Jewish MP asked to be assessed for coronavirus
'As a precaution, we have cancelled all engagements until next Thursday,' Alex Sobel wrote on Twitter
A Jewish MP who was at a conference attended by someone diagnosed with Coronavirus asked to be formally assessed for the illness.
Alex Sobel confirmed on Friday he was among over 200 guests at the UK Bus Summit in Westminster on 6 February and an unnamed patient confirmed to have the new illness also known as Covid-19.
The Labour and Co-operative MP for Leeds North West said he had cancelled all engagements until next Thursday as a precaution.
“Whilst I have been informed that I am at very low risk, I have called 111 to be formally assessed,” he wrote on Twitter.
“As a precaution, we have cancelled all engagements until next Thursday when the 14-day potential incubation period will end,” he added.
A statement from Sobel’s office on Friday said he had “spent the afternoon in isolation in a room in his office away from staff.”
“After receiving advice from 111 and being established as low risk, Alex will not remain in isolation, but will stay away from public engagements as a precautionary measure,” it read.
“To be absolutely clear, Alex has not been tested for coronavirus, only assessed by 111,” it added.
Dr Yimmy Chow, consultant in health protection at Public Health England, said: “One of our main priorities has been to identify any people who we think have been in close contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 to provide public health advice, as they may be at slightly increased risk of catching the virus.
“While the degree of contact conference delegates may have had with the case is unlikely to have been significant, we have taken a precautionary approach and informed them of the situation.”
A letter sent to delegates on Thursday advised them to take no action if they feel well. But anyone developing symptoms such as a fever or cough should remain indoors, avoid outside contact and call NHS 111.
The illness thought to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan can affect the patient’s lungs and airways.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
