The point of no return: Britain on the coronavirus brink as as officials give up stopping the disease and focus on delaying its inevitable onslaught
- Britain is facing a new phase in the coronavirus crisis following a surge in cases
- Ministers are now expected to escalate their response to the virus’ spread
- Focus will be on ‘delaying’ the peak of the epidemic until the spring or summer
Britain is on the brink of a critical new phase in the coronavirus crisis after the biggest surge in cases in one day.
Ministers are now expected to escalate their response which would mean no longer trying to ‘contain’ the disease’s seemingly inevitable spread.
Instead, the focus will be on ‘delaying’ the peak of the epidemic until the spring or summer – in the hope that the consequences for the nation would be far less severe.
Yesterday, the Department of Health announced that 36 new patients had been diagnosed with the disease, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 87.
It came as scientists warned that a new, more aggressive strain of coronavirus had emerged in China.
The growing scale of the outbreak has triggered huge public concern, with signs of panic buying in supermarkets and people travelling on public transport in makeshift masks.
Ministers are now expected to escalate their response which would mean no longer trying to ‘contain’ the disease’s seemingly inevitable spread
The travel industry is also in turmoil and airline Flybe was last night set to collapse following a slump of bookings since the start of the crisis,
This afternoon, the Government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies will discuss moving up from the ‘contain’ phase to the ‘delay’ phase.
Ultimately, the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty will make a final decision, but a Whitehall source said a shift ‘now looks inevitable’.
This would mark a major turning point in the outbreak and could lead to new guidance on social distancing – including a ban on handshaking – as well as the cancellation of some sporting events and other mass gatherings.
In an interview yesterday, Professor Whitty warned the virus was probably already spreading person-to-person in the UK and an epidemic was looking ‘likely’. On another dramatic day:
- Italy took the extraordinary step of closing all schools and universities until next month and prepared to shut down cinemas and theatres after the death toll in the country rose to 107;
- Researchers believe the original strain of the Covid-19 virus has mutated into a more aggressive type after crossing from animals into humans in Wuhan late last year;
- In response to panic buying in shops, it emerged retailers are considering rationing essentials such as toilet paper and anti-bacterial cleaners;
- It also emerged Parliament could be shut for months, with members asked to vote remotely, in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus;
- Boris Johnson spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss an international response to the outbreak;
- Andrew Bailey, who will take over as the new Bank of England governor on March 16, said he had already discussed plans for an emergency lending package for business;
- The producers of the new James Bond film announced that its release was being put back by seven months;
- Ministers said workers would get statutory sick pay from the first day they are off work, not the fourth;
- The Italy vs England Six Nations game was postponed.
If the Government does decide to move from the ‘contain’ to the ‘delay’ phase there will likely be a raft of new measures to slow the spread of the disease.
These could include ‘social distancing’ guidelines such as advising people not to shake hands, hug or kiss and to stand a certain distance away from others. The advice could be even more strict for the over 65s, the group most at risk of catching coronavirus in the first place and then dying from complications.
A passenger wears a surgical face mask as they use the Underground system in London
A Whitehall source said the final decision over whether to switch to a strategy of trying to delay the spread could come as early as today.
Schools are unlikely to be told to close however – despite measures taken by Italy and Japan – as ministers are worried about the impact on the economy, the NHS and pupils’ exams.
The Department of Health is expected to publish separate guidelines for the elderly within the next few days which will explain whether or not they need to avoid public places or even hospitals. Many elderly patients attend frequent outpatient appointments or rely on social care visits, making them very susceptible to becoming infected.
But yesterday’s surge in cases has raised speculation that patients are being treated in ordinary NHS hospitals, rather than in one of four specialised infectious disease units. Until now, anyone with coronavirus had been sent to one of four High Consequence Infectious Disease Centres, Guys and St Thomas’ and The Royal Free hospitals in London as well as The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals and the Newcastle University Hospitals. These have only a limited number of beds and may already be full up.
What is particularly concerning about yesterday’s new cases is that at least three of them caught the virus within the UK, they had not travelled to hotspots in Italy, China or Iran for example.
Professor Whitty said yesterday it was ‘likely’ the disease was being transmitted in the community and being passed from ‘person to person to person.
At this point in time we think it is likely – not definite – that we will move into onward transmission and an epidemic here in the UK’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.