Is the UK prepared for a Coronavirus pandemic?
Is the UK prepared for a Coronavirus pandemic? Over the last 24 hours Europe has seen an increased risk from Coronavirus, including new outbreaks and 7 deaths in Italy.
However the UK government has claimed that it is prepared for the “low to moderate” risk of a Coronavirus pandemic.
Visitors to Northern regions of Italy have reported that following the recent outbreak in Northern Italy authorities were too slow to act, allowing the virus to spread from 3 people to 229 in just 4 days.
The disease has also now spread to Southern Italy, Austria and Croatia.
This follows a statement issued by the World Health Organization which confirms the global risk to be high.
It warns that the world must prepare for a potential pandemic. One has not yet been declared, and is not likely to be until sustained worldwide outbreaks occur.
However China has seen over 77,000 people infected and 2,600 deaths. More than 1,200 cases of Coronavirus have been identified in over 30 countries.
What is the situation in the UK?
Recent attempts to monitor and control the situation include:
- Specialist units have been set up to contain the virus.
- Enhanced monitoring of flights from nine countries including China, Thailand and Japan.
- Travellers are strongly advised not to travel to affected areas, including Northern Italy.
- Those returning from affected areas or experiencing symptoms are instructed to self quarantine and contact NHS 111.
Advice on how to safeguard against Coronavirus has also been issued.
However, one British traveller who returned from Italy experiencing flu-like symptoms. She contacted NHS 111 was simply told that it was not “on the list” of affected places.
No formal flight restriction between Italy and the UK has been put in place.
This comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock ruled that it would be an ineffective method of preventing the spread of a Coronavirus pandemic across the UK:
“If you look at Italy, they stopped all flights from China and they’re now the worst affected country in Europe.”
Instead, Mr Hancock simply advises that travellers to and from Italy and Asian countries isolate themselves. This is regardless of whether or not they experience symptoms.
He claims that the UK government has already done
“a huge amount of work” to avoid a pandemic. He also stated that “once it gets to that point there isn’t a way to stop it coming into the UK.”
A spokesperson for the PM has said that the UK is prepared for “all eventualities.” He claims that “we are using tried and tested procedures to prevent further spread and the NHS is extremely well prepared.”
The government are said to be working closely with the World Health Organization. As of Monday the UK has conducted 6,536 tests for Coronavirus in its attempts to prepare for early signs of the virus. 6,527 have returned as negative.
Following the return of 4 passengers who had been travelling on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the number of confirmed cases in the UK has risen to 13. They are now being quarantined at specialist NHS infection centres.
According to Hancock “we still expect more cases.”
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