Coronavirus: More than 30 people test positive in East of England

More than 30 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the East of England - with no further cases in Suffolk.

The Department of Health said there were 32 cases in the East as of 9am today (March 11) and 27,476 people were tested in the UK, of which 27,020 were confirmed negative and 456 were positive.

Six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.

In Suffolk, there remains just one case.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to give a statement to the House of Commons later today about coronavirus.

Organisations across Suffolk are taking precautions to ward off the virus.

The Rt Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, has written to every priest in the Suffolk diocese with advice on how to manage worship as safely as possible during the risk from coronavirus.

He is also asking people to join him in praying for the sick, the anxious, and the army of dedicated health workers on whom huge pressure is falling.

Bishop Martin said: “Our first response to the spread of the coronavirus is to care for those who are most vulnerable, and to ensure practices, as best as possible, that will not contribute to infection.

“I realise there is a great deal of uncertainty among us as clergy and among our congregations, so I wanted to give advice for clarity and consistency. In fact the advice I sent out on Monday corresponds to the national advice published on Tuesday.”

“We need in particular to look out for those who do not have good support networks to ensure they receive the help, and care, they need.”

Bishop Martin said there are basic practices all churches should all be adopting, particularly in relation to worship, to inhibit the spread of the disease.

These include being even more attentive to our normal hygiene routine of washing our hands thoroughly and often with soap and water or hand sanitiser with 60 per cent alcohol.

During communion the priest, and those who assist, should wash with hand sanitiser before and afterwards.

Usually worshippers receive bread and wine at communion services. However as a temporary measure, the advice is to only receive the bread.

During communion, people in the congregation will receive the bread still, placed into their hands. The priest will still consecrate the wine too, but only she or he will take a small sip of it, on behalf of the congregation.

The peace, an act in churches where worshippers express their unity with each other by shaking hands and saying “peace be with you”, should be passed without physical contact now and some churches are taking this opportunity to learn how to say “peace be with you” using British sign language.

Asked about plans for public events, a spokesman for West Suffolk Council said: "We are following the Government and Public Health Guidelines for events and we would ask people to take the health advice being given by the NHS on any precautions they should take, including if they are vulnerable.

"If guidance changes around the holding of large events we will of course follow them and notify people of those changes.

"We are working closely with our council and health colleagues across Suffolk."

Following national reports that foodbanks are running out of items due to the virus, Amanda Bloomfield, chief executive of Gatehouse which runs a foodbank in Bury St Edmunds, said the community is 'still being very generous' with donations.

However, she said there had been a 10 per cent spike in people using the foodbank in the last 10 days.

"I don't know what has caused that but we're monitoring it," she said. "At the moment we don't have an issue with supplies and feel confident we will be able to get through this, hopefully short, period."

The NHS advises those who think they might have coronavirus or who think they've been in close contact with someone who has it to:

• Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people.

• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

• Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.

West Suffolk Hospital has set up five pods for those who haven't followed the guidance not to attend hospital to ensure they're kept in a confined environment where they can call 111.

Health minister Nadine Dorries confirmed this week she had been diagnosed with the virus.

Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill, who is minister for public health, primary care and prevention, said: "I am currently without symptoms and have been advised by Public Health England there is no need to self-isolate.

"We should all continue to follow clinical advice."