Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
COLD... ALONE
Deep clean after pupil tests positive People with flu signs ‘to isolate’ 2 new deaths as outbreak worsens
ANYONE with flu-like symptoms will be ordered to self-isolate for a week just in case it is coronavirus.
The move over the next fortnight will cause huge disruption for businesses and public services.
It comes as two schools in Northern Ireland will remain closed until next week after a pupil tested positive.
In Co Armagh both Newtownhamilton High School and its primary have stopped classes at the co-located site as a “highly precautionary measure,” it was announced yesterday.
Principal Neil Megaw told the Mirror: “We have been working closely with the Public Health Agency, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to ensure an appropriate response.
“The PHA has advised us the risk to pupils and staff of the school is very low. “However, as
a precautionary measure, Newtownhamilton High School and Newtownhamilton Primary School will close for the remainder of this week to enable an enhanced clean of the premises.”
Speaking at the Assembly yesterday Health Minister Robin Swann said the situation here is “likely to get much more challenging before we are through the worst of the situation”.
He added: “PHA is content there is no public health risk to anyone attending either of the schools, however, it understands as a precautionary measure both schools will be closing today to undertake an enhanced clean.
“As I have outlined previously, the increase in positive cases is not unexpected and I would advise members of the public not to be unduly alarmed by these developments.
“The overall risk to individuals in Northern Ireland has not changed at this stage, based on the advice of the
UK Chief Medical Officers the risk to the UK still remains at moderate.
“This will be kept under review. I would echo the calls of the Prime Minister and advise people against panic buying of food or other products at the supermarkets.”
Yesterday two more people died in the UK after contracting Covid-19, taking the death toll to five.
Both were patients in their 70s with underlying health conditions. A press
conference at Downing Street heard from today every patient in hospitals with respiratory tract infections or pneumonia will be tested for Covid-19.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “It is absolutely critical in managing the spread of this virus we take the right decisions at the right time.”
In the days ahead anyone with even cough, cold or flu symptoms will be ordered to stay home and avoid other people. Prof Chris Whitty, England’s Chief
Medical Officer, said: “We are now very close to the time, probably within the next 10 to 14 days, when the modelling would imply we should move to a situation where everybody with even minor respiratory tract infections or a fever should be self-isolating for a period of seven days.”
One of the two deaths confirmed yesterday was a man in Wolverhampton and the second was a patient at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. Confirmed cases as of 9am yesterday shot up to 319, from 273 the previous day. Numbers are now expected to double every two to three days.
Despite infections going undetected in much of the country, Mr Johnson said the UK remains in the “containment” phase of tackling the spread.
Once modelling suggests the UK outbreak is widespread then the next “delay” stage will see social distancing measures which could include restricting public gatherings.
Mr Johnson added: “There is no hiding from the fact the coronavirus outbreak will present significant challenges for the UK just as it does in other countries.
“But if we continue to look out for one another, to pull together in a united and national effort, I have no doubt we can and will rise to that challenge.”
Germany and France, where more than 1,100 cases have been recorded and 19 people have died, have banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
Italy has the highest number of confirmed cases outside China at 7,375, and its death toll stands at 366.