People who show “even minor” signs of flu will soon be told to self-isolate in an effort to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The UK government’s chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, said the change in advice could happen within the next 10 to 14 days.
Prof Whitty said: “We are now very close to the time, probably within the next 10 to 14 days, when the modelling would imply we should move to a situation where everybody with even minor respiratory tract infections or a fever should be self-isolating for a period of seven days.”
He said: “While it is absolutely critical in managing the spread of this virus that we take the right decisions at the right time based on the latest and the best evidence, so we mustn’t do things which have no or limited medical benefit, nor things which could turn out actually to be counter-productive, there is no hiding from the fact that the coronavirus outbreak will present significant challenges for the UK just as it does in other countries.
“But if we continue to look out for one another, to pull together in a united and national effort, I have no doubt that we can and will rise to that challenge.”
The comments came as Boris Johnson warned the UK will almost certainly move to the delay phase of tackling coronavirus in the coming weeks.
Mr Johnson, outlining the UK Government’s plan in Downing Street this afternoon, said: “I want to stress the following things. First, we are doing everything we can to combat this outbreak based on the latest scientific and medical advice.
“Second, we have a truly brilliant NHS where staff have responded with all the determination, compassion and skill that makes their service so revered across the world and they will continue to have this Government’s full support, my support, in tackling this virus on the front line.
“Third, we will set out further steps in the days and weeks ahead to help people protect themselves, their family and in particularly the elderly and vulnerable.
“Finally, while it is absolutely critical in managing the spread of this virus that we take the right decisions at the right time based on the latest and the best evidence, so we mustn’t do things which have no or limited medical benefit, nor things which could turn out actually to be counter productive, there is no hiding from the fact that the coronavirus outbreak will present significant challenges for the UK just as it does in other countries.
“But if we continue to look out for one another, to pull together in a united and national effort, I have no doubt that we can and will rise to that challenge.”
Pressed on why the Government is not taking more aggressive approaches to prevent the spread of coronavirus including stopping flights from Italy, Mr Johnson said: “It is really vital, as we take these steps to protect ourselves and encourage everybody to protect everybody else, that we do it at the right time.
“It’s not what you do, of course it’s partly what you do, but it’s when you do it.
“As Patrick (Vallance) said, what’s happening in other countries doesn’t necessarily mirror what’s happening here in the UK and that is why we’re following the scientific evidence in the way that we are.”
Sir Patrick Vallance added that “temperature screening in an airport doesn’t really have much effect”.
Questioned on whether it is still meaningful to say the UK is in the containment phase, Mr Johnson said: “As and when we may move into the delay phase it’s obvious that we’re not abandoning contain because clearly we’re going to want to contain as well as delay the outbreak.
“Just because you move from one phase to the other doesn’t mean the ambition of containing the outbreak has been abandoned.”
