Health

Shielding not needed yet, despite rising Covid rate

By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online
  • 13 October 2020
A woman is treated with chemotherapy Image copyright Science Photo Library
Image caption Cancer patients need to take extra care

Shielding is not being reintroduced in England, despite rising levels of coronavirus across most of the nation.

Government advisors say that, unlike in March, there are other protective measures in place - such as the rule of six and the wearing of face coverings in shops - to help reduce the spread.

But people should take precautions to avoid getting Covid.

Those who were on the shielding list will receive a letter about the advice with tips on how they should do this.

The advice is tailored according to the local Covid alert level the person lives in, using the new three-tier system:

Medium alert level:

  • Strictly observe social distancing
  • Meet others outside where possible
  • Limit unnecessary journeys on public transport
  • Work from home where possible
  • People can still go to work and children should still attend school.
  • Rule of six applies

High alert level:

  • Reduce the number of different people you meet outside
  • Avoid travel except for essential journeys
  • Work from home where possible
  • Reduce the number of shopping trips made or go at quieter times of the day
  • Going to work - in Covid-secure workplaces - permitted if they cannot work from home
  • Children should still attend school
  • Restrictions on not meeting other households indoors, unless part of a support bubble apply as does the rule meet in groups of no more than six outdoors

Very high alert level:

  • Work from home
  • Stay at home as much as possible
  • Avoid all but essential travel
  • Reduce shopping trips, and if possible use online delivery or ask people in your household, support bubble or volunteers to collect food and medicines
  • People in these areas are encouraged to still go outside for exercise, and can still go to school and to work if they cannot work from home
  • Additional support should be available from local authorities

Shielding advice will not automatically be triggered by an area going into tier three.

But it may be reintroduced in the future in hotspot areas in exceptional circumstances.

If that happens, people at high risk would again be advised to stay at home, not go to work or school and limit social interactions to their own household and support bubble.

Advisers said it was about striking a balance - protecting health but not being too stringent with measures that can take a toll on people's wellbeing.