GPs block bug visits

MISSION OF MERCY

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WORKERS are battling to build this hospital to treat patients suspected of contracting coronavirus.

It is one of two being erected in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak in Hubei province, China. It is expected to open today and covers 25,000 square metres. ■

Diggers only started clearing the ground on January 24, which means work will have been completed in just 10 days if it is to be finished on time.

DOCTORS have urged patients to stay away if they think they may have caught the coronavirus.

Text messages have been sent by practices in York and Preston, Lancs.

They say: “If you have symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever or chest symptoms including difficulty breathing and have recently travelled to Wuhan or Hubei, China, please stay indoors and avoid contact with others where possible.

“You are advised to call NHS 111. Please do not attend the surgery.”

NHS England said the messages were individual choices by the respective surgeries worried about the threat of contamination.

Public Health England officials said they are aware of 1,561 arrivals from Wuhan in the last nine days, but there were still 480 to trace.

The Government yesterday launched a huge advertising campaign telling people how to stop the killer virus.

Officials advised people to use tissues when sneezing or coughing and wash their hands regularly with the advisories appearing in newspapers, on the radio and on social media.

A third case of coronavirus in the UK has been dismissed as a “false alarm”. The number of tests that have come back negative in the UK is now 264, the Department of Health said.

The latest figures, published yesterday afternoon, showed 266 tests have been carried out to date. A University of York student and his mum are believed to remain the only two positive cases of coronavirus recorded in the UK so far.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said 11 more UK nationals were put on a French-flight yesterday, after they missed a UK evacuation on Friday.