Additional 4,000 Wakefield residents advised to begin shielding from Covid for the first time

Millions of people in the UK have been advised to shield during the pandemic, meaning they are considered particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.

And with the help of new technology, the clinically extremely vulnerable list has now been expanded to include additional factors beyond health.

Factors such as ethnicity, deprivation by postcode, age, weight and prescribed medication are now being used to work out a person’s risk of becoming seriously ill if they were to catch the virus.

It means that an additional 4,000 people in the Wakefield district are now being advised to shield for the first time.

Councillor Faith Heptinstall, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Protecting those who are at the greatest risk from COVID-19 has rightly been a priority.

"I welcome this revised definition of clinically extremely vulnerable so that extra precautions can be taken. We aim to provide as much support as possible to ensure that our residents can shield and prevent catching the virus.”

Affected residents will be sent a letter outlining that they have been added to the Shielded Patient List as a precautionary measure and why they have been identified.

They will also be prioritised to receive a vaccine as part of the current vaccination cohorts.

Once residents have received a letter advising them to shield, they can register their support needs via the Government shielding support website.

The Council’s contact centre will then be in touch to determine how that support can be provided.

Residents can also call the Council’s dedicated coronavirus helpline on 03458 506506 to access support with essentials like shopping and medication.

A total of 13,695 people in the district, almost four per cent of residents, had previously been advised to shield.