UK calls for 250,000 volunteers as virus deaths surge

[webfact]

UK calls for 250,000 volunteers as virus deaths surge

By William James and Andy Bruce

 

People jog in Battersea Park, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain, March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The number of coronavirus deaths in Britain jumped on Tuesday, the first day of a national lockdown, while the government called for 250,000 volunteers for the health service and announced a temporary hospital would open in London next week.

 

In a TV message on Monday evening watched by more than 27 million people, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered people to stay at home, told nearly all shops to close and banned social gatherings including weddings and baptisms.

 

However, public transport in London was busy during the morning rush hour and the streets were far from deserted amid confusion over the government's advice to workers.

 

The death toll from coronavirus in the United Kingdom has jumped by 87 to a total of 422 - the biggest daily increase since the crisis began.

 

Meanwhile, the economic devastation was underscored by a survey that suggested the economy was shrinking at a record pace, faster than during the 2008-09 financial crisis.

 

The unprecedented peacetime restrictions announced by Johnson, which will last at least three weeks, are intended to stop the state-run National Health Service (NHS), which suffers from staff shortages at the best of times, being overwhelmed.

 

"These measures are not advice, they are rules and will be enforced, including by the police," health minister Matt Hancock told parliament.

 

At a news conference later, Hancock announced plans to open a temporary hospital next week at the Excel Centre, a huge venue in east London normally used for trade fairs and similar events.

 

 

"With the help of the military and with NHS clinicians we will make sure that we have the capacity that we need so that everyone can get the support they need," he said.

 

British Transport Police said 500 officers will be deployed to train stations across the country to remind the public of the government's advice to travel only when essential.

 

"SIGN UP TODAY"

Hancock called for 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS with tasks such as delivering medicines from pharmacies, driving patients to and from hospital appointments and phoning people isolating at home to check up on them.

 

"If you are well and able to do so safely, I would urge you to sign up today to help the most vulnerable people in our communities as an NHS Volunteer Responder," Hancock said.

 

He also said the government had bought 3.5 million coronavirus antibody tests so that people who suspect they have had the virus would be able to find out for sure.

 

Despite the message for people to stay at home, some roads were still busy and utility workmen and others were still mingling close together.

 

Social media images showed the capital's underground trains were packed with passengers closer than the 2-metre (6-foot) recommended distance apart and the government said "appropriate" construction work should continue.

 

"The government needs to urgently provide clearer guidance on who should be working and who shouldn't," said Rebecca Long-Bailey, the opposition Labour Party's business policy chief. "No one should be asked to work if they are not providing an essential function in this crisis."

 

"AGONISING CHOICE"

Under the curbs on movement, people should leave their homes only for very limited reasons such as going to supermarkets for vital supplies or for exercise once a day.

 

Police, who will be able to issue fines of 30 pounds ($35), will now be able to break up gatherings of more than two people.

 

A snap YouGov poll found that 93 percent of Britons supported the measures but were split on whether fines would be a sufficient deterrent.

 

Supermarkets, where shelves have been stripped bare by panic-buying in recent days, said they had begun limiting the number of shoppers in stores at any one time, erecting barriers outside, and installing screens at checkouts to protect staff.

 

Last week, the government announced billions of pounds of help for businesses and said it would help to pay the wages of employees, giving grants to cover 80% of a worker's salary if they were kept on as staff.

 

But critics said it did not provide support for the self-employed, who total about 5 million in Britain compared to roughly 28 million employees, meaning they either had to keep working or risk losing all income.

 

Finance minister Rishi Sunak told parliament the government was working on measures to help self-employed people, but said these had to be practical and fair.

 

(Additional reporting by Alistair Smout, Sarah Young, Paul Sandle, James Davey, David Milliken and William Schomberg; writing by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-25

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[donnacha]

If the government knows where they need workers, why not make helping out a condition of receiving that government money?

Depending on volunteers seems a half-assed way to do things. If billions are to be spent, pay all the bloody people risking their lives.

[Bluespunk]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Last week, the government announced billions of pounds of help for businesses and said it would help to pay the wages of employees, giving grants to cover 80% of a worker's salary if they were kept on as staff.

 

But critics said it did not provide support for the self-employed, who total about 5 million in Britain compared to roughly 28 million employees, meaning they either had to keep working or risk losing all income.

And why are the self employed not being offered similar protections?

[FritsSikkink]

Underfunding the NHS and the herd immunity are not working well are they.

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Underfunding the NHS and the herd immunity are not working well are they.

 

And things are working much better in Germany, France, Italy and Spain are they?

[robblok]

14 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

And things are working much better in Germany, France, Italy and Spain are they?

Eh yes they are doing a far better job in Germany. Far lower death ratio to cases. I guess their healthcare hasnt been stripped like in the UK. 

 

Sobering to see the difference between Germany and the UK. Far more cases in Germany but a far lower death rate. UK 8.077 cases 422 deaths, Germany 32.991 and 159  deaths. UK seems to do it similar to Netherlands 5.560 and 276 deaths. 

 

Looks like Germany is doing a great job UK and Netherlands not so much. 

 

Possibly there are more tests done in Germany, but again that shows they are doing it better then both UK and Netherlands.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

34 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

And things are working much better in Germany, France, Italy and Spain are they?

Whataboutary 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Where are all these police officers coming from to enforce these rules.

 

Its not at all unusual in the UK to go about ones daily business for weeks on end without so much as seeing a copper.

[evadgib]

MSM aren't making this any easier by using statements like 'lockdown' or showing plod with loudhailers bellowing at people to "Get out of the park/Go home!" when they're already doing what they're told and (the ones in the clip on sky this morning) appearing to be keeping themselves sufficiently apart. 'Lockdown' is usually associated with prison confinement. UK at the moment is nowhere near that bad and it's time the hype was properly represented.

 

IMO this virus will either be gone or under control along with the end of the Bluebells.

 

(& how are the virtue signalling hypocrites & their crews able to travel to/from work each day in order to rant at everyone else?)

[Mavideol]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Underfunding the NHS and the herd immunity are not working well are they.

...... you just beat me to it, had it all typed out, glad didn't post 555..... he and Trump are masters at controlling the spread of the virus

[cmsally]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

Eh yes they are doing a far better job in Germany. Far lower death ratio to cases. I guess their healthcare hasnt been stripped like in the UK. 

 

Sobering to see the difference between Germany and the UK. Far more cases in Germany but a far lower death rate. UK 8.077 cases 422 deaths, Germany 32.991 and 159  deaths. UK seems to do it similar to Netherlands 5.560 and 276 deaths. 

 

Looks like Germany is doing a great job UK and Netherlands not so much. 

 

Possibly there are more tests done in Germany, but again that shows they are doing it better then both UK and Netherlands.

 

 

Friends of mine that work in the health service in Germany are being tested for the virus every single day when they arrive at work. Doesn't seem to be like that in the UK!

 

[dunroaming]

3 hours ago, robblok said:

Eh yes they are doing a far better job in Germany. Far lower death ratio to cases. I guess their healthcare hasnt been stripped like in the UK. 

 

Sobering to see the difference between Germany and the UK. Far more cases in Germany but a far lower death rate. UK 8.077 cases 422 deaths, Germany 32.991 and 159  deaths. UK seems to do it similar to Netherlands 5.560 and 276 deaths. 

 

Looks like Germany is doing a great job UK and Netherlands not so much. 

 

Possibly there are more tests done in Germany, but again that shows they are doing it better then both UK and Netherlands.

 

 

The earlier people are tested obviously has a baring and Germany certainly tests earlier than some other countries.  But just going by the figures you would think that Thailand is doing a brilliant job re deaths from the virus.  Surely not a time for anyone to grandstand over how well their country are doing.  Thousands of people are dying and much of that is because they are choosing to ignore the advise of their respective governments.

 

I now know two people who have the virus, both in their fifties and have no underlying medical problems.  However they are both in hospital and one is seriously ill.  They both work in the city and travel in every day by train and then underground, along with thousands of others.

[dunroaming]

170,000 volunteers overnight and the 250,000 expected to be signed up by tomorrow  I signed up but I may be rejected due to age. 

[dunroaming]

Most areas in the UK have a community neighbourhood website for people to share information.  Ours has been going for a couple of years now.  On Monday a group of Uber drivers posted that they are volunteering to take any "Key Workers" to their place of work for free for the foreseeable future.  It is a way for them to avoid a lot of people being exposed by using public transport.  This morning two local taxi companies have joined in by offering the same.  I imagine this will be countrywide very soon.

[dunroaming]

46 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

170,000 volunteers overnight and the 250,000 expected to be signed up by tomorrow  I signed up but I may be rejected due to age. 

Spoke too soon.  250,000 signed up now. it's 10.00 am in the UK and they only called for the volunteers last night!

[Scot123]

9 hours ago, donnacha said:

If the government knows where they need workers, why not make helping out a condition of receiving that government money?

Depending on volunteers seems a half-assed way to do things. If billions are to be spent, pay all the bloody people risking their lives.

Simple don't volunteer. Thankfully GB is full of people who care and self sacrifice and those are the same people who love their country and in generations past made the greatest sacrifice saving Europe. What an attitude. 

[Scot123]

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Underfunding the NHS and the herd immunity are not working well are they.

What dribble. 

[Scot123]

5 hours ago, robblok said:

Eh yes they are doing a far better job in Germany. Far lower death ratio to cases. I guess their healthcare hasnt been stripped like in the UK. 

 

Sobering to see the difference between Germany and the UK. Far more cases in Germany but a far lower death rate. UK 8.077 cases 422 deaths, Germany 32.991 and 159  deaths. UK seems to do it similar to Netherlands 5.560 and 276 deaths. 

 

Looks like Germany is doing a great job UK and Netherlands not so much. 

 

Possibly there are more tests done in Germany, but again that shows they are doing it better then both UK and Netherlands.

 

 

You do know these figures are unbelievably wrong. UK under 500 deaths, France over 1000 deaths Germany is in the area of the UK in death totals yes it is lower but don't go blowing victory trumpets and as for Italy they recorded 743 yesterday yes I had to read that 3 times in one day. Only 422 in the UK. Let us not forget approximately 17,000 people in the UK die from flu. Oh and for the cheap seats of the bash the UK "Health care is free" unlike Germany and most EU countries. 

[vogie]

Breaking News: Prince Charles has tested positive for the Coronavirus.

[IvorLott]

10 minutes ago, vogie said:

Breaking News: Prince Charles has tested positive for the Coronavirus.

 I have a feeling he wouldn't have had to spend hours being bounced from pillar to post to get a test.

[Chomper Higgot]

Is the NHS even set up to incorporate 250,000 volunteers within a short time frame?

 

 

[Mavideol]

22 minutes ago, vogie said:

Breaking News: Prince Charles has tested positive for the Coronavirus.

surprise... I would have put my money on Andrew

[dunroaming]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Is the NHS even set up to incorporate 250,000 volunteers within a short time frame?

 

 

It's a support system so should be.

[Scot123]

12 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

surprise... I would have put my money on Andrew

Why? In many eyes in the UK his only fault was his choice of friend's. In the UK age of consent is 16. However Charles is a few bricks short of a hob and supposed as next in line.... Mmmmmm very convenient if he pops his clogs. 

[Redline]

Mophead wasn’t worried about it before