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Coronavirus: UK expected to move to 'delay' phase | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The government is set to announce on Thursday that it is stepping up its response to the coronavirus. | |
The UK is expected to move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to "delay" at the government's emergency Cobra committee. | |
"Containment" aims to halt the spread of the disease but "delay" seeks to slow its progression. | |
It comes after the World Health Organization labelled the outbreak of the disease a pandemic. | |
Earlier, a cabinet minister, who the BBC is not naming, and health minister Edward Argar were confirmed as being in self-isolation after coming into contact with Conservative colleague Nadine Dorries, who has tested positive for the virus. | |
Delay phase | Delay phase |
Thursday's emergency Cobra committee meeting will be chaired by the PM, a day after the UK saw its biggest rise in cases - up to 460, with two more deaths, bringing the total to eight. | Thursday's emergency Cobra committee meeting will be chaired by the PM, a day after the UK saw its biggest rise in cases - up to 460, with two more deaths, bringing the total to eight. |
The UK's strategy on responding to the virus has three phases: Containment, delay, mitigation and - running alongside these - research. | |
Delay is the stage where "social distancing" measures will be considered - which could include restrictions on public gatherings above a certain number of people, although this is not thought likely at this stage. | |
The move could also result in people who show even minor signs of respiratory tract infections or fever soon being told to self-isolate. | |
The delay phase aims to lower the peak impact of the virus and push it away from the winter season - when pressures on the NHS are more acute because of issues including seasonal flu. | The delay phase aims to lower the peak impact of the virus and push it away from the winter season - when pressures on the NHS are more acute because of issues including seasonal flu. |
Delaying the impact of the outbreak could also buy time for the testing of drugs and initial development of vaccines and/or improved therapies or tests to help reduce the impact of the disease. | Delaying the impact of the outbreak could also buy time for the testing of drugs and initial development of vaccines and/or improved therapies or tests to help reduce the impact of the disease. |
The emergency Cobra committee last met on Monday, when it was decided the UK should remain in the containment phase. | |
The unnamed cabinet minister and Mr Edagar were confirmed as having gone into self-isolation after coming into contact with Ms Dorries at a Downing Street reception. | |
The cabinet minister is awaiting the results of a coronavirus test, while Mr Argar, a colleague of Ms Dorries, self-isolated on the advice of officials. | |
Self-isolating is the advice currently being given to people who have recently returned from affected countries or have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus. | |
It means staying at home, not going to work, school or other public places, and avoiding public transport or taxis, in an attempt to avoid spreading the virus. | |
On Wednesday, in his first Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged billions of pounds of investment to get the country through the coronavirus outbreak. | |
He also said the NHS would get "whatever resources it needs". | He also said the NHS would get "whatever resources it needs". |