UK coronavirus cases jump to 85

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51741001?at_campaign=64&at_custom3=%40BBCBreaking&at_custom4=634A6BA2-5E22-11EA-A516-F8213A982C1E

Coronavirus cases in the UK jump by 34 in a day, taking total number to 85

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

[Roland99]

1. Coronavirus epidemic in UK is likely, says chief medical officer

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/04/coronavirus-live-updates-who-global-recession-fears-update-latest-news

It comes after Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, said the coronavirus was likely to be spreading undetected in the UK already, with health officials on the brink of moving into the phase of “delaying” rather than trying to “contain” transmission.

Whitty, who is helping to lead the government’s response, said it was “likely, not definite, that we will move on to onward transmission and an epidemic here in the UK”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Whitty said the UK was almost in the second phase of the government’s strategy of trying to contain, delay, research and mitigate the virus.

“When I was here previously, we were firmly in contain stage. Now I think we are on the borderline between containing and delaying. But many of the things you do to contain it also delay it.”

[Roland99]

2. FlyBe (European low-cost airline) may succumb due to lost revenue due to reduced bookings

Link to tweet

Breaking: Flybe has told the government that it is running out of cash and will not survive until the end of the month. Airline has been hit by slump in bookings since COVID-19 outbreak. FlyBe says it needs a decision on its request for taxpayer loan of £100m “in the coming days”

Sad...flown them a couple of times. Clean and efficient flights both times.