According to reports in the media, a GP practice in Brighton has been closed temporarily after a staff member tested positive for novel coronavirus. Patients at the city's County Oak medical centre have been advised to phone NHS 24 on 111 if they have concerns. You can read more about this story on the BBC website here

The news comes on the same day that 4 new cases of novel coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK. The Department of Health in England has described coronavirus as a "serious and imminent threat" to public health and the UK Government issued new powers in England to keep people in quarantine to stop the virus spreading.

In the UK, the public are also being advised that if they develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel to China, and are now in the UK, they must call their GP or ring NHS 24 on 111 informing them of their symptoms and their recent travel to China/Wuhan.

So far, there have been over 40,000 reported global cases of novel coronavirus and over 900 mortalities in China.

Symptoms of novel coronavirus include:

  • Fever, fatigue and dry cough is likely in the early stage of illness, however some patients may not progress to more severe illness. WHO reports that 25% of confirmed cases are severe.
  • Dyspnoea is said to be common in hospitalised patients, while vital signs are reported to be generally stable at the time of admission. Older patients with an underlying health condition are more likely to progress to severe infection.
  • A variety of abnormalities may be expected on chest X Rays, but bilateral lung infiltrates appear to be common, similar to what is seen with other types of viral pneumonia. 

The most recent update on novel coronavirus from our International Vice President, Dr Conor Maguire, can be found here.