Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith has written to everyone on the shielding list to provide them with additional health care information ahead of the move to Protection Level 4 on Boxing Day.
People are not being asked to go back into full shielding or to stay inside, but to follow the additional guidance to keep yourselves safe.
You can decide to follow this advice as well as the general guidelines for your level. Your GP or healthcare provider may also give you specific, personalised advice, because of a certain health condition or treatment.
You can still go out for exercise and essential shopping or medicines.
If you are working and on the shielding list.
You should continue to work from home if you can.
If you cannot work from home, most workplaces can be made safe, even if you are at the highest risk. It is your employer’s responsibility to make your workplace and duties safe for you.
If that cannot be done, for any reason, or if you cannot safely travel to work, the letter you will receive from the Chief Medical Officer acts as a fit note for as long as your area remains in Level 4.
This letter is called a shielding notification and can be shown to your employer without the need for a GP fit note.
For the latest advice from the Scottish Government visit mygov.scot/support-shielding/
If people on the shielding list cannot be in the workplace safely, employers must accept the letter as a shielding notification that can be used in the same way as a fit note in Level 4. pic.twitter.com/XpfTY5Slsf
— Scot Gov Health (@scotgovhealth) December 22, 2020
