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Protection guidance has been issued for Level 4 areas in England, with thousands of extremely vulnerable people being told to stay home at all times except in limited circumstances.
Those most at risk should not go out to stores, pharmacies or work, even if they cannot work from home, and avoid all non-essential travel.
They should stay home unless it’s for outdoor exercise or medical appointments, according to the Covid-19 guide that was updated Monday and reflects advice issued during England’s second national lockdown.
People with more general underlying health conditions and people age 70 and older are also advised to stay home as much as possible because they may be more vulnerable to coronavirus than the general population.
Level 4 restrictions are feared to remain in effect until Easter, as the UK tightens the rules, and faces travel bans from countries like France and India, due to a mutant strain of the virus that the government says is up to 70% more transmissible.
Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Send an email to [email protected].
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The government said: “An updated guide is being issued for the clinically extremely vulnerable in areas placed in new Level 4 restrictions as of December 20.”
“This most vulnerable group is strongly advised to stay home at all times, unless it is for exercise or medical appointments, and not to attend work, even if they cannot work from home.
“The advice reflects what was in effect in England during November, and a similar support package will be available.”
Letters are being sent to those affected by the new protection rules for Level 4 areas, but they may take some time to arrive due to delays during the Christmas period.
The guidance applies to people living in all Level 4 regions, which are, as of December 21: London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Tendring, Uttlesford and Colchester), Surrey (excluding Waverley), Peterborough, Hastings and Rother on Kent’s border with East Sussex, and Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire.
What does the guide say?
Socialize
Stay home as much as possible, except to be outdoors for exercise or medical appointments.
Job
If people cannot work from home, they should not attend work.
They may be eligible for statutory sick pay, employment and support allowance, universal credit, or coronavirus job retention scheme during this period.
People in the same household who are not clinically extremely vulnerable can continue to attend work, in accordance with new national restrictions.
Video not available
School
If a general practitioner or physician has advised that a child should remain on the protected patient list, they are advised not to attend school during the school period.
Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who is not themselves, must attend school.
Going outside
Avoid all non-essential travel – they should continue to travel to the hospital and GP appointments as needed, unless instructed otherwise by their doctor.
They are strongly advised not to go to any stores or pharmacies, and government support is available for those in need while they are at home.
Who is considered extremely vulnerable?
The clinically extremely vulnerable group includes people whose immune systems are suppressed or who suffer from specific conditions.
Conditions include specific cancers or serious respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis.
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Those with the following conditions are included in the clinically extremely vulnerable group:
– Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
– People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy.
– Patients with lung cancer who undergo radical radiotherapy.
– People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma that are at any stage of treatment.
– Those receiving immunotherapy or other ongoing cancer antibody treatments
– People receiving other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
– Those who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months or who are still taking immunosuppressive medications.
– Patients with severe respiratory conditions, including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
– People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease)
-People on sufficient immunosuppression therapies to significantly increase the risk of infection
– Adults with Down syndrome
– Adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
– Pregnant women with significant, congenital or acquired heart disease.
– Other people who have also been classified as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgment and an assessment of their needs (GPs and hospital doctors have been provided with guidance to support these decisions.
Persons included in the list will receive a specific identification letter.
The government said: “Anyone in Level 4 areas who received the letter of protection in November and whose status has not changed should follow the advice immediately until they receive the letter. We will also send letters by email to those who have registered an email address with your GP. “
Who else should stay home?
People with more general underlying health conditions and those aged 70 and over may still be more vulnerable to Covid-19 than the general population, the government said.
As a result, they are also advised to stay home as long as possible, carefully follow the rules, and minimize contact with others.
What if I am vulnerable and live on a different level?
If you live you are clinically extremely vulnerable and you live at Level 1, 2 or 3, you are not required to follow the Level 4 guidance.
The government said: “Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable but living in Levels 1 to 3 must follow existing guidelines; there is currently no formal protection council in areas outside of Level 4.”
What kind of support is available?
The government has insisted that it will ensure that support is available to those in need, so that they can stay home as long as possible while Level 4 restrictions apply.
This includes food and medicine and local support signage or friendship services, to allow people to stay home as long as possible during this period.
The government said: “NHS Volunteer Responders can also help with a friendly and regular phone call, and transportation to and from medical appointments.”
What do you think of the protection guide issued for Level 4? Let us know in the comments section
What areas are at Level 4?
London
– The 32 boroughs of London plus the City of London
Southeast
– Kent and Medway
– Buckinghamshire
– Berkshire (Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, Wokingham, Windsor and Maidenhead and West Berkshire)
– Surrey (excluding Waverley)
– Hastings and Rother
– Havant, Gosport and Portsmouth
East of england
– Hertfordshire
– Essex (except Tendring, Uttlesford and Colchester)
– Central Bedfordshire, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Luton
– Peterborough
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