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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 set to announce that it is stepping up its response to the coronavirus later. | The government is set to announce that it is stepping up its response to the coronavirus later. |
| The UK is expected to switch to tactics aimed at delaying its spread, rather than containing the disease, at the government's emergency Cobra committee. | The UK is expected to switch to tactics aimed at delaying its spread, rather than containing the disease, at the government's emergency Cobra committee. |
| It comes after the World Health Organization labelled the outbreak of the disease a pandemic. | It comes after the World Health Organization labelled the outbreak of the disease a pandemic. |
| Meanwhile, Donald Trump has suspended all travel to the US from Europe - excluding the UK - for 30 days. | |
| The US president said the "strong but necessary restrictions" would come into effect on Friday. | |
| Earlier, a cabinet minister was confirmed as being in self-isolation while awaiting the results of a test. | Earlier, a cabinet minister was confirmed as being in self-isolation while awaiting the results of a test. |
| The minister, who the BBC is not naming, had come into contact with Conservative colleague Nadine Dorries, who has tested positive for the virus. | The minister, who the BBC is not naming, had come into contact with Conservative colleague Nadine Dorries, who has tested positive for the virus. |
| What is the government's strategy? | What is the government's strategy? |
| The prime minister is expected to sign off plans to move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to "delay" at the government's emergency Cobra committee at lunchtime. | The prime minister is expected to sign off plans to move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to "delay" at the government's emergency Cobra committee at lunchtime. |
| The UK's strategy on responding to the virus has three phases: Containment, delay, mitigation and - running alongside these - research. | 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. | 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 move could also result in people who show even minor signs of respiratory tract infections or fever soon being told to self-isolate. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 emergency 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". |
| How have MPs been affected? | How have MPs been affected? |
| An unnamed cabinet minister was confirmed on Wednesday as having gone into self-isolation, along with health minister Edward Argar, after coming into contact with Ms Dorries. | An unnamed cabinet minister was confirmed on Wednesday as having gone into self-isolation, along with health minister Edward Argar, after coming into contact with Ms Dorries. |
| Tory MP Nadine Dorries was diagnosed with the virus on Tuesday, along with a member of her staff. | Tory MP Nadine Dorries was diagnosed with the virus on Tuesday, along with a member of her staff. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said there were no plans to suspend Parliament after the positive tests, but he told MPs he was "in constant contact" with health officials and was monitoring the situation. | Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said there were no plans to suspend Parliament after the positive tests, but he told MPs he was "in constant contact" with health officials and was monitoring the situation. |
| Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have cancelled their spring conference in York this weekend. | Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have cancelled their spring conference in York this weekend. |
| Sir Ed Davey, the acting leader, tweeted that although it was "disappointing", it was the "right decision" for members and the country. | Sir Ed Davey, the acting leader, tweeted that although it was "disappointing", it was the "right decision" for members and the country. |
| What's the latest situation in the UK? | What's the latest situation in the UK? |
| The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has now reached 460, after the biggest rise in a single day. | The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has now reached 460, after the biggest rise in a single day. |
| It comes as two more people with the virus died in the UK, bringing the total to eight. | It comes as two more people with the virus died in the UK, 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. |
| There are now 387 confirmed cases in England, 36 in Scotland, 18 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Wales. In all, 27,476 people have been tested so far. | There are now 387 confirmed cases in England, 36 in Scotland, 18 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Wales. In all, 27,476 people have been tested so far. |
| 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. |
| He added: "There will be challenges ahead and we need everyone to play a role." | He added: "There will be challenges ahead and we need everyone to play a role." |
| 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." |
| Self-isolation 'frightening' | Self-isolation 'frightening' |
| 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." |
| Ms Cameron is on benefits due to poor health and is having to order in food "which I am finding really costly". | Ms Cameron is on benefits due to poor health and is having to order in food "which I am finding really costly". |
| "I worry about what people would do if they have to use food banks," she said. | "I worry about what people would do if they have to use food banks," she said. |
| 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. | |
| In a televised address on Wednesday, he said all travel from Europe would be suspended for the next 30 days, although the restrictions would not apply to the UK. | |
| In Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said all shops would close except food stores and pharmacies in Europe's toughest lockdown yet as virus deaths and cases continue to mount. | |
| It has more than 12,000 confirmed cases and a death toll of 827. | It has more than 12,000 confirmed cases and a death toll of 827. |
| The UK Foreign Office issued a travel update for British nationals in Italy, urging all remaining tourists to contact their airline operators and return back 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 back to the UK. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |