Covid-19: Government ‘looking at’ isolating entire households

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned on Friday the British government are “looking at” isolating entire households to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The government are now considering “more extreme” action as 30 new cases hit the UK within 24 hours. Coronavirus cases in the UK has now hit 116 with one death in England.

Britain’s first death from the deadly coronavirus was confirmed on Thursday afternoon. The man had tested positive on Wednesday evening and has now died as he had “underlying health conditions.”

Speaking to Sky News, Sir Patrick said, “There are then more extreme versions when you think about households isolating as well.

“Self-isolation is possibly usually within houses, it means that you stay in your room, you get things delivered to it and stay there for 14 days.

“Household isolation would mean the household – that’s obviously a more extreme move.

“Again, we’re modelling that we’re looking at that in terms of what the options might be.”

Sir Patrick said self-isolation measures should not happen “too early” as the “timing of this is really, really important.”

He added, “It’s difficult, if you go too early you ask people to do things which aren’t effective for too long, by which time it becomes difficult to get the right motivation to do it,” he said.

“If you do it too late, then obviously you’ve missed the chance to make the big difference.

“So, the timing of this is really, really important.”