Two healthcare workers among four new cases of coronavirus in UK
Two healthcare workers are among four people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK today, Public Health England has confirmed.
One of the workers is believed to be based at County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, which was temporarily closed today after being linked to a case of the virus.
People in protective clothing were later spotted cleaning the premises.
All four of the new cases of coronavirus, said to be three men and woman, are contacts of a businessman who was diagnosed with the virus in Brighton last week.
The so-called ‘super spreader’ came down with the virus in Singapore, before travelling to a ski chalet in France.
He then returned to the UK on an easyJet flight, prompting authorities to search for other passengers who may have been on the same flight.
However, as he was not exhibiting symptoms at the time, it is thought the risk to others remains low.
So-far it is thought 11 cases of coronavirus are linked to the man.
All those newly diagnosed cases are now being treated in quarantine at St Thomas’ and the Royal Free hospitals in London.
Public Health England Medical Director Yvonne Doyle said the new cases ‘are all closely linked to one another’.
She continued: ‘Our priority has been to speak to those who have close and sustained contact with confirmed cases, so we can advise them on what they can do to limit the spread of the virus.
‘Two of these new cases are healthcare workers and as soon as they were identified, we advised them to self-isolate in order to keep patient contact to a minimum.
‘We are now working urgently to identify all patients and other healthcare workers who may have come into close contact, and at this stage we believe this to be a relatively small number.
‘We would like to thank all those who have followed public health advice and have taken the necessary steps to reduce the risk to the general public.’
The businessman also visited The Grenadier pub in Hove, but the site has been told by Public Health England there is ‘minimal ongoing risk of infection to either guests or staff.’
Today the Department of Health said the coronavirus had now become a ‘serious and imminent threat’ in the UK.
While the overall risk level to the UK has been described as ‘moderate’.
The government has now introduced new powers to allow patients to be forcibly quarantined, if need be.
There have been more than 40,000 cases of the virus globally, mostly in China, while the death toll in China now stands at 908.
People in protective clothing were later spotted cleaning the premises.
All four of the new cases of coronavirus, said to be three men and woman, are contacts of a businessman who was diagnosed with the virus in Brighton last week.
The so-called ‘super spreader’ came down with the virus in Singapore, before travelling to a ski chalet in France.
He then returned to the UK on an easyJet flight, prompting authorities to search for other passengers who may have been on the same flight.
However, as he was not exhibiting symptoms at the time, it is thought the risk to others remains low.
So-far it is thought 11 cases of coronavirus are linked to the man.
All those newly diagnosed cases are now being treated in quarantine at St Thomas’ and the Royal Free hospitals in London.
Public Health England Medical Director Yvonne Doyle said the new cases ‘are all closely linked to one another’.
She continued: ‘Our priority has been to speak to those who have close and sustained contact with confirmed cases, so we can advise them on what they can do to limit the spread of the virus.
‘Two of these new cases are healthcare workers and as soon as they were identified, we advised them to self-isolate in order to keep patient contact to a minimum.
‘We are now working urgently to identify all patients and other healthcare workers who may have come into close contact, and at this stage we believe this to be a relatively small number.
‘We would like to thank all those who have followed public health advice and have taken the necessary steps to reduce the risk to the general public.’
The businessman also visited The Grenadier pub in Hove, but the site has been told by Public Health England there is ‘minimal ongoing risk of infection to either guests or staff.’
Today the Department of Health said the coronavirus had now become a ‘serious and imminent threat’ in the UK.
While the overall risk level to the UK has been described as ‘moderate’.
The government has now introduced new powers to allow patients to be forcibly quarantined, if need be.
There have been more than 40,000 cases of the virus globally, mostly in China, while the death toll in China now stands at 908.