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| Coronavirus: UK expected to move to 'delay' phase | Coronavirus: UK expected to move to 'delay' phase |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The government is expected to announce that it is stepping up its response to the coronavirus. | The government is expected to announce that it is stepping up its response to the coronavirus. |
| It is anticipated the UK will switch to tactics aimed at delaying its spread, rather than containing it, when the government's emergency committee meets. | It is anticipated the UK will switch to tactics aimed at delaying its spread, rather than containing it, when the government's emergency committee meets. |
| It comes after the World Health Organization labelled the outbreak of the disease as a pandemic. | It comes after the World Health Organization labelled the outbreak of the disease as a pandemic. |
| Schools, colleges and other public facilities in the Republic of Ireland are to close until 29 March. | Schools, colleges and other public facilities in the Republic of Ireland are to close until 29 March. |
| Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for the cancellation of mass gatherings of 500 people or more. | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for the cancellation of mass gatherings of 500 people or more. |
| She told the Scottish Parliament she will discuss this at the emergency Cobra meeting. | She told the Scottish Parliament she will discuss this at the emergency Cobra meeting. |
| Overnight, US President Donald Trump suspended travel to the US from 26 European countries - but not the UK or Ireland. | Overnight, US President Donald Trump suspended travel to the US from 26 European countries - but not the UK or Ireland. |
| There are now 486 confirmed cases in the UK - 387 in England, 60 in Scotland, 20 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Wales. | |
| As of 09:00 GMT on Wednesday, 27,476 people had been tested so far. Eight people have died. | |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to sign off plans to move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to "delay" at the Cobra meeting later. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to sign off plans to move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to "delay" at the Cobra meeting later. |
| The UK is currently in the "containment" phase - the first stage of the government's four-part plan: | The UK is currently in the "containment" phase - the first stage of the government's four-part plan: |
| Delay is 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. | Delay is 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 - such as a cough - or a fever soon being told to self-isolate. | The move could also result in people who show even minor signs of respiratory tract infections - such as a cough - or a fever soon being told to self-isolate. |
| Speaking to BBC News, deputy chief medical officer for England Dr Jenny Harries said the introduction of social distancing measures should come at "exactly the right time". | Speaking to BBC News, deputy chief medical officer for England Dr Jenny Harries said the introduction of social distancing measures should come at "exactly the right time". |
| She also warned that members of the public wearing face masks could be putting themselves at more risk of contracting the virus - if they touch it with unwashed hands or put it on a surface they have not cleaned. | She also warned that members of the public wearing face masks could be putting themselves at more risk of contracting the virus - if they touch it with unwashed hands or put it on a surface they have not cleaned. |
| "You can actually trap the virus in the mask and start breathing it in," she said. | "You can actually trap the virus in the mask and start breathing it in," she said. |
| Where are we heading? | Where are we heading? |
| The move to delay is an acknowledgement the virus cannot be contained. This is not unexpected given health officials have been clear in the past week or so that we should expect widespread community transmission. | The move to delay is an acknowledgement the virus cannot be contained. This is not unexpected given health officials have been clear in the past week or so that we should expect widespread community transmission. |
| The key now is how quickly, and by how much, cases start to rise. | The key now is how quickly, and by how much, cases start to rise. |
| A good scenario given the circumstances would be for infections to climb gradually over the coming months and for the peak weeks - where the risk is that half the overall cases could come quickly - to be kept under control. | A good scenario given the circumstances would be for infections to climb gradually over the coming months and for the peak weeks - where the risk is that half the overall cases could come quickly - to be kept under control. |
| That will allow the health service to manage as best it can. | That will allow the health service to manage as best it can. |
| The government has a range of powers at its disposal. | The government has a range of powers at its disposal. |
| But expect the most drastic to be reserved for just before the peak. The focus of today's advice is expected to be how the vulnerable can be protected - the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. | But expect the most drastic to be reserved for just before the peak. The focus of today's advice is expected to be how the vulnerable can be protected - the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. |
| Chancellor Rishi Sunak told BBC Breakfast any new measures would seek to protect people who are especially vulnerable and would be "guided by the science". | Chancellor Rishi Sunak told BBC Breakfast any new measures would seek to protect people who are especially vulnerable and would be "guided by the science". |
| "We now believe the virus could spread significantly," he said. | "We now believe the virus could spread significantly," he said. |
| Mr Sunak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that blanket bans on foreign travel like that imposed by the US are unlikely to have a "material effect" on the spread of infection. | Mr Sunak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that blanket bans on foreign travel like that imposed by the US are unlikely to have a "material effect" on the spread of infection. |
| He said the UK government was "looking at interventions that provide very high clinical benefit and minimise the social impact". | He said the UK government was "looking at interventions that provide very high clinical benefit and minimise the social impact". |
| 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 outbreak's impact could also buy time for the testing of drugs and development of vaccines and/or improved therapies or tests to help reduce the impact of the disease. | Delaying the outbreak's impact could also buy time for the testing of drugs and development of vaccines and/or improved therapies or tests to help reduce the impact of the disease. |
| The Cobra committee last met on Monday, when it was decided the UK should remain in the containment phase. | The Cobra committee last met on Monday, when it was decided the UK should remain in the containment phase. |
| On Wednesday, in his first Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged billions of pounds of investment to get the country through the coronavirus outbreak, as well as saying the NHS would get "whatever resources it needs". | On Wednesday, in his first Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged billions of pounds of investment to get the country through the coronavirus outbreak, as well as saying the NHS would get "whatever resources it needs". |
| Meanwhile the Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru have cancelled their respective spring conferences. | Meanwhile the Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru have cancelled their respective spring conferences. |
| Two more deaths linked to the virus were announced in the UK on Wednesday, bringing the total to eight. | Two more deaths linked to the virus were announced in the UK on Wednesday, bringing the total to eight. |
| One was in their 70s and had underlying health conditions in Dudley, while the other, in Nuneaton, was elderly and had a number of serious health conditions. | One was in their 70s and had underlying health conditions in Dudley, while the other, in Nuneaton, was elderly and had a number of serious health conditions. |
| In response to the World Health Organization labelling the outbreak of the disease a pandemic, the UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty tweeted that the UK "had been planning" for this situation. | In response to the World Health Organization labelling the outbreak of the disease a pandemic, the UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty tweeted that the UK "had been planning" for this situation. |
| NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson told BBC Newsnight that alternative areas like operating theatres and recovery rooms could be adapted to help cope with increased hospital admissions. | NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson told BBC Newsnight that alternative areas like operating theatres and recovery rooms could be adapted to help cope with increased hospital admissions. |
| He said: "The idea that we've got a fixed number of beds and capacity is not right." | He said: "The idea that we've got a fixed number of beds and capacity is not right." |
| 'It's a horrible feeling' | 'It's a horrible feeling' |
| Alison Cameron, 53, is one of 15 people in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea to have been diagnosed with the disease. | Alison Cameron, 53, is one of 15 people in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea to have been diagnosed with the disease. |
| She contacted NHS 111 after she began finding it difficult to breathe. | She contacted NHS 111 after she began finding it difficult to breathe. |
| "I feel really unwell. I am currently in isolation. It is not pleasant," she said, adding: "At the heart of it I feel like death on legs." | "I feel really unwell. I am currently in isolation. It is not pleasant," she said, adding: "At the heart of it I feel like death on legs." |
| She believes she contracted the virus after a chance meeting with someone who was subsequently diagnosed with it. | She believes she contracted the virus after a chance meeting with someone who was subsequently diagnosed with it. |
| "It's a horrible feeling not being able to go out and it is quite frightening," she said. "I am more worried about my neighbours because they are quite vulnerable too." | "It's a horrible feeling not being able to go out and it is quite frightening," she said. "I am more worried about my neighbours because they are quite vulnerable too." |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| What is happening elsewhere? | What is happening elsewhere? |
| US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new travel restrictions on Europe in a bid to combat the spread of the virus. | US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new travel restrictions on Europe in a bid to combat the spread of the virus. |
| The ban applies to anyone who has been in the EU's Schengen border-free area within 14 days prior to their arrival in the US. The travel order does not apply to US citizens. | The ban applies to anyone who has been in the EU's Schengen border-free area within 14 days prior to their arrival in the US. The travel order does not apply to US citizens. |
| The UK Foreign Office issued a travel update for British nationals in Italy, urging all remaining tourists to contact their airline operators and return to the UK. | The UK Foreign Office issued a travel update for British nationals in Italy, urging all remaining tourists to contact their airline operators and return to the UK. |
| It came as the number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to more than 12,000 with a death toll of 827. | It came as the number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to more than 12,000 with a death toll of 827. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| What are your experiences relating to the coronavirus outbreak? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What are your experiences relating to the coronavirus outbreak? Share your experiences 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 |