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Coronavirus: Widespread transmission in UK 'highly likely' | Coronavirus: Widespread transmission in UK 'highly likely' |
(32 minutes later) | |
Widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is now "highly likely", Public Health England (PHE) has said. | Widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is now "highly likely", Public Health England (PHE) has said. |
Medical Director Prof Paul Cosford said the country must be prepared. | |
The prime minister will chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later, after the number of UK coronavirus cases jumped to 36. | The prime minister will chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later, after the number of UK coronavirus cases jumped to 36. |
Senior ministers and health advisers will be told that the virus will present a "significant challenge". | Senior ministers and health advisers will be told that the virus will present a "significant challenge". |
The official government plan on how to tackle the spread of the virus will be finalised and signed off at the talks. | The official government plan on how to tackle the spread of the virus will be finalised and signed off at the talks. |
Boris Johnson will say the NHS is well-prepared and the government will "stop at nothing" to fight the virus. | Boris Johnson will say the NHS is well-prepared and the government will "stop at nothing" to fight the virus. |
Prof Cosford said the extent of infection in other countries suggested the UK needed to prepare for more widespread infection. | |
"We should expect that might be quite challenging for us, it is therefore very important that we do everything we can to reduce the spread of infection," he said. | "We should expect that might be quite challenging for us, it is therefore very important that we do everything we can to reduce the spread of infection," he said. |
It comes after 13 new patients were diagnosed on Sunday. | It comes after 13 new patients were diagnosed on Sunday. |
The latest cases included 12 more in England and the first patient in Scotland, meaning the virus has now reached all four parts of the UK. | The latest cases included 12 more in England and the first patient in Scotland, meaning the virus has now reached all four parts of the UK. |
A health worker at an NHS cancer centre in Middlesex is also among the new cases. | A health worker at an NHS cancer centre in Middlesex is also among the new cases. |
Three of the new cases in England were linked to a man from Surrey, who was the first patient to not have been abroad recently and was instead infected within the UK. | Three of the new cases in England were linked to a man from Surrey, who was the first patient to not have been abroad recently and was instead infected within the UK. |
Meanwhile, more British holidaymakers stuck in a quarantined hotel in Tenerife are preparing to return home once they test negative for the virus. | Meanwhile, more British holidaymakers stuck in a quarantined hotel in Tenerife are preparing to return home once they test negative for the virus. |
Around 25 Britons have already left the hotel, but 150 others are now in their seventh day at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace after a group of Italians contracted the virus - and are awaiting test results before they can arrange flights. | Around 25 Britons have already left the hotel, but 150 others are now in their seventh day at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace after a group of Italians contracted the virus - and are awaiting test results before they can arrange flights. |
Once home, they must isolate themselves until the original quarantine period ends on 9 March. | Once home, they must isolate themselves until the original quarantine period ends on 9 March. |
Last week concerns about the outbreak wiped more than $5tn from global stocks. But prices in Asia began to rise on Monday after Japan's central bank promised to take action to support the markets. | Last week concerns about the outbreak wiped more than $5tn from global stocks. But prices in Asia began to rise on Monday after Japan's central bank promised to take action to support the markets. |
The government has said its plan if the outbreak worsens could include asking newly-retired doctors and nurses to return to the NHS. | The government has said its plan if the outbreak worsens could include asking newly-retired doctors and nurses to return to the NHS. |
People could also be urged to work from home - and closing schools and cancelling major public events have also not been ruled out. | People could also be urged to work from home - and closing schools and cancelling major public events have also not been ruled out. |
"There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country," Mr Johnson is expected to tell the meeting, which will involve the UK's chief medical adviser as well as Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. | "There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country," Mr Johnson is expected to tell the meeting, which will involve the UK's chief medical adviser as well as Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. |
The government has also set up a "war room" in the Cabinet Office to roll out a public health campaign encouraging people to wash their hands for 20 seconds or more. | The government has also set up a "war room" in the Cabinet Office to roll out a public health campaign encouraging people to wash their hands for 20 seconds or more. |
Where are the latest cases? | Where are the latest cases? |
On Saturday, three new cases were confirmed in Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. | On Saturday, three new cases were confirmed in Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. |
One of those was a member of staff at St Mary's School in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, the primary school confirmed. Another school - Willow Bank Infant School in Woodley, Berkshire - said one of its staff had been infected. | One of those was a member of staff at St Mary's School in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, the primary school confirmed. Another school - Willow Bank Infant School in Woodley, Berkshire - said one of its staff had been infected. |
Then, on Sunday, 13 new cases were revealed: | Then, on Sunday, 13 new cases were revealed: |
Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said his party "broadly supported" the government's aims. | Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said his party "broadly supported" the government's aims. |
But he told the BBC he was concerned about the NHS's capacity to deal with the virus and urged the government to consider emergency funding. | But he told the BBC he was concerned about the NHS's capacity to deal with the virus and urged the government to consider emergency funding. |
Meanwhile, Lib Dem MP Layla Moran has written to the health secretary to urge him to make sure people are paid if they have to self-isolate. | Meanwhile, Lib Dem MP Layla Moran has written to the health secretary to urge him to make sure people are paid if they have to self-isolate. |
The GMB union has also called on NHS trusts to ensure that outsourced staff are given sick pay in suspected cases of Covid-19. | The GMB union has also called on NHS trusts to ensure that outsourced staff are given sick pay in suspected cases of Covid-19. |
It warned most private companies providing the NHS with cleaners, porters and caterers do not offer sick pay for the first three days. | It warned most private companies providing the NHS with cleaners, porters and caterers do not offer sick pay for the first three days. |
What do I need to know about the coronavirus? | What do I need to know about the coronavirus? |
As of 09:00 GMT on Sunday, the Department of Health said a total of 11,750 people had been tested in the UK. | As of 09:00 GMT on Sunday, the Department of Health said a total of 11,750 people had been tested in the UK. |
Globally, around 86,000 people have been infected, with cases in more than 50 countries. More than 3,000 people have died - the vast majority in China's Hubei province, where the outbreak originated in December. | Globally, around 86,000 people have been infected, with cases in more than 50 countries. More than 3,000 people have died - the vast majority in China's Hubei province, where the outbreak originated in December. |
Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Or do you have any information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Or do you have any information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |