'Isolate yourself’: Sheffield university issues urgent advice as Coronavirus death toll passes 130

While no cases have been reported in the UK, bosses at the University of Sheffield have issued urgent advice to students in the wake of the outbreak which has caused more than 100 deaths and has spread to 16 countries.

In a statement published on its website, a spokesman for the University said: “The University takes the health and safety of its students and staff very seriously.

“We are carefully monitoring the situation and will issue any further advice and guidance as it becomes available.

“Any students who have recently returned from travel in China and are feeling unwell should isolate themselves and seek medical attention.

“This particularly applies to people who have travelled to Wuhan and the affected areas in the last 14 days and are exhibiting symptoms such as fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat or runny nose.”

“As a precaution, the UK Health Secretary advice is that anyone who has returned to the UK from Wuhan should keep themselves isolated for a period of 14 days from the date of leaving China, even if they do not display any symptoms.

“We are therefore asking students who have recently returned from Wuhan to follow this advice, keeping their personal tutor informed. This means remaining in your accommodation and limiting your contact with others.”

“To avoid possible spread of the virus, you should not go to seek medical advice in person but call the NHS on 111.”

It added: “We understand this may cause disruption to your examinations or the start of teaching. If this applies to you, please contact your academic department and use the extenuating circumstances process. This also applies to any students who are currently in Wuhan or other parts of China unable to return to the UK due to travel restrictions.”

Jerry Cheung, organiser of Sheffield’s Chinese New Year celebrations said people in Sheffield were ‘panicking.’

He said: “The Chinese community in the UK is panicking. Sheffield is relatively sheltered - but it is a deadly disease and we need to be careful.”