UKP&I: Coronavirus Outbreak 2020
UKP&I Advice:
On 31 December 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the causative virus on 7 January 2020.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
The number of internationally confirmed cases continues to increase daily. The vast majority of cases have so far been identified in Wuhan, however it has also spread to other Chinese cities and more cases are being reported worldwide, with cases in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the Americas. The incubation period for the infection is days, rather than weeks.