By Isha Sesay • Published: 12 Feb 2020 • 21:27
10% of the UK’s population could have already been infected with coronavirus, according to the UK's top scientist. Credit: Twitter/@lizziedearden
THE United Kingdom has confirmed its ninth case of coronavirus with an individual in London being diagnosed with the disease.
The latest confirmed case in the UK is a Chinese national who contracted the illness in her hometown before flying into a London airport earlier this month. It is understood that she is being kept in isolation at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital.
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty detailed the most recent case of the virus in a statement released on Wednesday evening, stating:
“One further patient in England has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases in the UK to nine.
“This virus was passed on in China and the patient has now been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London.”
The news comes after it was confirmed that the quarantine of 83 people being held in Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, Merseyside would be lifted amid reports that all of the individuals isolated have tested negative for coronavirus.
As Euro Weekly News understands, experts had previously warned that London would be at greater risk than other cities in Europe due to its large population and high number of visiting tourists. It is estimated that around 142,000 people from China travel to the capital between January and March each year.
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