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U.K. Businessman Linked to Coronavirus Cluster Comes Forward U.K. Businessman Linked to Coronavirus Cluster Comes Forward
(30 minutes later)
LONDON — A British businessman believed to be the source of a cluster of coronavirus cases in Britain and in France came forward on Tuesday, saying that he had fully recovered but would remain in isolation as a precaution.LONDON — A British businessman believed to be the source of a cluster of coronavirus cases in Britain and in France came forward on Tuesday, saying that he had fully recovered but would remain in isolation as a precaution.
The man, Steve Walsh, from Hove, in southern England, contracted the virus while at a conference in Singapore last month, according to his representatives, before traveling on to a chalet in the French Alps where a number of other Britons also fell ill. The man, Steve Walsh, from Hove, in southern England, contracted the virus while at a conference in Singapore last month, according to his representatives, before traveling on to a chalet in the French Alps where a number of other Britons also fell ill. Mr. Walsh had already been widely identified in the British media.
Mr. Walsh thanked doctors for their care in a statement released by a public relations firm representing him and his employer.Mr. Walsh thanked doctors for their care in a statement released by a public relations firm representing him and his employer.
“Whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus,” said Mr. Walsh, who is one of at least eight people in Britain who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past month.“Whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus,” said Mr. Walsh, who is one of at least eight people in Britain who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past month.
More than 43,000 people, mostly in China, have been sickened by the virus since it first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, and more than 1,000 have died. The virus has spread to at least 24 countries, triggering fears of a global pandemic. More than 43,000 people, mostly in China, have been sickened by the virus since it first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, and more than 1,000 have died The virus has spread to at least 24 countries, triggering fears of a global pandemic.
Updated Feb. 10, 2020Updated Feb. 10, 2020
In Britain, attention has been focused on a cluster of transmissions at a ski resort in the French Alpine town of Les Contamines-Montjoie, near Switzerland, late last month.In Britain, attention has been focused on a cluster of transmissions at a ski resort in the French Alpine town of Les Contamines-Montjoie, near Switzerland, late last month.
At least six people in Britain, including Mr. Walsh, and five Britons in France who have the virus have been linked to the chalet.At least six people in Britain, including Mr. Walsh, and five Britons in France who have the virus have been linked to the chalet.
The British health authorities announced on Monday that they had confirmed four additional cases of the coronavirus in the country, all closely linked and tied to the French transmissions.The British health authorities announced on Monday that they had confirmed four additional cases of the coronavirus in the country, all closely linked and tied to the French transmissions.
In his statement, Mr. Walsh said that he had contacted his doctor and local public health officials as soon as he knew he had been exposed to a confirmed coronavirus case.In his statement, Mr. Walsh said that he had contacted his doctor and local public health officials as soon as he knew he had been exposed to a confirmed coronavirus case.
“I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed,” he said. “When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves.”“I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed,” he said. “When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves.”
Mr. Walsh’s employer, Servomex, issued a statement noting that it was pleased to hear that he had made a full recovery and that it would “continue to provide support to him and his family.”Mr. Walsh’s employer, Servomex, issued a statement noting that it was pleased to hear that he had made a full recovery and that it would “continue to provide support to him and his family.”
The company said it was working with the public health authorities and said it was enforcing self-isolation for others who had attended the sales conference in Singapore where Mr. Walsh is believed to have contracted the virus. The company said it was working with the public health authorities and said it was it was enforcing self-isolation for others who had attended the sales conference in Singapore where Mr. Walsh is believed to have contracted the virus.
Public health officials on Monday evening said two of the new cases announced earlier in the day were health care workers and said that they had been advised to isolate themselves.Public health officials on Monday evening said two of the new cases announced earlier in the day were health care workers and said that they had been advised to isolate themselves.
“We are now working urgently to identify all patients and other health care workers who may have come into close contact, and at this stage we believe this to be a relatively small number,” Prof. Yvonne Doyle, the medical director of Public Health England, said in a statement.“We are now working urgently to identify all patients and other health care workers who may have come into close contact, and at this stage we believe this to be a relatively small number,” Prof. Yvonne Doyle, the medical director of Public Health England, said in a statement.
Matt Hancock, Britain’s health secretary, told Parliament on Wednesday that the coronavirus situation would “get worse before it gets better.”
He noted that of the eight cases identified in the country, contact tracing for the first four cases had been completed, while tracing for the latest four cases was ongoing.
Contact tracing identified five of the known cases in Britain and the five cases of British nationals in France, Mr. Hancock explained, calling it “a tribute to the skill and tenacity” of public health officials.
On Sunday, 105 British citizens returned to the country on a flight after being evacuated from Wuhan, China. They are now in isolation facilities.
Mr. Hancock also defended measures introduced on Monday to extend the government’s powerful to forcefully quarantine people if public health professionals believe they may be at risk of spreading the virus. But he warned that the response to the coronavirus would be a long-term process.
“Dealing with this disease is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.