Coronavirus and the most vulnerable: who needs to stay in isolation for 12 weeks?

Currently, as this article is published on Monday 23rd March 2020, coronavirus cases in the UK are close to 6,000. The government has warned the public to stop all non-essential contact and to stay at home wherever possible.

It is estimated that there are about 1.5 million people in the UK with very serious pre-existing health conditions. This week, these people are to be contacted by the NHS who will give them general advice and support and urge them to stay home for the next 12 weeks, a strategy known as ‘shielding’.

Here in this article, we highlight just who is included in this vulnerable group and what you can do if you are living with someone who fits into this category.
 

Who needs to remain in isolation for the next 12-weeks?

According to the UK government website, those who face the highest risk of being hospitalised by the coronavirus and who need to shield themselves at home include:

• Solid organ transplant recipients
• People with specific cancers
• Those with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy for lung cancer
• Patients with cancers of the blood or bone marrow, such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma - at any stage of treatment
• Those having immunotherapy or other antibody treatments for cancer
• People having other targeted cancer treatments, which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
• Patients who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6-months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
• Anyone with severe respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and COPD.
• People with rare diseases and inborn errors or metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections.
• Those on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase the risk of infection.
• Women who are pregnant, who also have significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.

How will any of these people be contacted and advised?

Those in any of the groups above, will be contacted with very detailed advice on behalf of their GP practice or specialist, who will explain how best to protect themselves.

What support is the government putting in place?

New measures put into place will include a helpline for those most in need of support because of their medical conditions.

A new Local Support System will also make sure that these individuals who are self-isolating at home, and who may not have friends or family to support them, will receive basic groceries and the local pharmacies will deliver medicines.

The government is working together with the groceries industry, local government, and voluntary groups to make sure that essential items can start to be delivered as soon as possible to those in need. Members of the armed forces will also be helping local communities.

What to do if you are living with a vulnerable person?

According to Public Health England (PHE), if you are someone who is living with a person who falls into the high-risk category, you should keep at least 2m away during any period of isolation.

If it is possible, the vulnerable person should take their meals to their rooms to eat in their own space. They should also use separate towels and if possible a separate bathroom.

If there is only one bathroom, then be sure to clean it every time that you have used it and been in contact with surfaces. Continue to wash your hands as often as possible with soap and water, especially if you will come into contact with the vulnerable person.