The Government has issued guidance for local authorities and local resilience forums on the system to support those who are medically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.
It sets out the role of local resilience forums (LRFs) and councils in supporting ‘shielded’ patients – those who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because of a serious, underlying health condition, and who have been advised to stay at home and avoid all face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks.
Councils will be able to use emergency food supplies for ‘shielded’ people in immediate and urgent need of basic foodstuffs before food parcels start being delivered to their homes.
They will need to continue working with their LRF, NHS and voluntary and community sector partners, and each other, to support not only the shielding, but also to provide help for others isolating at home who have no-one to help them.
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “There has been a remarkable community response in villages, towns and cities across the country as people look out for family, friends and neighbours during this public health crisis.
“Councils have responded rapidly. We are ready to coordinate and lead local partners in each community to ensure that there is support for our most vulnerable residents who find that their family and neighbours can’t meet their particular needs.”