Coronavirus – Hunt for anyone who has been in SIX FEET of UK patients for 15 mins as NHS issue advice to stop spread
THE hunt is on to find anyone who has been within six feet of the two UK coronavirus patients for 15 minutes.
The NHS has issued urgent advice to stop the spread of the deadly bug across the country.
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Authorities are desperately trying to stop more positive cases after two people in York were struck down last week, with a huge ad campaign launched to stem the spread.
One was revealed to be a student as city's university called for calm amid "anxiety" on campus.
Yesterday the Department of Health confirmed they still need to check more than 400 people who arrived on direct flights from Wuhan earlier this month.
More than 150 of the 1,466 people have already left the UK, while 760 are now outside of the bug's two-week incubation period.
As the university reassured worried students the infected person didn't go to the Chinese New Year celebrations or graduation ceremonies on campus, one expert called on health bosses to share information about any future cases sooner to prevent fear.
Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said the York location and dates when people might have come into contact with the pair should have been given earlier - so people knew if they were at risk or not.
On Friday it was confirmed the pair - rumoured to be mother and son - fell ill at the Staycity aparthotel in the city centre on Wednesday.
It is thought the student was staying there with their parents, who had flown in from China for last week's graduation ceremony.
STOP THE SPREAD
From today, ads telling people to use tissues when sneezing or coughing and wash their hands regularly will pop up in newspapers, on the radio and on social media.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said UK medics are working "round the clock" to prevent spreading the killer bug.
He added: "Basic hygiene such as washing our hands regularly and using tissues when we cough and sneeze can play an important role in minimising the spread of viruses like this."
As of 2pm, 266 people have been tested in the UK, with two found to be positive.
After the two UK cases were confirmed, a spokesperson for the hotel told the Sun Online: "Often when students’ parents come over to visit they stay in one of our apartments, the family together, which all have kitchens and cooking facilities.”
Dramatic video footage showed hazmat paramedics swooping on the hotel last week, after a man travelling with two others reported feeling unwell.
Today a University of York spokesman said: "Public Health England (PHE) have informed us that one of the two individuals to have tested positive for coronavirus is a student at the University of York.
";We understand this development will cause concern and anxiety among our students, staff, and the wider community.
"PHE has advised us that the risk of infection being passed to others on campus is low. Current information from PHE suggests that the student did not come into contact with anybody on campus whilst they had symptoms, but investigations are ongoing to fully establish this.
"Our immediate concerns are for the affected student and family, along with the health and continued wellbeing of our staff, students and visitors."
The death toll has risen above 300 and the number of confirmed cases of infection increased to 14,380, Chinese authorities said.
The first death of a patient outside of China happened today, with a man struck down by coronavirus in the Philippines announced to have died.
Some of the 83 Britons holed up quarantine in the Wirral shared video footage of their first hours in a locked NHS staff accommodation block following their arrival back in the UK on Friday's evacuation flight.
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A "small number" of UK nationals are set to join them today after travelling from China, but this has not been confirmed by the government.
British Airways has stopped all flights to China, with Qatar Airways following suit today.
A public health emergency has been declared by the World Health Organisation, with anyone travelling from China being quarantined in many countries.
