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Coronavirus: Hundreds of flu patients to be tested by UK hospitals and GPs Coronavirus: Hundreds of flu patients to be tested by UK hospitals and GPs
(about 2 hours later)
Tests for coronavirus are being increased to include people displaying flu-like symptoms at 100 GP surgeries and eight hospitals across the UK.Tests for coronavirus are being increased to include people displaying flu-like symptoms at 100 GP surgeries and eight hospitals across the UK.
The tests will provide an "early warning" if the virus is spreading, Public Health England's Prof Paul Cosford said.The tests will provide an "early warning" if the virus is spreading, Public Health England's Prof Paul Cosford said.
Oil firm Chevron asked 300 London staff to work from home while one employee is tested for the virus. It comes as oil firm Chevron asked 300 London staff to work from home while one employee is tested for the virus.
And more schools closed after trips to Italy, which has more than 300 cases.And more schools closed after trips to Italy, which has more than 300 cases.
Italy has in recent days become Europe's worst-affected country, with a surge in cases that appear to have spread to Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.Italy has in recent days become Europe's worst-affected country, with a surge in cases that appear to have spread to Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.
Prof Cosford, emeritus medical director at Public Health England, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are heightening our vigilance because of the apparent spread of the virus in countries outside mainland China." Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that it was important not to overreact in response to the outbreak, saying that would also have "economic and social" costs.
Up to now, people were tested only if they displayed symptoms having recently returned from one of the countries where there has been an outbreak, including China, South Korea and northern Italy. Who will be tested?
However, Prof Cosford said Public Health England was now working with hospitals and GP surgeries to conduct tests on some patients with coughs, fevers or shortness of breath - regardless of whether they have travelled to a place where the virus is spreading. Up to now, people have only been tested if they displayed symptoms having recently returned from one of the countries where there has been an outbreak, including China, South Korea and northern Italy.
"If we do get to the position of a more widespread infection across the country, then it will give us early warning that's happening," said Prof Cosford. Public Health England said it was now working with some hospitals and GP surgeries to conduct tests on some patients with coughs, fevers or shortness of breath - regardless of whether they have travelled to a place where the virus is spreading.
Prof Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at Public Health England, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was "heightening our vigilance" because of the apparent spread of the virus in countries outside mainland China.
The eight hospital trusts involved are Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Guy's and St Thomas', Royal Brompton and Harefield, Royal Papworth Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, University Hospitals of South Manchester , Nottingham University Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.The eight hospital trusts involved are Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Guy's and St Thomas', Royal Brompton and Harefield, Royal Papworth Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, University Hospitals of South Manchester , Nottingham University Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
The plan is expected to mean hundreds more people are tested for the virus each week. There have been 7,132 tests carried out in the UK since the outbreak began to spread beyond China in January.
Of these, 13 were confirmed positive - including four people who returned from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
'A fact-finding mission''A fact-finding mission'
This is a pre-emptive move by Public Health England in case the virus starts spreading on a bigger scale.This is a pre-emptive move by Public Health England in case the virus starts spreading on a bigger scale.
Using existing software and checklists, it will allow doctors to identify patients coming in to selected sites with the most serious flu-like symptoms - mainly the elderly - and then test them.Using existing software and checklists, it will allow doctors to identify patients coming in to selected sites with the most serious flu-like symptoms - mainly the elderly - and then test them.
The aim is to discover whether coronavirus is spreading in communities.The aim is to discover whether coronavirus is spreading in communities.
In effect, it's a fact-finding mission to gather data to better understand the spread of the virus - if that is what is occurring.In effect, it's a fact-finding mission to gather data to better understand the spread of the virus - if that is what is occurring.
The plan is expected to mean hundreds more people are tested for the virus each week. There have been 7,132 tests carried out in the UK since the outbreak began to spread beyond China in January. How have schools been affected?
Of these, 13 were confirmed positive - including four people who returned from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Several schools have sent pupils home or closed after they returned from skiing trips in northern Italy over half term after the government updated the advice for travellers returning from Italy.
Eight of the coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospital. Hugh Hegarty, chief executive of the trust which runs Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough, said the school closed because of the "potential risk" after students and staff returned from a ski trip near Verona.
'Difficult decisions' He said they advised children who had been on the trip to self-isolate at home, while the school as a whole would close for 72 hours, during which there would be a deep clean and school leaders would monitor the situation.
Prof Cosford said the UK was still in the "containment" phase of dealing with the coronavirus, and added that efforts to identify and isolate people with the virus returning to the UK were "working really quite well". Among the other schools affected are:
He said Public Health England was not giving "blanket advice" that schools should close if staff or pupils have travelled to areas with outbreaks of the virus. Public Health England said it was not giving "blanket advice" that schools should close if staff or pupils had travelled to areas with outbreaks of the virus.
But, he said, schools made "difficult decisions" according to their specific circumstances.
Several schools have closed or sent pupils home after they returned from skiing trips in northern Italy over half-term.
It comes after Public Health England updated the advice for travellers returning from Italy, the European country worst-affected by the virus.
Anyone returning from 11 Italian towns now under quarantine is asked to self-isolate and call NHS 111, while people coming back from anywhere in Italy north of Pisa are asked to self-isolate only if they experienced symptoms.
Among the schools affected are:
Hugh Hegarty, CEO of the trust which runs Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough, said the school closed because of the "potential risk" after students and staff returned from a ski trip near Verona.
"The challenge for us is that guidance was issued on Tuesday morning and the children had returned to the school on Monday," he told the Today programme.
BBC's Nick Robinson tested: 'The sheer scale of the effort occurs to you'BBC's Nick Robinson tested: 'The sheer scale of the effort occurs to you'
Today programme presenter Nick Robinson has recounted his experience of being tested for the coronavirus, after returning from holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia.Today programme presenter Nick Robinson has recounted his experience of being tested for the coronavirus, after returning from holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Mr Robinson said he was feeling "fine" as he awaited the results in self-isolation at home, although he was a "little bit croaky" because he had a cough before he left the UK.Mr Robinson said he was feeling "fine" as he awaited the results in self-isolation at home, although he was a "little bit croaky" because he had a cough before he left the UK.
He said he was instructed to drive himself to hospital if possible, to avoid the risk of infecting others. A nurse came out into the car park wearing a plastic face visor, rubber gloves and a disposable apron.He said he was instructed to drive himself to hospital if possible, to avoid the risk of infecting others. A nurse came out into the car park wearing a plastic face visor, rubber gloves and a disposable apron.
The nurse carried out tests for temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation through his car window, before taking a swab for the coronavirus test.The nurse carried out tests for temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation through his car window, before taking a swab for the coronavirus test.
When they wanted a second opinion from a doctor, he was walked through a staff car park through a back entrance, again to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.When they wanted a second opinion from a doctor, he was walked through a staff car park through a back entrance, again to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.
"It's the sheer scale of the effort that occurs to you. I was there for more than two-and-a-half hours," he said. "This is hugely time consuming.""It's the sheer scale of the effort that occurs to you. I was there for more than two-and-a-half hours," he said. "This is hugely time consuming."
Mr Hegarty said they advised children who had been on the trip to self-isolate at home, while the school as a whole would close for 72 hours, during which there would be a deep clean and school leaders would monitor the situation. What's the global picture?
He said it was hard for schools to determine if students or staff were showing concerning symptoms given that they resembled those of a cold or flu. "It's February and it's the north-east of England," he said. More than 80,000 people have been infected with coronavirus, which originated in China.
Meanwhile, Britons are among hundreds of guests confined to a hotel in Tenerife after a visiting Italian doctor tested positive for the coronavirus. Britons are among hundreds of guests confined to a hotel in Tenerife after a visiting Italian doctor tested positive for the infection.
Rosie Mitford told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme they were being allowed out in the grounds now their temperatures have been tested. One guest, Rosie Mitford, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme they were being allowed out in the grounds once their temperatures had been tested.
She said: "They've given us a mask and you can wander about if you want, but really you should stay in your room. Obviously it's an awful situation. Everyone's just keeping their spirits up as much as they can, really."She said: "They've given us a mask and you can wander about if you want, but really you should stay in your room. Obviously it's an awful situation. Everyone's just keeping their spirits up as much as they can, really."
With 11 towns in northern Italy placed under quarantine, Prof Cosford said the UK would be "cautious" about putting communities on lockdown if the virus became more widespread here. Other developments:
He said they would monitor the infection and take scientific advice, but it was "unlikely at the moment" that such actions would be necessary. What do I need to know about coronavirus?
The aim was to "delay the onset of widespread infection" to give the NHS time to get through the pressures of the winter period, he said, after which it would be better able to cope with the influx of patients. The main signs of infection are fever (high temperature) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Frequent handwashing with soap or gel, avoiding close contact with people who are ill and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands can help cut the risk of infection.
Catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, binning it and washing your hands can minimise the risk of spreading disease.
Advice if you have travelled to affected areas:
Have you been affected by coronavirus concerns in the UK? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by coronavirus concerns in the UK? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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