THE Chief Executive Officer of West Midlands Ambulance Service has issued a message to members of the public this evening (Monday) to advise on how to protect themselves against the spread of coronavirus.

The number of patients in the UK infected with the virus had risen to 40 today – the Department for Health and Social Care confirmed this afternoon, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned there could be a "very significant expansion" of the number of cases.

Non-emergency health line 111 has received record numbers of calls - the chief executive officer of West Midlands Ambulance Service, Anthony Marsh, told the media today as he warned people to take small steps to protect themselves from coronavirus – also known as COVID-19 – which has now spread to several different countries after originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan in January.

He said in a video message this evening: “It would help enormously if members of public seeking up to date information would go online at 111.nhs.uk. That will allow staff and nurses, doctors, paramedics in our call centres to help patients with symptoms and to give them the best possible advice.

“In the meantime - there’s plenty we can do across the country to contain this virus by regularly washing our hands for at least 20 seconds on a very regular basis. This will help to contain the virus and contain the spread and protect the public.”