Coronavirus: Britons in Wuhan say they have been ‘abandoned’ as death toll reaches 100

Professor warns disease likely already in UK as Germany reports first case

The health secretary has called on more than 1,000 people who have travelled to the UK from the point of origin of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus to “self-isolate” to stop its spread.

Matt Hancock's comments came amid frustration over the government’s response to British citizens trapped at the disease’s epicentre in China.

In an address to the Commons, Mr Hancock urged the 1,460 people believed to have entered the UK after passing through the city of Wuhan to quarantine themselves for a full 14 days to ensure the disease does not gain a foothold.

It comes after the number of people infected by the virus around the world grew to nearly 3,000, with 100 confirmed dead across China, while experts believe the first cases are likely to have already travelled to Britain.

While most instances of the virus have been concentrated in China, last night the first cases were announced in Germany – the second European country to announce an infection alongside France – and Sri Lanka.

Mr Hancock told MPs it was unclear whether the disease could spread in those who did not display symptoms of the pneumonia-like illness, adding that he had directed Public Health England (PHE) to take a “belt and braces approach” to protecting the public.

“Coronaviruses do not usually spread if people don’t have symptoms, but we cannot be 100% certain,” he said. “From today, we are therefore asking anyone in the UK who has returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days to self-isolate.

“Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people, and contact NHS 111. If you are in Northern Ireland, you should phone your GP.

“If you develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel to the area, and are now in the UK, call your GP or ring 111 informing them of your symptoms and your recent travel to the city. Do not leave your home until you have been given advice by a clinician.”

Some 1,561 people are now known to have entered the UK from Wuhan since January 10, including airline crew. Mr Hancock added that the government has so far only been able to locate 101 of them.

Professor Yvonne Doyle of PHE said the first UK case is likely to come from somebody already in the country.

In an interview with Sky News, she said: “Our view is that, although airports are important, the most likely place that we might find a case is somebody in the country already, and it’s absolutely critical that the public health service and the NHS are ready to diagnose that and are able to designate the person to the right facilities.

“That’s the most likely scenario we are dealing with.”

Asked if there could be cases already in Britain, she said: “I would expect so.”

Meanwhile in Wuhan, where the disease is believed to have begun its spread in a market, British citizens have complained of little support from the government amid international efforts to extract citizens.

France and the US have already put plans in place to return their citizens from the city in Hubei province,where 76 people have died from the disease so far.

However, ministers have said they are still working to get Britons out of the region, with the prime minister, Boris Johnson, insisting the government is doing “everything we can”.

Officials estimate that up to 200 UK citizens currently there will want to return to the UK from the city of 11 million people, where roads and transport links are currently cut off to avoid further spread of the illness.

Matthew Heard, a 31-year-old education consultant in Wuhan, told radio station LBC he felt abandoned due to the lack of communication from British officials.

“There’s frustration that we’re not getting much from the government. There is no clear message we are getting from them other than to leave, which is impossible,” he said.

The city was visited by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the most senior official to journey to the epicentre of the disease.

Mr Li, who travelled to the region to encourage medical workers attempting to stem the spread of the virus, could be seen on state media leading a crowd in chants of “Wuhan jiayou”, a turn of phrase that calls on the city’s residents to keep their spirits up.

However, away from official media channels spirits were lower and frustration was aimed at those in charge. In particular, citizens took aim at Mr Li’s address to residents after he corrected himself twice on the number of face masks being produced for the region.

“If he can mess up the data multiple times, no wonder the disease has spread so severely,” said one user of the Weibo social media platform.

In a rare public show of self-criticism, the city’s mayor, Zhou Xianwang, said Wuhan’s handling of the crisis was “not good enough” as he indicated that he was willing to resign.