Wolves owner Fosun flies in more supplies to combat Coronavirus
Wolves' owners Fosun have stepped up its bid to support the fight against Coronavirus by sending masks and medical supplies to more countries.
The Chinese group previously flew in supplies to Wuhan and other parts of China affected by the outbreak.
Now its first batch of 36,000 protective supplies have landed in Japan with plans to help efforts in South Korea, Italy and other areas hit.
The supplies include 3,000 masks for use in hospitals, 20,000 surgical masks, 3,000 pairs of protective goggles and 5,000 pairs of medical gloves.
It came as Wolves today announced players were to avoid posing for selfies or signing autographs with fans amid concerns for their wellbeing
Today Prime Minister Boris Johnson today outlined the UK-wide response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The coronavirus outbreak could lead to a fifth of workers being absent, cause the police to drop low-priority cases and force the NHS to delay non-urgent care, according to the Government’s battle plan.
Fosun support extends to more countries
Wolves' owners previously supported health workers in Wuhan by sending in protective suits.
Fosun chairman Guo Guangchang the group must step up to help as a global company rooted in China. Fosun has invested in health businesses in Japan.
It is helping in Tokyo, Hokkaido and other regions in their fight.
Mr Guangchang said: "All humans, regardless of skin color and ethnicity, are under threat; the virus is a common enemy of the human race.
"Fighting the coronavirus is no longer the mission of any single country or government but something everyone in the world must take part in.
“Throughout last month, we have been supporting China through global deployment of resources to prevent the epidemic from spreading further.
“Despite the epidemic in China is gradually under control now, many countries have all seen significant outbreaks.
"Clearly understanding we will not remain unaffected, we are determined to help the countries and people in need as a way to help ourselves and the world.”
Fosun operates and has branches in 18 countries and regions and nine of its nearly 60 global partners are from the United States, France, Germany, the UK, Portugal, Japan and India.
Since January 24, Fosun has send out a total of 2.435 million pieces of medical protective supplies, including 1.01 million protective medical suits, 1.24 million masks, 75,000 pairs of protective goggles, and 110,000 pairs of medical gloves, as well as 470 ventilators, from around the world
“Fosun has mobilized supplies from around the world to provide adequate protection for our employees and customers,” said Mr Guangchang.
Fosun has also set up 12 regional anti-epidemic working groups – 10 in China and two in overseas.
Government present four-stage Coronavirus plan
The Government's battle plan was set out before Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that the number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK has risen to 51.
The document also emphasises the need for the public to take action, including washing their hands, checking in on relatives and neighbours and accepting that, in most cases, they will be told to stay at home if they have coronavirus.
In a worst case scenario, up to 80 per cent of the population could become infected, with people in hospital with pneumonia and a relatively high death rate among the elderly and frail.
The document sets out possible strategies for delaying spread of the virus including school closures, "reducing the number of large-scale gatherings" and encouraging greater home working.
The military could also provide support to emergency services if needed, it says.
Launching the plan at a Downing Street press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had "no doubt at all" that the "country is going to get through coronavirus, and get through it in good shape".
He said it was "highly likely" the UK would see more widespread infection than at present, but added: "Let me be absolutely clear that for the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus, this will be a mild disease from which they will speedily and fully recover, as we have already seen."
Mr Johnson told reporters that "keeping the country safe is the Government's overriding priority", and the plan shows "we are committed to doing everything possible".
Government scientific experts predict the UK would see a coronavirus peak two to three months after sustained person to person transmission becomes established across the country.
There will then be a further two to three months of decline, meaning an outbreak could last around four to six months.
The new Government plan sets out how:
The police would "concentrate on responding to serious crimes and maintaining public order" if they lose "significant staff" to illness.
The military could be called in to help with the efforts. It cites "well-practised arrangements for defence to provide support to civil authorities if requested".
Hospital discharges could be monitored to free-up beds, with appropriate care in people's homes.
Businesses with short-term cash flow problems could be helped.
A distribution strategy could be in place for sending key medicines and equipment to NHS and social care.
The Department of Health and Social Care said later that fire and rescue services would also only focus on their most critical functions if a pandemic was reached.
There would also be the emergency registration of health professionals who have recently retired, and the introduction of emergency indemnity coverage for health workers.
The document warns that the new strain of coronavirus means people have a lack of immunity to it, meaning "Covid-19 has the potential to spread extensively".
Everyone is susceptible to catching the disease and thus it is "more likely than not that the UK will be significantly affected".
During Tuesday's press conference, Mr Johnson pointed to "long-established plans" by which the police would keep the public safe but would "prioritise those things that they have to do".
