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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: Who should be shielding? | Coronavirus: Who should be shielding? |
| (10 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Coming out of lockdown | |
| 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. | |
| From Monday 1 June, people in England and Wales who are shielding have been able to spend some time outdoors again, while continuing to follow social distancing rules. In Northern Ireland, this change came in on 8 June. | |
| It means those with families can go out once a day with members of their household. People living alone can meet someone from another household while maintaining social distancing - keeping 2m apart. | |
| Scotland says it will not consider recommending the same until 31 July at the earliest. | |
| Who should shield? | Who should shield? |
| Those most at risk, who include: | Those most at risk, who include: |
| While it is true that the risk from coronavirus goes up with age, more than half of those shielding are under the age of 70, say officials. More than 90,000 are children. | |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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) 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Similar support is available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | |
| How long will shielding last? | How long will shielding last? |
| In England, people have been asked to shield until the end of June and this date will be reviewed; In Wales it's 16 August; in Scotland it's 31 July; and in Northern Ireland people have been advised to shield for at least 12 weeks from when they were first told to. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 by exercising indoors or in your garden if that's possible. | Keep physically active by exercising indoors or in your garden if that's possible. |
| 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. | |