No10 blocks UK medics fighting Coronavirus from continued access to EU-wide pandemic warning system ‘over fears it could harm Britain in post-Brexit trade talks’
- Health officials wanted to stay in the EU Early Warning and Response System
- But Downing Street accused of vetoing access to the online hub of medics
- Claim came as Boris Johnson vowed to ‘stop at nothing’ to combat Coronavirus
Downing Street is pulling the UK out of an EU pandemic early warning system against the wishes of health experts amid claims they fear it could harm the Government’s post-Brexit trade strategy.
The Department of Health lobbied to remain a member of Brussels’ Early Warning and Response System (EWRS), an online hub bringing to together medical and political authorities across the bloc.
But while Downing Street this afternoon insisted it was committed to working with Brussels to combat the spread of the virus, it would not agree to remain part of the programme after the transition period ends in December.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: ‘We have left the European Union.’
It came as Boris Johnson today warned that coronavirus is on the verge of ‘significant’ escalation in the UK – as he urged people to stay calm and keep washing their hands.
The government is bracing Britons for the virus to escalate further after the number of cases in this country hit 36, including the first in Scotland.
The PM finally waded in to take personal charge of the response by chairing a Cobra emergency committee meeting this morning.
Speaking after the session, which agreed a new ‘battle plan’ against Covid-19 to be published tomorrow, Mr Johnson said coronavirus was ‘likely to become more significant for this country in the course of the next days and weeks’.
But EWRS membership appears to have been sacrificed as the Government is seeking a deal which allows the UK to diverge away from EU rules and regulations.
It is threatening to walk away from talks – which started today – as early as June if it does not get its way.
The claim came as Boris Johnson vowed to ‘stop at nothing’ to combat Coronavirus as he chairs an emergency Cobra meeting including Health Secretary Matt Hancock (centre, today)
Boris Johnson (pictured yesterday) will take charge of the Government response to the coronavirus outbreak today after claims he was acting like a ‘part-time Prime Minister’
The PM’s spokesman said the Government was ‘open to discussing ways of working with member states on sharing info, adding: ‘We have continued to work closely with our EU allies throughout this process.
‘One practical example I could point you do is how closely we have worked together on repatriation flights.’
The EWRS was set up in 1998 to ‘allow exchange of information on risk assessment and risk management for more timely, efficient and coordinated public health action’.
This morning the former head of Public Health England defended the scheme.
Paul Cosford, now its PHE’s emeritus medical director, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The EWRS, it’s an early warning system, is a mechanism for communicating between countries in the EU but it’s also also used with countries outside the EU…
‘We are still part of that at this stage. And we do find it useful.’
This morning European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen said the risk level in the EU had risen from moderate to high.
Fears for scores of cancer patients at an NHS hospital in Hertfordshire were sparked this morning after a clinician was revealed as one of the 13 latest coronavirus cases in the UK.
More than a half a dozen members of staff at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood have been forced to self-isolate and are waiting to hear if they have caught the killer virus, MailOnline understands.
The PM is finally taking personal charge of the response to the Covid-19 threat, after the number of people infected in the UK climbed to 36 over the weekend.
Mr Johnson will warn ministers that the virus will present a ‘significant challenge’ to the country as he finalises a new ‘battle plan’ by the Government.
A healthcare worker at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Hertfordshire is one of the 13 latest coronavirus cases in the UK, it emerged this morning
Scotland declared its first case, while 12 new patients were diagnosed in England on Sunday, when the Health Secretary admitted it was ‘inevitable’ coronavirus would continue to spread.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has refused to rule out following China’s lead in shutting down cities if the Covid-19 outbreak escalates.
Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Liz Truss suggested the government plans to appoint a single minister to coordinate the UK action.