HERE is everything we know about Coronavirus , both in the Southampton region and nationally.

What's the situation in Hampshire?

A person from Hampshire has been confirmed as testing positive for coronavirus - the first case in the county since the outbreak in China.

A government department has confirmed that 12 further patients have tested positive in England.

No further details have been released about the patient from Hampshire. 

A GP surgery in Romsey was shut last week over worries of the coronavirus.

The Nightingale Site of Abbeywell Surgery in Romsey closed on February 27 “due to a potential infection”.

A spokesperson for the surgery confirmed to the Daily Echo that the closure was due to worries over the coronavirus.

A cruise ship which sailed from Southampton was turned away from a Caribbean port at the weekend after fears of Coronavirus.

Eight passengers travelling on MS Braemar operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines were struck down with flu-like symptoms.

The Braemar which set sail from Southampton on December 3 was due to dock at the Port of La Romana in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, February 26.

However, the Dominican health authority turned the vessel away after the captain reported passengers had symptoms including fever, cough, or breathing difficulties.

Staff at Southampton General Hospital have also been told to shave to help limit the spread of coronavirus, it has been reported.
Daily Echo:

Which schools were affected last week? 

In our area, just the one school seemed to be affected last week.

A Romsey school has issued a warning to parents over the coronavirus.

The Romsey School has confirmed in an official statement that some students have gone home as a "precautionary measure".

Though it is not known whether any members of staff or students have got the virus.

An official statement said: "There have been no known cases of any member of the school community having the coronavirus.

"Any pupils who have gone home have done so as a precautionary measure."
Daily Echo:

What’s the latest advice? 

AVOIDING hand-shakes is one effective way of reducing the risk of catching coronavirus, experts say.

Thorough hand-washing, maintaining distance from others and avoiding contact like hand-shakes can be a good way to stem the spread of the virus.

As fears intensify over the European spread of Covid-19, health professionals have said everyday precautions like carrying hand sanitiser are the best tools to protect against contracting the illness.

Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze, rather than your hands, and binning used tissues immediately is also helpful, according to NHS guidance.

What's happened nationally?

Up to one in five workers in the UK could be off sick during a coronavirus peak, while the police may switch to only dealing with serious crime, a new Government battle plan says.

The 27-page document sets out the UK-wide response to Covid-19, with possible measures including the cancellation of non-urgent operations and retired NHS staff being called "back to duty".

Twelve new cases were recorded in the UK as of 9am today, officials said, including two in Bury and another in Bolton.

The other cases were confirmed in London, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Wirral, Humberside and Kent.

The Government's battle plan was set out before Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that the number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK has risen to 51.

Matt Hancock would not rule out following China's lead in shutting down cities if the Covid-19 outbreak escalates.

The UK looks set for more widespread infection of coronavirus as more cases occur among people with no links to overseas outbreaks, a senior Public Health England (PHE) official has said.

Globally, the number of people killed worldwide by the virus exceeds 3,000 and there have been almost 90,000 confirmed cases.