PM: Coronavirus is ‘worst public health crisis in a generation’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new advice on combating coronavirus

Warning that the country was facing “the worst public health crisis for a generation”, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said families would continue to "lose loved ones before their time".

Announcing new advice as part of the delay phase, the government said anyone with mild symptoms of coronavirus - a new and persistent cough or a raised temperature - should self-isolate at home for seven days.

Those experiencing symptoms should use the NHS website to get advice rather than calling the 111 helpline, unless their condition deteriorates.

International school trips should be cancelled, and anyone over 70 or with an underlying health condition is being advised not go on cruises.

However, schools and universities should not close down, and large public gatherings such as sports events are not being banned, with the government’s top advisers saying tougher measures would not be effective until the peak of the epidemic - which may not arrive for another 14 weeks.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said the government would no longer be seeking to test everyone suspected of having coronavirus, or those arriving from affected countries. Tests will instead be targeted at hospital patients.

"We've all got to be clear, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation," the Prime Minister.

"Some people compare it to seasonal flu, alas that is not right. Due to the lack of immunity this disease is more dangerous.

"It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time."

Mr Johnson warned that there would be “severe disruption across our country for many months,” and said the Covid-19 advice is likely to be expanded in the coming weeks.

"At some point in the next few weeks we are likely to go further and if someone in a household has those symptoms then we will be asking everyone in that household will stay at home," he said.

That measure is not being advised yet the PM said, but he added: "I want to signal now that this is coming down the track."

Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the UK was likely to have between 5,000 and 10,000 coronavirus cases.

"Currently we are on a trajectory that looks as though it is about four weeks or so behind Italy and some other countries in Europe," he said.

"There are currently 590 cases that have been identified in the UK and there are more than 20 patients in intensive care units.

"If you calculate what that really means in terms of the total number, it is much more likely that we have between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected at the moment.

"That is still a relatively small number."

The PM said the banning of major events such as sporting fixtures is being considered to alleviate the strain on public services.

"We are considering the question of banning major public events such as sporting fixtures," he said.

"And the scientific advice, as we've said over the last couple of weeks, is that banning such events will have little effect on the spread but there's also the issue of the burden that such events can place on public services."