Prepare to self-isolate if you have a cold, officials warn
Health chiefs take drastic steps for ‘fast’ increase in virus cases as Italy goes into total lockdown
ANYONE with a cough or cold will soon be told to self-isolate for a week, as Britain prepares for a significant rise in coronavirus cases.
Last night the number of cases in the UK rose to 319 – including five deaths – and Prof Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said the public would now be asked to take extra steps to prevent the spread of disease.
Health officials were expected to advise pensioners in particular to limit social contact, but last night stressed the country had not yet reached this point.
Italy last night extended the mass quarantine in its northern regions to the entire country after a surge of almost 2,000 cases in 24 hours.
Only those with a certifiable work or health emergency will be permitted to travel and all sporting events and public gatherings have been suspended until at least April 3.
The Foreign Office last night said anyone returning to the UK from Italy should now self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether or not they are symptomatic.
It warned British residents against all but essential travel to Italy after coronavirus quarantine measures were extended.
Prof Whitty said that within 10 to 14 days the Government would be advising anyone with a cough or cold to stay at home. He said infections were ex- pected to “increase really quite fast”.
The advice – which could involve millions being asked to self-isolate without tests – would apply to all those with respiratory infections, including minor coughs and fevers.
Last night, health officials said taking such measures at the right time could cut the peak number of cases by half, and reduce deaths by almost a third. Boris Johnson said it was “absolutely critical” to take the right decisions at the right time, warning that taking action too early could be “counterproductive”.
The Prime Minister said he had stopped shaking hands, suggesting that while handwashing was more important, avoiding a handshake gave people a “subliminal” reminder about their hygiene. His advisers said asking people to self-isolate before the virus was in common circulation could backfire and mean the public was unlikely to comply with measures when truly needed.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, said those who had “the sniffles” now were unlikely to have coronavirus but the situation could change rapidly. Prof Whitty said: “We are expecting the numbers to increase initially slowly but really quite fast after a while and we have to catch it before the upswing begins.
“We are now very close to the time, probably in the next 10 to 14 days, where we should say everybody who has even minor respiratory tract infections or a fever should be self-isolating for seven days afterwards.”
Mr Johnson said he believed the UK could rise to the challenge posed by coronavirus: “There is no hiding from the fact that the outbreak will present significant challenges for the UK. But if we continue to look out for one another, to pull together in a united and national effort, I have no doubt we can and will rise to that challenge,” he said.
Hospitals have been ordered to carry out coronavirus tests on all patients with respiratory infections, to limit the spread of the virus within wards. It came as two more people in their 70s
were killed by the outbreak, taking the UK death toll to five. Both had underlying health conditions. One died at Royal Wolverhampton Hospital and the other at St Helier Hospital, south London.
The Government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies was expected to meet today to advise on the introduction of “social distancing” restrictions, which could come as soon as this week. It followed a Cobra emergency committee meeting yesterday.
Mr Johnson said: “Our plan sets out what we are prepared to do and we’ll make the right choices of which action to pursue at the right moment. The scientific advice is clear – acting too early creates its own risks, so we will do what is right to keep people safe. Guided by the science we’ll act at the right time and we’ll be clear and open about our actions and the reasons for them.”
Meanwhile, a secondary school pupil in Rugby was diagnosed with the virus, more than 14 days after returning from Italy. And University Hospital Southampton closed its surgical highdependency unit to new admissions after a staff member tested positive.
The France vs Ireland Six Nations rugby match, due to be held in Paris on Saturday, was postponed on the advice of national authorities. But Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, said cancelling sports events and closing museums and galleries here due to coronavirus would be “premature”.
Following a meeting with ministers about the impact on sports events, Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union chief, said there was “no medical rationale” for cancelling matches or playing behind closed doors as things stood, but added it was a “moving situation”.
France, where more than 1,100 cases have been recorded and 19 people have died, announced a ban on events involving more than 1,000 people.
Downing Street defended its response in comparison with the drastic action taken elsewhere in Europe. Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “The guiding principle for the Prime Minister is that he will take the guidance of his medical and scientific advisers.”