Liverpool has the highest number of people in the country currently on the coronavirus "extremely vulnerable" shielding list, worrying new figures show.
There are 47,085 city residents on the register, far more than any other local authority area in England.
That represents 9.5% of the population, again the highest in the country.
Sefton is the second highest area in England, with 22,645, equivalent to 8.2%, and St Helens is fourth on the list, with 12,585, 7% of the population.
Knowsley is eighth highest in the country, with 8,810 on the coronavirus at-risk shielding list, which is 5.9% of its population.
Only Leeds comes close to Liverpool, with 45,425 people, but that is almost half Liverpool's percentage of population, at 5.8%.
The statistics are verified by GPs and hospitals as those suffering from conditions that mean they should be fully hidden from exposure to coronavirus.
Those on the list are being told to stay at home at all times and avoid face-to-face contact.
The government is currently advising people on the list to stay at home until the end of June, though this is being reviewed and may be extended.
The startling figures have been released by NHS Digital, but have come as little surprise to health experts in the city.
Liverpool's problems with long-term illness, poor lung health, heart disease, and high levels of COPD are well-known.
Deprivation and austerity on Merseyside are also closely linked to the worrying levels of poor public health, it was added.
The county's particular population demography feeds into those concerns.
Shielding, health bosses in Liverpool believe, is linked principally with the elderly and those with long-term conditions.
Other areas with high figures, but still far less than Liverpool, are Hounslow, Barrow-in-Furness, Bassetlaw, Ealing, East Suffolk, Brent, Bolton, Doncaster, Rochford, Northumberland, Milton Keynes, and Stafford.
Nationally, one in 25 people in England are currently on the Covid-19 "extremely vulnerable" shielding list.
That is 4% of the population, more than two million people.
Of the people on the list identified by NHS Digital, 1,172,799 are female and 1,041,099 are male.
Some 92,633 are under the age of 18, while 1,169,220 are aged from 18 to 69.
A further 952,027 people are aged 70 and over.
The North East has the highest number of patients on the shielded list, with 391,980, while the South West has the lowest with 217,025.
When it comes to children under the age of 18, London has the highest number with 18,685 on the list.
Doctors have said those on the shielded list are at greatest risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19 and should have been sent a letter or received a call from their GP about their risk.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people include those who have had an organ transplant, people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy and those with lung cancer undergoing radical radiotherapy.
People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of their treatment are also included, as are those with cancer who are having immunotherapy or other targeted treatments.
Patients who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs, should also not leave their homes, alongside those with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Chair of NHS Liverpool CCG said: “We are aware our numbers are high and are not surprised by this, as it reflects the high levels of disease and disability that affects our population and our high levels of deprivation compared to other parts of the country.
“As set out in the recently published One Liverpool Plan, 45% of our population in Liverpool have a long-term health condition, with a large proportion of those individuals having more than one condition. We also have higher than average rates COPD rates (around 18000 people are affected in Liverpool) and high levels of cardiovascular diseases too. All of this increases the risk to our local population from COVID-19.
“In Liverpool we have undertaken a very thorough process led, by GPs in the city, to identify our at risk population, and working closely with our council colleagues we have put a significant amount of resource into supporting our most vulnerable people.”
