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Coronavirus: UK hospital deaths top 15,000 after 888 more patients die Coronavirus: UK hospital deaths top 15,000 after 888 more patients die
(32 minutes later)
Surveys reveal medics’ concerns about pressures to work without protection. Follow this and all the day’s developments in the UK’s Covid-19 crisis Further 21,ooo tests done as union says medics may walk out over lack of PPE. Follow all the day’s developments in the UK’s Covid-19 crisis
A small group of independent designers and makers have launched an urgent crowdfunding campaign to produce 200 medical gowns for London medics. Each single-use, splash-proof gown costs £30 to make. You can find more information and donate to the cause here.
Here is some much-needed mid-afternoon positive news!
Captain Tom Moore and Michael Ball have topped the iTunes chart with their charity single You’ll Never Walk Alone, mere hours after the track was released.
The 99-year-old veteran has raised almost £23m for the NHS by walking lengths in his garden. He is aiming to reach 100 laps by his 100th birthday at the end of the month.
NHS England has announced 784 more deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 13,918.
Of the 784 new deaths announced on Saturday:- 150 occurred on 17 April.- 320 occurred on 16 April.- 101 occurred on 15 April.
The figures also show 187 of the deaths took place between 1 and 14 April, and the remaining 26 deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on 14 March.
NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed, and for data from the tests to be validated.
The figures published on Saturday by NHS England show 8 April currently has the highest total for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day - 799 - although this could change in future updates.
A further 17 people in Northern Ireland have died in hospital settings with coronavirus in the past day, the Public Health Agency said.
This brings the total number of confirmed deaths in hospital settings in the region to 193.
Public Health Wales has announced a further 28 deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities in Wales to 534.
The new deaths, by health board area, are: five in Aneurin Bevan, one in Cardiff and Vale, 19 in Cwm Taf Morgannwg and two in Swansea Bay, with one death elsewhere in Wales.
There have been a total of 6,936 confirmed cases in Wales, a rise of 292, while 24,114 tests have been carried out on 20,766 individuals.
A total of 893 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland have died, a rise of 56 on Friday’s figure, according to the Scottish Government.
Across the country, 38,233 people have now been tested for Covid-19, with 7,820 testing positive.
As of Friday night, 1,793 patients were in hospital with either confirmed or suspected coronavirus, a decrease of six.
Of those, 182 were being treated in intensive care units, down seven from the previous night.
As of 9am on 18 April, 15,464 people have died in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19, the Department of Health and Social Care said. That is a rise of 888, up from 14,576 the day before.As of 9am on 18 April, 15,464 people have died in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19, the Department of Health and Social Care said. That is a rise of 888, up from 14,576 the day before.
As of 9am on Saturday, 357,023 people had been tested, of which 114,217 proved positive. Overall, 460,437 tests have been done, with 21,389 tests on Friday, excluding data from Northern Ireland.As of 9am on Saturday, 357,023 people had been tested, of which 114,217 proved positive. Overall, 460,437 tests have been done, with 21,389 tests on Friday, excluding data from Northern Ireland.
Rachel Harrison, national officer of the GMB union, has said that faith in the health secretary, Matt Hancock, is “draining away” after Public Health England changed its personal protective equipment guidance on Friday.Rachel Harrison, national officer of the GMB union, has said that faith in the health secretary, Matt Hancock, is “draining away” after Public Health England changed its personal protective equipment guidance on Friday.
Harrison told PA Media the union raised critical protective equipment supply issues with the government more than a month ago.Harrison told PA Media the union raised critical protective equipment supply issues with the government more than a month ago.
She said:She said:
She added that the union would not tolerate a situation where its members are “pushed on to the frontline without the basic kit they need to do their jobs safely”.She added that the union would not tolerate a situation where its members are “pushed on to the frontline without the basic kit they need to do their jobs safely”.
A campaign to thank NHS staff for their work during the coronavirus crisis has raised £1m.A campaign to thank NHS staff for their work during the coronavirus crisis has raised £1m.
More than 200,000 people have supported the OneMillionClaps campaign in a week by donating £5 to send a personal message of support to NHS workers.More than 200,000 people have supported the OneMillionClaps campaign in a week by donating £5 to send a personal message of support to NHS workers.
ITV, the official broadcast partner for the campaign, dedicated a day of broadcasting messages to frontline NHS staff.ITV, the official broadcast partner for the campaign, dedicated a day of broadcasting messages to frontline NHS staff.
OneMillionClaps is part of an appeal launched two weeks ago by NHS Charities Together, the official umbrella organisation for NHS charities.OneMillionClaps is part of an appeal launched two weeks ago by NHS Charities Together, the official umbrella organisation for NHS charities.
Donations will be used to provide a range of supplies and support for NHS staff, volunteers and patients - including food, travel, accommodation, mobile devices to keep in touch with family and friends, and mental health support and counselling.Donations will be used to provide a range of supplies and support for NHS staff, volunteers and patients - including food, travel, accommodation, mobile devices to keep in touch with family and friends, and mental health support and counselling.
Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, whose brands include Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge, could permanently shut some of its shops as the coronavirus pandemic puts pressure on high street retailers.Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, whose brands include Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge, could permanently shut some of its shops as the coronavirus pandemic puts pressure on high street retailers.
The fashion group has served notice on its landlords to walk away from stores whose leases have rolling breaks or are due to expire.The fashion group has served notice on its landlords to walk away from stores whose leases have rolling breaks or are due to expire.
Here is the full report:Here is the full report:
Undocumented migrants are being deterred from seeking medical attention during the coronavirus pandemic for fear of being reported to immigration authorities, MPs have said.
A cross-party group of 60 MPs has written to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, calling for the suspension of healthcare charges for migrants and NHS data sharing with immigration enforcement.
The letter cites the case of a Filipino migrant, known only as Elvis, who died last week while self-isolating at home with Covid-19 symptoms.
He did not seek care “fearing that he would be charged thousands of pounds for his treatment, or that he would face immigration enforcement if he tried to access care,” it read.
MPs said that Elvis’s wife also had the virus and was not seeking help for the same reasons.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, one of three Labour MPs who coordinated the letter, said:
Unapproved antibody tests could increase people’s risk of becoming infected with coronavirus, the UK’s national testing coordinator has said.
Countries around the globe are scrambling to develop reliable antibody tests that can detect if people have had the virus and may be immune in the hope that it might allow lockdown restrictions to be eased, but efforts so far have been unsuccessful.
Reports have emerged that organisations and individuals are trying to acquire testing kits that are likely to yield false results.
John Newton, the national coordinator of the UK coronavirus testing programme, believes efforts to develop accurate tests look promising, but said that misleading results of unapproved tests could increase the risk of becoming ill or spreading the virus.
My colleague Jedidajah Otte has the full report:
Tributes have been paid to a staff member at Greater Manchester police who died after contracting Covid-19.
Marcia Pryce, 61, died on 2 April. She had worked for the force for more than 30 years, most recently in its intelligence bureau.
Her sister, Amira Asantewa, said:
Hundreds of Britons stuck in Bangladesh will be repatriated after the government chartered four flights as part of a new push to to bring more than 7,000 UK citizens home from South Asia.
Those deemed most at risk from coronavirus, such as the sick and elderly, will be given priority, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said.
As many as 850 Britons are expected to board the flights, which will leave the capital, Dhaka, for London on 21, 23, 25 and 26 April, the FCO said.
Tickets will cost £600 a person and travellers will also be able to board transfer flights to the capital from Sylhet, in the north-east of the country.
The government had earlier announced 17 chartered flights from India and 10 from Pakistan, expected to bring home around 4,000 and 2,500 passengers respectively.
The services are being part-funded by the government’s £75m scheme to organise flights from countries where commercial flights have been stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Britons wanting to book a spot can do so here.
This is from ITV’s Robert Peston.
Thank you so much to everybody who has been in touch throughout the morning with tips and suggestions. I love reading through them all, especially the ones thanking the Guardian for its coverage of this crisis. Please do continue to get in touch as the day goes on via the usual channels (below) and apologies if I cannot respond to you all individually.
Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_
This, from the FT’s Peter Foster, is one of the best things you will read today. In essence:
DC John Coker has died in hospital after coming down with symptoms of coronavirus on 22 March, British Transport Police said.
In a statement, BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther said his thoughts were with Coker’s family after the 53-year-old passed away last night following an “incredibly difficult” three weeks. He said:
He is survived by his wife and their three children.