THE number of Maldon residents shielding has jumped up by more than 30 per cent after experts identified additional adults at serious risk of Covid.

NHS England data revealed that 1,140 people in the area were set to receive letters urging them to avoid leaving their home except for in certain circumstances.

There were 3,095 patients on the list of clinically extremely vulnerable people in Maldon up until February 10.

Those newly identified following the Government announcement on February 16 will get priority access for vaccines if they have not yet received a jab due to their age.

It took the total number of people advised to shield in the area to 4,235 – a 37 per cent increase.

The initial shielding list included people with single risk factors such as those with various cancers, people on immuno-suppression drugs or those with severe respiratory conditions.

It has been expanded after scientists developed a new tool which assesses whether someone is at risk of severe disease or death.

The tool looks at multiple factors including age, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), other health conditions and also postcode, which is indicative of levels of deprivation.

The predictive risk model was developed by researchers led by scientists at Oxford University.

Across England, an extra 1.7 million people have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable – up from 2.2 million previously identified – with the total currently standing at 3.8 million.

Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England, said the 1.7 million will be eligible for additional support including medicine deliveries, priority slots for supermarkets and statutory sick pay.

She said: “All of these people who are identified for the first time are those who have not had an individual clinical condition that we’ve previously been able to identify through the clinically extremely vulnerable group, but they are people who have multiple personal risk factors and underlying health conditions which move them into a higher risk group.”

Current advice states that shielding should continue until at least March 31.