CORONAVIRUS – latest updates

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In less than a couple of months, the human race started a global war against something million times smaller than us. The new strain of Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, in China, and has spread through 24 countries worldwide.

The situation at the moment counts 40,554 confirmed cases globally, with 909 deaths in China only and one death in the Philippines, according to the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile in the UK, the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus has doubled from four to eight. All four have been diagnosed with the virus in Brighton and then transferred to London, where they are receiving special medical care.

Five of the eight UK cases appear to be linked to a British business man who was diagnosed with Coronavirus on February 6th in Brighton.

Steve Walsh is believed to be the “superspreader” who infected 11 people after contracting the virus in Singapore.

The 53-year-old said he has fully recovered but is now in quarantine at St Thomas’ Hospital in London and his family has been isolated too.

“I would like to thank the NHS for their help and care”, said Mr Walsh. “Whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus.

“As soon as I knew I had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus I contacted my GP, NHS 111 and Public Health England,” he explained.

The British government has declared coronavirus a “serious and imminent threat to public health” and has announced new legal powers to forcibly quarantine people with the virus.

The decision seems to have been made after a Briton who repatriated from Wuhan, in China, attempted to leave isolation at Arrowe Park Hospital, Birkenhead on the Wirral.

“I’m sure we can expect to see some more cases”,  Public Health England’s emeritus medical director Paul Cosford told Sky News, “Our hope is by the intensive action we’re taking at the moment, that we can avoid any further spread from these cases.”

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