Coronavirus screening to take place at city hospital

Infirmary will test samples of suspected cases

A SURVEILLANCE system to test all patients with symptoms similar to coronavirus is to be set up in Leicester.

In addition, samples of suspected coronavirus patients will be sent to Leicester under a new system for widespread testing.

Eight hospital trusts around the UK, including Leicester’s, will be carrying out tests on anyone with symptoms similar to those of coronavirus, such as coughing, a fever and breathing difficulties.

Previously, people with such symptoms would only be tested for the disease – also known as Covid-19 – if they had been somewhere with known cases. But now the disease is all over the world and people from Leicestershire are among those having to selfisolate after travelling abroad.

The rules have changed and those displaying possible signs of the disease at the city’s intensive care units (ICU) and severe respiratory failure (Ecmo) centres will be tested, regardless of whether or not they’ve been abroad or in contact with travellers.

Samples will also be sent to seven other hospital trusts or one of 100 GP surgeries that will also be able to carry out tests on a smaller scale.

Public Health England’s (PHE) Medical Director, Professor Yvonne Doyle, said: “We have taken a belt and braces approach throughout this outbreak.

“This new system is another important way we can help limit the impact of Covid-19 in the UK, as we continue to ensure we have the best possible intelligence to protect the public’s health.

“There is no change in risk for the public but taking this preparatory step now will enable us to better detect and contain the spread of the virus.

“The UK’s infection control procedures are world-leading, and the system we are announcing today further strengthens our response.”

The tests will provide an “early warning” if the virus is spreading, PHE’s Prof Paul Cosford said.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If we do get to the position of a more widespread infection, then it will give us early warning that’s happening.”

The seven other trusts involved are Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Guy’s and St Thomas,’ Royal Brompton and Harefield, Royal Papworth Hospital, University Hospitals of South Manchester, Nottingham University Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Of the 13 confirmed coronavirus patients in the UK, eight have already been discharged from hospital.

Prof Cosford said the UK was still in the “containment” phase of dealing with the coronavirus and added that efforts to identify and isolate people with the virus returning to the UK were “working really quite well”.

He said PHE was not giving “blanket advice” that schools should close if staff or pupils have travelled to areas with outbreaks.

But, he said, schools made “difficult decisions” according to their specific circumstances.