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Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks' Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks'
(about 1 hour later)
Every Briton over the age of 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to stay at home for an extended period to shield them from coronavirus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. Every Briton over the age of 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to stay at home for an extended period to shield them from coronavirus.
He told the BBC the advice will not come into force just yet but when it does it will last "a very long time". When it happens, they will be asked to stay home for "a very long time", Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
It comes as 14 more people have died in the UK after testing positive for the virus, bringing total deaths to 35. The government is to release social distancing advice for the elderly on Monday - but they will not yet be asked to self-isolate for long periods.
Manufacturers will be asked to make extra NHS ventilators, Mr Hancock said. Fourteen more people have died from the virus, bringing deaths in the UK to 35.
The total number of confirmed UK cases of the virus has reached 1,372, with a total of 40,279 people being tested, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care. Mr Hancock told the BBC manufacturers were being asked to help produce medical equipment, such as ventilators, to help with an expected surge in demand by the NHS, and hotels could be turned into hospitals, Mr Hancock said.
Of the 14 patients that died, all were aged between their 60s and 90s, and most had underlying health conditions, according to the latest information released by hospital trusts. The number of confirmed UK cases of the virus has reached 1,372, with 40,279 people tested, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care.
It comes after 34 new cases were announced in Wales, 32 in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland. Of the latest 14 patients to die, all were aged between their 60s and 90s, and most had underlying health conditions.
The number of people to have tested positive for coronavirus stands at 1,372, with a total of 40,279 people having been tested as of 09:00 GMT. Earlier, 34 new cases were announced in Wales, 32 in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland.
A man with underlying health problems who has died after contracting Covid-19 has been named as retired police officer Nick Matthews, 59, of Nailsea, near Bristol.
His wife, Mary, paid tribute on Facebook, saying she had lost her "soul mate" and "best friend", following Mr Matthews' death at Bristol Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Saturday.
She said she and her family were "currently in isolation" until they received their coronavirus test results back; and urged people not to visit them until they got the all-clear.
Mr and Mrs Matthews had recently returned from a holiday in Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, flying out on February 22 and returning on February 29.
People self-isolating with mild symptoms of the virus are not being tested, with the government prioritising tests for those "most at risk of severe illness".People self-isolating with mild symptoms of the virus are not being tested, with the government prioritising tests for those "most at risk of severe illness".
Tests will primarily be given:Tests will primarily be given:
Over-70s - and younger people with certain health conditions - will need to remain at home and have groceries and vital medication delivered, the health secretary said. Earlier, Mr Hancock said the over-70s and people with certain health conditions would be told within weeks they needed to remain at home, with groceries and vital medication delivered - but he did not give details about how long this would be for or when it would start.
The Scottish government has set out its interpretation of the strategy, saying it had no plans to isolate the elderly, but would instead "ask them to reduce social contact". Mr Hancock told Andrew Marr people without symptoms would still be able to visit older relatives and friends so long as they stayed two metres - or six feet - apart from them.
All the UK deaths from the virus so far have been among people aged over 60 or with underlying health conditions.
The Scottish government set out its interpretation of the strategy, saying it had no plans to isolate the elderly, but would instead "ask them to reduce social contact".
Jeane Freeman, Mr Hancock's counterpart in Scotland, said: "We don't want people who are elderly to be stuck in their homes alone not contacting anyone, with their families not able to be in touch with them and to help them.Jeane Freeman, Mr Hancock's counterpart in Scotland, said: "We don't want people who are elderly to be stuck in their homes alone not contacting anyone, with their families not able to be in touch with them and to help them.
"What we're saying to them is, reduce your contact.""What we're saying to them is, reduce your contact."
The Scottish government has also published its guidance that gatherings of 500 people or more should not take place in Scotland.The Scottish government has also published its guidance that gatherings of 500 people or more should not take place in Scotland.
Although it does not have the power to call off events, it has urged organisers to "act responsibly" in cancelling large gatherings from Monday to help the efforts of emergency services.Although it does not have the power to call off events, it has urged organisers to "act responsibly" in cancelling large gatherings from Monday to help the efforts of emergency services.
All the UK deaths from the virus so far have been among people aged over 60 or with underlying health conditions. 'Start making more ventilators'
Mr Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr people without symptoms would be able to visit older relatives and friends so long as they stayed two metres - or six feet - apart from them. Manufacturers including car makers, weapon makers and army suppliers are to be asked to switch their production lines to making ventilators for use in hospitals treating coronavirus - which can cause severe breathing problems.
He said car manufacturers, weapon makers and army suppliers would be asked to change their production lines to make ventilators for use in hospitals treating coronavirus - which can cause severe breathing problems.
Digger manufacturer JCB said it has been approached by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to see if it could help with the production of ventilators.Digger manufacturer JCB said it has been approached by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to see if it could help with the production of ventilators.
The company chairman, Lord Bamford, said it is "unclear as yet" whether it can assist, but its research and engineering teams are "actively looking" at the request. The company chairman, Lord Bamford, said it was "unclear as yet" whether it could assist, but its research and engineering teams were "actively looking" at the request.
Plea for ventilators
The health service is to stop non-urgent surgery and implement a huge training programme to retrain medics from other specialisms to treat those who become seriously ill with the Covid-19 disease.The health service is to stop non-urgent surgery and implement a huge training programme to retrain medics from other specialisms to treat those who become seriously ill with the Covid-19 disease.
"We will stop at nothing to fight this virus and I think people have got the impression otherwise," Mr Hancock said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to hold a conference call with industry leaders later to discuss the need to help produce medical equipment "at speed", Mr Hancock said.
What is a ventilator?What is a ventilator?
Mr Hancock said there were 5,000 ventilators available at the moment, but that many times that number would be needed.Mr Hancock said there were 5,000 ventilators available at the moment, but that many times that number would be needed.
Work is also under way to buy up thousands of private hospital beds to boost NHS capacity should it be needed and the possibility that empty hotels may be requisitioned has not been ruled out.Work is also under way to buy up thousands of private hospital beds to boost NHS capacity should it be needed and the possibility that empty hotels may be requisitioned has not been ruled out.
Mr Hancock declined to give details of when the over-70s would be asked to self-isolate or how long the advice would last, saying: "We want to be ready to say that when we judge, based on the scientific advice, that the time has come."
"We know that when you ask people to do this sort of thing that they can tire of it, it also has negative impacts," he added.
Mr Hancock earlier used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to liken the coronavirus crisis to World War Two.Mr Hancock earlier used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to liken the coronavirus crisis to World War Two.
He wrote that, despite the Blitz, the UK "pulled together in one gigantic national effort" and that the same must happen once more.He wrote that, despite the Blitz, the UK "pulled together in one gigantic national effort" and that the same must happen once more.
It came as the government's strategy was criticised by some scientists, who wrote to ministers urging them to introduce tougher measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19.It came as the government's strategy was criticised by some scientists, who wrote to ministers urging them to introduce tougher measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
"Of course there is a scientific debate around scientific concepts but I want to be absolutely crystal clear, we will do what is necessary," Mr Hancock said."Of course there is a scientific debate around scientific concepts but I want to be absolutely crystal clear, we will do what is necessary," Mr Hancock said.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the public did not want ambiguity from the government.
"People just want clear advice. The prime minister should be out there daily speaking to the nation and explaining why things are changing," he told Sky News' Sophy Ridge.
An emergency bill giving the government temporary powers to tackle the outbreak will be published next week.An emergency bill giving the government temporary powers to tackle the outbreak will be published next week.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has asked for "urgent sight" of the draft laws and for a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the crisis. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said the government is "well behind the curve" in its management of the outbreak and urged No 10 to give "clearer guidance" and "much better support".
His party has already called on the government to publish the scientific modelling and data that it is using to inform its approach. He insisted the government had not acted "fast enough" to tackle the virus, citing concerns over the availability of NHS beds, ventilators and staff.
He said he had written to Mr Johnson demanding a meeting and to ask what would be in the emergency legislation that is to be presented to Parliament next week.
Why and when should vulnerable self-isolate?Why and when should vulnerable self-isolate?
Shielding the vulnerable and elderly will be an essential part of the government's strategy when cases are rising rapidly - it was one of the decisions signed off at an emergency Cobra meeting on Thursday.Shielding the vulnerable and elderly will be an essential part of the government's strategy when cases are rising rapidly - it was one of the decisions signed off at an emergency Cobra meeting on Thursday.
Half of the overall cases are expected within a period of a few weeks, with 95% in a period of around 10 weeks.Half of the overall cases are expected within a period of a few weeks, with 95% in a period of around 10 weeks.
So officials will ask those at most risk of developing severe illness to stay at home.So officials will ask those at most risk of developing severe illness to stay at home.
They believe if they get the timing right and people adhere to it the move could reduce the number of deaths by up to a third.They believe if they get the timing right and people adhere to it the move could reduce the number of deaths by up to a third.
But it of course carries its own risks - mentally and physically.But it of course carries its own risks - mentally and physically.
They believe the longest they could ask people to do this for is around 12 weeks or so.They believe the longest they could ask people to do this for is around 12 weeks or so.
That's why it's essential people don't go too soon. At the moment the vulnerable groups should be protected to a degree by the fact that the small number of people with the virus should be self isolating.That's why it's essential people don't go too soon. At the moment the vulnerable groups should be protected to a degree by the fact that the small number of people with the virus should be self isolating.
But the officials recognise that individuals will make their own decisions about when to start.But the officials recognise that individuals will make their own decisions about when to start.
Meanwhile, a new public information campaign is to be launched featuring the UK government's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty.
In other developments:In other developments:
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