Coronavirus: Oldham cases now number TEN

Following a day when the Council revealed that the number of Oldham Coronavirus cases had jumped up to TEN, the crisis is clearly beginning to bite with roads and public transport both relatively quiet this morning (Tuesday).

An Oldham Council Tweet read last night: “As of 9am on 16th March ten people have been diagnosed with Coronavirus in Oldham.

- Robust plans are in place to stop the virus spreading

- Stay calm and wash your hands regularly 

- For guidance visit here"

Schools in the Oldham area remain open, but on a national scale, scientists have warned that round 250,000 people will die in Britain as a result of the coronavirus outbreak unless more draconian measures are adopted to protect the population.

The Imperial College Covid-19 response team - which has been advising ministers - said that even with the “social distancing” plans set out by the government, the health system will be “overwhelmed many times over”.

In its latest report, it said the only “viable strategy” was a Chinese-style policy of “suppression” involving the social distancing of the entire population.

Such measures would need to be maintained “potentially for 18 months or until an effective vaccine became available.”

The stark warning came after Boris Johnson unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures yesterday to try to control the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll on Monday reached 55.

In the first of his daily televised press conferences, the Prime Minister called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres and to avoid all non-essential contacts and travel.

The hospitality industry is set to be devastatingly affected without urgent state help to get through the coronavirus pandemic, it has also been warned.

Pubs and restaurant owners are calling for immediate action to support the industry financially in the wake of the Prime Minister’s advice.

Meanwhile, the Oldham Coliseum theatre closed its doors yesterday following the advice.

Last night, a Tweet read: "Following official government advice issued today (Monday 16 March), which stipulates that people should avoid public buildings including theatres, we’re really sorry to announce that, in line with other UK Theatre venues, the Coliseum will be closed from tonight."

Switching the focus back to schools, Chris Keates, acting general secretary of teachers’ union the NASUWT, has said the lack of “clear and definitive” direction from the government over what schools should do has “created a rising sense of panic”.

She said: “The NASUWT has to date been advising our members in the context of the advice issued by governments and administrations and public health bodies across the UK.

“However, the lack of clear information with regard to the steps to protect teachers, headteachers and other staff working in schools in the context of commentators constantly referring to the threats posed by children carrying Covid-19 is causing chaos and confusion and placing intolerable pressure on all staff in schools and their families.”

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