Four new cases of coronavirus found in the UK

The four new patients were cruise ship passengers flown back to the UK from Japan yesterday. This brings the total number of UK coronavirus cases up to 13. 

The passengers caught the virus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, chief medical officer Chris Whitty said.

The patients are being transferred from Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral to specialist NHS infection centres.

It comes as more than 100 Britons rescued from China ended their isolation in Milton Keynes on Sunday.

The number of cases in the UK remains low compared to Italy, where 130 individual cases have now been reported.

The country has cut short its annual Venice Carnival as officials try to control what is Europe's worst outbreak of the virus. 

To date, two people in Italy have died. 

The UK has managed to keep new cases at bay by asking anyone suffering with the symptoms to stay at home.

Doctors surgeries and schools that have come into contact with those who have recently returned from affected countries have also been closed for deep cleaning.

In Basingstoke, Chineham Medical Practice was closed on Wednesday for deep cleaning. Surgeries in Essex and Portsmouth have also been closed for deep cleaning. 

Cleaners at Chineham Medical Practice on Wednesday

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What is coronavirus and how did it start? 

Coronavirus or Covid-19 as it is now supposed to be known, started in the Chinese city of Wuhan. It is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals. Many of those initially infected either worked or frequently shopped in the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the centre of the Chinese city.

What are the symptoms and what can happen?

The virus can cause pneumonia. Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases there can be organ failure. As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system. Many of those who have died were already in poor health.

Should I go to the doctor if I start getting symptoms?

In short, no. Dial 111 and an appointment will be made for to visit a local hospital if necessary. UK Chief Medical Officers are advising anyone who has travelled to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and who is experiencing a cough or fever or shortness of breath to stay indoors and call NHS 111, even if symptoms are mild.

Is the virus being transmitted from one person to another?

China’s national health commission has confirmed human-to-human transmission, and there have been such transmissions elsewhere.

How many people have been affected?

As of Friday, China has recorded 2,345 deaths from the Covid-19 outbreak. Health officials have confirmed 76,288 cases in mainland China in total. More than 12,000 have recovered.

How worried should we be?

Experts say the spread of the virus outside China is worrying but not an unexpected. The WHO has declared the outbreak to be a public health emergency of international concern. The key issues are how transmissible this new coronavirus is between people. Generally, the coronavirus appears to be hitting older people hardest, with few cases in children.