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| Coronavirus: Who should be shielding? | Coronavirus: Who should be shielding? |
| (14 days later) | |
| About 2.5 million people most at risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus are being asked to stay at home. | About 2.5 million people most at risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus are being asked to stay at home. |
| This "shielding" is to protect lives. | This "shielding" is to protect lives. |
| Why do it? | Why do it? |
| While everyone is being advised to keep their distance from other people to help stop the spread of coronavirus, some people with underlying health conditions need to take even more precautions to protect themselves. | While everyone is being advised to keep their distance from other people to help stop the spread of coronavirus, some people with underlying health conditions need to take even more precautions to protect themselves. |
| The virus poses a high risk if someone who is shielding is exposed to it. | The virus poses a high risk if someone who is shielding is exposed to it. |
| Coming out of lockdown | Coming out of lockdown |
| The guidance on shielding is being kept under review. | The guidance on shielding is being kept under review. |
| Infection levels in the community are now falling so the risk of exposure is significantly less than it has been. | Infection levels in the community are now falling so the risk of exposure is significantly less than it has been. |
| People who are shielding in England and Northern Ireland are able to spend some time outdoors, as long as they continue to follow social distancing rules. They can also gather in groups of up to six people outdoors, including individuals outside of their household, and form a "support bubble" with one other household. | |
| People shielding in Scotland and Wales have been told they can also now spend time outdoors for exercise, either on their own, with their family or with people from another household. | People shielding in Scotland and Wales have been told they can also now spend time outdoors for exercise, either on their own, with their family or with people from another household. |
| Single adults or single parents who are shielding will be able to bubble with any household, and households with a shielded person in it can also bubble with any single person (or single adult with children). | Single adults or single parents who are shielding will be able to bubble with any household, and households with a shielded person in it can also bubble with any single person (or single adult with children). |
| In England and Northern Ireland, the shielding advice is set to be paused from 31 July. After that date people will no longer need to shield but should take particular care when outside and strictly maintain social distancing. | In England and Northern Ireland, the shielding advice is set to be paused from 31 July. After that date people will no longer need to shield but should take particular care when outside and strictly maintain social distancing. |
| Who should shield? | Who should shield? |
| Those most at risk, who include: | Those most at risk, who include: |
| Anyone in this highest-risk category who has not yet received a letter from the NHS or been contacted by their doctor should get in touch with their GP or hospital doctor by phone or online. | Anyone in this highest-risk category who has not yet received a letter from the NHS or been contacted by their doctor should get in touch with their GP or hospital doctor by phone or online. |
| This does not include all elderly people, although they are strongly advised to practise social distancing. | This does not include all elderly people, although they are strongly advised to practise social distancing. |
| What about children? | |
| In England, the vast majority of children considered extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 will no longer need to shield from the end of the July. | |
| New guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says that most youngsters with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and kidney disease do not need to continue to shield and could, for example, go back to school. | |
| Just over 90,000 people shielding are under 18. However, children will only be removed from the shielding list by their GP or specialist doctor after discussions with the child and their family. | |
| Is it compulsory? | Is it compulsory? |
| Experts strongly advise people with serious underlying health conditions to follow the advice. If this applies to you, shielding is for your personal protection - it is your choice to decide whether to follow the recommendations. | Experts strongly advise people with serious underlying health conditions to follow the advice. If this applies to you, shielding is for your personal protection - it is your choice to decide whether to follow the recommendations. |
| You could call your doctor to discuss this. | You could call your doctor to discuss this. |
| What does it entail? | What does it entail? |
| It means staying at home and following the guidelines. You should not go out to work, to shop or visit friends in their homes. | It means staying at home and following the guidelines. You should not go out to work, to shop or visit friends in their homes. |
| You should avoid any face-to-face contact, so that means no visitors. | You should avoid any face-to-face contact, so that means no visitors. |
| Visits from people who provide you with essential healthcare and personal support are fine. Carers and care workers should stay away if they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, and anyone coming into your home should keep their hands clean by washing them with soap and water. | Visits from people who provide you with essential healthcare and personal support are fine. Carers and care workers should stay away if they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, and anyone coming into your home should keep their hands clean by washing them with soap and water. |
| What about any people I live with? | What about any people I live with? |
| They do not need to shield themselves but must make sure they follow recommendations to shield you. | They do not need to shield themselves but must make sure they follow recommendations to shield you. |
| They should also stringently follow the guidance on social distancing. | They should also stringently follow the guidance on social distancing. |
| They should also keep some physical distance (2m when possible) from you and keep to a minimum the time spent in shared spaces such as the kitchen, bathroom and lounge. Shared spaces should be kept well ventilated - open a window. | They should also keep some physical distance (2m when possible) from you and keep to a minimum the time spent in shared spaces such as the kitchen, bathroom and lounge. Shared spaces should be kept well ventilated - open a window. |
| If you can, use a separate bathroom and bedroom from the rest of the household, and also make sure you use separate towels. | If you can, use a separate bathroom and bedroom from the rest of the household, and also make sure you use separate towels. |
| If you share a toilet and bathroom, make sure they are cleaned after every use. Consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities first. | If you share a toilet and bathroom, make sure they are cleaned after every use. Consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities first. |
| Use the kitchen when others are not in there and take your meals back to your room to eat. Coronavirus is spread through droplets (from coughs and sneezes), so do not share cutlery or crockery unless it is clean. Use a dishwasher if you have one. Soap or washing-up liquid and water gets rid of the virus too. | Use the kitchen when others are not in there and take your meals back to your room to eat. Coronavirus is spread through droplets (from coughs and sneezes), so do not share cutlery or crockery unless it is clean. Use a dishwasher if you have one. Soap or washing-up liquid and water gets rid of the virus too. |
| Keep surfaces that are frequently touched - door handles, taps and handrails - clean. | Keep surfaces that are frequently touched - door handles, taps and handrails - clean. |
| What about my medicine and food? | What about my medicine and food? |
| People in England can register to get essential food and medicine supplies if friends or family cannot help. | People in England can register to get essential food and medicine supplies if friends or family cannot help. |
| Similar support is available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Similar support is available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| People will retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots, and still be able to access help with shopping, medication, phone calls and transport to medical appointments when shielding is eased in England and Northern Ireland on 1 August. | People will retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots, and still be able to access help with shopping, medication, phone calls and transport to medical appointments when shielding is eased in England and Northern Ireland on 1 August. |
| How long will shielding last? | How long will shielding last? |
| The ultimate ambition is to be able to control the virus enough so that people can move out of shielding. A vaccine could help enable this. | The ultimate ambition is to be able to control the virus enough so that people can move out of shielding. A vaccine could help enable this. |
| What should I do if I get a cough or fever? | What should I do if I get a cough or fever? |
| These are symptoms of coronavirus. It does not mean that you definitely have it, but you should contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service, or call NHS 111 or your doctor. Do this as soon as you get symptoms. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or hospital. | These are symptoms of coronavirus. It does not mean that you definitely have it, but you should contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service, or call NHS 111 or your doctor. Do this as soon as you get symptoms. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or hospital. |
| In an emergency, call 999 if you are seriously ill. | In an emergency, call 999 if you are seriously ill. |
| Other tips to stay safe and well | Other tips to stay safe and well |
| Good hygiene can stop the virus spreading: | Good hygiene can stop the virus spreading: |
| Keep physically active. | Keep physically active. |
| Look after your mental wellbeing. Stay in touch with friends on the phone, by post or online. | Look after your mental wellbeing. Stay in touch with friends on the phone, by post or online. |
| Prepare a hospital bag just in case. This should include your emergency contact, a list of medicines you take and any information on your planned care appointments, as well as things you would need for an overnight stay, such as a toothbrush and pyjamas. | Prepare a hospital bag just in case. This should include your emergency contact, a list of medicines you take and any information on your planned care appointments, as well as things you would need for an overnight stay, such as a toothbrush and pyjamas. |