Page ^ Daily Mail, Wednesday, March 4, 2020

UK’s fate in your hands ... not just Her Majesty’s

virus panic spreads

all acute units, for example through
the cohorting of patients’.
The term ‘cohorting’ refers to
setting up specialist coronavirus
wards to prevent patients infect-
ing others, particularly the elderly
who are the most vulnerable. Pro-

fessor Willett also urges managers

to treat patients at home, wher-

ever possible through the use of

‘remote consultations’ such as

video or phone calls.

He writes: ‘Where possible, con-

sider implementing alternative

those with long-term conditions

such as diabetes, heart disease,

lung conditions or osteoporosis.

Not only will this reduce demand,

it will also ensure that vulnerable

individuals are not coming into

hospitals and exposing themselves

to the virus. Professor Willett’s let-

ter instructs care homes to ensure

they have regular contact with

GPs and pharmacists to ensure

residents do not suddenly become

unwell and end up in hospital.

He tells them to prepare to

models such as remote consulta-

tions for those patients who can be

supported at home and review

arrangements to support vulnera-

ble individuals in alternative set-

tings, including in the community.’

Such patients would include

PATIENTS will be offered video

appointments to prevent them

turning up at overstretched and

overcrowded hospitals.
As the entire NHS was put on the high-
est level of alert to deal with coronavi-
rus, it emerged Skype calls will be given
to those with long-term conditions,
such as diabetes and heart disease, who
attend regular outpatient clinics.
Meanwhile hospitals are being urged to
prepare ‘coronavirus wards’ for large groups
of infected patients to prevent the spread
of the virus to other wards.
It comes as the NHS has been put on
Operation Level 4 – the highest level of
demand – in anticipation of a surge in cases
over the next few weeks.
The measures were set out in a letter to
health managers from the NHS’s strategic
incident director for coronavirus Professor
Keith Willett. He urges chief executives to
carry out coronavirus ‘test runs’ to practise
dealing with a sudden influx of patients.
Staff should also be fully trained in putting
on hazmat suits, as well as the basics of
washing their hands between patients.
And NHS regional trusts have also been

...as doctors

are urged to

Skype patients

• and set up

‘virus wards’

By Sophie Borland and John Stevens

✘

This is how to do it: Boris Johnson in a

photo on his Instagram account

By Sophie Borland Health Editor

‘Need to use

all acute units’

BRITONS are being urged to wash their

hands throughout the day for 20 seconds

at a time as part of a major coronavirus

awareness campaign.

Adverts are going up at bus stops and on

billboards and social media sites stressing

the importance of frequent handwashing.

They will also appear in newspapers and

on radio stations.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said sim-

ply washing your hands with soap and

water was the ‘single most important

thing’ Britons could do to protect

themselves.

But the expanded advertising campaign

is being launched amid widespread confu-

sion over whether the public should aban-

don shaking hands for fear of spreading

germs. The official advice on handshaking

is far less clear.

Boris Johnson said yesterday that he was

still shaking hands with ‘everybody’ –

including with staff in hospitals where

patients were being treated for coronavi-

rus – despite politicians around the world

ceasing the practice.

Mr Hancock, meanwhile, stressed that

the risks of handshaking were ‘negligible’,

especially if everyone washed their hands

more often.

However, the Queen appeared to be tak-

ing precautions against coronavirus yes-

terday when she wore gloves during an

investiture ceremony in the ballroom at

Buckingham Palace.

Observers suggested the elegant white

pair she chose to present awards

appeared much longer than those she

routinely wears when meeting the public

on official engagements.

It is the first time the Queen has been

pictured wearing gloves at such a cere-

mony in the past decade. Traditionally she

hands out honours without gloves, which

could hinder the fiddly task of fastening

medals to a recipient’s lapel.

At 93, she is in one of the groups most at

risk if they contract the disease. Each

investiture ceremony sees at least 60 peo-

ple presented with awards.

Buckingham Palace yesterday refused

to be drawn on whether the Queen’s

move was designed to protect her

health. A spokesman said only: ‘It is not

unusual for the Queen to wear gloves on

a public engagement.’

The handwashing adverts begin with the

stark message: ‘Coronavirus, protect

yourselves and others.’

They feature an image of germ-ridden

door handle with the warning: ‘Viruses

God save the clean: Queen wore gloves yesterday when she gave a CBE to actress

NHS ON HIG H EST ALERT

told to set up COVID-19 Incident Coordina-
tion Centres, which will work seven days a
week to provide advice to hospitals, ambu-
lance services and GPs.
Professor Willett’s letter, sent on Monday,
states: ‘As you will be aware, the current
outbreak of a novel coronavirus is resulting
in national and international preparations
to be stepped up.
‘In declaring a Level 4 incident, NHS Eng-
land and NHS Improvement have estab-
lished an incident management team with
an operational incident coordination centre
established seven days a week, working
closely with the Department of Health and
Social Care, Public Health England and
other Government departments.’
Until now, coronavirus patients have been
taken to one of four specialised infectious
disease centres: Guy’s and St Thomas’s
and the Royal Free in London, the Royal
Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hos-
pitals NHS Trust and Newcastle upon Tyne
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
But the letter explains that, should the
number of cases escalate as expected, all
hospitals in England will be required to
treat patients.
In this event, it states ‘we will need to use