Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's policy is on the distinction between (a) high risk individuals that need to shield and (b) high risk individuals that need to practise social distancing in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government’s policy on those people considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable and needing to shield is set out at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

This is based on the specific medical conditions that clinicians have identified as placing someone at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

A list of those groups of people who are considered to be clinically vulnerable but not in the highest clinical risk category is set out at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing

Clinically vulnerable people are not advised to shield as the additional benefit gained from this extra measure needs to be weighed against any impact on mental and physical wellbeing from a significant loss of social contact and needing to stay in the home for a long period of time.