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Coronavirus UK live: hospital death toll reaches 8,958, a record daily rise of 980 Coronavirus UK live: hospital death toll reaches 8,958, a record daily rise of 980
(32 minutes later)
Deputy chief medical officer says ‘premature’ to claim UK is at peak; Boris Johnson ‘in good spirits’ after ICU discharge; public urged to stay home over EasterDeputy chief medical officer says ‘premature’ to claim UK is at peak; Boris Johnson ‘in good spirits’ after ICU discharge; public urged to stay home over Easter
The latest episode of Anywhere but Westminster went up today and it’s an especially eye-opening one.
John and John speak to families who are on the brink, grappling with the everyday experience of living in confinement, dealing with everything from autism to living in small houses and properties without outdoor space.
You can watch the full episode here.
The NHS coronavirus volunteer scheme is taking longer than expected to implement, according to officials.The extraordinary willingness of the British public to help out has been considered one of the few bright points of the crisis, but only a few thousand tasks are being carried out around the country so far.Neil Churchill, an NHS England administrator working on the volunteer team, posted on a Facebook group for volunteer helpers on Friday morning, explaining “why it’s taking time for you to get your first tasks”.The official said there were “a lot more [identities] to check” than initially expected – and it was only after that that “we ask people in the NHS to make referrals”. But NHS staff have also been slow to call for the volunteers to assist.
Churchill said:
Volunteers are registered on the Good SAM app and when signed in wait for an alert indicating a job needs doing. But Facebook groups for volunteers are full of people expressing disappointment that they had waited hours without being tasked.Melanie Westell, 41, from Kent, said she had signed up to volunteer two and a half weeks ago and last Friday she was told she had been accepted. She added:
Hancock said there is still a “lot of work” needed to reach the target he set of 100,000 daily Covid-19 tests by the end of April.
Asked how he expects to achieve this, he said:
Hancock said some of the centres that had been offered, included ones the government did not know about.
Asked about reports that he has been holding meetings of between 10 and 20 people in person, Hancock said he works from home when he can and is making use of video-conferencing.
He said that when he does come into the office he follows social distancing guidelines.
Van-Tam was asked about oxygen supplies and he said:
He said it is a “logistic and engineering challenge” to create thousands of extra intensive care beds with ventilators, and also secure the oxygen supply that goes behind them.
May called it “frustrating” that people were continuing to flout physical distancing rules. She said:May called it “frustrating” that people were continuing to flout physical distancing rules. She said:
Van-Tam said scientists had been clear that closing borders “would not work” as a measure to prevent the ingress of coronavirus into the UK.Van-Tam said scientists had been clear that closing borders “would not work” as a measure to prevent the ingress of coronavirus into the UK.
They are taking questions from the media now.They are taking questions from the media now.
On the issue of face masks, Hancock said the government will “follow the science”, which he says states they “don’t have a material impact outside of those settings which Public Health England have set out”.On the issue of face masks, Hancock said the government will “follow the science”, which he says states they “don’t have a material impact outside of those settings which Public Health England have set out”.
He added:He added:
The number of deaths is broadly in line with what is happening in other countries, Van-Tam says.The number of deaths is broadly in line with what is happening in other countries, Van-Tam says.
With the number of people in critical care, the overall trend has remained the same, says Van-Tam.With the number of people in critical care, the overall trend has remained the same, says Van-Tam.
With the number of people occupying hospital beds who have been diagnosed with Covid-19, the curve is “bending”, says Van-Tam.With the number of people occupying hospital beds who have been diagnosed with Covid-19, the curve is “bending”, says Van-Tam.
The number of new cases is at a high level and the number is varying day by day, says Van-Tam.The number of new cases is at a high level and the number is varying day by day, says Van-Tam.
Van-Tam is speaking now.Van-Tam is speaking now.
Transport use has stayed at low levels in all forms. This must keep going – “this is not over”, he said.Transport use has stayed at low levels in all forms. This must keep going – “this is not over”, he said.
Alongside the new NHS hospitals in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Harrogate and Bristol; Sunderland and Exeter will soon have Nightingale hospitals too.
May is speaking now.
She says staying at home is saving lives.
She also thanks key workers for the work they are doing that allows health and social care staff to keep working.
Hancock has once again urged people to stay at home this bank holiday weekend.
The third strand is future supply – ensuring there is enough PPE to see us through the crisis, Hancock says.
New supply lines are being established from across the world, buying directly from manufacturers according to standards.
Domestic production will also be ramped up. Many businesses have come forward to repurpose their production lines to meet needs.
In particular, Hancock has thanked Burberry, Rolls-Royce and McLaren, Ineos and Diageo for their efforts.
He invites other businesses to contact the government if they can do the same.
The second strand is distribution – making sure that anyone who needs PPE can get it at the right time.
Hancock called this a “herculean logistical effort” bringing together the NHS, private industry and the armed forces to create a “giant” PPE network on an “unprecedented” scale.
That network is now delivering daily to the frontline. So far more than 752m pieces of PPE have been delivered.
Every NHS hospital has received a supply of PPE once every 72 hours – from next week this will be daily.
In the coming weeks, PPE delivery systems will be scaled up further. Over the next three weeks an online portal will be rolled out allowing primary care and social care to request PPE from a central inventory, so demand can be tracked and deliveries made according to need.
Today the government has published its PPE plan, which has three strands, Hancock said.
Strand one is on guidance – who needs PPE, when they need it, and who does not.
The new guidance included the clinical advice that many items of PPE can be used for a whole session, not be changed after treating each individual patient.
Outside of health and social care, the best way to protect yourself and others is regularly hand-washing and keeping 2 metres apart – and to stay at home.
Hancock has set a goal that everyone working in a critical role will get the PPE they need to protect themselves.
He noted the huge international demand on global supplies of PPE.
There is also high demand for PPE within the UK, so everyone should use “no more and no less” than what they clinically need.
In normal times the NHS supply chain for PPE provides equipment to 233 hospital trusts. Right now, 58,000 separate health and care providers need PPE.
Yesterday, Hancock said he opened a mega-lab in Milton Keynes. Two more are on track, one in Cheshire and Glasgow.
AstraZeneca and GSK are opening another in Cambridge.
There are now 15 drive-through testing centres for NHS staff including in Glasgow, London and Plymouth.
Hancock said there is now capacity for “all key social care staff and NHS staff” who need to be tested to get tested.