Updated advice on shielding: 13 October
Healthwatch England has updated its information sheet on shielding to reflect the new Government guidance effective from 13th October 2020. The focus is more on protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable based on the local situation rather than one piece of advice covering everyone. This does mean that it's trying to reflect more complex guidance. Healthwatch England has highlighted the key areas that people need to know about but kept in links to overall guidance for reference.
Changes to Government shielding advice, issued 13 October
From 1 August 2020, people who are clinically extremely vulnerable were advised that shielding had been paused. With the introduction of the three COVID-19 alert levels from 14 October 2020, the guidance has been updated.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will receive new guidance to help them reduce their risk from coronavirus, tailored to the risk of their local area.
A Very High COVID-19 alert level does not mean you have to shield. Shielding is considered as an additional intervention agreed by ministers under advice from local public health experts and the Chief Medical Officer or Deputy Chief Medical Officer.
The Government will write to people at the highest risk of serious illness in areas of very high infection rates if they are advised to adopt formal shielding again.