Coronavirus: Entire UK cities could be placed on lockdown in bid to contain spread – Mirror Online, Mirror.co.uk
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Coronovirus could cause entire UK cities to shut down in a bid to stop the spread, the Secretary of State revealed.
Matt Hancock yesterday refused to rule out putting British cities on lockdown, in an echo of how China looked to first contain the virus to its Wuhan epicentre.
Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr program, he said: “There is clearly a huge economic and social downside to (shutting down cities).
“But we don’t take anything off the table at this stage because you have to make sure you have all the tools available if that is what is necessary. “
He added that it was now” inevitable “that the deadly virus would” become endemic “in the UK as it was announced on Sunday that (more cases of Covid – 399 had been diagnosed.
It brings the total number of people to have contracted coronavirus in the UK to , with Scotland declaring its first case.
Matt Hancock yesterday refused to rule out putting British cities on lockdown (Image: PA)
His comments came as it was revealed Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell those signing off the Government’s battle plan to fight the disease that there is “little doubt” the virus will present a “significant challenge” for the UK.
Boris Johnson will chair a Cobra meeting about coronavirus for the first time on Monday as he finalises the steps ministers will take should the outbreak worsen.
The Cobra meeting will be attended by senior ministers as well as chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, as they ratify the Government’s proposed countermeasures.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is also expected to take part.
Speaking ahead of today’s emergency meeting, Mr Johnson said: “The number of coronavirus cases around the world is rising every day – and the UK is no exception.
” There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country.
“But we are well prepared, and the Government and the NHS will stop at nothing to fight this virus.
“This battle plan lays out in detail the measures we could use – if and when they are needed. “
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