On 11 February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, first reported in Wuhan city, China, has been officially named COVID-19, which replaces the temporary name of 2019-nCoV infection used by many health agencies around the world. The virus causing COVID-19 has been named as SARS-CoV-2 by the Coronavirus Study Group.

The WHO has continued to produce daily situation reports containing the latest numbers of confirmed cases. On 13 February 2020, 99% of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally were reported from China, with 24 other countries around the world have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Advice for travellers

Prior to travel, the following should be checked: 

• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website, which provides guidance for UK nationals travelling overseas, including how to seek consular assistance if required. 
• Travel agents or airlines, to provide the latest information on local travel restrictions and local authority guidance relating to COVID-19. 
• Travel insurance policies, as the COVID-19 outbreak may impact travel insurance coverage.
• The FCO countries or territories webpages, prior to travel for the latest advice, including: 
  • Travel advisories and restrictions, as these are subject to change and should be checked regularly. The FCO currently advise against all travel to Hubei Province and all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao). 
  • Entry requirements for the destination, as a number of countries have announced restrictions on entry by travellers from China in response to the outbreak. 
  • Reports of COVID-19 at the destination. Travellers to countries reporting cases of COVID-19 should follow local public health advice.

Travellers to mainland China (excluding Wuhan or Hubei Province), Hong  Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand should be aware if they develop symptoms on return to the UK, that are compatible with COVID-19, they should self-isolate and contact one of the following: 

• NHS 111 (England and Wales) 
• 0300 200 7885 (Northern Ireland) 
• NHS24 (call 111) or your General Practitioner (Scotland)

Travellers can access Information on COVID-19, including prevention advice, on the fitfortravel website.

Advice for healthcare practitioners

There remains a risk of imported cases to the UK. Health professionals should remain vigilant for symptomatic individuals who may have COVID-19.

Guidance on testing, as well as a range of other resource materials, is available from the Health Protection Scotland (HPS - for Scotland) and Public Health England (PHE – for the rest of the UK) websites.

Health professions can access Information on COVID-19, including prevention advice, on the TRAVAX website.

Source: TRAVAX, 14 February 2020

On 12 February 2020, a meeting of the Emergency Committee was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), to review the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

As of 10 February 2020, a total of 3,431 cases were reported, of which 3,308 were confirmed and 123 were probable, with 2,253 (66%) deaths. Between 3 and 9 February 2020, three new confirmed cases were reported in Beni Health Zone, North Kivu.

It was the unanimous view of the committee that the outbreak still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the IHR (2005). The committee acknowledged the revised risk assessment, which puts the risk as high at national and regional levels, and low at the global level.

Further information on EVD can be accessed via the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites.

Source: WHO, 12 February 2020

Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England have urged the public to ensure they have had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, as provisional data from PHE show that there were 5,042 lab-confirmed cases of mumps in England in 2019, compared to 1,066 cases in 2018. This is the highest number of cases since 2009.

The rise in cases looks set to continue in 2020, with 546 confirmed cases in January 2020 compared to 191 during the same period in 2019.

Source: PHE, 14 February 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report examining the risks and benefits of evidence-based screening. The report highlights the key elements of organised screening programmes, including identification of target populations, treatment, monitoring and evaluation.

Effective screening programmes can improve public health outcomes, reduce disease and disability, but new technologies such as biomarkers, new imagery techniques or smart technologies may lack a robust evidence base. It is also important to note the potential for commercially driven interests and supplier-induced demand.

The report states that care is needed when implementing a screening programme to ensure benefits and risks are evaluated thoroughly, before screening takes place.

Source: WHO, 11 February 2020

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set a deadline of 31 March 2021 for cannabidiol (CBD) businesses to provide more information about their products and contents. A valid application must be submitted to ensure products are safe and meet legal standards, measures which will be enforced by local authorities.

The FSA has also advised that CBD products should not be used by anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, while also recommending healthy adults do not exceed 70mg a day. This figure is based on recent findings by the UK Government’s Committee on Toxicity.

Source: FSA, 13 February 2020

Scottish ministers have asked Professor Charles Milne to undertake an independent review, which will assess health and welfare operational services undertaken by the Animal and Plant Health Agency(APHA) in Scotland, and to consider whether it would be beneficial to retain some or all of the existing services, or to create a Scottish Veterinary Service (SVS). The terms of reference of the review also required proposals for potential models for an SVS and to identify further work that would be required to support decision making.

The review methodology was based on desk-based analysis and face-to-face interviews. This was supplemented by written evidence provided by several organisations. 

Source: Scottish Government, 12 February 2020

The Scottish Government has announced an initial £40 million of funding to support the agricultural industry’s move towards lower carbon farming. The Agricultural Transformation Programme aims to assist the sector in undertaking a range of potential actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable farming and land use. The programme also aims to improve the environmental sustainability of the sector by protecting and restoring natural habitats and building sustainability through business practices that encourage productivity, innovation and inclusion.

On 12 February 2020, the Scottish Government's Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, also announced the formation of a new farmer-led group which will examine how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the suckler herd sector. The group will consider proposals for alternative methods of supporting the sector in mitigating its environmental impact and identifying practical ways in which it can reduce emissions.

Sources: Scottish Government, 7 February 2020 and 12 February 2020