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Pressure builds on UK to step up coronavirus measures Pressure builds on UK to step up coronavirus measures
(about 1 hour later)
Questions about travellers returning from Italy as Ryanair and BA cancel flightsQuestions about travellers returning from Italy as Ryanair and BA cancel flights
Pressure was building on Tuesday for a toughening up of the UK’s strategy to combat the coronavirus as cases rose to 373 and a sixth death was announced. The government is under growing pressure to toughen up its coronavirus response as the number of confirmed cases in the UK rose to 373 and a sixth death was announced.
As Ryanair followed British Airways and other airlines in reducing the number of planes travelling to and from Italy, the European centre of the outbreak, it emerged that travellers from there who were not easily able to self-isolate were being asked if they wanted to self-quarantine in a large hotel near London Heathrow airport. As Ryanair followed British Airways and other airlines in reducing the number of flights to and from Italy, the European centre of the outbreak, it emerged that people arriving at Heathrow from Italy who were not easily able to self-isolate were being asked if they wanted to do so in a large hotel near the airport.
“There are facilities which are available to people who need to self-isolate,” Boris Johnson’s spokesman told journalists. “We have reserved a facility … and people have been staying there.” The venue is understood to be the Holiday Inn hotel, which has been used for some Chinese and South Korean passengers in recent weeks. “There are facilities which are available to people who need to self-isolate,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. “We have reserved a facility … and people have been staying there.”
But travellers appear to be free to travel home via public transport if they wish, even though they are supposed to be self-isolating for 14 days even if they do not have symptoms. The venue is understood to be a Holiday Inn that has been used for some people arriving from China and South Korea in recent weeks.
It is not known whether they are being offered masks to prevent fellow passengers from possible transmission. It is also unclear what the procedures are for those returning from other airports. But people returning from Italy appear to be free to travel home via public transport if they wish, even though they are supposed to self-isolate for 14 days even if they do not have symptoms.
The news emerged as European states set out increasingly strict new measures to stem the spread of the virus. Austria announced a ban on Italians entering the country unless they carry a medical certificate, while Spain has said it is preparing for closures to schools from Wednesday. It is not known whether they are being offered masks for the journey. It is also unclear what the procedures are for people returning via other airports.
New figures show that 373 people in the UK had been confirmed to have Covid-19, as of 9am on Tuesday, up from 319 the day before. The up increase is the second biggest day-on-day rise, and mirrors Monday’s 17% increase. European states have been announcing increasingly strict measures to try to stem the spread of the virus. Austria announced a ban on Italians entering the country unless they carry a medical certificate, while Spain has said it is preparing for school closures from Wednesday.
The sixth death happened on Monday night at Watford General hospital, part of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust, and was that of a patient in their 80s who had underlying health conditions. As of 9am on Tuesday, 373 people in the UK had been confirmed to have Covid-19, up from 319 the day before. It was the second biggest day-on-day rise, matching Monday’s 17% increase.
Amid a fast-moving political response to the crisis, MPs were told that the government could suspend various elements of bureaucracy for GPs to allow them to focus more immediately on treating patients. The sixth death happened on Monday night at Watford General hospital, part of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust. The patient was in their 80s and had underlying health conditions.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, also agreed to meet Labour to discuss worries over the availability of protective equipment for social care staff, and to look into whether NHS helplines have been refusing people coronavirus tests unless they have been in contact with a sufferer. On Tuesday MPs were told that the government could suspend various elements of bureaucracy for GPs to allow them to focus more immediately on treating patients.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, agreed to meet Labour to discuss worries over the availability of protective equipment for social care staff, and to look into whether NHS helplines have been refusing people coronavirus tests unless they have been in contact with a confirmed case.
In other developments on Tuesday:In other developments on Tuesday:
• The Foreign Office has confirmed it is in contact with Britons in Vietnam after reports of nine new cases confirmed among travellers onboard the same flight from London to Hanoi on 2 March, including seven British citizens. It also said US authorities are planning a flight on Tuesday to repatriate British nationals on the Grand Princess cruise ship at the Port of Oakland, California. The Foreign Office confirmed it was in contact with Britons in Vietnam after reports of nine new cases confirmed among travellers onboard a flight from London to Hanoi on 2 March, including seven British citizens. It said US authorities were planning a flight on Tuesday to repatriate British nationals on the Grand Princess cruise ship at the Port of Oakland, California.
• The Queen did not shake hands at a Buckingham Palace reception – unlike last week, when she greeted people and shook hands while wearing gloves. The Queen did not shake people’s hands at a Buckingham Palace reception – unlike last week when she greeted people and shook hands while wearing gloves.
• Updated guidance for pregnancy advised expectant mothers with suspected or confirmed coronavirus to attend an obstetric unit for birth. Updated guidance for pregnancy advised expectant mothers suspected or confirmed to have coronavirus to attend an obstetric unit for birth.
• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the hours in which deliveries can be made to supermarkets and other food retailers will be extended to help the industry respond. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was extending the hours in which deliveries could be made to supermarkets and other food retailers.
• Government figures revealed new and increased cases in 23 council areas of England, according to analysis by the Guardian’s data team. The figures, now released daily with a 24-hour delay to allow for verification, show eight areas where the virus has been detected for the first time. Government figures revealed new and increased numbers of coronavirus cases in 23 council areas of England, according to analysis by the Guardian’s data team. The figures, now released daily with a 24-hour delay to allow for verification, show eight areas where the virus has been detected for the first time.
Ryanair announced it had cancelled all international flights to and from Italy until 9 April, despite passengers of British Airways complaining of being stranded there after it cancelled all flights in and out of the country. Ryanair announced it had cancelled all international flights to and from Italy until 9 April. British Airways passengers have complained of being stranded there after the airline cancelled all its flights in and out of the country.
The UK’s government’s strategy of holding off on cancelling major outdoor events such as football matches or closing schools was meanwhile defended by the deputy chief medical officer, who said experts were assessing new cases hourly to achieve a “balanced response”. The deputy chief medical officer for England defended the government’s strategy of holding off on cancelling major outdoor events such as football matches and closing schools.
Speaking as tens of thousands made their way to the start of the Cheltenham Festival, Dr Jenny Harries said cancelling major events were not necessarily supported by science, adding: “The virus will not survive very long outside.” Speaking as tens of thousands of people attended day one of the Cheltenham festival, Dr Jenny Harries said the argument for cancelling major events was not necessarily supported by science, adding: “The virus will not survive very long outside.”
Nevertheless, new measures including those aimed at protecting older or vulnerable people were expected to be put into action soon, possibly after a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday. New measures including those aimed at protecting older or vulnerable people are expected to be put into action soon, possibly after a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday.
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, discussed the coronavirus situation with England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, on Tuesday morning while experts from the state’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) also convened to analyse the latest figures on spread. Figures on Monday recorded that there had been 319 confirmed cases and six deaths. Boris Johnson discussed the situation with England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, on Tuesday morning, while experts from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) convened to analyse the latest figures on spread.
Among those indicating that they expected a change of tactics soon was Dr Peter Drobac of Oxford University, an expert in infectious diseases who told the BBC that he believed it was time to seriously consider some of the social distancing adopted by other countries, including closing schools. Among those calling for a change of tactics soon was Dr Peter Drobac, an expert in infectious diseases at Oxford University, who told the BBC he believed it was time to seriously consider some of the social distancing adopted by other countries, including closing schools.
“The evidence we have suggests that social distancing works best before the surge in cases rather than after,” said Dr Drobac, who said that with hindsight it appeared that Italy had waited too long before implementing the measures. “The evidence we have suggests that social distancing works best before the surge in cases rather than after,” said Drobac, adding that with hindsight it appeared Italy had waited too long before implementing such measures.
Britain’s possible next steps were discussed this morning at a meeting of the government’s top scientific advisors — chaired by the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance. Possible next steps were discussed on Tuesday morning at a meeting of the government’s top scientific advisers, chaired by the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance.
In a round of interviews before the meeting, Dr Harries said that “many thousands of people” would contract coronavirus as the disease continued to spread in the UK. In a round of interviews before the meeting, Harries said “many thousands” of people were likely to contract coronavirus in the UK.
“We currently have relatively few cases here, which is why we are still in the containment phase,” she told Sky News. “We currently have relatively few cases here, which is why we are still in the containment phase,” she told Sky News. Asked when the rapid increase in infections might end, she said: “Within 10 to 14 days we will be likely to advise people with symptoms to self-isolate and we are expecting that start of the peak to come within that period.”
Asked when the rapid increase of infections might end, she said: “Within 10 to 14 days we will be likely to advise people with symptoms to self-isolate and we are expecting that start of the peak to come within that period.” Answering health questions in the Commons, Hancock confirmed to MPs there would be changes to statutory sick pay rules to cover all workers, to make sure they are able to take time off if they have coronavirus.
Answering health questions in the Commons, Hancock confirmed to MPs that changes to statutory sick pay rules would mean it would cover all workers, to make sure they are able to take time off if they have coronavirus.
He said: “I can confirm that we will ensure that whatever the status of people who work, right across the economy – whether they are self-employed; whether they are employed but work fewer than the number of hours a week – everybody can be assured they will get the support, so they are not penalised for doing the right thing.”He said: “I can confirm that we will ensure that whatever the status of people who work, right across the economy – whether they are self-employed; whether they are employed but work fewer than the number of hours a week – everybody can be assured they will get the support, so they are not penalised for doing the right thing.”