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Boris Johnson Expected to Say U.K. in ‘Delay’ Phase of Virus Outbreak

Boris Johnson Expected to Say U.K. in ‘Delay’ Phase of Virus Outbreak

(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson’s U.K. government is expected to announce Thursday that it is moving away from trying to contain the coronavirus outbreak, and focusing its efforts on trying to slow its spread, with possible options including school closures and stopping large-scale gatherings.

The prime minister will chair an early afternoon meeting of the government’s emergency “Cobra” committee, his office said, and is expected to announce formally a move to the “Delay” phase of the response to the outbreak.

Boris Johnson Expected to Say U.K. in ‘Delay’ Phase of Virus Outbreak

The U.K.’s goal with handling the virus is to slow its spread so that it peaks during the summer months, when the National Health Service is less stretched than it is in winter. Under the government’s virus plan, published March 3, options after a move to Delay include “population distancing strategies.”

Among the possibilities it listed were restricting big gatherings, school closures and encouraging people to work at home. The plan also says decisions will be based on their likely effectiveness and their impact on society. So far government scientists have argued that school closures could be counterproductive. People are also likely to be told to isolate themselves if they have any cold or flu symptoms.

Speaking Wednesday evening in Parliament, Health Secretary Matt Hancock cited the World Health Organization’s assessment that coronavirus was now a pandemic. “They think that this virus will spread right across the world,” he said. “That has a significant impact on the way countries around the world will take forward their plans. We will be discussing that tomorrow.”

Boris Johnson Expected to Say U.K. in ‘Delay’ Phase of Virus Outbreak

Faced with questions about why the U.K. hadn’t already gone further in stopping people from meeting, Hancock said ministers were being guided by scientists and experts on human behavior. “We keep action under review all the time,” he said. “Different countries are at different stages of this. The hope is that we will do the right thing at the right time.”

Hancock said he expected the U.K. to hit its peak level of infection “in a matter of a couple of months.” As the U.K. prepares, he said it was facing a global shortage of ventilators. “Our approach to ventilators,” he said, “is to get our hands on as many as possible. .”

To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Robert Jameson

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