Coronavirus now in Cumbria

The News & Star learned yesterday afternoon that the woman - who is in her thirties and who recently returned from a holiday in Europe - was given a swab test on Monday and she had confirmation yesterday that the result was positive for the COVID-19 virus

She works at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary but has not been working there in the days before her diagnosis, the News & Star was told.

Public Health England yesterday declined to comment, saying that its practice was to update the confirmed number of cases in the UK at 2pm every day and not before.

But the woman’s father, who works as a lawyer in the city, told the News & Star: “I got a text from my daughter at lunchtime saying that she’d been tested the day before and that she’d then got confirmation that she tested positive.”

The man explained that as a consequence of this he had sought advice from the NHS 111 information service about whether he needed to take any precautions, pointing out that he had last been in his daughter’s company during a family holiday in Germany two weeks ago.

His last contact with her was on February 21, he said. Yet an advisor from 111 told him he did not need to be tested for the virus or to self-isolate.

“They told me that I don’t meet the criteria for being tested. They said I should simply continue as normal. I thought that they would at least say I should be tested. But I don’t have any symptoms.”

The woman’s father confirmed she was diagnosed by way of a swab, but it was not administered in the hospital but at a test facility nearby. The News & Star has agreed not to identify the woman.

Our reporters have, however, been told her partner has also tested positive for coronavirus, although this is unconfirmed.

The news of Cumbria’s first case came as Downing Street issued a statement about the Government’s strategy for containing the virus, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted is likely to affect a significant number of people in the UK in coming weeks.

The government published its comprehensive document outlining how it plans to tackle coronavirus and what people can do to protect themselves and their families.

This included a step-by-step guide setting out the Government’s four stage strategy - described as ‘Contain, Delay, Research and Mitigate’, with advice for how the public should respond in each phase – including what to expect if the outbreak becomes a pandemic.

Mr Johnson said: “I fully understand the public’s concerns about the global spread of this virus, and it is likely to become more significant in the coming weeks.“Keeping the country safe is our overriding priority and this plan means we are committed to doing everything possible – based on the advice of our world-leading scientific experts - to prepare for all eventualities.

“We will make sure the NHS gets all the support it needs to continue their brilliant response to the virus so far.

“Crucially, we must also not forget what we can all do to fight this virus - which is to wash our hands with soap and water for the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.”

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said: “The measures outlined in the plan are based on the best available scientific evidence – and led by our world leading infectious disease experts. The single most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves right now is wash their hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. We have always said it is likely we can expect more cases and today’s action plan outlines the types of options open to government in each phase of an outbreak.”

Carlisle MP John Stevenson said: “Obviously it’s a concern if the virus has come to Carlisle and Cumbria but we shouldn’t be alarmist. It’s important to be vigilant and take precautions but we shouldn’t get things out of proportion.”

If you fear you have the virus, don’t go to your GP, or A&E. Call 111 for advice.

The UK yesterday had 51 confirmed cases of coronavirus, which has a mortality rate of roughly one per cent.