30th June 2020
Important Advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Government advice for those shielding in England is changing soon.
Important Advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Government advice for those shielding in England
is changing soon.
An update for those people shielding has been released, full details found here :
Some details from this government update are below:
Throughout the epidemic we have been clear on the
need to balance the risk of the disease to those who
are clinically extremely vulnerable with the benefits of
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gradually returning to normal life. We know that the
shielding guidance has been challenging to follow and
that it will take time to adjust.
The latest scientific evidence shows that the
prevalence of disease across all English regions has
continued to decline. If this trend continues as we
expect it to, the Government will further relax its
shielding advice in two stages on 6 July and 1
August.
From 6 July:
• you may, if you wish, meet in a group of up to 6
people outdoors, including people from different
households, while maintaining strict social
distancing;
• you no longer need to observe social distancing with
other members of your household;
• in line with the wider guidance for single adult
households (either an adult living alone or with
dependent children under 18) in the general
population, you may from this date, if you wish, also
form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household.
All those in a support bubble will be able to spend
time together inside each other’s homes, including
overnight, without needing to socially distance. This
is a small advisory change that brings those
affected a step nearer others in their communities.
However, all the other current shielding advice will
remain unchanged at this time.
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From 1 August the advice to ‘shield’ will be paused.
From this date, the Government is advising you to
adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding
measures. Strict social distancing means you may
wish to go out to more places and see more people
but you should take particular care to minimise
contact with others outside your household or support
bubble.
In practice, this means from 1 August you are advised
that you no longer need to shield. This means that
from 1 August:
• you can go to work, if you cannot work from home,
as long as the business is COVID-safe;
• children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can
return to their education settings if they are eligible
and in line with their peers. Where possible children
should practise frequent hand washing and social
distancing;
• you can go outside to buy food, to places of worship
and for exercise but you should maintain strict social
distancing; and
• you should remain cautious as you are still at risk of
severe illness if you catch Coronavirus, so the
advice is to stay at home where possible and, if you
do go out, follow strict social distancing.
More detailed guidance will appear on gov.uk when
the changes come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.
For all the most up to date guidelines on coronavirus please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus
