PM hails breakthrough as first virus treatment found
■ Drug reduces deaths on ventilators by third ■ But 600,000 lose jobs in just two months
BORIS JOHNSON hailed as the “biggest breakthrough yet” a coronavirus treatment developed in the UK which could save thousands of lives, on the same day that it was revealed more than 600,000 people had lost their jobs in just two months.
Pressure was piled on the Prime Minister yesterday to ease lockdown restrictions as new figures laid bare the damage being caused to the labour market.
And a key step towards doing so was unveiled yesterday evening, as a study of the drug dexamethasone suggested it is the first treatment to reduce deaths from coronavirus, and has been described as the most important trial result for Covid-19 so far.
Researchers from the University of Oxford found the drug reduced deaths by up to a third among patients on ventilators, and by a fifth for those on oxygen. It has been immediately approved to for use in UK hospitals.
Speaking from Downing Street Mr Johnson said: “I am proud of these British scientists, backed by UK Government funding, who have led the first, robust clinical trial anywhere in the world to find a coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death.
“I’m very grateful to the thousands of patients in this country who volunteered for the trials – thank you.” He said the drug would now be available across the NHS and “we have taken steps to ensure we have enough supplies, even in the event of a second peak”.
The news came as another 233 deaths were recorded yesterday of people who had been diagnosed with coronavirus, bringing the UK total to 41,969.
In Yorkshire, 2,749 people have now died, a figure which rose by 20 yesterday.
Earlier in the day Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted “difficult days would lie ahead” if the economy does not pick up, and people who are on the furlough scheme, which ends in October, are “concerned about the future of their employment”.
The Government faces the task of “restarting the economy but without restarting the virus”, he said, after statistics showed a sharp drop in the number of paid employees – down by 2.1 per cent or 612,000 in May compared with March – and a huge increase in benefit claims.
Although the UK jobless rate remained largely unchanged quarter on quarter at 3.9 per cent in the three months to April, with unemployment at 1.34 million, there are fears that more redundancies could follow as Government support is withdrawn over the coming months.
The Government was also forced to perform a U-turn yesterday on the provision of free school meals for the most vulnerable children throughout the summer holidays, after pressure from footballer Marcus Rashford and Labour.
THE PRINCE of Wales has revealed he lost his sense of taste and smell when he caught coronavirus – which has yet to fully return – as he carried out his first Royal engagement with the public since lockdown began.
Charles spoke of his personal experience with Covid-19 as he met frontline NHS staff and key workers in person with the Duchess of Cornwall, and they praised their efforts as “Britain at its best”.
Camilla talked about a recent family reunion, seeing her grandchildren for the first time since lockdown, saying: “First time last weekend. Not hug them, but see them – a great treat.”
The couple chatted to nurses, cleaners, consultants and care workers from a number of NHS trusts at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in the open air.
Asked if the country’s appreciation of the NHS has changed for good, the duchess replied: “I think it has, you can tell by all the people coming out every week to clap – they’ve done the most remarkable things.
“The way they’ve looked after people, the way they’ve sort of kept control of the whole thing, you know, it’s a question of not panicking and getting on with it and I think they are Britain at its best.”
Meanwhile, the Duke of Cambridge has joined England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson and other sporting greats to discuss the issue of mental health across UK sport.
The virtual meeting featured stars including tennis player Jamie Murray, Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds, Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, skeleton racer Lizzy Yarnold, and former Arsenal and Lionesses footballer Alex Scott. During the online call, William said it is “vital” that the mental wellbeing is talked about.