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UK steps up communication amid concerns about virus response UK ramps up virus fight; 12-week isolation for over-70s
(about 5 hours later)
LONDON — British officials have introduced daily televised press conferences with medical experts in an attempt to combat growing criticism of the U.K.’s cautious approach to the coronavirus outbreak. LONDON — British authorities on Monday dramatically ramped up measures to combat the new coronavirus, urging all U.K. residents to avoid unnecessary contact with others and telling people in the most vulnerable groups to stay at home for three months.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his chief scientific and medical advisers will address the nation Monday as Britons demand to know why the U.K. — unlike most of its European neighbors — has not closed bars and restaurants, banned large events or shut schools to slow the spread of the COVID-19 illness. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel.”
Johnson’s spokesman, James Slack, said closing schools hadn’t been ruled out, but “the scientific and medical advice is that that’s not a step which we should be taking at this point in time.” “You should avoid pubs, clubs, theaters and other such social venues,” he said at a news conference alongside his chief medical and scientific advisers.
Britain lags behind countries such as Italy, Germany and France in the number of infections, and the government’s scientific advisers say implementing draconian measures too early will make them harder to sustain as the outbreak peaks in two or three months. So far, Britons have been told to wash their hands frequently and to stay at home for a week if they have a fever or continuous cough. Authorities said people over 70, those with chronic illnesses and pregnant women should be “shielded” from social contacts for 12 weeks, starting this weekend.
The U.K. strategy is based on the presumption that most people will eventually get the virus. Britain’s goal is to slow the spread of the infection so the country’s overstretched health service is not overwhelmed, while protecting those most at risk of serious illness — the elderly and people with serious health problems. The U.K. had previously resisted taking some of the tough measures seen in other European countries, which have banned large events, shut schools and closed their borders to slow the spread of the COVID-19 illness.
The government says that in the coming days, people over 70 will be asked to self-isolate, possibly for several months. And a ban on large gatherings, already in force in Scotland, may be expanded across the country. But Johnson said Monday the number of U.K. cases was starting to rise rapidly and “without drastic action” they could double every five or six days. As of Monday, Britain had 1,543 confirmed cases and 53 virus-related deaths.
Some scientists have taken issue with the approach, urging more severe restrictions to enforce “social distancing” and slow the spread of the virus. British authorities now say if anyone in a household has a fever or persistent cough, everyone there should stay at home for 14 days.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the majority recover. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Worldwide, some 169,000 people have been infected, over 6,500 have died and more than 77,000 have recovered. Johnson also said the government would no longer give emergency-services support to large gatherings, though he did not ban them outright. And unlike schools in most other European countries, those in Britain remain open.
As of Sunday, Britain had 1,372 confirmed cases of the virus, and 35 people with COVID-19 had died. “We think that, on balance, best to keep schools open but appreciate that this is something we need to keep under review,” Johnson said.
U.K. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the government’s approach was not “markedly different” from other countries’ measures. Britain lags behind countries such as Italy, Germany and France in the number of infections, and the government’s scientific advisers have said that implementing draconian measures too early will make them harder to sustain as the outbreak peaks in two or three months.
“The U.K. has probably just been at a slightly different stage — compared with places like Italy but also a little behind where France and Germany are,” Shapps told Sky News. “It’s not that we’re not going to get there, but of course our responses are timed in a different way, unique to the particular stage of this that we’re in in the U.K.” Until Monday, Britons had been told merely to wash their hands frequently and to stay at home for a week if they have a fever or continuous cough.
Britain’s approach has come under increasing pressure as neighboring countries go into lockdown and close their borders in response to the new virus. The U.K. strategy is based on the presumption that most people will eventually get the virus. Britain’s goal is to slow the spread of the infection so the country’s overstretched National Health Service is not overwhelmed, while protecting those most at risk of serious illness — the elderly and people with serious health problems.
Even though the government has not ordered mass closures, the outbreak has already had a huge effect on everyday life in Britain. Ridership on trains and the London Underground is down by a fifth as some businesses ask staff to work from home; universities are moving classes online; and several of London’s West End theaters have shut, with more expected to follow. Britain’s approach had come under increasing pressure as neighboring countries went into lockdowns and closed their borders in response to the new virus. Some scientists urged more severe restrictions to enforce “social distancing” and slow the spread of the virus.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and most recover. The worldwide outbreak has sickened over 179,000 people and left more than 7,000 dead. Over 78,000 people have recovered, most of them in China.
The outbreak has already had a huge effect on everyday life in Britain. Ridership on trains and the London Underground is down by a fifth as some businesses ask staff to work from home. Universities are moving classes online and several of London’s West End theaters have shut down, with more expected to follow.
Supermarkets have been stripped of staples including toilet paper, pasta and rice as shoppers ignore government appeals not to hoard supplies.Supermarkets have been stripped of staples including toilet paper, pasta and rice as shoppers ignore government appeals not to hoard supplies.
Airlines including EasyJet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways say they will ground most of their planes as more and more countries impose travel restrictions and shut their borders. Airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways say they will ground most of their planes as more and more countries impose travel restrictions and shut their borders.
Johnson said the measures announced Monday would affect the lives of everyone in the country and were unprecedented in peacetime.
“And we have to accept that it is a very considerable psychological, behavioral change that we’re asking you, we’re asking the public, the nation to do,” he said. “But I have absolutely no doubt that we can do it, that we can do it together.”
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.