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Coronavirus: patient with underlying health conditions becomes first fatality in UK – latest updates Coronavirus: patient with underlying health conditions becomes first fatality in UK – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson warns coronavirus likely to significantly spread in UK; Iran limits travel as 3,500 infected; California declares state of emergencyBoris Johnson warns coronavirus likely to significantly spread in UK; Iran limits travel as 3,500 infected; California declares state of emergency
The number of confirmed covid-19 cases in Australia has climbed past 50, and include a baby diagnosed in South Australia and a tourist in the Northern Territory.
In New South Wales, Epping Boys high school in Sydney’s north will be closed on Friday after a student tested positive, and 61 staff at Sydney’s Ryde Hospital have been placed in self-isolation after 56 patients were identified as close or casual contacts of a confirmed Covid-19 case.
At Liverpool hospital, 23 staff and five patients have been identified as potential close contacts of a confirmed case. Elsewhere, in Brisbane and Sydney, nursing home staff have been forced into isolation after coming into contact with the virus.
The federal government announced new travel control measures affecting South Korea, and New South Wales authorities have said they were trying to contact 70 doctors who attended a radiology conference with a man diagnosed with the virus.
Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, has warned the worst-case scenario for Australia was “millions of people being infected over a period of several weeks”. However, he said the country’s public health systems were well prepared if widespread outbreaks occurred.
Two major sponsors of Crufts, believed to be the world’s biggest dog show, have told staff not to attend the event – which began today.
Pet food firms Royal Canin UK and James Wellbeloved asked employees to avoid the four-day event “unless it is business critical”, according to the BBC.
Crufts, which takes place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, has 20,000 competitors and their pets coming from all over the world.
Last year, 27,000 dogs attended the event, with 21,000 competing, including 3,611 from overseas, 413 of which were from Italy.A spokesman from Mars Petcare, the parent company of Royal Canin UK and James Wellbeloved, said:
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers said:
Crufts’ organisers The Kennel Club said the event in Birmingham would still go ahead, with “enhanced measures” to protect visitors.
Precautions would include hand sanitiser stations at entrances, toilets and catering areas, as well as additional signage. In a statement on its website, the club said Defra had not advised them to cancel the event.
The European parliament has cancelled its planned session in Strasbourg next week after being told that that the health risks to MEPs and staff would be “significantly higher” if it took place as plannedThe European parliament has cancelled its planned session in Strasbourg next week after being told that that the health risks to MEPs and staff would be “significantly higher” if it took place as planned
The parliament’s president, David Sassoli, did not mention the coronavirus outbreak. He said:The parliament’s president, David Sassoli, did not mention the coronavirus outbreak. He said:
Here’s a summary of today’s biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak.Here’s a summary of today’s biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has tweeted his condolences to the family of the first person to die in the UK with coronavirus.The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has tweeted his condolences to the family of the first person to die in the UK with coronavirus.
Has the coronavirus mutated into a more deadly strain? Here’s a myth buster by Hannah Devlin, the Guardian science correspondent, which also examines the protective value of face masks and whether it’s easy to catch the virus.Has the coronavirus mutated into a more deadly strain? Here’s a myth buster by Hannah Devlin, the Guardian science correspondent, which also examines the protective value of face masks and whether it’s easy to catch the virus.
Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, has indicated that the huge effort to limit the spread and impact of Covid-19 will soon move from trying to contain it, the first of the four phases of the response, to seeking to delay its transmission and thus limit the number of people who contract it.Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, has indicated that the huge effort to limit the spread and impact of Covid-19 will soon move from trying to contain it, the first of the four phases of the response, to seeking to delay its transmission and thus limit the number of people who contract it.
“We are moving from a primarily contain model to a primarily delay model,” he said. However, many of the tactics remain the same in both phases, such as identifying carriers and tracing people they have been in contact with, he continued.“We are moving from a primarily contain model to a primarily delay model,” he said. However, many of the tactics remain the same in both phases, such as identifying carriers and tracing people they have been in contact with, he continued.
“That pushes the disease further from the winter pressure period, further out from the period when people have upper respiratory tract infections, and it buys us time to better understand the virus and start the research into vaccines and things like that,” Whitty said.“That pushes the disease further from the winter pressure period, further out from the period when people have upper respiratory tract infections, and it buys us time to better understand the virus and start the research into vaccines and things like that,” Whitty said.
Ministers will decide when the campaign to tackle the virus moves officially from “contain” to “delay”, Whitty added. The latter phase is deemed appropriate when health officials and ministers decide the virus is circulating so widely in the community that containment is no longer the right response.Ministers will decide when the campaign to tackle the virus moves officially from “contain” to “delay”, Whitty added. The latter phase is deemed appropriate when health officials and ministers decide the virus is circulating so widely in the community that containment is no longer the right response.
The delay phase could involve some of the measures set out in the government’s coronavirus action plan on Tuesday, such as shutting schools, encouraging much greater homeworking and banning large gatherings such as sports and music events. However, Whitty told MPs on Thursday morning that closing schools may only have “a marginal effect” on the spread of Covid-19, because children are not badlyaffected by it.The delay phase could involve some of the measures set out in the government’s coronavirus action plan on Tuesday, such as shutting schools, encouraging much greater homeworking and banning large gatherings such as sports and music events. However, Whitty told MPs on Thursday morning that closing schools may only have “a marginal effect” on the spread of Covid-19, because children are not badlyaffected by it.
No details have been given about the unnamed woman who has died but it is understood that she was in her 70s and had recently spent time in and out of the Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading for long-term health conditions. She died early on Thursday morning.No details have been given about the unnamed woman who has died but it is understood that she was in her 70s and had recently spent time in and out of the Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading for long-term health conditions. She died early on Thursday morning.
Starbucks branches in the UK will be “pausing the use of personal cups” as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus, PA media reports.Starbucks branches in the UK will be “pausing the use of personal cups” as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus, PA media reports.
The company announced it would “continue to honour existing discounts” for anyone who brought reusable tumblers but that its drinks would be served in paper cups. It added that the 5p charge for disposable cups will be temporarily suspended.The company announced it would “continue to honour existing discounts” for anyone who brought reusable tumblers but that its drinks would be served in paper cups. It added that the 5p charge for disposable cups will be temporarily suspended.
Of the 115 confirmed cases across the UK so far, it remains unknown how 10 of them came to be infected, including seven of the 25 who were diagnosed in the last 24 hours.Of the 115 confirmed cases across the UK so far, it remains unknown how 10 of them came to be infected, including seven of the 25 who were diagnosed in the last 24 hours.
However, tracing the contacts of people whose illness is initially a mystery should reduce that number, officials said.However, tracing the contacts of people whose illness is initially a mystery should reduce that number, officials said.
Global health experts have said the first death in the UK from the coronavirus is not unexpected and fits in with the pattern seen elsewhere.Global health experts have said the first death in the UK from the coronavirus is not unexpected and fits in with the pattern seen elsewhere.
Prof Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: “This unfortunate death is not unexpected given the number of cases and given we know that older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk. It changes nothing about the spread of Covid-19 in the UK.”Prof Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: “This unfortunate death is not unexpected given the number of cases and given we know that older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk. It changes nothing about the spread of Covid-19 in the UK.”
Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said: “The first UK death is sad to note, but fits in with the pattern we have seen elsewhere, namely that the patient was older in age with existing health difficulties.Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said: “The first UK death is sad to note, but fits in with the pattern we have seen elsewhere, namely that the patient was older in age with existing health difficulties.
“We can expect to see a small number of further deaths in the UK in the coming weeks, as case numbers increase and vulnerable populations become exposed. Infection control and public health measures are particularly important in institutional populations, such as the elderly in care homes.”“We can expect to see a small number of further deaths in the UK in the coming weeks, as case numbers increase and vulnerable populations become exposed. Infection control and public health measures are particularly important in institutional populations, such as the elderly in care homes.”
In a major change of policy, some people who are confirmed to have contracted the virus, but display only mild symptoms are now being treated at home rather than in hospital.
Of the 115 confirmed cases across the UK since the outbreak began in late January, 18 have recovered, 52 are still being cared for in hospital and 45 are being treated at home, said Dr Susan Hopkins, the deputy director of Public Health England’s national infection service.
“We’ve moved to a situation where people have minimal symptoms and they can self-isolate. It’s safer for them to self-isolate in their own homes, with support,” said Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England and the government’s chief medical adviser for the UK. Prof Steve Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “If the symptoms are mild then it’s appropriate for people to be in a home setting rather than a hospital setting.”Asked how the authorities are ensuring that infected patients are staying indoors, she said that all 45 people are displaying very responsible behaviour. “Many are isolating in their bedroom and only coming out of their room to get food and go back in. They are being very responsible.”
Public Health England has said travellers returning from all parts of Italy, not just north, are now being advised to self-isolate if they have symptoms. The change in advice is understood to have been prompted by the recent surge in cases of people who recently come back from Italy, where the outbreak has escalated across the country in recent days.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York state has doubled to 22, governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed today.
Cuomo said: “We are trying to contain as much as possible the spread of each case we find – but we expect more cases.”
As of Thursday, there are 3,296 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy, 590 more than on Wednesday, according to the country’s head of civil protection, Angelo Borrelli, adding that 148 people had died.
There are 1,777 people infected in Lombardy, 658 in Emilia Romagna, 380 in Veneto, 106 in Piedmont, and 120 in Marche. The virus has now spread to all the 20 regions, including Val d’Aosta.
The Italian government has announced it is making €7.5bn available to help families and companies, as parents struggle to cope with the nationwide closure of all schools until 15 March.
Rome is set to ask the European commission to allow €6.3bn deviation from its budget deficit target, the equivalent of about 0.35% of Italy’s GDP.
The cabinet also asked the justice minister, Alfonso Bonafede, to postpone trialsowing to the outbreak, Ansa had reported.
Prof Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has confirmed the death of an older patient who had contracted the virus in the UK.
The patient, who was in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons, is the first person to die from the outbreak in the UK.
Whitty said:
The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust has confirmed an older patient is the first to die from the coronavirus in the UK.
The trust said in a statement:
The rise of the staycation is a perennial story. In the past five years, heatwaves, Brexit, the weak pound, overseas terrorist attacks and, more recently, the climate crisis have all boosted UK holiday bookings. This year, coronavirus looks likely to do the same as British travellers swap holidays abroad for a break closer to home.
Figures released on 4 March by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) showed that January had the lowest monthly increase in global airline passengers since 2010, when the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud led to massive airspace closures and flight cancellations. Demand for flights increased by just 2.4% compared with January 2019, where year-on-year growth had been 4.6%.
“January was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the traffic impacts we are seeing owing to the Covid-19 outbreak, given that major travel restrictions in China did not begin until 23 January. Nevertheless, it was still enough to cause our slowest traffic growth in nearly a decade,” said Iata’s chief executive, Alexandre de Juniac.
Global travel companies are already feeling the negative impact of coronavirus: Booking Holdings (which owns booking.com, priceline.com, kayak.com, cheapflights and momondo.com, among others), is predicting a 15% decline in total bookings in 2020. But UK tourism businesses are reporting a rise of up to 40% in traffic to their websites.
“For the period 1 January to 24 February 2020, we are, on average, 40% up on web visitors compared with the same period in the previous year,” said Steve Jarvis, owner of Independent Cottages. “Initial analysis of the most recent enquiries is that they appear to all be domestic – overseas enquiries have reduced significantly.”
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson has warned that the coronavirus was likely to spread significantly. The British prime minister was updated on the coronavirus by the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser as he opened an official Cobra meeting.
The PM’s official spokesman said:
The Italian government has announced it is making €7.5bn available to help families and companies, as parents struggle to cope with the decision to close all schools nationwide until 15 March.
Italy has been grappling to contain Europe’s worst outbreak of coronavirus, which so far has claimed 107 lives.
On Thursday, Rome revealed that is evaluating the possibility of providing support to families, including reimbursements for babysitter costs and unpaid leaves of absence from work.
“We should not assume that people are home using up holiday pay or paid leave,” Elena Bonetti, minister of family affairs, told Radio Capital.
NHS England have released a breakdown of where the coronavirus cases are in England.