As of Friday 7 February 2020, a total of 620 UK tests have concluded, of which 617 were confirmed negative and 3 positive.


call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country


The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are advising against all but essential travel to the Hubei Province. Anyone travelling to China should remain vigilant and check the latest travel advice on GOV.UK.


The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) issued clinical guidance for the detection and diagnosis of Wuhan Novel Coronavirus and PHE has developed a diagnostic test, making the UK one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this novel disease.


As of Monday 20 January 2020, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has reported 217 cases of Wuhan Novel Coronavirus. Four of these cases have been diagnosed outside of China – 2 in Thailand, one in Japan and one in South Korea, following travel to Wuhan, China. There have also now been cases in other cities in China. There have been 3 fatalities.


The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has reported 41 cases of the disease so far, the majority of which appear to be connected to a seafood and animal market in the city. There have been no deaths reported and there is no significant evidence of transmission from person to person or any signs of illness among medical and nursing staff.


The majority of reported human cases in China have had close contact with wild birds or poultry. Although the risk is very low, Public Health England and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) are reminding UK travellers to protect themselves from avian flu by minimising exposure to wild birds and poultry.


(1) Where Condition A or B (set out in regulation 4) is met in relation to a person (“P”), the Secretary of State or a registered public health consultant may—following such an assessment, (orally or in writing) impose on or in relation to P any other restriction or requirement which the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, a registered public health consultant considers necessary for the purposes of removing or reducing the risk referred to in sub-paragraph (a), including a special restriction or requirement(1).


(3) The conditions or measures which may be specified under paragraph (2)(d) include (b)a restriction on P’s activities;


(6) Paragraph (1) does not affect the exercise of any powers by virtue of regulation 5(1)(c).


(2) A constable may—(a)direct P to go immediately to a hospital or other suitable place specified in the direction for the purposes of screening, assessment and the imposition of any restrictions or requirements under regulation 5,


A constable may—remove P to a hospital or other suitable place for the purposes of the imposition of any restrictions or requirements under regulation 5; or


(7) A constable or a registered public health consultant or a person authorised by either of them for the purposes of this paragraph, may, before the end of the permitted period of detention, take a person detained in a hospital or other suitable place to one or more other hospitals or other suitable places.


(8) A person taken to a hospital or other suitable place under paragraph (7) may be detained there for a period ending no later than the permitted period of detention.


So far 13 people in the UK have tested positive, of whom 8 now have been discharged from hospital.We expect more cases here. As planned, 115 people left supported isolation at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes on 23 February. All tested negative for COVID-19.


Mr Speaker, we have a clear, 4-part plan to respond to the outbreak of this disease:Contain. Delay. Research and Mitigate.


If anyone has been in contact with a suspected case in a childcare or an educational setting, no special measures are required while test results are awaited.


Cross-government ‘war room’ of communications experts and scientists also set up ahead of public information blitz in coming weeks


Leading scientific experts and senior civil servants will also increase the number of high-level meetings to support ministers in their preparations.


The campaign will launch this week, and will feature posters and social media adverts to reinforce the importance of hand-washing, for 20 seconds or more with water and soap, to prevent the spread of the virus. NHS, Public Health England and Local Authority Public Health teams up and down the country are working tirelessly to support everyone in need of advice, testing or treatment.


Today’s developments follow significant government action over the last week, including:A PM-led press conference with the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance announcing the publication of the government’s Coronavirus action plan


But as we’ve said over the last few weeks, we have a clear plan that we are now working through. And we are now moving to the next phase in that plan.


Because this is now not just to attempt to contain the disease as far as possible, but to delay its spread and thereby minimise the suffering. If we delay the peak even by a few weeks, then our NHS will be in a stronger state as the weather improves and fewer people suffer from normal respiratory diseases, more beds are available and we’ll have more time for medical research.


We advise all those over 70 and those with serious medical conditions against going on cruises and we advise against international school trips.


British people who decide that they still need to travel abroad should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so. That includes the risk that they may not be able to get home, if travel restrictions are put in place. Anyone still considering travel needs to be realistic about the level of disruption they are willing and able to endure, and to make decisions in light of the unprecedented conditions we face.


Whether travel is essential or not is a personal decision and circumstances differ from person to person. It is for individuals themselves to make an informed decision based on the risks and FCO advice. Anyone still planning to travel should check the validity of their travel insurance.


A huge public information campaign is being rolled out so people get all the information they need to protect themselves and others.


So I can announce today and Gavin Williamson making statement now in House of Commons that after schools shut their gates from Friday afternoon, they will remain closed for most pupils – for the vast majority of pupils- until further notice. I will explain what I mean by the vast majority of pupils.


The objective is to slow the spread of the virus and we judge it is the right moment to do that. But of course, as I’ve always said, we also need to keep the NHS going and to treat the number of rising cases. So we need health workers who are also parents to continue to go to work.


And of course that is one of the reasons we haven’t wanted to go ahead and that’s why we are working now on further measures to ensure that we support not just businesses but also individuals and their families to keep our economy going as Rishi Sunak the Chancellor outlined yesterday.


This measure will not impact the relaxation of planning rules announced earlier this week which will allow pubs and restaurants to operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, which will help to support people who are staying at home through this period.


The government is working urgently to further improve testing and monitoring, which will also help in relaxing the measures as soon as possible.


Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: While people have responded well to calls for social distancing and self-isolation, we must go further if we are to be able to stop the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable people in our society, and our NHS


Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: We stand behind businesses and their employees and are offering an unprecedented range of support as we tackle this huge challenge together.


We’re also telling nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close on the same timescale.


You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.


We are accelerating our search for treatments. We are pioneering work on a vaccine. And we are buying millions of testing kits that will enable us to turn the tide on this invisible killer.


Expansion of availability of live links in other criminal hearingsSchedule 24 contains temporary modifications of—(a)the Crime and Disorder Act 1998,(b)the Extradition Act 2003,(c)the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,(d)the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, and(e)the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.


Schedule 26 contains temporary modifications of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.


The Mayor of London and the London Assembly(6)The poll for the ordinary election that would otherwise, pursuant to section 3(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (time of ordinary election for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly), be held on 7 May 2020 is to be held instead on 6 May 2021.


(7)The postponement of that ordinary election is to be ignored in determining the years in which subsequent ordinary elections are to be held.


(3)This subsection applies to— (f)an election to fill a vacancy in the office of a mayor for the area of a combined authority under Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;


In relation to a Speaker’s notice received by a petition officer in the period beginning with the day on which this Act is passed and ending with 21 April 2021, section 7 of the 2015 Act (where and from when a recall petition may be signed) has effect as if for subsection (4) there were substituted—“(4)The petition officer must designate under subsection (1)(b)—(a)a working day that falls no later than 6 May 2021, or(b)if it is not reasonably practicable to designate such a day, the first subsequent working day that it is reasonably practicable to designate.”


(6)In subsection (4)—“the relevant period” means the period beginning with the date on which this Act is passed and ending with 1 February 2021;“the 2001 Order” means the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2599).


(3)The Presiding Officer must fix a date under subsection (2) for the poll for the election to be held as soon as reasonably practicable.


(1)This section applies where under section 9 of the Scotland Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”), an election is to be held to fill a vacant seat of a constituency member (“the election”)


(1)This section applies where under section 37 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (“the 1973 Act”), an election is to be held to fill a casual vacancy in the office of councillor in a local authority (“the election”).


(6)Subsection (7) applies where—(a)notice of the date for the poll for the election has been published under Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Scottish Local Government Elections Order 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/399) (“the 2011 Order”), and(b)under subsection (2)(a), the returning officer fixes a later date for the poll (“the new date”).


(b)the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland to give directions requiring the temporary closure of further and higher education institutions;


(c)the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to give directions requiring the temporary cessation of childcare provision.


(2)Section 1 of that Act is, accordingly, to be read subject to provision made by an Order under this section.


(1) A person responsible for carrying on a business or providing a service which is listed in Schedule 2 must cease to carry on that business or to provide that service during the emergency period.


(6) A direction under paragraph (1) must— (d)be published on www.gov.uk, in the Gazette, and in such other way as appears to the Secretary of State likely to bring the direction to the attention of the persons who are likely to be affected by it.


(7) The Secretary of State must review the need for the restrictions at least once every seven days, with the first review being carried out on the seventh day after the day on which the direction is made.


(12) For the purposes of paragraph (11), a reasonable excuse includes where— (a)the person is the owner or occupier of land or premises falling within, or partially within, the restricted area;(b)the person needs to enter the restricted area to obtain access to the place where they are living, or to leave that place;(c)the person needs to enter or remain in the restricted area—(i)to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm;(ii)to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children where the children do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents;(iii)to fulfil a legal obligation or to participate in legal proceedings;


(4) Where a relevant person considers that a person is in a restricted area without a reasonable excuse in contravention of regulation 6(11), the relevant person may— (a)direct that person to leave the restricted area immediately;


Penny Mordaunt, Paymaster General said: Holding your breath for ten seconds is not a test for coronavirus and gargling water for 15 seconds is not a cure - this is the kind of false advice we have seen coming from sources claiming to be medical experts.


Certain states routinely use disinformation as a policy tool, so the government is also stepping up its efforts to share its assessments on coronavirus disinformation with international partners. Working collaboratively has already helped make the UK safer, providing ourselves and our allies with a better understanding of how different techniques are used as part of malicious information operations - and how to protect against those techniques more effectively.


Local Government Association Chairman Cllr James Jamieson said Giving councils powers to hold meetings remotely is important to maintaining local democracy and allowing critical decisions to be made during this public health crisis. Councils need to respond quickly and make very many key decisions. They can now do so while remaining open, transparent and accessible to the public.


Schedule 4 contains temporary modifications to the law in relation to the justice system.


(2)Subsection (1) is subject to section 13.


(3)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations (b)further amend subsection (1) so as to replace “31 March 2021” with “30 September 2021”.


Now, in terms of the decisions that lie ahead, we want to be as up front with the British people as we possibly can. So, let me set out 5 specific things which the government will need to be satisfied of before we will consider it safe to adjust any of the current measures.


So please please stay home, save lives and protect the NHS. So we can safely return to life as close to normal as possible, as soon as possible. It’s been an incredible national team effort. Now is not the moment to give the coronavirus a second chance. Let’s stick together, let’s see this through. And let’s defeat the coronavirus for good.


I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, there is a strong resolve to defeat this together. And today a general consensus on what we could do. And I stress could.


And that Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and the number of coronavirus cases. And in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures.


So that – all told - we are testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day. We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now, and we can. When this began, we hadn’t seen this disease before, and we didn’t fully understand its effects.


(5)The power under subsection (4)(b) and (c) includes power to modify any enactment (including this Act).


(6)Before laying a draft Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (3) before the Scottish Parliament in accordance with section 29(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (instruments subject to affirmative procedure), the Scottish Ministers must lay before the Parliament a statement of their reasons why the regulations should be made.


(3) The requirement in paragraph (2) can be complied with— (a)by P prior to P’s arrival into Scotland submitting electronically to the Secretary of State a Passenger Locator Form containing—(i)P’s passenger information, an (ii)where P is accompanied by any child for whom P has responsibility, passenger information pertaining to that child,


(5) A person who has provided passenger information in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) or (b) must provide evidence that they have done so if requested by an immigration officer.


(1) This regulation applies where a person (“P”)— (a)arrives in Scotland from outside the common travel area, or (b)arrives in Scotland from elsewhere within the common travel area, and has within the preceding 14 days been outside the common travel area.


(4) For the purposes of this regulation, where the specified premises are residential premises those premises include any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.


(2) Paragraph (1)(b) and (c) do not apply where P is a person described in paragraph 1 of schedule 2.


(2) A person who presents at immigration control at the Channel Tunnel shuttle terminal area in France(1), with the intention of boarding a shuttle service destined for the United Kingdom, must provide on the Passenger Locator Form their passenger information on so presenting.


(2) Paragraph (1)(b) and (c) does not apply where P is a person described in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2.


(1) A local authority may give a direction under regulation 4(1), 5(1) or 6(1) only if the authority considers that the following conditions are met (c)that the prohibitions, requirements or restrictions imposed by the direction are a proportionate means of achieving that purpose.


(5) Before giving or revoking a direction under this regulation, the Secretary of State must consult the Chief Medical Officer or one of the Deputy Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and Social Care.


(7) A county council for an area for which there is also a district council is to be regarded, with respect to its functions under these Regulations, as a relevant health protection authority for the purposes of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.


(7) A direction under paragraph (1) must— (a)state the date and time on which the prohibition, requirement or restriction comes into effect, and the date and time on which it will end, and(b)give details of the right of appeal to a magistrates’ court, and the time within which such an appeal may be brought.


3) Where a constable considers that an event is being held in contravention of a direction under regulation 5(1), the constable may— (b)direct a person to leave the event, and