#14,839
Yesterday, England's Chief Medical Officer announced the UK's 4th novel coronavirus case - involving one of the family members who attended a family vacation late last month at a French ski resort, where 5 other family members have fallen ill (see France MOH: British Family of 5 Positive For Coronavirus - 1 ex Singapore).
All of these cases appear to be linked to the Singapore Hyatt cluster, which has resulted in cases being exported to South Korea, Malaysia, France, and the UK.
Overnight, England's CMO has announced 4 more cases, all epidemiologically linked to the cluster in France, which in turn was traced back to a business conference in Singapore.
Chief Medical Officer for England announces four further coronavirus cases
Professor Chris Whitty announces four further cases of coronavirus
Published 10 February 2020
Four further patients in England have tested positive for novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to eight.
The new cases are all known contacts of a previously confirmed UK case, and the virus was passed on in France.
Experts at Public Health England continue to work hard tracing patient contacts from the UK cases. They successfully identified these individuals and ensured the appropriate support was provided.
The patients have been transferred to specialist NHS centres at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and The Royal Free hospitals, and we are now using robust infection control measures to prevent further spread of the virus. The NHS is extremely well prepared to manage these cases and treat them, and we are working quickly to identify any further contacts these patients have had. For the latest advice visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
The number of cases, and countries, linked to this one business conference in Singapore - held nearly 3 weeks ago - continues to expand, illustrating how effectively the virus can spread via long chains of infection.
As with Hong Kong's family banquet cluster, it can take two weeks or longer before clustering and/or community spread becomes apparent.In a move not unlike the United State's declaration of a Public Health Emergency 11 days ago - the UK has declared the coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health -which gives the government additional powers to deal with a potential epidemic.
Secretary of State makes new regulations on Coronavirus
New regulations made by Secretary of State to delay or prevent further transmission of the virus.
Published 10 February 2020
In light of the recent public health emergency from the novel Coronavirus originating from Wuhan, Secretary of State has made regulations to ensure that the public are protected as far as possible from the transmission of the virus.
In accordance with Regulation 3, the Secretary of State declares that the incidence or transmission of novel Coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health, and the measures outlined in these regulations are considered as an effective means of delaying or preventing further transmission of the virus.
In accordance with Regulation 2, the Secretary of State designates Arrowe Park Hospital and Kents Hill Park as an “isolation” facility and Wuhan and Hubei province as an “infected area”.
We learn a little bit more about this virus - and the threat it poses - with every day that passes.
That said, there is still much we don't know about this novel coronavirus, and its potential impact. Conflicting information about the actual number infected, its severity and CFR (Case Fatality Rate), and its basic reproduction number (R0) appear almost every day.
Which means that some of what we think we know is likely wrong. And we may find outliers, or exceptions to the rule, to many things that are `mostly true'.With every epidemic, the `official numbers' always seriously under represent reality. Between the `fog of war', the limits of surveillance and testing, mild or asymptomatic cases, and yes - governments desperately trying to control the message - we often get a distorted view of what is really happening on the ground.
A hundred years after the great pandemic of 1918, many of these same `facts' are still debated.The bottom line is, we'll have to learn to deal with whatever comes. And despite everything we think we know, we need to be prepared for some surprises along the way.
