Footballer among new Northern Ireland coronavirus cases, bringing number of people infected to 12 — as a third victim in UK dies

Covid-19 continued its march across the Province at the weekend as eight new cases were announced – with a footballer among the latest known victims.

At time of writing the number of cases in the Republic of Ireland was 21, and across the UK as a whole the number was believed to be 278 cases. Three people have died across the UK.

One of the fresh NI infections is a player attached to Hanover FC, an intermediate-level club based in Portadown.

His diagnosis only came to light after the club’s first team and a reserve side had played matches against rival teams on Saturday afternoon.

Hanover FC said as soon as it became aware it contacted the other clubs, the league, and the NHS, adding the club has arranged for “a deep clean to be performed by qualified contractors”.

The third patient to die in the UK lost his life after testing positive for coronavirus, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said.

The man, aged in his 60s, who had underlying health problems, died at North Manchester General Hospital having recently returned from Italy.

A spokesman for the hospital said: “We can confirm that sadly a patient being treated for Covid-19 has died at our specialist regional Infectious Diseases unit at North Manchester General Hospital.

“The man in his sixties tested positive after travelling to Italy and had a number of underlying health problems.

“Our thoughts are with the patient’s family who are being supported by our specialist bereavement staff.”

Prof Whitty said: “I am very sorry to report that a third patient in England who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died.

“I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their privacy is respected.”

He said that contact tracing was already under way.

Meanwhile, Co Armagh unionist councillor Lavelle McIlwrath told the News Letter that shop shelves are “clearing rapidly”, and that he had struggled to find not just hand sanitiser but ordinary soap.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We’ve had no advice from the scientific advisors or medical officers that there’s any need for people to buy stuff in.”

More than a million people have sought advice on coronavirus from a dedicated NHS online service in the first few days since its launch.

An update to 111 online was released less than two weeks ago on February 26 to help people get quick advice during the Covid-19 outbreak.

A number of football matches have been postponed after a player was revealed to have contracted the so-called coronavirus – just one of eight new cases of the illness in the Province over the weekend.

The player, who has not been named by his club Hanover FC, tested positive for the virus (more properly known as Covid-19) on Saturday evening, after the squad’s reserve team had played a match against Coagh United Reserves FC during the afternoon.

Stephen Magill, honorary secretary of the Mid Ulster Football League, said that any games involving these teams have been put off for two weeks.

That same afternoon, Hanover’s first team also played Crewe United, which has also suspended play for two weeks.

Shortly before the news broke late on Saturday night, the Department of Health announced another three cases had been discovered in Northern Ireland, before another five last night, bringing the total to 12 since monitoring began,

It said: “The latest three cases are all adults who had recently travelled from Italy and are linked to a previously confirmed positive case.”

It said the three new cases were “presumptive”, and that further tests to absolutely confirm the infection would be carried out.

Then last night another five cases in Northern Ireland were reported.

In a statement late on Saturday night, Hanover FC (which is based in Portadown and plays in the Intermediate A division) said: “Hanover FC can confirm that a player from the club has been tested as positive for coronavirus this evening following playing on a fixture against Coagh Utd Reserves.

“Hanover FC had no knowledge of the testing prior to confirmation of the positive test at 6.30pm this evening.

“Immediately then took all precautionary measures by contacting Hanover players, the opposing club along with the Mid Ulster Football League MUFL and liaising with NHS via their helpline for advice which has now been passed on to all in question.

“We also immediately cancelled a planned function and have arranged for a deep clean to be performed by qualified contractors.”

It would not name the player. However, it is thought they may not have been exhibiting clear symptoms.

Coagh United meanwhile said: “Today, a player from a visiting club played against our reserves team at Coagh Sports Centre.

“At 7pm we were informed that a player from this visiting team had tested positive for coronavirus ...

“Anyone that was playing in the reserves match today must monitor themselves for the next 24 hours.

“If they feel that they have any symptoms of the coronavirus, they should get tested immediately.”

And Crewe FC said “all our senior teams have been stood down from football activities for the next two weeks arising from a confirmed case of coronavirus in an opposition team”.

Mr Magill said the action was being taken even though players on the Crewe squad were in a “low-risk category”.

He added: “Our approach to it is a very reasonable, sensible one – let’s try and minimise any contact. We’ve just stood them down as a precaution.”

He stressed: “We’re trying to reassure people. Don’t panic. The Public Health Agency don’t want people panicking.”

Across the whole of the UK last night, the number of recorded infections stood at 278.

As of 7am on Saturday, the number had stood at 206. So far, three UK patients are thought to have died.

According to an interactive world map produced by Johns Hopkins University in the USA, one of the most renowned medical institutions in the world, as of 6pm yesterday evening there were 107,900 cases worldwide.

Of these, 80,099 were in mainland China, with South Korea, Iran, and Italy having numbers reaching well into four figures.

The Northern Ireland Public Health Agency said that the people who need to “self-isolate” are those waiting for Covid-19 test results, people “who have been identified as being a high risk close contact of someone with coronavirus”, people returning from “higher risk areas” (even if they have no symptoms), and people who have visited lower-risk areas if they do have symptoms.