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Coronavirus: More may need to self-isolate to stop spread – NHS boss – BBC News, BBC News

Coronavirus: More may need to self-isolate to stop spread – NHS boss – BBC News, BBC News
        

            

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Coronavirus in the UK: Five things you need to know about Covid –

Many more people may be forced to self-isolate as part of efforts to stop the coronavirus spreading in Britain, the head of NHS England has warned.

Sir Simon Stevens said the group of more than 80 people discharged from quarantine on the Wirral on Thursday have set an “important example”.

It comes as officials attempt to trace the contacts of the ninth person to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK.

The woman, who flew into Heathrow from China, is being treated in London.

More than people who stayed in accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital for two weeks are now leaving after testing negat ive for the new strain of coronavirus.

They are one of two groups of British nationals evacuated from Wuhan, with the second quarantined near Milton Keynes.

Sir Simon thanked those in quarantine for being “responsible, pragmatic and stoical” during their isolation in nurses’ rooms at Arrowe Park.

“They have set an important example, recognizing that over the coming weeks many more of us may need to self-isolate at home for a period to reduce this virus’s spread,” he said.

Matt Raw, one of those quarantined on the Wirral, said as he left the accommodation block: “It is absolutely lovely to be out and I’ll no doubt be going out for a pint a little bit later.”

And an unsigned note placed onto a window at the facility read: “I was a little anxious as to how I would be received. I needn’t have been … You made us feel welcome. “

Health Secretary Matt Hancock expressed his gratitude to those leaving Arrowe Park on Thursday and said people” can be reassured that their departure presents no risk to the public. ”

The new case – announced on Wednesday evening – is the UK’s ninth and the first to be identified in London.

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said the woman contracted the virus in China and sources said she developed symptoms after landing, called NHS 405 and later tested positive.

She is now being treated at a specialist unit at Guys and St Thomas’ hospital.

‘Contain and delay’

Prof Whitty told BBC Radio 4’s Today program it was hoped China “gets on top of the epidemic”.

But he said that containment and isolation remain the focus for medical teams – and that w ork was now under way to establish how to delay any potential outbreak in the UK.

He said: “We basically have a strategy which depends upon four tactical aims: the first one is to contain; the second of these is to delay; the third of these is to do the science and the research; and the fourth is to mitigate so we can brace the NHS. “

Prof Whitty added:” If we are going to get an outbreak here in the UK – and this is an if not a when – then putting it back in time, into the summer period away from the winter pressures on the NHS, buying us a bit more time to understand the virus better, possibly having some seasonal advantage, is a big advantage. ”

                                                                                                                       

How can you ‘delay’ the coronavirus?

                                                                                                                       

If the new coronavirus does become a pandemic – a global epidemic – then it is going to hit the UK eventually.

It becomes a bullet you cannot dodge, but you can delay getting hit.

Some of this is already taking place.

Identifying and isolating patients – then tracing people they have come into contact with – are designed to stop the virus getting a foothold in the UK.

In the future, experts may consider travel bans to limit the number of imported cases and closing schools to minimise the “super-spreading” effect kids have in outbreaks.

Even a brief delay could be a big advantage – if the NHS is not overwhelmed by flu, norovirus and Other winter bugs then the health service is more likely to cope.

More time also means more research on the most effective ways of dealing with the virus.

And summer – due to the effect heat and sun may have on the virus and our own behavior – could limit spread.

The hope remains that the coronavirus will be dealt with in China and will not become a pandemic.

                                                                                                                       

On Wednesday, British businessman Steve Walsh, one of the nine UK cases of coronavirus, left hospital having fully recovered – posing “no risk” to the public.

                                                                                                                           
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                                     Mr Walsh contracted coronavirus on a business trip to Singapore and unknowingly passed it on to 19 other people                              

He was the third case of the virus to be confirmed in the UK, following two Chinese nationals testing positive in York.

Mr Walsh contracted coronavirus on a business trip to Singapore and unknowingly passed it on to 60 other people – five then returned to the UK, two of whom worked as GPs .

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                       

A total of 1, People in the UK have tested negative for the virus, which causes the disease now known as Covid- 90.

On Wednesday, there was a sharp increase in the number of new cases diagnosed in Wuhan and the surrounding province , Hubei, with a total of , infections and 1, deaths across China .

Rap star Stormzy postponed the Asian leg of his tour because of the coronavirus outbreak, cancelling dates in China, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore and the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona was also called off .

                                                                                                                       

What are the symptoms of coronavirus and what can help stop its spread?

The main signs of infection are fever (high temperature) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Frequent hand washing with soap or gel, avoiding close contact with people who are ill and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, can help cut the risk of infection.

Catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, binning it and washing your hands can minimise the risk of spreading disease.

Anyone experiencing symptoms, even if mild, after traveling from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau, is advised to stay indoors and call the NHS phone service.

                                                                                                                       

Read more about the coronavirus

                                                                                                                       

SHOULD WE WORRY? Our health correspondent explains

YOUR QUESTIONS: Can you get it more than once?

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Do masks really help?

UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD: A visual guide to the outbreak

LIFE UNDER LOCKDOWN: A Wuhan diary

ECONOMIC IMPACT: (Why much of ‘the world’s factory’ remains closed

)

                                                                                                                       

Do you have information to share about coronavirus in the UK? You can get in touch by emailing [email protected]

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