- NHS hospitals have all been told they must have the isolation pods on site
- People thought to have coronavirus can phone specialist medical teams there
- Photos show rusty portable cabins and shipping containers being set up
- Ninth case of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was diagnosed in England last night
- Worldwide, more than 60,000 people have been infected and 1,369 have died
Makeshift coronavirus isolation ‘pods’ have emerged at hospitals across England as the country is on high alert for new cases of the illness.
A ninth person was diagnosed last night, in London, and scientists and authorities expect there to be more infections in the coming weeks and days.
The NHS has ordered all hospitals to set up the isolation booths so they can send people there if they are suspected to have the coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2.
Pictures show rusty portable cabins and windowless shipping containers being used for the purpose on the grounds outside of hospitals’ main buildings or in car parks.
Health service bosses said there must be facilities in place to keep suspected patients away from the general public while they’re assessed over the phone by medics.
Hospitals in London, Hartlepool, Stevenage, Preston, Blackpool, Eastbourne, Brighton and Bournemouth have been seen with the pods outside.
It comes as the recorded number of cases in China surged overnight to around 60,000 and 1,369 people have died.