Brits face MONTHS of coronavirus chaos with sports events, concerts and schools all facing lockdown, warns medical chief
BRITS are facing months of coronavirus chaos with sporting events, gigs and schools on lockdown to stop the spread of the killer bug.
Chief Medical Officer for England Prof Chris Whitty has said the UK will have to consider axing mass gatherings if the “virus intensifies”.
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An emergency shutdown could mean this summer’s Euros tournament, Premier League games, the FA Cup Final, Grand National and Glastonbury are all under threat.
Even the famous April London Marathon could be called off as organisers say said they are “monitoring” the situation.
More than 40,000 runners take part each year with thousands lining the streets of the capital to cheer them on – but large public gatherings could soon be banned to stem the spread.
If the UK struggles to stop the infection gripping the country gigs and plays could too be postponed, in emergency plans being drawn up.
It comes as:
- Three more people tested positive for coronavirus in the UK
- England’s health chief says it’s “just a matter of time” before coronavirus spreads rapidly
- Brits are told they can protect themselves simply by washing their hands
- Holidays to northern Italy could be ruined as flights are cancelled and travel is advised against
- Thirty five schools across the UK are on lockdown amid pandemic fears
The country could even follow Japan’s extreme measure of closing all schools for a month or longer. This could see millions of parents forced to stay at home to look after their kids.
It comes as Ireland’s Six Nations rugby clash against Italy has been postponed as the killer bug continues to disrupt global events – with fears the chaos will continue.
The game was scheduled to take place in Dublin on March 7 with thousands of Italian supporters, many from the regions most affected by the outbreak, expected to make the trip.
Prof Whitty warned: “We are not saying we will do them, but we have to look at all of them.
“One of the things that’s really clear with this virus, much more so than flu, is that anything we do we’re going to have to do for quite a long period of time, probably more than two months.
“The implications of that are non-trivial, so we need to think that through carefully.
“This is something we face as really quite a serious problem for society potentially if this goes out of control. It may not but if it does globally then we may have to face that.”
Coronavirus panic buying is being reported in stores and supermarkets across the world as more than 82,000 people become infected, raising the spectre that the world is on the brink of a lethal pandemic.
Some worried Brits are even setting up “isolation” rooms at home in case coronavirus shuts down communities.
Boots, Superdrug and Waitrose also sold out of antibacterial hand gel as panicked people bought up supplies to fight the bug.
Coronavirus has already caused 15 schools to shut this week – with a further 25 turning away pupils and teachers.
And doomsday planning could see an overwhelmed NHS call on a “Three Wise Men” protocol — where three senior doctors choose who gets precious beds and treatment.
The “wise men” protocol was developed by the NHS Committee on Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza “to minimise the harm the pandemic causes”.
The Government has repeatedly asserted the NHS was well able to deal with mass infection.
But the emergency response might mean hospital bosses deny older and weaker patients treatment in favour of those with best chance of recovering.
SCHOOLS CLOSED
Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbys, closed its doors yesterday after a parent returned infected with coronavirus from a Tenerife hotel where 160 Brits are quarantined.
The town is now in lockdown with a GP surgery also closed as Public Health England continues to urge those who fear they have come into contact with the disease to self-isolate.
The Brit returning from Tenerife is one of three new patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in the UK yesterday – bringing the total to 16.
The second new case travelled back to Britain from northern Italy, which has been rocked by the deadly bug with the grim death toll rising to 12.
Northern Ireland has now experienced its first confirmed case after a patient also returned from the virus-riddled area.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director at London Marathon Events said: “We, along with the rest of the world, are monitoring closely the developments relating to the spread of coronavirus and noting the updates and advice given by the UK Government, the World Health Organisation and other public bodies.
“With two months to go before the event on Sunday 26 April, we will continue to monitor the situation.”
Prof Whitty has admitted if the spread becomes a global pandemic, there is little the UK would be able to do to stop it.
He also said the height of an outbreak would be “quite tricky” for the NHS with health bosses forced to cancel non-urgent ops.
DEADLY SPREAD: Coronavirus cases in the UK
ANOTHER two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK – barely a month since the deadly bug first reached our shores.
The first cases were diagnosed on January 31 when a student and relative were tested positive in York.
The victims were quarantined in Newcastle as UK authorities vowed they would control the virus’ spread.
However, by February 6 another patient was diagnosed with coronavirus.
The Brit – businessman Steve Walsh – contracted the bug in Singapore before travelling to the French Alps for a holiday before returning to his home in Hove, East Sussex.
He became known as a superspreader by unwittingly infecting a number of other Brits in France with him.
Mr Walsh, who since recovered, then infected another five people who were treated in the UK.
By February, another patient was taken to Guy’s and St Thomas’ after contracting coronavirus in China – bringing the total to nine.
Another four cases were recorded just a week later after being flown back to the UK from the plague cruise ship, the Diamond Princess.
The group had been quarantined in Arrowe Park but were quickly moved to a treatment centre.
And yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty confirmed another two patients had tested positive.
The virus was passed on in Italy and Tenerife and the patients have been transferred to specialist NHS infection centres in Royal Liverpool Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital, London.
Coronavirus chaos has seen workers being sent home across the country and travel bans put in place to help stop the spread of the virus.
US oil company Chevron yesterday told 300 staff at its Canary Wharf office to work from home for the foreseeable future after an employee reported flu-like symptoms.
Across London, commuters have taken to wearing protective facemasks on the Underground.
Thousands of us face mass coronavirus testing at GP surgeries as officials prepare for a worst-case scenario that could see 500,000 die.
Ministers are now considering the assumption that more than 50million people in the UK could catch the killer bug.
Public Health England now plans to test thousands of patients with flu-like symptoms via 11 hospitals and 100 GP practices to see if the virus has spread into the population.
It was reported that anyone suffering from a severe chest infection at eight NHS hospitals will now be automatically tested for coronavirus – even if they haven’t been at an at-risk country.
The global death toll for virus, otherwise known as COVID-19, has now reached more than 2,800 while the number of cases worldwide sits at more than 82,000.
