Shielding the extremely vulnerable
From 1 August the government has paused shielding.
Shielding is a measure to protect people, including children, who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus because of an underlying health condition.
Those identified by the NHS as clinically extremely vulnerable were advised to stay at home for at least 12 weeks to ‘shield’ them from contracting coronavirus.
From 6 July, those who are shielding can:
- meet in a group of up to six people outdoors, including people from other homes, but must maintain social distancing
- stop observing social distancing with other members of your home
- if a single adult household (either an adult living alone or with dependent children under 18), also form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household.
This means if you were shielding you may adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding measures.
- Further information on the national shielding programme
- Register for support yourself, or on behalf of someone else
There are three types of support available for people who live alone and do not have the support of local family and friends:
- Essential grocery supplies delivered direct to you
- Medicines delivered direct to you
- Social contact / basic care needs
Where an extremely vulnerable person has urgent needs, they should contact us directly.