A total of nine people now have coronavirus in the UK and London now has its first confirmed case of coronavirus.
Hours after it was confirmed London has its first victim, doctors have warned the London Underground network could be a hotbed for coronavirus.
The patient is being treated at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London, it is believed the woman flew from China to London.
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.”
The risk of the virus spreading in London depends on how the woman has interacted with people, said Dr Michael Head, from the University of Southampton.
Dr Thompson said, “The key factor here is the number of contacts that this infected individual has had prior to being isolated.
“If this is low, then the risk of sustained human-to-human transmission is also low.”
Dr Head added, “It should also be noted that of the 1,750 tests carried out so far in the UK, over 99 per cent of those tested have been negative for the coronavirus.
“Thus, risks to Londoners and UK residents remain low, though people should continue to keep an eye on guidance for the general public.”
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