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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson discharged from hospital but will not return to work
UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson discharged from hospital but will not return to work
(32 minutes later)
Nursing leaders say healthcare workers should refuse to treat patients without PPE ‘as last resort’, as three more nurses die
Nursing leaders say staff should refuse to treat patients without PPE ‘as last resort’, as three more nurses die; death toll rises in Scotland, Wales and NI
NHS England said on Sunday a further 657 people have died in hospital in England after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total deaths there to 9,594.
Patients were aged between 26 and 100 years old, and 42 of the 657 patients (aged between 30 and 98 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
Their families have been informed.
Historically, disease outbreaks have happened at a time of social inequality and discord, writes science journalist Laura Spinney.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to expose inequalities across the globe, Spinney explores whether inequality doesn’t just make pandemics worse, but actually causes them.
Northern Ireland has reported 11 more deaths associated with Covid-19, and 89 new cases.
This takes the total number of deaths in the country to 118, and the total number of cases to 1,806.
Hospital chief Dr Ian Abbs has praised the staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ who looked after the prime minister while he battled Covid-19.
The chief executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said:
A further 18 deaths have been reported of people who had tested positive for Covid-19, taking the number of deaths in Wales to 369.
There have been 367 new cases of Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5,297, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher, Public Health Wales said.
A further 24 people have died in Scotland after contracting coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 566.
As of 2pm today, 31,114 Scottish tests have concluded 25,202 confirmed negative and 5,912 positive.
That’s 322 new cases compared to yesterday’s figures.
Rob Bryden and David Mitchell are among a series of comedians paying tribute to Goodies star Tim Brooke-Taylor, “who had years more joy to give.”
David Mitchell said: “This is terribly sad news. He was a wonderful comedian and a really lovely man and I feel honoured to have known and worked with him.
“The world has been robbed - he had years more joy to give.”
Rob Bryden said he was “a wonderful man”, and he enjoyed “many happy times sat next to him on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.”
Comedian Jack Dee, current host of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, also paid tribute:
Carrie Symonds, Boris Johnson’s fiancee, said times “were very dark indeed” as the prime minister battled coronavirus over the past week.
Carrie Symonds, Boris Johnson’s fiancee, said times “were very dark indeed” as the prime minister battled coronavirus over the past week.
In a series of tweets, she said:
In a series of tweets, she said:
Tributes are continuing to pour in for The Goodies star Tim Brooke-Taylor, who has died aged 79 after contracting coronavirus.
Tributes are continuing to pour in for The Goodies star Tim Brooke-Taylor, who has died aged 79 after contracting coronavirus.
His Goodies co-star Graeme Garden said he was “terribly saddened by the loss of a dear colleague and close friend of over 50 years”.
His Goodies co-star Graeme Garden said he was “terribly saddened by the loss of a dear colleague and close friend of over 50 years”.
He said in a statement: “Tim and I met at Cambridge University in the early 1960s and have enjoyed working together almost constantly from that time onwards, on radio, stage, and TV.
He said in a statement: “Tim and I met at Cambridge University in the early 1960s and have enjoyed working together almost constantly from that time onwards, on radio, stage, and TV.
“He was a funny, sociable, generous man who was a delight to work with. Audiences found him not only hilarious but also adorable.
“He was a funny, sociable, generous man who was a delight to work with. Audiences found him not only hilarious but also adorable.
“His loss at this dreadful time is particularly hard to bear, and my thoughts are with Christine, Ben, Edward and their families.”
“His loss at this dreadful time is particularly hard to bear, and my thoughts are with Christine, Ben, Edward and their families.”
He was a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue for over 40 years, and current host Jack Dee paid tribute: “It has come as devastating news to hear that Tim has succumbed to this dreadful virus – especially when we all thought he was recovering.
He was a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue for over 40 years, and current host Jack Dee paid tribute: “It has come as devastating news to hear that Tim has succumbed to this dreadful virus – especially when we all thought he was recovering.
“Tim was a delightful man and never anything but great company.
“Tim was a delightful man and never anything but great company.
“It’s always heartbreaking to lose a loved one, but these times have created the cruellest of circumstances for that to happen in.”
“It’s always heartbreaking to lose a loved one, but these times have created the cruellest of circumstances for that to happen in.”
Boris Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, has Tweeted her thanks to the NHS after the prime minister was discharged from hospital.
Boris Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, has Tweeted her thanks to the NHS after the prime minister was discharged from hospital.
“I cannot thank our magnificent NHS enough,” she said. “The staff at St Thomas’ Hospital have been incredible.
“I cannot thank our magnificent NHS enough,” she said. “The staff at St Thomas’ Hospital have been incredible.
“I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you.”
“I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you.”
Boris Johnson has been discharged from hospital, Downing Street has confirmed.
Boris Johnson has been discharged from hospital, Downing Street has confirmed.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery, at Chequers.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery, at Chequers.
“On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work. He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas’ for the brilliant care he has received.
“On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work. He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas’ for the brilliant care he has received.
“All of his thoughts are with those affected by this illness.”
“All of his thoughts are with those affected by this illness.”
The prime minister was first admitted to hospital at 8pm on Sunday 5 April and then transferred to intensive care the following day after his symptoms worsened.
The prime minister was first admitted to hospital at 8pm on Sunday 5 April and then transferred to intensive care the following day after his symptoms worsened.
He left the intensive care ward on Thursday evening and released a short statement on Saturday night praising staff at St Thomas’ hospital in London where he was being treated.
He left the intensive care ward on Thursday evening and released a short statement on Saturday night praising staff at St Thomas’ hospital in London where he was being treated.
“I can’t thank them enough, I owe them my life,” he said.
“I can’t thank them enough, I owe them my life,” he said.
On Sunday morning, business secretary Alok Sharma said on Sky News that Johnson was “in very good spirits” and that he was “walking about a bit”.
On Sunday morning, business secretary Alok Sharma said on Sky News that Johnson was “in very good spirits” and that he was “walking about a bit”.
Comedian and actor Tim Brooke-Taylor has died after contracting coronavirus, his agent has said.
Comedian and actor Tim Brooke-Taylor has died after contracting coronavirus, his agent has said.
The 79-year-old was probably most famous as part of television comedy trio, The Goodies.
The 79-year-old was probably most famous as part of television comedy trio, The Goodies.
His agent said in a statement:
His agent said in a statement:
Comedian and actor Marcus Brigstocke tweeted, “This is terribly sad news... God you made me laugh Tim. RIP you dear, daft, wonderful man.”
Comedian and actor Marcus Brigstocke tweeted, “This is terribly sad news... God you made me laugh Tim. RIP you dear, daft, wonderful man.”
Meanwhile, Sioned Wiliam, Radio 4’s commissioning editor for comedy, said: “Tim Brooke-Taylor had a long and distinguished career in comedy.
Meanwhile, Sioned Wiliam, Radio 4’s commissioning editor for comedy, said: “Tim Brooke-Taylor had a long and distinguished career in comedy.
“He was charming, quick witted and a hugely skilful comic. He was much loved both by our listeners and by his colleagues, and he will be sorely missed by all at Radio 4.”
“He was charming, quick witted and a hugely skilful comic. He was much loved both by our listeners and by his colleagues, and he will be sorely missed by all at Radio 4.”
Football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has left hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, and thanked the “absolutely brilliant” NHS workers who treated him.
The 69-year-old was admitted to hospital on Wednesday for treatment on gallstones, including intravenous antibiotics.
Dalglish underwent a coronavirus test which returned a positive diagnosis for Covid-19. He did not show any symptoms and is now recovering in self-isolation at home.
“I’d just like to thank the doctors, nurses and all the staff for looking after me,” Dalglish wrote in the Sunday Post. “They were absolutely brilliant.
“People may think the Dalglish name got me in and got me the best of care,” he added. “Not so. I was looked after because the NHS staff treat everyone the same. They look upon everyone as human beings.”
Tributes have been paid to two Filipino hospital porters thought to have died after contracting coronavirus in Oxford.
The men, named locally as Oscar King Jr and Elbert Rico, were described as “popular and hard-working” members of the team at the city’s John Radcliffe hospital.
Both men were married to members of the nursing team at the hospital, the trust said.
King Jr, believed to have worked at the hospital for 10 years, was described as a “beloved friend, loving husband, and devoted father” to his 10-year-old daughter.
His wife had also been taken to hospital after suffering severe symptoms, according to a GoFundMe page.
A page set up for Rico said he had worked for the hospital since coming to the UK in 2004, adding that he “loved the work that he did”.
“He was always hard working and would prioritise others’ needs firsts. He would walk around the hospital with a smile on his face and very rarely would he call in sick from work.”
The news comes days after the death of Filipino nurse Leilani Dayrit, who worked at St Cross Hospital in Rugby.
A Commons library report published last year found that more than 18,000 Filipinos work in the NHS, third only to the numbers from Britain and India.
The Philippines also provided more nurses and clinical support staff than any other country outside of the UK, the study found.
Lola McEvoy, NHS organiser for the GMB union, said the porters’ deaths was “awful, awful news”. She added:
Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “Staff across health, care and key local services are facing huge risks and pressures. These deaths will heighten anxiety and show why the government must sort any problems with PPE supplies immediately.”
South Korea’s ambassador to the UK has said mandating the use of face masks could help tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.
Enna Park told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “The Korean government made an official recommendation to wear a mask because from our experience we know that the mask helps reduce the risk of being infected and also transmitting.
“We know that wearing a mask doesn’t completely prevent [people] being infected or [the virus] from transmitting, but it helps.”
She also emphasised the importance of testing: “The main lesson we have learned is testing is very important.
“At the beginning of our outbreak we encouraged medical institutes to develop the testing kits and we gave very quick approval, and we also promoted medical companies to produce the testing kits on the large scale so we built up a stockpile and it was the foundation of mass testing.
“Our strategy was test, trace and treat and it has worked so far.”
She went on: “So far we have conducted more than half a million tests so in terms of population per capita, Korea [is] the highest, the biggest testing country in the world.”
She described how South Korea uses information such as credit card transactions, CCTV and mobile phone GPS data to track down all suspected cases and their contacts for early medical intervention.
Addressing the privacy concerns about using this technology, she said: “The law stipulates to what extent we can collect information and how we can use it [...] so we used that to check only relevant and anonymous information and disclosed only relevant and anonymous information to the public.
“People in Korea, they were willing to compromise their privacy to some extent for the sake of the greater good, for the sake of public health.”
There will be enough drugs to treat critically ill patients in intensive care despite fears of drug shortages, senior medics have said.
Their comments come amid reports key medicines at some intensive care units were in short supply.
Intensive care consultant Dr Ron Daniels told the BBC that the quality of care for all intensive care patients and not just coronavirus sufferers, will “likely be lower” as a result.
But Dr Alison Pittard, dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, said that the NHS was not going to run out of medicines to treat patients and that care will not be compromised.
She told PA Media that medics have been issued new guidance telling them to use alternatives, which were “perfectly safe for patients”.
Pittard added: “We are not going to run out of drugs to treat patients, that’s the bottom line.
Her comments come as she released a joint statement with leaders of the Intensive Care Society, Association of Anaesthetists and Royal College of Anaesthetists.
However, the statement also warned that people should obey social distancing rules in order to reduce the burden on NHS resources.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it had banned the “parallel export” of more than 100 medicines to keep supplies in the UK.
Walsall council has become the latest local authority to close all access to cemeteries, citing “groups continuing to congregate despite government guidelines regarding social distancing”.
The council said in a statement:
Healthcare worker Donna Campbell, who worked at the Velindre cancer centre in Cardiff, has died after testing positive for coronavirus, health officials said.
Campbell, who was a healthcare support worker, died at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff.
Steve Ham, chief executive of Velindre university NHS trust, said: “We are devastated to have lost a member of the Velindre family.
“We will always remember her as a dedicated, hard-working member of our nursing team who was proud to work for the NHS.
“First and foremost, we want to extend our deepest condolences to Donna’s family and friends.”
A cross-party letter is calling on the UK government to ensure equitable access to any Covid-19 vaccine.
The letter, signed by MPs and peers from all political parties in Westminster, asked the government to ensure any publicly funded vaccine is available on an open-access basis so developing countries can afford to purchase and produce the vaccine at a reasonable cost.
Any pharmaceutical monopoly could see developing countries left behind, the letter said.
The chair of the all-party parliamentary group on vaccinations for all, Dr Philippa Whitford MP, wrote the letter. She said:
A hospital trust has said it was forced to intervene with Cambridgeshire police after officers stopped staff on their way to work and told them NHS ID cards were insufficient evidence of essential travel.In its newsletter, seen by the Guardian, bosses at Cambridge University hospitals foundation trust said they had received reports from staff who had been “stopped by the police on their way to work and asked to confirm if their travel was essential”. The newsletter went on:
Cambridgeshire police was forced to apologise on Friday after officers sent a tweet saying they had been checking “non-essential aisles” of a local supermarket to make sure they were empty.
A “giant of a man” and “father figure” to police officers on the Isle of Man has died after he contracted Covid-19.
Retired sergeant Richard Lloyd, 57, died in hospital on Saturday, the second death on the island from the virus.
A married father-of-one, Lloyd had strong connections with Merseyside police where he followed in the footsteps of his parents who served in the force, and where his son, Andrew, is currently a sergeant.
He later moved to the Isle of Man to carry on his police service and went on to become head coach of the island’s judo team.
Tributes poured in for Lloyd, including from the island’s Chief Constable Gary Roberts, who tweeted on Saturday: “Today has been the saddest of my 36 yr police career. So many of us are heartbroken after the death of a friend, colleague and giant of a man, who has been taken by this wicked virus.”
His son Andrew tweeted: “He died alone but with a team of now traumatised medics. If 1 person stayed home, he’d be alive. Stay home. Please.”
Ministers are resisting demands for an emergency recall of parliament to respond to urgent questions about the coronavirus outbreak.
The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has insisted MPs will return on 21 April, the date agreed before the Easter recess.
MPs approved the Easter adjournment timings on 25 March, minutes before the chamber rose, at a time when the increasing impact of Covid-19 was clear.
The motion was unopposed although several concerns were raised by opposition parties about their inability to scrutinise major decisions in this four-week period.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded “urgent talks” with the government to discuss how MPs can put questions to ministers given the rising death toll and concerns over personal protective equipment supplies to NHS staff, among other issues.
He added parliament must be recalled “as soon as possible” when asked about the issue on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
A letter signed by a cross-party group of MPs demanding an “immediate virtual recall of parliament” has also been sent to Dominic Raab, who is deputising for prime minister Boris Johnson as he recovers from Covid-19.
Talks involving commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the government, opposition parties and parliamentary officials are expected to continue this week about proposals for a “virtual parliament” and what role technology can play as social distancing measures remain in place.
But only the government can request the speaker to recall the commons.
It is unclear whether a small group of MPs will still attend the chamber after recess, with others allowed to question ministers from their homes by webcam.
