The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed a fourth case of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in England.
In a statement issued yesterday (9 February), Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty reported that the new case is a known contact of a previously confirmed UK case, and the virus was contracted in France.
The patient has been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at the Royal Free Hospital. Robust infection control measures have been implemented to prevent any possible further spread of the virus.
“The NHS is extremely well prepared to manage these cases and treat them, and we are working quickly to identify any further contacts the patient has had,” Professor Whitty reassured.
As of 9am 9 February, 795 people have been tested, of which 791 were confirmed negative.
DHSC is publishing the latest update on 2019-nCoV on a daily basis at 2pm.
As of 9 February 2020, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says 37,564 cases of 2019-nCoV infection have been reported globally, resulting in 813 deaths. Infections have been reported on four continents. In Europe cases have been confirmed in Germany (14), France (11), Italy (3), Russia (2), Belgium (1), Finland (1), Spain (1) and Sweden (1).
