Coronavirus “no immediate risk” in Monmouthshire

Cornonavirus poses “no immediate risk” a Monmouthshire council officer has said.

In an economy and development committee at Monmouthshire County Council, questions were asked about the virus, which still has no confirmed cases in the UK.

Cllr Richard Roden asked about the potential impact on the area.

He said: “Coronavirus is in the news all the time and it may escalate.

“Do we have any thoughts on the impact of that on use baring in mind a lot of Chinese manufacturers supply things to this country?”

The council’s chief officer for resources Peter Davies said: “The easiest answer is no.

“It hasn’t been escalated to that stage yet,

“Clearly they are looking to contain it within China.

“I guess if circumstances changed I would expect the UK Government and the Welsh Government to put in placethe necessary arrangements in terms of assessing that and that risk and it to be subsequently assessed at local authority level.

“But in terms of an immediate risk, no.

“We are not undertaking any specific work at the minute.

“I could probably offer the view that it would be very difficult to actually assess what that consequence and enforcement might be at this stage.”

There are more than 7,700 cases of coronavirus worldwide and more than 100 people have tested negative for the virus in the UK.

170 people have been killed by the virus so far.

The World Health Organisation continues to monitor the situation.