Latest update: Wuhan Coronavirus
Public Health England (PHE) has published guidance for schools and other educational settings about how they should respond to the threat of coronavirus, including a poster that all education settings should display to advise staff, students, parents and carers about how to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Schools are now advised to call 111 if pupils or staff become unwell and believe they have been exposed to the virus (or 999 if they are seriously ill or their life is at risk). Schools should also call 111 if they have pupils or staff who have travelled anywhere in the Hubei Province, including Wuhan, in the past 14 days, even if they are well.
Anyone who is unwell and believed to have been exposed to the virus should be kept at least two metres away from others – if possible, schools are advised to find a room where the person can be isolated, e.g. a staff office.
The agency confirmed that there is no need for schools to close if they suspect exposure to the virus. If a positive case is confirmed, one of PHE’s health protection teams will help schools conduct a risk assessment to determine whether closure is required.
Key advice for returning travellers
Information for returning travellers has been updated to include a number of new countries, with specific advice depending on the area/towns in the countries that you have been to/through:
Detailed information and advice for the public can be found on the NHS.uk website (and will be regularly updated): https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Further information for the public about the situation can be found here (and will be regularly updated): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
Current situation
To date there are thirteen patients in England who have tested positive for COVID-19 to date, none of whom are in the West Midlands region. Of the remaining 7119 tests that have been undertaken in the UK, all have been confirmed as negative.
The risk to individuals in the UK remains low.
Travel advice
Current advice is against all travel to Hubei province, and all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (with the exception of Hong Kong and Macao). British nationals are also now advised to leave China if they are able.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office also advise against all but essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea and ten small towns in the Lombardy region and one in the Veneto region of Italy, due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Updated travel advice can be found here (this is regularly updated): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Useful blogs
Blog - what you need to know https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/
Blog about contact tracing: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/02/13/expert-interview-what-is-contact-tracing/
Blog about self-isolation: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/02/20/what-is-self-isolation-and-why-is-it-important/
Communications materials, useful guidance & resources
Guidance for professionals advising the public can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-guidance-to-assist-professionals-in-advising-the-general-public/guidance-to-assist-professionals-in-advising-the-general-public