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Originator: CMO Messaging

From: Professor Chris Whitty

Issue date: 07-Feb-2020 18:32:27

This alert has been issued to:
  • NHS Regional Offices
  • NHS Foundation Trusts (England) - Medical Director
  • NHS Foundation Trusts (England) - Chief Executive
  • NHS Trusts (England) - Medical Director
  • Regional Directors of Public Health
  • NHS Trusts (England) - Chief Executive

  • Other contacts
  • Independent Healthcare Providers (registered with CAS)
  • Clinical Commissioning Groups
  • Social Care Providers (registered with CAS)
  • CMO Urgent Messages - Non-NHS Recipients on Public Health Link
  • Territorial CMOs in Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales
  • Consultants in Communicable Diseases
  • CMO Urgent Messages - Recipients on Public Health Link
  • Director of Public Health
  • GP - Locum
  • NHS 111 and Out of hours providers
  • GP Practices
  • Out of hours contacts
  • Primary Care Networks

Action category: Important information for immediate action

Title: Novel coronvirus - 07 February

Broadcast content:
This alert updates the advice sent on 31st January 2020. Changes from the previous version are highlighted in blue font. The key changes are to the case definition. These include the expansion of geography for clinical case definition from mainland China to mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau; and the modification of the clinical case definition so that fever without any other symptoms is sufficient criteria for testing (if the patient has also travelled from or transited through the previously names countries in the previous 14 days). Alternative clinical diagnosis for fever in a returning traveller should be considered and tests performed at local NHS laboratories, according to published PHE guidance.

An updated flowchart is also attached.


Additional information: NHS England Regional Offices: please cascade this alert at the earliest available opportunity to Community Pharmacy and to any GP Practices in your areas that are not yet registered with CAS.

Alert reference: CEM/CMO/2020/004

Attachments:

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