Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 30th September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the Government has not advised clinically vulnerable people to shield at this stage in the covid-19 outbreak.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 27th November 2020

Shielding advice is only applicable to people who those who have been identified as being clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Previous shielding advice helped protect those most at risk from COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic, but many people told us they found this advice very restrictive. The current guidance is designed to offer practical and proportionate advice to help people protect themselves and minimise the need to introduce the most restrictive forms of shielding. This reflects the latest advice from senior clinicians, based on our current understanding of the virus. During the current period of national restrictions (4 November to 1 December) those who are clinically extremely vulnerable have been advised to stay at home where possible, and to avoid going to work or the shops. They have received a letter outlining the guidance and the support that is available to them. This letter can be used as evidence to an employer or the Department for Work and Pensions for Statutory Sick Pay or other benefit purposes.

It is important that guidance and support to the clinically extremely vulnerable balances the risk of exposure to the virus with the potential negative consequences of shielding for a prolonged period. The guidance to clinically extremely vulnerable people is regularly reviewed and the Government will not hesitate to make necessary changes.

Individuals who are clinically vulnerable are advised to be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise contact with others as well as washing their hands carefully and more frequently than usual.

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