Pandemic flu plan activated in Sheffield as number of coronavirus cases rise

Speaking on Monday, director of public health Greg Fell revealed the authorities in the city were now following the plan in response to the global health scare, which has so far claimed 3,000 lives.

Mr Fell said the plan, which has not been made public, contains measures to contain, delay and then mitigate the virus, and incorporates lessons learned from the swine flu outbreak in 2009.

He said: “Coronavirus hasn’t formally been declared a pandemic but that is what we are all expecting.

“We are still in the contain phase and the fact we have only had got 40 positive cases is a testament to all those who have made that happen.

“But eventually it is thought that more widespread transmission will probably occur.

“Only one person so far has got the virus through secondary transmission but there will be more.

"Then it becomes about delaying its take off until late spring and limiting its impact on the NHS and social care system.

“But in a population of 500,000 we don’t know how many cases or how severe they will be. There is a lot of uncertainty.”

Mr Fell said he was confident Sheffield could cope with a larger number of cases but that people could help slow transmission down by following the NHS and Public Health England advice.

He said: “People ask me what they can do to keep themselves safe and it really is just as basic as washing your hands regularly.

“The messages are hundreds of years old but they are really important.

“We think transmission will be slower and harder in the summer but we are going to be waiting for a vaccine for some time.”

Mr Fell also said he would be meeting with Sheffield Council officers and stakeholders on Tuesday, before a city-wide meeting of health officials takes place on Wednesday.

And a region-wide local resilience forum would also be convened, bringing together leaders from across South Yorkshire, he added.

Since originating in the Hubei province of China and its capital Wuhan, the virus has spread around the world including to the UK, where 36 people have now been confirmed as being infected.

Last week a case was confirmed in the Derbyshire town of Buxton, and over the weekend cases were confirmed in Leeds and Bradford in West Yorkshire, and Bury in Greater Manchester.

No one from Sheffield has yet tested positive, but two people are currently being treated at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital after contracting coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

One of those, 26-year-old Buckinghamshire man Joe Rawlins, told his local paper the Bucks Free Press that he was ‘doing absolutely fine’ and would be out ‘before you know it’.

However, one British passenger on the same cruise ship who was transferred to a hospital in Japan died on Friday, the first UK fatality from the virus.

And on Sunday, paramedics in white suits, commonly used to protect them from hazardous materials and infections, were seen in Abney Close, Heeley, when an ambulance pulled up at around 10.30pm.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on the coronavirus crisis.

He is expected to warn ministers that Covid-19 will present a ‘significant challenge’ to the country as he finalises a new battle plan by the government.

Scotland declared its first case, while 12 new patients were diagnosed in England on Sunday, when the Health Secretary admitted it was ‘inevitable’ coronavirus would continue to spread.

Matt Hancock would not rule out following China's lead in shutting down cities if the Covid-19 outbreak escalates.

Mr Johnson, who has faced criticism for waiting until Monday to chair a meeting on the deadly virus, is due to lay out contingency plans which could include banning public gatherings.

“The number of coronavirus cases around the world is rising every day - and the UK is no exception,” he is set to tell the meeting.

“There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country.

“But we are well prepared, and the government and the NHS will stop at nothing to fight this virus.”

It will be attended by senior ministers as well as chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, as they ratify the government's proposed countermeasures.