news--2020-03-21--Coronavirus: Australian beach closed after hundreds gather in defiance of 'social distancing' rules

Australia 's most popular beach has been closed after hundreds of people gathered there on Friday in defiance of `` social distancing '' rules .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had asked Australians not to gather in groups of more than 500 outdoors , while an indoor limit was set at 100 .
It was also advised that people stay at least 1.5m away from each other .
So Friday 's scenes at Bondi Beach in Sydney sparked anger from many , including Australia 's health minister Greg Hunt .
Mr Hunt told reporters that those pictured on the beach had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added : `` What happened in Bondi was unacceptable , and the local council must take steps to stop that from occurring .
`` This is all of our responsibility , each of us .
`` I would say to everybody , we are all in this together . ''
On Saturday , Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said Bondi Beach would be temporarily closed , according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Australia has more than 750 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the respiratory illness caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
In the US state of Florida , city officials took it upon themselves to close beaches after Governor Ron DeSantis refused to .
It came after pictures of college students enjoying their break by flocking to the state 's beaches earlier in the week .
Mr DeSantis had said on Tuesday that he would not close the beaches , despite closing the state 's bars and clubs , but he did limit parties to 10 people per group .
But the mayors of Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale , two of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had ordered their beaches closed .
Beaches in Tampa and Naples are also closed , along with those in Miami-Dade County .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Florida has more than 500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus .
Globally there have been 272,000 cases and 11,000 deaths .

Australia's most popular beach has been closed after hundreds of people gathered there on Friday in defiance of "social distancing" rules.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had asked Australians not to gather in groups of more than 500 outdoors, while an indoor limit was set at 100.
It was also advised that people stay at least 1.5m away from each other.
So Friday's scenes at Bondi Beach in Sydney sparked anger from many, including Australia's health minister Greg Hunt.
Mr Hunt told reporters that those pictured on the beach had been "putting others at risk".
He added: "What happened in Bondi was unacceptable, and the local council must take steps to stop that from occurring.
"This is all of our responsibility, each of us.
"I would say to everybody, we are all in this together."
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On Saturday, Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said Bondi Beach would be temporarily closed, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
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Australia has more than 750 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. Seven people have died.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:13 Coronavirus leaves Miami Beach deserted
In the US state of Florida, city officials took it upon themselves to close beaches after Governor Ron DeSantis refused to.
It came after pictures of college students enjoying their break by flocking to the state's beaches earlier in the week.
Mr DeSantis had said on Tuesday that he would not close the beaches, despite closing the state's bars and clubs, but he did limit parties to 10 people per group.
But the mayors of Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, two of the state's most popular beach destinations, had ordered their beaches closed.
Beaches in Tampa and Naples are also closed, along with those in Miami-Dade County.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Florida has more than 500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Globally there have been 272,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.


news--2020-03-21--Coronavirus: 'Extraordinary' UK effort to produce thousands more ventilators

UK firms collaborating to produce thousands more ventilators for the NHS say they are just days away from putting prototypes into production .
Last weekend , Health Secretary Matt Hancock made a public plea for help after it became apparent the UK would not have enough ventilators to cope with the expected numbers of patients with serious COVID-19 symptoms .
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed they have asked suppliers to build `` as many ventilators as they can '' .
The NHS said last week that they have a total of 8,175 respirators currently with more being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The offers of help have come from all kinds of British businesses from F1 racing teams to vacuum cleaner specialists .
Gtech have switched their focus from vacuum cleaners and garden machinery to producing ventilators and have a prototype that they believe is very close to production .
`` My understanding is that we could need 30,000 ( ventilators ) , '' its founder Nick Grey told Sky News .
His team of engineers has developed a prototype in their Worcestershire workshops which they presented to the government on Friday .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a short time and in quite high volume… I 'd estimate at a thousand a day , '' Mr Grey added .
`` We think we have solved all the difficult bits , we are just making the last bits of a pneumatic timer now which hopefully will be ready in a few hours .
If that works we can take all the electronics off it and it will just run on oxygen supply so it is very simple . ''
The McLaren F1 team is part of another consortium alongside HVM Catapult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon .
A spokesperson told Sky News : `` The designs of a preferred solution are due to be released imminently and when they are , the consortium stands ready to begin production on these immediately . ''
`` The response to the government 's call from across the manufacturing community has been extraordinary , '' they added .
Coventry-based RDM Automotive normally produce driverless pod cars but have also asked their engineers to focus 100 % of their energies on this mission that is seen as vital in tackling coronavirus .
: @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker .
Spokesman Miles Garner said : `` It is a war on coronavirus… in the old type of spirit of the war we have to rally round , we have to help each other and we have to help our loved ones and that 's what we are trying to do . ''
As well as collaborating with business to solve the shortage of ventilators , the government has also signed a deal with independent hospitals in the UK which includes access to a @ @ @ @

UK firms collaborating to produce thousands more ventilators for the NHS say they are just days away from putting prototypes into production.
Last weekend, Health Secretary Matt Hancock made a public plea for help after it became apparent the UK would not have enough ventilators to cope with the expected numbers of patients with serious COVID-19 symptoms.
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed they have asked suppliers to build "as many ventilators as they can".
The NHS said last week that they have a total of 8,175 respirators currently with more being made available to medics every day.
The offers of help have come from all kinds of British businesses from F1 racing teams to vacuum cleaner specialists.
Gtech have switched their focus from vacuum cleaners and garden machinery to producing ventilators and have a prototype that they believe is very close to production.
"My understanding is that we could need 30,000 (ventilators)," its founder Nick Grey told Sky News.
Image: The government has asked manufacturers to switch to making ventilators
His team of engineers has developed a prototype in their Worcestershire workshops which they presented to the government on Friday.
"I'm confident we can build them in a short time and in quite high volume… I'd estimate at a thousand a day," Mr Grey added.
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"We think we have solved all the difficult bits, we are just making the last bits of a pneumatic timer now which hopefully will be ready in a few hours. If that works we can take all the electronics off it and it will just run on oxygen supply so it is very simple."
Image: Health Secretary Matt Hancock made a public plea for help over the shortage of ventilators
The McLaren F1 team is part of another consortium alongside HVM Catapult also looking to mass produce ventilators very soon.
A spokesperson told Sky News: "The designs of a preferred solution are due to be released imminently and when they are, the consortium stands ready to begin production on these immediately."
"The response to the government's call from across the manufacturing community has been extraordinary," they added.
Coventry-based RDM Automotive normally produce driverless pod cars but have also asked their engineers to focus 100% of their energies on this mission that is seen as vital in tackling coronavirus.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
Spokesman Miles Garner said: "It is a war on coronavirus… in the old type of spirit of the war we have to rally round, we have to help each other and we have to help our loved ones and that's what we are trying to do."
As well as collaborating with business to solve the shortage of ventilators, the government has also signed a deal with independent hospitals in the UK which includes access to a further 1,200 ventilators.


news--2020-03-21--Coronavirus: Queues snake round car parks as panic buying intensifies

People have been queuing at supermarkets from the early morning as panic buying continues at British supermarkets .
Pictures show a long line of people around the car park of a Tesco in south London at 6am on Saturday , just to buy essential goods during the coronavirus pandemic .
Many supermarkets have set earlier hours of operation aside for the elderly and key workers , but there are signs they too are struggling to buy what they need , as people worried about COVID-19 stockpiling .
Prime minister Boris Johnson has spoken to supermarket bosses about efforts to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic buying that is gripping the UK .
Shelves have been stripped of essential items , such as toilet rolls , hand sanitiser , paracetamol , meat , fruit and vegetables as shoppers ignore pleas not to stockpile .
Tesco , Marks & Spencer , Sainsbury 's and Asda have announced a golden shopping hour for NHS and social care workers , so they can join older and vulnerable shoppers in having less competition for restocked shelves .
Stores have said they are taking on thousands of temporary and permanent workers to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Eustice urged people to `` be responsible '' when shopping and to `` think of others . ''
`` Buying more than you need means others may be left without , '' he said .
`` There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand , '' he added .
`` Be responsible when you shop and think of others .
Mr Eustice said that it was for retailers to agree what the appropriate limit was on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queue ran along the entire length of the Tesco car park in New Malden , southwest London on Saturday morning .
Drone footage showed shoppers waiting in line for the superstore to open , appearing to space themselves out to ensure they kept the recommended distance .
Another picture obtained by Sky News was taken outside a branch of Iceland in Wallington , also southwest London , where a special shopping session for key workers had been laid on .
Many of those key workers who had turned up to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get in and had to go elsewhere .
The teacher who took the picture said it was a `` very strange sight '' .
She told Sky News : `` I thought it would be much quieter as the shop was just open to target groups and I was pretty disappointed because I was only shopping for food bank bits and pieces . ''
There were reports of people having to spend several hours trying to buy things they needed , and to visit several stores .
Long queues have also been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people appear to switch from supermarkets to wholesalers in a bid to stock up .
It comes a day after a photo emerged of a paramedic staring at completely empty shelves in a Sainsbury 's , said to be in south London .
Critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough , from York , also appeared in a social media video making a heartfelt plea for shoppers to stop stockpiling .
In the video , she is seen crying after visiting a supermarket following a 48-hour hospital shift to find there were no fruit or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mirrored across the country .
Mr Johnson has spoken to the leading supermarket chains to see what can be done to ensure shelves remain stocked and the supply chains can cope .
The aim is to help around 1.4 million people with underlying health conditions who will be asked in the coming days to quarantine themselves for their own safety .
Tesco , the UK 's biggest grocer , is recruiting 20,000 temporary workers for at least the next 12 weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Meanwhile , Sainsbury 's is following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping hour for NHS and social care workers , after earlier in the week it and others launched a separate shopping hour for the elderly .
Sainsbury 's says health care workers will be able to shop between 8am and 9am every Monday , Wednesday and Friday , alongside elderly and vulnerable shoppers .
However one NHS worker immediately tweeted the supermarket saying : `` As a NHS worker who will have regular contact with patients who have coronavirus , I 'm trying to minimise my contact with vulnerable groups .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not feel that I can shop at the same time as the elderly .
Please consider separate shopping hours for us ! ''
Meanwhile , Morrisons said it was taking on up to 500 staff from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops to help the elderly and vulnerable in its supermarkets .
And to thank NHS workers and community groups for their hard work , Lidl said it was giving away thousands of bouquets of Mother 's Day flowers .
In an attempt to deal with the unprecedented demand for hand sanitiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pubs and subsequent cut in demand for beer and spirits , some brewers have switched their operations to make alcohol-based hand sanitiser .
A number of small gin distilleries across Britain are also producing hand sanitiser .
Meanwhile , eBay has announced it is heavily restricting the sale of face masks and hand sanitiser products .
Sky News revealed two weeks ago that some sellers were charging exorbitant prices , exploiting shortages after panic buying .
eBay said only a whitelist of trusted sellers will be permitted to continue trading these items @ @ @ @

People have been queuing at supermarkets from the early morning as panic buying continues at British supermarkets.
Pictures show a long line of people around the car park of a Tesco in south London at 6am on Saturday, just to buy essential goods during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many supermarkets have set earlier hours of operation aside for the elderly and key workers, but there are signs they too are struggling to buy what they need, as people worried about COVID-19 stockpiling.
Image: A queue outside a Tesco in New Malden. Pic: Peter Macdiarmid/LNP
Prime minister Boris Johnson has spoken to supermarket bosses about efforts to keep supplies flowing and how to overcome the panic buying that is gripping the UK.
Shelves have been stripped of essential items, such as toilet rolls, hand sanitiser, paracetamol, meat, fruit and vegetables as shoppers ignore pleas not to stockpile.
Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Asda have announced a golden shopping hour for NHS and social care workers, so they can join older and vulnerable shoppers in having less competition for restocked shelves.
Stores have said they are taking on thousands of temporary and permanent workers to deal with the increased demand.
Environment Secretary George Eustice urged people to "be responsible" when shopping and to "think of others."
"Buying more than you need means others may be left without," he said.
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"There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand," he added.
"Be responsible when you shop and think of others.
Mr Eustice said that it was for retailers to agree what the appropriate limit was on goods such as toilet paper.
A queue ran along the entire length of the Tesco car park in New Malden, southwest London on Saturday morning.
Drone footage showed shoppers waiting in line for the superstore to open, appearing to space themselves out to ensure they kept the recommended distance.
Another picture obtained by Sky News was taken outside a branch of Iceland in Wallington, also southwest London, where a special shopping session for key workers had been laid on.
Many of those key workers who had turned up to be able to buy food and essentials were unable to get in and had to go elsewhere.
The teacher who took the picture said it was a "very strange sight".
She told Sky News: "I thought it would be much quieter as the shop was just open to target groups and I was pretty disappointed because I was only shopping for food bank bits and pieces."
Image: Key workers queue round the block as they wait to get into a special early morning shopping session in Wallington, south London
There were reports of people having to spend several hours trying to buy things they needed, and to visit several stores.
Long queues have also been reported at several branches of Costco, as people appear to switch from supermarkets to wholesalers in a bid to stock up.
It comes a day after a photo emerged of a paramedic staring at completely empty shelves in a Sainsbury's, said to be in south London.
Critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, from York, also appeared in a social media video making a heartfelt plea for shoppers to stop stockpiling.
Image: Shoppers are faced with partially empty shelves at a supermarket in London
In the video, she is seen crying after visiting a supermarket following a 48-hour hospital shift to find there were no fruit or vegetables - a scene that has been mirrored across the country.
Mr Johnson has spoken to the leading supermarket chains to see what can be done to ensure shelves remain stocked and the supply chains can cope.
The aim is to help around 1.4 million people with underlying health conditions who will be asked in the coming days to quarantine themselves for their own safety.
Tesco, the UK's biggest grocer, is recruiting 20,000 temporary workers for at least the next 12 weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Image: Members of the public queue to get into the Costco store in Glasgow, Scotland before opening on Saturday
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's is following other supermarket chains and introducing a golden shopping hour for NHS and social care workers, after earlier in the week it and others launched a separate shopping hour for the elderly.
Sainsbury's says health care workers will be able to shop between 8am and 9am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, alongside elderly and vulnerable shoppers.
However one NHS worker immediately tweeted the supermarket saying: "As a NHS worker who will have regular contact with patients who have coronavirus, I'm trying to minimise my contact with vulnerable groups.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I do not feel that I can shop at the same time as the elderly. Please consider separate shopping hours for us!"
Image: Hundreds of people queue to enter a Costco Wholesalers in Coventry on Saturday
Meanwhile, Morrisons said it was taking on up to 500 staff from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops to help the elderly and vulnerable in its supermarkets.
And to thank NHS workers and community groups for their hard work, Lidl said it was giving away thousands of bouquets of Mother's Day flowers.
In an attempt to deal with the unprecedented demand for hand sanitiser, and the consequences of the closure of pubs and subsequent cut in demand for beer and spirits, some brewers have switched their operations to make alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Image: People queue outside the Costco wholesalers in Glasgow
North-east Scottish brewers Brewdog are producing an alcohol based gel called Brew gel.
A number of small gin distilleries across Britain are also producing hand sanitiser.
Meanwhile, eBay has announced it is heavily restricting the sale of face masks and hand sanitiser products.
Sky News revealed two weeks ago that some sellers were charging exorbitant prices, exploiting shortages after panic buying.
eBay said only a whitelist of trusted sellers will be permitted to continue trading these items at appropriate prices.


news--2020-03-21--Coronavirus: Panic buyers 'should be ashamed', says NHS boss

The top doctor at NHS England says that people whose panic buying has left healthcare workers unable to buy food should `` be ashamed '' of themselves .
Stephen Powis , national medical director at NHS England , urged people to think of struggling NHS staff dealing with the coronavirus crisis .
His comments come amid reports that people on the front line in the fight against COVID-19 have found it difficult to buy what they need after working long hours .
Mr Powis referred to a video posted on social media of a critical care nurse named Dawn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to find any fruit or vegetables in a supermarket .
He said : `` Frankly we should all be ashamed that that has to happen - it 's unacceptable .
These are the very people that we all need to look after perhaps us or our loved ones in the weeks to come . ''
`` I would like to make a plea on behalf of all my colleagues in the NHS , nurses , doctors , paramedics and many , many others who are working incredibly hard at the moment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's incredibly important that they too have access to food , to those essential supplies that they need . ''
He was speaking in the daily Downing Street briefing which provides an update on the situation with the virus , which has so far killed scores of people in the UK .
In a change from the previous week 's conferences which have been held by the prime minister , it was the environment secretary George Eustice who spoke on behalf of the government .
He backed the comments of Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand .
`` Be responsible when you shop and think of others .
`` Buying more than you need means that others may be left without and it is making life more difficult for those front line workers , such as our doctors and nurses and NHS support staff , '' Mr Eustice said .
Asked whether the government could step in and put legal limits on what people could buy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting what people purchase .
`` All of the major retailers are working together and exercising their own judgment on where it 's appropriate to put limits - item limits - on certain issues , '' he said .
`` Toilet roll is one , where , for reasons that are not really known , there was a spike early on , despite the fact that toilet roll is made in this country and they are able to expand production very quickly . ''
When asked whether he would rule out the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eustice restated that supermarkets were best placed to judge what limits should be put in place .
The comments come on a day when queues have been seen outside many supermarkets and wholesalers around the country .
Many who have been into grocery stores have been met with empty shelves and found they have been unable to purchase products like toilet roll , hand sanitiser and paracetamol .
Chief executive of the British Retail Consortium , Helen Dickinson , was also in the government press conference .
She said there was `` plenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the problem was getting it to the stores in good time .
`` The issue is around people and lorries , so getting that food right into the front line onto our shelves , which is why we 've seen some shortages , '' she said .
`` There is a billion pounds ' more food in people 's houses than there was three weeks ago , so we should make sure we eat some of it . ''
Mr Eustice was asked whether it could be possible for the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in to make sure the goods could get to the supermarket .
He said : `` We are obviously giving increasing thought within government over how we will protect those who may be self-isolating because they are vulnerable and I know more will be said about this in due course . ''
Mr Eustice said that talks were ongoing with supermarkets to ensure that enough stock was making its way through to the food banks .
He added that the government was keeping `` a close eye '' on profiteering amid concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflated prices .

The top doctor at NHS England says that people whose panic buying has left healthcare workers unable to buy food should "be ashamed" of themselves.
Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England, urged people to think of struggling NHS staff dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
His comments come amid reports that people on the front line in the fight against COVID-19 have found it difficult to buy what they need after working long hours.
Mr Powis referred to a video posted on social media of a critical care nurse named Dawn, who was reduced to tears after being unable to find any fruit or vegetables in a supermarket.
He said: "Frankly we should all be ashamed that that has to happen - it's unacceptable. These are the very people that we all need to look after perhaps us or our loved ones in the weeks to come."
"I would like to make a plea on behalf of all my colleagues in the NHS, nurses, doctors, paramedics and many, many others who are working incredibly hard at the moment to manage this outbreak of coronavirus."
"It's incredibly important that they too have access to food, to those essential supplies that they need."
Image: Empty shelves in a Sainsbury's supermarket in Cheshire
He was speaking in the daily Downing Street briefing which provides an update on the situation with the virus, which has so far killed scores of people in the UK.
In a change from the previous week's conferences which have been held by the prime minister, it was the environment secretary George Eustice who spoke on behalf of the government.
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Image: People queue outside the Costco wholesalers in Glasgow
He backed the comments of Mr Powis, saying: "There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand.
"Be responsible when you shop and think of others.
"Buying more than you need means that others may be left without and it is making life more difficult for those front line workers, such as our doctors and nurses and NHS support staff," Mr Eustice said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:08 Environment Secretary George Eustice: 'Think of others when you shop'
Asked whether the government could step in and put legal limits on what people could buy, Mr Eustice said the supermarkets were already limiting what people purchase.
"All of the major retailers are working together and exercising their own judgment on where it's appropriate to put limits - item limits - on certain issues," he said.
Image: A queue outside a Tesco in New Malden, southwest London. Pic: Peter Macdiarmid/LNP
"Toilet roll is one, where, for reasons that are not really known, there was a spike early on, despite the fact that toilet roll is made in this country and they are able to expand production very quickly."
When asked whether he would rule out the possibility of rationing or ration books, Mr Eustice restated that supermarkets were best placed to judge what limits should be put in place.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:45 Shoppers queue around a Tesco car park to get food and supplies amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The comments come on a day when queues have been seen outside many supermarkets and wholesalers around the country.
Many who have been into grocery stores have been met with empty shelves and found they have been unable to purchase products like toilet roll, hand sanitiser and paracetamol.
Chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson, was also in the government press conference.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:08 Sky's Ed Conway looks at the measures being put in place by government to combat the economic impact of coronavirus, including some novel solutions.
She said there was "plenty of food" in the supply chain, but the problem was getting it to the stores in good time.
"The issue is around people and lorries, so getting that food right into the front line onto our shelves, which is why we've seen some shortages," she said.
"There is a billion pounds' more food in people's houses than there was three weeks ago, so we should make sure we eat some of it."
Mr Eustice was asked whether it could be possible for the government, or maybe the military, to step in to make sure the goods could get to the supermarket.
He said: "We are obviously giving increasing thought within government over how we will protect those who may be self-isolating because they are vulnerable and I know more will be said about this in due course."
Mr Eustice said that talks were ongoing with supermarkets to ensure that enough stock was making its way through to the food banks.
He added that the government was keeping "a close eye" on profiteering amid concerns some products have been sold online for inflated prices.


news--2020-02-03--Coronavirus v SARS: How similar are the outbreaks?

With cases of a new coronavirus rising and concern growing over the spread , comparisons are being drawn the deadly SARS outbreak in 2001 .
Both are strains of coronavirus , and virologists say the current strain , 2019-nCoV , is a close relative to SARS .
But how similar are the two diseases , and what can we expect to happen ?
Where did they originate ?
Both illnesses originated in China and are believed to have been first transmitted in wet markets .
Coronaviruses are zoonotic diseases , which means they can jump from animals to humans - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in close proximity .
Chinese scientists believe the new coronavirus , dubbed the Wuhan virus , could have been transmitted by bats at the seafood market in the city of Wuhan .
SARS is thought to have been transmitted from one species of animal - potentially bats - to civet cats , which then infected humans at a market in the Guangdong province of southern China .
How many people have been infected ?
The number of cases of the Wuhan virus could be far higher than reported , as those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested for coronavirus .
Some researchers have suggested the real figure is 100,000 cases or more .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker There have been no confirmed cases of SARS since 2004 .
Both diseases have been concentrated in China , although managed to spread after people travelled from China to other countries .
How do the viruses spread ?
The magnitude of an outbreak depends on how easily the virus can spread .
Although research is still at early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Wuhan virus could infect on average 2.6 ( between 1.5 and 3.5 ) people .
This makes it as contagious as SARS .
How fast a virus spreads can also be affected by its incubation period - the time between being exposed to the virus and the onset of symptoms .
As the Wuhan virus has a longer incubation period than SARS , and it can be passed on before a person experiences symptoms , it is harder to contain .
SARS patients were largely isolated as soon as they became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and therefore it was easier to trace others they may have come into contact with .
How deadly are they ?
Deaths from the Wuhan virus have been concentrated in mainland China , with only one confirmed case outside China - in the Philippines .
The death toll from the new coronavirus in mainland China has exceeded the deaths from the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak , which killed 349 people in mainland China and 299 in Hong Kong .
However , 16 % of deaths from SARS occurred outside China and its administrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases is actually far higher than recorded and a rise in the number of recoveries , the fatality rate of the Wuhan virus could be much lower than currently reported .
In the 20 days since cases of the Wuhan virus started being recorded , the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) declared 530 of those infected had recovered .
In comparison , 1,706 people had recovered from SARS after 95 days during the 2003 outbreak .
Who were the victims ?
Most of those killed by the Wuhan virus were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , but at least five victims under the age of 60 have been recorded .
Similarly , SARS deaths were largely recorded in older patients and those with underlying health conditions .
According to a WHO report from May 2003 , less than 1 % of those killed were under the age of 24 , and up to 6 % of 25 to 44-year-olds who were infected died .
Both the Wuhan virus and SARS are believed to be mutations of a strain of coronavirus found in small mammals .
Some researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that it spreads more efficiently or becomes more harmful .
However , mutations do not necessarily make a virus more virulent .
A 2018 study of SARS in primate cells found a mutation of the 2003 outbreak is likely to have made the virus less harmful .
What was China 's response like ?
Chinese authorities were heavily criticised for their response to the SARS outbreak after they attempted to cover it up .
Patients were kept in hotels and driven around in ambulances in order to hide the true number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four months to institute any quarantine measures .
China says it has since learned its lesson and has made sharing information a priority .
Authorities have reacted by locking down Wuhan and more than a dozen other cities across Hubei province , restricting the movement of 56 million people .
There is not currently a vaccine available for either SARS or the Wuhan virus .
A vaccine was prepared for human trials following the SARS outbreak , but it was never needed as the virus was able to be contained .
As scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strains of coronavirus , including Middle East respiratory syndrome ( MERS ) , there is optimism a vaccine for 2019-nCoV could be developed by the summer .
Virologist Professor Paul Kellam previously told Sky News : `` If everything moves smoothly , it takes three to six weeks to get to the point where you can start testing , then you look to see if they can raise an immune response , normally in an animal .
`` You wo n't start to get human studies until about the beginning of the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a bit of a moveable feast . ''
If the Wuhan virus is not able to be contained and a vaccine is not developed , it could become endemic - meaning deaths would occur each year as the virus circulates .
But with scientists still trying to record more accurate data on the latest outbreak , there is not yet solid evidence as to how severe and contagious this strain of coronavirus is - and whether it could be as deadly as the SARS pandemic .

Coronavirus v SARS: How similar are the outbreaks?
By Emily Mee, news reporter, and Carmen Aguilar-Garcia, data journalist
With cases of a new coronavirus rising and concern growing over the spread, comparisons are being drawn the deadly SARS outbreak in 2001.
Both are strains of coronavirus, and virologists say the current strain, 2019-nCoV, is a close relative to SARS.
But how similar are the two diseases, and what can we expect to happen?
Where did they originate?
Both illnesses originated in China and are believed to have been first transmitted in wet markets.
Coronaviruses are zoonotic diseases, which means they can jump from animals to humans - especially in locations where humans and animals are in close proximity.
Chinese scientists believe the new coronavirus, dubbed the Wuhan virus, could have been transmitted by bats at the seafood market in the city of Wuhan.
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SARS is thought to have been transmitted from one species of animal - potentially bats - to civet cats, which then infected humans at a market in the Guangdong province of southern China.
Image: Residents wear masks to buy vegetables in the Wuhan market
Image: A member of the Thai Airways crew disinfects the cabin of an aircraft
How many people have been infected?
The number of cases of the Wuhan virus could be far higher than reported, as those with milder or no symptoms may not have been tested for coronavirus.
Some researchers have suggested the real figure is 100,000 cases or more.
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There have been no confirmed cases of SARS since 2004.
Both diseases have been concentrated in China, although managed to spread after people travelled from China to other countries.
How do the viruses spread?
The magnitude of an outbreak depends on how easily the virus can spread.
Although research is still at early stages, some studies estimate each individual with the Wuhan virus could infect on average 2.6 (between 1.5 and 3.5) people.
This makes it as contagious as SARS.
How fast a virus spreads can also be affected by its incubation period - the time between being exposed to the virus and the onset of symptoms.
As the Wuhan virus has a longer incubation period than SARS, and it can be passed on before a person experiences symptoms, it is harder to contain.
SARS patients were largely isolated as soon as they became contagious, when symptoms began to show, and therefore it was easier to trace others they may have come into contact with.
Image: Wuhan virus vs SARS
How deadly are they?
Deaths from the Wuhan virus have been concentrated in mainland China, with only one confirmed case outside China - in the Philippines.
The death toll from the new coronavirus in mainland China has exceeded the deaths from the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, which killed 349 people in mainland China and 299 in Hong Kong.
However, 16% of deaths from SARS occurred outside China and its administrative regions.
With the possibility that the number of cases is actually far higher than recorded and a rise in the number of recoveries, the fatality rate of the Wuhan virus could be much lower than currently reported.
In the 20 days since cases of the Wuhan virus started being recorded, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared 530 of those infected had recovered.
In comparison, 1,706 people had recovered from SARS after 95 days during the 2003 outbreak.
Who were the victims?
Most of those killed by the Wuhan virus were over 60 and many had pre-existing health conditions, but at least five victims under the age of 60 have been recorded.
Similarly, SARS deaths were largely recorded in older patients and those with underlying health conditions.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:01 Fear and anger grows over the coronavirus in Hong Kong
According to a WHO report from May 2003, less than 1% of those killed were under the age of 24, and up to 6% of 25 to 44-year-olds who were infected died.
Can the viruses mutate?
Both the Wuhan virus and SARS are believed to be mutations of a strain of coronavirus found in small mammals.
Some researchers fear the new coronavirus could mutate again so that it spreads more efficiently or becomes more harmful.
Image: Worshippers wear masks at Che Kung Temple in Hong Kong
However, mutations do not necessarily make a virus more virulent.
A 2018 study of SARS in primate cells found a mutation of the 2003 outbreak is likely to have made the virus less harmful.
What was China's response like?
Chinese authorities were heavily criticised for their response to the SARS outbreak after they attempted to cover it up.
Patients were kept in hotels and driven around in ambulances in order to hide the true number of cases.
It took officials at least four months to institute any quarantine measures.
China says it has since learned its lesson and has made sharing information a priority.
Authorities have reacted by locking down Wuhan and more than a dozen other cities across Hubei province, restricting the movement of 56 million people.
Has a vaccine been developed?
There is not currently a vaccine available for either SARS or the Wuhan virus.
A vaccine was prepared for human trials following the SARS outbreak, but it was never needed as the virus was able to be contained.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
As scientists have already worked on vaccines for other strains of coronavirus, including Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), there is optimism a vaccine for 2019-nCoV could be developed by the summer.
Virologist Professor Paul Kellam previously told Sky News: "If everything moves smoothly, it takes three to six weeks to get to the point where you can start testing, then you look to see if they can raise an immune response, normally in an animal.
"You won't start to get human studies until about the beginning of the summer, probably July. But, it's a bit of a moveable feast."
If the Wuhan virus is not able to be contained and a vaccine is not developed, it could become endemic - meaning deaths would occur each year as the virus circulates.
But with scientists still trying to record more accurate data on the latest outbreak, there is not yet solid evidence as to how severe and contagious this strain of coronavirus is - and whether it could be as deadly as the SARS pandemic.


news--2020-02-04--Coronvirus: China cash injection lifts gloom for shares

World stock market values have lifted after the Chinese state provided more medicine to soothe concerns over the coronavirus crisis .
Investors in Asia , Europe and later the US piled in on news of a second , and more hefty , cash injection for financial markets by China 's central bank .
The People 's Bank of China ( PBoC ) was reported by state media to have added $ 57bn ( £44bn ) of extra funds on Tuesday , on top of $ 21bn ( £16bn ) made available on Monday .
Then , Chinese shares suffered steep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break that was extended to help contain the virus .
The Shanghai Composite lost some $ 400bn in market value alone over fears that a prolonged outbreak will damage economic growth .
The PBoC had separately announced $ 173bn ( £133bn ) of support that mostly went to cover debt maturities .
The Chinese stimulus has been backed up with government appeals for calm and moves by regulators to reduce volatility , including through new limits on short-selling activity .
Some lending rates have also been reduced .
Jasper Lawler , head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the measures : `` Extra liquidity courtesy of Chinese central bankers , instructions from authorities not to panic and perhaps some state-backed institutional buying seems to have done the trick .
`` Authorities ca n't prop up markets indefinitely but traders for now are taking the cue to buy the dip . ''
The Shanghai Composite closed 1.3 % higher on Tuesday , recovering some of the 8 % decline witnessed in the previous session as it played catch-up with other world indices .
In Europe , mining and energy stocks led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose by 1.6 % .
There were similar gains for the German DAX and the CAC in France .
There was a broad based rally when Wall Street opened .
By late afternoon , the S & P 500 index was 1.7 % higher while the tech-focused Nasdaq was 2.2 % up and on course to set a new record high .
Traders emphasised that jitters remained over the potential damage the coronavirus outbreak could inflict - not just on the Chinese but the global economy .
Travel and trade restrictions introduced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knock first quarter growth .
Barclays estimated that , in a worst case scenario , global growth this year could fall from an expected 3.3 % to below 3 % .
Others voiced greater concern given that tens of millions of people and businesses are already facing restrictions on their movements in China .
JPMorgan economist Joseph Lupton said : `` Given the extent of the shutdowns in China as well as the rapid rise in the virus that is likely to continue through March or April , a significant hit to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` We would assume that in addition to bridging any funding stresses , fiscal policies will need to be ramped up to support growth once the contagion gets under control . ''

World stock market values have lifted after the Chinese state provided more medicine to soothe concerns over the coronavirus crisis.
Investors in Asia, Europe and later the US piled in on news of a second, and more hefty, cash injection for financial markets by China's central bank.
The People's Bank of China (PBoC) was reported by state media to have added $57bn (£44bn) of extra funds on Tuesday, on top of $21bn (£16bn) made available on Monday.
Then, Chinese shares suffered steep falls after a 10-day Lunar New Year break that was extended to help contain the virus.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:16 Coronavirus: The sectors at risk of exposure
The Shanghai Composite lost some $400bn in market value alone over fears that a prolonged outbreak will damage economic growth.
The PBoC had separately announced $173bn (£133bn) of support that mostly went to cover debt maturities.
The Chinese stimulus has been backed up with government appeals for calm and moves by regulators to reduce volatility, including through new limits on short-selling activity.
Some lending rates have also been reduced.
Jasper Lawler, head of research at London Capital Group, said of the measures: "Extra liquidity courtesy of Chinese central bankers, instructions from authorities not to panic and perhaps some state-backed institutional buying seems to have done the trick.
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"Authorities can't prop up markets indefinitely but traders for now are taking the cue to buy the dip."
The Shanghai Composite closed 1.3% higher on Tuesday, recovering some of the 8% decline witnessed in the previous session as it played catch-up with other world indices.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:01 Fear and anger grows over the coronavirus in Hong Kong
In Europe, mining and energy stocks led the way on the FTSE 100 which rose by 1.6%.
There were similar gains for the German DAX and the CAC in France.
There was a broad based rally when Wall Street opened. By late afternoon, the S&P 500 index was 1.7% higher while the tech-focused Nasdaq was 2.2% up and on course to set a new record high.
Traders emphasised that jitters remained over the potential damage the coronavirus outbreak could inflict - not just on the Chinese but the global economy.
Travel and trade restrictions introduced to control the spread are already set to knock first quarter growth.
Barclays estimated that, in a worst case scenario, global growth this year could fall from an expected 3.3% to below 3%.
Others voiced greater concern given that tens of millions of people and businesses are already facing restrictions on their movements in China.
JPMorgan economist Joseph Lupton said: "Given the extent of the shutdowns in China as well as the rapid rise in the virus that is likely to continue through March or April, a significant hit to China and regional growth is very likely."
"We would assume that in addition to bridging any funding stresses, fiscal policies will need to be ramped up to support growth once the contagion gets under control."


news--2020-02-04--Coronavirus: Another plane to bring Britons home from China

Another plane will be sent to China to collect British nationals as the coronavirus continues to spread .
Earlier , the Foreign Office advised the 30,000 Britons thought to be in China , where the virus originated , to leave if they are able to .
It warned that , as the Chinese government tightens travel restrictions in an effort to stop the virus spreading , departure options `` may become harder to access '' .
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have suspended flights between the UK and China .
The civilian flight chartered by the Foreign Office is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sunday morning and land at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire .
There will be a small number of medics and FCO officials on board .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said : `` We have been working round the clock to help British nationals leave Hubei province , on UK , French , and New Zealand flights .
`` The Foreign Office is chartering a second and final UK flight with space to help all British nationals and their dependants remaining in Hubei to leave .
`` I encourage all British nationals in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they want to leave on this flight . ''
More than 20,400 people have been infected with the virus and Chinese state television reported 479 people had died as at Tuesday .
Meanwhile , a Belgian woman who tested positive for coronavirus is confirmed to have been on the same flight that brought British nationals back from China on Sunday .
Belgium 's health agency said the woman was among nine people from Belgium on the flight to France , which then continued to RAF Brize Norton with 11 British nationals and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The Department of Health said on Monday that 326 UK tests for coronavirus have concluded , with a total of two coming back positive .
The two infected people - a University of York student and one of their relatives - continue to be treated for coronavirus in the specialist infectious diseases unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary .
The first confirmed coronavirus fatality was in the Philippines - a 44-year-old Chinese man who appeared to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the World Health Organisation .
Hong Kong also reported its first death linked to the virus on Monday , that of a 39-year-old man who had travelled to the territory from Wuhan , China .
Late on Tuesday , Japan confirmed 10 cases of coronavirus on a cruise ship , the Diamond Princess , which has been quarantined in the Japanese port city of Yokohama .
Some 3,700 passengers and crew were screened after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive after sailing on the ship last month .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been told to stay in their cabins .
The coronavirus has been declared by WHO as a global health emergency and , with the world 's second-largest economy worst-affected , it has also affected world markets .
: : British nationals in China 's Hubei province wanting to register for the flight should register by calling +86 ( 0 ) 10 8529 6600 , or the FCO in London on ( +44 ) ( 0 ) 207 008 1500 .

Another plane will be sent to China to collect British nationals as the coronavirus continues to spread.
Earlier, the Foreign Office advised the 30,000 Britons thought to be in China, where the virus originated, to leave if they are able to.
It warned that, as the Chinese government tightens travel restrictions in an effort to stop the virus spreading, departure options "may become harder to access".
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have suspended flights between the UK and China.
The civilian flight chartered by the Foreign Office is expected to leave China in the early hours of Sunday morning and land at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
There will be a small number of medics and FCO officials on board.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "We have been working round the clock to help British nationals leave Hubei province, on UK, French, and New Zealand flights.
"The Foreign Office is chartering a second and final UK flight with space to help all British nationals and their dependants remaining in Hubei to leave.
"I encourage all British nationals in Hubei to register with our teams if they want to leave on this flight."
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:20 Jaimuay Sae-ung has beaten the virus which has caused a global health emergency
More than 20,400 people have been infected with the virus and Chinese state television reported 479 people had died as at Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a Belgian woman who tested positive for coronavirus is confirmed to have been on the same flight that brought British nationals back from China on Sunday.
Belgium's health agency said the woman was among nine people from Belgium on the flight to France, which then continued to RAF Brize Norton with 11 British nationals and their family members on board.
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The Department of Health said on Monday that 326 UK tests for coronavirus have concluded, with a total of two coming back positive.
The two infected people - a University of York student and one of their relatives - continue to be treated for coronavirus in the specialist infectious diseases unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The first confirmed coronavirus fatality was in the Philippines - a 44-year-old Chinese man who appeared to have been infected before arriving in the country, according to the World Health Organisation.
Hong Kong also reported its first death linked to the virus on Monday, that of a 39-year-old man who had travelled to the territory from Wuhan, China.
Late on Tuesday, Japan confirmed 10 cases of coronavirus on a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, which has been quarantined in the Japanese port city of Yokohama.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:04 Virus outbreak leaves Beijing deserted
Some 3,700 passengers and crew were screened after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive after sailing on the ship last month.
A number of Britons are among those who have been told to stay in their cabins.
The coronavirus has been declared by WHO as a global health emergency and, with the world's second-largest economy worst-affected, it has also affected world markets.
:: British nationals in China's Hubei province wanting to register for the flight should register by calling +86 (0) 10 8529 6600, or the FCO in London on (+44) (0)207 008 1500.


news--2020-02-04--BP warns on coronavirus impact as profits dragged lower by weak oil price

BP has warned of the impact of the coronavirus on the oil market as it blamed already-weak crude prices for a sharp fall in its annual profits .
The FTSE 100 firm said the `` weaker environment '' during 2019 was largely to blame as underlying replacement cost profits dropped 21 % to $ 10bn .
Finance director Brian Gilvary told Reuters that a global economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus would reduce consumption by 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day , roughly 0.5 % of demand .
But the company - a staple of many UK pension funds - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive Bob Dudley said it was `` performing well '' .
The results come after rival Royal Dutch Shell also reported a fall in profits last week .
Both firms have been affected by the weakness in the oil price - which was held back last year by the subdued global economy , despite occasional spikes when Middle East tensions flared up .
BP 's annual results recorded the average price of a barrel of Brent crude for the year at just over $ 64 , down from $ 71 for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaker recently , slipping below $ 54 overnight as fears about the impact of the coronavirus dominate sentiment .
BP 's fourth quarter figures showed a 26 % decline in profits to $ 2.6bn - but that was better than markets had been expecting .
Mr Dudley , who is now stepping down to be replaced as chief executive by Bernard Looney , said : `` BP is performing well , with safe and reliable operations , continued strategic progress and strong cash delivery .
`` This all supports are commitment to growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the dividend rise we announced today . ''
Stuart Lamont , investment manager at Brewin Dolphin , said : `` BP 's results have come in slightly better than expected , but they are still a reflection of the challenging environment for oil and gas companies . ''

BP has warned of the impact of the coronavirus on the oil market as it blamed already-weak crude prices for a sharp fall in its annual profits.
The FTSE 100 firm said the "weaker environment" during 2019 was largely to blame as underlying replacement cost profits dropped 21% to $10bn.
Finance director Brian Gilvary told Reuters that a global economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus would reduce consumption by 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day, roughly 0.5% of demand.
But the company - a staple of many UK pension funds - hiked its latest quarterly dividend as departing chief executive Bob Dudley said it was "performing well".
The results come after rival Royal Dutch Shell also reported a fall in profits last week.
Both firms have been affected by the weakness in the oil price - which was held back last year by the subdued global economy, despite occasional spikes when Middle East tensions flared up.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:52 January 2020: Why oil traders are worried about China virus
BP's annual results recorded the average price of a barrel of Brent crude for the year at just over $64, down from $71 for the previous year.
It has been even weaker recently, slipping below $54 overnight as fears about the impact of the coronavirus dominate sentiment.
BP's fourth quarter figures showed a 26% decline in profits to $2.6bn - but that was better than markets had been expecting.
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Shares rose more than 4%.
Mr Dudley, who is now stepping down to be replaced as chief executive by Bernard Looney, said: "BP is performing well, with safe and reliable operations, continued strategic progress and strong cash delivery.
"This all supports are commitment to growing distributions to shareholders over the long term and the dividend rise we announced today."
Stuart Lamont, investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, said: "BP's results have come in slightly better than expected, but they are still a reflection of the challenging environment for oil and gas companies."


news--2020-02-04--Coronavirus survivor was 'shocked, tired' and struggling to breathe

An elderly woman who became infected with coronavirus after travelling to China says she was `` shocked '' and struggled to breathe after being diagnosed .
Jaimuay Sae-ung , 73 , also had a fever when she returned to her native Thailand in December .
`` I only knew ( I had coronavirus ) after I came to the hospital , '' the mother of seven told Sky News .
Doctors put her in isolation when she arrived at the hospital in Nakhon Pathom province , X-rays were taken of her lungs and a team of disease and respiratory experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was confused why I had to be in the [ isolation ] room , '' she said .
`` There were two to three layers of glass .
At first I was scared that it had to be that strict .
I was also given oxygen . ''
While in quarantine , Jaimuay was suffering from pneumonia and a bad cough and had to be monitored extra carefully because of pre-existing conditions including a heart problem .
She was the only one of 18 people on a visit to China to test positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thai national to get it .
Her family were concerned that she might not survive .
`` I was very stressed , then my child brought me a phone , '' she said .
`` It 's quite good that these days you can see the faces of the callers and a lot of people called me , so I felt better . ''
But she `` still argued with the doctors and the nurses that I did n't want to stay in the hospital anymore '' .
: : Listen to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker She said she asked them : `` Why are you taking so long to examine me ?
`` If you do n't let me out soon , I 'll press charges .
That 's how I threatened the doctors , '' she joked .
Her condition slowly improved and after 10 days she was discharged following two negative test results .
To her delight , she was back home in time to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family , and is now able to do some light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said : `` It 's one in a million - we are the luckiest .
`` I do n't know how to explain it - I can only say we are so lucky . ''

An elderly woman who became infected with coronavirus after travelling to China says she was "shocked" and struggled to breathe after being diagnosed.
Jaimuay Sae-ung, 73, also had a fever when she returned to her native Thailand in December.
"I only knew (I had coronavirus) after I came to the hospital," the mother of seven told Sky News.
"I felt a bit sad, a bit shocked, tired and fatigued and I couldn't eat."
Image: The elderly Thai woman is now back with her family
Doctors put her in isolation when she arrived at the hospital in Nakhon Pathom province, X-rays were taken of her lungs and a team of disease and respiratory experts analysed her test results.
"I was confused why I had to be in the [isolation] room," she said.
"There were two to three layers of glass. At first I was scared that it had to be that strict. I was also given oxygen."
While in quarantine, Jaimuay was suffering from pneumonia and a bad cough and had to be monitored extra carefully because of pre-existing conditions including a heart problem.
She was the only one of 18 people on a visit to China to test positive for coronavirus, and is the first Thai national to get it.
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Her family were concerned that she might not survive.
"I was very stressed, then my child brought me a phone," she said.
"It's quite good that these days you can see the faces of the callers and a lot of people called me, so I felt better."
But she "still argued with the doctors and the nurses that I didn't want to stay in the hospital anymore".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
She said she asked them: "Why are you taking so long to examine me?
"If you don't let me out soon, I'll press charges. That's how I threatened the doctors," she joked.
Her condition slowly improved and after 10 days she was discharged following two negative test results.
To her delight, she was back home in time to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family, and is now able to do some light exercise.
Her daughter, Krittika Sae-ung, said: "It's one in a million - we are the luckiest.
"I don't know how to explain it - I can only say we are so lucky."
"I feel happy and I feel uplifted," Jaimuay said.


news--2020-02-04--Coronavirus: Belgian woman with virus on same flight as Britons

A Belgian woman who has tested positive for the coronavirus was on board the same flight that brought back UK citizens from China on Sunday , Belgium 's health agency has said .
It came after the Foreign Office advised British nationals in China to leave if they are able to , as the coronavirus crisis intensifies .
The Belgian woman was one of nine people from Belgium on board the flight back to France , which carried passengers from 30 other countries .
Some 11 UK citizens and family members on the flight were then flown on to RAF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 10 continued to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for a 14-day period of isolation , while Anthony May-Smith was taken to hospital in Oxford to be tested for potential coronavirus .
Nick Phin , National Infection Service deputy director at Public Health England , said : `` All of the individuals who were on this flight are currently in supervised isolation and are being monitored for symptoms . ''
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) officials has said there have been 27 cases of person-to-person coronavirus spread in nine countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 nations have officially reported trade or travel-related measures linked to the virus .
Officials added that the measures should be short in duration , proportionate and considered regularly .
The WHO 's director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has written to all health ministers and told them to improve data-sharing on the virus immediately .
Dr Tedros also reiterated WHO advice not to impose travel or trade restrictions , adding that such measures can cause `` fear and stigma '' .
Chen Xu , China 's envoy to the UN , has said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to halt the spread of the virus .
The envoy added that Hubei province , the epicentre of the outbreak , remains the priority for containment .
Mr Xu has said some restrictions do not comply with WHO advice and has told countries not to overact over the virus .
A WHO official has said the overall public health cost of the response to the outbreak from February to April will be an estimated $ 675m ( £518m ) .
They added that the figure does not include the social or economic consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on Tuesday , British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recommended against `` all but essential travel to mainland China '' .
He added : `` The safety and security of British people will always be our top priority .
`` As such , we now advise British nationals in China to leave the country if they can , to minimise their risk of exposure to the virus . ''
Around 30,000 British people are thought to live in mainland China , according to the Foreign Office .
Commercial airline options for departing China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province .
However the Foreign Office is continuing to work on arrangements to evacuate any remaining Britons from the region .
The prime minister 's spokesperson has confirmed British government employees will return from Wuhan .
The Chinese government continues to impose further restrictions on movement within the country in response to the crisis , such as provincial highways and inter-city high speed rail , as well as the entry and exit to villages and towns .
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have since suspended UK-China flights and the World Health Organisation ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health emergency .
In an update to its travel advice , the Foreign Office also said some staff and dependants from the British embassy and consulates were bring withdrawn from China and that only essential staff would remain .
`` The ability of the British embassy and consulates to provide assistance to British nationals from within China is limited , and would be even more limited in the event that the situation deteriorates further , '' the statement added .
The number of deaths from the coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases now standing at 20,438 , Chinese officials said on Tuesday .
The latest figures are up from 361 deaths and 17,205 confirmed cases on Monday .
The Department of Health said on Monday that 326 UK tests for coronavirus have concluded , with a total of two coming back positive .
The two infected people - a University of York student and one of their relatives - continue to be treated for coronavirus in the specialist infectious diseases unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary .
The student had a tenancy in private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has confirmed .
It said in a statement that the person was not in the Vita Student block when they came into contact with the virus but `` did return to their room on one occasion and stayed overnight '' .
A spokesman said : `` During this brief period the student did not meet other residents or staff at the building , or make use of the communal facilities .
`` PHE ( Public Health England ) has confirmed that they do not need to undertake any contact tracing with residents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still trying to track down 239 people who flew from the Chinese city of Wuhan to the UK before travel restrictions were imposed in the coronavirus crisis .
A total of 94 UK nationals and family members have been evacuated to Britain from Wuhan - the city in Hubei province at the epicentre of the breakout - on two flights which arrived on Friday and Saturday .
The UK evacuees are currently undergoing 14 days in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral .
On Monday , the British embassy in Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK for British nationals would be leaving this week .
It said flights would be run by `` partner countries '' and any British nationals and their immediate families , including those with non-UK passports , must make themselves known if they wish to travel .
The first confirmed fatality from coronavirus was in the Philippines - a 44-year-old Chinese man who appeared to have been infected before arriving in the country , according to the WHO .
Hong Kong also reported its first death linked to the virus on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelled to the territory from Wuhan .
While the Philippines , the US , Japan , Singapore and Australia have imposed travel restrictions , the UK has no plans to introduce a travel ban on foreign nationals who had recently been in China from entering the country .
Countries with such restrictions have sparked criticism from China , with its government accusing the US of causing `` panic '' in its response instead of helping .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the virus would be around for several months yet .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said : `` Currently the number of cases is doubling every five days and it 's likely that the virus will be with us for at least some months to come .
`` This is a marathon , not a sprint . ''

A Belgian woman who has tested positive for the coronavirus was on board the same flight that brought back UK citizens from China on Sunday, Belgium's health agency has said.
It came after the Foreign Office advised British nationals in China to leave if they are able to, as the coronavirus crisis intensifies.
The Belgian woman was one of nine people from Belgium on board the flight back to France, which carried passengers from 30 other countries.
Some 11 UK citizens and family members on the flight were then flown on to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Of these, 10 continued to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for a 14-day period of isolation, while Anthony May-Smith was taken to hospital in Oxford to be tested for potential coronavirus.
Nick Phin, National Infection Service deputy director at Public Health England, said: "All of the individuals who were on this flight are currently in supervised isolation and are being monitored for symptoms."
Image: A coach leaves RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, carrying passengers from the plane on Sunday
Image: Britons have been advised to leave China if possible
The World Health Organization (WHO) officials has said there have been 27 cases of person-to-person coronavirus spread in nine countries outside China.
The WHO also said 22 nations have officially reported trade or travel-related measures linked to the virus.
Officials added that the measures should be short in duration, proportionate and considered regularly.
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The WHO's director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has written to all health ministers and told them to improve data-sharing on the virus immediately.
Dr Tedros also reiterated WHO advice not to impose travel or trade restrictions, adding that such measures can cause "fear and stigma".
Chen Xu, China's envoy to the UN, has said the country has adopted "forceful measures" to halt the spread of the virus.
The envoy added that Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, remains the priority for containment.
Mr Xu has said some restrictions do not comply with WHO advice and has told countries not to overact over the virus.
A WHO official has said the overall public health cost of the response to the outbreak from February to April will be an estimated $675m (£518m).
They added that the figure does not include the social or economic consequences of the outbreak.
In a statement released on Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recommended against "all but essential travel to mainland China".
He added: "The safety and security of British people will always be our top priority.
"As such, we now advise British nationals in China to leave the country if they can, to minimise their risk of exposure to the virus."
Around 30,000 British people are thought to live in mainland China, according to the Foreign Office.
Commercial airline options for departing China remain throughout the country except in Hubei province.
However the Foreign Office is continuing to work on arrangements to evacuate any remaining Britons from the region.
The prime minister's spokesperson has confirmed British government employees will return from Wuhan.
The Chinese government continues to impose further restrictions on movement within the country in response to the crisis, such as provincial highways and inter-city high speed rail, as well as the entry and exit to villages and towns.
Image: A man wears a face mask in Chinatown, London
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have since suspended UK-China flights and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency.
In an update to its travel advice, the Foreign Office also said some staff and dependants from the British embassy and consulates were bring withdrawn from China and that only essential staff would remain.
"The ability of the British embassy and consulates to provide assistance to British nationals from within China is limited, and would be even more limited in the event that the situation deteriorates further," the statement added.
The number of deaths from the coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 425, with the total number of cases now standing at 20,438, Chinese officials said on Tuesday.
The latest figures are up from 361 deaths and 17,205 confirmed cases on Monday.
The Department of Health said on Monday that 326 UK tests for coronavirus have concluded, with a total of two coming back positive.
The two infected people - a University of York student and one of their relatives - continue to be treated for coronavirus in the specialist infectious diseases unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The student had a tenancy in private student accommodation in York, his university has confirmed.
It said in a statement that the person was not in the Vita Student block when they came into contact with the virus but "did return to their room on one occasion and stayed overnight".
A spokesman said: "During this brief period the student did not meet other residents or staff at the building, or make use of the communal facilities.
"PHE (Public Health England) has confirmed that they do not need to undertake any contact tracing with residents of Vita Student."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:04 Virus outbreak leaves Beijing deserted
British officials are still trying to track down 239 people who flew from the Chinese city of Wuhan to the UK before travel restrictions were imposed in the coronavirus crisis.
A total of 94 UK nationals and family members have been evacuated to Britain from Wuhan - the city in Hubei province at the epicentre of the breakout - on two flights which arrived on Friday and Saturday.
The UK evacuees are currently undergoing 14 days in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.
Image: Eleven British nationals arrived in the UK from Wuhan late on Sunday
On Monday, the British embassy in Beijing announced the last flights from China to the UK for British nationals would be leaving this week.
It said flights would be run by "partner countries" and any British nationals and their immediate families, including those with non-UK passports, must make themselves known if they wish to travel.
The first confirmed fatality from coronavirus was in the Philippines - a 44-year-old Chinese man who appeared to have been infected before arriving in the country, according to the WHO.
Hong Kong also reported its first death linked to the virus on Monday, that of a 39-year-old man who had travelled to the territory from Wuhan.
Image: A woman wears a protective mask as she walks her dog in Wuhan, China
Image: Wuhan is building a hospital to treat coronavirus patients
While the Philippines, the US, Japan, Singapore and Australia have imposed travel restrictions, the UK has no plans to introduce a travel ban on foreign nationals who had recently been in China from entering the country.
Countries with such restrictions have sparked criticism from China, with its government accusing the US of causing "panic" in its response instead of helping.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the virus would be around for several months yet.
In a statement to the Commons on Monday, he said: "Currently the number of cases is doubling every five days and it's likely that the virus will be with us for at least some months to come.
"This is a marathon, not a sprint."


news--2020-02-04--Coronavirus: Search for travellers who flew to UK from Wuhan before outbreak continues

British officials are still trying to track down 239 people who flew from the Chinese city of Wuhan to the UK before travel restrictions were imposed in the coronavirus crisis .
The travellers had left Wuhan after the virus emerged , but efforts to track them down and assess them began last week as the crisis intensified .
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have since suspended UK-China flights and the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) declared the outbreak a global health emergency .
A total of 94 UK nationals and family members have been evacuated to Britain from Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epicentre of the breakout - on two flights which arrived on Friday and Saturday .
The UK evacuees are currently undergoing 14 days in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral .
On Monday , the British embassy in Beijing announced the last flights from China to the UK for British nationals would be leaving this week .
It said flights would be run by `` partner countries '' and any British nationals and their immediate families , including those with non-UK passports , must make themselves known if they wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 425 , with the total number of cases now standing at 20,438 , Chinese officials said on Tuesday .
The latest figures are up from 361 deaths and 17,205 confirmed cases on Monday .
The Department of Health said on Monday that 326 UK tests for coronavirus have concluded , with a total of two coming back positive .
The two infected people - a University of York student and one of their relatives - continue to be treated for coronavirus in the specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infirmary .
The first confirmed fatality from coronavirus was in the Philippines - a 44-year-old Chinese man who appeared to have been infected before arriving in the country , according to the WHO .
Hong Kong also reported its first death linked to the virus on Monday , that of a 39-year-old man who had travelled to the territory from Wuhan .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has since approved a temporary ban on all travellers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autonomous regions .
The US , Japan , Singapore and Australia have imposed similar restrictions despite criticism from China and an assessment from the WHO claiming they are unnecessarily damaging trade and travel .
The Chinese government has accused the US of causing `` panic '' in its response instead of helping .
UK officials have said there are no plans to introduce such a travel ban on foreign nationals who had recently been in China from entering the country .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the virus would be around for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commons on Monday , he said : `` Currently the number of cases is doubling every five days and it 's likely that the virus will be with us for at least some months to come .
`` This is a marathon , not a sprint . ''

British officials are still trying to track down 239 people who flew from the Chinese city of Wuhan to the UK before travel restrictions were imposed in the coronavirus crisis.
The travellers had left Wuhan after the virus emerged, but efforts to track them down and assess them began last week as the crisis intensified.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have since suspended UK-China flights and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency.
Image: Women wear face masks in London
A total of 94 UK nationals and family members have been evacuated to Britain from Wuhan - the city in Hubei province at the epicentre of the breakout - on two flights which arrived on Friday and Saturday.
The UK evacuees are currently undergoing 14 days in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.
On Monday, the British embassy in Beijing announced the last flights from China to the UK for British nationals would be leaving this week.
It said flights would be run by "partner countries" and any British nationals and their immediate families, including those with non-UK passports, must make themselves known if they wish to travel.
The number of deaths from the coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 425, with the total number of cases now standing at 20,438, Chinese officials said on Tuesday.
The latest figures are up from 361 deaths and 17,205 confirmed cases on Monday.
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The Department of Health said on Monday that 326 UK tests for coronavirus have concluded, with a total of two coming back positive.
The two infected people - a University of York student and one of their relatives - continue to be treated for coronavirus in the specialist infectious diseases unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The first confirmed fatality from coronavirus was in the Philippines - a 44-year-old Chinese man who appeared to have been infected before arriving in the country, according to the WHO.
Hong Kong also reported its first death linked to the virus on Monday, that of a 39-year-old man who had travelled to the territory from Wuhan.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has since approved a temporary ban on all travellers, except Filipinos, from China and its autonomous regions.
The US, Japan, Singapore and Australia have imposed similar restrictions despite criticism from China and an assessment from the WHO claiming they are unnecessarily damaging trade and travel.
Image: Wuhan is building a hospital for people suffering with the virus
Image: Mask-wearing passengers are seen leaving Beijing railway station
The Chinese government has accused the US of causing "panic" in its response instead of helping.
UK officials have said there are no plans to introduce such a travel ban on foreign nationals who had recently been in China from entering the country.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:02 Coronavirus: Teacher speaks from isolation
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the virus would be around for several months yet.
In a statement to the Commons on Monday, he said: "Currently the number of cases is doubling every five days and it's likely that the virus will be with us for at least some months to come.
"This is a marathon, not a sprint."


news--2020-02-04--Coronavirus: Hong Kong vigilantes carry out tests on people arriving from mainland China

The coronavirus crisis has taken a worrying turn in Hong Kong with the city announcing its first death and a spate of new cases – all of whom appeared to have become infected inside the special administered territory .
It raises the frightening spectre of the deadly virus spreading in one of the most densely-populated developed cities in the world .
In the face of what is being seen as intransigence and a paucity of action by the city 's chief executive in protecting Hong Kongers from the new deadly disease , a virus vigilante group has taken matters into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small group dressed in their own makeshift protective gear of plastic macs and gloves , running a checkpoint at the first bus stop on the journey across the border on the mainland .
The group warned the passengers they should wear masks and handed out spare ones to those people who were n't covered .
They sprayed disinfectant on their hands and several thermometers were pointed at their heads as the travellers stepped off the buses .
Some of the passengers angrily accused them of having no authority and a few refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not a doctor , '' one man angrily shouted at one of the vigilantes .
He then threatened us as we filmed the ongoing exchange .
Our undercover reporter in mainland China saw thousands of people still crossing over the border into Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Bay Port crossing - one of three ( including the airport ) still open after tougher border measures announced earlier by the city 's chief executive Carrie Lam .
The bus we travelled on taking some of the mainland travellers into Hong Kong was packed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run frequently - some every fifteen minutes .
We saw workers giving the bus a cursory spray with disinfectant before the passengers boarded but the worker failed to wipe down the many grab bars and handles all over the vehicle .
Even as thousands were still streaming over into Hong Kong from mainland China , the semi-autonomous territory announced a 39-year-old man was the region 's first coronavirus death .
He had visited the epicentre in Wuhan but had reported himself to hospital on the same day as his return .
: : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker But in that short period , he 'd managed to infect his mother who he lives with - and who had not travelled recently to the mainland .
His wife and children are now in quarantine .
Hong Kong 's health officials said at least four of Hong Kong 's coronavirus cases appeared to have become infected inside the city and warned there was a strong possibility of an outbreak inside the city which is packed with high-rise apartments and office blocks .
The next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be critical to see if the outbreak can be contained even as Hong Kong residents daily continue to stand for hours in long queues trying to buy facial masks and disinfectant .
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam appeared at her weekly media briefing without a mask again , saying she was advising her co-workers not to wear them but save them for those who really need them like the health workers .

The coronavirus crisis has taken a worrying turn in Hong Kong with the city announcing its first death and a spate of new cases – all of whom appeared to have become infected inside the special administered territory.
It raises the frightening spectre of the deadly virus spreading in one of the most densely-populated developed cities in the world.
In the face of what is being seen as intransigence and a paucity of action by the city's chief executive in protecting Hong Kongers from the new deadly disease, a virus vigilante group has taken matters into their own hands.
We saw a small group dressed in their own makeshift protective gear of plastic macs and gloves, running a checkpoint at the first bus stop on the journey across the border on the mainland.
Image: People arriving by bus are being checked on their way into the territory
Image: Visitors the from the mainland have been seen wearing masks as they enter Hong Kong
The group warned the passengers they should wear masks and handed out spare ones to those people who weren't covered.
They sprayed disinfectant on their hands and several thermometers were pointed at their heads as the travellers stepped off the buses.
Some of the passengers angrily accused them of having no authority and a few refused to have their temperatures taken.
"You're not a doctor," one man angrily shouted at one of the vigilantes.
Image: The virus vigilantes wear protective gear while checking new arrivals to Hong Kong
He then threatened us as we filmed the ongoing exchange.
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Our undercover reporter in mainland China saw thousands of people still crossing over the border into Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Bay Port crossing - one of three (including the airport) still open after tougher border measures announced earlier by the city's chief executive Carrie Lam.
The bus we travelled on taking some of the mainland travellers into Hong Kong was packed.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
The buses from the border crossing run frequently - some every fifteen minutes.
We saw workers giving the bus a cursory spray with disinfectant before the passengers boarded but the worker failed to wipe down the many grab bars and handles all over the vehicle.
Even as thousands were still streaming over into Hong Kong from mainland China, the semi-autonomous territory announced a 39-year-old man was the region's first coronavirus death.
He had visited the epicentre in Wuhan but had reported himself to hospital on the same day as his return.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
But in that short period, he'd managed to infect his mother who he lives with - and who had not travelled recently to the mainland.
His wife and children are now in quarantine.
Hong Kong's health officials said at least four of Hong Kong's coronavirus cases appeared to have become infected inside the city and warned there was a strong possibility of an outbreak inside the city which is packed with high-rise apartments and office blocks.
The next two weeks, they said, would be critical to see if the outbreak can be contained even as Hong Kong residents daily continue to stand for hours in long queues trying to buy facial masks and disinfectant.
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam appeared at her weekly media briefing without a mask again, saying she was advising her co-workers not to wear them but save them for those who really need them like the health workers.
Hong Kong is entering some worrying times.


news--2020-05-23--Coronavirus: Study suggests COVID-19 immunity could last just six months

A person could be re-infected with coronavirus in six months , new research suggests , in a blow to the push for `` immunity passports '' as evidence of recovery from the illness .
The research was released after the government announced the supply of 10 million antibody tests to show if someone has had COVID-19 and potentially developed immunity to the virus .
Over 35 years , University of Amsterdam scientists regularly tested 10 men for four types of coronaviruses which cause the common cold .
Most participants - aged between 27 and 66 - caught the viruses again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluding `` coronavirus protective immunity is short-lasting '' .
`` We saw frequent reinfection after 12 months post infection and substantial reduction in antibody levels as soon as six months post-infection , '' the study stated .
Between 1985 and 2020 , the subjects were tested at either three month or six month intervals .
Researchers found that high antibody levels `` were never sustained at the next visit '' .
While acknowledging limitations to the study , its conclusion casts doubt on the reliability of so-called `` immunity passports '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have already overcome a COVID-19 infection and test positive for antibodies - based on the assumption they are therefore immune .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The study read : `` it was recently suggested that recovered individuals should receive a so-called 'immunity passport ' which would allow them to relax social distancing measures and provide governments with data on herd immunity levels in the population .
`` However , as protective immunity may be lost by six months post-infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity by natural infection seems very unlikely . ''
The head of Heathrow Airport , John Holland-Kaye , backed the roll out of the passports to let people return to holidaying sooner - telling Sky News he was working with Public Health England to see if they could become part of health screening at airports .
But the World Health Organisation warned governments not to use `` immunity passports '' for easing lockdown simply because they have antibodies for COVID-19 .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans for antibody certificates on Thursday as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that at least 5 % of people in the UK have now developed COVID-19 antibodies - and at least 17 % of Londoners have them .
But experts are still unsure what level of immunity recovering from the disease provides and how long it lasts .
John Edmunds , professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , recently warned studies of other coronaviruses suggest `` potentially bad news '' for hopes humans could develop long-term immunity .
Despite the scientific concern , Mr Hancock also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roll out coronavirus antibody tests following agreements between the government and pharmaceutical firms Roche and Abbott .
However , he acknowledged the overall effectiveness of such tests remains unclear , and that confirmation of their results could take up to 28 days .
Health care workers , patients and care home residents are set to receive them from next week .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously hailed the `` 100 % accurate '' test as a `` game-changer '' for lifting the lockdown .

A person could be re-infected with coronavirus in six months, new research suggests, in a blow to the push for "immunity passports" as evidence of recovery from the illness.
The research was released after the government announced the supply of 10 million antibody tests to show if someone has had COVID-19 and potentially developed immunity to the virus.
Over 35 years, University of Amsterdam scientists regularly tested 10 men for four types of coronaviruses which cause the common cold.
Most participants - aged between 27 and 66 - caught the viruses again within three years, with the study concluding "coronavirus protective immunity is short-lasting".
"We saw frequent reinfection after 12 months post infection and substantial reduction in antibody levels as soon as six months post-infection," the study stated.
Between 1985 and 2020, the subjects were tested at either three month or six month intervals. Researchers found that high antibody levels "were never sustained at the next visit".
While acknowledging limitations to the study, its conclusion casts doubt on the reliability of so-called "immunity passports".
The proposed passports would be issued to people who have already overcome a COVID-19 infection and test positive for antibodies - based on the assumption they are therefore immune.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
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The study read: "it was recently suggested that recovered individuals should receive a so-called 'immunity passport' which would allow them to relax social distancing measures and provide governments with data on herd immunity levels in the population.
"However, as protective immunity may be lost by six months post-infection, the prospect of reaching functional herd immunity by natural infection seems very unlikely."
The head of Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye, backed the roll out of the passports to let people return to holidaying sooner - telling Sky News he was working with Public Health England to see if they could become part of health screening at airports.
But the World Health Organisation warned governments not to use "immunity passports" for easing lockdown simply because they have antibodies for COVID-19.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans for antibody certificates on Thursday as he read the results of research which showed that at least 5% of people in the UK have now developed COVID-19 antibodies - and at least 17% of Londoners have them.
But experts are still unsure what level of immunity recovering from the disease provides and how long it lasts.
John Edmunds, professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, recently warned studies of other coronaviruses suggest "potentially bad news" for hopes humans could develop long-term immunity.
Despite the scientific concern, Mr Hancock also announced on Thursday that the NHS will roll out coronavirus antibody tests following agreements between the government and pharmaceutical firms Roche and Abbott.
However, he acknowledged the overall effectiveness of such tests remains unclear, and that confirmation of their results could take up to 28 days.
Health care workers, patients and care home residents are set to receive them from next week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously hailed the "100% accurate" test as a "game-changer" for lifting the lockdown.