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Coronavirus news you might have missed overnight: Boris walking, Trump fuming at WHO and doctors still in danger

Meanwhile, as pandemic rages, one beer lover does his bit by making protective equipment from ale kegs...

Colin Drury
Saturday 11 April 2020 10:09 BST
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Coronavirus in numbers

The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause chaos around the UK and across the world. Here’s your morning briefing of everything you may have missed over night.

Doctors still in danger due to lack of equipment, union says

Doctors are still not receiving the personal protective equipment they need to treat patients with coronavirus, a leading union has said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) warned its members were being forced to put their own lives at risk to help others during the pandemic.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the association’s head, blamed “the government's chronic failure to supply us with the proper equipment”.

Earlier, at Friday's Downing Street press briefing, health secretary Matt Hancock admitted there had been challenges with supplies but refused to engage when asked if he accepted the government’s action had been insufficient so far.

Boris Johnson taking short walks after being moved from intensive care

The prime minister is reported to be walking about as he continues to recover from coronavirus.

Boris Johnson also thanked the ICU team at St Thomas’ Hospital in London for his “incredible care", a Downing Street spokesman said on Friday afternoon.

Mr Johnson was admitted for treatment on Sunday – 10 days after testing positive for Covid-19.

Earlier on Friday, his father Stanley Johnson said his son "must rest up", leading to questions about who exactly will be running the country in the coming days and weeks.

Holby City donates real ventilators from set

Bosses at BBC medical drama Holby City have gifted fully working ventilators from on set for use at London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital.

The corporation revealed the donation in a tweet on Friday – although it is unclear how many machines were donated or why real medical equipment was being used for filming a soap.

Simon Harper, executive producer, said he hoped the ventilators would help “the courageous and selfless real-life medics".

Personal protective equipment from the set at Elstree studios, in Hertfordshire, has already been donated while the drama has paused production.

WHO warns against premature lifting of lockdowns…

Lifting coronavirus restrictions too early would spark a “deadly resurgence” across the globe, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Countries which came out of lockdown too soon risked a second ruinous wave as catastrophic as the first, it said.

Speaking at a virtual press conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, said the organisation was working with countries on ways in which restrictions could be safely repealed

But he warned: “I know that some countries are already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions. WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone. At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.”

…but Trump demands body is reformed as he threatens to pull US contributions

Donald Trump has threatened to reduce US contributions to the World Health Organisation after criticising its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

The US president said he would be pushing for reforms when he met with officials next week – and drew attention to the fact that his own country’s financial input outstrips that of China’s.

The organisation's leader responded to Mr Trump's criticisms by saying the middle of a pandemic would not be "the time" for a US funding reduction.

Beer lover makes protective equipment from kegs

An ale enthusiast has responded to calls for more personal protective equipment from frontline workers – by fashioning DIY face masks from plastic ale kegs.

Bill Bremner, from east London, started recycling the barrels into PPE after hearing about the national shortage of masks amid the coronavirus crisis.

"I had all these empty kegs because I help run a beer festival for the Campaign for Real Ale, and I took them home to see if I could find another use for them, rather than seeing them be disposed of,” the logistics manager said.

He has now approached nearby hospitals, care homes, chemists, and district nurses, and intends to supply them for free.

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