Coventry & Warwickshire COVID-19 Portal

LATEST NATIONAL PICTURE 

• As of 9am 6 April, 208,837 people have been tested, of whom 51,608 tested positive.

• As of 5pm on 5 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 5,373 have died.

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson is admitted to Intensive Care after his symptoms worsen. Statement from PM’s office here

• Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave the 6 April 2020 daily press briefing on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read it here

• Slides and dataset that accompanied the briefing can be found here

• The latest health advice is available here

LATEST LOCAL PICTURE

The latest figures published by GOV.uk and PHE are: As of 9am on 05 April 2020, there are a total 6,913 cases in the Midlands. In Coventry and Warwickshire this is broken down as follows:

• Coventry: 263 (previous day 246) 

• Warwickshire: 361 (previous day 334) 

CORONAVIRUS LOCAL MEDIA HEADLINES

The biggest worry of ''scared and anxious'' hospital workers during coronavirus crisis

Coventry Telegraph (Web), 06/04/2020, Unattributed 

David Eltringham, managing director at the George Eliot Hospital, has said staff remain "anxious" about a lack of protective equipment, but added that the situation is improving. In a report to the hospital's board, Mr Etringham said: "Staff are naturally scared and anxious, however morale is in reasonable shape."

Company's constructive PPE donation helps NHS staff on front line of coronavirus crisis

Rugby Observer (Web), 06/04/2020, Unattributed 

Rugby-based construction company Stepnell have provided 30 pairs of brand new goggles and 15 face masks to help protect medical staff at the acute medical unit at University Hospital Coventry. Adrian Barnes, the company's regional director, said: "We're really happy that we have been able to support the NHS during this challenging period."

Coventry University donates protective equipment to frontline staff

Coventry Telegraph (Web), 06/04/2020, Unattributed 

Coventry University is aiming to help frontline care workers during the coronavirus crisis. More than 25 PhD students have offered to help University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire with COVID-19 testing, while around 50 paramedic students have taken up frontline roles with West Midlands Ambulance Service. 

George Eliot staff asked to volunteer for Birmingham Nightingale Hospital

Coventry Telegraph (Web), 06/04/2020, Unattributed 

Nuneaton hospital staff are being asked to volunteer at the Birmingham Nightingale Hospital. The George Eliot Hospital has confirmed it is asking its staff if they will work at the temporary hospital being created at the NEC. David Altringham, the Eliot's managing director, explained that they also have to ensure that they have enough staff to ensure the local hospital can run safely. "All NHS Trusts locally have been requested to provide different groups of staff to support the Nightingale Hospital in the NEC and we will provide this," he said. 

Latest coronavirus deaths at Nuneaton's hospital

Coventry Telegraph (Web), 06/04/2020, Unattributed 

The latest figures reveal that 23 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton. David Eltringham, managing director at the hospital, comments: "I want to thank the people of Nuneaton and Bedworth for complying with the government's instruction to stay at home and protect their NHS. Please keep doing this for Team Eliot."

CORONAVIRUS NATIONAL MEDIA HEADLINES

Nurse who worked beyond retiring latest NHS victim

Daily Mail, 06/04/2020, p.7, Mario Ledwith 

A long-serving nurse was last night confirmed as the latest frontline NHS worker to have died after contracting coronavirus. Tributes were paid to grandmother Liz Glanister, 68, who friends said continued working beyond retirement due to her love for the job. Dianne Brown, chief nurse at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, said: 'Liz will be sadly missed by all those who knew and worked with her.' Miss Glanister, who died on Friday, was seen as a 'work mum' by many of her colleagues due to her experience and continuous mentoring of younger staff. 

The Times, 07/04/2020, p.1, Steven Swinford; Oliver Wright; katie Gibbons 

Boris Johnson was moved into intensive care last night after his condition worsened amid concerns that he may need a ventilator to aid his fight against coronavirus. The prime minister, 55, was put into the intensive care unit at St Thomas' Hospital, south London, at 7pm after experiencing breathing difficulties. Downing Street said that he was conscious and that the move had been a precautionary measure. Pneumonia had not been diagnosed.

Boris Johnson ''continues to lead the country'', says minister

ITV.com (Web), 06/04/2020, Unattributed 

Johnson in intensive care

The Daily Telegraph, 07/04/2020, p.1, Anna Mikhailova 

the dangers he faces

Daily Mail, 07/04/2020, p.4, Eleanor Hayward 

boris moved to intensive care as health worsens

Daily Express, 07/04/2020, p.1, Macer Hall 

Johnson moved to intensive care after coronavirus symptoms worsen

The Independent Daily Edition, 07/04/2020, p.3, Kate Devlin; Rob Merrick 

now stricken boris taken to intensive care

Daily Mail, 07/04/2020, p.1, Jason Groves; john Stevens 

PM in intensive care

The Times, 07/04/2020, p.1, Steven Swinford; oliver Wright; katie Gibbons 

Pray for the PM but take comfort he's in the best of hands with our NHS

Daily Express, 07/04/2020, p.12, Unattributed 

Johnson taken to intensive care after virus symptoms worsen

The Guardian, 07/04/2020, p.1, Rowena Mason Lisa O'carroll Dan Sabbagh 

How the NHS can avoid rationing urgent care

i (The paper for today), 07/04/2020, p.10, Karol Sikora 

Comment: Like many healthcare systems, the NHS works at near full capacity. It is highly efficient at treating the majority of conditions but there are no empty beds, clinics, operating rooms or cancer facilities. Even under normal circumstances, there are delays for scans, operations and for some cancer treatments. When the system is faced with a tsunami of demand, as with Covid-19, it just buckles. Everything gets full up fast.

THE ETHICAL PUZZLE

The Independent Daily Edition, 07/04/2020, p.41, Anthony Wrigley 

Dialysis machine shortages lay bare wider threat from Covid-19

Financial Times, 07/04/2020, p.1, Peter Foster; Clive Cookson 

Leading London hospitals are running short of vital equipment in intensive care wards, including blood dialysis machines needed to treat patients suffering from coronavirus-related kidney failure, according to a leaked memo. The shortages, which go far beyond concerns about the lack of ventilators and protective equipment, emerged from a conference call of some 80 senior National Health Service doctors. They illustrate how Covid-19 can damage much more than the lungs and respiratory system in patients who become seriously ill - affecting the kidneys, heart and occasionally even the brain.

NHS staff given conflicting advice about resuscitation

The Independent Daily Edition, 07/04/2020, p.7, Shaun Lintern 

Doctors, nurses and paramedics have been given conflicting advice about when to start resuscitation for coronavirus patients, amid fears the procedure could put them at risk of infection. While Public Health England has said it does not believe CPR creates a risk, the UK's Resuscitation Council - which is responsible for setting standards for resuscitation in the NHS - has said it believes there is a risk and staff should wear full equipment.

Second phase Why sick self-isolators in the UK may not be seeking help early enough

The Guardian, 07/04/2020, p.5, Sarah Boseley; Kate Connolly 

Concerns are being raised that people isolating at home with Covid-19 symptoms may not call for medical help early enough when they enter the more severe phase of the virus, possibly reducing their chances of survival. The NHS does not have a proper monitoring system for people suspected of having coronavirus, said Dr Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter medical school. "If a patient is developing pneumonia, it can get worse very quickly and hence early admission upon the first signs of difficulty with breathing are very important," he said.

NHS WARNED OVER LACK OF [...]

Evening Standard, 06/04/2020, p.4, Unattributed 

Pharmacists will be at risk of contracting coronavirus and infecting patients without appropriate personal protective equipment, the NHS has been warned. Robbie Turner, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said that pharmacists had been told to buy PPE from wholesalers. He said: "Pharmacies should not be having to ... buy protection to keep them safe."

Hundreds of thousands sign up for army of NHS helpers

The Daily Telegraph, 07/04/2020, p.7, Daily Telegraph Reporter 

More than 750,000 people have signed up to help the NHS through the crisis, as the country answered the biggest call for volunteers in England since the Second World War. The Royal Voluntary Service, the charity delivering the volunteer effort, will have completed checks for the applications by the end of today. Due to the huge response - three times the original target - the volunteers will now be able to help 2.5 million at-risk people in England. 

How NHS is coping with the 'new normal' in virus crisis

The Daily Mirror, 07/04/2020, p.35, Dr Miriam Stoppard 

John Willan, consultant haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and colleagues, in their editorial in the BMJ, gave a good explanation of how it will unfurl amid the chaos. Over the next four weeks, thousands of medical students are likely to be allowed to begin work as junior doctors. They'll work side by side with doctors who have retired within the last three years and are being asked to consider returning to work. Those working in education and research are also being encouraged to return to clinical duties. Hospital doctors may be redeployed from specialities to the areas of greatest need. Many may also be asked to practise outside their defined areas of expertise or to work longer hours. 

A&E figures fall by more than half as patients stay away

The Daily Telegraph, 07/04/2020, p.8, Laura Donnelly 

The number of people going to Accident & Emergency departments has fallen by more than half, amid fears that those with life-threatening conditions are staying away due to Covid-19. Official data from Public Health England shows that the number of people attending A&E departments each day had fallen during March from 25,000 to around 11,000. Experts said some of this reduction may have been driven by the lockdown, with pub closures and restricted travel meaning fewer alcohol-related injuries and car accidents. 

Doctors say they are being 'bullied' into deadly risks

The Guardian, 07/04/2020, p.2, Denis Campbell 

Doctors are being "bullied and shamed" into treating patients with Covid-19 despite not having the masks, gowns and eyewear they need to protect themselves from the virus, frontline medics have said. Others are being told to hold their breath to avoid getting infected because of persistent shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE). The findings raise questions about how far a huge effort by NHS bosses, ministers and the military has succeeded in solving widespread supply problems with PPE. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said revised PPE guidance issued last week by Public Health England and the NHS drive to get millions more pieces of kit to the frontline had made a big impact on the shortages and helped allay staff 's fears.

ACTIONS TAKEN 

• New social media content for symptom tracker and link added to website page

• Additional 2m different settings asset published and added to social media

• Review any new assets from PHE 

• Emailed NHSE team for advice / update on pharmacy opening hours over Easter bank holidays, should have an update later this week.

• Monitoring latest updates from Public Health England and GOV.UK 

• Social media monitoring for local areas, local hospitals and retweeting PHE, NHS messages on Coronavirus advice is ongoing 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

• None 

STATEMENTS ISSUED

• None

Engagement, Communications and Marketing Team

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit