Don’t pick up foreign objects, locals told in novichok scare
PEOPLE in communities at the centre of the novichok nerve agent poisonings have been warned not to pick up any foreign object that could contain liquid or gel.
Chief Medical Officer for England Dame Sally Davies said: “I want to emphasise to everyone in the Salisbury and Amesbury area that nobody, adult or child, should pick up any foreign object.
“Do not pick up containers, syringes, needles, cosmetics or similar objects, made of materials such as metal, plastic or glass.
“This is particularly important as families are starting to prepare for their children’s summer holidays.
“I am asking that people be extra vigilant.”
Novichock victim Dawn Sturgess, 44, who died at Salisbury District Hospital on Sunday evening, is believed to have handled an object containing the deadly substance.
However, there has been a “small but significant” improvement in the condition of her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, who is now conscious, Salisbury District Hospital revealed last night.
Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at the hospital, said: “While this is welcome news, we are not out of the woods yet.
“Charlie is still very unwell and will continue to require specialist, round-the-clock care.”
Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were stricken in the Wiltshire town of Amesbury on June 30.
There is no evidence to suggest they went to any areas that had been decontaminated after the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were exposed to the nerve agent in Salisbury in March.
Dame Sally added: “The overall threat to the public is unchanged and remains low. Those areas that have been cleaned and released to the public over the past few weeks are safe and they should be used normally.”
A car seized by men in camouflage gear and gas masks belongs to a paramedic and RAF hero who treated Ms Sturgess, locals say.
The white Audi was towed wrapped in film from a house in a cul de sac in Swindon on Monday.
Neighbours said it belonged to Keith Mills, 48, who has not fallen ill. It was feared it might have been contaminated and was taken to the Government laboratory at Porton Down, near Salisbury, to be destroyed.