Fear spikes as coronavirus deaths mount in UK

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain has given up the fight to contain the novel coronavirus and must now move onto the delay phase.

This means Britons will soon be subjected to sweeping restrictions on their lives. There are some 600 confirmed cases across the UK and ten people have died so far.

According to Press TV, the World Health Organization has categorized the coronavirus as a pandemic, as it has spread worldwide. For the UK that means entering the delay phase in this fight. Social distancing measures like school closures and a lockdown on public gatherings will be put in place imminently. 

For the next phase, the UK’s strategy will be to slow the spread of the virus by pushing its peak into the summer months when the NHS will be under less pressure and overlapping with seasonal flu can be avoided.

Meanwhile panic has ensured on many levels. Supermarket shelves are being emptied of staples and cleaning products. Businesses are already feeling the pinch as well, with people avoiding places like hair salons and nail bars.

The UK has unveiled a 12-billion pound package to help the economy and promised the NHS "whatever" it needs to deal with the outbreak.

ME