Coventry & Warwickshire COVID-19 Portal

LATEST NATIONAL PICTURE 

• As of 9am 7 April, 213,181 people have been tested, of whom 55,242 tested positive.

• As of 5pm on 6 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 6,159 have died.

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in Intensive Care. His condition is said to be stable. 

• Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave the 7 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 07 April 2020, there are a total 7,806 cases in the Midlands. In Coventry and Warwickshire this is broken down as follows:

• Coventry: 277 (previous day 263) 

• Warwickshire: 400 (previous day 361) 

CORONAVIRUS LOCAL MEDIA HEADLINES

NHS chief in tribute to staff 

Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald, 02/04/2020, p.1, Unattributed 

Glen Burley, chief of the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, has issued an official "thank you" to NHS staff as they deal with the coronavirus crisis. He said: "Despite the pressure, our staff are continuing to provide vital care day in, day out. They should be incredibly proud of the contribution they are making - I know I am."

Rugby MP welcomes move to write off GBP112m of historic debt for St Cross and UHCW

Rugby Advertiser (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has had historic debt worth GBP112 million written off. This move was welcomed by Rugby MP Mark Pawsey, who said: "This decision to write off historic debt is game-changing and will enable the Trusts to plan for the future and invest in vital services."

Britain sends message of hope to battling Johnson

The Times, 08/04/2020, p.1, Francis Elliott; steven Swinford; chris Smyth 

Britain's battle against coronavirus "could be moving in the right direction" but ministers will not even consider lifting the lockdown until at least next week, it emerged yesterday. Boris Johnson remains in intensive care amid cautious optimism in Downing Street over his recovery as he continued to breathe without assistance. Staff at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, sent a message of support to Boris Johnson yesterday. 

HANG ON IN THERE BORIS

The Sun, 08/04/2020, p.4, Shaun Wooler; Matt Dathan 

'DEEPENS OUR COMPASSION' Archbishop of Canterbury urges prayers for coronavirus-hit Boris Johnson and thanks NHS

The Sun Online, 07/04/2020, p.1, Unattributed 

''Get well soon Boris''- our NHS heroes' heartfelt message to Prime Minister

Coventry Telegraph (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

The Papers: ''Boris is a fighter'' and ''PM power vacuum fears''

BBC (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

The day Brita prayed for Boris

Daily Mail, 08/04/2020, p.2, Mario Ledwith 

BORIS 'WILL PULL THROUGH'

Daily Express, 08/04/2020, p.1, Macer Hall 

CORONAVIRUS NATIONAL MEDIA HEADLINES

Students step up to help NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic

ITV.com (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

Hundreds of students have stepped up to help NHS workers in Greater Manchester during the coronavirus pandemic. Food shopping, baby-sitting and manning GPs' receptions are just some of the tasks students are taking on to ease the burden on health workers. The 'army of students'was the brainchild of Saif Khan, a fourth year medical student at the University of Manchester. Saif noticed the concerns of NHS workers on social media, with many worried about balancing their home life with the demands of their job during the coronavirus outbreak.

Lockdown 'should apply to gambling adverts'

The Times, 08/04/2020, p.26, Unattributed 

Letter cosigned by Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman, BMA Council: Sir, Businesses big and small have incurred significant losses during the lockdown to help the population to stay safe. The gambling industry must now do its bit by stopping all advertising during this crisis to protect people from financial harm. Gambling adverts online and on television can drive people to gamble in the erroneous belief that they may then overcome financial hardship. 

New analysis points to hundreds more deaths than official stats reveal

Evening Standard, 07/04/2020, p.3, Nicholas Cecil; Ross Lydall 

Second home owners 'seen sneaking into towns at night'

The Daily Telegraph, 08/04/2020, p.9, Hayley Dixon; Charles Hymas 

Second home owners have been accused of sneaking into the West Country under the cover of darkness as plans emerged for the closure of tourist hotspots over the Easter weekend. Amid warnings that the Government could introduce tougher measures including a ban on exercise if social distancing rules are flouted, some local authorities have called for roadblocks to prevent people flooding their areas over the bank holiday weekend.

NHS Nightingale takes first patients as PM spends second night in intensive care

ITV.com (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

Boris Johnson was spending a second night in intensive care as the NHS Nightingale Hospital built in London to boost capacity during the coronavirus pandemic admitted its first patients. The Prime Minister's condition on Tuesday night remained "stable" as he stayed in St Thomas's for "close monitoring", according to Downing Street. While he was said to be still in "good spirits", concerns were raised over when the lockdown measures will be reviewed – and England's chief medical officer admitted the UK has "a lot to learn" from Germany's expansive testing scheme. 

EXCLUSIVE pictures of NHS Nightingale Birmingham at the NEC

ITV.com (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

First patients fill beds at new Nightingale Hospital in London

ITV.com (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

Hospitals warned oxygen tanks are pushed to limit

The Independent Daily Edition, 08/04/2020, p.21, Shaun Lintern 

The number of coronavirus patients now needing oxygen is pushing hospital infrastructure across the country beyond its limits - with supply pipes at risk of permanent damage from the strain on the system. Hospitals have been told to have portable oxygen cylinders on standby in case piped oxygen is cut off, and to consider how they would move patients out of hospital if they run out of capacity. With a week to go before the expected peak in patient numbers, incidents have been reported at multiple hospitals across London and elsewhere in the UK, with NHS trust bosses told on Monday not to try to push oxygen systems beyond their limits, saying "unapproved procedures may cause permanent damage". 

One in 20 deaths linked to virus as rate gathers pace

The Daily Telegraph, 08/04/2020, p.10, Laura Donnelly 

One in 20 deaths in England and Wales is linked to coronavirus - up from one in 100 last week, official figures show. The statistics came as UK records found that a total of 6,159 patients have died in hospital after testing positive with the virus - up 786 from the day before, in the largest jump yet. Yesterday, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, said: "We are roughly a couple of weeks behind France, a few weeks behind Italy in terms of the numbers." 

DOCTORS and nurses on the frontline in Hero NHS staff drive up demand for wills

Daily Mail, 08/04/2020, p.45, Ben Wilkinson 

Doctors and nurses on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus are behind a surge in demand for wills. The country's largest online will-writing firm has reported a 12-fold increase in customers who work for the NHS. It comes as the legal industry last month said it had seen at least a 70 pc rise in queries. The Law Society said it had seen a 'huge spike', but mainly from elderly and vulnerable people. 

Helpline for NHS staff The [...]

The Times, 08/04/2020, p.7, Unattributed 

The NHS has opened a free mental health hotline to offer support to workers on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus. Those needing help to cope with the pressures will be able to speak to one of more than 1,500 trained volunteers. 

Covid-19 mental health hotline set up for NHS staff

ITV.com (Web), 08/04/2020, Unattributed 

Helpline dedicated to stressed NHS staff

The Daily Telegraph, 08/04/2020, p.10, Laura Donnelly 

THE NHS has launched a [...]

Metro, 08/04/2020, p.6, Unattributed 

Medics work calmly in face of intense pressure

i (The paper for today), 08/04/2020, p.4, Tom Bawden 

Tom Bawden reports on the conditions inside British intensive care units during the coronavirus outbreak. Doctors in full protective gear will be clustered around the vulnerable patients, most of whom have pneumonia and require ventilation. Much of the communication is done by walkie talkies as the visors mean intensive care workers are unable to use mobile phones. Staff at intensive care wards like this in London say they have never experienced anything close to this level of pressure. Unsurprisingly, staff find themselves simply unable to cope with the pressure at times.

Queen praises selfless NHS heroes as 'an example to all'

Evening Standard, 07/04/2020, p.1, Unattributed 

The Queen has thanked Britain's NHS heroes for their "selfless commitment and diligence" as the country battles coronavirus. She paid tribute to their work "during testing times" in a message to mark World Health Day, describing them as "an example to us all". In a statement, she said: "On the occasion of World Health Day, I want to thank all those in the healthcare profession for your selfless commitment and diligence as you undertake vitally important roles to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of people across the Commonwealth, and across the world. 

QUEEN'S TRIBUTE TO SELFLESS NHS

Daily Star, 08/04/2020, p.5, Unattributed 

Reporting for duty...750,000 NHS helpers

Metro, 08/04/2020, p.3, Unattributed 

An army of 750,000 NHS volunteers reported for duty yesterday to help in the fight against coronavirus. The NHS Volunteer Service received three times the amount of applications it had hoped for in the largest voluntary call-up since World War II. Applications were halted while officials ran checks on the 750,000 who signed up.

What to expect as an NHS volunteer working through the coronavirus crisis

ITV.com (Web), 07/04/2020, Unattributed 

Tragedy of NHS medical experts lost to Covid-19

The Daily Mirror, 08/04/2020, p.10, Unattributed 

A doctor who specialised in treating the elderly has died after testing positive for Covid-19. Anton Sebastianpillai, who had a long association with Kingston Hospital in South West London, died on Saturday, four days after being admitted to the intensive care unit. The consultant geriatrician, who qualified as a doctor in Sri Lanka in 1967, finished his last shift on March 20. A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "We would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family." In an obituary notice, he was called a "distinguished alumnus".

ACTIONS TAKEN 

• New leaflet published by PHE on coronavirus. To be added to websites and links to translation versions

• Preparing Easter communications for media, website and social media.

• Review any new assets from PHE 

• 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