Stay at home plea as temperature rises
THE UK Government is urging people to stay at home this weekend as the weather warms up.
The warning came yesterday in a bid to stem the coronavirus pandemic and minimise the strain on the NHS, as it was announced that four NHS staff have died within 24 hours after contracting Covid-19.
Two nurses in their 30s, Areema Nasreen and Aimee O’Rourke, who each had three children, have died alongside two healthcare assistants.
England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May said the nurses “were one of my profession” as she urged members of the public not to be tempted to go outside in the forecast sunny weather.
In the daily Downing Street press conference, Ms May said: “This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out and enjoy those summer rays. But please, I ask you to remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them.”
Ms May expressed her condolences to their families, friends and colleagues and said she feared further nurses will die.
She said: “They were one of us, they were one of my profession, of the NHS family.
“I worry that there’s going to be more and I want to honour them today and recognise their service.”
It comes as the Prime Minister urged the public to stick with social distancing and not be tempted to “hang out” in the warmer weather predicted for this weekend.
Boris Johnson has said he is “feeling better” after suffering from coronavirus but will remain in self-isolation until his temperature drops.
In a video on social media, Mr Johnson said: “Although I’m feeling better and I’ve done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, I still have a temperature. So, in accordance with government advice I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes.”
Mr Johnson urged people not to break social distancing rules as the weather warms up, even if they were going “a bit stir crazy”.
He said: “There, hang out and start to break the regulations.
“I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now.”
■■Sunshine to warm up Wales’ weekend – page 19