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Our highways crews worked 24/7 to deal with over 130 reports. “Do not drive through flood water,” is one of the main messages from councils, fire, police and the Environment Agency who are continuing to work together to tackle flooding. Agencies have been working round-the-clock since Saturday (15 Feb) to close roads, give out sandbags, rescue drivers and keep people safe as Storm Dennis took hold. Areas particularly affected were in the north of the county and include Long Whatton, Measham, Diseworth, Sileby, Loughborough and Appleby Magna. Flood warnings remain in place across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – and residents are asked to sign up for alerts opens another website in new window if they haven’t already. Our highways teams received 130 reports over the weekend and 33 road closures remain in place including the A6 northbound near Zouch – drivers are urged to listen to local radio, Toby Willison, Executive Director of Operations at the Environment Agency, said: “Every home flooded is a tragedy for that family and our hearts go out to all those who have been flooded during Storm Dennis. “Our teams will continue to work 24/7, alongside the Police, Fire and Rescue and local authorities to reduce the risk of flooding and keep communities safe. “We expect disruptive weather into the middle of this week bringing a significant flood risk and there are flood warnings in place across much of England. “Operational teams are out across England today. We have deployed temporary barriers and are operating 90 pumps across the country. We are also ready to operate our large flood defences as required, and so far we have protected nearly 20,000 properties from the impacts of Storm Dennis. “With the effects of climate change, we are seeing more frequent periods of extreme weather. It is important for people to be aware of their flood risk and stay safe by signing up for flood warnings, making a flood plan and remembering not to drive or walk through flood water – it’s not worth the risk.” Leicestershire Police has been working across the weekend with partner agencies including local authorities, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, the Environment Agency and the Highways Agency to keep people safe, provide advice and to monitor the areas affected by the weather and flooding. Inspector Graeme Baxter said: “We received more than 50 calls between the early hours of Sunday and Monday morning in relation to flooding and traffic issues regarding Storm Dennis and I know our partner agencies were also extremely busy with calls and responding to these. We’d like to thank everyone for your patience and co-operation. “We continue to have officers out, working with partner agencies, to help keep areas safe, put in road closures where necessary and to ensure people are taking the right steps in order to ensure their own safety.” News source : Leicestershire County Council

Community event giving people the chance to talk about tackling knife crime is being held in St Matthews later this week. The ‘community conversation’, held at St Matthews Neighbourhood Centre, in Malabar Road, is open to anyone who would like to attend. It takes place on Wednesday 19 February from 2-3.30pm. Organised by community leaders from the area, it will be a chance for people to have their say and put forward ideas which could go on to form part of a city-wide strategy on knife crime and serious violence. The strategy is currently being developed and the St Matthews conversation is the first of several which will take place across the city over the coming weeks. Assistant city mayor for neighbourhoods, Cllr Kirk Master, said: “These community conversations are crucial and will help form part of the work we are doing to build relationships, share ideas and learning from residents across Leicester. It’s very important that we listen to people who live in communities and may have been affected by knife crime so that their views can shape the direction of our future work. “Developing a new strategy to tackle knife crime is part of our ongoing work in this area, work we deliver with a range of partners across Leicester”. For more information about the St Matthews event, contact community leader Rukhsana Hussain on 07466 868 651. More details about future community conversations across the city will be available soon. News source : Leicester City Council

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall are to visit Leicester Market tomorrow (Tuesday 11 February). The Royal couple will meet stallholders in the city’s famous covered market and representatives of local charity, the Shama Women’s Centre, before moving on to Leicester’s award-winning food hall. They will then be shown the bronze statue of suffragette Alice Hawkins – the Leicester shoe factory worker – before meeting two of her great-grandchildren. The Royal party will then continue to the new market square, where they will enjoy a performance by local schoolchildren as part of the Spark Festival. Around 90 children from St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy, Folville Junior and Avenue Primary schools will perform part of a musical project called Our World – led by local charity, The Spark Arts for Children. Their Royal Highnesses will meet some of the young performers, before unveiling a plaque to formally name the new public space as Green Dragon Square. City Mayor Peter Soulsby – who will welcome the Royal visitors to Leicester – said: “We look forward to showing The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall around our market place and introducing them to some of our very talented young people. “I’m also very pleased that they will be formally naming our attractive new space behind the Corn Exchange, in a move that will bring a historic name back to the area and create another important link with Leicester’s past.” The Royal visit will take place tomorrow (Tuesday 11 February) and will include a walkabout in the newly-named Green Dragon Square – which takes its name from a medieval inn that stood on the site until the 1850s. Members of the public wishing to greet the Royal visitors are welcome to gather in the new square from early afternoon tomorrow (Tuesday 11 February). A programme of entertainment will get under way at 12.45pm. To allow the visit to take place, a number of roads in the area will be closed to traffic for several hours from 10am. These include Market Place, Market Place South, Market Place Approach, Hotel Street, St Martins, Grey Friars, Friar Lane (between its junctions with Berridge Street and Hotel Street) and Bishop Street. Parking and loading restrictions will also be in place, and drivers are reminded that any vehicle parked in a ‘no waiting’ area will be towed away. Letters have been distributed, advising businesses and residents in the affected area of the temporary arrangements. Source : Leicester City Council News

Mood Bears are helping to ease the strain on children’s mental health Cute teddy bears are playing a powerful part in tackling children’s mental health issues - as figures show a steady decline in youngsters’ emotional wellbeing. Mood Bears are colourful teddies which are helping young people to deal with their feelings and emotions. The 30cm-tall cuddly toys each represent one of five recognised feelings or emotional states happy bear, sad bear, silly bear, nervous bear and love bear. It is hoped that in time they can encourage us all to talk, listen and understand our feelings, thoughts and moods. The team behind Mood Bears recently took the cuddly characters into Leicester Royal Infirmary to meet some of the children undergoing care - and received an overwhelmingly positive response. Joanna Proud - who designed the teddies and co-owns Mood Bears with husband Nathan - aims to get the bears into every hospital in England. More than 700 have been sold in just two months. She said: “They proved so popular that the play specialists in charge of arranging fun activities for the children are now looking to include Mood Bears on their daily rounds.” Adults’ intensive care at the health trust also praised the toys, as some were given to young children who had just lost their mother. One nurse wrote to the company: “I just wanted to let you know how much of an impact your bears had when I gave them to some children who had lost their mum under tragic circumstances. “They were given them by the hospital as the last gift from their mum. The comfort and love that these bears gave the children on this last day was immeasurable. I can’t thank you enough for sharing these bears with us.” Joanna, who lives in Loughborough, said: “It brought me to tears to hear this. It’s extremely emotional and powerful to think of how I helped those children.” Joanna, who is mum to Daisy, 15, Eliza, 13 and Thomas, 10, found the bears a comfort herself after suffering from depression over the past 18 months. “I don’t feel the best some days,” she said. “But I walk around the house cuddling them. They are so soft and you look at their little faces and they really make you smile.” Mood Bears’ success comes as Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, warned that a ‘chasm’ remains between what mental health services are available for children and what they need. An estimated 12.8% of children in England have mental health problems - and many more fall just below the threshold for clinical diagnosis. The prevalence of five to 15-year-olds experiencing emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression, has increased by 48% – from 3.9% in 2004 to 5.8% in 2017, according to NHS Digital. But Ms Longfield said: “We are still a decade away from a decent mental health service for all children.” Mood Bears welcome companies to sponsor the bears. The firm’s name is printed on a certificate which is presented with each teddy. The bears, which come with their own biography, cost £19.99, or a family of Mood Bears is available for £89.99 To find out more, visit www.moodbears.co.uk

A Lutterworth man who was almost a victim of fraud, after he was called by someone claiming to be a police officer, is warning others about the scam. Jack was contacted last month by someone claiming they were a police officer from a station in London, he informed Jack that there had been an attempt to access his bank account. The caller advised 87-year-old Jack to check his identity by calling 999 and he would then ring him back. Jack called 999 and the operator informed him that it sounded like a scam call. Later the same day he received further calls from a withheld number and answered it, he informed the caller that his call sounded like a scam at which point the suspect hung up. These offences are commonly known as courier fraud. There are various different versions of the crime but in the majority of cases elderly and vulnerable people are contacted by someone claiming to be in authority, such as a police officer. Reference is made to fraudulent use of their bank cards to accounts and to verify all is well they are asked to withdraw large sums of money or purchase high-value items. Arrangements are then made to send someone to collect the cash or item from the victim’s home address. Jack issued a warning to others. He said: “When I received the call I immediately thought this is a scam but I was just a little curious. I knew I needed to leave sufficient time before checking if the call was genuine. I called 999 and was put through to the police who told me that the call I had received was a potential scam. “I know these offences are becoming more and more prevalent. I want to help the police by getting the message across. If you get a call in similar circumstances put the phone down, don’t get drawn in to a conversation and never disclose any personal details. Use a different telephone to contact the police as there’s always a chance the caller may still be connected to your line.” Since October 2019 we have had 62 reports of courier fraud, 13 of those resulted in a financial loss of more than £120,000 and 49 of the reports were attempts to obtain cash or valuables. Paul Wenlock is the head of the Economic Crime Unit. He said: “Fortunately Jack became suspicious and luckily no money exchanged hands. It’s extremely important for people to be aware of these offences. “One thing to be aware of is the police or banks would never contact people in this way. If they are called they should disconnect the call straightaway and report the incident to the police using another telephone, as on some occasions calls can remain connected. “If you have an elderly neighbour or relative make them aware of this scam. The callers do sound plausible and it is quite easy to get drawn in.” Further advice about these offences can be found on https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/courier-fraud

Following new ownership, one of Leicester’s favourite bars is enjoying a period of refreshment and renaissance with new food and drink menus being launched. Now part of MVR Exchange Limited, sitting alongside the neighbouring Manhattan 34, The Exchange Bar will undergo a light refresh but continue to create the unique ambience and friendly atmosphere that it was known for before. By popular demand, customers will be pleased to know the kitchen will be reopening and offering all-time American brunch classics including American style bagels and pancake stackers. You can also expect staples such as a soup of the day and toasties on the lunch menu with a range of vegan and vegetarian options. Things are being refreshed behind the bar too with a varied and seasonal new drinks menu on offer. With the Curve Theatre just a stone’s throw away, the team created a range of bespoke cocktails to celebrate the arrival of ‘The Woman in Black’ and are currently working on a ‘The Phantom of The Opera’ menu so culture vultures can theme their drinks with their theatre! Continuing as a destination for meetings, catch ups and socials, there will also be special offers including a free Danish pastry with hot drinks, available 8.30 – 10.30am daily. The venue also boasts having three separate rooms to suit a variety of functions and caters to suit the customers’ needs. As well as the main bar, customers can also hire exclusive use of the Garden Room or the larger Broadway Bar downstairs. Marc Van Rooyen, owner of The Exchange Bar and Manhattan 34 said; “We’re excited to welcome both new and old customers to The Exchange Bar. We’re already planning an extensive and varied programme of events including beer and wine masterclasses, poetry nights and open mic nights, speciality cuisine nights – to name just a few.” “The Cultural Quarter is a great hub for the city and to be at the heart of that, is an honour. We’re working with businesses in the area to create bespoke offers and there are already plans for a Cultural Quarter loyalty card”, he added. Marc Van Rooyen The Exchange Bar is at 50 Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1RD. Booking enquiries can be made on 0116 2621811 and enquiries@theexchangebar.co.uk For more information visit www.theexchangebar.co.uk

Feeling loved-up in Leicester? Charity offers a gift-wrapping service in time for February 14 Charity administrator Karen Leitch (left) and volunteer Yvette Sansom get ready to wrap. Following its successful Christmas campaign, Leicester Children’s Holidays now has Valentine’s Day all wrapped up too. Its new shop and office at Highcross Leicester is being decked out with red heart balloons, ribbons and bows. And charity staff and volunteers are inviting shoppers to bring in their gifts to be wrapped – in return for a donation. The new unit in the heart of the city heralds a new era for the charity which used to be called Leicester Children’s Holidays Centre (Mablethorpe). It has taken 60,000 disadvantaged children on free holidays since 1898. The new shop and offices, in the Upper Mall, next to the Post Office and opposite Zara, is a modern showcase for the charity and is full of charity memorabilia including old photographs. It moved there in December and is the first time anyone has been able to see these artefacts displayed in one place. The wrapping service starts on Wednesday February 12 and finishes on the big day Friday February 14. The hours are 10am to 4pm. The charity welcomes volunteers who can spare a few hours to help wrap the gifts. Leicester Children’s Holidays’ manager Nicky Kandola said: “We raised £2,000 from our Christmas wrapping and had 200 visitors so are looking forward to welcoming more shoppers for Valentine’s Day. Since our move to Highcrosswe have had lots of interested people popping in and it has been wonderful to increase our visibility. “We need more volunteers to offer a few hours if they canto help us. It is a lot of fun to wrap gifts and training will be given if needed. “We give children life-changing experiences on our holidays and help them get away from their problems at home. We want people to learn about the work we do. “We are so grateful to Highcross Leicester who saw our vision and agreed to be part of our charity’s journey. They have done so much to make it possible.” Charity committee member Steven Sansom, formerlychairman of Dominoes Toys in Leicester, has donated gift wrap, balloons and ribbons, and even a special high table for the army of wrappers. Charity trustees, committee members, staff and volunteers will get involved. Leicester Children’s Holidays provides free respite breaks for children aged 8 to 11 from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who may face difficult circumstances at home. They may live in a low-income family, have suffered a bereavement, be a child carer looking after a parent or sibling or need a break for a host of other reasons. For decades, the charity helped children have fun on free holidays at its centre in Mablethorpe. In its history, it has offered more than 60,000 holidays to needy children and today it costs £450 to take each child on holiday. The charity will take 80 children to Hilltop Outdoor Centre in Norfolk this summer. Anyone who would like to volunteer to wrap gifts should contact Leicester Children’s Holidays on 0116 251 9863 or via email on hello@leicesterchildrensholidays.co.uk

Plans for a major £4million revamp of three busy city centre streets have been announced by Leicester City Council. The city council is planning major improvements to Horsefair Street, Pocklingtons Walk nearby Market Place South (and a small linking section of Millstone Lane) as part of the Connecting Leicester project, which is improving routes through the city centre while making it more attractive to investors and developers. On Horsefair Street, footpaths will be reconstructed with high-quality block paving and the realigned carriageway will be resurfaced. A new contraflow cycle track will be created to extend the network of safe cycle routes across the city centre. As part of the revamp, a new footpath will be created into Town Hall Square. This will link directly to Dolphin Square, with a raised area across the carriageway to link the two areas of public realm. These improvements will extend onto Pocklington’s Walk, where footpaths will be improved, and the carriageway realigned and resurfaced. A contraflow cycle track will provide a direct link from Horsefair Street to the new cycle lanes created on Welford Road, Newarke Street and Belvoir Street. A small number of Pay and Display parking bays will be introduced on Chancery Street to offset removal of parking on Pocklington’s Walk. Nearby Market Place South will also be reconstructed and resurfaced, extending the improvements recently completed in Market Place. Work to improve the pedestrian link at Dolphin Square will also be completed, with a high-quality resin-bonded gravel finish. The improvements will be part-financed with up to £1.85 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), following the city council’s successful bid for over £6 million of funding to support a range of ambitious transport related projects that aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “It is vital that we continue to invest in the regeneration of this high-profile part of the city centre and continue to provide safe and attractive routes for cyclists and pedestrians. “This major scheme will transform the look and feel of this part of the city centre, providing much improved facilities for all road users and creating a new direct link between Leicester’s popular market and the historic Town Hall Square. “The award of almost £2million of ERDF support is a tremendous endorsement of what this scheme will help achieve.” Work is due to get underway on the new Town Hall Square path in mid-February, with the main works due to begin in late-April. The overall improvement scheme will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption, but some road closures will be required. Details will be publicised closer to the start date. To view plans and further details, visit the 'ongoing projects' section at www.leicester.gov.uk/connectingleicester News source : Leicester City Council news

During a national week of awareness, Leicestershire Police is highlighting the many support services available for victims of sexual abuse and violence across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). Throughout this week (3 – 9 February), organisations across LLR want to encourage people who have suffered from recent or historic abuse to come forward and access help, support and resources. All of the services are available, regardless of whether or not they wish to report a crime to the police. The focus for this year’s national sexual abuse and violence awareness week is ‘It’s Not OK’. Leicestershire Police work in partnership with several organisations who cover LLR including Victim First who work with victims and witnesses of crime and support both adults and young people. Trade, who are a health charity, support the LGBT+ community with their sexual and overall health needs and concerns. First Step work with male abuse survivors aged 13 and above and Quetzal offer counselling and a helpline to women who have suffered sexual abuse as a child. Jasmine House, Leicester Rape Crisis offer specialist counselling and support for females aged 13 and above that have suffered sexual violence or assault. United against Violence and Abuse (UAVA) provide a dedicated helpline along with specialist support including access to an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) for males and females of any age, including children. Juniper Lodge is a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) that offers support, forensic medical facilities and advice, to anyone aged 18 years and above regardless of whether a report is made to the police. Specialist staff can be contacted on 0116 273 3330 or juniper.lodge@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk. Help is available is the campaign’s key message – it doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what your needs are. If you choose to disclose something that has happened to you, you will be listened to, treated as an individual and will receive specific tailored support. The campaign aims to reach out to those people who find it harder to report. This often includes men, those from LGBT communities and black and Asian minority groups. Support is also available for the friends and relatives of victims as their needs can get overlooked. It’s important for them to know there is help for them to deal with their experiences too. Manager of Juniper Lodge (SARC), Millie Gant, said: “The SARC is a safe place where you can discuss your options with a crisis worker regardless of your gender or gender identity. We know that there are barriers which impact on people choosing to report but awareness and knowledge that they will be listened to and helped is key to what we are hoping to achieve. “Sexual abuse and sexual violence are both sensitive topics and we hope that our involvement in the awareness week will encourage conversations about these difficult subjects. “We hope that anyone who has been affected by sexual abuse or sexual violence understands how they can report these issues and know they are not alone.” Lord Willy Bach, Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland provide a vast amount of specialist services which provide emotional and practical help for victims and survivors whether they have reported their experiences to police or not.”

An inspiring project which is giving a group of green-fingered adult mental health service users the opportunity to grow food in a hospital’s ‘secret garden’ has been boosted by over £1,700 in funding from Central England Co-op. For the past 18 months Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust’s (LRWT) Grow Wild team has been working alongside Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust to support a group of adult mental heath service users experiencing severe and enduring issues. The focus has been on weekly gardening sessions to renovate a courtyard garden at the University of Leicester’s Attenborough Arts Centre but now the group – called The Green Room Gardeners – are keen to continue gardening and have expressed an interest in growing food. Working in partnership with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, a new site has been identified at Glenfield Hospital, an old walled garden which is perfect for the next stage of the project and one which has now been boosted with over £1,700 in funding from the Southern Member & Community Council (MCC) at Central England Co-op. Launched by University Hospitals of Leicester, the Secret Garden project aims to restore the old walled garden making it a centre of excellence for health and wellbeing for not only its patients and staff, but also working closely with the local community to provide a space for everyone to use. Karen Bevan, Member and Community Relations Officer for the Southern Region at Central England Co-op, said: “When the council received the application for funding from LRWT it was a project our members were really keen to support, given the really positive difference it is already making to the service users. “As a co-operative we welcome the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives and wellbeing of the people who live in the communities we serve and I’m proud that the Southern Membership and Community Council were able to support this project and I look forward to seeing the progress.” The benefits of the project so far have been increased levels of physical activity, exposure to nature and contact with others, while positive outcomes have included increased levels of self-esteem, confidence, meaning, empowerment, hope and connectedness. The funding from Central England Co-op will go towards materials to create raised beds in the garden, as well as waterproof clothing for the gardeners. Matthew Herbert, Grow Wild Gardener at LRWT, said: “We're looking forward to creating a long-term home with The Green Room Gardeners here at the Secret Garden. Having a space in which we can work together, in nature, is so important. “Being outdoors with soil under our nails, sowing seeds and harvesting the crops we've grown together really helps all of us involved in the Green Room Gardeners group. We really appreciate Central England Co-op's support in making this happen." Karen James, Commercial Services Manager at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted that the members of the Central England Co-operative MCC have chosen to support Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trusts’ Green Room Gardeners project. “We anticipate that the organic growing area we have set aside within the Secret Garden project for smaller activities and programmes such as this one, will have huge benefits to all members of our community who will eventually use this fantastic space.” The Southern Membership and Community Council is made up of Co-op members who are passionate about their community and want to make a difference within it. Each council is given funding and support by the Society to organise activities and events. Picture caption: Karen Bevan, Member and Community Relations Officer for the Southern Region at Central England Co-op (centre right) with MCC members and representatives from LRWT’s Grow Wild team and University Hospitals Leicester.

Two patients in England have tested positive for coronavirus. If more cases are confirmed in the UK, it will be announced as soon as possible by the Chief Medical Officer of the affected country. Based on the World Health Organization’s declaration that this is a public health emergency of international concern, Two patients in England have tested positive for coronavirus. If more cases are confirmed in the UK, it will be announced as soon as possible by the Chief Medical Officer of the affected country. Based on the World Health Organization’s declaration that this is a public health emergency of international concern, the UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate. This permits the government to plan for all eventualities. The risk to individuals in the UK has not changed at this stage. Our advice for travellers from Wuhan remains unchanged from the below. 1,466 passengers and 95 staff arrived in the UK on direct flights from Wuhan between 10 and 24 January. 162 of the passengers have already left the UK760 are now outside of the incubation period Public Health England are working to contact the remaining passengers. We have been working in close collaboration with international colleagues and the World Health Organisation to monitor the situation in China and around the world. The Department of Health and Social Care will be publishing updated data on this page on a daily basis at 2pm until further notice. Information about the virus A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China. Advice for travellers from Wuhan If you have returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days: stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu virusescall NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city If you are in Northern Ireland, call your GP. Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus. What this means in practice We are asking people to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible, like they would with other flu viruses. This means remaining at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan and not going to work, school or public areas. Where possible, you should avoid having visitors to your home, but it’s ok for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food. Transport You should not use public transport or taxis until 14 days after your return from Wuhan. Getting food and medicine We recommend that you stay at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan, and avoid public places. Where possible, contact a friend, family member or delivery services to carry out errands on your behalf. Taking children to school We recommend that you stay at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan, and avoid public places. Where possible, contact a friend or family member to take your children to school. Why the advice has changed This is an evolving situation and the advice has changed based on emerging information from China about the number of cases and spread of the infection from person to person. This is a highly precautionary measure to limit the potential spread of infection. If you develop symptoms If you develop a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing, you should continue to follow the advice above. Please do not leave your home until you been given advice by a clinician. Summary of action taken We have introduced advanced monitoring at airports with direct flights from China. A team of public health experts has been established in Heathrow to support anyone travelling in from China who feels unwell. These hubs will bring in rotational teams of 7 clinicians, working in shifts, who will be on hand to support patients on arrival. This is in addition to medical staff who are already permanently in place at all UK airports and the advice issued to all UK airports for people travelling to and from China. The government has issued clinical guidance for the detection and diagnosis of novel coronavirus (2019-nCov), and infection prevention and control. The Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director at PHE and Medical Director at NHSE/I have issued advice via a CAS (Central Alerting System) alert to frontline staff to increase awareness of the situation and any actions to take. Most people who develop symptoms will get them after leaving the airport and so the priority is providing UK residents and travellers with the latest information to make sure they know what to do if they experience symptoms, and the NHS and PHE have an established plan to respond to someone who becomes unwell. China has also introduced port-of-exit screening so people already exhibiting symptoms are not allowed to leave the country. Diagnosis and analysis Based on current evidence, novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild. Those who have died in Wuhan appear to have had pre-existing health conditions. The UK is now one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this new disease. Healthcare professionals who are contacted by a patient with symptoms following travel to Wuhan have been advised to submit samples to PHE for testing. Individuals should be treated in isolation. After the experience of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, PHE developed a series of diagnostic tests to detect any member of the family of coronaviruses. These have been used for several years, and were able to detect the first UK case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012. With the first reported publication of the genome sequence of a 2019 novel coronavirus, PHE was able to rapidly develop further specific tests for this virus, working with WHO and global network of laboratories. When a clinician suspects novel coronavirus (2019-nCov), they take samples from the nose, throat and deeper respiratory samples, package and send them safely to PHE Colindale. PHE can provide a laboratory result from this specific virus on the same working day. PHE also has the capability to sequence the viral genome and compare this to published sequences from China, if a case occurs. This will provide valuable information on any mutations in the virus over time and allow an improved understanding of how it spreads. This permits the government to plan for all eventualities. The risk to individuals in the UK has not changed at this stage. Our advice for travellers from Wuhan remains unchanged from the below. 1,466 passengers and 95 staff arrived in the UK on direct flights from Wuhan between 10 and 24 January. 162 of the passengers have already left the UK760 are now outside of the incubation period Public Health England are working to contact the remaining passengers. We have been working in close collaboration with international colleagues and the World Health Organisation to monitor the situation in China and around the world. The Department of Health and Social Care will be publishing updated data on this page on a daily basis at 2pm until further notice. Information about the virus A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China. Advice for travellers from Wuhan If you have returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days: stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu virusescall NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city. If you are in Northern Ireland, call your GP. Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus. What this means in practice We are asking people to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible, like they would with other flu viruses. This means remaining at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan and not going to work, school or public areas. Where possible, you should avoid having visitors to your home, but it’s ok for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food. Transport You should not use public transport or taxis until 14 days after your return from Wuhan. Getting food and medicine We recommend that you stay at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan, and avoid public places. Where possible, contact a friend, family member or delivery services to carry out errands on your behalf. Taking children to school We recommend that you stay at home for 14 days after arriving from Wuhan, and avoid public places. Where possible, contact a friend or family member to take your children to school. Why the advice has changed This is an evolving situation and the advice has changed based on emerging information from China about the number of cases and spread of the infection from person to person. This is a highly precautionary measure to limit the potential spread of infection. If you develop symptoms If you develop a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing, you should continue to follow the advice above. Please do not leave your home until you been given advice by a clinician. Summary of action taken We have introduced advanced monitoring at airports with direct flights from China. A team of public health experts has been established in Heathrow to support anyone travelling in from China who feels unwell. These hubs will bring in rotational teams of 7 clinicians, working in shifts, who will be on hand to support patients on arrival. This is in addition to medical staff who are already permanently in place at all UK airports and the advice issued to all UK airports for people travelling to and from China. The government has issued clinical guidance for the detection and diagnosis of novel coronavirus (2019-nCov), and infection prevention and control. The Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director at PHE and Medical Director at NHSE/I have issued advice via a CAS (Central Alerting System) alert to frontline staff to increase awareness of the situation and any actions to take. Most people who develop symptoms will get them after leaving the airport and so the priority is providing UK residents and travellers with the latest information to make sure they know what to do if they experience symptoms, and the NHS and PHE have an established plan to respond to someone who becomes unwell. China has also introduced port-of-exit screening so people already exhibiting symptoms are not allowed to leave the country. Diagnosis and analysis Based on current evidence, novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild. Those who have died in Wuhan appear to have had pre-existing health conditions. The UK is now one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this new disease. Healthcare professionals who are contacted by a patient with symptoms following travel to Wuhan have been advised to submit samples to PHE for testing. Individuals should be treated in isolation After the experience of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, PHE developed a series of diagnostic tests to detect any member of the family of coronaviruses. These have been used for several years, and were able to detect the first UK case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012. With the first reported publication of the genome sequence of a 2019 novel coronavirus, PHE was able to rapidly develop further specific tests for this virus, working with WHO and global network of laboratories. When a clinician suspects novel coronavirus (2019-nCov), they take samples from the nose, throat and deeper respiratory samples, package and send them safely to PHE Colindale. PHE can provide a laboratory result from this specific virus on the same working day. PHE also has the capability to sequence the viral genome and compare this to published sequences from China, if a case occurs. This will provide valuable information on any mutations in the virus over time and allow an improved understanding of how it spreads.

Phoenix Leicester: 26th February Directed by – Adam Egypt Mortimer Starring Patrick Schwarzenegger, Miles Robbins, Sasha Lane, Hannah Marks and Mary Stuart Masterson. Daniel Isn’t Real will screen in Leicester from 26th February. Having received high critical praise across its film festival run, DANIEL ISN’T REAL is based on the novel “In This Way I Was Saved” by Brian DeLeeuwwith the screenplay by Brian DeLeeuw and Adam Egypt Mortimer and produced by Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller, Lisa Whalen, Elijah Wood with Spectrevision and ACE Pictures. The film follows troubled Luke (Miles Robbins) who suffers a violent family trauma and resurrects his childhood imaginary friend to help him cope. Charismatic and full of manic energy, “Daniel” (Patrick Schwarzenegger) helps Luke to achieve his dreams, before pushing him into a desperate fight for his own soul. Director Adam Egypt Mortimer said: “Over the seven years Brian and I worked on adapting his novel, different themes emerged — particularly through the seductive character of Daniel. His nihilistic point of view made me want to make the sort of movie that would wake people up to the danger of reality and thrill them with the scary idea that people are all one impulsive decision away from violence or true evil. Within all the technique, colours, stunt, and psychotronic moments, the best part of the movie is the emotional reality between the characters. DANIEL ISN’T REAL is my heart put on film. And I can't wait to have a public conversation about it with you all!” DANIEL ISN’T REAL is released in UK cinemas 7th February 2020 Phoenix Leicester: 26th February Phoenix 4 Midland Street Leicester LE1 1TG Box Office 0116 242 2800