The deadly coronavirus was deemed a ‘moderate risk’ to Britain by top scientists five weeks ago, it has been revealed.
A Public Health England committee met on February 21 to discuss the threat level of COVID-19 in the UK, the Times reported.
Minutes from that meeting show how scientists and Whitehall observers raised ‘no objections’ to the risk level remaining moderate despite rapidly growing global figures.
At the time, representatives from the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) were provided with recent data showing 75,465 cases of the virus confirmed in China alongside 2,236 fatalities.
The deadly coronavirus was deemed a ‘moderate risk’ to Britain by top scientists five weeks ago, it has been revealed (Pictured: People walk through Hyde Park in London on Tuesday)
There had also been small numbers of deaths reported in Iran, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea at the time, with the first death in Italy reported on the day the group met.
But advisers from Nervtag concluded: ‘Current PHE risk assessment of the disease is moderate.
‘The PHE risk assessment to the UK population is also moderate. This is a composite of what is known about transmission and the impact on public health globally and in the UK.’
It comes as a record-breaking 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases were declared in the UK yesterday, which is officially Britain’s darkest day so far in the ever-worsening crisis.
Medical staff wear protective clothing at St Thomas’ Hospital in London as the spread of coronavirus continues
When chairman Peter Horby, from Oxford University, asked if anyone involved though the risk assessment should change, it was said ‘no objections were raised’
The meeting on February 21 took place via teleconference with representatives from PHE and the Department of Health and Social Care.
When chairman Peter Horby, from Oxford University, asked if anyone involved though the risk assessment should change, it was said ‘no objections were raised.’
One scientist, John Edmunds, later emailed to say he disagreed with the ‘moderate’ level but had been unable to voice his concerns at the time due to technical issues.
He said ‘the risk to the UK population should be high, as there is evidence of ongoing transmission in Korea, Japan and Singapore, as well as in China.’
When Nervtag’s coronavirus group first met on January 13, the meeting was told that the official assessment then was that the risk to Britain was ‘very low’.
This risk level was heightened from ‘very low’ to ‘low’ on January 21.
When Nervtag’s coronavirus group first met on January 13, the meeting was told that the official assessment then was that the risk to Britain was ‘very low’
According to the gov.uk website, the risk level has since been raised to ‘high’ though it is unclear when this decision was made.
According to the gov.uk website, the risk level has since been raised to ‘high’ though it is unclear when this decision was made.
On Tuesday, Britain announced another 381 coronavirus deaths and 3,009 cases of the deadly virus.
Some 1,789 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have now died, while the total infection toll has surpassed 25,000 – but the true size of the outbreak remains a mystery because of the UK’s controversial policy to only test patients in hospital.
The number of new deaths recorded today is twice as high as the 180 victims recorded yesterday.
But there was only a 14 per cent jump in daily cases – up from 2,619.
The number of hospital admissions appears to have slowed, going up by a ‘constant amount’ each day, data shows – with around 1,000 new patients a day being treated by the NHS.
One of last night’s victims was only 19 years old and had no underlying conditions that made them more vulnerable to the life-threatening complications of the illness.
MailOnline understands their death was recorded at North Middlesex University Hospital in Enfield, north London.
A 13-year-old London schoolboy was also revealed to have become Britain’s youngest coronavirus victim.