CORONAVIRUS has seen extra precautions being taken across Warwickshire.
While no cases have been confirmed in the county, 85 have so far been declared nationally.
The number of people being tested nationally for the virus has risen to 13,911 – which included a Warwick School pupil whose result came back negative.
Symptoms include fever and a cough which can lead to severe pneumonia and breathing difficulties in older people and those with weakened immune systems.
Warwick Hospital has set up a coronavirus pod outside its Accident and Emergency department to keep those undergoing testing away from other patients.
Warwickshire County Council, which oversees local schools, told the Observer it would not be commenting on individual potential cases and urged residents to seek advice from the government.
A spokesman said: “There are many people being tested for covid-19 at a national and local level as a highly precautionary measure.
“We will not be commenting on queries about suspected cases in individual schools.
“All of our schools support and receive the latest advice about coronavirus as issued by Public Health England.”
Churches are among those making changes to reduce the risk of spreading the disease, also known as Covid-19.
During a service in Wellesbourne at the weekend parishioners suffering cold symptoms were advised not to sip from the communion cup or shake hands to offer peace.
The Coventry Diocese says it is following advice from the Church of England which has set up a coronavirus section on its website. It has been updated around four times in the past week.
A diocese spokesman said: “This guidance is being regularly updated in response to the changing situation and risk.
“The diocese has notified ministers and churchwardens about this guidance, and has asked them to regularly check the website for the latest information.”
Theatres, cinemas, sports clubs, pubs and restaurants are taking extra precautions.
Catherine Mallyon, executive director of the world famous Stratford-based Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “We have a dedicated team monitoring daily the current situation with coronavirus, and we are following the advice of the government and Public Health England and staying in close contact with our relevant industry professional bodies and unions.
“The wellbeing of our staff and our visitors is always our priority, and we have put a series of precautionary measures in place including reminders about the importance of routine hygiene, adding additional soap and alcohol-based hand gel in all our venues, as well as upscaling our normal cleaning activities in our buildings.”
Visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 or www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public for more information.
* The government this week warned the number of cases of coronavirus in the UK could rocket in the coming weeks.
It has said up to a fifth of the country’s workforce could be off sick at the peak of the epidemic and schools closed.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said a plan had been drawn up which could include the military backing up emergency services.
