Coronavirus UK: Death toll rises to 10, with 134 infected

The death toll from the British coronavirus has risen to 10 today, after the heads of health announced that 140 more patients had been infected at the largest daily increase to date in Britain, bringing the infection rate to nearly 600.

NHS officials revealed that both patients who died had underlying conditions. One was a woman in her sixties and was hospitalized in Essex, the other was an 89-year-old who died in London.

The massive jump in the number of patients affected by the life-threatening disease means that the UK outbreak is now 40 times the size of a fortnight ago – when crisis warnings were first triggered after health officials admitted the infection had spread to the British soil.

It comes after Boris Johnson faced warnings today that the coronavirus crisis could get out of hand unless he takes drastic action immediately after Scotland, Ireland, and the U.S. step up their response.

The Prime Minister today chaired a Cobra Emergency Commission, where British tactics will shift from ‘curtailing’ the deadly disease to just ‘slowing down’ its inevitable spread – it is expected to peak in the next two weeks to achieve.

A drastic “battle plan” drawn up by Prime Minister Boris Johnson allowed schools to be closed and employees to work from home. Thousands of NHS operations can even be canceled if the outbreak worsens.

Slowing down progress will be crucial to avoid overwhelming the already struggling NHS, as has happened in Italy, where all 60 million people in the country have been placed in an unprecedented lockdown.

The FTSE 100 index has hit its biggest drop a day ago since 1987, after dropping 10.9 percent when investors were plagued by travel restrictions imposed by Donald Trump in an attempt to stop the corona virus, which the World Health Organization yesterday pandemic declared.

The President of the United States announced exceptionally last night that he ordered the immediate cessation of all travel from Europe to America to attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the US.

British Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a massive £ 30 billion plan yesterday to stem the crisis, insisting the government will “do everything” to keep the country “healthy and financially safe.”

Another day of hectic activities by politicians and health experts around the world:

• Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has stated that schools, colleges and childcare facilities should be closed for two weeks;
• Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today that she “plans” to cancel mass gatherings of more than 500 people starting early next week to avoid consuming police and health workers’ resources;
• The United States Congress closes the offices of the United States Capitol, House, and Senate until April 1 in response to the corona virus;
• The FTSE 100 has fallen by £ 143 billion today as investors were confused by US travel restrictions imposed in an attempt to halt the pandemic;
• The World Health Organization warned that the travel ban announced by Mr Trump will do little to combat the coronavirus in the UK and could backfire by making people complacent;
• British Chancellor, Mr Sunak, said he did not apologize for inciting expenditure to counter the effects of the virus on the UK’s economy and society;
• A cabinet minister awaits the results of a coronavirus test today, with four other MPs quarantined after health minister Nadine Dorries became the first politician to be diagnosed with the disease;
• Tube and transport systems were quieter than usual, as the public had priority over the government’s expected advice on limiting social contact;
• It is claimed that every football match in England can be held behind closed doors with live streaming for cardholders;
• The London School of Economics has canceled lectures and tutorials and confirmed that it will be teaching students online;
• Parliamentary hearings could be scaled back, and authorities are considering closing visitors due to fears of dispersal on the estate.

NHS England has issued the following statements on behalf of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust – both in London – regarding two patients in their hospitals who have died and tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID- 19).

A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said, “We can confirm that unfortunately an 89-year-old patient who was very ill with underlying health problems died at Charing Cross Hospital.

The patient had tested positive for coronavirus. Our thoughts and condolences are with the patient’s family. ‘

Tony Chambers, interim director of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said, “We can confirm that a patient in her sixties who tested positive for COVID-19 sadly died at Queen’s Hospital. She had been very ill with significant other health problems.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the patient’s family in what is undoubtedly a very disturbing time. We ask that family privacy be respected. ‘

Britain also announced two deaths today after older patients succumbed yesterday to the disease at the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust in the Midlands.

It’s because the prime minister today was faced with warnings that the coronavirus crisis could get out of control unless he takes drastic action immediately. But the UK’s tactics seem increasingly out of step with other countries.

No10 has turned down the suggestions it will be pursuing to Ireland, which announced this morning that it would shut down all schools and colleges – although the move is kept in the safe in case the situation escalates.

And by not banning mass gatherings, experts have warned that Johnson risks an explosion of cases of the life-threatening illness for the next two weeks.

Italy – the center of the unfolding crisis in Europe – saw the number of infected patients increase dramatically before taking unprecedented steps to shut down the entire country last week.

At the first sign of a split within the UK, Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today that she “plans” to cancel mass gatherings of more than 500 people beginning early next week.

The government has also made it clear that it will not follow Donald Trump’s dramatic nocturnal movement to close borders for travelers to mainland Europe.

Instead, Mr. Johnson seems determined to take a limited response by asking people with colds to quarantine themselves and urge vulnerable elderly people to stay indoors.

Former cabinet minister Rory Stewart accused the prime minister this afternoon of “smug complacency” and warned that without quick action, there could be 100,000 cases in the UK in the next 24 days.

“This threatens to become an example of complacent complacency – refusing to pay attention to what another country is doing or the successful public health approach in Asia,” the mayor of London said hopefully. “We need to show some humility, learn from others, and act now.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who unveiled a massive £ 30 billion budget package yesterday to ‘vaccinate’ the economy against the effects of the corona virus, said today that the UK is not following the US example.

“The advice we get is that there is no evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans will have a material effect on the spread of the infections,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program. made the decisions we have. ”

Britain’s leading medics have put the NHS on a war basis today by telling all doctors and staff that they may need to be called on the front lines to fight the coronavirus.

In a dramatic call to action, tens of thousands of clinicians have been told they can be mobilized to work in “unknown” areas of hospitals.

NHS staff have been urged to ‘be flexible in their approach and expectations of routine requirements’ amid fears that the growing crisis in the UK may be exacerbated by shortages in already understaffed hospitals.

The medical chiefs of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have instructed staff to prepare and warn that the NHS is under ‘extreme pressure’.

Overwhelmed doctors have already warned that the health service is “not doing well” and warn hospitals are “overrun” because of the life-threatening illness.

Coming as a former NHS doctor who is stuck in coronavirus-stricken Italy, the British government begged to ‘shut everything down’ in the fight against the deadly infection.

Professor Mohamed Abu Hilal, who now works in Brescia, Northern Italy, urged officials to deploy more beds, doctors and nurses in the NHS in light of the fiasco in Europe’s worst-hit country.

He warned that not only older people die from COVID-19, although figures suggest they are the most vulnerable.

Italy introduced nationwide locks on Monday, with legal action and fines threatening people who break the curfews imposed.

Schools, cafes, hairdressers and restaurants are closed because 60 million residents are told to stay at home in ‘distance measures’ to curb the escalating crisis there.

The government has been increasingly pressured to intervene quickly to impose similar rules, fearing that the UK will move in the same direction as Italy, where 12,462 cases and 827 deaths have been confirmed.

UK financial markets took another huge hit today and the value of the FTSE 100 index had swept £ 143 billion after the World Health Organization’s upgrade from the World Health Organization’s coronavirus outbreak to a global pandemic.

The largest UK companies index fell 559 points or 9.5 percent to 5,317 after a week of declines due to the spread of the infection.

Within moments of opening FTSE this morning, it sank more than 300 points, to levels not seen for eight years, before the falls continued all day.

They bottomed out after the markets opened in the United States and the European Central Bank unveiled a coronavirus stimulus package, but kept interest rates stable.

As of February 21, more than £ 520 billion has been wiped out of the index when investors panicked over the spread of the infection – down 28 percent.

Due to the decline, the index is technically in a ‘bear market’ where the value of shares has fallen by more than 20 percent.

It comes after the President of the United States suspended the trip from Europe to the US for 30 days, in response to mounting pressure to take action against the outbreak.

The declines are also despite the Bank of England cutting interest rates from 0.75 percent to 0.25 percent and Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiling a £ 30 billion budget plan.

Revealed: How Phase Two of the UK Coronavirus Battle Plan to Delay the Outbreak Affect YOU

Everyday life may change for millions of British soon, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under increasing pressure to move to the second phase of the government’s action plan, ‘Delay’.

During a briefing this morning, the Prime Minister said he would not yet ban meetings or close schools, but the dramatic movement is looming as the UK outbreak continues to spiral.

However, the UK’s tactic seems to be increasingly out of step with other countries after Ireland, which has only 43 confirmed cases, closed all schools today.

At least 460 people have already been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Great Britain and eight people have died.

Moving into the Delay phase of the battle would mark the beginning of social distance measures – efforts to keep people apart and stop the spread of the virus in the country.

This is what the dramatic escalation that could be the next step of the government could mean:

Anyone who gets sick should stay at home

Self-isolation, which has become a buzzword since the outbreak, can be extended to anyone who gets sick, even if they think they don’t have a coronavirus.

Government Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said earlier this week: “We are very close now, probably within the next 10 to 14 days … where we need to move to a situation where we say” anyone who even has mild respiratory infections or fever should isolate themselves for seven days afterwards. ” ‘

The advice may apply to people with colds, flu, or breast infections, regardless of whether they have traveled to areas affected by coronavirus.

Worst-case predictions suggested that up to one in five people at the peak of the epidemic could be out of work.

Staff are told to work from home

People with office jobs will increasingly be asked to work from home to avoid contracting the corona virus in the office.

The government wants companies to help their employees work remotely to reduce the number of people who are in public and travel around. Businesses can also be encouraged to spread shift patterns to reduce rush hour crowds.

Companies that cannot operate remotely – such as construction sites, maintenance workers, supermarkets and drivers – will have to continue working normally, but the number of employees may decrease or projects may be suspended.

No more football matches in pubs

Pubs can be excluded from watching football matches or other major sports events on TV to prevent people from gathering in their bars.

All matches are expected to be played behind closed doors under new plans to combat the spread of the virus.

According to The times, the current season will not be postponed, but matches will be contested without supporters attending. All Premier League cardholders for individual clashes can instead stream game coverage in their homes.

In response to the impending pandemic, no matches will be shown in pubs to avoid people congestion, and the Premier League matches will not be shown live on the Saturday afternoon from 3:00 PM.

It is believed that during lunch and tea time slots, broadcasters are allowed to show more than one top flying game – and this would apply on weekends and Mondays.

Walk or cycle to work to avoid tight public transport

Public Health England said people should cycle or walk to work.

It said that public transport will continue to run, but there may be fewer services and routes in certain areas can be dropped or canceled if bad local outbreaks occur.

The proximity of passengers on trains and buses makes it likely that the virus will spread from commuters who do not know they are ill, especially in cities.

The coronavirus can spread from person to person if people are less than six feet apart, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), so people

It can also live on hard surfaces like knobs and handrails for up to 72 hours, during which time it remains contagious if someone touches it and then touches their face.

University of Warwick economist Roger Farmer told MailOnline that he has already stopped using the London Underground and expects other people to do the same to prevent them from getting sick.

“I expect potentially fewer trains and bus services and suspect people will stop using them,” he said.

Schools and universities were able to close

The government’s coronavirus action plan admits that it could close schools and universities if the outbreak in the UK becomes serious.

Officials have so far been reluctant to admit that they will do this and are very opposed to the idea. Public Health England wrote in a blog: “Closing schools can be disturbing for both children and parents, so we have to think very carefully about that.”

The coronavirus doesn’t seem to infect children in the neighborhood as much as adults, for reasons scientists don’t yet understand.

If schools were to be closed, students can get started at home or take online classes through video tutorials or dedicated school networks. Children in other countries such as Italy still participate in hours of school lessons, even from isolation.

Concerts, cinemas and football matches may be prohibited

If outbreaks in certain areas become serious, people can be stopped from holding events that would draw large crowds – this has happened all over China and Italy.

Concerts, theater shows, cinemas, sports games and museums can be off limits.

Football matches are expected to be played without many people in attendance and fans will have to watch the matches on television at home.

It would also be illegal to view them in pubs as it would attract large crowds of people.

Bars and restaurants can be forced to divide customers

Although not according to the guidelines of the British government, the Italian authorities have demanded that bars, restaurants and cafes shorten their opening hours and ensure that customers can be kept far apart.

Branches may only be open between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to a government decision, and only if a distance of at least 1 meter between each customer could be maintained.

Similar rules may apply to other crowded places such as supermarkets, gyms, spas, community centers and hotels.

Old people can be ‘surrounded’ in the locks of care homes

Hundreds of thousands of old people – who are most at risk of death if they contract the coronavirus – can be locked up in the care homes where they live, with visitors not allowed in if they bring in the coronavirus.

The “cocoon” strategy was confirmed by government officials and would call on an army of volunteers to help care for the vulnerable population.

Number 10 Scientific Adviser, Dr. David Halpern, told the BBC that the idea was that “by the time they come out of their cocooning, the herd’s immunity will have reached the rest of the population.”

Herd immunity is when so many people in a population have already had a virus – and thus become immune – that the disease has stopped spreading because there are not enough potential victims to infect and continue.

Plans on the move to enlist retired physicians and the military to help

Retired doctors and nurses are expected to be called in again to help congested hospitals if the outbreak becomes too big to treat.

Plans could soon be drawn up to legally allow these qualified medical workers to return to the frontline and treat patients. If an outbreak like Italy occurs in the UK, or if a large number of people are diagnosed in relatively small areas, already stretched hospitals can come under enormous pressure.

Additional medical personnel will be required to retrieve the work left by personnel who will inevitably be ill or remain in quarantine, and to cope with rising patient numbers.

The military may also be called on later in the outbreak to help enforce movement restrictions or quarantines if the situation gets so bad.