Coronavirus ‘superspreader’ is ‘happy to be home’ after being discharged

The man who is linked to 11 cases of coronavirus in the UK and dubbed a “superspreader” has said he is “happy to be home” after being discharged from hospital.

Businessman Steve Walsh left the specialist infectious diseases unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London having made a full recovery.

He was given two tests for the virus, named COVID-19, which both came back negative.

In other developments:

• Deaths from COVID-19 pass 1,100; total cases near 45,000
• 2,015 new cases confirmed on 11 February – the fewest since 30 January
• An A&E worker at Worthing Hospital is among the eight confirmed UK cases
• Two prisoners being tested in Oxfordshire – one had recently transferred from a Thai jail
• Another 39 test positive on Diamond Princess ship off Japan, bringing total to 169
• The only two deaths outside mainland China remain one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines
• Bank of England governor says virus “already bigger than SARS” from economic perspective
• The Chinese Grand Prix due to take place in Shanghai on 19 April has been cancelled

The 53-year-old contracted the virus in Singapore while at a business conference before going to the French Alps for a ski holiday, then returning to his home in Hove, East Sussex.

He was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Brighton on 6 February.

In a statement after leaving hospital, the father of two thanked those involved in his treatment and recovery.

“I’m happy to be home and feeling well,” he said.

“I want to give a big thank you to the NHS who have been great throughout and my thoughts are with everyone around the world who continues to be affected by the virus.

“It’s good to be back with my family and I would ask you please to respect our privacy from this point on.”

Professor Keith Willett, NHS strategic incident director, said Mr Walsh had been discharged following two negative tests for coronavirus, 24 hours apart, having made a full recovery after treatment.

“Mr Walsh’s symptoms were mild and he is no longer contagious and poses no risk to the public,” he said.

“He is keen to return to his normal life and spend time with his family out of the media spotlight,” Prof Willett added.

Mr Walsh, who is also a scout leader, is suspected of unwittingly infecting 11 other Britons who were in France with him. Five of those Britons are now in the UK, five are in France and one is in Majorca.

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Eight people have so far been diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK.

They include two GPs, one of them who has been named as Dr Catriona Greenwood, who owns the French chalet with her husband where others caught coronavirus from Mr Walsh.

All patients and those in close contact with the GPs have now been traced, Public Health England has said, and two practices which were shut have reopened.

Meanwhile in Brighton, pupils at several schools have been told they could stay at home after reports that some teachers and families feared they had come into contact with the virus.

And two prisoners at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire are being tested for the illness and are being held in isolation.

One of the inmates had been transferred to the jail from Thailand.

Thai authorities named the 31-year-old as Mark John Rumble, who was brought back to the UK on a flight two weeks ago.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus ‘superspreader’ is ‘happy to be home’ after being discharged