UK's first person-to-person coronavirus case confirmed and source is unknown
The 20th coronavirus patient in the UK is the first person to catch the deadly illness within the country.
The Department of Health and Social Care announced the new case on Friday, saying the virus had been passed on in Britain but the original source remains ‘unclear’.
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said there was ‘no immediately identifiable link to overseas travel’. The new case is a resident in Surrey, where Public Health England (PHE) is working with the county council to manage the situation.
He is said to be a patient at Haslemere Health Centre which has been closed for ‘deep cleaning’ since Friday morning. Four new cases of the deadly illness have been confirmed in the country today.
Professor Whitty stated: ‘One further patient in England has tested positive for Covid-19. The virus was passed on in the UK.
‘It is not yet clear whether they contracted it directly or indirectly from an individual who had recently returned from abroad.
”This is being investigated and contact tracing has begun. The patient has been transferred to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’.
‘The total number of cases in England is now 18. Following confirmed cases in Northern Ireland and Wales, the total number of UK cases is 20.’
The Department of Health and Social Care has said: ‘The virus was passed on in the UK but the original source of the virus is unclear at this stage.
‘We do not currently have complete understanding of the chain of transmission in this case, but there is no immediately identifiable link to overseas travel.
‘Given the recent increases in international case numbers, especially Europe, it is highly likely that we will soon see some instances of community transmission in the UK.’
Dr Alison Barnett, centre director for PHE South East, said: ‘Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19.
‘One of the latest cases is a resident of Surrey and we’re working closely with NHS colleagues in that area as well as Surrey County Council to manage the situation and help reduce the risk of further cases.
‘Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case.
‘This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra contingencies committee on the outbreak on Monday.
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said there was ‘no immediately identifiable link to overseas travel’. The new case is a resident in Surrey, where Public Health England (PHE) is working with the county council to manage the situation.
He is said to be a patient at Haslemere Health Centre which has been closed for ‘deep cleaning’ since Friday morning. Four new cases of the deadly illness have been confirmed in the country today.
Professor Whitty stated: ‘One further patient in England has tested positive for Covid-19. The virus was passed on in the UK.
‘It is not yet clear whether they contracted it directly or indirectly from an individual who had recently returned from abroad.
”This is being investigated and contact tracing has begun. The patient has been transferred to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’.
‘The total number of cases in England is now 18. Following confirmed cases in Northern Ireland and Wales, the total number of UK cases is 20.’
The Department of Health and Social Care has said: ‘The virus was passed on in the UK but the original source of the virus is unclear at this stage.
‘We do not currently have complete understanding of the chain of transmission in this case, but there is no immediately identifiable link to overseas travel.
‘Given the recent increases in international case numbers, especially Europe, it is highly likely that we will soon see some instances of community transmission in the UK.’
Dr Alison Barnett, centre director for PHE South East, said: ‘Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19.
‘One of the latest cases is a resident of Surrey and we’re working closely with NHS colleagues in that area as well as Surrey County Council to manage the situation and help reduce the risk of further cases.
‘Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case.
‘This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra contingencies committee on the outbreak on Monday.