Dancing On Ice has medical team on standby and emergency procedures in place amid coronavirus outbreak
DANCING On Ice has emergency procedures in place to protect the cast and crew from the threat of the coronavirus.
The deadly virus attacks the respiratory system, causing pneumonia-like lung lesions and is rapidly spreading around the world.
The UK now has 15 cases and has seen 36 schools close, while yesterday two offices had to be evacuated.
When asked if the show had given any thought to the virus due to its large studio audiences, Associate Creative Director Dan Whiston told The Sun Online: “We’ve got an amazing medical team. We’ve got an amazing production team that are all over this kind of stuff.
“There is hand sanitiser everywhere and procedures have been put in place to protect the cast and crew, so I know they’re all over that.
“Without panicking people, you’ve got to be one step in front, always.
“Things like hand sanitiser on the doorways, we encourage that anyway. You’ve got to step up and do the best you can in the environment we’re in.”
Remaining celebs Joe Swash, Ben Hanlin, Perri Kiely and Libby Clegg are completely focused on the task at hand with Sunday’s semi final fast approaching.
This week they have two routines, a solo skate and a sentimental skate which promises to be full of emotion.
Dan continued: “This is the last chance to get in the final so everyone’s giving it everything they’ve got.
“Emotions are running high, everyone’s working on adrenaline.
“Each couple will skate to something that means something to the celebrity. There have been tears already and not just from the celebs. People watching them can really sense that passion.”
Meanwhile health experts have warned the “tipping point” for the coronavirus outbreak is getting closer, as the number of cases globally continues to soar.
The global infection toll now stands at more than 82,000, with 2,810 deaths attributed to the killer virus.
Fears are mounting that the outbreak is on the brink of becoming a pandemic with disruptive and deadly consequences for the rest of the world, following sharp rises of infections outside of China.
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Brit holidaymakers are trapped in a Tenerife hotel after an Italian couple were diagnosed, and Public Health England has warned people travelling to any affected areas to quarantine themselves for two weeks on their return if they’ve come into contact with someone showing symptoms.
Coronavirus is the name for a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Sars.
The new disease that emerged in Wuhan, China in December, was named COVID-19, by the WHO – and has never been seen in humans before the current outbreak.
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