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  2. Health and wellbeing
  3. Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  4. Health advice
Live life COVID-aware

Coronavirus (COVID-19):  guidance for people at higher risk from COVID-19

Everyone should take steps to reduce the risk of catching or spreading coronavirus (COVID-19). If you’re at higher risk from COVID-19 or previously identified as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ or ‘vulnerable’, remember that the virus is still in our communities and you may wish to take extra precautions.

Keeping safe

Vaccinations

If you are at higher risk from COVID-19, or previously identified as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV)’ or ‘vulnerable’ , the single most effective measure you can take to protect yourself is to get vaccinated, as well as getting any booster vaccination doses you are offered.

If your immune system has been severely suppressed, either as a result of an existing medical condition you have, or a treatment you’re currently receiving, you should have been contacted by your GP or hospital clinician with details on how to go about receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and any recommended booster vaccination doses.

Further information on where to get the COVID-19 vaccination and boosters doses is available at:

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccination and booster in Northern Ireland

Whilst vaccination provides significant protection against serious illness, no vaccine is 100 per cent effective. It is vitally important that you continue to exercise great care.

Treatments

There are now additional treatments available for selected groups of people with coronavirus who are thought to be at greater risk of being admitted to hospital and possible serious COVID-19 illness or death.

Further information is available at:

  • Treatments for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Minimising risk

If you are at higher risk from COVID-19 or have been previously identified as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ or ‘vulnerable’ it's important to continue to follow the recommended public health guidance which applies to the general population. 

Further advice is available at:

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): how to stay safe and help prevent the spread

There is no 'once size fits all' advice and you should consider what is best for you and the necessary precautions you can take to minimise personal risk.

Take advice from your GP, clinician/ specialist consultant if needed.

Work

If you are at higher risk from COVID-19, or have been previously identified as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ or ‘vulnerable’ you are no longer being advised to work from home, in line with the rest of the population.

You should discuss any individual needs and concerns with your employer to facilitate your return to the workplace in line with their work place policies. 

All employers have a 'duty of care' for staff and, in practice, this means taking all steps they reasonably can to support the health, safety and well-being of their staff.

Information and advice for employers and employees on COVID-19 and working safely across a range of workplace settings is available on the nibusinessinfo website.

Where you find that you have a disagreement with your employer, which you are unable to resolve, you should consider contacting the Labour Relations Agency (LRA).

The Law Centre NI also offers free, independent, specialist legal advice on employment rights and has established a dedicated COVID-19 response team for COVID-19 related employment rights matters.

School

Pupils who may be at higher risk from COVID-19 and clinically extremely vulnerable’ or ‘vulnerable’, or live with a family member that may be at higher risk from COVID-19 can still go to school. 

If you have concerns about attending school, you should speak with your GP or hospital consultant. Their advice can be shared with the school if you wish. The school can then decide if it needs to take any additional actions to further reduce any identified risks.

Care support

If you're receiving domiciliary care, or  living in a nursing or residential care home, guidance for these settings is available from the Public Health Agency website:

  • Guidance for care settings

If you're worried about your health and social care, the Patient and Client Council offer a freephone support service, supporting you with any questions, concerns or complaints you may have.

Advisors will be able to help you to navigate your care if it is affected by the pressures being faced by the Health Service. Contact details are below:

  • freephone telephone number: 0800 917 0222
  • email: info.pcc@pcc-ni.net

For more information about this service visit the Patient Client Council website.

Mental health support

This is a difficult time for many people and may be particularly worrying for those who have an underlying medical condition and are at a higher risk from COVID-19.

If you are finding things difficult, there are a range of supports available which can help. 

The Minding Your Head website contains information to help you look after your own mental health and to support others. 

Tailored information and self-help guides from local mental health and wellbeing charities are available at the COVID-19 Virtual Wellbeing Hub.

If you have concerns about your health or mental wellbeing, you should speak to your GP.

If you're in distress or despair, you can call Lifeline  on 0808 808 8000 where you can speak to a trained counsellor.  This service is available 24/7 and is free from all NI landlines and mobiles.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has published a leaflet 'Take five steps to wellbeing’ which offers tips on supporting your mental and emotional wellbeing while staying at home during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Find resources to develop skills to cope with loneliness on the British Red Cross website

Benefits payments

Advice if you are claiming benefits is available at:

  •  Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Benefits

More useful links

  • Advice NI
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Health advice

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine research registry
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing and stay at home advice
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): vaccine safety
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19):  guidance for people at higher risk from COVID-19
  • Get a COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland
  • Symptoms of respiratory infections including COVID-19
  • Treatments for coronavirus (COVID-19)

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

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