Health boss issues message to Sheffield after coronavirus patients arrive at hospital

The director of Public Health England in Sheffield has said that people should not be ‘overly concerned’ about the two patients being treated for coronavirus at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

By Lloyd Bent

Published 24th Feb 2020, 12:08 BST

Updated 24th Feb 2020, 12:08 BST

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Two patients were flown to the Infectious Diseases Unit on Sunday, having contracted the virus while on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

Greg Fell, Director of Public Health in Sheffield, told the BBC: "People shouldn't be overly concerned - the risk to the public, which was low, has been raised to moderate because of the increasing number of cases in the UK."

He says the two people are being treated in the Royal Hallamshire because it "has a very good infectious diseases unit."

File picture of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals said that there is no risk to other patients or visitors, because their Infectious Diseases Unit is self-contained.

The number of people in the UK who have tested positive for coronavirus is 13.

Sheffield Public Health England Greg Fell Sheffield Teaching Hospitals People Japan