Clinical News

UK starts random coronavirus testing

Britain has initiated random tests for the novel coronavirus on patients with flu-like symptoms as part of an early warning system in case the COVID-19 outbreak spreads further, said a senior health official.

Britain has had 13 people testing positive for the infection till now. An outbreak of COVID-19 infection became worse in northern Italy, and the epidemic has now spread to Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia and France through visitors who had recently been in northern Italy. Public Health England’s medical director, Paul Cosford, said, “We’re heightening our vigilance because of the apparent spread of the virus in countries outside mainland China.” (Reuters, February 26, 2020)