CORONAVIRUS: SEARCH FOR WE FEAR FOR OUR CHILDREN
»»Father tells of family hell in UK isolation after flying in from Italy »»Jail mum Nazanin gets Covid-19 in her Iran cell as UK cases hit 23 Health chiefs prepared for worst War room to combat spread
A BRITISH family of four have been tested for coronavirus after falling ill during a holiday in Venice.
Dad Callum Kerslake last night said: “I’m terrified for my babies.”
A 999 crew in decontamination suits yesterday took the family away after Callum, 24, wife Jessica Luana, 21, and children Sophia, three, and 11-month old CJay, reported symptoms.
Last night the family were back at their Hull home, self-isolating until the results come back in two to three days.
Call centre worker Callum said: “We’ve never been so sick. My eyes were on fire. Every muscle in my body ached. Sophia and CJay have had temperatures of 40C. None of us can stop coughing.”
The family had been in Dola in Venice where three people have been diagnosed. They flew back to London Stansted on Thursday night wearing surgical masks as a preventative measure.
The drama comes as the hunt was stepped up for Patient Zero – the spreader who infected the first Brit tested positive for the Covid-19 virus without leaving the country. The
HEALTH chiefs say they have a detailed plan to cope with an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.
So far, five specialist hospitals that have treated existing UK patients and another 20-plus regional infectious disease units are on standby.
Isolation pods have been set up for patients arriving with the virus.
And specialist equipment called ECMO, which helps with breathing, is available at a small number of units to support the most severely ill if their lungs fail.
As well as looking for a vaccine, researchers are exploring whether
Virus test pod at Lewisham Hospital, South London first victim was treated at Haslemere the UK but had been on
Health Centre, Surrey, before going to the Diamond Princess
Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in cruise ship. Three more
London. Chief Medical Officer for Brits have tested positive
England Prof Chris Whitty after returning from said it was unclear whether abroad, bringing the total the man had contracted known cases here to 23 the virus from someone with a further 10,000 recently back from abroad. tested. The trio are from
He said: “This is being Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and investigated and contact Berkshire. tracing has begun.” Meanwhile, the husband of British
Meanwhile, the Foreign mum Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe jailed in Office confirmed a man, Iran revealed she had caught the virus believed to be in his 70s, in prison. The infection has reportedly was the first Brit to die of swept through the Tehran jail where the virus. He did not live in Nazanin, 42, is serving five years for existing treatments for other conditions – such as malaria and HIV – can be used to help coronavirus patients.
The Government will also bring forward emergency legislation to speed up the disposal of bodies and allow children to be taught in larger classes, should teachers fall ill.
Insiders even suggested that contingency plans are in place to use Hyde Park in London as a morgue.
NHS 111 is taking around 50,000 calls daily, while the coronavirus helpline took more than 19,000 calls on its busiest day this week. ‘plotting to topple the government’. In Liverpool, the Radisson Blu hotel has set up isolation rooms after a guest staying there after a trip to Thailand fell ill. He had been mixing with other guests.
US officials last night confirmed the country’s first coronavirus death hours after a student near Seattle tested positive. America has 59 cases so far.
Back in Britain, the Government is set to bring in new emergency powers to try to stop the virus spreading after 10 cases were reported in just three days. Schools, councils and other parts of the public sector will be able to suspend laws – including health and safety measures – to cope with a pandemic.
The Government has warned up to 70 per cent of the population could develop the virus.
It is believed prisoners in some of the UK’s most dangerous jails could be moved to NHS hospitals if infected. A source said: “Jails are overcrowded providing the perfect environment for the virus to spread.”
Meanwhile, at Premier league games yesterday was the worrying shape of things to come – fans wearing masks.
Jailed Brit Nazanin has virus in Iran jail
My eyes were on fire. Every muscle in me ached DAD CALLUM OF HULL FAMILY TESTED AFTER HOL
BORIS Johnson is to set up a Cabinet Office “war room” in the effort to fight the spread of coronavirus.
The team, including scientists and communications experts, will produce a revised contingency plan this week.
It will include calling doctors out of retirement, travel restrictions and ordering more people to work from home. All government departments will have a minister in charge of co-ordinating the response.
There are plans for special indemnity coverage for care workers asked to come into contact with victims. Rules on school class sizes could be relaxed so lessons can go ahead if teachers are sick.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock intends to blitz the public with information on how to stay protected.
Mr Johnson, due to chair a COBRA meeting tomorrow, said: “We must listen to the Chief Medical Officer, especially about the importance of washing hands with soap.
“We should be doing that for 20 seconds, and more often than we’d normally think necessary.”
Matt Hancock