SELF-ISOLATE!

1,500 travellers back in UK from Wuhan told: Stay in for two weeks

UP to 1,500 travellers who have recently flown back to the UK from the Chinese epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak are being told to ‘self-isolate.’

They are being instructed to keep indoors for two weeks with minimal contact with others – even if they have no symptoms.

The extraordinary move was announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock as part of a ‘belt and braces approach’ to contain the virus’s spread.

Although there have been no confirmed cases in the UK, scientists are concerned that the infection may be passed on before symptoms appear. The guidance affects up to 1,460 people in Britain who have flown back from Wuhan in the Hubei province of China since January 10.

They are being told to act as if they have a bad cold – even if they have no symptoms – staying indoors and relying on others to do their shopping. They should also contact the NHS 111 helpline who can then notify Public Health England of their whereabouts, in case they become ill.

If they do start experiencing symptoms – which include a cough, sore throat and a temperature – they must contact the helpline again and be sent for tests.

In a separate intervention, the Foreign Office is seeking to repatriate up to 200 Britons from Hubei. These people would also be subject to the same self-isolation rules when they return. Despite their ‘self-isolation’ guidance, Whitehall officials are anxious that the Chinese community does not feel stigmatised. They stress that the risk of Britons catching the virus is still ‘low’ and the UK is ‘well prepared’ for any epidemic.

More than 2,700 people have been infected in 12 countries, with 81 deaths recorded in China.

The Department of Health confirmed that 73 people in Britain had undergone tests for the infection; all came back negative.

Outlining the ‘ self- isolation’ measures to the Commons yesterday, Mr Hancock said: ‘The safety and security of British nationals is our number one priority. We continue to monitor developments and are in close touch with the Chinese authorities.

‘I’ve therefore instructed Public Health England to conduct a belt-and-braces approach, including contacting people who have been in Wuhan in the past 14 days.

‘Coronaviruses do not usually spread in people who don’t have symptoms; however, we can’t be 100 per cent certain.

‘From today we’re asking anyone in the UK who has returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days to selfisolate. If you develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel from the area and are now in the UK, call your GP or ring 111.

‘Do not leave home until you have been given advice by a clinician.

‘Having eliminated those who have already left the country, there are 1,460 people we’re seeking to locate. The NHS remains well-prepared. The NHS has expert teams in every ambulance service and at a number of specialist hospital units.’

The instructions apply to anyone who has returned from Wuhan since January 10 as this covers the maximum 14- day incubation period, the time between infection and symptoms first appearing.

But there remains a small chance that some of these people already had the virus and have passed it on to others. Yesterday a Public Health England official suggested the infection may have already arrived in the UK.

Professor Yvonne Doyle, director for health protection at PHE, told Sky News: ‘The most likely place that we’re going to find a case is someone who is in the country already.’

Asked if there could be cases already in Britain, she said: ‘I would expect so.’