Derbyshire school closes after ‘confirmed coronavirus’ case

A Derbyshire town went into lockdown today as a GP surgery shut, a primary school closed and residents were left too afraid to visit the shops because of a confirmed coronavirus case in a parent who is thought to have travelled to a hotel in Tenerife which has been paralysed by the killer infection.

The unidentified patient is believed to have a child at Burbage Primary School in Buxton, whose headteacher today announced it had shut for a ‘deep clean’ because one of the ‘parent population’ was infected.

It’s thought they stayed at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in Tenerife, where hundreds of holidaymakers – including 160 Britons – are currently being quarantined because of an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

It comes as another man from Derbyshire stuck in the same resort warned none of the Brits trapped in the seafront hotel ‘feel safe’. Others earlier begged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to rescue them in a ‘Wuhan-style’ evacuation. 

Around 50 Britons at the virus-stricken hotel are free to leave the hotel. But it is not clear at this stage if the newly released Brits will choose to leave the island, or if they will be allowed to return to the UK.

The move appears to have caught the Foreign Office off-guard, who just hours earlier insisted there were no plans to bring trapped tourists back to the UK.  

With no way to track the movements of the Brits and no quarantine in place for them coming home, the news has sparked fears the tourists could bring the virus back home and cause an outbreak on home soil. The Foreign Office saying it was ‘urgently’ seeking clarification from authorities on the Canary Island. 

The parent in Buxton was one of two confirmed cases announced today. Department of Health officials have refused to reveal where in Britain either patient is from – even though a GP surgery and two schools have been told one is in the town.

One elderly resident in the spa town, 30miles (48km) south of Manchester, today told MailOnline: ‘I am about to go to the paper shop but whether I should, I don’t know.’ A 25-year-old mother revealed she was scared for her children and admitted it was a ‘very worrying time’.

Other locals are panic buying antibacterial hand gel, with shops like Boots, Superdrug and Waitrose completely sold out. ‘If you see it, buy it, because soon you will not be able to get hold of it,’ said a shop assistant who had been inundated with requests. 

Britain’s second case announced today – who also hasn’t been identified – caught the virus in northern Italy, where an escalating crisis has left Britain and the rest of Europe engulfed with fear over an impending crisis. 

It comes as the first case of coronavirus has been diagnosed in Northern Ireland, it is understood. The adult patient had been in Italy and travelled north from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride confirmed.

More than 82,000 people across the world have caught the virus and 2,800 have died – Antarctica is the only continent yet to record a case. Fifteen cases have been confirmed on British soil but it has yet to spread between humans in the UK. 

Families have even resorted to panic buying nappies, toilet roll, soup, tinned fruit, pet food, medicine, bottled water and wine. Others have set up ‘isolation’ rooms at home.

Further afield, Germany and France today warned of the ‘start of an epidemic’, as Europe scrambles to contain a coronavirus outbreak spreading from Italy across the continent. Denmark, Estonia, Switzerland, Romania, North Macedonia, Greece, Norway and Georgia have all recorded their first cases in the last two days.

Meanwhile the coronavirus crisis has continued to cause ‘carnage’ on the markets, with the London Stock Exchange plummeting 8 per cent in a week to a new 13-month low and shares in Wall Street tanking by 10 per cent compared with their record high over the week.

Market analyst Connor Campbell, from SpreadEx, described it as ‘one of the worst weeks in recent memory’. He added: There was more coronavirus carnage on the markets. Terrifyingly, it’s not over yet. Friday is a tricky proposition.’

Burbage Primary School (pictured today chained up) in Buxton, Derbyshire, told parents and carers about the case last night. However, health chiefs have yet to confirm if it is correct 

Medical staff wearing protective clothing are seen outside a property close to the Buxton primary school involved in the latest case of the coronavirus

Before the case was announced this morning, a Twitter user questioned whether the virus had reached Buxton after positing a video of two ambulances and two response units in convoy with their sirens ringing.

Medical staff wearing protective clothing are seen outside a property close to the Buxton primary school involved in the latest case of the coronavirus. Before the case was announced this morning, a Twitter user questioned whether the virus had reached Buxton after positing a video of two ambulances and two response units in convoy with their sirens ringing

More than 500 cases of the killer coronavirus have now been recorded across Europe, with 453 of them in Italy

More than 500 cases of the killer coronavirus have now been recorded across Europe, with 453 of them in Italy

BRITS AT VIRUS-STRICKEN TENERIFE HOTEL TOLD THEY CAN LEAVE, SPARKING FEARS THEY COULD BRING IT BACK TO THE UK

Around 50 Britons quarantined at a coronavirus-hit Tenerife hotel have been told they can leave.

Those who can leave are understood to have arrived on Monday, after the guests who were diagnosed had already left.

But with no way to track the movements of the Brits and no quarantine in place for them coming home, the news has sparked fears the tourists could bring the virus back home and cause an outbreak on home soil.  

Some 168 British nationals are among hundreds of guests being kept at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace in the south west of the Spanish island after at least four guests, including an Italian doctor, tested positive for coronavirus.

Overall, 130 guests from 11 countries have been told they can leave by Spanish authorities.

A statement from the Foreign Office said: ‘We are urgently seeking clarification from the Canary Island authorities following their announcement that 130 tourists of different nationalities will be granted permission to leave the Costa Adeje Palace Hotel.

‘We continue to offer support to all British nationals at the hotel.’

The news comes after TV doctor Hilary Jones blasted quarantine measures at the hotel.

A British man, who did not wished to be named, told PA the hotel was unable to enforce quarantine measures and nobody felt safe.

Another said an aqua gym class was held on Thursday morning in the hotel pool.

All of those on site were initially told to stay in their rooms but local authorities have now said people without symptoms can move around the hotel, including to the pool and bar. 

Coronavirus fears have now completely gripped the UK, with medics dressed in hazmat suits attending to patients. One person posted a video showing two ambulances and two response units in convoy with their sirens ringing allegedly on their way to the patient in Buxton last night. 

Growing fears have led to businesses sending workers home, sporting events postponed and schools – including Dulwich Prep, one of Britain’s most prestigious private schools – being shut down.

In Buxton’s all-purpose store, Lomas, they sold their last sanitiser this morning. Jodee Brindley, 28, who works behind the counter, said: ‘People have been coming in all day since they saw the stories about coronavirus.

‘People are panicking. We’ve never had this many people asking for it. It’s been ‘have you got any hand gel, have you got any hand gel, have you got any hand gel’ all day. You can tell people are worried.’   

In other developments to the escalating coronavirus crisis:

  • Pope Francis has cancelled a planned Mass in Rome with other clergy after suffering a ‘slight illness’ – it comes a day after he kissed heads and touched faces as he met with crowds in St Peter’s Square
  • The Japanese prime minister ordered the closure of all schools in the country for a month in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus
  • Iran’s vice president and spokeswoman for 1979 hostage-takers, Masoumeh Ebtekar, has caught the deadly infection, state media has revealed
  • A ‘frightened’ British mother trapped in a coronavirus-stricken Tenerife hotel said guests are ignoring strict quarantine rules to contain the killer virus
  • Insurers were slammed by doctors for demanding sick notes for travellers trying to get a refund and cancel trips to countries with coronavirus outbreaks 
  • Staff at Southampton University NHS Trust have been asked to shave their beards to allow masks to fit more securely in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus
  • The head of the World Health Organisation told governments to ‘act aggressively’ to contain the global coronavirus crisis 
  • The London Stock Exchange dropped to a new 13-month low and traders warned that the coronavirus could lead to ‘anaemic global growth’ 

As well as the closure of Burbage Primary School, the Buxton Medical Practice was shut this morning. Patients ringing to book an appointment were told that it was because an infected patient had visited the GP surgery – despite official advice not to.

The confirmed case has panicked residents in the town, home to 20,000 people. Irene Ward, 49, said: ‘It’s a bit close to home. I worry it can spread. If it was at my children’s school I would keep them off. I have an elderly mother and mother-in-law. They don’t have the best health and that is one of the risks.’

Stuart Barker, 74, whose three children attended the school – where he is a former chair of governors, said: ‘It’s the fear of the unknown that is frightening. We have heard about it in China and Japan but it is different when it’s down the road. 

The Buxton Medical Practice was shut this morning, and patients ringing to book an appointment were told that it was because an infected patient had visited the GP surgery – despite official advice not to

The Buxton Medical Practice was shut this morning, and patients ringing to book an appointment were told that it was because an infected patient had visited the GP surgery – despite official advice not to

A note on a window at the Buxton Medical Practice in Buxton reads: 'We have a confirmed case of coronavirus.' It added that the GP surgery was liaising with health officials

A note on a window at the Buxton Medical Practice in Buxton reads: ‘We have a confirmed case of coronavirus.’ It added that the GP surgery was liaising with health officials

A woman looks out of a window at the four-star resort, which has recorded all four of the island's coronavirus cases

A woman looks out of a window at the four-star resort, which has recorded all four of the island’s coronavirus cases

CORONAVIRUS ‘CARNAGE’: STOCKS PLUMMET OVER VIRUS FEARS 

The FTSE 100 index of the UK's biggest listed companies has now fallen more than 7 per cent in the past four days, and fell 2.6 per cent in early trading on Thursday

The FTSE 100 index of the UK’s biggest listed companies has now fallen more than 7 per cent in the past four days, and fell 2.6 per cent in early trading on Thursday

Wall Street stock markets have tanked 2 per cent already today while Europe’s stock markets including in London slumped over three percent, as traders panic as the number of coronavirus cases worldwide exceeded 81,000. 

At midday trading, the S&P 500 index was 10 percent down from last week’s record high, representing the worst week since October 2008. 

Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 index of major British companies shed £62billion at close, tanking over 3 percent to 6,752.68 points and marking a new 13-month low.

It earlier plummeted over 4 percent before last-minute trading late afternoon. 

The past four days, the UK index has shed £152billion in value amid fears of the continued and increased spread of the coronavirus. 

In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 shed 4.3 percent to 5,443.11, and Frankfurt’s DAX 30 slid 4.1 percent to 12,254.94 compared with yesterday’s closing levels.

Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell warned of ‘more coronavirus carnage on the markets’ before noting ‘this is one of the worst weeks in recent memory’.

Mr Campbell added: ‘Terrifyingly, it’s not over yet. Friday is a tricky proposition.’   

The benchmark index has now dropped 8 per cent in four days amid concerns over more turmoil, with traders warning the virus could lead to ‘anaemic global growth’. 

‘I am about to go to he papershop, but whether I should I don’t know. I am washing my hands more regularly and I’ll stay in as much as possible. You hope it wont spread but you don’t know.’

A mother-of-two 25, who has a son at Burbage Primary School, told MailOnline she was frightened. She said: ‘It’s a very worrying time. Obviously they have closed the school and have told us it will be deep cleaned then re-opened on Monday.

‘But we don’t know who the carrier is, no one’s told us who’s got it. I’m scared for my children. They could get it and their immune systems are weaker than adults so I’m just really frightened for their health.

‘I’ve Googled all the advice and we are washing our hands. I have got soap and sanitiser in and I have steamed the kitchen floor. I didn’t expect it to come this quickly.’ 

Buxton Community School, a secondary located less than a mile away from Burbage Primary School, today told parents it had cancelled a year nine options evening ‘in light of a confirmed case in the community’.

He said it seemed like a ‘sensible precaution’, adding: ‘We would normally expect around 400 people to attend the event and under the circumstances it makes sense to avoid bringing so many people together in one space.’   

It was also revealed today that Britons are panic buying nappies, toilet roll, soup, tinned fruit, pet food, medicine, bottled water, wine and even setting up ‘isolation’ rooms at home in case coronavirus shuts down their communities.

Families are stockpiling reserves to ensure their homes are ‘fit for a pandemic’ with some purchasing new chest freezers to fill with food and portable camp toilets to avoid sharing a loo if a relative tests positive for the killer virus. 

A shortage of germ-killing antibacterial gel has seen a spurt in sales of surgical spirit on eBay and Amazon by people desperate to sanitise their hands, with Boots sold out online today. 

On social media one panicked Briton revealed that they have turned one small room in their house into an ‘isolation zone’ equipped with cooking equipment, bedding and food if they have to be in quarantine for a fortnight. 

Professor Ratula Chakraborty, professor of business management at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: ‘The prospect of whole towns being in lockdown and shops closed is heightening the fear and stockpiling may become rife’. 

A man from Derbyshire, who travelled to the H10 Hotel in Tenerife for four nights with his partner admitted today that ‘none of the Brits staying here feel safe’. They were due to fly back on Tuesday but are now being held in quarantine. Spanish officials have said the lockdown will be in place until March 10.

The 60-year-old said: ‘We have been told to stay in our rooms but the hotel has no way of enforcing it. We have a WhatsApp group for all of the Brits and we don’t feel safe.’

He added that the Brits quarantined at the 500-room hotel fear the situation will end up worse than on the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that was docked off the coast of Japan because of an outbreak that struck 700 passengers. 

The unidentified man added: ‘I don’t think confusion would be the right word to describe it – they are just not able to enforce quarantine conditions. People are able to walk around the buildings and some are even going in the pool. People are walking about and interacting with each other and not wearing masks. 

‘They served a buffet-style dinner last night, and people were milling about without masks, touching utensils – the virus is bound to spread. It’s totally crazy. We feel we are just being quarantined until we eventually get it.

A staff member cleans the swimming pool of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, where hundreds of holidaymakers have been quarantined because of a coronavirus outbreak

A staff member cleans the swimming pool of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, where hundreds of holidaymakers have been quarantined because of a coronavirus outbreak

Two tourists wearing face masks are seen next to one who isn't by the pool of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, which is on lockdown after a coronavirus outbreak

Two tourists wearing face masks are seen next to one who isn’t by the pool of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, which is on lockdown after a coronavirus outbreak

Two holidaymakers trapped in the hotel smile and wave for a photographer. Hotel guests will be quarantined until March 10

Two holidaymakers trapped in the hotel smile and wave for a photographer. Hotel guests will be quarantined until March 10

The school's head Anthony Tierney was on site early this morning to deal with concerned parents. He confirmed that the gates would remain closed for the day. Pictured, the message that was sent to parents

The school's head Anthony Tierney was on site early this morning to deal with concerned parents

The school’s head Anthony Tierney was on site early this morning to deal with concerned parents. He confirmed that the gates would remain closed for the day. Pictured, the message that was sent to parents

Video footage today showed paramedics wearing hazmat suits entering a house just hours before the new UK cases of coronavirus were confirmed

Two men in white overalls and breathing masks were recorded walking into a terraced house in Liverpool city centre last night. An ambulance was parked outside

Video footage today showed paramedics wearing hazmat suits entering a house just hours before the new UK cases of coronavirus were confirmed. Two men in white overalls and breathing masks were recorded walking into a terraced house in Liverpool city centre last night. An ambulance was parked outside

Health chiefs revealed one of the patients has been quarantined at the Royal Liverpool Hospital (pictured)

Health chiefs revealed one of the patients has been quarantined at the Royal Liverpool Hospital (pictured)

The other patient was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in north London, one of a handful of specialist infectious disease centres in the UK

The other patient was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in north London, one of a handful of specialist infectious disease centres in the UK

A passenger on the Jubilee line of the London Underground wears a face mask today. Fifteen cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed in the UK

A passenger on the Jubilee line of the London Underground wears a face mask today. Fifteen cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed in the UK

A passenger walks along the platform of the Leicester Square London Underground station while wearing a face mask

A passenger walks along the platform of the Leicester Square London Underground station while wearing a face mask

Four pupils at Thomas's Battersea School, the same one that is attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte, have been sent home after showing coronavirus symptoms following a trip to Italy

Four pupils at Thomas’s Battersea School, the same one that is attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte, have been sent home after showing coronavirus symptoms following a trip to Italy

Pope Francis at Ash Wednesday Mass

Pope Francis at Ash Wednesday Mass

Pope Francis has cancelled an event at the Vatican due to a ‘slight illness’, a day after he was pictured coughing and blowing his nose during Ash Wednesday Mass

Earlier in the day Francis had met with crowds in St Peter's Square where he touched hands and kissed faces, despite warnings over coronavirus

Earlier in the day Francis had met with crowds in St Peter’s Square where he touched hands and kissed faces, despite warnings over coronavirus

PRESTIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOL SHUTS AFTER STUDENT FALLS ILL AFTER TRIP TO VIRUS HOTSPOT

The £19,000-a-year Dulwich Prep in south London has been closed down after 'several' children in different parts of the school became unwell this week after foreign holidays.

The £19,000-a-year Dulwich Prep in south London has been closed down after ‘several’ children in different parts of the school became unwell this week after foreign holidays.

One of Britain’s most prestigious private schools was shut down today after students who visited coronavirus-hit countries over half term fell ill – with the headteacher blaming NHS delays for forcing her hand.

The £19,000-a-year Dulwich Prep in south London has been closed until Monday at the earliest after several children in different parts of the school became unwell this week after foreign holidays. 

Dulwich Prep’s headteacher Louise Davidson told parents today that NHS delays meant the school had to be closed while they wait for the results of coronavirus tests.

Mrs Davidson refused to say the countries they visited on holiday but said: ‘Unrelated pupils from different sections of school have returned after half term having been on holiday. They were healthy when they returned but have since become unwell.

‘The families have contacted NHS 111, self-isolated and are awaiting the results of tests. NHS 111 have been inundated with calls since the half term break and the delay our families have had in accessing medical help has influenced our decision’.

She added: ‘If either of our pupils test positive we will remain closed for a longer period while the school undergoes a full deep clean’.

‘No one seems to be helping, and the consulate aren’t helping us – why can’t they bring us home? We are in a quarantine that is not being followed and it is not safe.’ 

Coronavirus chaos has gripped Britain, with the UK now waking up to the fact the outbreak is an impending crisis and no longer just an issue in Asia as cases in Italy continue to accelerate.

Across the UK, at least a dozen schools have closed over fears of the virus spreading while at least 20 more – including Harrow School today – have sent pupils and teachers home for a fortnight after coming down with colds and coughs after ski trips to coronavirus-hit Italy over half term.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s private school last night became the latest to send pupils home for coronavirus isolation. Four pupils at the Thomas’s Battersea school in southwest London were sent home and are awaiting test results.

The £19,000-a-year Dulwich Prep in south London was the latest to shut its doors, after two students who visited coronavirus-hit countries over half term fell ill – with the headteacher blaming NHS delays for forcing her hand, it was revealed today.

But Public Health England (PHE) said that its general advice is not to close schools – a message echoed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. However, some headteachers have taken evasive action and shut down schools after staff and students came down with ‘mild flu-like symptoms’ after returning from the Alps. 

England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty confirmed the new cases today. He said: ‘Two further patients in England have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of UK cases to 15. 

‘The virus was passed on in Italy and Tenerife and the patients have been transferred to specialist NHS infection centres in Royal Liverpool Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital, London.’  

Health chiefs did not confirm when the patients had returned to the UK, raising fears they may have passed the virus on. Leading scientists have said the new cases ‘are not surprising’.

Before the case was announced this morning, a Twitter user questioned whether the virus had reached Buxton after positing a video of two ambulances and two response units in convoy with their sirens ringing. 

Thousands of British families jetted off to Europe last week for half-term breaks, with northern Italy and Tenerife popular destinations. 

The Sun also reported that one of the patients was the Derbyshire parent and that they had been to the hotel in Tenerife, where guests have complained about the ‘absolutely awful’ situation with parents left without nappies.   

This Tesco shopper picked up packets of microwavable rice, Dettol wipes and cold and flu tablets as people start stockpiling because of the coronavirus crisis

This Tesco shopper picked up packets of microwavable rice, Dettol wipes and cold and flu tablets as people start stockpiling because of the coronavirus crisis

Superdrug and Boots has sold out of hand gel and face masks at their stores

Superdrug and Boots has sold out of hand gel and face masks at their stores

Superdrug and Boots has sold out of hand gel and face masks at their stores with emergency orders on their way

These bare shelves in a Boots pharmacy as panic buying over the UK took hold

These bare shelves in a Boots pharmacy as panic buying over the UK took hold 

Empty playing fields behind the Burbage Primary School in Buxton, which was shut for a deep clean after a parent of a child was confirmed to have the killer coronavirus

Empty playing fields behind the Burbage Primary School in Buxton, which was shut for a deep clean after a parent of a child was confirmed to have the killer coronavirus

A woman wears a face mask on the London Underground today, as fears of the coronavirus outbreak grip Britain

A woman wears a face mask on the London Underground today, as fears of the coronavirus outbreak grip Britain

BRITISH MOTHER TRAPPED IN QUARANTINED TENERIFE HOTEL SAYS GUESTS ARE IGNORING STRICT RULES TO CURB THE SPREAD 

Lara Pennington (pictured), said guests at the Tenerife hotel are flouting quarantine rules and risking spreading the virus

Lara Pennington (pictured), said guests at the Tenerife hotel are flouting quarantine rules and risking spreading the virus 

A ‘frightened’ British mother trapped in a coronavirus-stricken Tenerife hotel said today guests are ignoring quarantine rules and she fears it is likely to become another Diamond Princess cruise ship disaster.

Lara Pennington, who is on holiday with her two young sons and elderly in-laws, said guests at the Costa Adeje Palace Hotel are failing to follow measures to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

‘The Spanish government were advising that if we wanted to we could leave our rooms as long as we were wearing masks and washing hands,’ the 45-year-old, from Manchester, told GMB.

‘It’s clearly apparent there are large numbers who are not following that process. Containment strategy is clearly not working, it was never going to work. It should be an enforced quarantine.’

Mrs Pennington said she has decided to self-isolate her family in the hotel room to ensure they don’t catch the disease, which has already claimed the lives of 2,771 people worldwide.

Mrs Pennington is one of at least 160 Britons holed up in the four-star Costa Adeje Palace Hotel resort after Spanish authorities padlocked its doors when four guests from Italy tested positive yesterday.

She told GMB this morning that her family has still to be tested for the illness and had only been provided with thermometers to check whether they were are infected. She added that guests are ‘frightened’.  

Yesterday, she said guests were still out by the pool, ‘spreading the virus’. She said: ‘I feel there are lessons that should have been learned from the cruise ship [Diamond Princess].’

Frustrated guests said they were desperate to return home amid a chaotic attempt to control COVID-19 from spreading. At least 160 British travellers have been holed up in the four-star resort after Spanish authorities padlocked its doors when four guests from Italy tested positive.

But British guests yesterday voiced their frustration at the ‘absolutely awful’ situation and said they had been given conflicting information about how long the enforced stay would last.

As the Foreign Office began contacting Britons last night telling them they must remain at the hotel until March 10, some complained that staying putt placed them at increased risk.

Mandy Davis, who is on holiday with her husband Roger, said: ‘Nobody knows what the right thing to do is, because nobody’s had this virus before. So please, let’s sort something out, come and rescue us please, Boris. And let’s just get the hell out of here.’   

Video footage today showed paramedics wearing hazmat suits entering a house just hours before the new UK cases of coronavirus were confirmed. Two men in white overalls and breathing masks were recorded walking into a terraced house in Liverpool city centre last night. An ambulance was parked outside.

The two new cases were confirmed after parents of pupils at Burbage Primary School in Buxton were told the school would be closed on Thursday due to a ‘confirmed case of coronavirus amongst our parent population’.

Burbage Primary School, which has 350 pupils, sent a message to parents via WhatsApp on Wednesday night saying the decision had been taken as a ‘precautionary measure and to enable a deep clean to be completed’. 

The Buxton Medical Practice was also shut this morning. A telephone message told patients: ‘We have a confirmed case if coronavirus, we are currently liaising with Public Health England and the CCG to ensure all appropriate actions are taken. Please do not come to the practice, if you need medical attention call NHS 111.’

The decision to close Burbage Primary School, which has 350 pupils, had been taken as a ‘precautionary measure’, according to a WhatsApp message sent to parents by headteacher Anthony Tierney.

The message read: ‘Dear parents and carers, due to a confirmed case of coronavirus amongst our parent population, Burbage Primary School will be CLOSED tomorrow (Thursday 27 February 2020) as a precautionary measure and to enable a deep clean to be completed. A further update will be shared tomorrow. Thank you.’ 

Mr Tierney was on site early this morning to deal with concerned parents, who were last night panicked after receiving the message which was sent out just before 11pm last night. 

Many complained about the lack of a full explanation as to whether the infected parent has actually been on the school premises. 

Coronavirus fears have gripped Britain, with one commuter on the London Underground this morning pictured wearing what appears to be a gas mask

Coronavirus fears have gripped Britain, with one commuter on the London Underground this morning pictured wearing what appears to be a gas mask

ILLNESS FORCES THE POPE TO CANCEL AN EVENT IN ROME… JUST A DAY AFTER SHAKING HANDS WITH CROWD

Pope Francis has been forced to cancel a planned Mass in Rome with other clergy after suffering a ‘slight illness’.

The Vatican said the 83-year-old pontiff had a ‘slight indisposition’ that meant he did not attend an event at the St John Lateran basilica in Rome on Thursday morning.

A spokesman said Francis would continue with the rest of his day’s business, but preferred to stay within the Vatican rather than travel across the city.

There was no word from the Vatican about the nature of his illness, but the pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass.  

It comes a day after he kissed heads and touched faces as he met with crowds in St Peter’s Square, saying he had solidarity with those suffering from coronavirus. 

Italy is currently in the grips of a coronavirus outbreak that has seen towns in the north placed on lockdown and travellers from the region spread the infection to previously unaffected areas of Europe. Rome had three cases, but all three were cured. 

Francis had been scheduled to go to the St John Lateran basilica to meet with Rome clergy and celebrate a penitential Mass at the start of Lent. Francis is bishop of Rome, but delegates the day-to-day running of the archdiocese to a vicar. 

Professor Whitty yesterday admitted that school closures are a future possibility if the coronavirus takes hold in the UK, after Mr Hancock said they don’t need to shut for suspected cases.  

Contradictory messages from the government have led to widespread confusion and caused headteachers to take matters into their own hands and defy official advice. 

In separate guidance yesterday, Mr Hancock urged British employers not to shut their offices. He warned an ‘over-reaction’ to the handful of cases recorded in the UK could harm the economy.

He also confirmed anyone who has to self-isolate because of coronavirus will get paid sick leave. Guidance was sent to UK employers, informing them staff who are asked to quarantine themselves are entitled to sick leave. 

Holidaymakers who are sick or elderly and want to cancel plans to travel to destinations hit by coronavirus could be denied refunds because insurers are demanding sick notes from doctors, it has been claimed.

The Telegraph reports that in a survey of 11 major insurers, at least seven would only consider refunding trips to the elderly or the sick to destinations with coronavirus outbreaks if the customer can provide a doctor’s sick note.

But this has angered GPs, who say it is not their responsibility to decide who is fit to travel and who is not and they are being told not to issue notes.

Dr Richard Vautrey, the GP committee chair at the British Medical Association said it was ‘completely inappropriate’ for customers to approach their family doctors for sick notes. 

A commuters in London wears a face mask while climbing an escalator at Holborn underground station this morning

A commuters in London wears a face mask while climbing an escalator at Holborn underground station this morning

A man arrives at Euston Underground this morning wearing a mask, as coronavirus fears continue to mount in the UK

A man arrives at Euston Underground this morning wearing a mask, as coronavirus fears continue to mount in the UK

A woman in Milan – the capital of the Lombardy region, which has been battered by an outbreak – wears a face mask as she walks through a market

A woman in Milan – the capital of the Lombardy region, which has been battered by an outbreak – wears a face mask as she walks through a market

Paul Godfrey claims he was left coughing in a packed hospital waiting room despite showing symptoms of coronavirus after returning from Italy

Paul Godfrey claims he was left coughing in a packed hospital waiting room despite showing symptoms of coronavirus after returning from Italy

BRITISH HOLIDAYMAKERS TRAPPED IN TENERIFE QUARANTINE HOTEL BEG BORIS JOHNSON TO ‘COME RESCUE US’

British holidaymakers have pleaded with Boris Johnson to ‘come rescue us’ after being contained in a Tenerife hotel for two weeks due to a coronavirus outbreak.

Frustrated guests said they were desperate to return home amid a chaotic attempt to control COVID-19 from spreading within the Costa Adeje Palace Hotel.

At least 160 British travellers have been holed up in the four-star resort after Spanish authorities padlocked its doors when four guests from Italy tested positive.

But British guests yesterday voiced their frustration at the ‘absolutely awful’ situation and said they had been given conflicting information about how long the enforced stay would last.

As the Foreign Office began contacting Britons last night telling them they must remain at the hotel until March 10, some complained that staying putt placed them at increased risk.

Mandy Davis, who is on holiday with her husband Roger, said: ‘Nobody knows what the right thing to do is, because nobody’s had this virus before. So please, let’s sort something out, come and rescue us please, Boris. And let’s just get the hell out of here.’  

Guests holed up at the 500-room property told of the shambolic arrangements inside as it faced the reality of a two-week quarantine period ordered by local officials.

Holidaymakers with babies described how they had unsuccessfully pleaded with the hotel for suitable food, while being left without essential sanitary products such as nappies.

Holidaymakers were initially told to ‘stay calm’ and remain in their rooms yesterday morning as medical teams in hazmat suits handed out face masks and thermometers, then carried out medical checks. 

He said: ‘Practices are under intense pressure, especially at this time of year, and this is not a good use of GP time, taking doctors away from treating ill patients coming through their doors.

‘We would strongly advise our members that they do not need to respond to such requests from travel operators or insurers’

Instead, he suggested patients could request a summary of their pre-existing health conditions from their doctor for a fee – but it is unclear if insurers will accept a generic medical history as proof a person is unfit to travel to a coronavirus hit area.

Those who are booked to travel to an area where the Foreign Office advises against going to due to coronavirus, don’t need a sick note to claim on their travel insurance.

Security officer Keith Braithwaite filmed two men in hazmat suits in Liverpool last night and said he feared the coronavirus was to blame as soon as he saw the medics.

The 58-year-old said: ‘At first I had no idea what was going on and I thought it might be a crime scene. But there was no police and just that one ambulance.

‘As soon as I saw the suits I thought it might be the virus straight away. It is worrying that it might be in Liverpool, close to home. It is a concern.’ 

In European developments, Germany and France have warned of the ‘start of an epidemic’ as the continent scrambles to contain a coronavirus outbreak spreading from Italy, where 453 cases of the killer infection have been confirmed. 

Supermarket shelves were left empty in Italy and Romania as panicking shoppers rushed to prepare for a quarantine.

In Germany yesterday a train was stopped for two hours with a fleet of emergency workers descending on a remote station after a passenger returning from Italy showed symptoms of the virus on board. 

A soldier in the German air force has also tested positive after having contact with the man, whose wife works at a kindergarten and also has the virus. 

Alarm: A fleet of emergency workers and a halted train at Idar-Oberstein station in Germany yesterday after a passenger showed possible virus symptoms

Alarm: A fleet of emergency workers and a halted train at Idar-Oberstein station in Germany yesterday after a passenger showed possible virus symptoms 

Empty shelves: Supermarkets were stripped of supplies in Romania (pictured) as panic-buying shoppers rushed to prepare for a coronavirus quarantine

Empty shelves: Supermarkets were stripped of supplies in Romania (pictured) as panic-buying shoppers rushed to prepare for a coronavirus quarantine 

HOLIDAYMAKERS WHO ARE SICK AND ELDERLY COULD BE DENIED REFUNDS FOR TRIPS BECAUSE INSURERS ARE DEMANDING SICK NOTES 

Holidaymakers who are sick or elderly and want to cancel plans to travel to destinations hit by coronavirus could be denied refunds because insurers are demanding sick notes from doctors, it has been claimed.

The Telegraph reports that in a survey of 11 major insurers, at least seven would only consider refunding trips to the elderly or the sick to destinations with coronavirus outbreaks if the customer can provide a doctor’s sick note.

But this has angered GPs, who say it is not their responsibility to decide who is fit to travel and who is not and they are being told not to issue notes.

Dr Richard Vautrey, the GP committee chair at the British Medical Association said it was ‘completely inappropriate’ for customers to approach their family doctors for sick notes.

He said: ‘Practices are under intense pressure, especially at this time of year, and this is not a good use of GP time, taking doctors away from treating ill patients coming through their doors.

‘We would strongly advise our members that they do not need to respond to such requests from travel operators or insurers’

Instead, he suggested patients could request a summary of their pre-existing health conditions from their doctor for a fee – but it is unclear if insurers will accept a generic medical history as proof a person is unfit to travel to a coronavirus hit area.

Those who are booked to travel to an area where the Foreign Office advises against going to due to coronavirus, don’t need a sick note to claim on their travel insurance.

The country’s health minister Jens Spahn warned yesterday that ‘we are at the beginning of a coronavirus epidemic in Germany’. French president Emmanuel Macron echoed those fears today, declaring that ‘we are facing an epidemic’.  

It comes as a Briton suspected of having coronavirus after returning from Italy claims he was left coughing in a packed NHS hospital waiting room without a mask – sparking fears the UK is not prepared for an outbreak.

Paul Godfrey, from Walsall, West Midlands, sat in the foyer ‘for 10 minutes’ among sick, old and frail members of the public before panicked medics in hazmat suits whisked him into a cubicle and tested him for the killer virus. 

He was wrongly told to go to hospital by NHS 111 operators after returning from Milan on Friday and developing flu-like symptoms the following day. 

That advice contradicts official infection control guidelines which state anybody suspected of having the highly contagious illness should self-isolate immediately and avoid coming into contact with others.  

In other developments, restaurants in Britain have warned of a slump in bookings as the coronavirus outbreak continues to sweep across the world. 

The owner of Clifford’s, an upmarket restaurant in central London, claimed to have 26 cancellations yesterday, telling The Times most were because of concerns of the virus spreading in crowded places. 

The newspaper also reported that a seafood restaurant in Edinburgh had also been affected but that sources in the British hospitality industry have yet to see an impact elsewhere in the UK. 

And the London stock market fell to a 13-month low today as coronavirus fears continue to grip investors with shares also slumping across Asia. 

The FTSE 100 index of the UK’s biggest listed companies has now fallen more than 7 per cent in the past four days, and fell 2.6 per cent in early trading on Thursday.

The losses mirrored earlier slumps in Asia with Japan’s Nikkei 225 index falling 2.1 per cent and the Kospi in South Korea, where 334 new cases of the virus were reported, dropped one per cent. 

A German primary school in Gangelt near the Dutch border is closed today (pictured) after a woman who works at a local kindergarten was infected along with her husband

A German primary school in Gangelt near the Dutch border is closed today (pictured) after a woman who works at a local kindergarten was infected along with her husband 

French president Emmanuel Macron visits medical staff at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris today, where he said the country was facing an 'epidemic'

French president Emmanuel Macron visits medical staff at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris today, where he said the country was facing an ‘epidemic’

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

What is this virus?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been identified as a new type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of pathogens, most of which cause mild lung infections such as the common cold.

But coronaviruses can also be deadly. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is caused by a coronavirus and killed hundreds of people in China and Hong Kong in the early 2000s.

Can the Wuhan coronavirus kill?

Yes – almost 3,000 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus.

What are the symptoms?

The infection which the virus causes has been named COVID-19. Some people who catch it may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache.

Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. 

And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs.

How is it detected?

The virus’s genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection.

Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak.  

How did it start and spread?

The first cases identified were among people connected to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.

Cases have since been identified around China and are known to have spread from person to person.

What are countries doing to prevent the spread?

Countries all over the world have banned foreign travellers from crossing their borders if they have been to China within the past two weeks. Many airlines have cancelled or drastically reduced flights to and from mainland China.

Is it similar to anything we’ve ever seen before?

Experts have compared it to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The epidemic started in southern China and killed more than 700 people in mainland China, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK HERE TO SEE MAILONLINE’S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS 

The losses continue a dire week on the global markets with US stocks suffering the worst two-day losing streak in two years on Monday and Tuesday. 

Microsoft today issued a financial warning as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts its Chinese supply chain for Windows and Surface devices.

The Washington-based tech firm has cautioned it will not reach the sales predictions for this quarter that it had issued to investors last month as production hits delays.

Sales had previously been anticipated at between $10.75 billion–$11.15 billion (£8.33 billion–£8.64 billion). Microsoft has not yet provided a revised estimate. 

Standard Chartered has warned that the coronavirus outbreak, political unrest in Hong Kong, sluggish global economic growth and low interest rates look set to deliver a big hit to its bottom line.

The Asia-focused FTSE 100 firm said the ‘external shocks’ meant its income growth would end up lower than its medium-term forecast of between 5 and 7 per cent.

Private schools across Britain are being urged not to overreact to the coronavirus crisis because parents will demand their money back if they close or send students home, MailOnline revealed today. 

Many of Britain’s independent schools ran ski trips over half term and several chose the Alps in Italy – Europe’s coronavirus epicentre where 12 people have died in the week. 

Private schools typically charge more than £100 per day per pupil, meaning parents could be losing out and the Independent Schools Association say parents at its 500-plus member schools are likely to ask for a refund if their child’s education is disrupted.

The headteacher at Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s £19,000-a-year prep school, Thomas’s Battersea, is among the dozens who have shut or sent pupils home over infection fears after children and staff returned from virus-hit parts of the world. 

The fee-paying Cransley School in Northwich, Cheshire, is shut all week after 34 pupils and staff skied in Lombardy last week with headmaster Richard Pollock ‘regardless’ of official advice from the Government that it isn’t necessary.

It comes as the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall have reportedly opted not to quarantine themselves because they are not showing symptoms.

They have returned from a ski trip in Bormio, Lombardy – one of Italy’s worst-hit regions. Mr Tindall – a former England rugby player – shared several photos of their trip last week.

The NHS has also announced that a public awareness campaign will be launched next week urging Britons to regularly wash their hands for 20 seconds. 

Messages will go out on social media and radio stations encouraging handwashing on arrival at work, after using public transport and before food. 

Cruise ship MSC Meraviglia is currently waiting off the coast of Cozumel, Meixco (pictured), where it is due to dock Thursday before health inspectors will decide whether passengers can come ashore

Cruise ship MSC Meraviglia is currently waiting off the coast of Cozumel, Meixco (pictured), where it is due to dock Thursday before health inspectors will decide whether passengers can come ashore

It comes after the ship was blocked from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands over coronavirus fears after a member of the crew tested positive for Type A flu (pictured, ship interior)

It comes after the ship was blocked from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands over coronavirus fears after a member of the crew tested positive for Type A flu (pictured, ship interior)

Mike Tindall posted the above picture of him and Zara to Instagram after the couple enjoyed their holiday

Mike Tindall posted the above picture of him and Zara to Instagram after the couple enjoyed their holiday

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

What is this virus?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been identified as a new type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of pathogens, most of which cause mild lung infections such as the common cold.

But coronaviruses can also be deadly. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is caused by a coronavirus and killed hundreds of people in China and Hong Kong in the early 2000s.

Can the Wuhan coronavirus kill?

Yes – almost 3,000 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus.

What are the symptoms?

The infection which the virus causes has been named COVID-19. Some people who catch it may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache.

Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. 

And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs.

How is it detected?

The virus’s genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection.

Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak.  

How did it start and spread?

The first cases identified were among people connected to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.

Cases have since been identified around China and are known to have spread from person to person.

What are countries doing to prevent the spread?

Countries all over the world have banned foreign travellers from crossing their borders if they have been to China within the past two weeks. Many airlines have cancelled or drastically reduced flights to and from mainland China.

Is it similar to anything we’ve ever seen before?

Experts have compared it to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The epidemic started in southern China and killed more than 700 people in mainland China, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK HERE TO SEE MAILONLINE’S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS 

And health chiefs have announced patients with suspected coronavirus will be tested in their own homes in a bid to contain the outbreak. 

They will be ordered to stay indoors and wait for a paramedic or nurse rather than risk infecting dozens of people at hospital or on their way there.

In a further sign that the NHS is preparing for a pandemic, more staff are being recruited to the 111 helpline, which is the first port of call for suspected victims. 

Officials fear a sudden surge in cases in the UK because the virus is now spreading faster outside China, the country it started in.   

Disease specialists today said the new coronavirus cases are ‘not surprising’ and the UK should expect more infected patients without direct China links as the virus continues its spread in Europe.

Experts re-emphasised there is ‘no due cause for alarm’ and said the most important act for individuals is regular, thorough hand-washing and immediately binning tissues which have been coughed and sneezed on.

Professor Rowland Kao, chairman of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘We already have evidence of onward transmission occurring outside of China and so these two cases – associated with situations with high levels of infections – are not surprising.

‘This occurrence should therefore already be well within the scope of the current approach to control. It does highlight that we should continue to expect more cases without direct association with China, and therefore, despite evidence of the epidemic tailing off in China, a need for continued vigilance with appropriate control measures for some time.’

Oxford University professor Christl Donnelly said she estimated there could be more than 1,000 cases in Italy – more than double the 470 confirmed so far – as research suggests around one per cent of infections are fatal. There have been 12 deaths in Italy.

The academic, also of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Modelling at Imperial College London, added: ‘Each undetected case creates at least the potential for onward spread.

‘This combined with frequent travel to and from affected regions means that all countries are at risk of detecting cases both in travellers and those they came into contact with.’

Dr Tom Wingfield, senior clinical lecturer at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: ‘There are likely to be some more cases in the coming weeks but the UK public can be reassured that we have experienced teams in place to manage the isolation and care of people diagnosed with coronavirus and perform robust tracing and screening of their contacts.

‘We are all, public and professionals, part of this response to coronavirus and what we can do to continue looking after each other is keep calm, wash our hands with soap and water as regularly as possible, use and bin tissues for coughs and sneezes, and follow the changing guidance issued from Public Health England.’  

An Italian health official in a protective suit holds an infant as migrants disembark from a search-and-rescue ship at the port in Messina, Sicily

An Italian health official in a protective suit holds an infant as migrants disembark from a search-and-rescue ship at the port in Messina, Sicily

Guests were sunbathing in masks and enjoying free supplies of food and alcohol

Guests at the hotel poolside today after learning they would be staying well into March

Guests were sunbathing in masks and enjoying free supplies of food and alcohol at the hotel poolside yesterday after learning they would be staying well into March. Mrs Pennington has decided to self-isolate herself and her family, fearing this type of behaviour risks spreading the illness

IRAN THREATENS TO IMPRISON ANYONE CAUGHT SPREADING ‘FAKE NEWS’ ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS 

Iran today threatened to imprison anyone caught ‘spreading fake news’ about the coronavirus outbreak that has already killed 26 people in the Islamic Republic.

Hassan Norouzi, spokesman for parliament’s legal and judicial committee, said ‘spreading lies’ is punishable by one to three years in prison.

‘Spreading fake news over coronavirus outbreak will [make] people panic. It also will pave the ground for the country’s shutdown,’ the Tehran Times reported him saying in translation.

Nourouzi added that 24 citizens were already in custody for ‘spreading rumours’ and that the harsh sentences were warranted by Shariah.

Iran uses Shariah law as the basis of its legal code, allowing crimes deemed malicious against the state to be punished with corporal beatings.  

Iran has confirmed seven new deaths from coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said today, taking the overall toll to 26, the highest outside China.

An additional 106 confirmed infections took the total number of cases so far to 245, ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a daily cabinet briefing.

In other global developments, it has been announced that the Australian Grand Prix will go ahead next month despite the continuing global concern over the spread of coronavirus, it has been announced.

The Chinese Grand Prix, which was scheduled for April, has already been cancelled amid growing fears about the virus but F1 chief Chase Carey has announced it is ‘all systems go’ for the rest of the calendar. 

Passengers on board a cruise ship that was blocked from docking in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands due to coronAvirus fears are now facing health checks to decide whether they will be allowed off the boat in Mexico.

The MSC Meraviglia, which is carrying 4,500 passengers and 1,600 crew from Miami, is currently waiting off shore at Cozumel having been forced to skip the last two stops on its itinerary after a crew member fell sick.

The ship is due in port Thursday morning where health inspectors will come aboard before making a final ruling on whether or not people will be allowed off the boat.

A spokesman for the cruise line said the inspection is routine, and that the company ‘very much expects’ that people will be allowed off. 

The ship previously ran into trouble after a member of the crew, from the Philippines, fell sick with flu-like symptoms prompting fears they had coronavirus – but has since tested positive for type A flu.

While the Japanese prime minister today ordered the closure of all schools in the country for a month in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus. 

Sunbathing in masks: Tourists in bikinis and face masks lounge by the pool of H10 Costa Adeje Palace as they settle in for a two-week lockdown after Spanish authorities confirmed a quarantine yesterday

Sunbathing in masks: Tourists in bikinis and face masks lounge by the pool of H10 Costa Adeje Palace as they settle in for a two-week lockdown after Spanish authorities confirmed a quarantine yesterday 

One guest posted this picture of a padlock on a door of the hotel, with a police vehicle parked outside to enforce the quarantine

One guest posted this picture of a padlock on a door of the hotel, with a police vehicle parked outside to enforce the quarantine

British couple David Hoon and Pamela Scott (pictured together) say they fear that 'we stand more chance of catching the coronavirus' during the hotel lockdown

British couple David Hoon and Pamela Scott (pictured together) say they fear that ‘we stand more chance of catching the coronavirus’ during the hotel lockdown

Closed: The H10 Costa Adeje Palace is being guarded by police. Guests were confined to their bedrooms at the four-star hotel in a desperate attempt to stop the virus from spreading

Closed: The H10 Costa Adeje Palace is being guarded by police. Guests were confined to their bedrooms at the four-star hotel in a desperate attempt to stop the virus from spreading

WHERE HAS THE WUHAN CORONAVIRUS SPREAD TO?

COUNTRIES   

CHINA

SOUTH KOREA

ITALY

IRAN

DIAMOND PRINCESS

JAPAN

GERMANY

FRANCE

SPAIN

US

SINGAPORE

HONG KONG

UK

SWITZERLAND

KUWAIT

MALAYSIA

BAHRAIN

THAILAND

TAIWAN

AUSTRALIA

NETHERLANDS

SWEDEN

CANADA

NORWAY

IRAQ

INDIA

UAE

AUSTRIA

BELGIUM

VIETNAM

ICELAND

SAN MARINO

ISRAEL

LEBANON

OMAN

MACAU

DENMARK

CROATIA

QATAR

GREECE

ECUADOR

BELARUS

FINLAND

ALGERIA

PAKISTAN

MEXICO

CZECHIA

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

GEORGIA

RUSSIA

SAINT BARTHELEMY

PHILIPPINES

AZERBAIJAN

IRELAND

INDONESIA

SENEGAL

ESTONIA

NEW ZEALAND

BRAZIL

EGYPT

AFGHANISTAN

LITHUANIA

FAROE ISLANDS

NEPAL

LUXEMBOURG

ANDORRA

SAUDI ARABIA

GIBRALTAR

ARMENIA

ARGENTINA

NIGERIA

JORDAN

CHILE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

UKRAINE

NORTH MACEDONIA

MOROCCO

CAMBODIA

MONACO

POLAND

LICHTENSTEIN

LATVIA

TUNISIA

SRI LANKA

WORLD TOTAL

NON-CHINA TOTAL

EUROPE TOTAL

CASES 

80,270

5,621

3,090

2,922

706                                 

304

244

212

193

137

110

102

85

93

56

50

49

43

42

42

38

35

33

32

32

28

27

27

23

16

16

15

15

13

12

10

10

10

8

8

7

6

6

5

5

5

5

5

4

3

3

3                                      

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1                                       

1

1                                       

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

94,880

14,610

3,859 

DEATHS 

2,981

34

107

92

6                                      

6

0

4

1

9

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0                                      

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0                                      

0

0                                      

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3,248

267

112 

Shinzo Abe said: ‘The government considers the health and safety of children above anything else. We request all primary, junior high and high schools… across the nation to close temporarily from March 2 next week until their spring break.’

Almost 200 people in Japan have so far contracted the virus and four people have died.

Last night the US recorded its first case of coronavirus where the origin of the disease is unknown.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the person, a resident in Northern California, had not recently returned from a foreign country, and had not been in contact with another confirmed case. 

The news suggests that fears of the disease spreading locally in the US could now be a reality – while President Trump continued to tell the public that the risk to Americans is ‘low’.

Trump announced in a press conference yesterday that the US was ‘very ready’ to tackle the disease as he also handed Vice-President Mike Pence the task of leading the nation’s response to the disease. 

Yesterday the World Health Organization revealed more coronavirus cases are now being reported each day outside China than inside the hardest-hit nation.

Just 411 patients were struck down yesterday in China, where 96 per cent of COVID-19 cases have been recorded since the crisis began in December.

But data obtained by the UN-agency show 427 cases were recorded outside China, amid a worrying spike in Italy , South Korea and Iran .

The WHO’s director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom admitted the sudden jump in cases was ‘deeply concerning’ as fears of a pandemic continue to grow.

More than 81,000 cases of the coronavirus have now been recorded worldwide, with the death toll nearing the 2,800 mark. 

In Italy, a super-spreader is thought to be to blame for Europe’s coronavirus crisis. It is believed he passed the virus to at least 13 people, including his pregnant wife, two doctors and an elderly woman who died.

Medics failed to test the 38-year-old man, known only as Mattia, for the illness. He went to hospital in Codogno, northern Italy, three times with flu-like symptoms before doctors finally screened and diagnosed him with the killer virus.  

He was prescribed anti-flu medication and sent home to infect countless others because medics presumed he couldn’t have the illness because he had not been to China. 

The marathon runner first complained of feeling unwell on February 14 and was not diagnosed until February 20, six days later. 

In that time he passed it onto at least 13 people, including his wife Valentina, a friend he went jogging with, two doctors, his GP, three elderly pubgoers and a 77-year-old woman who was killed by the disease. 

Emergency public health guidelines introduced in late January mean Mattia should have been screened and treated as a potential case because of his symptoms, despite not having been to China.  

Italy’s prime minister today blamed the unnamed hospital for the series of missed opportunities for the explosion of 450 new cases and 12 new deaths in the country. It has now spread to 17 European countries.

After first emerging in Lombardy and Veneto, the coronavirus has now spread to nine other regions, including Sicily and Puglia in the far south. 

In bid to halt the outbreak, authorities have shut schools, universities, museums, cinemas and theatres across much of the north. Eleven towns have been quarantined.

Infected patients have already spread the coronavirus from Italy to Austria, Croatia, Switzerland, Germany, France, Greece, North Macedonia and Spain, as well as Algeria in northern Africa and Brazil in South America.

Families are already stockpiling nappies, food, medicine and PORTABLE TOILETS as they prepare for weeks in ‘isolation’ because of coronavirus as experts warn panic buying ‘may become rife’ if the crisis gets worse

Britons are panic buying nappies, toilet roll, soup, tinned fruit, pet food, medicine, bottled water, wine and even setting up ‘isolation’ rooms at home in case coronavirus shuts down their communities, it was revealed today.

Families are stockpiling reserves to ensure their homes are ‘fit for a pandemic’ with some purchasing new chest freezers to fill with food and portable camp toilets to avoid sharing a loo if a relative tests positive for the killer virus.

A shortage of germ-killing antibacterial gel has seen a spurt in sales of surgical spirit on eBay and Amazon by people desperate to sanatise their hands, with Boots sold out online today.

On social media one panicked Briton revealed that they have turned one small room in their house into an ‘isolation zone’ equipped with cooking equipment, bedding and food if they have to be in quarantine for a fortnight. 

Another Mumsnet user said: ‘I’ve cleaned and prepped the farm caravan so if needed it could be an isolation suite. Useful place to store surplus supplies, tinned food etc as well’.

Others are drawing up spreadsheets of the items they need to buy to last them weeks or months in self-isolation.

Professor Ratula Chakraborty, professor of business management at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: ‘The prospect of whole towns being in lockdown and shops closed is heightening the fear and stockpiling may become rife’. 

Experts believe the stockpiling of medicine and food in family homes ‘may become rife’ as people grow increasingly concerned about coronavirus disrupting British life.

Britons have admitted stockpiling items ranging from loo roll and tinned food to new freezers and toilets because of coronavirus

Britons have admitted stockpiling items ranging from loo roll and tinned food to new freezers and toilets because of coronavirus

This Mumsnet user revealed her stockpiling shopping list on a thread called: 'Prepping for a pandemic'

This Mumsnet user revealed her stockpiling shopping list on a thread called: ‘Prepping for a pandemic’

In a thread on coronavirus this user sent out her 'dear husband' to pick a large chest freezer to store more food

In a thread on coronavirus this user sent out her ‘dear husband’ to pick a large chest freezer to store more food

Professor Chakraborty, said: ‘One big opportunity for the supermarkets may be home delivery, where online grocery retailers could see a bonanza as consumers shy away from visiting stores and instead prefer to shop from the safety of their own homes.

‘There is no immediate need to stockpile or panic buy any goods, but people should be prepared to help out and shop for vulnerable relatives and friends who are elderly or have underlying conditions which places them at a greater risk of developing severe symptoms if the coronavirus spreads. 

In one discussion on Mumsnet, a poster asked if they were being unreasonable ‘to be considering a small stockpile or supplies because of corona?’

They added: ‘Reading about the Italian villages that have been put on lockdown and families can’t leave their homes has got me thinking…Italy isn’t a million miles away. It’s not a third world country. If it’s happened there…’

Almost 200 people responded to the message, with most saying they are also stockpiling tinned goods, toilet rolls and other supplies.

This user set out a plan for 'a house fit for a pandemic' once all the stockpiling is up to date

This user set out a plan for ‘a house fit for a pandemic’ once all the stockpiling is up to date

Boots is sold out of surgical spirit online, which people are using as an alternative to antibacterial hand gel, which is being rationed by some shops

Boots is sold out of surgical spirit online, which people are using as an alternative to antibacterial hand gel, which is being rationed by some shops

This user has confired she is buying powdered egg for baking in case fresh ones become hard to come by

This user has confired she is buying powdered egg for baking in case fresh ones become hard to come by

'Julie' was looking to order a camp toilet for at home. Some are concerned about sharing toilets at home if someone falls ill

‘Julie’ was looking to order a camp toilet for at home. Some are concerned about sharing toilets at home if someone falls ill

Some have revealed they are building spreedsheets with lists of items they have bought, use by dates and meal plans

Some have revealed they are building spreedsheets with lists of items they have bought, use by dates and meal plans

One said they were ‘filling the cupboard with soup, tomatoes, tinned fruit, flour, crackers etc in advance.

‘I’ll still eat them all, but they last for months anyway, and when people are surging into supermarkets stripping the shelves I won’t be adding to the masses worried they won’t have enough. I’ll be out of the way and not contributing to shortages.’  

On Tuesday, an official at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned of the potential for ‘severe’ disruption to daily life in the event of coronavirus becoming a pandemic.

Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, said there was a need for ‘new strategies’.

The CDC has been urging businesses, schools and families to prepare for a possible outbreak of Covid-19 in the US, including potentially allowing employees to work from home and internet-based lessons.

In the UK, England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said school closures could occur if the virus spreads, while people could be asked to stay at home with their families.

WHO director says countries must ‘act aggressively now to contain coronavirus’ and warns epidemics in Italy and Iran ‘demonstrate what this virus is capable of’

The head of the World Health Organisation today told governments to ‘act aggressively’ to contain the global coronavirus crisis.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the major virus outbreaks in Iran and Italy in recent days ‘demonstrate what this virus is capable of’.

The global health chief warned that it would be a ‘fatal mistake, quite literally’ for other nations to assume they will not be affected by the outbreak.

Pointing to a decline in new cases in China, Tedros said: ‘It’s what’s happening in the rest of the world that’s now our greatest concern’.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Tedros said the epidemic was at a ‘decisive point’.

‘If you act aggressively now, you can contain this virus, you can prevent people getting sick, you can save lives,’ he said.

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks today in Geneva where he warned that cases outside China are now 'our greatest concern'

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks today in Geneva where he warned that cases outside China are now ‘our greatest concern’ 

Three women and a police officer wear masks in Tehran on Sunday to guard against the coronavirus in Iran, which now has the worst outbreak in the Middle East

Three women and a police officer wear masks in Tehran on Sunday to guard against the coronavirus in Iran, which now has the worst outbreak in the Middle East 

‘There does not appear to be widespread community transmission,’ he added.

‘This virus has pandemic potential,’ the WHO director-general said. ‘This is not a time for fear. This is a time for taking action to prevent infection and save lives now.’

Tedros emphasised that all countries should ensure that their health systems were prepared for an outbreak.

‘We are actually in a very delicate situation in which the outbreak can go in any direction based on how we handle it,’ Tedros said.

WHO officials said they were working closely with organisers of the Tokyo Olympic Games this year and did not believe any decision would be taken soon on whether to hold the event starting in July as planned.

More than 2,700 people have died in China and some 78,000 have been infected.

For the second consecutive day, global infections have overtaken the rate of announced cases in the People’s Republic.

Leading the take over is Iran, with the virus having killed 26 people – the highest toll outside of China. Many of the over 240 confirmed cases in the region have links to the Islamic Republic, including dozens in Kuwait and Bahrain, six in Iraq and two in Lebanon.

A group of tourists wear protective face masks while walking through Milan's city centre on Tuesday

A group of tourists wear protective face masks while walking through Milan’s city centre on Tuesday 

Reports from the country today claim Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, contracted the flu-like illness, just days after Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, confirmed he had been infected too.

The outbreak has spread to dozens of other countries, where there have been more than 50 deaths and 3,600 cases, raising fears of a pandemic.

Jitters over the epidemic have rocked global markets, while sports matches and festivals across Europe have been cancelled.

The US and South Korea on Thursday postponed forthcoming joint military exercises because of the outbreak, while Japan’s prime minister called for schools to close nationwide for several weeks.

Saudi Arabia banned foreign pilgrims from entering the kingdom to visit Islam’s holiest sites, potentially disrupting the plans of millions of faithful ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and as the annual hajj pilgrimage looms.

President Emmanuel Macron said France, the world’s most visited country, was preparing for a jump in coronavirus cases.

‘We are facing a crisis, an epidemic that is coming,’ he said during a visit to a hospital in Paris where the first French person carrying the virus died Tuesday.

But President Donald Trump has played down fears of a major outbreak in the United States, the world’s largest economy.

‘I think that there’s a chance that it could get worse, a chance it could get fairly substantially worse, but nothing’s inevitable,’ Trump told reporters Wednesday.

His comments contradicted US health officials who urged Americans to be ready to cancel mass gatherings and work from home. There are 60 cases in the US so far.

The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said it had detected the first case of unknown origin in the country, signalling that the virus may be spreading within communities.

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS AFFECTING TRAVEL? 

What is current Foreign Office advice regarding travel and coronavirus?

The Foreign Office now advises against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto in Italy, which have been isolated by the Italian authorities.

These towns are Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano and Vo’ Euganeo.

The Foreign Office also advises against all travel to Hubei Province in China, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak. There is advice against all but essential travel to elsewhere in mainland China.

Will my travel insurance policy cover me if my holiday is cancelled due to coronavirus?

According to Neil Wright, the founder and managing director of Coverforyou.com, if you have bought travel insurance when you booked your holiday, you will be protected if the country you are due to visit becomes an area the Foreign Office advises against travel to in the future.

But he added: ‘Bear in mind, insurance cannot be purchased to cover an area which is already under lockdown.

‘At the moment this is Italy, but with things changing by the day, another reason we urge clients to purchase their insurance as soon as possible so they are safeguarded against further areas being locked down.’

What should I do when looking for travel insurance?

When it comes to purchasing travel insurance, Su Crown, a spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI), told MailOnine Travel: ‘Don’t just go for the cheapest option.

‘Make sure you read all of the clauses so that if you do have to cancel your trip due to coronavirus, you are covered.

‘Make sure that everybody you are travelling with is on the same policy so everybody has the same level of cover.’

If I want to cancel my holiday to a destination where there are no travel restrictions, will my insurer refund me?

If you cancel your holiday to a destination where there are no travel restrictions, claiming a refund through travel insurance could prove tricky – even impossible.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, explained: ‘While the government has now updated its advice to cover the Italian locations that have experienced an outbreak, those travelling to nearby cities like Milan or Verona still won’t be able to cancel and claim on their travel insurance, nor will those travelling to Tenerife.  

‘Instead, you will have to rely on your travel operator’s or airline’s goodwill if you want to arrange an alternative holiday or rebook a flight at a later date. Some travel agents and airlines are offering worried travellers the chance to change plans where possible.

‘If your travel company can’t help, contact your insurance provider directly to find out if they will cover you as some insurance companies will review scenarios on a case-by-case basis.’

If I am sick or elderly, can I cancel my holiday to a destination where there has been a coronavirus outbreak or do I need a sick note?

If you are booked to travel to an area where the Foregin Office advises against going to, you shouldn’t need a sick note to claim on your travel insurance.

However, the Telegraph reports that in a survey of 11 major insurers, seven would only consider refunding trips to the elderly or the sick where there is an outbreak of coronavirus if the customer can provide a doctor’s sick note.

But Dr Richard Vautrey, the GP committee chair at the British Medical Association said it was ‘completely inappropriate’ for customers to approach their family doctors for sick notes.

He said: ‘Practices are under intense pressure, especially at this time of year, and this is not a good use of GP time, taking doctors away from treating ill patients coming through their doors.’

Instead, he suggested patients could request a summary of their pre-exisiting health conditions but it is unclear if insurers will accept a generic medical history as proof a person is unfit to travel to a coronavirus hit area. 

Are airlines cancelling flights due to coronavirus?

This is the current status of flights on UK and Irish airlines:

British Airways

British Airways has cancelled a number of its flights to and from Milan today and are merging them with others, due to a reduced demand due to coronavirus.

A spokesperson said: ‘We will be contacting customers on cancelled flights so we can discuss their travel options including alternative British Airways flights within two hours of their original departure time where possible, full refunds or booking for a later date of travel.

‘We understand that some customers flying to/from Northern Italy may wish to change their travel plans and have introduced flexible booking options. Customers can also find the latest information and options on BA.com.’

British Airways has also cancelled flights to mainland China until April 17.

EasyJet

EasyJet says that all of its flights are operating as normal and ‘standard terms and conditions on tickets continue to apply’. This means no refunds will be offered to people who choose not to fly.

A spokesman added: ‘We would like to reassure customers that our existing policies and procedures are in line with the guidance provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and EASA.

‘We remain in regular contact with them and will amend our procedures if and when required if guidance changes. The health and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is the airline’s highest priority.’

The fee to change an easyJet flight ranges from £25 to £52.

Ryanair

According to the Ryanair website, all of its flights, including those to Italy are operating as normal.

The airline says: ‘There is currently no change to advice for airlines. Our flights are operating as normal and all our terms and conditions apply.’

This means no refunds will be offered to people who choose not to fly. To change flights on Ryanair, fees range from £35 to £95.

Jet2

Jet2 says its flying programme today remains unchanged. A spokesman said: ‘Foreign Office guidance shows that there are no travel restrictions in place to any of our destinations. ‘

Tui

Tui says there are no cancellations or delays to its flights due to coronavirus. The tour operator says it is ‘monitoring the situation closely’.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic has suspended its flights to mainland China because of the virus.

Aer Lingus

The Irish carrier says it ‘continues to operate flights to and from all destinations on our network’.

Passengers who have booked through the Aer Lingus website who want to change the dates or destinations of their flights should visit the airline’s website.

Other airlines have suspended flights to destinations where there have been outbreaks of the coronavirus such as Iran, South Korea and China.

Qatar Airways has suspended flights to South Korea and Iran and Delta has suspended and reduced services between the US and Seoul.

Emirates has suspended flights to Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia and to some Chinese destinations.

Etihad has suspended flights to Shanghai, Chengdu and Nagoya in Japan. Flights to Hong Kong have also been suspended to Hong Kong until March 28 due to reduced demand.

American Airlines says it is ‘continuing to closely monitor the situation and will make any updates as necessary’.

Can I get a refund if my flight from the UK is cancelled due to coronavirus?

If your flight from the UK is cancelled, you should be offered either a refund or a replacement flight – even with a different airline – to your destination.

You can also be offered the chance to change the dates of travel.

What if I am catching a connecting flight to my holiday destination through an area where the Foreign Office advises against travelling to?

In this case, the airline should re-route your ticket so that you reach your final destination by connecting in an airport where it is safe to travel to.

What if I have booked two flights to a get to a destination separately on different airlines but one is cancelled?

You can only claim a refund for the flight that is cancelled. This is because airlines have no responsibility for any prior or subsequent flights you take.