Second coronavirus death after record day-on-day rise in cases
PM says keeping Brits safe is his No 1 priority Health experts urge forward planning on self-isolation
MORE THAN 160 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, in the largest dayon-day increase, as a man in his 80s became the second man to die from the virus.
In total, 164 people have tested positive for Covid-19.
The second person to die was an 88-year-old patient who died at Milton Keynes Hospital.
On Thursday evening another patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19 while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading.
Last week, a British tourist who had been on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined in Japan, became the first UK citizen to die from the virus.
In other developments yesterday:
■ Facebook closed its London office for deep cleaning after a Singapore-based employee who had visited tested positive;
■ Scottish Government official Professor June Andrew said a coronavirus pandemic would be “quite useful” as it would take out hospital bed blockers, even though it was a “horrific” thing to say;
■ Dr Mike Ryan, from the World Health Organisation (WHO), said it was “a false hope” that coronavirus would disappear in the summer like flu;
■ A 43-year-old British businessman was confirmed with Covid-19
in Thailand, and the Vatican confirmed its first case;
■ A church in Devon closed after a parishioner was diagnosed with coronavirus, while the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, near Watford, closed its doors after a member tested positive;
■ Globally, the number of coronavirus cases has passed 100,000, with 3,400 deaths;
■ Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said homeless people were at higher risk of coronavirus due to existing health conditions, the inability to wash their hands regularly and because they may be unable to self-isolate if they become unwell.
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has pledged a multi-million pound investment for research into a coronavirus vaccine and faster testing as health experts urged the public to “plan ahead” for any possibility of self-isolating to contain the spread of the outbreak.
Mr Johnson yesterday announced a further £46m in funding while he was on a tour of a Bedfordshire laboratory, where British scientists are working on a quick and cheap way to diagnose coronavirus.
There is currently no vaccine available to protect people against Covid-19, but Mr Johnson said he hoped one will be ready in about a year.
England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has previously said the UK “will not have a vaccine available for the first wave” of a pandemic, but that it is still important to develop one for any future waves.
In a statement, the PM said: “Keeping the British people safe is my number one priority, and that’s why I’ve set out our fourpart plan to contain, delay, mitigate and research coronavirus.
“We are ensuring the country is prepared for the current outbreak, guided by the science at every stage. But we also need to invest now in researching the vaccines that could help prevent future outbreaks.
“I’m very proud that UK experts – backed by government funding – are on the front line of global efforts to do just that.”
Meanwhile, Public Health England (PHE) is urging members of the public to “plan ahead” for if they have to self-isolate for a couple of weeks.
In two new blog posts, PHE said more people may be asked to selfisolate at home to help slow the spread of coronavirus, while “social distancing” measures such as not going to cinemas, pubs or sporting events may be needed in the future.
It said people could look ahead, asking themselves to “consider how you or your family would manage if you had to self-isolate for a couple of weeks”, or if social-distancing measures were eventually brought in to reduce people mixing. Global human trials of eight possible vaccines could start later this year. But firms would then face the task of mass-producing and distributing them.
Public Health England (PHE) has developed methods of testing for coronavirus, but more rapid tests are needed as these currently rely on samples being sent to a lab.
The package announced by the PM comes under the “research” phase of the Government’s “battle plan” to contain, delay, mitigate and research coronavirus.
Downing Street said the UK’s investment into Covid-19 vaccine research is now worth £65 million, with £91 million in total for international work to stop the spread of the virus.
Mr Johnson spoke to scientists at the Mologic lab, which is ramping up efforts to provide more testing in people’s homes.
This will mean patients can receive treatment more quickly at home, reducing the risk of them passing the virus to others by going outdoors.
Any rapid diagnostic test could also be sent to other countries with no lab capability or whose medical facilities are not as advanced. A new test will therefore be jointly manufactured in the UK and Senegal.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Johnson added: “What we are announcing today is a £46 million package of investment in UK
science which will in time deliver a vaccine - some say in about a year - but also help us to have rapid test kits that anyone can use quickly and effectively to tell whether they have coronavirus.”
The Government’s Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, said: “The UK has some of the world’s leading scientists and this money will help in our fight to tackle this new disease.”
Our fourpart plan is to contain, delay, mitigate and research.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged a multi-million pound investment.