High Risk Patients

On Monday 16 March the UK government announced a package of measures,
advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness because of COVID-19 to
be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-d...

This group has been identified to the public as those who are:
aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)

under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (i.e. anyone
instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):

chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis

chronic heart disease, such as heart failure

chronic kidney disease

chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis

chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone
disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy

diabetes

problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have
had your spleen removed

a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and
AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)

those who are pregnant

This wider at risk group, who broadly speaking comprise the criteria of adults eligible
for an annual flu vaccine for medical reasons, will be advised that they will not all be
proactively contacted by their GP practice, but have instead been directly contacted
by a letter from the CMO to ask that they take steps to reduce their social
interactions in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus.