• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Coronavirus: Hunt for source of UK-infected case

Coronavirus: Hunt for source of UK-infected case
Newsexplored
29th February 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
3
A woman wearing a face mask on a bus in London, as the first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Wales and two more were identified in EnglandImage copyright PA Media
Image caption The World Health Organization has raised its global risk assessment to its highest level

Health officials are trying to discover how a man in England caught coronavirus, after he became the first person to infected within the UK.

The man, from Surrey, had not been abroad recently – unlike the 19 others who have tested positive in the UK.

Health minister Helen Whately told BBC Newsnight officials are trying to trace people he was in contact with.

Meanwhile, the government is expected to publish emergency legislation next week, if the virus spreads.

The package of measures would be designed to help the public sector – such as the NHS and schools – cope with the outbreak, if there was a serious rise in cases.

There are few details about what the measures could involve – but school class sizes in England is one area which would be addressed. They would be permitted to rise above statutory limits, in the event of widespread teacher absences.

On Friday, a British man became the first UK citizen to die from coronavirus after being infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said the virus outbreak was now the government’s top priority, will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee on Monday.

He had faced criticism from Labour, who said he needed to “get a grip” on the situation and questioned why he was waiting until next week to hold the meeting.

Image copyright PA Media
Image caption Some people in the UK are wearing face masks – although it is not official government advice

Nearly 9,000 people in the UK have so far been tested for coronavirus.

On Friday, the number of people who have tested positive in the UK reached 20, after the man in Surrey was diagnosed.

data-ad-format="auto">

He was the first to catch it in the UK – although it is unclear whether this was directly or indirectly from someone who recently returned from abroad.

He has been transferred to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in central London. A clinic in Surrey – Haslemere Health Centre – has been closed for “deep cleaning”.

Who did this man catch the virus from?

This is the urgent question that needs answering about the 20th case in the UK.


So far, no connection with anyone who has travelled to an affected country has been discovered.

Until we know the answer it is difficult to know how big a development this is.

This could be an “outbreak of two” – with just one other, still to be identified, person that caught coronavirus abroad.

Or is this the first case to be detected from a much larger outbreak? We know this can happen, Italian scientists believe the virus was circulating there unnoticed for weeks.

For now, we simply do not know, but this is a scenario officials have been preparing for.

Ms Whately said: “At the moment the work is going on to make sure that we have traced the contacts that that individual has. That work is happening at the moment.”

She added: “We are well-prepared but we do have to recognise that it is likely we will see more cases within the UK.

“There will be a plan published next week for the public, giving more detail about the government’s preparedness.”

Image copyright PA Media
Image caption Haslemere Health Centre in Surrey closed temporarily for cleaning on Friday
Image caption Signs informed patients that the centre was closed

She said face masks were not recommended for the public, but that “everybody has a part to play to help us be prepared as a country”.

People should wash their hands thoroughly. she added – echoing the advice given by the prime minister on Friday – and carry a tissue to sneeze or cough into, she said.

Of the most recent case, the Department of Health and Social Care said the virus was passed on in the UK but the original source was “unclear” and there was no “immediately identifiable link” to overseas travel.

Prof Jonathan Ball, from the University of Nottingham, said the Surrey case marks a “new chapter for the UK” and that it is “crucial” to understand the infection’s origin.

“This was always a concern – this is a virus that frequently causes symptoms very similar to mild flu or a common cold, and it’s easily transmitted from person to person. This means it can easily go under the radar,” the virology expert added.

It comes as a hospital in Edinburgh is carrying out “drive-through” testing for coronavirus, where patients do not need to leave their cars when they arrive for appointments.

What do I need to know about the coronavirus?

  • WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? A simple guide
  • WAYS TO PREVENT CATCHING IT: How to wash your hands
  • WHERE ARE WE WITH A VACCINE? Progress so far
  • A VISUAL GUIDE TO THE OUTBREAK: Virus maps and charts
  • WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MY HOLIDAY? Your rights as a traveller

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionBoris Johnson makes statement on coronavirus

Three other cases of the virus were confirmed in the UK on Friday, including the first one in Wales and two in England.

The two new patients in England contracted the virus while in Iran, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

Public Health Wales said it was working to identify close contacts of the Welsh patient, who is believed to be from the Swansea area and was infected in northern Italy before returning to the UK.

Northern Ireland confirmed its first case on Thursday. Authorities said they had contacted passengers who sat near the woman on a flight from northern Italy to Dublin.

The World Health Organization has raised its global risk assessment of the virus to its top level, “very high”.

Globally, more than 80,000 people have been infected. About 2,800 have died – the vast majority in China’s Hubei province.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscoronavirusinfectedsource
UK
29th February 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscoronavirusinfectedsource

More in UK

  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: ‘Caution as pupils return’ and ‘Meghan speaks out’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionSeveral of Monday’s front pages lead with the return to the classroom...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Rangers top-flight champions for first time since 2011 after Celtic drop points

    Views:3 Rangers are Scottish champions for the first time in 10 years after Celtic drew 0-0 with...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Scotland’s papers: Long Covid warning and Holyrood outbreak alert

    Views:3 image captionDoctors are warning that the health service may soon find itself “deluged” as people suffering...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: ‘What the vaccine means for me’

    Views:3 image caption(Clockwise from top left) Don Goodman, Masira Han, Pat and Bruce Barnett, and Terry Mensah...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Katy Sprague: The family piecing together an ‘avoidable murder’

    Views:3 By Phil ShepkaBBC News, Cambridgeshire Published 21 hours ago image copyrightFamily handout image captionKaty Sprague was...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: Queen ‘won’t watch’ interview, and EU ‘ill will’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionLord David Frost, who negotiated the Brexit trade deal, has said Brussels...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: Easter ‘travel permits’ and ‘slap for carers’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThose wanting to leave Britain from Monday will have to show a...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Who’s in the Royal Family and how does it work?

    Views:3 image copyrightHarpo Productions/Joe Pugliese image captionThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California The...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Your pictures of Scotland 26 February – 5 March

    Views:3 A selection of your pictures of Scotland sent in between 26 February and 5 March. Send...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: NHS pay ‘insult’ and EU vaccine ‘volte-face’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe Guardian says Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under increasing pressure to provide...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: ‘Spend now, tax later Budget’ and ‘war at palace’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe Budget makes the lead for most of Thursday’s newspapers. The Daily...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
  • Read More
    Budget 2021: What do young aspiring actors make of it?

    Views:3 By Laurence CawleyBBC News, East image copyrightLaurence Cawley image captionThe BBC spoke with members of The...

    Newsexplored 29th February 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Keeping the faith: Christian chaplains in the time of Covid
    UK7th February 2021
  • George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected in Derek Chauvin trial?
    USA8th March 2021
  • George Floyd trial: Why is it so important?
    USA7th March 2021
  • LeBron James: NBA superstar’s evolution from high school prodigy
    USA4th March 2021
  • What is Biden doing differently at US border?
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Fish oil supplements offer ‘little or no benefit’ against cancer
One in five of UK’s top FTSE 350 firms warned over gender diversity
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok