Kanat Al Thuraya, as the season is called, is expected to last till June 7
uae4 hours ago
We have never needed and valued our National Health Service (NHS), and its acclaimed free primary care system, more in the United Kingdom than we do now in the midst of one of the most deadly pandemics in history.
No wonder people all over the country came out of their houses at 8pm on Thursday, March 26 and again on Thursday, April 2 to give rousing rounds of applause to our heroic healthcare workers.
The task facing the NHS, which was founded in 1948 and helped breathe life into Britain's post-war rebuilding programme, is a Herculean one. And that's putting it mildly.
The UK government is braced for 80 per cent of the population, 53 million people, to contract the coronavirus in a worst-case scenario.
Up to 5 per cent of those to get it could be critical cases, which represents 2.6 million people.
Covid-19 are cases are surging daily, with the UK death toll standing at 2,352 on Wednesday, to put a massive burden on Intensive Care Units. British ministers are therefore for ever reiterating the mantra of 'Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save lives' at every daily briefing.
Two weeks ago, UK had just over 4,000 intensive care beds, 2.1 per 1,000 people, much lower than Germany and France. Around four in five of these beds were occupied, although strenuous efforts have been made to increase supply.
Most critically ill patients will require ventilators, but there were just 5,000 available at the beginning of March. There are currently around 8,000 ventilators in use.
The first batch of British-made ventilators will be rolled out to the NHS next week, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, said on Tuesday. He also said that ventilators have been bought in from abroad to tackle the pandemic.
How they will be manned remains uncertain, however.
Non-intensive care specialists are to join forces with specialists in a relaxation of staffing regulations, and staff-to-patient ratios may also need to be diminished.
Non-emergency operations are being cancelled
All routine operations, such as hip and knee replacements, are being cancelled for three months from April.
Many patients who do not require urgent medical attention are being discharged from hospital.
Last Friday, the head of the NHS in England, Sir Simon Stevens, said: "We have reconfigured hospital services so that 33,000 hospital beds are available to treat further coronavirus patients."
Retired staff and volunteers mobilised
Some 20,000 former NHS staff, most of whom had retired, have answered desperate pleas to return to work.
More than 18,700 student nurses and 5,500 final year medics will also galvanise the NHS workforce.
Us Brits are an altruistic bunch in a crisis and this was exemplified earlier this month after Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, urged 250,000 NHS volunteers to deliver food and medicines.
Within days, 750,000 people had offered their services.
...and a few miles away over at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, lots of clapping too! A fantastic boost for staff #ClapForOurCarers ?????? pic.twitter.com/Oea50AA9j4Voluntary endeavours, which began this week, will focus on supporting the 1.5 million highly vulnerable people who have been told to self-isolate.
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT (@LivHospitals) April 2, 2020
Kanat Al Thuraya, as the season is called, is expected to last till June 7
uae4 hours ago
The National Centre of Meteorology has issued an advisory, forecasting heavy rains and unstable weather conditions in the country
uae4 hours ago
Nadal's reward is a last-16 clash with the 30th-seeded Jiri Lehecka
tennis9 hours ago
Other focal points showcased the partnership between the DP World Tour and the Emirates Golf Federation
sports10 hours ago
The American pays tribute to mentor and good friend Mickelson following the success Down Under
sports11 hours ago
UAE claimed an emphatic 10-wicket victory over the Netherlands
cricket11 hours ago
The match was a complete contrast to the previous game at the venue when Punjab Kings chased down an IPL record of 262 on another hot day
cricket11 hours ago
Total consolidated revenue rose 64% to Dh148.1 million
markets12 hours ago