Coronavirus: UK cases double as four more patients test positive for deadly virus
All new cases linked to single traveller from Singapore who spread the virus to multiple people in France en route to the UK
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Four new cases of coronavirus infections in the UK have been confirmed by the government, bringing the total number of cases to eight.
The new cases are all known contacts of a previously confirmed UK case of a businessman who travelled from Singapore to France and on to the UK.
A statement by the UK’s chief medical officer professor Chris Witty said the virus was passed between the people in France.
He said experts from Public Health England were working to trace people who may have been in close contact with those infected.
Prof Whitty said: “They successfully identified these individuals and ensured the appropriate support was provided.
“The patients have been transferred to specialist NHS centres at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and The Royal Free hospitals, and we are now using robust infection control measures to prevent further spread of the virus.
“The NHS is extremely well prepared to manage these cases and treat them, and we are working quickly to identify any further contacts these patients have had.”
Earlier this morning the government said the coronavirus outbreak was now a “serious and imminent threat to public health” and authorities will take additional steps to stop the spread of the virus.
It gives the government powers to detain people in isolation to help stop the spread of the virus.
The Department of Health and Social Care has now designated Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead and Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes as “isolation” facilities and Wuhan and Hubei province in China as an “infected area”.
Dr Al Edwards, from the University of Reading school of pharmacy, said: "The government is absolutely right that coronavirus is a serious and imminent threat to people in the UK.
“The main challenges facing Britain and the wider world are containment, finding everyone infected and stopping the spread, and the treatment of very ill patients, which could easily overwhelm hospitals in any country, however well-developed the health system.
“Finding people who have been infected is extremely challenging, but it is essential for containment. We are lucky we do have fairly rapid tests available, based on detecting the virus in patient blood samples, for example. However, these will only work when a patient is quite sick. After people get better, or if they have mild infection, the virus can’t be detected."
For the latest advice visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments