Coronavirus: Rochdale's Tony Lloyd MP writes to Health Minister

Tony Lloyd, MP for Rochdale, has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the borough of Rochdale this week on 11 March.

The local resident became infected after coming into contact with another positive case outside the Rochdale borough.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/133203/coronavirus-case-confirmed-in-the-borough-of-rochdale

Mr Lloyd said: "As COVID-19 takes hold across the UK, it is looking increasingly likely that many people will be forced into some degree of self-isolation.

"However, the public information campaign on COVID-19 needs to reassure people that, whilst this is a pandemic, it could be better controlled if sensible advice is followed."

In his letter to Matt Hancock MP, Mr Lloyd wrote: "If COVID-19 spreads as modelling suggests it will, some hard choices will need to be considered about how to protect groups that are more vulnerable to the disease.

"It is important that there is an early announcement on funding for public health given that Directors of Public Health still do not know their public health allocation for the next financial year starting next month.

"I look forward to your response on these comments."

The COVID-19 strain of coronavirus was declared a pandemic – when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations – by the World Health Organization on Wednesday (11 March). It originated in Wuhan in China in December 2019, believed to have been transmitted to humans from animals.

Research published in the Lancet suggests a probability that 10+ cases will result in a large outbreak, “assuming SARS-like [Severe acute respiratory syndrome] superspreading events can occur.” Superspreading is the amplified transmission of a virus by individuals in a population.

Over 136,000 people worldwide (at the time of publication) have been infected with the illness, whilst 5,000 people have died. In the UK, 590 cases have been recorded, and 10 people have died.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that that illness caused by COVID-19 is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. It says that about one in every five people who catch the illness will require hospital care. Most of those who have developed serious illness have had pre-existing medical conditions, or have been older.

According to further research published on PubMed, the mortality rates for COVID-19 cases globally is between 1% to 2%.

For comparison, the WHO says that annual worldwide epidemics of seasonal influenza are 'estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths'.

COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.

Please help by following Public Health England advice:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

If you feel unwell with flu-like symptoms, including a cough, a high temperature and shortness of breath, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service at nhs.uk to find out what to do.

If you think you may have coronavirus please DO NOT go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

For more information, visit: 

• www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/