Boris rules out cancelling public gatherings for now despite Scotland ban

IF you are worried you might have coronavirus DON'T call NHS 111, the Prime Minister said today.

Boris Johnson urged all Brits to visit the NHS 111 website as their first port of call.

If you think your condition is getting worse, seek medical attention quickly and dial 999 in an emergency.

If it's not an emergency, contact NHS 111 online here.

If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

All routine medical and dental appointments should be cancelled while you are sick and staying at home.

Public Health England said it will no longer be testing everyone suspected of having coronavirus.

If you are self-isolating with mild symptoms you won't be tested.

BORIS JOHNSON tonight warned people over 70 with serious medical conditions should avoid taking cruises to protect them from coronavirus.

The new advice is based on guidance from the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, and follows a number of cases around the world of cruise ships experiencing outbreaks on board.

Underlying conditions include diabetes, respiratory disease, asthma, chronic heart, liver or neurological disease, a weakened immune system or any recent or undergoing chemotherapy.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The nature and design of cruise ships – where passengers are contained and the virus can spread faster - makes them a particularly risky environment for vulnerable people.”

BRITS are being told to do their duty for the country's coronavirus effort and self-isolate for seven days if they have a mild cough or cold.

Anyone with even mild symptoms should not leave home for seven days from when their symptoms start to stop the virus spreading.

People staying at home for seven days should stay at least two metres away from people whenever possible, according to Public Health England's guidelines.

They should also sleep alone - as well as wash their hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water.

UP TO 10,000 Brits could already be infected with undiagnosed coronavirus, experts have warned.

Speaking after a COBRA meeting, Boris Johnson said the number of cases in the UK is expected to rise sharply - warning the peak is still weeks away.

The Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance added the 596 reported cases in the UK could be the tip of the iceberg.
He said: “"If you calculate what that really means in terms of the total number, it is much more likely that we have between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected at the moment.”

WITH the coronavirus epidemic set to peak in the UK within the next fortnight, Brits are being urged to be aware of the symptoms of the illness.

The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to other respiratory illnesses such as the flu and the common cold.

Both can feature continuous cough or high temperature, as well as shortness of breath.

It can come on much quicker than flu, but unlike the more common illness it rarely features a runny nose or diarrhoea.

The Symptoms of Covid-19 are thought to appear between two and 11 days after a person is infected.

FAMILIES could soon be told to self-isolate if just ONE of them has coronavirus symptoms, it emerged today.

At the moment Brits who get ill are being told to stay away from the people in their home as best they can - and avoid contact with others.

But in future whole families could have to go into lockdown to stop the spread further, experts said earlier.

That could be for up to a fortnight to make sure that everyone in the family has time for the symptoms to show and to get over the most infectious part of the disease.

However, that is not advice the Government is recommending at the moment - as we are not yet at the peak of the illness.