Coronavirus: Boris Johnson proposes steps to deal with outbreak as number of cases grows in Britain
- Plans include a public information campaign bringing together communications experts and scientists from across government and the National Health Service
- The 39 confirmed British cases include four new patients who had travelled to Italy
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will introduce sweeping plans to deal with the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday, including a war-room-style public health campaign and possible calls to discourage unnecessary travel.
Johnson will also present a new parliamentary bill to ensure his government “has all the necessary powers to prepare for and tackle the coronavirus outbreak”.
His announcement comes as the number of cases in Britain has risen to 39, including four new patients, all of whom had travelled to Italy, site of the largest outbreak in Europe.
“It is highly likely coronavirus will spread more widely in the coming days and weeks, which is why we’re making every possible preparation,” Johnson said in the announcement.
Meanwhile, a man who had been working in Bristol has tested positive for the virus in Shenzhen, after flying from London to Hong Kong on Thursday, according to the Health Commission of Guangdong province.