The vast majority of coronavirus cases are believed to have mild effects on patients, but a small percentage are still deadly.

Health authorities have warned that elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk – but what are the specific conditions that should be on a higher alert?

According to Public Health England, COVID-19 poses the biggest threat to those who have weaker immune systems and long-term – or chronic – illnesses.

Some of the chronic conditions said to heighten the risk among patients are:

• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cancer

Ireland’s health services have also released a list of conditions that weaken the immune system, and include:

• Patients undergoing treatments for cancer
• Patients undergoing treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel diseases
• Patients with HIV
• Anyone who has had organ or bone marrow transplants

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