London, Feb. 16, 2021 (AltAfrica)-The list of self isolation is getting much bigger in UK. Now around 1.7 million more people have been told to self isolate after been added to the shielding list in England -they’ve been found to be at potential serious risk from COVID-19.

They have been identified by a new algorithm that looks at multiple factors, and will be sent a letter from the NHS in the coming days.

Some will have already been offered a coronavirus jab but the around 800,000 who have not will be bumped up the vaccine priority list.

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The shielding list (self Isolation) was expanded after scientists at Oxford University developed a new tool that assesses whether someone is at risk of severe disease or death from COVID-19.

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

Around 2.2 million people are currently on the list in England, many of whom were identified for a single reason, such as specific cancers, people on immunosuppression drugs or those with severe respiratory conditions

The additional 1.7 million will bring the number of people on the list to almost four million – all of whom are being advised to shield until 31 March.

Dr Jenny Harries, one of England’s deputy chief medical officers, said those joining the shielding list will get the same support available to those who are “clinically extremely vulnerable”, including medicine deliveries, priority slots for supermarkets and statutory sick pay

She told a briefing for journalists: “As we learn more about COVID-19, we’re continuously reviewing the evidence… it was very clear that not all of those individuals who were at risk were identified by the binary approach.”

Dr Harries added the approach is “risk averse” to “protect as many people as possible”.

She explained: “The letter will note that this is more likely to be an overestimate of risk in a way which hopefully handles any of their anxiety.

“And it makes it absolutely clear that it is a choice for them if they choose to follow shielding advice or not – that has always been the case.

“What it does also do – which I hope will benefit them, which is why people will hopefully be grateful to receive this – is it will prioritise them for vaccination.

“In addition to that it means they have advice and support and that is important not just now, but should there be any changes in the pandemic in forthcoming months – for example, perhaps in vaccinations perhaps in the autumn as we go forward, then clearly they will be identified within that group as well so there are current and longer term benefits.”