JK Rowling praises virus ‘breathing’ video

Newsreader Huw Edwards thanks medics who treated him, as Man City manager Guardiola’s mother dies

JK Rowling has urged her Twitter followers to watch an online video explaining how to relieve respiratory symptoms after revealing that she has had Covid-19. The Harry Potter author, 54, credits a simple 15-minute breathing technique video on Youtube for keeping her out of hospital. She said it “costs nothing, has no nasty side effects but could help you/your loved ones a lot, as it did me... I’m fully recovered & technique helped a lot.”

JK ROWLING has revealed that she has had Covid-19, crediting a simple breathing technique video on Youtube for keeping her out of hospital.

The Harry Potter author, 54, said the 15-minute exercise was recommended by her doctor husband and had helped her to recover.

Rowling, who married Dr Neil Murray in 2001, urged her Twitter followers to watch an online video explaining how to relieve respiratory symptoms.

She said it “costs nothing, has no nasty side effects but could help you/ your loved ones a lot, as it did me”.

Rowling wrote online: “For last two weeks I’ve had all symptoms of C19 (tho haven’t been tested) & did this on doc husband’s advice. I’m fully recovered & technique helped a lot.”

The technique is demonstrated by

Dr Sarfaraz Munshi at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, who explains the importance of getting “a good amount of air” into the base of your lungs when you have an infection.

Meanwhile, Huw Edwards, the BBC newsreader, revealed that he had contracted the virus and been treated in hospital for pneumonia.

The 58-year-old said he would be returning to BBC News At Ten later this week and thanked medics at King’s College Hospital NHS Trust in south London for his “superb care”.

Tony Lloyd, 70, the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland and MP for Rochdale, is being treated for the virus at Manchester Royal Infirmary where his condition was “stable and responding to treatment”.

Sir Keir Starmer, the new Labour leader, wrote on Twitter: “Wishing @tony4rochdale a swift and full recovery from coronavirus. Our thoughts are with him, his family and friends, at this difficult time.”

The mother of Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, Dolors Sala Carrió, has died, aged 82, in Manresa, Barcelona, after contracting coronavirus, the Premier League club announced. “Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends,” it said.

Guardiola last month donated €1million to aid the fight against coronavirus in his native Spain.

Meanwhile, John Taylor, 59, the bass guitarist with Eighties pop band Duran Duran, revealed he tested positive for Covid-19 three weeks ago and is now recovering at home.

“My heart goes out to everyone who has had to deal with real loss and pain,” he said. “But I want to let you know that it isn’t always a killer, and we can and will beat this thing.”

Nigel Benn, 56, the British boxer, revealed that his brother, Mark, had died from coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Carol Jamabo, a motherof-two, became the first care worker known to have died from the virus. The 56-year-old worked for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, Greater Manchester, and had been a key worker for more than 25 years after moving to the UK from Nigeria. She is not thought to have had any major underlying health conditions but suffered from asthma.

Nine residents at the Oak Springs Care Home in Liverpool have also died.