NHS warns "we are not out of the woods yet" as spread of Covid-19 cases slows in Northamptonshire

NHS warns "we are not out of the woods yet" as spread of Covid-19 cases slows in Northamptonshire NHS chiefs are warning Northamptonshire is "not out of the woods yet" despite a slow-down in the spread of Covid-19 cases.

Public Health England figures revealed the number of known cases in the county was 170 as at 9am yesterday (Tuesday March 31).

The increase of 17 cases in the previous 24 hours was the lowest daily rise in a week, mirroring what is going on across the UK. Daventry Express

See also: 

• Coronavirus: Northamptonshire sisters start 'good news' letter BBC Northampton 
• Two more Covid-19 deaths takes total to eight in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Meet little Millie from Corby one of UK's first lockdown babies born on night new rules enforced Northamptonshire Telegraph

First new ventilators to roll off production line this weekend as industry answers call to step up manufacturing

First new ventilators to roll off production line this weekend as industry answers call to step up manufacturing The first devices from the Government’s ventilator challenge will roll off the production line this weekend, ahead of delivery to the NHS next week, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove has announced today. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Joint statement on advance care planning BMA, Care Quality Commission and the Royal College of General Practitioners
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to the Care Act 2014 Department of Health and Social Care
• Care Act easements: guidance for local authorities Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS frontline workers visas extended so they can focus on fighting coronavirus Home Office
• Responding to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak The King's Fund
• New advice for safe funerals after discussions with faith leaders Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for care of the deceased Public Health England
• Covid-19: return-to-practice learning plan MIMS Learning
• Automatic NHS visa extensions a welcome step from Government NHS Employers 
• Mental health and psychosocial considerations during Covid-19 outbreak World Health Organization

Coronavirus: Potential drug treatment starts UK trials

Coronavirus: Potential drug treatment starts UK trials A drug that could help treat coronavirus is to be trialled on a small number of patients in England and Scotland.

The studies, which have been fast-tracked by the government, will initially involve 15 NHS centres.

In the absence of a known treatment for the virus, a handful of experimental drugs are being tested globally.

The drug, known as remdesivir, is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Gilead. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: GP surgery apology over 'do not resuscitate' form BBC News
• Coronavirus: Transforming London's ExCeL centre into Nightingale hospital BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Greatest test since World War Two', says UN chief BBC News
• Coronavirus: Hospitals urged to use lab space to test NHS staff BBC News
• Coronavirus: Are loss of smell and taste key symptoms? BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK considers virus-tracing app to ease lockdown BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Death toll hits with 2,352 with 563 new deaths The Daily Mail
• GP surgery sends out letter asking terminally ill patients to sign DNR notices The Daily Mail
• UK coronavirus cases could number 1.8MILLION, scientists say The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Formerly healthy boy, 13, is youngest to die The Daily Mail
• Social distancing is helping to reduce number of coronavirus cases, suggests fever map The Daily Mail
• GPs barred from speaking out about PPE shortages GPonline
• Doctors will have to choose who gets life-saving treatment. Here's how we'll do it | John Chisholm The Guardian
• Hancock orders all spare coronavirus tests to be used for NHS staff The Guardian
• 'Green shoots' visible in UK's fight against Covid-19, says Powis The Guardian
• More orders for NHS ventilators take number to 61,000 The Guardian 
• 'We're at risk, just like doctors': the NHS staff fighting coronavirus behind the scenes The Guardian
• Coronavirus UK: Nurse's devastating account from NHS frontline Metro