Coronavirus: Sick Leave

(asked on 22nd October 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the need for further guidance on (a) shielding and (b) support available for clinically vulnerable groups to be able to retain their work and income during the covid-19 outbreak.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 24th November 2020

Shielding was paused on 1 August 2020 in England. On 13 October, the Government published new guidance to the clinically extremely vulnerable that advises additional things they are advised to do to keep themselves safe at each local COVID alert level. We are writing out to all those on the shielded patient list to inform them of the new guidance and the support that is available. Those who are identified as clinically vulnerable, should continue to follow the same advice as the rest of the population within that local COVID alert level.

Currently, everyone is advised to work from home if they are able. If not, they should return to the workplace. Employers are required to take steps to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, ensuring the workplace is COVID-secure. If an individual has concerns about their health and safety at work, they should raise them with their workplace union, the Health and Safety Executive or local authority.

Reticulating Splines