AQW 12390/17-22


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 31/12/2020
Answered On Date: 12/01/2021
Priority Written: Yes


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health when letters will be sent out to people who were previously told to shield, concerning their rights not to attend employment from 4 January 2021.


Answer:
I recognise that this is a difficult and worrying time, particularly for those who have an underlying condition which means they are more clinically vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19.
As part of the approach to managing the current wave of the pandemic, from 26th December 2020, the Chief Medical Officer advises clinically extremely vulnerable people who are working and are unable to do so from home not to attend the workplace. This is advice only and clinically extremely vulnerable 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 Chief Medical Officer has issued a statement to this effect which can be accessed at:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/statement-changing-advice-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-people
The Chief Medical Officer is writing to those who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to advise them of this change. The letter from the Chief Medical Officer is evidence for an employer and it is not necessary for a person who is clinically extremely vulnerable to get a fit note from their GP. If there is a delay in receiving the new letter from the Chief Medical Officer, a CEV person can use their original ‘shielding letter’ as evidence that they are clinically extremely vulnerable in relation to COVID-19. Anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable and who chooses not to attend work due to the Chief Medical Officer’s updated advice will be eligible to apply for Statutory Sick Pay.
This advice applies to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals only. Others living in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable are not advised to follow it, but should continue to stringently follow the guidance on social distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene.
The duration of this advice will be dependent on many factors including the course of the spread of the virus, the capacity of the Health and Social Care system, and what restrictions are in place going forward.