The hunt is on for anyone who spent more than 15 minutes with a businessman who became the first Briton and third person in the UK to test positive for coronavirus.
The man, who returned from Singapore by plane last week, took himself to A&E at the Royal Sussex in Brighton on Sunday night after suffering from flu-like symptoms.
The businessman, who has still not been identified, was then rushed 55 miles to a specialist infectious diseases unit at Guy’s Hospital in London on Thursday morning.
Officials repeatedly refused to give away any more details about the man, who is thought to be in his 40s or 50s, and now officials are rushing to track down anyone who has come into close contact.
The Government has been slammed for its ‘weak’ response to the crisis after it failed to ban travellers from coronavirus-hit China, despite 16 countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia having done so.
Almost 640 people have died from the virus, which can be spread through coughs, sneezes and touching contaminated surfaces and there have been more than 31,000 cases in 28 countries worldwide.
The hunt is on for anyone who interacted with a businessman who became the first Briton and third person in the UK to test positive for coronavirus
The man, who returned from Singapore by plane last week, took himself to A&E at the Royal Sussex in Brighton on Sunday night after suffering from flu-like symptoms
The businessman, who is believed to be in his 40s or 50s, will now remain quarantined in London for at least two weeks.
He was diagnosed after a Chinese student from the University of York, along with his mother, were confirmed to have the virus last week.
They have been quarantined at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Given the fact that the businessman arrived in the UK by plane and will have interacted with other passengers, the search for people who came into contact with him is likely to be more complex than for the Chinese pair.
His case comes a week after a Chinese student at the University of York, along with his mother, tested positive for coronavirus. They have been quarantined at the Royal Infirmary in Newcastle
Saudi Arabia yesterday became the 16th nation to ban travellers from coronavirus-hit China from entering the country
The latest case raises fears the virus is now circulating in higher numbers than previously thought outside of China.
Downing Street issued updated travel advice on Friday night warning Britons flying back from nine countries to phone NHS 111 if they feel even slightly unwell.
Passengers who have arrived from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau, should isolate themselves if they feel unwell.
But there is mounting pressure on ministers to ban all travellers from coronavirus-hit China after 16 countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia took the firm action.
Almost 640 people have died from the virus, which can be spread through coughs, sneezes and touching contaminated surfaces
The Government’s new advice added that the nine countries had been ‘identified because of the volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes and number of reported cases.’
Furious Brits have today told the Government that ‘serious guidance is needed’. Jon Noble asked on Twitter: ‘Is it time to start wearing face masks in the UK?’
Debby Brooker said: ‘Why is this country being so weak about letting people in this country travelling from Asia? 16 other countries have banned this!’
And discussing other countries banning travellers from China, Ralph Roberts asked: ‘What is Matt Hancock waiting for?’
Furious Brits have today told the Government that ‘serious guidance is needed’. Jon Noble asked on Twitter: ‘Is it time to start wearing face masks in the UK?’
Debby Brooker said: ‘Why is this country being so weak about letting people in this country travelling from Asia? 16 other countries have banned this!’
And discussing other countries banning travellers from China, Ralph Roberts asked: ‘What is Matt Hancock waiting for?’
Yesterday, China’s ambassador to the UK criticised the Foreign Office’s advice for all 30,000 of its citizens in mainland China to come home, urging the Government to take ‘professional advice’ from the World Health Organization.
At a press conference, Liu Xiaoming said: ‘[There] should be no panic, no overreaction. We advise the British side to take professional advice of WHO.
‘They told us they will follow WHO’s advice. It seems to me the words do not match with the deeds.
‘Life is still normal in most parts of China so I do say again in private and public I hope the British Government and public take an objective, cool-headed view of what is going on. We should support each other rather than weaken the other’s efforts.’
Downing Street has been slammed for its ‘passive’ response to the outbreak, with officials torn apart for being days behind other nations in launching a mission to evacuate British expats stuck in the epicentre of Wuhan.
Meanwhile thousands of travellers from the disease-stricken country have been pouring into Britain every day without being properly tested for the infection, prompting calls for a similar blanket ban.
Health workers wearing protective suits carry bags to an ambulance near the cruise ship Diamond Princess today, which is anchored and being held in quarantine near Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama
A team of health workers in hazmat suits on the shore in Yokohama today where Japanese authorities said the tally of coronavirus patients on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship had risen to 61
Experts have warned the UK to brace for more cases after footage emerged of paramedics in hazmat suits swooping on a house in York.
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, told a press conference yesterday the patient caught the virus somewhere in Asia but ‘not in mainland China’.
He said the Government was now advising people who have travelled to a number of Asian countries and returned to the UK with symptoms to immediately self-isolate and call NHS 111 for advice.