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Coronavirus spread: Three more cases in England – Sky News, Sky.com

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Coronavirus spread: Three more cases in England – Sky News, Sky.com
                                                     

Three more patients in England have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of UK cases to .

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said two of the patients had recently traveled back from Italy while the other had returned from Asia.

The cases are from Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.

Prof Whitty said: “All three are being investigated and contact tracing has begun.”

It comes amid reports the government is to use a COBRA meeting on Monday , to agree emergency powers to ensure COVID – – the disease caused by the coronavirus – does not get out of control.

Schools, councils and other institutions would be able to suspend some laws to cope with a pandemic.

The measures could also include allowing teachers and nursery workers to have larger classes to cope with staff absences.

  

       Image:          Haslemere Health Center has re-opened after it was closed for cleaning on Friday       

Meanwhile, experts have said it is “crucial” to find out how the

first person who caught the coronavirus within the UK was exposed to it, as authorities race to piece together their movements.

News of the domestic infection on Friday is a significant moment in the country battle to stop the

coronavirus .

All the other UK cases had all been infected abroad.

“Contact tracing” has started on the patient.

Prof Whitty said it was not clear whether the person had contracted it “directly or indirectly” from someone who had recently returned from abroad.

The patient, who lives in Surrey, has been taken to a specialist center at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London.

Haslemere Health Center in Surrey was closed yesterday, with a statement on its website saying: “The surgery is temporarily closed today to enable a clean of the surgery as a routine precautionary measure. “

The surgery has since re-opened.

Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said it marked a “new chapter” as there was “no known link to an affected area or known case”.

“It will be crucial to understand where the infection came from to try to prevent more extensive spread, “he said.

He warned the virus” can easily go under the radar “because its symptoms are very similar to a cold or mild flu.

    

        

              

                        'Wash your hands' - PMs advice on COVID-19                                                            'Wash your hands' - PMs advice on COVID-19                                                                                                  Coronavirus is govt’s top priority, says PM                 

A virus expert from the University of Leeds said the first person-to person transmission was “only a matter of time”.

“What now becomes critically important is our ability to identify, isolate and care for infected individuals, and to trace their recent contacts, “said Dr Stephen Griffin.

He said that small, localized outbreaks might increase in the UK in coming weeks – but it’s vital they are Contained to keep the situation manageable.

“If we experience a burgeoning epidemic as seen in South Korea it will represent a significant challenge to our already stretched NHS and public health infrastructure,” Dr Griffin added.

In other coronavirus developments:

    More than £ 258 bn wiped off FTSE share index

over virus fears South Korea warns of “critical moment” and tells people to stay indoors this weekend

  • , suspected and confirmed cases worldwide, with 2, 934 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the disease
  • Mexico, Iceland and Nigeria among nations to confirm first cases on Friday Some UK tourists allowed to leave locked-down Tenerife hotel but Jet2 (will not yet fly them home California confirms second case in person who had not traveled or had contact with an infected patient

    Boris Johnson, who will chair Monday’s COBRA meeting, has been accused of being slow to act over the outbreak, but he insisted it was Downing Street’s “top priority”.

    The prime minister said people are “right to be concerned” about the spread of COVID – , but the “best advice” to prevent wider spread is to wash your hands with hot water and soap.

    The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to medium but the risk to individuals is said to remain low.

    Meanwhile, a British man in his s s who was on board the quarantined diamond princess cruise ship in Japan has become the first UK fatality of the coronavirus .

    The victim, who had been receiving treatment in hospital has so far not been named.

    Six people from the ship have now died, with the British man, who was not a resident of the UK, being the first foreign passenger to lose their life.

    The Foreign Office is advising against travel to China, South Korea, Iran and northern Italy, locations where the epidemic is most severe.

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    The World Health Organization said the outbreak is “getting bigger” as more countries report their first cases.

    It has now raised the risk level to its maximum of “very high”, meaning an “immediate response” – within hours – is required as soon as a case is suspected.

    However new cases in China, where the virus began, are continuing to slow.

    More follows …

                            

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