Jon Snow coronavirus scare: Channel 4 journalist, 72, is in quarantine after travelling to Iran to cover their election after 16 people died in growing outbreak there
- He is following Department for Health guidelines, according to Channel 4 News
- Snow does not have symptoms of the virus and did not visit the worst-hit areas
- Snow’s producer and cameraman are also self-isolating after the trip to Iran
Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow has announced he is self-isolating after travelling to Iran, which is firefighting one of the largest coronavirus crises outside China.
The broadcaster will remain in quarantine for the next two weeks after visiting the country to cover its election.
Snow said that he does not have any symptoms of the virus and was not near the epicentre of the outbreak, which has infected 95 and killed 16.
He told Channel 4 News via a videolink from his home: ‘I woke up this morning feeling rather tired, but that was from the trip.
‘But we weren’t actually anywhere near where the main virus outbreak has occurred.’
The broadcaster, who spoke to Channel 4 tonight via videolink, will remain in quarantine for the next two weeks after visiting the country to cover its election
Workers in hazmat suits disinfect subway trains against coronavirus in Tehran, Iran
He said that he is ‘not really supposed to congregate with any crowds or go anywhere where there may be people’, adding: ‘So that means I’m sitting at home.
‘To be honest, the absolute enormity of the prospect of 14 days hasn’t really hit me.’
He added: ‘Maybe if you call me again in 14 days you will have a headcase on your hands.’
Snow, his producer and cameraman are all self-isolating in accordance with government guidance.
People who have returned from Iran, 11 towns in northern Italy, areas of South Korea and Hubei province, China, since February 19 are all advised to ‘call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms,’ according to the Department of Health.
‘None of the team are currently showing any symptoms of Covid-19 but the official advice is to self-isolate regardless,’ Channel 4 News tweeted.
The Foreign Office tonight updated its travel advice to Iran and urges Britons to steer clear unless absolutely necessary.
Snow said that he does not have any symptoms of the virus and was not near the epicentre of the outbreak, which has infected 95 and killed 16
Channel 4 said Snow was following Department of Health guidance
Iraj Harirchi, Iran’s deputy health minister, has been diagnosed with coronavirus just a day after he appeared at a press conference sweating profusely while insisting the country had its outbreak under control
The head of Iran’s virus task force today tested positive for the infection just a day after he gave a press conference playing down the risk posed by the country’s outbreak.
Only China, South Korea, Italy and Japan have a greater volume of infections than Iran – but dozens of countries are now scrambling to get a grip of their outbreaks.
Ministers in Rome have locked down 11 towns in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, which have been slapped with travel bans and had public events axed.
The drastic action as Italy suffered its eleventh death and the number of cases jumped to 322.
Police checkpoints have been enforced to prevent the virus spilling across Italian soil, but cases have already sprouted up in the south.
The UK Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the worst-hit regions.