This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51684624

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Coronavirus: Three more people test positive in England Coronavirus: Three more people test positive in England
(32 minutes later)
Three more people from England have tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of UK cases to 23.Three more people from England have tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of UK cases to 23.
Two of the patients had recently returned from Italy, while the other had come back from Asia, chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said.Two of the patients had recently returned from Italy, while the other had come back from Asia, chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said.
The cases are from Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.The cases are from Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.
It comes as health officials try to discover how a man from Surrey caught the virus, after he became the first person to be infected within the UK.It comes as health officials try to discover how a man from Surrey caught the virus, after he became the first person to be infected within the UK.
The man had not been abroad recently - unlike the other cases in the UK.The man had not been abroad recently - unlike the other cases in the UK.
Officials are trying to trace people who had contact with him. Haslemere Health Centre, which he had attended, has now reopened after "deep cleaning".Officials are trying to trace people who had contact with him. Haslemere Health Centre, which he had attended, has now reopened after "deep cleaning".
He has been transferred to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in central London.He has been transferred to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in central London.
The government is preparing to publish emergency plans to tackle the virus. The government is next week expected to publish emergency legislation to help tackle the virus.
The package of measures within the emergency legislation would be designed to help the public sector - such as the NHS and schools - cope with a serious rise in cases. The package of measures would be designed to help the public sector - such as the NHS and schools - cope with a serious rise in cases.
There are few details about what the measures could involve - but school class sizes in England is one area which would be addressed. They would be permitted to rise above statutory limits, in the event of widespread teacher absences.There are few details about what the measures could involve - but school class sizes in England is one area which would be addressed. They would be permitted to rise above statutory limits, in the event of widespread teacher absences.
Health minister Edward Argar told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "any responsible government" would have "contingency planning" in place, but added the government was "entirely focused on making containment work".Health minister Edward Argar told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "any responsible government" would have "contingency planning" in place, but added the government was "entirely focused on making containment work".
The plans, which are expected to be published next week, "are not needed at the moment," he added. He said the contingency plans "are not needed at the moment".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said the virus outbreak was now the government's top priority, will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee on Monday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said the virus outbreak was now a top priority, will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee on Monday.
He had faced criticism from Labour, who said he needed to "get a grip" on the situation and questioned why he was waiting until next week to hold the meeting.He had faced criticism from Labour, who said he needed to "get a grip" on the situation and questioned why he was waiting until next week to hold the meeting.
As of 09:00 GMT on Saturday, more than 10,000 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus.As of 09:00 GMT on Saturday, more than 10,000 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus.
In other recent developments:In other recent developments:
Health minister Helen Whately told BBC Newsnight it was "likely" that more cases will be seen within the UK.
She said members of the public were not recommended to wear face masks, but that "everybody has a part to play to help us be prepared as a country".
Who did this man catch the virus from?
This is the urgent question that needs answering about the 20th case in the UK.
So far, no connection with anyone who has travelled to an affected country has been discovered.
Until we know the answer it is difficult to know how big a development this is.
This could be an "outbreak of two" - with just one other, still to be identified, person that caught coronavirus abroad.
Or is this the first case to be detected from a much larger outbreak? We know this can happen, Italian scientists believe the virus was circulating there unnoticed for weeks.
For now, we simply do not know, but this is a scenario officials have been preparing for.
People should wash their hands thoroughly, and carry a tissue to sneeze or cough into to reduce the spread of the virus, according to public health advice.People should wash their hands thoroughly, and carry a tissue to sneeze or cough into to reduce the spread of the virus, according to public health advice.
Of the most recent case, the Department of Health said the virus was passed on in the UK but the original source was "unclear" and there was no "immediately identifiable link" to overseas travel. Of the case in Surrey, the Department of Health said the virus was passed on in the UK but the original source was "unclear" and there was no "immediately identifiable link" to overseas travel.
Dr Nathalie MacDermott, from King's College London, told the Today programme the Surrey case was "alarming" because it becomes more difficult to contain the virus when it is not clear who patients have been infected by. Dr Nathalie MacDermott, from King's College London, told the Today programme it was "alarming" because it becomes more difficult to contain the virus when it is not clear who patients have been infected by.
But she added the government's "worst case scenario" planning should not be a source of concern.But she added the government's "worst case scenario" planning should not be a source of concern.
"It's important that we all prepare for the worst but that we don't necessarily panic and assume the worst," she said."It's important that we all prepare for the worst but that we don't necessarily panic and assume the worst," she said.
What do I need to know about the coronavirus?What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
Meanwhile, six British guests have left a quarantined hotel in Tenerife after four days of isolation. Meanwhile, a man has tested positive for coronavirus at a quarantined hotel in Tenerife.
A further nine guests also left the Costa Adeje Palace on Saturday, though it is not clear whether they are British. He is one of a group of Italian holidaymakers from which the first four cases at the Costa Adeje Palace emerged. Those cases led the hotel to go into lockdown earlier this week.
It brings the total number of hotel guests who have been able to leave since the quarantine order was imposed to 53. The guests were considered "low risk" because they arrived after people infected with the virus had left the hotel. At least six British guests are among 53 guests to have left the hotel after days of isolation.
The guests were considered "low risk" because they arrived after infected people had left the hotel.
The BBC's Fiona Trott said some of the other Britons at the hotel have received a letter from the Foreign Office telling them they will be tested for Covid-19.The BBC's Fiona Trott said some of the other Britons at the hotel have received a letter from the Foreign Office telling them they will be tested for Covid-19.
The letter added British travellers at the hotel were assessed to be low risk, following a visit by Public Health England.The letter added British travellers at the hotel were assessed to be low risk, following a visit by Public Health England.
Airline Jet2 has said it would only fly passengers back to the UK if they had completed a 14-day quarantine at the hotel, or tested negative for the virus.Airline Jet2 has said it would only fly passengers back to the UK if they had completed a 14-day quarantine at the hotel, or tested negative for the virus.
In addition to the Surrey patient, three other cases of the virus were confirmed in the UK on Friday, including the first one in Wales. In addition to the Haslemere patient, three other cases of the virus were confirmed in the UK on Friday, including the first one in Wales.
Two new patients in England contracted the virus while in Iran, the Department of Health said.
Public Health Wales said it was working to identify close contacts of the Welsh patient, who is believed to be from the Swansea area and was infected in northern Italy before returning to the UK.Public Health Wales said it was working to identify close contacts of the Welsh patient, who is believed to be from the Swansea area and was infected in northern Italy before returning to the UK.
The World Health Organization has raised its global risk assessment of the virus to its top level, "very high".The World Health Organization has raised its global risk assessment of the virus to its top level, "very high".
Globally, more than 80,000 people have been infected. About 2,800 have died - the vast majority in China's Hubei province.Globally, more than 80,000 people have been infected. About 2,800 have died - the vast majority in China's Hubei province.
Fear about the virus has continued to hit global stock markets.