'Don't go to hospital' plea after Wolverhampton coronavirus cases confirmed
Wolverhampton residents were advised to call NHS 111 rather than head to hospital if they feel unwell after further coronavirus cases emerged.
The advice was issued as a patient in the city became the fourth person in the UK to die having tested positive for the virus.
The person who died was one of three in Wolverhampton to have tested positive for Covid-19 so far. One other Black Country case has been confirmed in Dudley.
A GP practice in Dudley has been forced to close today amid fears over a person coming into contact with someone with the virus.
Meanwhile, Wolves fans set to travel to Greece for Thursday’s Europa League clash against Olympiacos have been left waiting to hear from UEFA if the game must be played behind closed doors.
Three people have died in the UK in the outbreak. It came following the death of a man in his 60s at a hospital in Manchester.
The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the UK has reached 278, after more than 23,500 people had been tested.
Today honeymoon couple Alan Steele and Wendy Marshall Steele, from Tettenhall, were settling back into life after spending weeks in quarantine after passengers on the cruise liner Diamond Princess became infected.
Latest coronavirus advice
Public health officials and Wolverhampton Council said good hygiene was crucial to stop the spread of coronavirus in the city.
Wolverhampton had its first case confirmed at the weekend, following further cases already revealed in Staffordshire and Birmingham.
It is understood that the case was confirmed at New Cross Hospital, with considerable speculation on social media over the first case at the hospital.
Officials at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase Hospital, have yet to publicly comment.
But the hospital has re-tweeted Government advice regarding hygiene in the light of the outbreak.
Sue Ibbotson, centre director for Public Health England West Midlands, said: "Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with one of the latest confirmed cases of Covid-19 who is a resident of Wolverhampton.
“Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case.
"This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.”
It followed similar advice given last week after a Birmingham resident tested positive for the the virus.
Four patients have tested positive in Staffordshire as a school in the county closed today after a member of staff was diagnosed.
Wolverhampton Council director of public health, John Denley, said they were doing all they can to stop the spread of the virus.
He also reiterated government guidance on hygiene.
He said: "I’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and the local authority is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Wolverhampton are protected.
“Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue."
Mr Denley also warned people who suspect they have the virus, not to go to hospital or their doctor, and to use the NHS 111 line instead.
He said: "If you have recently been to one of the affected areas and are feeling unwell, you should use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS 111 for further advice straight away – please don’t go to your doctor or a hospital.
Urgent meeting over coronavirus
Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency meeting of senior ministers to discuss the country's response to the coronavirus crisis following the UK's third death linked to the illness.
Mr Johnson told the meeting of the Government's Cobra committee today that tackling the outbreak will require a "national and international effort".
"I am confident the British people are ready to play their part in that," he said.
The committee will assess whether the UK should officially move from the "contain" to the "delay" phase of the Government's battle plan to deal with coronavirus.
Such a step would require agreement from chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
The high level discussions come as:
Supermarkets placed restrictions on items including pasta, anti-bacterial wipes and hand soap in a bid to prevent shoppers from stockpiling, amid reports of people panic-buying in shops.
The Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was "working intensively" with US authorities on arranging a flight for British nationals on the coronavirus-hit Grand Princess cruise ship due to arrive in Oakland, California, on Monday.
British tourists were warned to avoid all but essential travel to a swathe of northern Italy under a coronavirus quarantine, including the popular destinations of Milan and Venice.
Travellers returning from the lockdown areas in northern Italy were advised to self-isolate if they have returned to the UK in the last 14 days, even if have they have no coronavirus symptoms.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport prepared to host a meeting with governing bodies and broadcasters on Monday to discuss how to handle the Covid-19 outbreak's potential impact on the sporting calendar.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said expert teams had been brought together to tackle the potential spread of "misinformation and digital interference" around coronavirus.
Elsewhere Environment Secretary George Eustice will hold further talks with retailers on how to support vulnerable groups who may have to self-isolate.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will also chair a meeting of the House of Commons Commission to discuss Parliament's response .
