Publication - Research and analysis

Covid-19 Post-Shielding Research: October 2023

Published: 24 March 2026
From: Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care
ISBN: 9781806438570

This report explores how people formerly on Scotland’s Highest Risk List experienced shielding, how they’ve adapted since its end, and their views on current guidance. It highlights ongoing behaviours, areas of concern, and what support or information may help this group in the future.

Supporting documents

Appendix D: Survey Results

Demographic 1

Do you consider yourself to have a long-term health condition? This could be a physical condition, a mental health condition, or both. It would include disabilities and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory conditions, for example.

If so, please indicate whether this is a limiting condition (i.e. a health problem or disability which limits your daily activities or the work you can do, including problems that are due to old age) or not. Please select all that apply. For instance, you may consider yourself to have a limiting physical health condition, and a non-limiting mental health condition.

Answer	All (3,316) %	Any shielding experience (487) %
A limiting physical condition	22	53
A non-limiting physical condition	15	17
A limiting mental health condition	9	12
A non-limiting mental health condition	9	10
None	50	20
Don’t know	2	2
Prefer not to say	1

Question 1

Were you asked to shield at the start of the pandemic, in March 2020?

Answer	All (3,313) %	Any shielding experience (487) %
Yes	12	82
No	88	18

Answer

All (3,313)

Any shielding experience (487)

Yes

Question 2

Were you asked to shield or follow any additional advice at any point between March 2020 and May 2022?

Answer	All (3,282) %	Any shielding experience (476) %
Yes	12	85
No	88	15

Answer

All (3,282)

Any shielding experience (476)

Yes

Question 3

For which of the following conditions or treatments were you asked to shield for?

Condition or treatment	Any shielding experience (487) %
Solid organ transplant recipient who remains on long-term immune suppression therapy	2
Cancer	9
Severe respiratory conditions including cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)	23
A rare disease or inborn errors of metabolism which significantly increase the risk of infections	2
I was on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection	16
Pregnant with significant heart disease.	1
I was added based on the judgement of my GP/Clinician.	31
Don’t know	23

Question 4

Were you on the Highest Risk List (otherwise known as the shielding list) when it ended in May 2022?

Base: Any shielding experience (486)	%
Yes	41
No	59

Question 5

In May 2022 the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all of those on the Highest Risk List (otherwise known as shielding list) informing them that the highest risk list was coming to an end.

Two different letters were issued:

General letter- informing those on the Highest Risk List, that they were no longer deemed at higher risk.
Higher risk group letter- Informing those of the higher risk group that some may still be at higher risk, and advice on how to manage their Covid-19 risk.

Can you recall which of these letters you received?

Base: Yes to Question 4 (196)	%
General letter	28
Higher risk group letter	37
I cannot recall	35

Question 6

When you received this letter how reassured did you feel about the ending of the highest risk list?

Base: Highest Risk List only (194)	%
Completely reassured	12
Somewhat reassured	37
Net: reassured	49
Not very reassured	28
Not at all reassured	12
Net: Not reassured	40
Don’t know	11

Question 7

Looking at the list below, which, if any, of these physical or mental health conditions or illnesses do you currently have?

Condition	All (3,317) %	Any shielding experience (487) %
Arthritis	15	29
Chest or breathing conditions (e.g. asthma/ bronchitis)	14	31
Diabetes	8	21
Heart, blood pressure or circulation conditions	20	34
Learning or behavioural disability (e.g. autism, Down’s Syndrome)	3	3
Mental health conditions	19	22
Problems or disabilities related to arms or hands	5	13
Problems or disabilities related to legs or feet	10	25
Problems or disabilities related to back or neck	8	17
Severe disfigurement, skin condition or allergies	2	4
Severe stomach, liver, kidney or digestive problem	3	7
Some other progressive disability or illness	3	8
Some other health problem or disability	9	18
None of these	39	11
Rather not say	1	2

Question 8

And when were you diagnosed with this conditions?

Condition	Base N	Prior to March 2020 %	Between March 2020 and May 2022 %	After May 2022 %
Arthritis	All (506)	78	10	13
Arthritis	ASE (142)	86	7	7
Chest or breathing conditions (e.g. asthma/ bronchitis)	All (473)	89	6	5
Chest or breathing conditions (e.g. asthma/ bronchitis)	ASE (150)	92	4	4
Diabetes	All (274)	79	12	9
Diabetes	ASE (99)	86	9	6
Heart, blood pressure or circulation conditions	All (651)	78	9	13
Heart, blood pressure or circulation conditions	ASE (165)	83	10	7
Learning or behavioural disability (e.g. autism, Down’s Syndrome)	All (87)	49	22	29
	ASE (16)	9	6	1
Mental health conditions	All (620)	79	13	8
Mental health conditions	ASE (107)	86	7	7
Problems or disabilities related to arms or hands	All (167)	71	13	16
Problems or disabilities related to arms or hands	ASE (58)	80	13	7
Problems or disabilities related to legs or feet	All (332)	75	14	12
Problems or disabilities related to legs or feet	ASE (120)	76	15	8
Problems or disabilities related to back or neck	All (259)	81	9	10
Problems or disabilities related to back or neck	ASE (80)	83	10	7
Severe disfigurement, skin condition or allergies	All (60)	53	3	4
Severe disfigurement, skin condition or allergies	ASE (19)	15	3	1
Severe stomach, liver, kidney or digestive problem	All (99)	76	10	14
Severe stomach, liver, kidney or digestive problem	ASE (33)	86	2	12
Some other progressive disability or illness	All (87)	74	19	7
Some other progressive disability or illness	ASE (41)	81	11	8
Some other health problem or disability	All (297)	76	12	12
Some other health problem or disability	ASE (84)	79	10	11

NB: Shaded rows represent numbers rather than percentages, when n is less than 30.

Question 9

Thinking about your experience since the end of the highest risk list, which of the following statements best describes your current approach to managing risk?

Answer	All (3,312) %	Any shielding experience (486) %
I still try to minimise all physical contact with people from other households	3	7
I still assess the risk of each activity on a case-by-case basis	9	19
I feel comfortable doing some of the things I did before COVID-19,	14	23
I feel comfortable doing most (or all) of the things I did before COVID-19	72	49
Don’t Know	1	3

Question 10

And which of the following statements best describes the current approach of (most) members of your household (if applicable) or other close contacts?

Answer	All (3,258) %	Any shielding experience (478) %
They still try to minimise all physical contact with people from other households	2	5
They still assess the risk of each activity on a case-by-case basis	7	15
They feel comfortable doing some of the things they did before COVID-19	15	20
They feel comfortable doing most (or all) of the things they did before COVID-19	72	54
Don’t Know	4	7

Question 11

How do you currently make decisions around activities that you did not or could not undertake during the shielding period?

Answer	Any shielding experience (487) %
I make my own assessments and judgements around what I consider safe	73
I follow the advice of my GP/clinician	22
I follow the advice of family/friends	6
I follow the advice of others who are vulnerable to Covid-19/had experience of shielding	5
I still look to/follow former Scottish Government guidance	9
I still look to/follow current Scottish Government guidance	15
None of the above	8

Question 12

How would you describe impacts on the following since the end of the COVID-19 Highest Risk List?

Answer	Base N	Very positive impact %	Somewhat positive impact %	Net: positive impact %	Neither / nor %	Net: negative impact %	Somewhat negative impact %	very negative impact %	DK %
Your confidence when leaving home	All (3,317)	27	16	43	38	17	13	4	3
Your confidence when leaving home	ASE (487)	20	20	40	28	27	20	7	4
How much physical activity you do	All (3,317)	21	18	39	41	16	11	6	3
How much physical activity you do	ASE (487)	14	20	33	34	28	16	12	5
Your quality of life	All (3,317)	22	19	41	38	18	13	5	3
Your quality of life	ASE (487)	16	21	36	33	28	19	9	3
Your mental health	All (3,317)	19	18	37	36	24	16	7	3
Your mental health	ASE (487)	18	16	35	30	31	17	14	4
Your physical health	All (3,317)	17	19	36	42	20	15	5	3
Your physical health	ASE (487)	12	22	34	31	32	20	12	3
Your relationship with other family and friends	All (3,317)	26	19	45	38	14	10	4	3
Your relationship with other family and friends	ASE (487)	25	20	45	33	19	11	8	3
Your relationship with your partner	All (3,317)	26	12	38	40	6	3	3	16
Your relationship with your partner	ASE (487)	25	14	39	29	10	5	5	22
Your relationship with your children	All (3,317)	22	9	31	40	4	3	2	25
Your relationship with your children	ASE (487)	27	14	41	29	9	6	3	21
How lonely you feel	All (3,317)	15	12	27	47	22	13	9	4
How lonely you feel	ASE (487)	14	12	26	39	31	15	17	4
Your employment	All (3,317)	16	13	29	39	14	8	7	17
Your employment	ASE (487)	11	10	21	30	17	7	11	32
The quality of care you receive	All (3,317)	11	8	19	44	19	10	9	19
The quality of care you receive	ASE (487)	15	12	27	33	25	10	14	15
Your financial situation	All (3,317)	11	13	24	44	27	18	10	5
Your financial situation	ASE (487)	10	13	23	40	32	16	15	5
Your education	All (3,317)	10	7	17	53	8	5	3	22
Your education	ASE (487)	9	8	18	41	11	5	6	31

Question 13

How important do you consider the following factors to be when making decisions around day-to-day activities?

Answer	Base N	Very important %	Somewhat important %	Net: Important %	Not very important %	Not at all important %	Net: Not important %	DK %
Whether these activities are indoors or outdoors	All (3,317)	13	28	41	27	30	57	2
Whether these activities are indoors or outdoors	ASE (487)	23	36	59	21	18	39	2
How well-ventilated a building/space is	All (3,317)	14	32	47	24	27	52	2
How well-ventilated a building/space is	ASE (487)	29	37	66	17	13	30	3
How well-ventilated the vehicles/public transport I am travelling in are	All (3,317)	19	32	50	21	25	46	4
	ASE (487)	32	36	68	14	12	26	7
How many people are around me, and whether or not I know them	All (3,317)	17	32	48	24	26	50	2
	ASE (487)	30	35	65	19	14	32	3
How many people are around me, regardless of whether I know them	All (3,317)	16	31	47	24	27	52	2
	ASE (487)	28	37	65	18	14	32	3
Whether the people around me are wearing facemasks or other personal protective equipment	All (3,317)	5	16	22	36	40	76	2
	ASE (487)	13	27	40	35	21	56	4

Question 14

Has being included on the Highest Risk List had any of the following positive impacts?

Answer	Any shielding experience (487) %
Extra support from family or friends	24
I have tried to live (even) more healthily	25
Extra support when accessing healthcare	12
Better relationships with family or friends	12
Improved mental health	6
None of the above	51

Question 15

And to what extent would you agree that past Scottish Government guidance in relation to Covid-19, i.e. that issued when the ‘highest risk group’ was identified, was:

Answer	Base N	Strongly agree %	Somewhat agree %	Net: agree %	Neither / nor %	Net: disagree %	Somewhat disagree %	Strongly disagree %	DK %
Clear	All (3,317)	25	30	55	15	24	13	11	6
Clear	ASE (487)	26	27	53	21	22	12	10	5
Trustworthy	All (3,317)	23	27	50	19	25	12	14	6
Trustworthy	ASE (487)	23	30	53	20	23	11	12	4
Reassuring	All (3,317)	20	28	48	19	26	14	12	7
Reassuring	ASE (487)	21	29	51	21	23	11	13	5
Impartial	All (3,317)	20	24	44	25	22	10	12	10
Impartial	ASE (487)	19	25	44	30	19	7	12	8

Question 16

And to what extent would you agree that Scottish Government guidance since the end of the Highest Risk List have been:

Answer	Base N	Strongly agree %	Somewhat agree %	Net: agree %	Neither / nor %	Net: disagree %	Somewhat disagree %	Strongly disagree %	DK %
Clear	All (3,317)	16	22	38	25	27	13	13	10
Clear	ASE (487)	16	21	37	28	29	13	16	5
Trustworthy	All (3,317)	16	21	37	25	27	12	15	11
Trustworthy	ASE (487)	16	21	37	28	28	10	18	6
Reassuring	All (3,317)	15	21	36	26	26	14	13	11
Reassuring	ASE (487)	17	20	37	27	30	14	16	6
Impartial	All (3,317)	15	19	34	30	23	11	12	13
Impartial	ASE (487)	14	18	32	33	26	10	16	9

Question 17

What concerns, if any, have you had over the ending of the Highest Risk List (HRL)?

Answer	Any shielding experience (487)%
People might become complacent	43
People might be less mindful of the needs and concerns of those who were on the HRL	37
It might be difficult/complex to re-establish the HRL if needed in future	17
I am concerned for another reason	4
I have had no concerns about this	33
Don’t know	7

Question 18

Which, if any, of the following would help you to become less concerned since the ending of the Highest Risk List?

Base: Those who have concerns over the ending of the Highest Risk List Answer	Any shielding experience (289) %
Encouragement for ongoing vaccination for Covid-19	59
Better ventilation in public places	47
Ongoing government guidance on behaviours that reduce Covid-19 transmission	44
More regular information on the number of Covid-19 cases	45
Updated guidance for those who were on the Highest Risk List	45
Advice from my GP on how best to manage my Covid-19 risk	27
Don’t Know	6

Question 19

How do you see the future?

Answer	Any shielding experience (483)%
I will remain worried for some time about being at higher risk and this will affect my quality of life	17
I will remain worried for some time about being at higher risk, but this will not really affect my quality of life	29
I will soon no longer think of myself as being in a separate higher risk group	39
Don’t Know	14

Question 20

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements:

Answer	Base N	Strongly agree %	Somewhat agree %	Net: agree %	Neither / nor %	Net: disagree %	Somewhat disagree %	Strongly disagree %	DK %
I know what the current guidance in relation to Covid-19 is	All (3,317)	16	27	43	14	34	15	19	9
I know what the current guidance in relation to Covid-19 is	ASE (487)	16	26	42	20	29	13	16	9
I find the current guidance confusing	All (3,317)	8	15	24	33	23	11	12	20
I find the current guidance confusing	ASE (487)	12	15	27	35	23	11	13	15
I know who to talk to about the current guidance	All (3,317)	10	20	30	20	36	17	19	13
I know who to talk to about the current guidance	ASE (487)	13	21	34	21	33	15	18	12
The current information from the Scottish Government on Covid-19 is clear	All (3,317)	11	18	29	24	31	14	17	17
	ASE (487)	13	17	29	26	31	13	18	13
The current guidance in relation to Covid-19 is reassuring	All (3,317)	9	16	24	32	24	11	12	19
The current guidance in relation to Covid-19 is reassuring	ASE (487)	10	14	25	33	27	13	14	15
The current guidance in relation to Covid-19 is trustworthy	All (3,317)	12	18	29	30	23	10	12	19
The current guidance in relation to Covid-19 is trustworthy	ASE (487)	13	15	28	31	26	11	15	14

Question 21

In terms of your behaviour since the end of restrictions and the highest risk list, which of the following do you consider when deciding whether to do things that you were not able during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Answer	All (3,317) %	Any shielding experience (487) %
Advice from a clinician	15	31
Scottish Government Guidance from during restrictions	13	18
Existing Scottish Government guidance	24	23
Other (please specify)	4	6
None of the above	57	42

Question 22

To what extent are you aware of the following schemes:

Answer	Base %	I know a lot about it %	I have heard of it and know a little about it %	I have heard of it but don’t know anything about it %	I have never heard of the scheme %	Don’t know %
Distance Aware Scheme	All (3,317)	7	15	9	62	7
Distance Aware Scheme	ASE (485)	15	22	9	48	7
Winter Signage Scheme (now known as the Stay Well Signage Scheme)	All (3,317)	2	7	6	76	8
	ASE (484)	5	9	9	68	8

Question 23

Which of the following types of measures do you see as acceptable, if there was another variant/surge?

Answer	All (3,258) %	Any shielding experience (478) %
Public health messaging and provision in shops and other public settings, such as ‘hand sanitiser stations’	77	73
The use of face coverings in public settings, where these are not normally worn	73	70
Physical distancing measures, such as distance markers on public transport or in shops and other public settings	65	65
Social distancing measures, such as restrictions on the number of people from different households who can meet	50	55
Physical restrictions, such as ‘Stay at Home’ orders	39	45
The closure of shops, schools, and other public settings	29	29
Don’t know	8	11

Question 24

And who do you think should have to comply with these measures, if there was another variant/surge?

Answer	All (3,301) %	Any shielding experience (487) %
The entire population of Scotland	58	66
Only those deemed vulnerable to Covid-19	19	14
Only those who are not vaccinated against Covid-19	8	7
Nobody	10	8
Don’t know	5	5

Question 25

How would you describe your awareness of your eligibility for the following?

Base: Any shielding experience Answer	I’m aware of this and have/will utilise this %	I’m aware of this but have not/will not utilise this %	I’m not aware of these %	Don’t know %
COVID-19 treatments	53	13	29	6
Vaccination	79	10	7	4

Base: Any shielding experience

Answer

I’m aware of this and have/will utilise this

I’m aware of this but have not/will not utilise this

I’m not aware of these

Don’t know

COVID-19 treatments

Vaccination

Question 26

Were you aware that Scottish Government would be able to contact those on the Highest Risk List again in future if they needed to?

Answer	Any shielding experience (481) %
I was aware of this	44
I was not aware of this	46
Don’t know	10

Answer

Any shielding experience (481)

I was aware of this

I was not aware of this

Don’t know

Contact

Email: populationhealthresilienceandprotection@gov.scot

Thanks for your feedback

Information

Appendix D: Survey Results

Contact