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.
COVID-19 case numbers are now very high and rising rapidly across the country, driven by the new variant of COVID-19.
Everyone in England, including those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, is required to follow the new national lockdown guidance, which has been set out by the government and applies 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.
- Support children and young people to learn remotely until February half term, except for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers who may still attend school.
The new information below includes additional guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people, to help protect you from COVID-19. We will also write to you with a version of this guidance.
These new formal shielding measures will apply across the whole of England during the period of national lockdown.
You can call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm) to arrange volunteer support.
While the Government funded medicine delivery service will stop in line with shielding being paused, you can still contact NHS Volunteer Responders to ask for someone to pick up prescriptions for you, or use an online NHS pharmacy who also offer free delivery of medicines. Your current pharmacy may also have arrangements in place, and you can contact them directly to enquire.