NHS declares national major incident over Coronavirus outbreak

NHS England has declared coronavirus a level four incident – the highest category.

The NHS ordered all hospitals to review their numbers of intensive care beds and how they could be increased to cope with a surge in patients.

It comes as confirmed cases in the UK rose to 51 and Boris Johnson unveiled his plan for dealing with the outbreak.

The 12 new coronavirus cases include eight patients who had travelled from Italy, one from Germany, one from Singapore, one from Japan and one from Iran.

They are from London, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Bury, Wirral, Greater Manchester, Humberside and Kent.

A letter sent to health chiefs today by NHS England reveals patients infected with coronavirus could soon start to be treated on hospital wards instead of specialist units as the numbers affected grow.

Highlight news 

• NHS England has declared coronavirus a level four incident – the highest category. It comes as confirmed cases in the UK rose to 51 and Boris Johnson unveiled his plan for dealing with the outbreak.
• France confirmed its fourth coronavirus death as case count reaches 204 and 120 schools close.
• In South Korea President Moon Jae-in declared “war” against the coronavirus as cases surpassed 5,000.
• In Italy cases surpassed 2,000 and 79 deaths have been reported. However, Pope Francis, who cancelled a Lent retreat for the first time in his papacy because he is suffering from a cold, did test negative for Covid-19. 
• 23 MPs in Iran have tested positive as the country’s total stands at 2,336 cases and 77 deaths.
• Cases continue to surge in the United States, with 106 now reported. 
• Thai police raid on a recycling factory on Monday made the revolting discovery that used face masks were being repackaged in boxes to be sold as new. 

Via BBC / Independent / Sky News / Telegraph