UK coronavirus cases jump, PM Johnson says he expects more

[webfact]

UK coronavirus cases jump, PM Johnson says he expects more

By William James

 

A pedestrian wears a protective face mask in central London, Britain, March 1, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain announced a jump in coronavirus cases on Sunday, with 13 new infections taking the total to 36, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he expected the number to rise further.

 

Johnson will chair a meeting of the government's emergency response committee on Monday, signaling a step up in attempts to tackle a virus that began in China and has killed almost 3,000 people worldwide.

 

"We've found about 35 people in this country have, or have had, the illness and clearly there may be more. That is likely now to spread a bit more," Johnson said during a visit to a public health facility in London, before another case was reported in Scotland.

 

"I am very confident that this country has the capacity to deal with it."

 

The government has announced some details of its "battle-plan" to cope with the virus, and is expected to set out the rest later this week. Johnson said closures of public events and schools could be considered.

 

Britain's Health Minister Matt Hancock said the country is planning in case the coronavirus epidemic gets "much worse", describing the outbreak as a "very, very significant challenge"

 

If the virus becomes more widespread, the government will look at registering retired health workers to work again, and whether encouraging people to work at home could delay the virus's peak until summer when it can be more easily dealt with.

 

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said that as of 0900 GMT there had been 12 new positive tests, bringing the total to 35. The Scottish government later announced another positive test.

 

Of those new positive tests, three had been in close contact with an existing known case, seven had recently traveled from Italy and two from Iran. They were investigating one case with no relevant travel, to find out how the patient had caught the virus.

 

The health department said the outbreak in Britain remained in a "containment" phase despite Sunday's increase in cases.

 

Health Minister Matt Hancock said he did not rule out any measures to contain the spread of the virus but said any further restrictions would be based on scientific evidence, and that for now people should go about their business as usual.

 

The government is launching a new public information campaign this week, encouraging people to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, and to do so more often than normal.

 

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Ros Russell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-02

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[legend49]

Boris didnt you get the memo, " its a Hoax"

[Rookiescot]

Is this why he has gone to ground of late?

[evadgib]

Recent updates from HMG: 

 

PM to chair COBR meeting on the coronavirus outbreak

 

CMO for England announces 12 new cases of novel coronavirus: 01 March 2020

 

Health Secretary sets out government “battle plan” for COVID-19

 

(This shouldn't be necessary, but...) a reminder to the usual culprits not to shoot the messenger! ????

Edited March 2, 2020 by evadgib

[Eric Loh]

Study in contrast. Boris hold meeting with emergency response committee while the other hold rallies and talk to self interest group. 

[sawadee1947]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

"I am very confident

Meaning "I am helpless and have no plan " ????????????

[Laughing Gravy]

Whats all the fuss. The headline says it all. "UK coronavirus cases jump, PM Johnson says he expects more".

But we still get the anti British (usually English) brigade talking nonsense. You know what I mean number 47. I guess that must be what it means in Gaelic.

[evadgib]

On 3/2/2020 at 1:31 PM, sawadee1947 said:

Meaning "I am helpless and have no plan " ????????????

A bit like... or are they doing more while creating the same illusion?

[evadgib]

3 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Whats all the fuss. The headline says it all. "UK coronavirus cases jump, PM Johnson says he expects more".

But we still get the anti British (usually English) brigade talking nonsense. You know what I mean number 47. I guess that must be what it means in Gaelic.

<Deleted post>

Edited March 3, 2020 by evadgib

[Basil B]

And the latest...

 

Quote

Up to a fifth of the workforce may be off sick during the peak of a coronavirus epidemic in the UK, the government says in its latest plans.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51718917

 

Lets hope that is worst case scenario.

 

 

[jastheace]

a small snip to quote-if allowed ?

'The evidence suggests just over half of people infected develop symptoms and 1% of those infected could die. The elderly and those with existing health conditions are the most at risk'

currently according to figures that I've got from wiki, cases reported / deaths, china rate is 3.7 %, Italy is 2.6 %, where I guess that cases reported havn't run to full recovery or death, so those % figures are way lighter than they will be. so where does the quoted 1% come from ?

Time to get real ….

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51718917

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by jastheace
added news link

[Basil B]

On 3/1/2020 at 8:57 PM, webfact said:

"We've found about 35 people in this country have, or have had, the illness and clearly there may be more. That is likely now to spread a bit more," Johnson said during a visit to a public health facility in London, before another case was reported in Scotland.

35 that was Sunday...

 

Quote

Posted at 13:1513:15

BREAKINGUK coronavirus cases rise to 51

There are now 51 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says.

"It's becoming more likely that we will see widespread transmission here in this country," he added.

He stressed, however, that the UK government and the country's national health service were "well-prepared" to respond to the crisis.

that's up nearly 50% in 48 hours...