Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
UK is most at risk in Europe
14-day spell in isolation for Hubei evacuees Public safety the top priority, Hancock says
BRITAIN is the most “at-risk” country in Europe to the spread of the coronavirus.
A study found the UK is on the frontline in the battle against the disease, due to the 142,000 Chinese tourists expected in London between January and mid-march.
Experts from Southampton University, who measured the potential global spread for the first time, ranked the UK ahead of Italy and Russia in Europe.
Globally it was 17th, after the USA, sixth, and Australia, 10th. Thailand topped the list.
Lead author Dr Shengjie Lai said: “We are closely monitoring the epidemic to provide up-to-date analysis.”
Findings are based on the number of travellers predicted to arrive from affected cities in mainland China.
THOSE airlifted from China’s coronavirus outbreak could be quarantined at a UK military base.
Secure facilities are being considered as the Government plans for the arrival of about 200 citizens from Wuhan city.
Even those with no symptoms would be detained for 14 days – thought to be the maximum possible incubation period for the new form of coronavirus.
Urgent plans to get the citizens out of Hubei province, where Wuhan is situated, are being finalised with an evacuation thought to be imminent.
Those wanting to leave the area had until 3am on Tuesday to express their wish to the British consulate.
Military bases here could hold the expats for a fortnight and ensure they are “well looked after”, a source said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Public safety is the top priority. Anyone returning from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days with all necessary medical attention.”
The number of deaths from the virus jumped to 133 with 6,065 cases worldwide. Wuhan’s streets are almost empty but some locals have ventured out wearing plastic bags and bottles on their heads to protect themselves.
Lecturer Yvonne Griffiths, 71, said she was told early yesterday to be “on stand-by” for a flight from Wuhan – possibly to London Stansted.
She said: “We’ve to be at the airport six to seven hours before and we would have a screening from health people here in Wuhan. If we are not showing any symptoms we’ll be able to board.
“If we were suffering temperature or other symptoms, there seems to be a possibility of quarantining at this end.”
Nick House, an expat living in Wuhan with his Indonesian wife and two British kids, said: “We’d like to be out of here.
“The man on the phone said, ‘You are on the list but unfortunately your wife probably won’t be able to get on the plane as she does not have a visa’. I won’t leave without her.”
Australia plans to quarantine evacuees at Christmas Island immigration detention centre. A US charter plane left Wuhan yesterday, believed to be carrying citihad zens and consular staff. Japan has evacuated some of its citizens. The UK Government advised about 1,500 recent arrivals from Wuhan to go home and “self isolate”.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann said preparations are now underway.
In a statement, he added: “It is not unreasonable to assume at some point we will have a positive case in Northern Ireland. There can be no room for complacency and my priority as Minister is still to ensure effective measures are in place within Northern Ireland.” In Birmingham a medic in a hazmat suit was filmed escorting a man who returned from Wuhan with flu-like symptoms. Sales worker Drew Bennett, 39, was isolated in hospital but there have been no confirmed cases here.