Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps the Government is taking to protect the health of individuals who live with or care for those with weakened immune systems.

Guidance has been published for people who are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 because of an underlying health condition, and for their family, friends and carers. This is available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.

Further communications to individuals on their risks have been sent by the National Health Service.

Guidance has also been published on social distancing for everyone in the United Kingdom and protecting older people and vulnerable persons. This includes advice for those at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. This guidance is available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults