Thousands of Britons are facing coronavirus screening amid fears the number of confirmed infections on UK soil are soon to spiral.
Public Health England announced that patients suffering flu-like symptoms will now be tested for the infection at around 100 primary care sites, such as GP surgeries.
Detection efforts have been ratcheted up to prevent an outbreak on the scale of Italy, where 11 people have died and 322 diagnosed in Europe’s first major crisis.
The sudden sprouting up of cases on the continent has fanned panic there could be more cases in Britain than previously thought.
It came as reports revealed a government ‘worst-case’ planning memo predicts 80 per cent of Britons – more than 50 million people – could contract the disease, of which 500,000 would die.
Two British schools have closed and a dozen more have told pupils and staff to go into self-isolation amid coronavirus scares after half-term skiing trips to northern Italy.
Cransley School in Northwich, Cheshire, and Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough have shut so they can be deep cleaned.
Pupils and staff at schools in Cornwall, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Berkshire, Pembrokeshire, Liverpool, London and Northern Ireland were today sent home to quarantine themselves.
Explaining the drastic new measures to screen more flu sufferers, PHE medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said: ‘We have taken a belt-and-braces approach throughout this outbreak.
‘There is no change in risk for the public but taking this preparatory step now will enable us to better detect and contain the spread of the virus.
‘The UK’s infection control procedures are world-leading, and the system we are announcing today further strengthens our response.’
It comes as the Government advised all Britons who have come from northern Italy to self-isolate at home if they start to suffer flu-like symptoms.
People coming from the hardest-hit areas have been told to stay home even if they feel well, and some schools have expanded their precautions to tell all pupils who have been on the Italy trips not to come to class.
The planning memo, seen by The Sun, says 2-3 per cent of infected Britons, mostly people already elderly or infirm, could die from coronavirus in coming months.
The dramatic escalation in policy comes as the global number of cases of COVID-19 jumped above 80,000, with more than 2,700 now dead.
The mounting coronavirus fears come after a dozen schools in Brighton told parents about suspected patients after a spate of cases earlier this month.
Haverfordwest High School in Pembrokeshire today sent three pupils home after they felt unwell following a ski trip to Modena, Italy, during half-term, the Milford Mercury reported.
The trip did not visit an affected area so the rest of the school continued as normal.
Students at Truro’s Penair School turned up for classes this morning but were sent home following their excursion to Ponte di Legno in Lombardy.
It is unclear how many children from from Penair School were sent home from school after the five-day ski trip over the half-term.
In a statement posted on Facebook to quash fears, the school told parents: ‘Please be assured this is a precautionary measure.’
It added: ‘We are required to send all children and staff home who attended the ski trip, to self-quarantine for 14 days.’
Pictures posted on the school’s Instagram page suggest around 40 children went on the trip, between February 17-22.
James Davidson, headteacher of the school, announced a change in policy this afternoon. He said: ‘They (health chiefs) have now updated their advice and confirmed that the children and staff can return to school.
‘They have stated if students or staff develop any symptoms relating to the coronavirus they should isolate immediately and call 111. If they have no symptoms they do not need not isolate and can return to school.’
Three pupils from another school in Britain were also told to quarantine themselves after returning from a ski trip to Bormio, which is also in Lombardy.
END
Be the first to comment