Coronavirus: Two healthcare workers in UK test positive for deadly virus as GP surgery closed
Two healthcare workers have tested positive for coronavirus as a GP surgery in Brighton was closed amid fears of the infection spreading.
Brighton’s County Oak medical centre closed on Monday with a warning notice on its door telling patients it was “closed due to operational difficulties.”
According to the Brighton Argus, one of those infected was a GP, who was at work for one day but did not see any patients.
Workers wearing protective suits were pictured cleaning the surgery and pharmacy on Monday afternoon.
A recorded telephone message said: “Unfortunately the building has had to close due to an urgent operational health and safety reason.
“For non-urgent medical advice, please call NHS 111, or if you feel you need urgent medical advice, please call 999.”
Eight people in the UK have now been infected by the coronavirus. Four of the cases have been linked to a so-called “super-spreader” who caught the virus while on a business trip to Singapore.
He travelled to a ski-resort in France and then returned to the UK on an easyJet flight from Geneva to London Gatwick.
He visited the Grenadier pub in Hove before becoming ill. Public Health England officials have been scrambling to trace anyone who may have had contact with the man.
Public Health England Medical Director, Yvonne Doyle, said: “As a result of our contact tracing we now know the new cases announced today are all closely linked to one another. Our priority has been to speak to those who have close and sustained contact with confirmed cases, so we can advise them on what they can do to limit the spread of the virus.
“Two of these new cases are healthcare workers and as soon as they were identified, we advised them to self-isolate in order to keep patient contact to a minimum. We are now working urgently to identify all patients and other healthcare workers who may have come into close contact, and at this stage we believe this to be a relatively small number.
“We would like thank all those who have followed public health advice and have taken the necessary steps to reduce the risk to the general public.”
The Department of Health refused to comment on the closure of the surgery or confirm whether it was linked to the virus.
The government today called the virus a “serious and imminent threat” to public health and activated emergency powers to allow it force people to remain in quarantine.
“I will do everything in my power to keep people in this country safe,” Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said in a statement.
“We are taking every possible step to control the outbreak of coronavirus. NHS staff and others will now be supported with additional legal powers to keep people safe across the country.”
Individuals who are thought to be at risk of carrying the virus have been quarantined at Kents Hill Park Conference centre in Milton Keynes and Arrowe Park NHS accommodation near Birkenhead.
A total of 1,114 tests have for coronavirus have been carried out so far – an increase of more than 300 from Sunday, when 795 tests had been completed.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that it is currently treating three of the eight coronavirus patients in the UK.
“As one of a small number of specialist centres in England that treat people with very infectious diseases, our experienced team are well prepared for this,” the Trust has said.
“As the patients are being treated in isolation, there is absolutely no risk to any other patients or visitors.”
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