Coronavirus

Last updated 7 April 2020
This spotlight brings together the latest information we have about the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. The information will be updated accordingly as and when the UK government makes updates. All government updates can be seen here for England and are updated daily. Government updates can be seen here for Wales. The risk to the UK is now high. 

What is Coronavirus?

COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. Typical symptoms of COVID-19 include fever and a cough that may progress to severe pneumonia, causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. This is a new strain of illness, and was transmitted to humans from animals.

On 5 March 2020 COVID-19 was added to the list of notifiable diseases, and SARS-COV-2 to the list of notifiable causative agents. This change in law requires all cases of COVID-19 to be reported to Public Health authorities.

The government is asking everyone to play their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 by taking part in self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.