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Coronavirus UK live: hospital death toll reaches 8,958, a record daily rise of 980 – as it happened Coronavirus UK live: hospital death toll reaches 8,958, a record daily rise of 980 – as it happened
(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 UK experienced its deadliest day of the pandemic yet with a new record of 980 more deaths – exceeding that of Italy at its peak of 969 deaths on 27 March – and bringing the total number of deaths in hospital of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 to 8,958. The UK experienced its deadliest day of the pandemic yet with a record 980 more deaths – exceeding that of Italy at its peak of 969 deaths on 27 March – and bringing the total number of deaths in hospital of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 to 8,958.
The public has been told that we remain “in a dangerous phase” of the outbreak and have not yet reached the peak – so physical distancing this Easter bank holiday weekend remains absolutely crucial and people must stay at home. The public has been told the country remains “in a dangerous phase” of the outbreak and has not yet reached its peak – so physical distancing this Easter bank holiday weekend remains crucial and people must stay at home.
Boris Johnson is now “able to do short walks” as his condition during his coronavirus recovery “continues to improve”. The prime minister is back on a ward at St Thomas’ Hospital after being discharged from the intensive care unit. Boris Johnson is now “able to do short walks” as his condition during his coronavirus recovery “continues to improve”. The prime minister is back on a ward at St Thomas’ hospital after being discharged from the intensive care unit.
The health secretary Matt Hancock said from next week, every NHS hospital will receive a supply of PPE on a daily basis. Over the next three weeks, he said 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. The health secretary Matt Hancock said that from next week every NHS hospital will receive a supply of PPE on a daily basis. Over the next three weeks, he said 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.
Downing Street said it was “confident” that the housing secretary Robert Jenrick had complied with physical distancing rules after he came under fire for driving 40 miles to drop off food and medicine to his elderly parents. Downing Street said it was “confident” the housing secretary Robert Jenrick had complied with physical distancing rules after he came under fire for driving 40 miles to drop off food and medicine to his elderly parents.
Nicola Sturgeon pledged a bail-out for Scottish universities, a day after St Andrews revealed it had lost £25m and faced its worst financial crisis in recent history. Nicola Sturgeon pledged a bailout for Scottish universities, a day after St Andrews revealed it had lost £25m and faced its worst financial crisis in recent history.
And in a difficult day for police forces, Cambridgeshire police caused a stir online after a now-deleted tweet appeared to suggest that officers were checking “non-essential aisles” in a local supermarket, while South Yorkshire police apologised after a man was reprimanded for using his own front lawn. This came a day after comments by a chief constable from another force, which suggested officers could search shopping trolleys if people kept flouting social distancing rules, were deemed “not appropriate” by Priti Patel, the home secretary. And in a difficult day for police forces, Cambridgeshire police caused a stir online after a now-deleted tweet appeared to suggest that officers were checking “non-essential aisles” in a local supermarket, while South Yorkshire police apologised after a man was reprimanded for using his own front lawn. This came a day after comments by a chief constable from another force – in which suggested officers could search shopping trolleys if people kept flouting social distancing rules – were deemed “not appropriate” by Priti Patel, the home secretary.
A huge, thank you to everybody who got in touch today with a story and to all of you for reading along. A huge thank you to everybody who got in touch today with a story and to all of you for reading along.
That’s it from us here on the UK side, but you can head over to our global live blog where our worldwide coverage of the coronavirus pandemic continues.That’s it from us here on the UK side, but you can head over to our global live blog where our worldwide coverage of the coronavirus pandemic continues.
The latest episode of Anywhere but Westminster went up today and it’s an especially eye-opening one.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.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.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.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: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: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.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: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.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.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.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: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.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.