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COVID-19 current figures
Current UK cases: 11,658 are confirmed as positive
Numbers tested: 104,866 people have been tested in the UK
578 patients in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.
(Source: DHSC: As of 9am on 26 March 2020)
Global situation report: 413,467 confirmed (40,712) 18 433 deaths
Western Pacific Region: 97,766 confirmed (1186) 3,518 deaths (16)
European Region: 220,516 confirmed (25,007) 11,986 deaths (1797)
South-East Asia: 2,344 confirmed (354) 72 deaths (7)
Eastern Mediterranean Region: 29,631 confirmed (2416) 2008 deaths (131)
Regions of the Americas: 60,834 confirmed (11 390) 813 deaths (248)
African Region: 1664 confirmed (359) 29 deaths (3)
(Source: World Health Organization)
Latest COVID-19 clinical news updates
RCGP demands clarity on use of PPE in general practice
The Royal College of GPs has written to Matt Hancock demanding urgent clarity for GPs around how and when to use the personal protective equipment they are receiving when seeing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his letter, Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said that COVID-19 was significantly impacting general practice as well as secondary care, but reassurance was needed that GPs and their teams were working safely when seeing patients face to face.
Reflecting feedback from RCGP members about the PPE they have been receiving in their surgeries, Prof Marshall wrote: “GPs across the country have never been more concerned, not just for the safety of themselves and their teams, but for patients too.”
RCP updates advice on hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
In a statement, the Royal College of Physicians said that the evidence behind the use of hydroxychloroquine remains patchy and at the moment it does not support its routine use in patients with COVID-19.
It added that given the rapidly changing evidence around COVID-19 this position may change and its web resources are updated regularly to reflect any changes.
Doctors are asked to visit the specialty-specific resources page for further clinical advice for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Government to provide free car parking for NHS and social care staff
The government is giving immediate financial backing for all NHS trusts to provide free car parking to NHS staff for the duration of coronavirus (COVID-19).
NHS Trusts are responsible for setting car parking charges locally, and the Health Secretary is urging all Trusts to immediately make use of government funding to abolish parking charges for their staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock and NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens both also praised those NHS Trusts who are already providing free car parking to staff working tirelessly on the frontline.
Nursing council considers further temporary registrations
Nurses who have been out of the profession for more than three years and internationally trained staff in the process of applying for UK registration could be drafted in to support the frontline during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s governing body has agreed to consider extending temporary registration to these two groups in the event that staffing shortages escalate and further reinforcements are needed, according to Nursing Times.
The body has already put out a call to former nurses and midwives who left the register less than three years ago with more than 5,000 saying they would be willing to return to practice to help the NHS cope with coronavirus.
Other news round up
- The movement – Clap For Our Carers – will take place tonight at 8pm
- No new cases were reported in Hubei province
- National Theatre at Home launched to give access to theatre online
- A second serving UK prisoner has died
- Record unemployment claims in US
- Death toll in Spain has risen by 655 in the last 24 hours