Panic buying as fears grow across the UK
BY MARTIN BAGOT
THREE new cases of coronavirus were identified in the UK yesterday amid reports that shoppers are panic buying hand sanitisers.
The UK’s 16th case was confirmed in Northern Ireland last night.
It came hours after two other patients were confirmed to have tested positive after returning from Italy and Tenerife. They were being treated at specialist NHS infection centres in Liverpool and London.
The patient who returned from the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, which is now under lockdown, was taken from their home in Buxton, Derbyshire, by medics in hazmat suits.
A nearby health centre and school were shut down. A child connected to the patient is a pupil at Burbage Primary.
At least 13 schools across the UK closed their doors over fears of the virus spreading and at least 20 more have sent pupils and teachers home for a fortnight of self-isolation after they came down with colds after ski trips to Italy.
Meanwhile, a public awareness campaign encouraging frequent washing of hands has led to panic buying of hand sanitiser.
A number of Boots stores imposed a two-bottle limit after some branches sold out.
By yesterday, 82,539 cases of Covid-19 had been reported in 47 countries. There have been 2812 deaths – 2744 in China, where the virus originated.
UK Government experts fear up to a fifth of the British workforce could go down sick if a pandemic takes hold.
Fears over the toll the outbreak could take on the global economy has seen £152billion wiped off the value of the FTSE 100 in four days.
World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned governments to “act aggressively” to contain the crisis.
Pope Francis, 83, cancelled a church service yesterday after he was struck down with illness, though there is no suggestion he has coronavirus as the outbreak in Italy topped 500 cases.
Denmark was among the countries confirming their first cases yesterday. In Japan, all schools will close for several weeks, while US experts have reported the first case of unknown origin.
She said: “We have just been left here with no one in authority telling us anything. We have no idea how long we have to stay here.
“At first we were getting food delivered to our rooms but now we have been told we must eat in the restaurant.
“When we went down to dinner, I was shocked to find a buffet-style serving with everyone touching the tongs and helping themselves. I thought, ‘We have to get out of here’, so I took the children to our room.
“There’s no hand sanitiser anywhere and the bathrooms have run out of soap. How are we supposed to carry out basic hygiene?
“We have been given face masks and a doctor has been to take our temperatures and we are all fine. We just want to go home.”
Steve McHardy, 53, an estate agent from Kinross, and his wife Susan, are also among those stuck in the hotel.
The couple were supposed to be enjoying a four-day break to celebrate Susan’s birthday but, speaking to ITV’s Lorraine show on their third day isolation, they said: “We have been told to expect a minimum of 14 days.
“We tried to phone the British consul but got nowhere – the phone line went dead.
“At the beginning, we were getting food parcels put to our rooms but now the only food you can get is at the restaurant, so we have to go out now.”
The Foreign Office said it has no plans to evacuate the Britons staying at the hotel but is keeping the quarantine measures under review with Spanish authorities.
It said the consulate in Tenerife has distributed letters to those affected.
Jet2 said: “We have been in touch with Ms Bryson repeatedly to check on the wellbeing of her and her family and to make her aware that we are offering designated 24/7 telephone assistance.
“We recognise that this is an enormously difficult situation, however the health and safety of our customers is our priority.”