On 18 March 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care published a press release explaining that, in line with the government’s COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021 roadmap, those on the shielded patient list can from 1 April 2021 begin to follow the national restrictions alongside the rest of the population, but are still advised to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe from COVID-19. The full press release can be read here.
Similarly, on 18 March 2021 Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care updated the COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable, to include translations of the latest changes which includes guidance to reflect the new shielding end date, and updated shopping and support sections. The revised guidance can be accessed here.
A copy of a letter dated 17 March 2021 sent to people, defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable, sets out practical steps those people can follow to reduce their risk of catching the virus, including continuing to maintain strict social distancing, and to keep their overall social contacts at low levels, such as working from home where possible.
The letter can be accessed here.
Local VCSE organisations supporting people who are defined as extremely vulnerable based on medical grounds may want to read about the changes in order that their service delivery can be revised to support those communities.