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UK confirms 163 coronavirus cases after highest daily rise so far Family fear Briton who died of coronavirus was kept on ward too long
(about 4 hours later)
Number of cases up 40% on previous day and includes two British Airways staff Staff and patients at Milton Keynes hospital in isolation after man’s death
The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has risen by 47 – the highest daily increase to date – to 163, as two British Airways baggage handlers tested positive for Covid-19. Medical staff and patients at a hospital in Milton Keynes have been placed in isolation after a man in his 80s became the second person in Britain believed to have died from coronavirus, amid family fears he was not isolated quickly enough.
The Department of Health said the new cases, a 40% increase on the previous day, mean there are now 29 cases in London, 24 in south-east England, 22 in the south-west and 21 in the north-west. The man, who had recently returned from a cruise in the Caribbean tested positive in one of two tests to confirm the illness after being admitted to Milton Keynes university hospital. He had underlying health conditions.
The previous biggest numerical daily increase was the 36 new cases announced on Wednesday, when the total number stood at 87, just over half the current amount. The second test had yet to be carried out on Friday afternoon – but the fact that staff have been forced into isolation will raise concerns about the effect of Covid-19 on hospitals’ ability to cope.
A British Airways spokesman said two staff members had been isolated and were recovering at home after Public Health England confirmed they had tested positive. A family member, who did not wish to be named, told the Guardian: “Our concern is that the hospital were too slow to detect that our relative had symptoms similar to those of coronavirus and too slow to move him from a ward into isolation, and that that may have put a lot of people – fellow patients on the ward, staff who were looking after him and visitors who came to see him – at risk of contracting the virus from him.
The airline confirmed the two staff members were baggage handlers will raise fears that they may have inadvertently spread the disease. They are both based at Heathrow airport. “We think they should have put him into isolation right away, as soon as he arrived, given his symptoms. That was a failure by the hospital. He was coughing a lot and had quite severe symptoms. Despite that, he was put on a ward with lots of other sick patients for six or seven hours before he was moved into isolation. During that time a lot of relatives came to see him, both adults and children. Who knows if any of them have now got coronavirus and are maybe spreading it to older people who might get sick?”
It is possible to pick up the virus on your hands from a surface that somebody with the infection had touched, although it is more likely to be transmitted by other means. The virus can linger for 48 hours or even possibly 72 hours on a hard surface, which is why such an emphasis is placed on handwashing. They said that the family were told at around 7pm on Thursday that their relative had coronavirus and about an hour later were told he had died. They said the family were also concerned about the reason they were given for his death, which was presumed to be that he took off his oxygen mask and asphyxiated. NHS England was approached for comment about the death of the patient.
The travel industry has already been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. The contagion proved the last straw for the Exeter-based airline Flybe, which collapsed into administration on Thursday. On Wednesday , the German airline Lufthansa grounded 150 planes amid low demand. On Wednesday, King’s College London confirmed that an immunobiology student working in an asthma and allergy research department at Guy’s hospital in London had tested positive and several other staff had been advised by NHS England to self-isolate.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “A dedicated Public Health England team is operating at Heathrow to respond to any incidents at the airport, and we are working closely with them to ensure our colleagues are following their latest guidance in its entirety to protect themselves and our passengers. In other developments on Friday:
“In line with Public Health England’s advice, we have enhanced thorough cleaning processes, increased the availability and provision of hand-sanitisers for our colleagues and continue to advise anyone working or travelling through the airport to follow the government’s advice to maintain good hand hygiene.” The Department of Health announced the biggest increase in the number of people infected, which jumped by 47 to 163. Two British Airways baggage handlers were among those who tested positive.
A man who died at Milton Keynes University hospital in Buckinghamshire on Friday is understood to have tested positive in one of two tests to confirm the illness. The second test has yet to be carried out. A £46m fund was announced by the government in an effort to find a vaccine and speed up testing.
The first coronavirus death in the UK was confirmed on Thursday. She was a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions who who was admitted to the Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading on Wednesday. Public Health England said “social distancing” measures such as avoiding cinemas, pubs or sporting events might be needed in the future.
The other cases are in the east of England (11), the Midlands (12) and the north-east and Yorkshire (13). The location of a further 15 cases has not been provided. A further 20,175 people have tested negative across the UK. At least 142 Britons are among more than 2,000 passengers and crew quarantined on a cruise ship off the coast of California because of fears they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
As the number of cases continues to grow a £46m fund has been announced by the government in an effort to find a vaccine and come up with quicker testing for the illness. The prime minister, Boris Johnson said on Friday: “It looks to me as though there will be a substantial period of disruption when we have to deal with this outbreak.
Officials from the Department for International Development hope the money will help in the development of the eight possible coronavirus vaccines being worked on by scientists. “How big that will be, how long that will be, I think, is still an open question.
The investment comes as Boris Johnson visited Mologic laboratory in Bedfordshire, which is using some of the aid funding to develop tests for medical professionals and potentially, home testing. “But, clearly, it is something we are going to have to deal with for quite a while in the UK.”
More deaths would occur in Britain, experts said. Prof George Lomonossoff, of the John Innes Centre in Norwich, said: “It’s very sad, but I think it is inevitable that we will see further deaths in the next few days and weeks. Likewise the number of cases is probably going to rise fairly quickly in that same period.
“We are now entering the phase where transmission between people who have not travelled to infected areas will become dominant.”
The role of the British Airways workers will raise concerns about the possibility they may have inadvertently spread the disease through surface contact.
It is possible to pick up the virus on your hands from a surface that somebody with the infection has touched, although it is more likely to be transmitted by other means. The virus can linger for 48 hours or even possibly 72 hours on a hard surface, which is why emphasis is placed on handwashing.
The travel industry has already been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. The contagion proved the last straw for the Exeter-based airline Flybe, which collapsed into administration on Thursday. On Wednesday, the German airline Lufthansa grounded 150 planes amid low demand.
Officials from the Department for International Development hope the £46m pledged will help in the development of the eight possible coronavirus vaccines being worked on by scientists.
A rapid diagnostic test could also be used by low-income countries around the world that are not currently able to diagnose the virus at all.A rapid diagnostic test could also be used by low-income countries around the world that are not currently able to diagnose the virus at all.
The government has said British experts are at the forefront of fighting the virus. No one was has been allowed to leave the Grand Princess cruise ship, which was stuck off the coast of San Francisco, with guests being confined to their rooms pending test results. Meals were delivered to passengers’ cabins and they were given free internet access and extra films to watch on the onboard televisions, Princess Cruises said.
Public Health England (PHE) called on members of the public to “plan ahead” for if they had to self-isolate for a couple of weeks.
In two new blogposts, PHE said more people may be asked to self-isolate at home to help slow the spread of coronavirus, while “social distancing” measures such as not going to cinemas, pubs or sporting events may be needed in the future.
At least 142 Britons are among more than 2,000 passengers and crew being quarantined on a cruise ship off the coast of California because of fears they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
No one was allowed to leave the Grand Princess, which was stuck off the coast of San Francisco, with guests being confined to their rooms pending test results. Meals were delivered to their cabins and they had been given free internet access and extra films to watch on the onboard televisions, Princess Cruises said.
Last week, a passenger on its sister ship, the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined in Japan, became the first UK citizen to die from the virus.Last week, a passenger on its sister ship, the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined in Japan, became the first UK citizen to die from the virus.