'Clinically extremely vulnerable' living in tier 4 areas told to shield again

People who are on the government’s ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ list are advised to shield again if they live in tier 4 areas of England to protect them from exposure to the coronavirus.

The Department of Health and Social Care has published new guidance, which came into force on 20 December, for people on the list.

The guidance advises these individuals to shield to protect themselves from the coronavirus by staying at home and not going out to work.

Individuals will be contacted in writing with a new shielding notification to confirm that they are required to shield again.

Shielding in tier 4 areas will be subject to review, the government stated and is ‘only for a limited period of time’.

Under the guidance, those described as clinically extremely vulnerable people do not need to shield if they live in tiers 1, 2, or 3 areas and can still go to work.

Those on the clinically extremely vulnerable list include people already receiving care and support in their own homes as well as key workers.

Individuals who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus, are defined as 'clinically extremely vulnerable' if:

1. Their clinician or GP has added them to the Shielded Patient List because they deem them to be at higher risk of serious illness if they catch the virus

Or

2. They are people with one or more of the conditions listed by the government such as: • Recipients of solid organ transplants.

• People with cancer and those who are undergoing chemotherapy.

• Those with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease).

• People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.

• Adults with Down’s Syndrome.

• Adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5).

Councilllor Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA)’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “We urge anyone in Tier 4 who shielded in the November lockdown or has subsequently been asked to shield to follow the shielding advice, stay at home and contact your local council if you need support.

“Driving strong local action and tougher restrictions will add further pressure to already over-stretched council budgets. It remains imperative that the Government meets, in full, all the extra costs councils incur as a result of leading communities through the pandemic and income losses they suffer as a result.

“This new variant of the virus will undoubtedly be causing stress and worry for us all. It is incredibly important that everyone continues to play their part in stopping the spread.”