A PATIENT in Bury has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The individual is one of 12 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 illness in England, including people from Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

The Bury resident became infected on a recent trip to Italy, it has been confirmed.

They have since been transferred to a hospital in London.

Risk to the general public "remains low", Greater Manchester Combined Authority has said.

In a tweet the body added: "We’re working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure residents are protected."

In a statment Bury Council said: "Public Health England, Bury Council and the local NHS are working closely together in the North West to respond.

"Public Health England is currently contacting people who may have had close contact with the confirmed case.

"Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after they had contact with the confirmed case.

"This tried and tested method will ensure that any risk to them is minimised and the wider public is protected."

No schools in Bury have been closed as a result of coronavirus.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for children and families, told the Bury Times that the council wishes to reassure the community and parents that there is "nothing to be concerned about at this stage".  

He added: "Over the last week we have been in touch with three of our schools who have received adequate support and advice in terms of dealing with particular issues.

"They have had no concerns in any of these schools and parents and schools have been informed of particular actions that need to be taken.

"Over the next week the local authority and our public health team will continue to work with our schools to ensure that we are giving all the advice that is necessary.

"But at this time there is no issue or challenges in any of the borough's schools.

"This is a situation we will be mindful of and will continue to observe."  

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty announced on Sunday morning that six of the 12 patients had recently travelled from Italy with two travelling from Iran.

Prof Whitty said: "As of 9am on Sunday a further 12 patients in England have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Three patients were close contacts of a known case, transmitted in the UK, identified as part of contact tracing.

"One patient, resident in Essex, had no relevant travel and it is not yet clear whether they contracted it directly or indirectly from an individual who had recently returned from abroad; investigations are ongoing.

"Of the remaining eight cases, six had recently travelled from Italy and two from Iran.

"The patients who have recently travelled are from London, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire.

"All are being investigated and contact tracing has begun."

The total number of confirmed cases of the virus in England now stands at 33.

Following previously reported confirmed cases in Northern Ireland and Wales, the total number of UK cases now stands at 35.