Statement on changing of advice to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people
The Department of Health has updated the advice to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people to help them keep safe through the Christmas period and beyond.
CEV people are reminded to consider very carefully any plans for a Christmas Bubble over the festive period.
Unfortunately, you remain extremely vulnerable to this virus and the safest option is not to form a Christmas bubble and avoid attending shops, pharmacies and hospitality settings unless absolutely necessary.
If you do decide that you wish to meet with family this should be for as short a time as possible with very strict precautions.
The advice in relation to CEV people attending the workplace has been changed.
Until now, CEV people had been advised that they should work from home if possible, but that it is safe to attend work if proper measures to ensure social distancing are in place.
From 26 December CEV people who are working and are unable to do so from home are advised not to attend the workplace.
It is important to note that this is advice only; people are free to make their own judgements about whether or not they should attend work, depending on the Covid-security of their working environment.
The general guidance that is in place in relation to household mixing, travel, wearing of face coverings and hand hygiene, and the additional restrictions recently agreed by Northern Ireland Executive to limit the spread of the virus, mean that CEV people will be protected from exposure to Covid-19 across a wide range of settings.
However, after careful consideration, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and his team have concluded that additional advice for CEV people in relation to attending the workplace is necessary.
Dr McBride said, “The new variant of the virus, coupled with the pressure that our HSC services are experiencing, means that the risks associated with Covid-19 are elevated.
“This strengthened advice is intended to offer enhanced protection from Covid-19 to the most vulnerable people in our society.
“It is not a return to shielding as we knew it at the outset of the pandemic.
“We are not advising CEV people to stay permanently indoors.
“And I would encourage CEV people to continue to go outside for exercise, provided they observe social distancing when they do so,” he added.
This advice will be in place for six weeks initially, with a review after four weeks in line with the review of restrictions more generally.
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