Coronavirus will spread, says PM as he offers advice on hygiene
THE spread of coronavirus in the UK is likely to become more significant, the Prime Minister warned, as he urged people to wash their hands to the tune of Happy Birthday.
Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting where ministers discussed a “battle plan” to be published today, Boris Johnson said the spread was “likely” to become “more significant” for the UK in the coming days.
He said: “We have also agreed a plan so that if and when it starts to spread, as I’m afraid it looks likely it will, we are in a position to take the steps necessary to contain the spread of the disease as far as we can, and to protect the most vulnerable.”
He said closing schools and banning mass gatherings would only be done after scientific advice, adding: “The most important thing for people to understand is that (measures) will be guided by scientific advice.
“All four nations of the UK and the chief medical officers are involved in this and they will be helping us to take key decisions on when and how to take protective steps.
“We cannot forget that the single most useful thing that we can all do to support the NHS is to wash our hands, two times to Happy Birthday with hot water.
“It’s very important that people should continue (doing) that and they should go about business as usual.”
Government sources said it could be “months rather than weeks” before the UK outbreak peaks. In a suggestion that extra emergency powers would not be required immediately, the source said: “We don’t want to have to take decisions before we have to. As much as possible we want people to carry on with their daily lives.”
Legislation allowing the Government to use extra powers to help control the virus is expected to go through Parliament by the end of the month. Measures might include asking retired doctors and nurses to return to the NHS, urging people to work from home, closing schools, increasing class sizes and cancelling large public events.