Statement From The Four UK Chief Medical Officers On Novel Coronavirus

The Department of Health & Social Care have been working in close collaboration with international colleagues and the World Health Organisation to monitor the situation in China and around the world.

In light of the increasing number of cases in China and using existing and widely tested models, the four UK Chief Medical Officers consider it prudent for our governments to escalate planning and preparation in case of a more widespread outbreak.

For that reason, they are advising an increase of the UK risk level from low to moderate. This does not mean they think the risk to individuals in the UK has changed at this stage, but that government should plan for all eventualities.

As previously said, it is likely there will be individual cases and they are confident in the ability of the NHS and HSC in Northern Ireland to manage these in a way that protects the public and provides high quality care.