Transparency data

SAGE 5 minutes: Coronavirus (COVID-19) response, 6 February 2020

Published 29 May 2020

Fifth SAGE meeting on Wuhan Coronavirus (WN-CoV), 6 February 2020.

Held by teleconference.

Addendum

This addendum clarifies the roles of the SAGE attendees listed in the minute. There are 3 categories of attendee. Scientific experts provide evidence and advice as part of the SAGE process. HMG attendees listen to this discussion, to help inform policy work, and are able to provide the scientific experts with context on the work of government where appropriate. The secretariat attends in an organisational capacity. The list of attendees is split into these groups below.

Attendees

Scientific experts:

• Patrick Vallance (GCSA)
• Chris Whitty (CMO)
• Graham Medley (LSHTM)
• Jenny Harries (Deputy CMO)
• John Edmunds (LSHTM)
• Jonathan Van Tam (Deputy CMO)
• Neil Ferguson (Imperial)
• Sharon Peacock (PHE)

Observers and government officials:

• Sam Harris (GOS)

Secretariat: [redacted]

Names of junior officials and the secretariat are redacted.

Participants who were observers and government officials were not consistently recorded therefore this may not be a complete list.

Summary

1. The geographical element of the case definition (the criteria for deciding whether an individual has a disease) for WN-CoV before this meeting was anyone who has travelled from Hubei in the previous 14 days, or anyone who has travelled from mainland China and has developed possible symptoms.

2. In light of new evidence of human-to-human transmission beyond China, SAGE advises that the UK geographical case definition should be widened, taking into account available information on air travel volumes from Hubei to other countries, numbers of reported cases in other countries, and understanding of other travel routes.

3. SAGE now advises that individuals in the UK who have travelled from Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau and are showing possible symptoms of WN-CoV should also be included in the case definition.

4. SAGE advises that this decision will need to be reviewed in the coming days as further information becomes available.

Situation update

5. SAGE was advised of a third UK case which has tested positive for WN-CoV.

6. The individual has not been to China, but has recently visited Singapore. UK testing for WN-CoV

7. In light of this further evidence of human-to-human transmission beyond China, SAGE discussed whether advice should be changed and, if so, the most appropriate way to widen testing of suspected cases of WN-CoV in the UK, depending on their travel history.

8. SAGE considered that a pragmatic approach, based on currently available information, should factor in: air travel volumes from Wuhan to other countries, numbers of reported cases in other countries, and understanding of other travel routes from China.

9. There is a close correlation between countries reporting higher numbers of cases and air travel volumes from Wuhan to those countries.

10. As a result, SAGE now advises that individuals in the UK who have travelled from Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau and who are showing possible symptoms of WN-CoV should also be included in the case definition.

11. SAGE advised that this widening should be regarded as a first step only. Further consideration of the breadth may be required in the coming days.

Actions

• SAGE to keep geographical parameters for case definition under review

Attendees

SAGE participants:

• Patrick Vallance
• Chris Whitty
• Graham Medley
• Jenny Harries
• John Edmunds
• Jonathan Van Tam
• Neil Ferguson
• Sharon Peacock

Secretariat:

• Sam Harris

4 observers and 7 SAGE Secretariat were redacted.