CLINICALLY extremely vulnerable Lancashire residents have been issued with new guidance on staying safe after the county was placed in tier two for coronavirus restrictions.

The government is now tailoring its advice on shielding according to the prevalence of the infection on local areas and their new 'Covid Alert Levels'.

The guidance for areas categorised as 'high', which includes all of Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, says: "Reduce the number of different people met outside, avoid travel except for essential journeys, work from home where possible and reduce the number of shopping trips made or go at quieter times of the day.

"You can still go to work if you cannot work from home because all workplaces should be Covid secure, and children should still attend school.

"This is on top of restrictions for everyone to not meet other households indoors, unless part of a support bubble, and to only meet in groups of up to six people outdoors."

Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England, said: "We know those who are clinically extremely vulnerable are looking for practical advice on how they can carry on their lives while the virus remains in our communities.

“The new system will provide clarity on how best those in this group can keep themselves as safe as possible depending on the rates of transmission in their local area. Whilst advisory, I would urge all those affected to follow the guidance wherever they can and to continue to access health services for their medical conditions.

“We will continue to monitor the evidence closely and fine-tune this approach."