The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
More than 3,000 now tested for virus in UK, with no new positives
Claim millions of people with flu-like symptoms could be told to self-isolate
More than 3,000 people in the UK have been tested for the coronavirus but there have been no new positive results, officials say.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) yesterday said 3,109 tests have been carried out in the UK, with nine positive. This is an increase of 117 tests on the 2,992 reported on Saturday.
The number of positive tests remains at nine, with eight of those patients now discharged from hospital after recording two negative tests for the strain known as Covid-19.
But “millions” of Britons with flu-like symptoms could be told by authorities to “self-isolate” by staying at home for a fortnight if the UK’S number of confirmed cases passes 100, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
It said senior NHS managers have been told the service will stop testing for Covid-19 “once around 100 cases have been confirmed” across Britain.
“Individuals who are discharged from hospital... do not pose any public health risk. HEALTH SECRETARY MATT HANCOCK
In the last week hospitals have created “isolation pods” to keep those being tested away from other patients, it added.
If the number of cases rises significantly those with coughs and colds may be asked to stay home to limit the chance of the outbreak spreading.
The DHSC did not comment when asked about the self-isolation direction.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I want to stress that any individuals who are discharged from hospital are now well and do not pose any public health risk.”
It comes after the first death from the virus outside Asia was confirmed in France on Saturday.
French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said an elderly Chinese tourist had become the first death to the virus in Europe, Reuters reported.
The patient, a Chinese tourist from the province of Hubei that includes Wuhan, had arrived in France on January 16 and suffered a lung infection caused by the virus.
The death toll in mainland China has risen by 142 to 1,665.
Chinese authorities also reported the number of new cases has fallen for the third straight day to 2,009.
The number of people infected globally stands at 68,500, according to the country’s National Health Commission.