The guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID 19 was updated by Public Health England and the UK Government to coincide with the national lockdown restrictions that were implemented in England on Thursday, 5 November, 2020. The latest shielding advice and guidance can be viewed on the Government website.

It is for people in England who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable. You will know if you are in this group if you previously received a letter from the NHS or from your GP advising you to shield.

The updated guidance applies to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals only.

If you live in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, you are not advised to follow this guidance, but you should follow the restrictions set out in the national restrictions guidance from 5 November.

These new shielding measures will apply until Wednesday, 2 December, 2020.

The Government shielding guidance has been slightly relaxed so that those who are shielding can meet in groups of up to 6 outdoors and to form "support bubbles", if they wish. In addition to these changes, the guidance has been updated to reflect the Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health’s guidance on children and shielding, which the government has now endorsed. Children and young people should continue to shield until 31 July 2020.

HIGH RISK (EXTREMELY VULNERABLE) SHIELDING PATIENTS NOTICE