Matt Hancock is expected to start the briefing at around 5 pm.
We’ll update this post as the briefing begins:
Matt Hancock speaking – So important to stay at home – true for everyone watching – means more beds, more staff more lifesaving equipment
- Latest figures 173,784 tested – 38,168 positive – 3,605 have died
- Two nurses and two healthcare workers have died in last 24 hours
- We are delivering more critical care beds – NHS Nightingale London now open – it took nine days
- Every hospital in the country has had expanded capacity – there are today 2,000 spare critical care beds – that’s before the Nightingale Hospitals come on stream…
– 7,000 NHS staff have been tested
– Research on treatments for COVID-19 is a big part of our plans
– Bringing together finest research minds – there are three clinical trials underway to see if any existing drugs can help us
– Need more patients to volunteer for the trials
– The only way to protect your family from this disease is to STAY AT HOME
– Warm weekend weather forecast – cannot afford to relax social distancing measures – if we do – people will die
– Instruction – stay at home – protect lives
Chief Nurse: Loss of two colleagues – two registered nurses – condolences to family, friends and colleagues – i worry there will be more – I honour them and their service
– First NHS Nightingale Hospital opened today in London – an enormous piece of work
– NHS Nightingale Hosps at Birmingham and Manchester – we announce Bristol and Harrogate too
– Grateful to public for patience an help for the NHS – – don’t go out in sun at weekend – remember the two nurses stay at home for them
Deputy CMO
Show slides ref social mobility
– Very encouraging – needs to continue
– CLINICAL TRIALS
– Determined to find effective treatments – weeks ago we started [ didn’t publish it ] a gold standard way to see if treatments work, effectively, safely, [ we have to evaluate…>>>> right patients to get it, right time in illness, right doses – clinical trials are the only way – it’s complicated stuff
– We’re looking at malaria, HIV treatments in first instance – drugs already licensed – we’re looking for new ones in various stages of developments
– When will there be results? I don’t know – a few months – faster the more volunteers to the trials come forward
QUESTIONS
WHEN IS PEAK?
A: Don’t know yet – a few weeks after social distancing – too soon – it has to continue – watching very carefully for peak – taking no chances – we have to follow science
Q: IS EASTER SUNDAY expected to be the peak?
A: Easter Sunday – we don’t know – it depends on how people act – [ repeats stay at home message ]
