COVID-19 Guidance for people at higher risk of severe COVID on reducing their risk of COVID -19 infection
The HSE have updated the guidance for people at higher risk from COVID-19 to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19. The guide recognises that people at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19 have the right to make their own decisions and the responsibility to look after their own health and the health of others in line with the legal obligations that apply to everyone. This involves making their own choices about how they keep a balance between doing the things they need to do and want to do to while keeping the risk of harm from COVID-19 as low as is practical.
Most people at high risk of severe COVID-19 can follow the general public health guidance that applies to everyone once they have vaccine protection.
When vaccinated you can expect of have a very high degree of protection from severe COVID-19 however the vaccine protection is not perfect and especially it may not work so well in people who have a condition or who are on a treatment that interferes with their immune system. This means that you are advised to continue to be very careful after you are vaccinated especially if you have a problem with your immune system. This includes people who have had a solid organ transplant.
There is almost no chance of you catching COVID-19 at home if people who are infectious with COVID-19 do not come to your home.
It is usually not desirable and not practical for people in a family household to avoid contact with each other at home. If everyone in the household is careful when out of the house that helps to keep everyone safe. If everyone in the household is vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available to them this helps to keep everyone safe. Vaccination of everyone in the household as soon as it becomes available to them is particularly important if someone in the household is immunocompromised. If everyone in the house is careful and if you can keep the number of people who come into your house to visit or to do work to the smallest possible number of trustworthy people then you can feel safe at home and you can relax there.
Check that anyone who comes to the house to visit or to do work is well when they arrive (no symptoms of COVID-19). Ask them to clean their hands when they arrive, to wear a mask and to keep a safe distance from you whenever possible. It is a good idea to keep hand sanitiser close to your front door and encourage anyone entering the home to use it.
If anyone in the house gets symptoms of COVID-19 they should avoid all contact with others in the house immediately.
If anyone in the house is told they are a COVID-19 Contact they should avoid all contact with others in the house unless they have vaccine protection. Even people with vaccine protection may be advised by public health to avoid contact with other people in some circumstances.
The risk of leaving home for a walk or drive is very low if you can keep away from other people. It is generally safe to meet up with one other household outdoors for recreation if you are fully vaccinated although you should keep a safe distance and avoid contact if they are not vaccinated.
You are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 if you need to be or choose to be in a place where there are people from outside of your household, whether for work or for social or personal reasons but it is generally safe to go to the shops and to use public transport for essential purposes once you have vaccine protection provided you keep a safe distance.
The higher the current level of the Framework for Restrictive Public Health Measures nationally or in your area at the time the greater the risk of being exposed to COVID if you are out and about or have anyone visit or do work in your home.
The risk of contracting COVID-19 is generally much lower outdoors than indoors.
You can lower the risk when going to places by going at quiet times, keeping your distance, not touching things if you do not need to touch them, cleaning your hands and wearing a surgical mask and checking that the place has adequate ventilation, for example an open or partly open window or door that allows for some air movement.
People at higher risk from severe COVID-19 are advised to wear a surgical or medical face mask instead of a cloth face covering. A medical face mask is the blue disposable type of face mask. It is often sold in pharmacies and other shops and gives you better protection.
If you want to tell people who provide services that you need to be extra careful to avoid COVID-19 they will usually try to fit you in at a quiet time and be extra careful when providing you with the service.
Try to keep active and look after your general health. A healthy way of life improves your chance of recovery if you get COVID-19.
For more information or to read the guide please visit: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/peopleatincreasedriskofsevereillness/othersatincreasedriskofsevereillness/Guidance%20For%20Older%20People%20and%20Others-Reducing%20COVID-19%20Exposure%20Risk.pdf
For more information on medical face masks and the advice for people at higher risk of severe covid please visit:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/when-to-wear-face-covering/