Talk

Thanks so much to Dr Harries and again, sorry we didn't have more time to get through more questions. We'll see if we can get any more follow-ups from the health team.

to all of you coping with really difficult circumstances.

We're going to close this thread to new comments now but we'll re-open it if we are able to get some follow-up answers.

Thanks
MNHQ

Hello

Dr Harries has been able to provide a few more answers so we're going to post them up now - thanks again to her and her team.

Hello @Flynnshine,

Sorry to hear your daughter has had a difficult start to her life.

I am guessing that the letter you have just received is the one which lets people know the shielding advice is being paused for everyone from the 1st August. This is because the programme was designed to support people to reduce their social connections when the virus was circulating strongly in local communities, but in most areas that no longer applies.

While most children are at a low risk of significant illness from Covid-19, some conditions still pose a higher risk and some people may need to continue shielding. Your doctor will be able to advise the best course of action going forward.

I don’t know the exact medical history of your daughter so my advice is that you should discuss this with the hospital specialist treating her when you see them next but most people with significant conditions will stay on the list. If cases should rise again in your local area the NHS will be back in touch with you with new advice.

My general advice for minimising the risk of infection is to keep washing your hands regularly and social distancing whenever you can.

Hello @nether

We are all really aware how important it is for children to be in school and complete their education.

It is impossible to absolutely guarantee safety for any illness, including Covid - 19. The same sorts of issues often arise for families when it is flu season.

However, we have relaxed the advice for shielding people because we know that the transmission of the virus in most communities is very low. If it rises in a local area in the future - such as Leicester - then we will immediately provide special advice for those in the affected area who are on the Shielded Patient List.

Your school and the Department for Education will be best placed to advise on your question about online lessons and future exams. However all schools have been prepared to be Covid safe including early testing if necessary and access to support and advice from specialists in infectious diseases at the Public Health England Local Health Protection Teams. This means schools should be able to operate safely and children can return knowing that any infectious disease risk is being continually monitored.

Hello @Oaksideboard

We have relaxed the shielding advice because we know the transmission of the virus in most communities is very low and the risk to children of developing serious illness is also low. This is new evidence from UK and internationally based on studies on schools and children needing to attend hospitals

You should always speak to your GP or hospital specialist if you have any particular concerns but given how important it is for children to be in school and complete their education it is a really good idea to make sure you have had a look at the science. There is a good guide explaining this which parents can access here.

As I don’t know your exact medical history, you should always discuss any specific details with your GP or hospital specialist who are best placed to offer advice next time you see them. However, the shielding programme was designed to advise people to reduce their social interactions when the level of transmission of the disease in the community was high. The advice has changed because for most people this is no longer the case and on average, you – or your children – are unlikely to meet the virus. Should this change again in your local area and rates rise, the NHS will let you know and issue specific advice for your area.

Most children are at a low risk of significant illness from Covid-19 and general transmission in the community is very low and schools are also being very carefully monitored so if there are any issues at your children’s school they will be advised by the local Health Protection teams and any necessary action will be put in place.

But we must remain alert and regularly wash our hands and social distance where possible to minimise the risk of infection – if your kids do this at home as well as at school, they will be keeping you safe.

Hello @nevergooogle

Sorry to hear about your son’s condition.

Although you have noted he will be on long-term treatment, the shielding advice applies when the level of virus in the community is high and there is a strong possibility of infection. That is not the case at the moment so, on average, the risk of your son or his siblings getting ill are very low and so none of them should be missing their education. Not all patient on biological treatments will need to shield but as I don’t have his full medical history, you should speak to his hospital specialist who will be best placed to advise next time you see him/her.

While evidence shows young people are at a low risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19, certain conditions increase that risk and your doctor may advise your son to stay on the shielding patient list

The transmission of the virus in the community continues to fall and our advice is that people no longer need to shield from 1 August but the NHS will update you again if rates rise in your local area

Of course, we should all continue to take precautions to minimise the risk of the virus by washing our hands regularly and follow social distancing guidelines and that will best protect both you in your workplace and him from infection with Covid-19 but also any other illnesses such as flu. He will probably be eligible for flu vaccination too so that is something you should make sure he has.

Thanks @iVampire

We're going to close this thread again now - thanks to all for your questions, and we hope it was useful.