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Coronavirus: 14 people in the UK test negative as China sends military doctors to Wuhan – live news Coronavirus: 14 people in the UK test negative as China sends military doctors to Wuhan – live news
(30 minutes later)
UK emergency committee to discuss outbreak as more than 33 million people affected by lockdown measures in ChinaUK emergency committee to discuss outbreak as more than 33 million people affected by lockdown measures in China
Here are some details of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is saying about the second case of coronavirus identified in the United States.
The CDC added that while it considered coronavirus “a serious public health threat” the immediate health risk to the US public was considered low.
The BMJ (British Medical Journal) has an article about the psychological effects of quarantining a city, in response to the lockdown affecting more than 20 million people in China.
It says:
It says elevated anxiety may lead to a surge in patients referred to as the “worried well” and that stigma may affect those on the inside of the cordon.
A crucial question for how the outbreak will unfold is how contagious the virus is. Scientists around the world are trying to establish how many people, on average, each infected person will pass the virus on to, a number known as R0 in epidemiology. If this number is more than one, an epidemic will grow and if less than one it will fizzle out.A crucial question for how the outbreak will unfold is how contagious the virus is. Scientists around the world are trying to establish how many people, on average, each infected person will pass the virus on to, a number known as R0 in epidemiology. If this number is more than one, an epidemic will grow and if less than one it will fizzle out.
An analysis posted online on Friday by scientists from Lancaster University, puts R0 for the new coronavirus at 3.8 and estimates that should the epidemic continue unabated, there could be 191,529 infections by 4 February. An analysis posted online on Friday by scientists from Lancaster University puts R0 for the new coronavirus at 3.8 and estimates that should the epidemic continue unabated, there could be 191,529 infections by 4 February.
The paper also suggests that travel restrictions from and to Wuhan city are unlikely to be effective in halting transmission across China. The analysis assumes that only 5% of infections in Wuhan have been identified, which would imply a far larger pool of people whose symptoms have been mild and who have not attended hospital. So while more people may have been infected than initially thought, on the positive side, it would imply that the majority of infections do not cause severe symptoms.The paper also suggests that travel restrictions from and to Wuhan city are unlikely to be effective in halting transmission across China. The analysis assumes that only 5% of infections in Wuhan have been identified, which would imply a far larger pool of people whose symptoms have been mild and who have not attended hospital. So while more people may have been infected than initially thought, on the positive side, it would imply that the majority of infections do not cause severe symptoms.
Chinese state television’s traditional lunar new year extravaganza on Friday paid tribute to the people of Wuhan and to medical staff fighting the coronavirus crisis, urging them on to victory in the battle to defeat the outbreak, Reuters reports.Chinese state television’s traditional lunar new year extravaganza on Friday paid tribute to the people of Wuhan and to medical staff fighting the coronavirus crisis, urging them on to victory in the battle to defeat the outbreak, Reuters reports.
Here is the full statement by the chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, in which he said the risk to the UK public remained low:Here is the full statement by the chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, in which he said the risk to the UK public remained low:
This interactive shows where there are confirmed cases of the coronavirus:This interactive shows where there are confirmed cases of the coronavirus:
And this shows the extent of the transport shutdown in China:And this shows the extent of the transport shutdown in China:
The person who tested positive in the US, the second person in the United States to do so, is a woman in her 60s.The person who tested positive in the US, the second person in the United States to do so, is a woman in her 60s.
She returned from Wuhan, China, on 13 January.She returned from Wuhan, China, on 13 January.
In the UK, tests for coronavirus on 14 people in the UK have come back negative but there are checks ongoing on other people, the chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said.In the UK, tests for coronavirus on 14 people in the UK have come back negative but there are checks ongoing on other people, the chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said.
He was speaking after a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee in Whitehall, chaired by the health secretary, Matt Hancock.He was speaking after a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee in Whitehall, chaired by the health secretary, Matt Hancock.
A second case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the United States.A second case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the United States.
The only other confirmed case in the US so far is in Washington. There are suspected cases, which have been yet to be confirmed, elsewhere.The only other confirmed case in the US so far is in Washington. There are suspected cases, which have been yet to be confirmed, elsewhere.
The coronavirus appears to cause similar symptoms to Sars, and seems to be capable of spreading from person to person and between cities, according to two studies published in medical journal, The Lancet.The coronavirus appears to cause similar symptoms to Sars, and seems to be capable of spreading from person to person and between cities, according to two studies published in medical journal, The Lancet.
The authors caution that their findings, the first clinical data from initial cases of new coronavirus in China, involve only a small amount of patients.The authors caution that their findings, the first clinical data from initial cases of new coronavirus in China, involve only a small amount of patients.
They stress the need to maximise the chances of containing infection through careful surveillance, active contact tracing, and vigorous searches for the animal hosts and transmission routes to humans.They stress the need to maximise the chances of containing infection through careful surveillance, active contact tracing, and vigorous searches for the animal hosts and transmission routes to humans.
In the first new study, researchers analysed the first 41 patients infected with laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV admitted to hospital in the city of Wuhan between 16 December last year and and 2 January.In the first new study, researchers analysed the first 41 patients infected with laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV admitted to hospital in the city of Wuhan between 16 December last year and and 2 January.
Lead author Professor Bin Cao from the China-Japan friendship hospital and Capital Medical University, China, said:Lead author Professor Bin Cao from the China-Japan friendship hospital and Capital Medical University, China, said:
Co-author Dr Lili Ren from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, China, said:Co-author Dr Lili Ren from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, China, said:
In the second paper, which is a first of its kind genetic analysis, researchers studied a family of seven people who presented to hospital with unexplained pneumonia. They identified 2019-nCoV in five members who had recently visited Wuhan, and in one other family member who did not travel with them.In the second paper, which is a first of its kind genetic analysis, researchers studied a family of seven people who presented to hospital with unexplained pneumonia. They identified 2019-nCoV in five members who had recently visited Wuhan, and in one other family member who did not travel with them.
Only a child, who was reported by their mother to have worn a surgical mask for most of the stay in Wuhan, was not infected. Importantly, another child was infected with 2019-nCoV, but showed no clinical symptoms, suggesting that individuals may be able to spread infections in the community without knowing that they are infected.Professor Kwok-Yung Yuen from the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen hospital who led the research, said:Only a child, who was reported by their mother to have worn a surgical mask for most of the stay in Wuhan, was not infected. Importantly, another child was infected with 2019-nCoV, but showed no clinical symptoms, suggesting that individuals may be able to spread infections in the community without knowing that they are infected.Professor Kwok-Yung Yuen from the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen hospital who led the research, said:
All six patients were hospitalised in isolation and remain stable as of 20 January.All six patients were hospitalised in isolation and remain stable as of 20 January.
Chinese military doctors are being sent in to help with efforts in Wuhan to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.Chinese military doctors are being sent in to help with efforts in Wuhan to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.
Some 40 medical officers from the city’s military hospital have already started work in the intensive care unit of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, the South China Morning Post reports.Some 40 medical officers from the city’s military hospital have already started work in the intensive care unit of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, the South China Morning Post reports.
Staff at a military hospital held an oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday pledging they would do their best to react to the outbreak.Staff at a military hospital held an oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday pledging they would do their best to react to the outbreak.
“We all swore that we will follow the order, make sacrifices if necessary and do our jobs as required and would not be afraid to suffer or even to die,” said one practioner.“We all swore that we will follow the order, make sacrifices if necessary and do our jobs as required and would not be afraid to suffer or even to die,” said one practioner.
“[We were told that] we triumphed over Sars and we will win again this time.”“[We were told that] we triumphed over Sars and we will win again this time.”
Panic and despair and despair have been sweeping hospitals across Wuhan, where patients wearing masks queue for hours and pharmacies are running out of supplies.Panic and despair and despair have been sweeping hospitals across Wuhan, where patients wearing masks queue for hours and pharmacies are running out of supplies.
The Guardian’s Rebecca Ratcliffe and Lillian Yang in Beijing have filed a piece depicting some of the increasingly challenging circumstances in the city at the centre of the new coronavirus outbreak.The Guardian’s Rebecca Ratcliffe and Lillian Yang in Beijing have filed a piece depicting some of the increasingly challenging circumstances in the city at the centre of the new coronavirus outbreak.
Britain’s Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has emerged after chairing a meeting of the British government’s ‘Cobra’ emergency committee, which brings together senior figures for various agencies to undertake crises planning.Britain’s Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has emerged after chairing a meeting of the British government’s ‘Cobra’ emergency committee, which brings together senior figures for various agencies to undertake crises planning.
“The clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low,” he said, adding that the UK’s chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.“The clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low,” he said, adding that the UK’s chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.
Health officials have been preparing for an outbreak that could last for months, a senior World Health Organisation official in Beijing has told the New York Times.Health officials have been preparing for an outbreak that could last for months, a senior World Health Organisation official in Beijing has told the New York Times.
Thousands of people were eventually likely to be infected, said Dr. Gauden Galea, representative of the WHO in the Chinese capital.Thousands of people were eventually likely to be infected, said Dr. Gauden Galea, representative of the WHO in the Chinese capital.
“My own office is gearing up for a number of months. We do not expect it to disappear in a number of days.”“My own office is gearing up for a number of months. We do not expect it to disappear in a number of days.”
Calls for stricter outlawing of the trafficking and consumption of wild game - which has been linked to the emergence of Coronavirus in Chinese cities - have been reverberating on Chinese social media.Calls for stricter outlawing of the trafficking and consumption of wild game - which has been linked to the emergence of Coronavirus in Chinese cities - have been reverberating on Chinese social media.
An interesting piece from Jessica Colwell on What’s on Weibo, which reports on social media trends in China, reports that the Wuhan Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market which has been linked to the outbreak has been closed down but criticism of such markets has been fierce.An interesting piece from Jessica Colwell on What’s on Weibo, which reports on social media trends in China, reports that the Wuhan Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market which has been linked to the outbreak has been closed down but criticism of such markets has been fierce.
She writes:She writes:
Britain’s public health authorities have put out these slides as part of an information campaign about the coronavirus outbreakBritain’s public health authorities have put out these slides as part of an information campaign about the coronavirus outbreak
A British man who felt unwell after returning from Wuhan but struggled to get doctor’s appointment until revealing he had been in China has been talking to the Guardian’s Nazia Parveen.A British man who felt unwell after returning from Wuhan but struggled to get doctor’s appointment until revealing he had been in China has been talking to the Guardian’s Nazia Parveen.
Michael Hope, 45, ended up in quarantine for 28 hours, kept in a sealed room and being tested by medics in what he described as “spaceman suits”.Michael Hope, 45, ended up in quarantine for 28 hours, kept in a sealed room and being tested by medics in what he described as “spaceman suits”.
“I felt like ET, to be honest,” he said. “It was totally, totally surreal.”“I felt like ET, to be honest,” he said. “It was totally, totally surreal.”
On Tuesday, with his symptoms having worsened after four days to “a really bad chest – coughing to the point of vomiting”, he had no greater concerns than his GP being busy: after he explained his condition, he was told there were no appointments available and to call back in the morning. The following day, when he managed to get a telephone consultation, he told his GP he had been unable to leave his home since he had got back from China – and events suddenly speeded up.On Tuesday, with his symptoms having worsened after four days to “a really bad chest – coughing to the point of vomiting”, he had no greater concerns than his GP being busy: after he explained his condition, he was told there were no appointments available and to call back in the morning. The following day, when he managed to get a telephone consultation, he told his GP he had been unable to leave his home since he had got back from China – and events suddenly speeded up.
“I told them I had flu-like symptoms and that I had travelled back from Wuhan,” he said. “At first the GP told me to come to the surgery and said we could both wear masks and I could stand outside the door – but then things quickly changed and I was told to stay at home, not to leave, and I would be visited instead.” Read on..“I told them I had flu-like symptoms and that I had travelled back from Wuhan,” he said. “At first the GP told me to come to the surgery and said we could both wear masks and I could stand outside the door – but then things quickly changed and I was told to stay at home, not to leave, and I would be visited instead.” Read on..
On the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast, Hannah Devlin has been speaking to Professor Ian Jones about exactly what a coronavirus is.On the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast, Hannah Devlin has been speaking to Professor Ian Jones about exactly what a coronavirus is.
We also hear from epidemiologist Dr Rosalind Eggo about how scientists model the spread of novel viruses, often with very little information.We also hear from epidemiologist Dr Rosalind Eggo about how scientists model the spread of novel viruses, often with very little information.