Charles keeping spirits up after contracting COVID-19
PRINCE Charles was working from home in Scotland and in “good spirits” despite contracting the coronavirus as he remained in quarantine last night with his wife Camilla.
The 71-year-old heir to the British throne tested positive for the virus after feeling unwell at the weekend but so far has only had “mild symptoms”.
He was understood to be continuing with his prolific letter-writing campaigns that have consumed his hard working public life.
Prince Charles also spoke with Professor Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, according to the royal Court Circular published in The Times. Camilla, 72, has not tested positive, but was with six staff at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, near Balmoral Castle as they waited out their mandated self isolation.
And anger that Prince Charles was bumped to the head of the queue for testing in Scotland has been dismissed.
Scottish National Party MP Joan McAlpine said: “Given that his symptoms are said to be mild, like many I wonder how he was tested when many NHS (National Health Service) and social care workers cannot get tested.
‘‘My nephew, who has serious asthma and a chest infection, was recently refused a test.”
However, the NHS said that Prince Charles was tested because he was over 70.
There has been widespread concern about a lack of testing of suspected coronavirus cases in the UK, with even frontline health workers missing out.
The Queen, 93, is in isolation at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip, 98.
■ A CORONAVIRUS cruise ship carrying at least 200 Australians has docked near Rome, but “stir-crazy” passengers have no idea when they will be able to disembark.
The Costa Victoria has become another cruise from hell after the deadly illness was found on board. There had been hope it would be able to dock in Greece before the infection was discovered, but now the passengers remain in limbo.
The ship has now docked at Civitavecchia, a town north west of Rome as it waits for authorities to deal with the ill patients on board.
Italy remains in lockdown indefinitely as it battles the world’s most deadly outbreak of coronavirus, with 7503 deaths from almost 75,000 cases.
■ In the United States, Donald Trump’s approval rating has equalled his highest, despite critics saying he plans to reopen the United States too soon.
New York remains the country’s coronavirus hotspot, with anyone who has visited the area required to self-isolate for 14 days.
New York City’s death toll leapt by 81 in a single day as hospitals struggled to meet an overwhelming wave of new cases.
■ Spain was nearing the peak of its outbreak as its death toll overtook China’s in another deadly day for the European nation.
There were now 3647 deaths, higher than China’s 3285, with almost 7000 new cases.
■ The UK government had sought 250,000 volunteers to help people manage with its 12week lockdown for those over 70 and the seriously ill.
But in one day they smashed that figure, with twice as many signing up to do their bit to save lives and ease pressure on the National Health Service.
The death toll in the UK hit 465, with another 43 fatalities in 24 hours, from 8077 cases.