Coronavirus is 1,000 times more infectious than deadly Sars and patients spread it worst with mild symptoms
CORONAVIRUS patients are most infectious during the first few days when symptoms are mild, experts have said.
It comes as the government advised people with persistent coughs or a mild fever to stay at home for a week.
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Experts said "peak shredding" - when a person with the deadly bug is most infectious - typically occurs within five days of getting the disease, and patients emit 1,000 times more virus than during peak shredding of a Sars infection.
This helps to explain why Covid 19 has spread so rapidly across the globe, with 134,000 cases and 4,971 deaths across 127 countries.
By comparison, Sars infected around 8,000 people and killed 800 in 2002/3.
Dr Clemens Martin Wendtner, who examined nine patients who tested positive for the disease, told the Telegraph: "You don't have to be seriously ill to pass the virus on to other people."
Dr Wendtner said mass gatherings - including sports matches and conferences - should be cancelled as people with mild symptoms are highly infectious.
Meanwhile Professor Keith Neal, emeritus professor in the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: "What we know is that people are most infectious during the first week of symptoms.
"If people who might have coronavirus (or another virus) self-isolate based on fever and cough then this should limit the spread of the virus."
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned coronavirus was the "worst public health crisis for a generation" - as two more Brits died from the deadly bug.
Ten Brits have now died from coronavirus, with 596 testing positive.
The latest deaths were of an 89-year-old at Charing Cross Hospital in London and a woman in her 60s at Queen's Hospital in Romford. Both had underlying health conditions.
As he moved the UK into the "delay" phase of his battleplan for coronavirus, Mr Johnson said anyone with a mild cough or temperature must now stay at home for seven days.
Mr Johnson said families would continue to "lose loved ones before their time" as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.
"We've all got to be clear, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation," said the PM.
"Some people compare it to seasonal flu, alas that is not right.
"Due to the lack of immunity this disease is more dangerous.
"It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time."
The World Health Organisation has estimated that the global mortality rate from Covid-19 is about 3.4 per cent.
By comparison, the death rate from seasonal flu is typically around 0.1 per cent.
Mr Johnson said the Government was also "considering the question of banning major public events such as sporting fixtures".
Hours later Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's chief scientific adviser, said the actual number of people infected in the UK at the moment could be between 5,000 and 10,000.
He said: "Currently we are on a trajectory that looks as though it is about four weeks or so behind Italy and some other countries in Europe.
"We think the peak may be something like 10 to 14 weeks away, and you would want to try to make sure that the elderly are protected during the peak area."
Up to 10,000 Brits ‘already infected with coronavirus’ – and peak of crisis is still weeks away
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."
Elderly people warned not to go on cruises
BORIS JOHNSON 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.”
Boris rules out cancelling public gatherings for now despite Scotland ban
Boris Johnson has ruled out cancelling public gatherings over the coronavirus despite Scotland issuing a ban.
The Prime Minister refused to cancel sporting events and concerts to combat the disease as it offered no real benefit.
His decision comes as Scotland banned gatherings of more than 500 people.
He said: "The scientific advice as we’ve said over the last couple of weeks is that banning such events will have little effect on the spread.
"So we’re discussing these issues with colleagues in all parts of the United Kingdom and will have more to say shortly about the timing of further action in that respect.”
SCHOOLS won't be closed over coronavirus fears - but will be forced to ditch foreign trips
Boris Johnson today confirmed schools would stay open because closing them could actually make things worse.
The Prime Minister vowed to keep them open for now but slapped a ban on school trips abroad.
Instead schools will be monitored and only forced to close on an individual basis.
Mr Johnson said: "We are not closing schools now, the scientific advice is that this could do more harm than good at this time.
"Schools should only close if they are specifically advised to do so."
Don't call NHS 111 with mild symptoms - go online
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.
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.
Whole families could have to self-isolate if ONE has symptoms in future
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.
