THERE was concern in Crediton earlier this week after one of the two town’s doctors' surgeries issued a statement regarding a Coronavirus precaution.

Chiddenbrook Surgery in Crediton said at about 11am on Tuesday morning (February 25): “Today we are having to take precautions due to a patient attending morning surgery who has recently travelled to an area that might have been affected by the Coronavirus.

“Please contact us before attending so we can update you as to the current situation. Thank you.”

The surgery closed later in the day and staff worked remotely from home, with some doctors working from the New Valley Practice Newcombes Surgery, by kind permission.

Chiddenbrook Surgery returned to normal working hours the next day after a deep clean, although there were some areas where this was not possible.

No details about the patient have been released.

On its website on Wednesday, Chiddenbrook Surgery said: “Chiddenbrook Surgery is open again following a deep clean of the building yesterday.  Please can we ask that if any of our patients have been travelling abroad at all in recent weeks, please read the information below before attending the surgery.”

Coronavirus

The NHS in Devon and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.?The risk to the general public is moderate.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice is available on GOV.UK .

Based on the scientific advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) the UK Chief Medical Officers are advising anyone who has travelled to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and is experiencing cough or fever or shortness of breath, to stay indoors and call NHS 111, even if symptoms are mild.

If you have returned from these specific areas since February 19, you should call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:

• Iran

• Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy

• Special care zones in South Korea as designated by the Government of the Republic of South Korea

• Hubei province (returned in the past 14 days).

Also, based on the scientific advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , the UK Chief Medical Officers are advising anyone who has travelled to the UK from: Mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau in the last 14 days and is experiencing cough or fever or shortness of breath, to stay indoors and call NHS 111, even if the symptoms are mild.

If you have returned from the following areas since February 19 and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111. You do not need to follow this advice if you have no symptoms.

Those who have returned from Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, do not go to a GP surgery, community pharmacy or hospital. Call 111, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people.?Further information is available on: www.nhs.uk .?Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.?The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time, as members of the public who have visited Wuhan or Hubei province, China are currently in isolation.?Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict regulations. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of the hospital and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.?Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:?• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.?• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.?• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.?• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.?You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England on: www.nhs.uk .