Coronavirus Hub

Shielding is back in all but name

Shielding has been reintroduced for those who are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’.

The updated guidance is that if someone has received a letter because they have one of the listed conditions or if they are are advised by their doctor/consultant that they are clinically extremely vulnerable then they should work from home and if they cannot do so they are ‘strongly advised’ not to go to work.

This does not apply to those living in the affected person’s household or to children who are no longer considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable even if they have one of these conditions. Those who are unable to work from home can claim SSP, employment support allowance or universal credit or may be eligible for the furlough scheme. The list of conditions has changed from before – presumably from data of those who have been seriously ill or lost their lives because of the virus.