Doctors’ leaders have praised ear, nose and nose throat consultant Amged El-Hawrani, who died today aged 55 of Covid-19. His passing underlines the need for frontline NHS staff to have proper personal protective equipment - and everyone to stay at home, they said.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of Mr El-Hawrani’s death. He was a highly respected colleague in my own trust and it has left many of us feeling as low as we have ever been previously in our careers. The words of his family show what a wonderful person he was”, said Dr Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, which represents many hospital doctors in England.
“His death is a stark reminder that COVID-19 is not a disease that only effects the old and infirm. We must remember that healthcare workers are putting their lives on the line right now, and it’s absolutely imperative that they have access to suitable personal protective equipment (PPE).”
Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, who is self-isolating after displaying symptoms of the virus, said: “I share the deep sadness about the death of Mr El-Hawrani that will be felt by the whole medical profession and wider NHS, and send condolences to his family on behalf of all of us.
“COVID-19 is a risk to everyone, but clinical NHS staff are at the front line in battling this disease. Everyone is rightly inspired by the skill and dedication of our NHS staff like Mr El-Hawrani.
“The action that everyone in the UK can do to reduce the risk to the NHS is to continue to follow government advice on staying at home and social distancing. This is the practical support the NHS and its staff need from us all at the moment.”
More than £250,000 has been raised to help provide free hot meals for NHS staff, less than a week after the initiative was started by a small group of friends.
4,000 meals have been provided to hospitals, and tens of thousands more are expected soon.
“We were talking about how a group of friends who are NHS workers are just not eating properly,” Andrew Muir Wood, one of the founders, told the PA news agency.
“It’s hard for anyone to operate on an empty stomach let alone people trying to save lives, so we got together trying to work out how we could solve that,” Muir Wood added.
Meals For The NHS@MealsForTheNHS
URGENT: NHS workers can’t work if they’re hungry.
There are doctors in your local hospital who will be in the middle of their shift tonight and won't have anything to eat.
In the UK, Stuart, a street outreach worker from Brighton, says his job has changed dramatically since coronavirus as they now have to get every homeless person indoords by this weekend.
While the threshold for housing people was once high, local authorities are now able to get accommodation in 30 minutes, he said. “Now, it’s all shifted and they are trying to negotiate with landlords and hotel owners to get people into accommodation.”
“It’s been quick, you send five people over and within 30 minutes the council can say got somewhere. New accommodation seems to have cropped up from landlords offering their services, but it is frustrating because the government has not allowed local authorities to requisition buildings from private owners. That would be easier and quicker. I had a problem that one hotel changed their mind last minute after we were going to place people there.”
The other role they now have is supporting those indoors, and making sure they get food as all the day centres have closed.
He said there was a mix of moods among the homeless. “Some have taken the news of the outbreak in their stride, while others are panicking. There are a small number who don’t want to go inside.”
The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent reports that the Russian capital has entered a mandatory lockdown, with measures to limit people leaving the house except for essential reasons. The development comes as the city’s total number of cases exceeds 1,000.
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Jérôme Salomon, the head of France’s health authority, has issued an update on the country’s situation.
The total number of confirmed cases in France is 40,174.
There are currently 19,354 people in hospital in France, an increase of 10% on the previous day. There are 4,632 people in intensive care in hospital, 359 more than yesterday.
Of those in intensive care: 34% are under 60 years old; 64% aged 60-80; 60 people are under 30 years old.
7,132 people have recovered, Salomon said.
There have been 2,606 deaths in French hospitals. This is an increase of 292 in 24 hours.
Italy has said it will extend its month-long lockdown as the number of deaths in the country increased by 756 to reach 10,779. There are now 97,689 confirmed cases in Italy.
Reuters reports that there have been 10 new coronavirus deaths in Ireland, bringing the country’s total to 46. The Department of Health has announced 200 new confirmed cases, which comes to a total of 2,615.
The coronavirus pandemic has killed over 30,000 people. The total number of confirmed cases is currently at 691,867, according to Johns Hopkins.
The finance minister of Germany’s Hesse state, Thomas Schäfer, has killed himself after apparently becoming “deeply worried” about how to deal with the economic impact of coronavirus.
The Syrian health ministry has announced the country’s first coronavirus death, as the total number of cases comes to nine.
The death toll in Lombardy, Italy’s worst affected region, has slowed. It rose by about 416 in a day to at least 6,360.
The mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, has said the city will run out of critical medical supplies, including ventilators, by next Sunday, 5 April.
New curfew regulations have been introduced in Serbia. The country has increased its curfew from 3pm till 5am on weekends, and 5pm till 5am on weekdays.
The UK death toll has increased by 209 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in the UK to 1,228. The figure was lower than Saturday’s record rise of 260.
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has tightened social distancing measures. New advice states that public gatherings should include no more than two people outside of the household.
Kuwait’s health ministry has announced 20 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, pushing the total number of infections to 225.
Mexico has asked its 130 million citizens to stay at home for a month. The country’s president has previously been criticised for not doing enough to deal with the crisis.
Saudi Arabia has reported four deaths and 96 new coronavirus cases today.
This brings the the death toll to eight and the total number of coronavirus cases to 1,299.
Saudi Arabia has tightened its restrictions on movements to contain spread of coronavirus. The interior ministry has today banned residents from entering or exiting the city of Jeddah.
The finance minister of Germany’s Hesse state, Thomas Schäfer, has killed himself after apparently becoming “deeply worried” about how to deal with the economic impact of coronavirus, the Local reports.
“We are in shock, we are in disbelief and above all we are immensely sad,” state premier Volker Bouffier said in a statement.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
As hospitals hit capacity in Spain, healthcare workers are being stretched to breaking point. Hospital staff in Madrid have been meditating to cope with the stress.
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Spanish hospital workers meditate to cope with coronavirus stress – video
The Syrian health ministry has announced the first coronavirus death in the country. Four new cases have also been confirmed, pushing the total number of infections to nine.
The patient died upon her arrival to the hospital’s emergency department, state run news agency reports.
Syria has implemented several precautionary measures to slow the spread of the deadly virus, with a nationwide curfew from 6pm to 6 am beginning last week. Shops, markets and public transport have been shut down as well with only pharmacies allowed to keep their opens, according to Al Arabia.
سانا عاجل(@SanaAjel)
#عاجل || الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء - سانا ..#وزارة_الصحة: تسجيل اربع حالات جديدة مصابة بـ #فيروس_كورونا في #سورية لترتفع الحصيلة إلى ٩ إصابات ووفاة واحدة
An aeroplane used as an air ambulance has burst into flames in the Philippines, killing all eight people onboard.
The New York Times reports that it is unclear if the passengers were being airlifted for coronavirus treatment. Local reports say that in addition to the pilot, the plane was carrying two crew members, a doctor, a nurse, a flight medic and an American and a Canadian passenger.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, has announced a funding boost for a children’s helpline to support those who are isolated at home.
Cameron Ahmad
✔@CameronAhmad
The Prime Minister has a message to all kids today. If home isn’t a safe place to be, if you feel isolated, scared, or alone: there are people to help you.
A new investment of $7.5 million will help @KidsHelpPhone do its critical work.
Engineering firms have said that the UK may not have enough ventilators when coronavirus cases reach their peak, the BBC reports.
The UK has just over 8,000 ventilators, but it is estimated the country will need 30,000 during the peak of the crisis, which is expected in two weeks’ time. Manufacturers have said they will be unable to meet that deadline.
Denis Campbell
kids today. If home isn’t a safe place to be, if you feel isolated, scared, or alone: there are people to help you.
