(27 Mar 2020) The UK government on Friday confirmed plans to build two more temporary hospitals, in addition to one already in construction in east London, in an effort to fight the new coronavirus outbreak.
The announcement came in a news conference led by senior government minister Michael Gove, and the Chief Executive of NHS (UK National Health Service) England, Simon Stevens, after it was announced UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock had tested positive for the new virus.
The hospitals, named NHS Nightingale hospitals, will constructed within the Manchester Central Convention Centre, and the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre, adding to the hospital in the ExCel Centre in London's Canning Town.
The hospitals are being built to add to the 33,000 hospital beds that have been made available via NHS restructuring as a part of the response to the virus outbreak.
All will start with the capacity of 500 beds, but Stevens said that figure can be expanded to 4,000 if necessary.
In addition, the NHS will be rolling out testing for its staff, including critical nurses and intensive care workers, as well as emergency departments and ambulance services - with plans to expand to public service workers such as those in social care.
On the announcement that both Johnson and Hancock had tested positive, Gove said the diagnoses were proof that "the virus does not discriminate."
"We are all at risk and that is why it is so important that we practise social distancing measures", Gove said.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
