Guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable

Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 has been updated following the announcement of the Covid alert tier system.

General advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people at all local COVID alert levels is below. In addition to this, you should check the COVID alert level of your local area (Salford is 'High Alert Level'). If you are required to travel into an area at a different local COVID alert level (for example to go to work or school), you should follow the guidance for whichever area has the higher alert level. 

• Continue to maintain strict social distancing
• You should continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual and maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and/or workspace
• You can go outside as much as you like but you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low. The fewer social interactions you have, the lower your risk of catching COVID-19.
• Consider shopping or going to the pharmacy at quieter times of the day.
• Everyone is currently advised to work from home where possible if you can not work from home you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-secure.
• If you need to travel, walk or cycle if you can. For longer journeys, or if you are unable to walk or cycle, try to minimise the number of people you come into close contact with.
• All pupils and students should continue to attend education settings at all local COVID alert levels unless they are one of the very small number of pupils or students under paediatric care and have been advised by their GP or clinician not to attend an education setting. Schools have their own measures in place to limit the risk of transmission which can be found in guidance on the re-opening of schools.

For practical tips on staying safe, see the guidance on how to stay safe outside your home.

You will still be able to get:

• Local volunteer support by contacting your local authority
• Prescriptions, essential items and food you buy delivered by NHS Volunteer Responders
• Priority slots for supermarket deliveries (if you previously registered for free food parcels)

Read the full guidance here.