Hartlepool health chiefs stress coronavirus advice as infection spreads

Council director of public health Pat Riordan gave an update on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to the Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board.

She outlined current national advice on the situation following the Cobra meeting held by government chiefs on Monday.

This included how the country is in the first phase – “containment” – of the government’s four-part plan to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

The second phase – “delay” – will seek to push back the peak of the epidemic to the summer.

To date there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hartlepool.

Ms Riordan outlined national advice and steps taken so far.

She said: “There will be voluntary isolation in relation to members of public that actually are positive for coronavirus, instead of them being diverted into specialist hospital treatment they are told to remain in the confines of their own home.

“If they are symptomatic of COVID-19 they should self isolate and phone 111 under the current containment arrangements.

“There would be voluntary isolation in relation to the family of a positive case.

“There may well be further recommendations with regard to advice to transport and travel on public transport, but again this is very much a phased approach.

“It will very much depend on the speed and the extent of the epidemic wave as it travels. We can’t really anticipate that at the moment.

“It is believed this epidemic will be around and about within society for at least five months, so it’s not a short, quick episode.

“The intensity of the epidemic is anticipated to be around nine weeks in its first phase. The epidemic then may well be seen to drop down the curve only to reappear again later in the autumn and early winter.”

Bosses from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust echoed calls for anyone showing symptoms, or who fears they may have coronavirus, to stay at home and call 111.

Deepak Dwarakanath, from the trust, said: “May I just emphasise to phone 111 and not to come to the trust. Please phone 111 if you’re in any doubt.”