Coronavirus: first UK fatality ‘caught it in Britain’
News comes as UK moves to delay phase of the response
The first person in the UK to die from coronavirus caught the deadly illness in Britain, according to reports.
The victim, a woman in her 70s, had underlying health conditions and had been “in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons,” say health officials.
The patient was diagnosed after being admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on Wednesday. She is thought to have caught the virus in the UK, said the country's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Sun describes the news that the patient is thought to have contracted coronavirus in the UK as “worrying”. Boris Johnson said that “our sympathies are very much with the victim and their family”.
The news came as Downing Street warned that it was now highly likely that the virus would spread in “a significant way”. The number of cases in Britain has more than doubled from 51 two days ago to 116.
The government has announced that some of those confirmed to have contracted the virus are now being treated at home rather than in hospital.
“We’ve moved to a situation where people have minimal symptoms and they can self-isolate. It’s safer for them to self-isolate in their own homes, with support,” claimed Prof Whitty. “Anybody who needs hospitalisation will be hospitalised.”
However, the Daily Mail says there are “mounting fears overwhelmed NHS hospitals won't be able to cope with an inevitable outbreak”.
Johnson’s spokesman said: “We will continue to try to contain this virus. However it’s now highly likely that the virus is going to spread in a significant way.”
“Officials will therefore accelerate work on preparations for the delay phase of the government’s plan focusing on steps we can take to seek to delay the spread of the virus.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Martha's Rule: patients given right to urgent second opinion
The Explainer Hospitals in England will launch new scheme that will allow access to a rapid treatment review
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The contaminated blood scandal
The Explainer Widely regarded as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, the public inquiry is due to publish its report in May
By The Week UK Published
-
Can Britain's dental crisis be fixed?
The Explainer New proposals include more money for dentists working in under-served areas
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Covid-19: what to know about UK's new Juno and Pirola variants
in depth Rapidly spreading new JN.1 strain is 'yet another reminder that the pandemic is far from over'
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Vallance diaries: Boris Johnson 'bamboozled' by Covid science
Speed Read Then PM struggled to get his head around key terms and stats, chief scientific advisor claims
By The Week UK Published
-
Babylon Health: the failed AI wonder app that 'dazzled' politicians
The Explainer Demise of UK tech start-up is a cautionary tale for politicians seeking quick fixes to complicated problems
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Surgery faces ‘MeToo moment’ as female staff assaulted while operating
Two-thirds of women surgeons claim to have been sexually harassed and a third alleged assaults
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
What does UK’s first womb transplant mean for future of fertility?
Today's Big Question Procedure could be offered more widely including to transgender people
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published