Coronavirus shielding guidance and support

The situation is changing daily, as are updates from the Government. You can find out the latest Government advice by regularly checking in on www.gov.uk or here.

Shielding has been paused across the country and restrictions are easing. However, the government is advising caution for those who are clinically vulnerable. Please follow the links below to read the current advice in your region. 

As the government moves from offering guidance and rules to a message of personal responsibility, The Aplastic Anaemia Trust knows this will put extra pressure on people who are vulnerable and their loved ones to make difficult decisions and set boundaries with those around them. Find some advice from us on how to stay safe and ask for reasonable compromises from your friends, colleagues and loved ones here. 

Below, we have summarised the changes in advice for people living in England, and we will update the information for people living in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as soon as further information is released.

REGIONAL ADVICE ON SHIELDING AND PROTECTION MEASURES

ENGLAND - more information available here (Updated 13 July 2021)

• The government recently announced that most Coronavirus restrictions in England will be relaxed from Monday 19^th July, including social distancing measures and the mandatory requirement to wear face coverings. Whilst the official guidance suggests that people who are immunocompromised should follow ‘at least’ the same level of precautions as other people, we recommend that you consider taking further steps to keep yourself safe.

  Meeting other people

  From 19^th July, limits on the number of people or number of households that you can meet will be removed. Furthermore, the requirement to socially distance will also be removed.

  To keep yourself safe, we strongly recommend that you consider the following:

  • Meeting people outside, wherever possible
  • If it is not possible to meet outdoors, make sure that the space indoors is well ventilated
  • Ask your friends and family to continue practising social distancing around you, or ask them to take a lateral flow test before they meet you

  You may be feeling under pressure from friends and family to meet up and socialise now that restrictions are being eased. Whatever your choice is, it is important that you feel safe and comfortable – so don’t be afraid to say no if you don’t feel comfortable about meeting up.

  Going to work

  From 19^th July, the Government’s advice to work from home will be withdrawn.

  Employers still have a legal obligation to protect their employees from harm in the workplace, and they should be able to explain the measures that they have implemented to keep you safe at work. As someone who is immunocompromised, you can also ask your employer to carry out an individual risk assessment to take your circumstances into account, to ensure that reasonable adjustments are put into place to keep you safe.

  The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, also known as furlough will remain available until 30^th September. Although shielding has been paused, you may still be eligible for furlough if your employer agrees. The Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will also be available until 30^th September. You may also be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) if you are unwell or unable to work due to Coronavirus or other reasons.

  If you have any concerns about your safety at work, we recommend that you discuss this with your manager. You can also raise your concerns with your union if you are a member, the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority.

  As someone with a long term condition, existing legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 continues to protect you against discrimination and unfair dismissal on the grounds of your health. We have more information available about your rights at work on our website, which you can find by clicking here.

  Travel

  We strongly recommend that you avoid using public transport wherever possible, or travel at quieter times to keep yourself safe. It is also important that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded places. If you are travelling on public transport and it is busy, consider waiting a little longer for a quieter service if you are able to.

  Shopping

  To keep yourself safe, we strongly recommend that you go shopping at quieter times if you can. Although social distancing measures and a legal requirement to wear a face covering in shops will be removed on 19^th July, it is important that you continue to follow these measures to keep yourself safe.

  Consider shopping online or asking friends and family members to go shopping for you, if you are able to do so. Priority access to supermarket delivery slots for people who were shielding was withdrawn on 21^st June, however, you should still be able to book a delivery slot in the normal way.

  How we can help

  We understand how worrying the relaxation of restrictions is for our community, and we are here to help.

  If you are feeling worried or concerned, please feel free to contact our support team by email at [email protected], or by phone on 0300 102 3202.

  If you are concerned about your mental wellbeing, why not join us for Wellbeing Wednesdays? We hold a group session on Zoom every Wednesday at 5 pm, which is a great opportunity to talk about things that are worrying you, and access support from Lesley, a Clinical Psychologist from Maggie’s. Everyone is very welcome to join us, and you can find more information by clicking here.

  I am a friend or family member of someone with aplastic anaemia. What can I do to support them?

  With all the changes to Coronavirus restrictions, your friend or relative may feel worried about meeting up in person. Here are a few things that you could do to support them and make them feel more comfortable.

  1. Wear your mask!
  2. Speak up – ask others to wear masks or socially distance, to help support the person and help them feel like it’s not just them asking
  3. Offer to set up a Zoom call, or find online events and activities that you can do together

WALES - more information available here

Shielding measures are currently paused. This means you can: 

• go to work, if you cannot work from home, as long as the business is Covid-secure (has taken reasonable measures to minimise risk to employees) 
• children who have been following shielding measures can return to school when appropriate for their year group 

People on the shielding patient list must still follow the same rules as the rest of the population in Wales, but are also advised to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe from coronavirus. 

From 1 April

From 1 April, shielding measures in Wales will be paused. From this point, you may go to work if you are unable to work from home, as long as your workplace is 'COVID secure'.

Children who are clinically extremely vulnerable, and have been shielding will also be able to return to school with their year group at the appropriate time.

SCOTLAND - more information available here

Scotland follows a COVID-19 levels system (0-4). Each has a different set of rules on what you can and cannot do. Find out the level and rules for an area. You can find out what protection level your area is in here. Mainland Scotland is currently generally level 1-2 and the Islands level 0.

The Scottish Parliament has announced that from 19 July the whole of Scotland will move to Level 0 if all necessary vaccination and harm reduction measures are met, but this timetable is not set in stone. 

Everyone, including those on the shielding list, has been told they can return to work and use public transport, but businesses are still advised to "support working from home where possible and appropriate" for those who are clinically vulnerable. 

NORTHERN IRELAND - more information available here

In Northern Ireland, individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable should follow the general guidance that has been given. 

The government is advising that those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should remember that, whilst the rates of virus activity are currently relatively low, the virus is still circulating in our communities. The easing of restrictions will likely also see an increase in rates of virus activity. For that reason, while you can take part in the re-opening of society, it is vitally important that you continue to exercise great care. 

You are advised to work from home where possible, limit contact with people and follow social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing guidance. 

WHO IS "EXTREMELY VULNERABLE"? 

You are likely to be assessed as extremely vulnerable if you are on any kind of immunosuppression therapy. If you are an aplastic anaemia patient, we strongly recommend that you speak to your clinicians - they will be expecting your questions and will know exactly what to recommend for your individual circumstances. 

MENTAL WELL-BEING

The AAT has put new services in place to support you. If you are feeling anxious and concerned about your mental health, you do not have to struggle with this alone.

We are working with Maggies to deliver a series of Wellbeing Webinars designed to give you useful tools and advice to protect your mental health.

Wellbeing Wednesday is a weekly online support group, delivered by Lesley from Maggie's. You can join in any time you like for a supportive chat with other people in similar situations, led by an expert. 

Our Support Team, Sam Fiona and Kim, are here to help: contact our support line.

A compilation of helpful free online resources to help you cope with the Coronavirus crisis, as recommended by the team of psychologists in the Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London - here.

ADVICE

• The latest guidance document produced by NICE for children and young people who are immunocompromised, published on 1 May 2020 - here. 
• The latest advice from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on stem cell transplantation, 1.4.2020 - here. 
• Advice from King's College Hospital Haematology Team for aplastic anaemia patients, 27.3.2020 - here.
• Advice for children and young people with haematology and oncology diagnoses at Great Ormond Street Hospital - here.
• Advice for patients (transplant and CAR T) from Department of Clinical Haematology, King's College Hospital - here.
• The latest advice from Public Health England for shielding the most vulnerable - here.

The latest advice for Bone Marrow Transplant Patients:

• The latest guidance from the UK/Ireland Paediatric BMT Group: GUIDELINES FOR COVID19 IN PAED HSCT PATIENTS is available here
• The latest guidance from the British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy for BMT adult patients is available here
  

For more information about COVID-19 and how to reduce the risk of infection, you can consult the NHS website.

Did we answer your questions?

Our team are working hard to keep our Coronavirus Resources useful and up to date. If you have a question that isn't answered here, or you have an issue you would like our help with, please email us at [email protected] or call our helpline on +44 (0) 300 102 3202.

Last Updated: 13 July 2021