Viewers were told to send in their questions about Coronavirus on The One Show this evening as Alex and Matt informed them BBC medical correspondent Fergus would be joining them to answer all their questions on the flu-like virus as Alex admitted her own worries for her young children.
Tonight, the hosts returned as they were joined by Joanne Froggatt and Katherine Kelly to promote the second series of their hit show Liar.
However, Matt opened the show by in a slightly different way as he explained there would be another guest on the show this evening.
“Now, with Coronavirus dominating the headlines and with reports of its spread across Europe, you may well be worried or already affected by the disruption.
He went on to tell those watching at home they could send in questions about Coronavirus to be answered later on in the episode.
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There was a segment dedicated to the virus to address viewer concerns over the illness before Alex explained she had her own worries.
Near the end of the show, Alex said: “We’re going to move onto the coronavirus now, we’re joined by the BBC’s medical correspondent, Fergus Walsh, and whilst we’ve been on the air, the BBC has confirmed the first case in Northern Ireland?”
Updating viewers, Fergus explained: “That’s right, two earlier today in England, so the total is 16. It’s been reported the person in Northern Ireland had travelled from Northern Italy where there is this big outbreak.
The hosts explained that they had been “inundated with questions” as they quizzed Fergus on how worried the nation should be over the outbreak of the new flu-like virus.
“On a personal level, at the moment in the UK, we shouldn’t be worried, because there’s no evidence it’s circulating widely. The virus for four out of five people causes a mild illness, and you won’t need any medical treatment.
“But, the older you are, and if you have underlying health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, a lung condition, then you will be more vulnerable. This virus can kill, but it’s not here in numbers yet in the UK and when it is here, we should be able to deal with it – we’re set up for it,” he reassured viewers.
Explaining why the public have been advised to take extreme precautions such as self-isolation, Fergus said: “It’s brand new, nobody in the world has any immunity to this virus.
“It only emerged in December in China in the city Wuhan, whereas seasonal flu has been with us for thousands of years and it comes round cyclically and it mutates every year and you have a vaccine for it. It’s something we have to live with. It’s possible we may all have to learn to live with the new Coronavirus, hopefully not.”
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As the hosts continued to fire their questions, Alex then queried about whether pregnant women or young children could be more susceptible to contracting the virus after Fergus explained those with asthma or “respiratory illnesses” were more at risk.
Alex added: “Pregnant people, and young children, I’m worried about a small little baby.”
The host took maternity leave from the show last year after she gave birth to her second child Kit last year and also shares a three-year-old with her husband Charlie Thomson.
Fergus told the hosts: “Young children seem to be in the clear for this virus, no deaths in any children under the age of nine… no special risk.”
Some viewers were unhappy about how more time was given to a segment on moles, the previous segment, than addressing the Coronavirus.
Taking to Twitter, one said: “So 5 mins on a useless mole item, and then two minutes on coronavirus, yeah, nice one BBC #theoneshow.”
Another wrote: “What was the point in The #OneShow asking people to get in touch with their Coronavirus questions/concerns when they answered 2 questions and asked the Health Advisor to be quicker answering as they only saved two minutes at the end.”
A third added: “I love moles, but couldn’t we have saved that one and spent longer on coronavirus which is slightly more pressing? #theoneshow.”
The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One.
