People with cough told to self-isolate
CORONAVIRUS “is the worst public health crisis for a generation”, the Prime Minister has said as he set out measures that could “cause severe disruption for many months”.
Boris Johnson said anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, such as a continuous cough or high temperature, must now stay at home for seven days.
He said school trips abroad should be stopped, while people over 70 with serious medical conditions should not go on cruises.
But Mr Johnson said there was no need to close schools now as the scientific advice “is that this could do more harm than good”.
He said this tactic may change at some point, while in the future anybody living with somebody who is taken ill will also be told to self-isolate for seven days.
Mr Johnson said families would continue to “lose loved ones before their time” as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.
“We’ve all got to be clear, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation,” said the PM. “Some people compare it to seasonal flu, alas that is not right.
“Due to the lack of immunity this disease is more dangerous. It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”
He said there was a need to delay the spread of Covid-19 to “minimise the suffering” and reduce the impact on the NHS.
Mr Johnson said the Government was “considering the question of banning major sporting events”.
He said the evidence suggests it will “have little effect on the spread” of coronavirus, though such events did place a burden on public services.
“If you have coronavirus symptoms however mild, either a new continuous cough or a high temperature, then you should stay at home for at least seven days to protect others and help slow the spread of the disease,” the PM added.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s chief scientific adviser, said the actual number of people infected in the UK at the moment could be between 5,000 and 10,000.
In Ireland, it was announced that schools, colleges and childcare centres are to close for two weeks in an unprecedented lockdown sparked by the outbreak.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also said large indoor and outdoor gatherings should be cancelled, while the country’s Army is ready to respond to requests for emergency help.
Home working is encouraged and socialising should be limited, official advice said.
It adds that break times in workplaces must be staggered to reduce the infection’s spread.
Restaurants, cafes and other businesses can continue trading but should look at ways to implement public health advice recommending social distancing.
Mr Varadkar said: “We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory.”