Britain reports first two cases of new coronavirus

 

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Two patients from the same family in England have tested positive for coronavirus, the first such cases in Britain, England’s chief medical officer said on Friday.

 

British health officials had previously warned that the United Kingdom was highly likely to have cases of the new type of coronavirus, which first emerged in China’s central province of Hubei and has killed 213 people so far.

 

“The patients are receiving specialist National Health Service care, and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus,” England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said.

 

“The NHS is extremely well-prepared and used to managing infections and we are already working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients had, to prevent further spread,” he added.

 

Whitty said he would not reveal where in England the infection had occurred, to protect patient confidentiality.

 

On Thursday, Britain raised the perceived risk level to the country from an outbreak of coronavirus in China to moderate from low after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency.

 

A plane carrying 83 British and 27 foreign nationals from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, is due to arrive in Britain later on Friday with those returning quarantined for 14 days at a National Health Service facility in northwest England.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-31

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What precautions are they taking to prevent further infections?

Edited January 31, 20206 yr by bkk6060

3 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Wow, there are still many flights from China coming into the UK.

Why are they allowing this?

What precautions are they taking to prevent further infections?

Are there? It mentions one flight containing Brits that have been waiting to return because they live here. 

2 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Are there? It mentions one flight containing Brits that have been waiting to return because they live here. 

OK, good to know hope it helps.

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Whitty said he would not reveal where in England the infection had occurred, to protect patient confidentiality.

 

10 minutes ago, BigBadGeordie said:

 

Has someone placed a lien on those buildings?

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“The NHS is extremely well-prepared and used to managing infections and we are already working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients had, to prevent further spread,” he added.

That could be a long list, the contacts the contacts had and the contact contacts the contacts had, etc

So are the patients Chinese or Brits?

None of the reporters seem to be saying so I'll assume they're Chinese.

Edited February 1, 20206 yr by BritManToo

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

So are the patients Chinese or Brits?

None of the reporters seem to be saying so I'll assume they're Chinese.

They are not mutually exclusive.