The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
UK updates Italy travel advice over outbreak
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak in some parts of the country.
A spokesman said: “We advise against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto, which are currently in isolation due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.
“Any British nationals already in these towns should follow the advice of the local authorities.”
The new advice reads: “The FCO advises against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy (Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano) and one in Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo) which have been isolated by the Italian authorities due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier said he was “not planning” a trip to northern Italy, noting that official advice was for those who have been to anywhere in Italy north of Pisa to self-isolate if they develop flulike symptoms on their return to the UK.
He told Sky News: “We don’t think there are any Brits in the area that has been quarantined by the Italian government but the government does not track where people move around Europe, so if people are in that area then they should get in contact and we will do what we can to help.”
The response to the virus was discussed by Boris Johnson at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
“The prime minister and the health secretary opened Cabinet with an update on the UK’s response to the coronavirus, including the latest advice which has been issued by the chief medical officer this morning,” the spokesman said.