Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
Posted on 13th November 2020
Read the full government guidance here
Who this guidance is for
This guidance is for everyone in England who has been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable. If you are in this group, you will previously have received a letter from the NHS or from your GP telling you this. You may have been advised to shield in the past.
This guidance applies to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals only. Others living in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable are not advised to follow this guidance. They should instead continue to attend work and school in accordance with the general advice and regulations set out in the national restrictions guidance from 5 November.
What has changed
COVID-19 case numbers are rising rapidly across the whole of the UK.
Everyone in England, including those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, is required to follow the new national restrictions from 5 November, which have been set out by the government and apply to the whole population. These restrictions:
- require people to stay at home, except for specific purposes
- prevent people gathering with those they do not live with, except for specific purposes
- close certain businesses and venues
The new information below includes additional guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people, to help protect you from coronavirus (COVID-19). We will also write to you with a version of this guidance.
These new shielding measures will apply nationally for 4 weeks up to 2 December. At the end of the period, we will look to return to a regional approach and will issue further guidance at the time.
