The corona crisis in the UK continues to worsen, with deaths reaching a sad record. Now the Queen speaks to the people.
- The corona virus * is also spreading in the UK.
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson is increasingly criticized for his decisions.
- The sister of a Covid-19 dead now directed an urgent appeal to the public.
- Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus and the previous Corona news from Great Britain. You will also find current case numbers worldwide and the latest developments in Germany.
Update 9:14 pm: In the middle of the Corona crisis , the Queen delivers one of her rare speeches. Elizabeth II thanks the nurses, but also the citizens who are staying at home these days. "If we stick together, we will make it," said the Queen on Sunday evening. It appeals to the British sense of community and speaks of a “strength” of the British that future generations will look back on.
Around the world, heartwarming actions are currently being seen to see how citizens come together and help each other. "It reminds me of the first broadcast I made in 1940 with the help of my sister," the Queen shares a very personal memory with the citizens. As children, the two princesses made a speech from the Kensington Palace, which was broadcast on the radio. They spoke to children who had to leave their homes due to the evacuation measures in World War II. "And were sent away for their safety. As then, many people today will find it painful to separate from their loved ones, ”said the Queen. "But today as then we know that it is the right measure."
Nevertheless, the current situation differs from everything that has existed before. Because you share the task with the whole world. "We'll make it," she said. "We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again", the Queen concludes her appeal to the British people to persevere.
Corona in Great Britain: Sad death record - now the Queen speaks to the British
Update 6:12 p.m .: While the Queen, who is otherwise otherwise reserved in political matters, will speak on Sunday evening, the top health expert of the Scottish government scored a violent own goal in the Corona crisis .
Catherine Calderwood admitted on Sunday that she drove to her family's country house on two consecutive weekends. Previously, the newspaper Scottish Sun had published photos of the expert from a popular destination on the coast. "I didn't follow the advice I gave to others," Calderwood said at a press conference. "I am very sorry."
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke out against Calderwood's resignation as Chief Medical Adviser. Calderwood offered to do whatever was in the country's interest, Sturgeon said. "In my view, that would not be your resignation," said the politicians.
The address can be followed live on the YouTube channel of the British royal family.
Corona in Great Britain: Sad death record - Queen turns to the people today with a speech
Update at 1:03 p.m .: Carrie Symonds , the pregnant fiancé of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , has reportedly spent a week in bed with Covid 19 symptoms . The 32-year-old former communications chief of the Conservative Party said on Saturday on her Twitter channel.
Although her fiancé Johnson is infected with Covid-19, she has not been tested . "After seven days of rest, I feel stronger and on the mend," says Symonds. She added that it is obviously worrying to be pregnant with Covid-19 . She also shared an online information brochure with her followers. "Please read and follow the latest guidelines, which I found very reassuring," she recommended to Twitter users.
Being pregnant with Covid-19 is obviously worrying. To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I found to be v reassuring: https://t.co/JPvIDeB3l6
- Carrie Symonds (@carriesymonds) April 4, 2020The effects of the coronavirus pandemic can be felt across Europe. However, one country does not want to know anything about it and denies Covid-19.
Update of April 5, 8.55 a.m .: The British are to face the Coronavirus pandemic with characteristic British self-discipline and quiet determination . Queen Elizabeth II (93) wants to call her people in a speech on Sunday evening. "I hope that in the coming years everyone can be proud of how they dealt with this challenge," the Queen will say in her speech to the British people and the Commonwealth.
This comes from excerpts of speech published in advance by Buckhingham Palace. The Queen's planned speech is seen by observers as a sign that the government is increasingly concerned about the rapidly increasing number of deaths from Covid-19.
Corona in the UK: 708 dead within 24 hours on Saturday
On Saturday, the UK Department of Health recorded 708 deaths, the highest number of deaths in a day . A total of 4,313 people in British hospitals have died of the new lung disease Covid-19, including a five-year-old child . According to media reports, he is said to be the youngest victim of the corona pandemic in Great Britain.
The Queen's speech will be broadcast this Sunday at 9 p.m. Central European Time (8 p.m. local time). The Queen would also thank the employees of the National Health Service NHS and other people who are particularly challenged in the crisis.
Update of April 4, 8:25 p.m .: Due to the terrible situation in Great Britain in the Corona crisis, Queen Elizabeth II announced that she would address her people in a speech on Sunday evening (9 p.m. Central European Time). In the 68-year term of office, the Queen only addressed her people three times in this way. The fourth speech by the 93-year-old monarch is recorded at Windsor Castle, where she currently resides.
Corona in Great Britain: Five-year-old child dies - Queen with speech
So far there have been three occasions for unscheduled speeches by the Queen : in 1991 she spoke to her people about the Gulf War, and in 1997 she also gave a speech on television after the death of Princess Diana. There was also a speech after her mother's death, "Queen Mom".
In her speech, the Queen wants to address the people of Great Britain and the 54-seed Commonwealth. The Queen usually gives a traditional Christmas address, otherwise she is reluctant to perform.
Update of April 4, 6:10 p.m .: As the British Secretary of State Michael Gove announced on Saturday at a press conference in London, a five-year-old child with pre-existing conditions died of Covid-19 in Great Britain. In Britain, the youngest fatality resulting from the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus was a 13-year-old.
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus deaths has risen rapidly over the course of the day. While there were 3,611 deaths on Saturday morning, there are now more than 4,300 (as of 6:08 p.m.).
The number of infected people has risen again. According to John Hopkins University , there are currently 42,433 cases.
Woman describes the tragic corona death of her brother - "Save yourself from the pain"
Update of April 4, 9:35 a.m .: 38,690 infected and 3,611 deaths - these are the current corona figures for Great Britain (source: Johns Hopkins University, status: 9:35 a.m.). One of the Covid-19 dead, the 65-year-old David Harris. In an emotional Facebook posting, his sister draws attention to her brother's fate - and at the same time makes an urgent appeal to the public.
Harris initially showed only mild corona symptoms last week. However, the Englishman calls an ambulance to clarify this. This takes him to the hospital, where he was immediately put into a coma , as his sister described on Facebook . The kidneys failed two days later and the lungs shortly thereafter. From then on, machines had to ventilate him artificially, Brokenshaw writes.
“This afternoon it was decided that the doctors could not do anything for him anymore and that he would not recover. Life support measures were discontinued and he died peacefully at 2:00 p.m., ”Harris' sister reported in her posting, which she wrote on March 25. She was preparing for a difficult time and emotionally said goodbye to her brother in her post. "He was a loving partner, father, brother, grandpa, uncle, great uncle and friend for so many," she wrote.
Particularly dramatic: No family member was allowed to be with Harris in his last hours. That would have contradicted the isolation rules for Covid 19 diseases, explains Brokenshaw. Then she calls on Facebook users to take action to combat the corona virus. “We are all required to abide by these rules. So make it easy! ”Writes the Englishwoman.
Corona: Sister of Covid-19 victims makes emotional appeal to English
And further: “Save yourself from the pain we are experiencing right now by sticking to it. My brother was not just a number in the statistics, ”she warns her readers and calls them to share their post in order to reach as many people as possible. The posting on Facebook met with a tremendous response: More than 267,000 people have now responded to Brokenshaw's call and shared the post .
Harris initially showed only mild corona symptoms last week. However, the Englishman calls an ambulance to clarify this. This takes him to the hospital, where he was immediately put into a coma , as his sister described on Facebook. The kidneys failed two days later, and his lungs shortly thereafter. From then had machines ventilate it artificially writes Brokenshaw.
Corona in the UK: David Harris died alone due to isolation rules
“This afternoon it was decided that the doctors could not do anything for him anymore and that he would not recover. Life support measures were discontinued and he died peacefully at 2:00 p.m., ”Harris' sister reported in her posting, which she wrote on March 25. She was preparing for a difficult time and emotionally said goodbye to her brother in her post. "He was a loving partner, father, brother, grandpa, uncle, great uncle and friend for so many," she wrote.
Particularly dramatic: No family member was allowed to be with Harris in his last hours. That would have contradicted the isolation rules for Covid 19 diseases, explains Brokenshaw. Then she calls on Facebook users to take action to combat the corona virus. “We are all required to abide by these rules. So make it easy! ”Writes the Englishwoman.
Corona: Sister of Covid-19 victims makes emotional appeal to English
And further: “Save yourself from the pain we are experiencing right now by sticking to it. My brother was not just a number in the statistics, ”she warns her readers and calls them to share their post in order to reach as many people as possible. The posting on Facebook met with a tremendous response: More than 267,000 people have now responded to Brokenshaw's call and shared the post .
Update of April 3, 10:25 p.m .: New horror figures on the corona pandemic * are also published every day in the United Kingdom . The UK Department of Health in London hit a new daily high . On Friday, 684 deaths were recorded within 24 hours, the death toll now stands at 3611, which means that the UK overtakes China, the country of origin, which currently has 3,326 deaths.
Update of April 3, 5:25 p.m .: A temporary hospital recently opened in London, which is designed for 4,000 patients. It was set up in a trade fair hall in just nine days, and Prince Charles inaugurated the so-called Nightingale Hospital by video message. The improvised hospital is named after the British founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale.
Video: Field hospital in London-Johnson has an increase
Corona crisis in Great Britain: new makeshift clinic opens in exhibition hall
The clinic is "a bright light in these dark times," said heir to the throne Prince Charles at the opening. Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son had tested positive for the coronavirus * and has already quarantined. In the UK, more than 2,900 people have died of Covid-19 lung disease, and authorities have more than 33,700 infections detected. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Minister Matt Hancock also tested positive for the novel corona virus.
The new NHS Nightingale Hospital in #London was built in just 9 days and has space for 4,000 #Corona patients.
Impressive. pic.twitter.com/LmtfFzZcgL
It is the first of several makeshift hospitals in the UK to treat coronavirus patients, serving 16,000 people. With 4000 beds, Nightingale Hospital can hold ten times more than the average British clinic.
Update of April 3, 2:45 p.m .: Due to the Corona crisis and the associated lower air traffic , London's Heathrow Airport will close one of its two runways from Monday . The measure is about increasing resilience and security for employees, passengers, and cargo during the Covid 19 outbreak, a spokesman for Europe's largest airport said late Thursday evening, according to a report by the PA news agency. The two runways would be used alternately weekly from Monday.
Even if there are significantly fewer flights worldwide, the airport will remain open, said the spokesman. It could continue to play an essential role in providing vital medical supplies and food for the country during this unprecedented pandemic.
Corona crisis in Great Britain: Heathrow and British Airways have responded to the corona crisis
In addition to those responsible at Heathrows Airport, British Airways has also responded to the effects of the corona crisis. The airline is now temporarily releasing 28,000 employees . This corresponds to 60 percent of the entire workforce, the union Unite announced on Thursday. However, there should not be any layoffs.
The airline and union agreed, according to Unite, to avail themselves of a UK government corona aid program that would continue to pay 80 percent of the salaries to the released employees. In addition, Unite announced that there would be no agreement on monthly salary caps, unpaid leave and layoffs during the crisis. The agreement has yet to be approved by British Airways union members.
Update of April 2, 9:00 p.m .: Due to the rise in corona infections *, the British government has announced that it will increase its test capacities . The number of daily tests is to be increased to 100,000 a day by the end of the month. Britain's Health Minister Matt Hancock said this at a press conference in London on Thursday. All types of tests are included in the number.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he wants to introduce "100,000 tests per day by the end of this month"
"It is a war of which all of humanity is on the same side ... we will prevail" https://t.co/CULJJ9fUjX pic.twitter.com/qptYeHF8ea
Corona in England: lack of tests to be remedied - over 500 deaths in one day
The announced test offensive in London was, however, received with skepticism by the journalists, since current efforts have so far been slow. Great Britain is far behind other countries in the number of tests. In the country as a whole, around 163,000 people were tested for the coronavirus * by Thursday. Around 918,000 tests have been carried out in Germany so far last week. Hancock himself had been infected with the novel virus and had come into public view for the first time at that press conference.
The UK saw an increase in deaths from Covid-19 to 2921 , with Thursday's 569 deaths registered . Almost 34,000 people have been tested positive for the virus so far, actual numbers are likely to be higher due to the lack of tests.
Corona crisis in Great Britain: severe criticism of Johnson
First announcement of April 2: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under increasing pressure to deal with the Corona crisis. Critics accuse the British government, among other things, that far too few corona tests are carried out and that thousands of ventilators for the Covid 19 * lung sufferers are still missing. In the British media, the Johnson government is accused of serious strategy deficiencies .
Corona in England: Boris Johnson is under massive pressure
According to this, 550,000 employees of the state health service NHS (National Health Service), for example, only tested the corona pathogen in 2000. The statistics on the tests * are a humiliation for government officials, media commented. Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director for public health in England, criticized BBC on Thursday: "Everyone involved is frustrated." Johnson said on Wednesday night in a video message via Twitter that the number of tests will increase massively must.
Here's an update to bring you up to speed on some of the things that we are doing to protect our NHS.
We will beat coronavirus together by staying at home, protecting our NHS and saving lives. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/FOYfvzlQPC
The government's announcements and reality are also far apart when it comes to procuring ventilators. The order for several thousand devices was actually announced. A BBC spokeswoman is now clearly surprised to read a government announcement that a consortium of companies had produced 30 new devices, reports ntv .
Coronavirus in England: doctors have to decide who is ventilated
In the meantime, clinicians have also been given instructions to decide, in view of the scarce resources, in which patients it is worth using a ventilator - and who cannot be ventilated. As a result, doctors in England, like previously in Italy *, have to make the decision about life and death - a so-called triage *.
British Medical Association (BMA) ethics committee chief John Chisholm said: "Nobody wants to make such decisions, but when resources are overwhelming, those decisions have to be made."
British media - including conservatives - consistently criticized the government's lack of strategy on its front pages on Thursday. The Independent newspaper headlined "Questions, but no answers", the Times wrote about "chaos in plans for virus tests" and the Daily Mail about a "test scandal".
In Bavaria, too, the number of corona cases that open in Bavaria's hospitals is increasing. Both in the intensive care units and overall. Siegfried Hasenbein, the managing director of the Bavarian Hospital Association (BKG), is now warning of a lack of protective equipment *. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a virologist wants to track down the number of unreported cases *. A case in China puzzles the researchers because of the course of the disease - was it a mutation?
rjs / dpa
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network
