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Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes delivered an update on the city's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

He addressed a cabinet meeting at Newcastle Civic Centre on Monday evening.

It was confirmed that 11 people in the city have now tested positive for Covid-19.

Recap updates below

Council moves on to main agenda

Councillors have now move on to the main agenda for tonight's meeting.

Further updates on the coronavirus outbreak can be found on our live blog.

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'Focus has to be on keeping vulnerable people safe'

Nick Forbes asks residents to understand that the council's focus has to be on keeping vulnerable people safe and ensuring that nobody goes without food or help because of social isolation

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Council pressing for votes to be made remotely

The council is pressing for changes that will allow votes to be held remotely rather than needing councillors in a room, so that normal council business can continue.

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Meeting under way

Our Local Democracy Reporter Dan Holland is now reporting from the meeting:

Cllr Nick Forbes, council leader, says it is clear that coronavirus will have a major impact on how the council conducts its business.

There will be an 'urgent' review of all scheduled council meetings and events to make sure people are only getting together when 'absolutely necessary'

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11 people have tested positive in Newcastle

Newcastle City Council’s Director of Public Health Eugene Milne said:

“We can confirm that since March 4th, 11 positive COVID tests on Newcastle residents have been notified to us. The first five were linked. Most of these patients have been self-isolating and recovering at home. But we know already that the numbers of positive tests significantly underestimates the rate of actual cases in the community.

“Now the official advice has changed and anyone displaying symptoms of a high temperature and a new persistent cough is being asked to stay self-isolated at home for seven days. We will not be testing the majority of people who self-isolate – it is now better to err on the side of caution and consider any temperature or cough to be a potential Covid-19 case. This will protect others in your community and slow the rate of spread of the virus.

“Testing will now be reserved for people who become more poorly and require additional help. The numbers of cases reported to us in future will reflect this group who have more serious illness and may require hospital treatment.

“Public Health England will continue daily reporting to us but the numbers published will relate only to these more serious cases and, sadly, any deaths.

“I urge everyone to please make sure you continue to wash your hands regularly with soap and water and don’t stockpile. The supermarkets and others have robust supply chains. Panic buying is unnecessary and simply denies others the opportunity to buy the goods they need. We need everyone to wash their hands so clearing the shelves of soap is counter-productive.

“The council is working on operational plans to prepare for the worst and keep services going whatever the situation. This is a fast-moving situation and it is vital everyone keeps up to date with advice and guidance from the official sources www.gov.uk/coronavirus and www.Newcastle.gov.uk/coronavirus

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