An Islington GP surgery has closed due to a patient having been tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.
The Ritchie Street Health Centre will be closed until Friday as it is undergoing a deep clean.
On the Surgeries website it says, “Practice is closed until 14/02/2019 due to coronavirus.
“Any patients that have the symptoms should call 111 and not come into the practice.”
A Chinese female national arrived at Heathrow Airport over the weekend from China is the ninth person in the UK to contract the virus and London’s first case.
Ben Travi, chief executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust said today, “Our colleagues in our emergency departments are following the latest advice and protocols from Public Health England.
“In this case, the patient self-presented at our A&E.
“As soon as the patient did this, the patient was given a mask and then escorted to be tested in the dedicated area we have assigned for coronavirus testing outside the A&E building while awaiting the installation of a purpose-built ‘pod’.
“As further assessment was required, the patient was then taken to a dedicated isolation room in the emergency department.
“In line with our protocols, throughout their care, the patient was escorted and did not come into contact with other patients. The patient was later discharged and taken home by London Ambulance Service.
“All staff who had direct contact with the patient have been contacted, including two members of staff who are undergoing active surveillance at home for a 14-day period as a precautionary measure – following the advice of Public Health England.”
Currently it is not known if coronavirus can survive on door handles, or grab poles on the Tube or busses, or if it can be spread by coughing or sneezing.
Doctors have warned that the London Underground network could be a hotbed for spreading coronavirus.
Dr Robin Thompson, from Oxford University said, “In general, if an initial case is in a densely populated area, then the risk of sustained person-to-person transmission following is higher.
“This is exacerbated by the fact that London is a transport hub, and the Underground could provide a network to spread the virus quickly.
“As a result, given this case was in London, it might be expected that there is an increased risk posed by this case compared to the others we have seen.”
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