not worth the risk.
“I know some people find it very difficult and that they will take that risk, but from what I have experienced, I feel that this is the only sensible option so that Evelyn can have her father for much longer.”
Mr. Bluck has worked from home and will do so after the shields end – meaning he can choose to continue with shields.
I know a lot of people will think ‘thank God for that, I’m on holiday, maybe even abroad’, which is honest enough, but for me personally the risk is still there, the virus is not there yet. “
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Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Board
Badges with the image of a yellow shield are scattered across the NHS in Wales
Age Cymru conducted a survey on how older people feel about stopping shielding, saying it received a mixed response.
CEO Victoria Lloyd said: “A lot of older people are looking forward to shielding out so they can visit more places and see more people.
“However, we know that many are concerned about reconnecting with their communities. This concern seems to be thanks to reports from people who gather in large numbers or do not follow government leadership.
“Others have told us they have lost their self-confidence and are worried about mixing with others in shopping malls or on public transportation.”
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Getty Images
Protecting people are sent letters updating them on the latest situation
The charity requires supermarkets to maintain designated times for vulnerable people so that they can continue shopping in quieter times, and that priority food and pharmaceutical supplies should remain.
Frank Atherton, the Chief Medical Officer of Wales, said: “At the moment we are seeing very few new cases in Wales and that means we now have room to speak out against the most vulnerable people … they can start recovering with society, begin to return to their normal lives. “
He said anyone who came out of protection had a very good chance of coming into contact with coronavirus – and that there was a window of opportunity in the hot weather while the transmissions were low.
“I am very grateful to those people who have been in the protection group, they have protected themselves and they have protected the NHS by not getting sick.
“They will naturally be very scared about coming out, we need to make sure we support people in their ability to do that.
“We should not underestimate the consequences of mental health from being stopped and not be able to deal with people.”
He said the situation could change as winter arrives.
