Two coronavirus cases confirmed in UK

Two people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, the Chief Medical Officer for England has announced.

They are both members of the same family and are receiving specialist NHS care. No more details are being released about their identity or where they are being treated.

At least 213 people in the China have died from the virus, mostly in Hubei, with almost 10,000 cases nationally. There have been 98 cases of the virus in another 18 countries.

Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England said: "The NHS is extremely well-prepared and used to managing infections and we are already working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients had, to prevent further spread. "We have been preparing for UK cases of novel coronavirus and we have robust infection control measures in place to respond immediately," he added.

Prof Whitty said the UK was working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community as the outbreak in China develops "to ensure we are ready for all eventualities".

The new coronavirus was declared a global emergency yesterday by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China.

"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries," said WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems.

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Source: BBC News, 31 January 2020