Social distancing is the practice of maintaining distance between yourself and other people outside of your household. It is been a key safety measure followed throughout the pandemic to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Whilst social distancing is good practice, it is no longer a requirement as COVID-19 restrictions begin to relax. It is important that you keep up to date with official government (England and Wales) to help keep you and those around you safe.
There are measures you can take to help stop the spread of COVID-19 which include:
If you or someone in your household have COVID-19 symptoms or if any of you have been identified as 'clinically extremely vulnerable' please take a look at our self-isolation and shielding pages for further information.
If you have Huntington's disease and find it difficult to maintain social distancing, you may find the below Government produced resources useful to signal to those around you that they need to give you space should social distancing requirements return in the future.
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The government has produced card templates and mobile phone images to be used if you or a loved one has difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing. |
Wearing a face covering can help stop the spread of COVID-19. It is no longer mandatory to wear a face mask in England, though it is advised in crowded or small enclosed areas such as public transport. In Wales, face masks must still be worn in indoor public settings.
There are some limited exemptions to the wearing of face masks and this includes:
Where mandatory face mask wearing applies, and you or a someone you know has Huntington's disease and would find wearing a face mask or face covering difficult for one of the reasons above, the following exemption cards and resources may be useful to help explain Huntington's disease to anyone that might challenge the fact that a mask isn't being worn. The use of such cards is a personal choice and is not necessary by law.
If you have Huntington's or someone you know has Huntington's and wearing a mask is possible but perhaps it is uncomfortable or difficult to remember to wear one, you could try the following strategies before deciding not to wear a mask and using an exemption card:
A face covering is not the same as the medical-grade surgical masks used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Face masks and coverings are now widely available to purchase in a number of shops, supermarkets and pharmacies in both disposable and reusable formats. Alternatively, you can use a bandana, a scarf or make your own - the government has provided guidance on how to do this here. If you already wear a religious garment that covers your mouth and nose, this counts as a face covering for this purpose and you do not have to wear another.
When using face masks and face coverings it is important to wash your hands before putting them on and taking them off. If your mask / covering is reusable you should wash it after each use.
The Huntington's Disease Association has a range of face masks and face coverings which are be available to purchase from our online shop now. Please note our face masks and face coverings are not medical grade and should not and do not take the place of PPE equipment. They are single-ply. You should not rely on our face masks or face coverings alone to protect you from COVID-19. You should continue to follow all government guidance.
Guidance on social contact with others outside of your household is changing frequently. We recommend you follow current government guidance for England and Wales on their respective web pages.
There are precautions you should take when you do spend time with others, when safe to do so in accordance with local guidance: