Prime Minister will today (Tuesday 3
March) set out the Government’s action plan to tackle the spread
of coronavirus.
He will host a press conference in Downing
Street to launch the plan, alongside the Chief Medical Officer
and Chief Scientific
Adviser Sir .
The new plan, agreed by all four parts of the
UK, sets out how Ministers will take every reasonable step to
confront the virus, consistent with the best scientific evidence,
and ensure the Government is able to adapt quickly to changing
circumstances.
Yesterday the Prime Minister brought together
the Government’s emergency COBR committee on the coronavirus
outbreak, where attendees discussed, finalised and signed off the
battle plan.
Later in the week, a major public information
campaign will be launched setting out clear steps the public can
take to limit the spread of the virus, including washing their
hands regularly with soap and water.
A new Bill will be published in the coming
weeks to ensure Government has all the necessary powers to
prepare for and tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
New measures already set out as part of the
battle plan
include:
- Every government department having a designated Ministerial
virus lead to oversee the response to the global threat of the
virus, for instance on schools or businesses
- A war room set up in the Cabinet Office, bringing together
communications experts and scientists from across government and
the NHS to roll out the public information campaign
- Coronavirus being a standing item on the weekly Cabinet
agenda, with the PM continuing to oversee the Government approach
- The option, should the virus spread, to encourage more home
working and discourage unnecessary travel as part of a ‘social
distancing’ strategy that could delay the peak of the outbreak
until later in the year, potentially helping combat the virus in
warmer weather conditions
- Looking at emergency registration of health professionals who
have retired, the introduction of emergency indemnity coverage
for health care workers to provide care or diagnostic services
and relaxation of rules around staff to pupil ratios in education
and childcare settings
Prime
Minister said:
“It is highly likely coronavirus will spread
more widely in the coming days and weeks, which is why we’re
making every possible preparation.
“We have agreed a plan, which I will set out
in detail today, so if the virus should spread, we are ready to
take necessary steps to contain it and protect the most
vulnerable.
“But we can all continue to do our bit to fight this virus - by
washing our hands with soap and water for the length of time it
takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.”
The Prime Minister has also made a number of
visits the last few days, including to:
- Kettering General Hospital – The PM met NHS frontline staff
and saw their new coronavirus pod, a special sterile cabin
outside the hospital, where people can come to be
checked
- Public Health England’s laboratory in Colindale – one of a
number of labs across the UK where tests are carried out to
confirm or rule out coronavirus
- The Royal Free Hospital – The PM met staff who are treating
patients with the virus
