Frontline healthcare workers say a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as insufficient testing of staff for Covid-19 is putting them and patients at risk.
Hospital bosses and doctors on Thursday warned of being swamped with a “tsunami” of Covid-19 patients in London, as Britain braced for a peak in cases and the government faced calls to urgently provide specialist kit and tests for frontline health workers.
According to the latest figures, 463 people have died from the virus and more than 9,500 people have been infected, with London accounting for about one-third of all cases. Johnson on Monday imposed a shut-down of non-essential shops and services, and banned gatherings of more than two people to cut close-contact transmission of the virus.
But frontline healthcare workers say a lack of personal protective equipment as well as insufficient testing of staff for Covid-19 is putting them and patients at risk. The NHS has access to some 8,000 ventilators and the government has ordered 8,000 more. Johnson’s spokesman said they were expected to arrive in the coming weeks and months.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Veteran East London magistrate Eugene Moss hangs up his robeAn East London magistrate who spent 40 years prosecuting and putting criminals behind bars is looking forward to the next chapter of his life.
Read more »
East London Covid-19 woman breaks quarantineThe provincial government is scrambling to quarantine Eastern Cape's Covid-19 patient zero, who has been roaming around East London in defiance of the state's containment measures.
Read more »
Hospitals call up germ-killing robots to kill viruses, bacteria and sporesVirus-killing robots able to target coronavirus and other nasties are being deployed within numerous South African hospitals, hospital group Netcare said on Tuesday.
Read more »
East London Covid-19 woman breaks quarantineThe provincial government is scrambling to quarantine Eastern Cape's Covid-19 patient zero, who has been roaming around East London in defiance of the state's containment measures.
Read more »
Germany treats first Italians as coronavirus care crosses bordersGerman hospitals with spare capacity on Tuesday welcomed their first coronavirus patients from Italy, where an overwhelmed health care system has witnessed the outbreak kill more people than in any other country.
Read more »
Cruise giant offers ships as hospitals for non-Covid-19 patientsThe world’s largest leisure travel company is offering its cruise ships for use as temporary hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »