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| Coronavirus: UK 'well prepared' to deal with cases, says government | Coronavirus: UK 'well prepared' to deal with cases, says government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The UK is "well prepared" to deal with coronavirus cases and the risk to individuals "remains low", the government has said. | The UK is "well prepared" to deal with coronavirus cases and the risk to individuals "remains low", the government has said. |
| Downing Street said 99% of those tested in the UK had come back negative. | Downing Street said 99% of those tested in the UK had come back negative. |
| The total number of cases in the UK has risen to 13 after four cruise ship passengers flown back to Britain on Saturday tested positive for the virus. | The total number of cases in the UK has risen to 13 after four cruise ship passengers flown back to Britain on Saturday tested positive for the virus. |
| It comes amid growing fears the outbreak could reach pandemic scale as more cases emerge around the world. | It comes amid growing fears the outbreak could reach pandemic scale as more cases emerge around the world. |
| A total of 6,536 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the UK as of 14:00 GMT on Monday, with 6,527 returning as negative, the Department of Health said. | A total of 6,536 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the UK as of 14:00 GMT on Monday, with 6,527 returning as negative, the Department of Health said. |
| Italy has the largest number of coronavirus cases in Europe, currently 165, and has reported its fifth death from the virus. | Italy has the largest number of coronavirus cases in Europe, currently 165, and has reported its fifth death from the virus. |
| It has taken tough measures to try and contain the outbreak, including enforcing a lockdown in several small towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions. | It has taken tough measures to try and contain the outbreak, including enforcing a lockdown in several small towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions. |
| Asked whether similar measures could be imposed in the UK, the prime minister's official spokesman said: "We will be led by the advice from public health and medical experts and will take steps which they feel are required to best protect the British public." | Asked whether similar measures could be imposed in the UK, the prime minister's official spokesman said: "We will be led by the advice from public health and medical experts and will take steps which they feel are required to best protect the British public." |
| The risk to individuals "remains low" and 99% of those tested in the UK had come back negative, the spokesman added. | The risk to individuals "remains low" and 99% of those tested in the UK had come back negative, the spokesman added. |
| He said: "We are well prepared for UK cases, we are using tried and tested procedures to prevent further spread and the NHS is extremely well prepared and used to managing infections." | He said: "We are well prepared for UK cases, we are using tried and tested procedures to prevent further spread and the NHS is extremely well prepared and used to managing infections." |
| The government will continue to "work closely" with the World Health Organization and international partners, and "remain prepared for all eventualities", he said. | |
| The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Italy over the weekend, the spokesman added. | The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Italy over the weekend, the spokesman added. |
| Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has advised its citizens not to travel to affected areas of Italy. | Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has advised its citizens not to travel to affected areas of Italy. |
| Meanwhile, rugby matches involving Welsh club Ospreys and Irish side Ulster have been postponed due to restrictions enforced by officials dealing with the outbreak in Italy. | Meanwhile, rugby matches involving Welsh club Ospreys and Irish side Ulster have been postponed due to restrictions enforced by officials dealing with the outbreak in Italy. |
| Ospreys were due to play Zebre in Parma on Saturday, with Ulster set to face Benetton in Treviso later the same day. | Ospreys were due to play Zebre in Parma on Saturday, with Ulster set to face Benetton in Treviso later the same day. |
| Plans are being made to reschedule both fixtures. | Plans are being made to reschedule both fixtures. |
| The UK has supplied equipment including facemasks to China to help combat the spread of the disease, the spokesman confirmed. | The UK has supplied equipment including facemasks to China to help combat the spread of the disease, the spokesman confirmed. |
| "We have supplied [the Chinese government] with 1,800 goggles, 430,000 disposable gloves, 194,000 sanitising wipes, 37,500 medical gowns and 2,500 facemasks," he said. | "We have supplied [the Chinese government] with 1,800 goggles, 430,000 disposable gloves, 194,000 sanitising wipes, 37,500 medical gowns and 2,500 facemasks," he said. |
| The total number of UK cases has risen to 13 after four cruise ship passengers flown to Britain on Saturday tested positive for the virus. | The total number of UK cases has risen to 13 after four cruise ship passengers flown to Britain on Saturday tested positive for the virus. |
| They were among 30 repatriated Britons and two Irish citizens beginning a 14-day quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral. | They were among 30 repatriated Britons and two Irish citizens beginning a 14-day quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral. |
| The four UK nationals caught the virus on the Diamond Princess liner in Japan and are being treated in specialist NHS infection centres. | The four UK nationals caught the virus on the Diamond Princess liner in Japan and are being treated in specialist NHS infection centres. |
| Separately, four Britons from the ship who recently tested positive for the new coronavirus were not on Saturday's repatriation flight. | Separately, four Britons from the ship who recently tested positive for the new coronavirus were not on Saturday's repatriation flight. |
| They included David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, who have since been diagnosed with pneumonia, according to their family and are being treated in a Japanese hospital. | They included David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, who have since been diagnosed with pneumonia, according to their family and are being treated in a Japanese hospital. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it will not officially declare a coronavirus pandemic, but will start to use the term in communications if it reaches that stage. | The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it will not officially declare a coronavirus pandemic, but will start to use the term in communications if it reaches that stage. |
| Spokeswoman Margaret Harris said: "We could start describing it as a pandemic, but at the moment we are saying it is clusters and outbreaks in some countries." | Spokeswoman Margaret Harris said: "We could start describing it as a pandemic, but at the moment we are saying it is clusters and outbreaks in some countries." |
| She said in most cases there was a clear epidemiological link between those affected and cases reported in Asia. | She said in most cases there was a clear epidemiological link between those affected and cases reported in Asia. |
| "If it became clear that it is all around the globe and we are seeing systematic community transmission, then we would say this meets the definition of a pandemic," she added. | "If it became clear that it is all around the globe and we are seeing systematic community transmission, then we would say this meets the definition of a pandemic," she added. |
| The statements come as nations including South Korea, Italy and Iran are battling to contain the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19. | The statements come as nations including South Korea, Italy and Iran are battling to contain the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19. |
| About 77,000 people in China, where the virus emerged last year, have been infected and nearly 2,600 have died. | About 77,000 people in China, where the virus emerged last year, have been infected and nearly 2,600 have died. |
| More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in about 30 other countries and there have been more than 20 deaths. | More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in about 30 other countries and there have been more than 20 deaths. |