THE VIRUS IN BRIEF
DOLLY Parton will be reading children’s stories online for the next ten weeks as a way to comfort youngsters “during a time of unrest”.
Starting tonight at midnight, the US country music star, 74, right, will upload a video a week to the Facebook page of Imagination Library. She said: “This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while and it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love.”
The series kicks off with The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, which Dolly said had inspired her throughout her life.
THE AA is offering a free vehicle service to all 1.5 million NHS workers, even if they’re not members.
Any staff who suffer trouble on their journeys to or from work can call for help.
The dedicated hotline number, 0800 072 5064, is available to anyone who holds a Health Service ID card.
AA chief executive Simon Breakwell said: “Everyone in the NHS is doing a vital job and the last thing they need to worry about now is a breakdown.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps called it “a fantastic example of how organisations are pulling together”.
The AA has already sent 41 patrols to London Ambulance Service workshops to provide more help.
A JUNIOR doctor turned current Miss England who was trapped in India has finally returned to the UK to help save lives from coronavirus after a 30-hour journey.
Bhasha Mukherjee, 24, pictured, has been touring the world since last November carrying out humanitarian charity work, but her hospital asked her to return to work there as soon as possible.
The beauty queen arrived at London Heathrow yesterday from Kolkata via Delhi and Frankfurt. She hopes to return to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincs, in the coming days. Bhasha said: “I really wanted to go back to work.”
GRANDMOTHER Helen Gent, 92, is itching to wolf down a cream cake or two after making a remarkable recovery from coronavirus just a week after being admitted to hospital.
The widow had been in isolation at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 and pneumonia, but she is now clear and ready to leave.
Granddaughter Hayleigh Clayton, 35, of Basingstoke, said: “Grandma recovering has really knocked it out of the park for us.”
Helen said yesterday : “The NHS staff have been wonderful and I am very grateful. I know everyone is not as lucky as me.
“I can’t wait to see my family and have a few cream cakes.”