Covid-19 Daily Bulletin

24 Apr

A series of daily updates for CHO members regarding relevant updates pertaining to Coronavirus from home and abroad.

Key Announcements    

  • 583,496 tests have been carried out, including 23,560 yesterday. 138,078 people have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 4,583 since yesterday. 17,615 people are currently in hospital, down from 18,189 on 21st Of those hospitalised, 18,738 have sadly died as of yesterday.
  • Up to 10m key workers in the UK are now able to book a coronavirus testfor themselves and their families as the Government increases testing capacity to 51,000 (from 40,000) over night.
  • This has come about through the finalisation of the  online testing system , and the promise from the health secretary that they are going to deploy a c ontact tracing work force of 18,000  people .
  • Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland,  has  outlined plans for phased lifting  of Scottish lockdown. Although the Health Secretary th is morning on The Today Programme criticised the Scottish Government’s methods.
  • This morning, new figures showed UK retail sales fell a record 5.1% in March , the steepest sales fall since the Office for National Statistics (ONS) started collecting the data in 1996.
  • In the US it was confirmed that in just five weeks the world’s biggest economy has seen the job gains of the last 11 years wiped out . That’s as new jobless claims for last week totalled 4.4m – taking the total number of jobless claims since mid-March to 26.4m.
  • The first vaccination trial in the UK has begun in Oxfordshire, with two individuals injected with the vaccine. All others in the controlled group were given the meningitis vaccine.

International  

  • South Korea reports no new deaths in 24 hours. The Centre for Disease Control (KCDC) also reported only six new cases of the infection – the lowest recorded daily total since 18 February.
  • As Ramadan approaches, states are taking measures to observe the holy month in lockdown. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, bans most travel. But its Aceh province defies central guidance by allowing mass prayers
  • In Pakistan, Ramadan begins on Saturday, but there is already controversy as clerics demand exemption from lockdown measures
  • Egypt will ease lockdown for Ramadan by shortening a night-time curfew and allowing some business to reopen
  • US President Donald Trump says British PM Boris Johnson sounded “incredible” during their phone conversation a few days ago – the “old Boris, tremendous energy, tremendous drive”.
  • EU leaders agree to inject billions of euros of emergency aid into Europe’s struggling economies.

Stakeholders  

  • There has been an increase in the abuse reported to shopworkers, with 1 in 6 being abused on every shift.   Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers General Secretary, Paddy Lillis, said;  ” We are shocked that violence, threats and abuse have doubled during this national emergency. At a time when we should all be working together to get through this crisis, it is a national disgrace that people working to keep food on the shelves for their   local communities are being abused and assaulted.  Urgent action is required. Our message is clear, abuse is not part of the job. “
  • The Labour Party has said that thousands of apprenticeships could be lost without Government support. This is due to the DfE supposedly not following Government advice to protect independent apprenticeships providers.
  • The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have called for the Government  to grant the visa expansion scheme to physiotherapists alongside overseas nurses, doctors and paramedics.  Rob Yeldham , CSP director of strategy, said:  ” Physiotherapy staff are playing a crucial part in the UK’s response to Covid-19, helping patients leave hospital and ensuring those with other conditions, such as stroke, can continue their recovery at home.   Their services are set to face unprecedented increases in demand caused by the crisis in the coming months and years and their success in meeting that need will be crucial for the whole system.   In order to do that, we need to retain every overseas physio and physio support worker currently working in the UK. “
  • The National Institute for Health and Care Excellencehave published two new Covid-19 guidelines.  They cover the management of disorders of the digestive system (gastrointestinal and liver conditions) that are treated with drugs that affect the immune response and the care of people in hospital who develop heart problems (acute myocardial injuries) as a consequence of COVID-19 infection. The guidance can be read here:   https://bit.ly/2x4QkyN  and here:  https://bit.ly/2S0lCOr .

Unconfirmed reports    

  • There is currently no timetable for Johnson’s return. The Daily Telegraph has been reporting that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be back in control at Number 10 on Monday after recovering from coronavirus .  The FT reported  earlier this month that ministers were expecting his return on May 7, Hancock reiterated on the Today Programme there was no official date and Downing St. are yet to confirm.
  • The Sun is reporting  that hair dressers, beauticians and nail salons are expected to be told they will have to remain shut for another 6 months.
  • The Guardian has reported  that T rump said he might extend federal social distancing guidelines to the summer. It came as Congress approved a $484bn coronavirus relief package, taking to nearly $3tn the money pledged so far.
  • Scientists have allegedly  told  the Telegraph  that the  18,000 contact tracers Hancock announced will be nowhere near enough, suggesting Britain could need 100,000 to make the plan work.