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Coronavirus: How is the UK planning for an outbreak? Coronavirus: How is the UK planning for an outbreak?
(3 days later)
Coronavirus has been seen in more than 50 countries, including the UK. An increasing number of cases of coronavirus are being seen in the UK and the government says the spread of the disease is "likely".
What are the government's plans for a major outbreak and how prepared is the NHS? So, what will happen if there are major outbreaks and is the NHS well prepared?
Can coronavirus be contained? Could schools close and public gatherings be banned?
The government says the UK is prepared for all eventualities and is working on containing any outbreaks. The government has the power to close schools, restrict the use of public transport and stop mass gatherings to protect people from infection.
That involves spotting cases quickly, isolating them and identifying contacts people have had to stop any spread. This is being done by Public Health England's (PHE) nine regional teams. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. Drastic steps like these would have major social and economic consequences and ministers have stressed the need not to over-react - and this will be reiterated when the government publishes its action plan on Tuesday.
So far it has worked well. As of Friday, there have been 19 cases - all involving infection abroad. It is also virtually impossible to stop all social contact.
There has been no transmission within the UK, but even if there is, that does not mean containment is defeated. If the authorities can chase the links in the transmission chain, they have a good chance of stopping its spread. As such, these measures may be most likely when there are local outbreaks, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
What if containment fails? New legal powers have been passed to force people to stay in quarantine.
Even if it fails, containment will have bought the UK valuable time. These are more likely to be used during efforts to limit the spread of the disease, rather than in the event of an epidemic. The government and NHS do not have the facilities to contain more than a few hundred people.
Scientists will be closer to developing a vaccine and if containment lasts until spring or summer, the milder weather will help. The response is being co-ordinated by the government's emergency Cobra committee - made up of ministers, civil servants and other relevant officials.
Delaying an epidemic until the summer would have the added benefit that the under-pressure NHS would not be under so much pressure to cope. Emergency legislation will also be introduced in the coming weeks to give ministers extra powers to increase class sizes - in case there is a shortage of teachers - and bring recently-retired doctors and nurses back into the health service if needed.
What are the symptoms? Meanwhile, a public information campaign will be launched soon to encourage people to take their own steps to protect themselves - the main focus will be on regular and thorough hand washing.
It seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough. Is the NHS ready for coronavirus?
After a week, it leads to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment.
See more advice from the NHS here.
Is the NHS ready?
The NHS has detailed plans to cope with outbreaks of disease and surges in demand.The NHS has detailed plans to cope with outbreaks of disease and surges in demand.
They include: There are around 30 hospitals on stand-by to take patients - although the majority of the UK cases so far have been taken to one of five specialist hospitals in England.
Every hospital has been told to set up isolation pods in case patients arrive with the virus. These are not to treat patients, but to ensure they do not mix with other patients and staff when they arrive.
Patients are being advised to contact NHS 111 in England and self-isolate - the rest of the UK has its own arrangements. People who are worried they may have coronavirus should not go to A&E, or their GP.
How will the NHS treat seriously ill patients?
Currently there is no treatment or cure, so hospitals are trying to relieve the symptoms.Currently there is no treatment or cure, so hospitals are trying to relieve the symptoms.
Specialist equipment called ECMO - which helps with breathing - is available at a small number of units to support the most severely ill patients if their lungs fail. Specialist equipment called ECMO - which helps with breathing - is available at a small number of units for the most severely ill patients if their lungs fail.
As well as looking for a vaccine, researchers are exploring whether existing treatments for other conditions, such as malaria and HIV, can be used to help coronavirus patients. In the worst-case scenario of widespread transmission in the UK - an epidemic - the 30 hospitals could start cancelling routine treatments to prioritise coronavirus patients.
What if there are mass outbreaks? Assessments will be made about which patients can be advised to stay at home and isolate themselves - at the moment all cases are being admitted to hospital.
In the worst-case scenario of widespread transmission in the UK - an epidemic - hospitals could start cancelling routine treatments to prioritise coronavirus patients. This is being done to help contain its spread and help doctors learn more about the virus. The illness caused by the virus for many seems to be mild and passes.
Assessments will be made about which patients can be advised to stay at home and isolate themselves. The illness for many seems to be mild and passes. Can coronavirus be contained?
PHE has already announced wider surveillance to see if coronavirus is spreading undetected. Eight hospitals and 100 GP surgeries are testing patients with flu-like illness and respiratory problems. Public Health England officials have said widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is "highly likely" in the coming weeks and months.
Could schools be closed? But they are still working on containing its spread. That involves tracing people who have had close contact with infected people and getting them to self-isolate to see if symptoms develop.
Under the Civil Contingencies Act, the government can close schools, shut down public transport and stop mass gatherings to protect the public. This will continue until there are significant outbreaks in a number of areas of the country.
England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said on Thursday that if those measures were needed it would have to be "for quite a long period of time, probably more than two months". Even if containment fails, it could buy the UK valuable time.
However, evidence suggests those measures are not particularly effective at stopping the spread of something like coronavirus. And the balance between public safety and economic and social impacts would be considered. If an epidemic can be delayed until late spring, or even the summer, the milder weather will help as the NHS would not be under so much pressure.
New legal powers have been passed, to force people to stay in quarantine. But this is a measure more about containment than a practical step that will be taken in the event of the virus becoming an epidemic in the UK. It also gives scientists more time to learn more about the virus and, hopefully, be a step closer to developing a vaccine.
The government and NHS simply do not have the facilities to contain many more than a few hundred people.
In the event of mass transmissions, responses will be co-ordinated by the government's Cobra committee and 43 local "resilience forums" in England and Wales.
These include PHE officials, the NHS, local councils and the emergency services. Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own arrangements, although they do liaise closely with England.
What questions do you have about the UK's coronavirus plans?What questions do you have about the UK's coronavirus plans?
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