Shielding in the Latest Lock-down (January 2021)
The ‘stay at home all the time’ message is not being repeated.
During the latest lock-down clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) patients should not go to work and should stay at home as much as possible but can go out for exercise following the usual distancing advice.
If these people can not work from home they may be furloughed or would be eligible for statutory sick pay. Fit notes are not required for shielding (unless a shielding patient is unwell and too sick to work). Letters to work are not required by GP surgeries.
Clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) patients will be sent new letters – emails/texts will also be sent where contact details are available centrally. Only those who get a new shielding letter should shield.
For more details please see the government website :