Surely now is the time.......

I should add they don't want to be ill, obviously, but they don't want to be cooped up at home hardly seeing a soul and not getting the socialising 'fix' that they, like everyone else, need.

Vulnerable people deserve as much freedom as non-vulnerable people.

Some of the old, vulnerable, but previously very community involved people I know wonder what they are "shielding" themselves for when they haven't got much life left anyway.

Life is more than just avoiding death <<< that's quote from some philosopher; sorry can't remember who.

Exactly, if you are that vulnerable that you cannot go in the shop for 20 minutes then you should not be out at all ....

Agree. And no exemptions. No one needs to be in a shop for very long.