Guidance

COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable

Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

Published 21 March 2020
Last updated 8 July 2020 — see all updates
From:
Public Health England
Applies to:
England

Documents

Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19

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COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus

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COVID-19: guidance on protecting people most likely to get very poorly from coronavirus (shielding) - an easy-read guide

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: GW-1392 PDF, 2MB, 18 pages

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Details

This is national guidance. If local restrictions are in place in your area, please visit local lockdowns guidance

This guidance is for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable, including children. It’s also for their family, friends and carers.

People who are clinically extremely vulnerable should have received a letter telling them they’re in this group or been told by their GP.

It’s for situations where a clinically extremely vulnerable person is living at home, with or without additional support. This includes clinically extremely vulnerable people living in long-term care facilities for the elderly or people with special needs.

If you have been told that you’re clinically extremely vulnerable, you should:

  • follow the advice in this guidance
  • register online even if you do not need additional support now

Following recent changes to this guidance, the translations are currently being updated and will be published shortly.

Published 21 March 2020
Last updated 8 July 2020 + show all updates

  1. Added link to local lockdowns guidance.

  2. Updated guidance to include clinical risk to children and young people. These changes apply from 6 July 2020.

  3. Updated guidance with changes that apply from 6 July 2020.

  4. Updated guidance on shielding and social distancing.

  5. Easy-read guidance added.

  6. Updated guidance.

  7. Updated guidance for young people to reflect that those who are shielding can now leave their homes.

  8. Updated guidance in line with changes to the regulations which come into force on 1 June 2020.

  9. Updated guidance.

  10. Updated information on symptoms.

  11. Added translated guidance.

  12. Updated 'Shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19'.

  13. Added translated guidance.

  14. Added Coronavirus (COVID-19): an easy-read guide on protecting extremely vulnerable people.

  15. First published.

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