Thousands of Britons will be tested by GPs for coronavirus, amid fears that the explosion of cases in Europe means there could be far more cases in the UK than are known about.
Mass surveillance will be introduced, as Britain ramps up its response to the growing threat, with health planners considering school closures and transport restrictions if the danger spreads.
The virus has now killed more than 2, 728 people and infected almost , 11 Others, in more than countries – including countries in Europe.
On Tuesday the number of cases in Italy rose by almost , with a total of (cases – up from just three on Friday – including (deaths.)
Switzerland, Croatia and Austria all confirmed their first cases, while 1, holidaymakers staying at a hotel in Tenerife were under “lockdown” after an Italian doctor who stayed there tested positive for the virus.
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said he was “pretty worried” about the outbreaks.
The government has changed its advice for people traveling to the country, cautioning against all but essential travel to the Italian towns in lockdown. So far just nine patients in the UK have tested positive for the virus.
However, amid concerns that it may now also be more prevalent in the UK, Public Health England on Tuesday announced that they would begin a “surveillance” system which will see 823 patients a week tested for the virus.
The scheme involving around 322 GP surgeries and Hospitals aims to ensure that cases are picked up even if they show few symptoms, and involve patients who have never traveled to “high risk” countries for the virus.
Health officials said they would “not be wholly unexpected” if the tests found new groups of connected cases.
Coronavirus pod at Lincoln County Hospital
In addition to the tests, England’s chief medical officer said health planners were “exploring all the options” as they draw up contingency plans to respond to the spread of the virus.
Prof Chris Whitty said the government could order school closures, but added that no such “blanket recommendation” was currently being made.
It came as at least schools in the UK closed, or sent groups of children home, after they returned from ski-trips in affected parts of Italy.
He also said restrictions on the use of public transport could be introduced and that entire families could be quarantined if one member was infected if the threat to the UK rises.
Health officials are currently modifying the impact of the virus on the NHS, amid concern that a major outbreak could see more than half the population fall ill – including healthcare staff.
Prof Whitty said: “There’s no secret there’s a variety of things you need to look at, you look at things like school closures, you look at things like reducing transport. The expectation is not that we will do all these things, the expectation is we will be looking systematically, using science, at all the building blocks and balancing the effects against costs to society. “
Part of Britain’s precautions against the virus has involved
setting up ‘isolation pods’ at every major hospital in the UK in an attempt to keep suspected sufferers away from other patients and staff.
But the efforts were mocked when images of a makeshift tent outside Lincoln County Hospital emerged. The tent, which was next to a row of bins, had a phone, a blanket and a plastic chair for patients but no heating or running water.
A hospital visitor said the tent looked “like something that Bear Grylls would keep in his backpack.” NHS England insisted no patients would receive treatment in the “pod” and that it would be replaced later this week.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s chief medical officer warned that mass gatherings could be banned if the virus spreads.
Health ministers in Ireland said they would be calling for the cancellation of the Six Nations rugby match due to take place between Ireland and Italy in Dublin this weekend, saying that going ahead would constitute a “significant risk” to the public .
Prof Whitty said that if the virus cannot be contained, delaying the peak of the epidemic until winter is over would be a “very big win”, given current levels of pressure on the health service.
Prof Whitty said the speed with which outbreaks are spreading means any treatment will have to come re-purposing existing licensed drugs.
Health officials have banned the parallel export of two antiviral medicines, which are currently being tested to treat coronavirus, in a bid to ensure that the drugs are available to tackle the virus if they are found to work. The ban means that the medicines – currently used to treat HIV and malaria – cannot be sold by companies in countries which will pay more for them.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow announced that he is in precautionary self-isolation after visiting Iran to cover the country election.
Snow’s producer and cameraman are also self-isolating after the trip to Iran, although none have shown symptoms.
He said that he is “not really supposed to congregate with any crowds or go anywhere where there may be people”, adding: “So that means I’m sitting at home.
“To be honest, the absolute enormity of the prospect of days hasn’t really hit me. ”
He added: “Maybe if you call me again in 24 days you will have a headcase on your hands. ”
On Tuesday, Iran, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma were also added to the list of “high risk” countries for coronavirus, for which returning travellers are given clinical advice.
The US health secretary said on Tuesday it currently has a stockpile of 90 million surgical masks, when million masks are needed. The Trump administration is seeking approval from Senate for $ 2.5bn extra funding, as health officials said: “We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad.”
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