Coronavirus news – live: Epidemic in Britain 'more likely than not' as first UK patient dies and outbreak enters new phase
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The first UK death related to the coronavirus has been confirmed at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading following the passing of an elderly woman with underlying health issues.
The announcement came after MPs grilled England’s top doctor on how well prepared the UK is to deal with the impact of a looming epidemic after the biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases in the country.
The number of confirmed cases rose by 30 to 115 on Thursday, with England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warning a Covid-19 epidemic in the UK is looking “likely”.
Meanwhile the fast-spreading virus has now reached some 80 nations, with over 95,300 global cases reported and more than 3,200 deaths, according to Reuters.
The death toll within China, where the virus originated, has passed 3,000. Italy closed all schools and banned fans from sporting events due to the outbreak in the country, which is the worst in Europe.
The US death rose to 11 and California declared a state of emergency after the first death in the state.
Follow the latest updates
Japanese company developing vaccine
Japanese biopharmaceutical firm Anges inc has said it would join with Osaka University to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
Shares of Anges were up more than 12 per cent after the announcement.
Netherlands infections more than double
The number of patients infected with the coronavirus in the Netherlands has more than doubled to 82, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said.
The number of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands increased from 38 yesterday.
The US Senate passed an $8.3 billion measure Thursday to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerating the government's response to the virus.
The money would pay for a multifaceted attack on a virus that is spreading more widely every day, sending financial markets spiraling again Thursday, disrupting travel and potentially threatening the US economy's decade-long expansion.
Thursday's sweeping 96-1 vote sends the bill to the White House for President Donald Trump's signature. Senator Rand Paul, who proposed an amendment which found the money from cuts to cultural exchange programs and international development projects, cast the sole "no" vote.
Second person contracts virus at Tenerife hotel
The ministry of health for the canary islands has confirmed a new case of coronavirus at a Tenerife hotel where holidaymakers have remained in quarantine.
It comes two days after a British woman staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace tested positive for the virus. In a statement the ministry said the illness had been contracted from someone who is currently hospitalised.
Doctors and nurses told they can break rules during outbreak
Doctors, nurses and other clinical staff will be allowed to break normal rules on patient treatment during the coronavirus outbreak, professional regulators have said.
This would cover actions taken by doctors and nurses that are outside of normal procedures and include coping with a lack of staff, testing patients in car parks, and taking decisions to delay patients who would normally be admitted from coming into hospital.
Here is Shaun Lintern with more
Doctors and nurses told they can break rules during coronavirus outbreak
‘We recognise that in highly challenging circumstances, professionals may need to depart from established procedures in order to care for patients,’ regulators sayFrench death toll rises to seven as Macron warns epidemic 'inevitable'
Three more people have died from coronavirus infection in France, taking the total to seven, while the number of confirmed infections rose by 138 to 423, a health official said.
A total of 23 people are in a very serious condition, health agency director Jerome Salomon said at a daily briefing about the virus.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video on the Elysee palace website that it now appeared to be "inevitable" the coronavirus outbreak will develop into an epidemic in France.
The government has also extended advice to people returning from Italy, including all of Italy in the advice to self-isolate if they have symptoms.
Previously only people who had been north of Florence and Pisa were affected by this advice.
The Chief Medical Officer said it was now "almost certain" the government would move to the next phase of trying to delay the virus to try and alleviate pressure on the NHS.
Epidemic 'more likely than not' in UK
Here's the latest from our health correspondent Shaun Lintern, who is at a press conference being held by the UK's top medical officials:
The chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has said it was now "more likely than not" that the UK would see an epidemic of coronavirus and set out significant changes in the way the government is planning to fight the disease.
Patients who test positive for coronavirus and who have only mild symptoms will no longer be treated in hospitals but are instead being asked to stay at home.
Currently of the 115 positive cases 45 patients have been told to stay at home and self-isolate
Prof Whitty said the government was now also pressing ahead with planning for the delay phase of the virus although he stressed the decision to abandon efforts to contain the virus had not yet been taken.
"We are signalling the direction of travel. The planning is now going at full tilt for the delay stage.", he said.
France reports two more coronavirus deaths
French authorities reported two more deaths linked to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, taking the total of deaths to six.
Authorities said in a statement France has also registered 92 new confirmed coronavirus cases, taking the total toll of cases to 377.
Berkshire NHS Trust has confirmed the first death of a patient in the UK who had contracted the virus.
The deceased, described as an older patient with underlying health conditions, is understood to have tested positive for the virus last night.
More below:
First person dies after testing positive for coronavirus in UK
The first UK death related to the coronavirus has been confirmed in Berkshire. The deceased, described as an older patient with underlying health conditions, is understood to have tested positive for the virus last night.The nation's Civil Protection Agency said recovery numbers had also jumped, up to 414 from 276 the previous day.
Germany reports 109 new cases
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany jumped by 109 within a day, a public health institute said.
There were 349 cases spread across all but one federal state, compared with 262 yesterday afternoon, the Robert Koch Institute said.
The hardest-hit state is the western region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous, with 175 cases.
Johnson spokesman - virus will spread in significant way
Prime minister Boris Johnson was briefed on the updated infection numbers by the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser following a meeting of the Scientific Adviser's Group for Emergencies (SAGE), with the government planning how to delay the spread of the virus in the future.
Mr Johnson's official spokesman said: "We will continue to try to contain this virus. However, it is now highly likely that the virus is going to spread in a significant way.
"Officials will therefore accelerate work on preparations for the 'delay' phase of the government's plan, focusing on steps we can take to seek to delay the spread of the virus.
"This will include detailed work on the optimum time to introduce further measures."
Nearly 300 million students deprived of schooling by coronavirus
Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home as authorities closed schools in more than a dozen countries in an attempt to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, Unesco said.
Italy shut all schools and universities on Thursday until at least 15 March and encouraged online teaching as it tried to slow the rate of contamination in Europe's worst hit country.
"The global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education," said Audrey Azoulay, director-general of Paris-based Unesco.
In a sign of how quickly the virus has spread, China, where the coronavirus outbreak originated, was two weeks ago the only country where school closures were mandated.
Another nine countries has implemented localised school closures, the UN agency said. If those countries also ordered nationwide closures, an additional 180 million students would be temporarily prevented from attending school.
UK coronavirus cases jump to 115
The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has increased to 115.Staffordshire records two cases
Health chiefs in Staffordshire have confirmed the county's first two cases of Covid-19.
Katie Spence, from Public Health England West Midlands, said: "Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with two confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Staffordshire.
"We're working closely with local NHS colleagues as well as Staffordshire County Council to manage the situation and help reduce the risk of further cases.
"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."
HSBC evacuates floor of London office after employee tests positive
HSBC has evacuated a floor of its headquarters in London after an employee tested positive for coronavirus, Zoe Tidman reports.
HSBC London office evacuates floor after employee tests positive for coronavirus
Staff member has self-isolated, bank saysBirmingham confirms first case
Birmingham City Council has confirmed the city's first case of coronavirus.
In a tweet, it said: "The first coronavirus case in Birmingham has been confirmed.
"The individual tested positive for Covid-19 and is receiving treatment.
"The Council and our NHS partners are fully prepared to manage the virus as well as help reduce the risk of further cases."
Delay on latest UK coronavirus figures continues
The release of the latest coronavirus figures remains delayed, with the Department of Health saying they will be published "later this afternoon".
The daily update was expected at 2pm.
"We are working hard to provide you with the latest information and will tweet this out as soon as possible," the department tweeted.
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