By Tony O’Riley-
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has instructed the British public to stay at home this weekend, arguing that forecast of good weather whilst the disease is spreading will not be an excuse for people to go out in the sun. Speaking at the No 10 briefing, Mr Hancock said that while warm weather was forecast in some areas this weekend “the disease is still spreading”.
Hancock warned that more deaths will be inevitable if people breach the orders to stay at home this weekend. Hot weather usually attracts gatherings of people especially at seafronts where the sight of beaches are an attraction.
In Australia where the weather is hot, the country’s prime minister has warned its inhabitants to stay at home regardless of the weather, And The Eye Of Media.Com has heard that in Nigeria, where temperatures are exceedingly hot at 30 degrees, the president, Ibarahim Mohammadu Buhari has put three of its main cities, Lagos, Abuja , and Ogun state on complete lockdown.
England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May joined mr. Hancock in urging the British public to stay at home as she paid tribute to two nurses who have died from the disease. “Please stay at home for them,” she urged people. Areema Nasreen, 36, had spent weeks in intensive care with coronavirus, while Aimee O’Rourke, 39, died at the hospital where she worked.
“They were one of us, they were one of my profession, of the NHS family,” said Ms May. “I worry that there’s going to be more and I want to honour them today and recognise their service.”
Latest figures showed a further 684 people with the virus died in the UK, bringing the total to 3,605. There are 38,168 confirmed cases. In Scotland, the number of deaths has risen by 46, while in Wales a further 24 people died. In NI, the number of people who died with coronavirus has risen by 12.
Mr Hancock recently ended his seven days of self-isolation after contracting the virus – said: “We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die.
“I end with the advice we all know. This advice is not a request – it is an instruction.
“Stay at home, protect lives and then you will be doing your part.”
Mr Hancock also said the UK has set up three national clinical trials looking at how existing drugs can be altered to treat Covid19.
Hancock added that more patients are needed to volunteer to take part in the trials – but England’s deputy chief medical officer later clarified that people cannot apply themselves and it was up to doctors to refer patients.
REMEMBER NURSES
Ms May also appealed to the public to stay at home, saying: “This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out and enjoy those summer rays.”But please, I ask to remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them.
A number of people have defied the government’s instructions to stay at home, and have been found congregating in various places, forcing the police to intervene. Last week, The Eye Of Media.Com reported on a party that had to be split up in Coventry despite social distancing rules. A toddler was also present at the party. It remains to be seen how responsive the public are to this warning.