LETTERS are being sent to 40,000 'very high risk' patients across Northern Ireland this week telling them to stay at home due to a predicted surge in coronavirus cases.
GPs will issue the correspondence to those with a whole range of underlying health conditions who could become severely ill if they contract Covid-19.
They will be advised to remain in their house for 12 weeks and avoid face-to-face contact.
Specific cancer patients, cystic fibrosis sufferers and organ transplant patients will be among those who will receive advice in order to protect themselves.
Other vulnerable patients affected include:
- pregnant women with significant heart disease
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
- patients who have received bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
- leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma patients who are at any stage of treatment
- COPD patients and those with with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
- Rare disease patients and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
The letters will be issued to patients across the NHS, with the government advising that "shielding" is for "your personal protection".
"It is your choice to decide whether to follow the measures we advise," they state.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health in the north said GPs will be writing to those most at risk "to provide them with more detailed advice".
Meanwhile, the north's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride confirmed yesterday that the private sector will be supplying its hospitals in coming days.
An extra 100 beds and 400 extra staff will be supplied by the Ulster Independent Clinic, the Kingsbridge and North West Independent Hospital.
The three main private providers volunteered their services. They will not be seeking extra payment.
