Coronavirus in Sunderland: What we know so far as first case of disease confirmed in city

How many people have been disagnosed in Sunderland?

As of 9am on Monday, March 9, Public Health England said there is one confirmed case of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Sunderland.

This person, understood to be a woman from the Pennywell area, is being treated at South Tyneside District Hospital.

One person who works in Sunderland, but doesn’t live in the city has also tested positive.

What about the North East?

The latest figure available from the Department of Health shows that 24 people from the North East and Yorkshire have tested positive for coronavirus.

According to information released from Public Health England, the North East has a total of six confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Four of these are in Newcastle, one is in North Tyneside and one is in Sunderland.

Both the Department on Health and Public Health England are providing regular daily updates.

One of the patients diagnosed in Newcastle was confirmed last week to work on Wearside, with public health officials saying the risk for others in Sunderland was low.

Nike were unavailable for comment, but its office at Doxford International – which shut last week – still appears to be closed as of Tuesday, March 10.

County Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and South Tyneside have no confirmed cases.

What is the risk?

England's deputy chief medical officer warned that the UK peak of the epidemic is expected within a fortnight.

The latest figures show that 319 people in the UK are now confirmed to have Covid-19.

But as the confirmed Sunderland patient is treated in South Tyneside, Tom Hall – Director of Public Health at South Tyneside Council – has reassured families that the risk to the wider public remains low.

He added: “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and follow national and regional advice. We have plans and procedures in place for handling this sort of situation, which we regularly exercise and train for.”

What should I do?

Viruses similar to this can spread through cough droplets and the NHS has issued a range of advice to minimise people’s risk.

These include washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze and avoiding close contact with people who are unwell.

Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth if your hands are unclean.