news--2020-02-09--Fourth UK coronavirus case confirmed as evacuation plane lands in UK

Another patient has tested positive for coronavirus in England , bringing the total number of UK cases to four , the chief medical officer has said .
The individual had also been to the French Alps where another five Britons contracted the virus from a British man who caught the illness in Singapore .
Professor Chris Whitty said the new case is a known contact of a previously confirmed UK case and the virus was passed on in France .
He said : `` Experts at Public Health England continue to work hard tracing patient contacts from the UK cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensured the appropriate support was provided .
`` The patient has been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at The Royal Free Hospital , and we are now using robust infection control measures to prevent any possible further spread of the virus . ''
Mr Whitty added that the NHS is `` extremely well prepared '' to manage the virus cases and treat them .
It also emerged on Sunday that a British man tested positive for coronavirus in Majorca , according to Spain 's National Centre for Microbiology .
French senior health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak in a televised statement .
`` We learned that there were two other cases linked to this cluster , two adults - one who was diagnosed in the United Kingdom and the other who was diagnosed in Mallorca . ''
Both , he said , were `` linked to a stay in the apartment in Les Contamines-Montjoie '' .
• British man tests positive for coronavirus in Majorca - becoming second confirmed case in Spain • Five British nationals diagnosed with coronavirus after staying at French ski resort • New UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in Singapore • Second evacuation plane lands in UK from Wuhan , China , carrying 200 passengers • British ambassador admits mistakes in evacuation of Britons from Wuhan This patient was also at the Les Contamines-Montjoie resort where five people were diagnosed with the virus .
He and three family members were taken into observation in Majorca on Friday .
His wife and daughters tested negative for the illness .
It is the second case of the fast-spreading new virus to be confirmed in Spain and the first on the island of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving a Briton emerged after an evacuation flight out of the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak , landed in the UK on Sunday morning .
The death toll in China from the coronavirus has risen to 910 , surpassing SARS fatalities in the 2002-2003 outbreak .
The plane had more than 200 people on board , including non British nationals , the British government said .
The passengers also included British government staff and military medics and arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Sunday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to board the flight after they initially failed a temperature checks , although later checks were normal .
One of them , Josh Skarratts , told Sky News : `` Now we are stranded in Wuhan having missed the last plane out of Wuhan and our last means of evacuation . ''
South Central Ambulance Service said Kents Hill Park - a conference centre and hotel - is being used to house the returnees and they will be quarantined for two weeks .
Eight coaches took the evacuees to the site , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue scrubs , gloves and masks as they arrived at around 10.30 GMT .
The ambulance service said the presence of the group in Milton Keynes would not be a risk to local people .
The passengers will be assessed and continually monitored after landing in the UK .
Anyone displaying symptoms would not have been permitted to board the plane .
Officials said that anyone developing symptoms on the flight would have been taken to a separate cabin on the plane .
And any passenger displaying symptoms on landing would be transferred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the British ambassador to China has admitted mistakes in the evacuation of Britons from Wuhan .
Dame Barbara Woodward told Sky News ' Tom Cheshire that people `` got the wrong information '' in the initial evacuation flight last week but that the Foreign Office had `` learnt the lessons from that '' .
She said that the UK had been giving aid to China , including medical supplies , but the offer of experts had not been accepted by Chinese authorities .
`` So far the Chinese have n't taken that up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the offer is absolutely on the table . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' The first group of Britons who returned on a flight last month are currently quarantined at Arrow Park in Merseyside .
Outside China , there are 288 cases of the virus in 24 countries , with one death , according to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) .
The French health minister said on Saturday that five Britons , including a nine-year-old child , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after staying in a chalet in the Alps .
The infected Britons are not in a serious condition and were taken to hospitals in Lyon , Saint-Etienne and Grenoble along with six other British nationals who came into contact with the carrier .
It also emerged on Saturday that the carrier came into contact with a student at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy ( PACA ) in Brighton , who was later told to self-isolate for 14 days following advice from Public Health England .
Elsewhere , British honeymooner Alan Steele , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hospital in Japan with the virus was said to be feeling well and in good spirits .
The liner had been isolated in the port of Yokohama before going back out to sea , with 61 people taken to hospital after testing positive for the virus .
As of 2pm on Sunday , the Department of Health said 795 people had been tested for the virus in the UK , with four cases confirmed .
The two Britons first diagnosed with the virus had recently travelled from China and are still being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases centre in Newcastle .
One is a student at the University of York , while the other is a family member .
There have been more than 37,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in China , according to official data , while the virus has spread to at least 27 other countries and regions , infecting more than 330 people .

Another patient has tested positive for coronavirus in England, bringing the total number of UK cases to four, the chief medical officer has said.
The individual had also been to the French Alps where another five Britons contracted the virus from a British man who caught the illness in Singapore.
Professor Chris Whitty said the new case is a known contact of a previously confirmed UK case and the virus was passed on in France.
He said: "Experts at Public Health England continue to work hard tracing patient contacts from the UK cases. They successfully identified this individual and ensured the appropriate support was provided.
"The patient has been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at The Royal Free Hospital, and we are now using robust infection control measures to prevent any possible further spread of the virus."
Mr Whitty added that the NHS is "extremely well prepared" to manage the virus cases and treat them.
It also emerged on Sunday that a British man tested positive for coronavirus in Majorca, according to Spain's National Centre for Microbiology.
French senior health official Jerome Salomon confirmed the origin of the outbreak in a televised statement.
"We learned that there were two other cases linked to this cluster, two adults - one who was diagnosed in the United Kingdom and the other who was diagnosed in Mallorca."
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Both, he said, were "linked to a stay in the apartment in Les Contamines-Montjoie".
The latest key points on UK coronavirus cases:
Fourth person in England tests positive for coronavirus
British man tests positive for coronavirus in Majorca - becoming second confirmed case in Spain
Five British nationals diagnosed with coronavirus after staying at French ski resort
New UK cases linked to British man who contracted virus in Singapore
Second evacuation plane lands in UK from Wuhan, China, carrying 200 passengers
British ambassador admits mistakes in evacuation of Britons from Wuhan
This patient was also at the Les Contamines-Montjoie resort where five people were diagnosed with the virus.
He and three family members were taken into observation in Majorca on Friday. His wife and daughters tested negative for the illness.
It is the second case of the fast-spreading new virus to be confirmed in Spain and the first on the island of Majorca.
News of the latest case involving a Briton emerged after an evacuation flight out of the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, landed in the UK on Sunday morning.
Image: The evacuation flight was carrying more than 200 passengers from China
The death toll in China from the coronavirus has risen to 910, surpassing SARS fatalities in the 2002-2003 outbreak.
The plane had more than 200 people on board, including non British nationals, the British government said.
The passengers also included British government staff and military medics and arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Sunday morning.
Two British nationals were not allowed to board the flight after they initially failed a temperature checks, although later checks were normal.
One of them, Josh Skarratts, told Sky News: "Now we are stranded in Wuhan having missed the last plane out of Wuhan and our last means of evacuation."
South Central Ambulance Service said Kents Hill Park - a conference centre and hotel - is being used to house the returnees and they will be quarantined for two weeks.
Eight coaches took the evacuees to the site, where they were met by NHS staff in blue scrubs, gloves and masks as they arrived at around 10.30 GMT.
Image: Josh Skarratts was not allowed to board the second evacuation flight to the UK
The ambulance service said the presence of the group in Milton Keynes would not be a risk to local people.
The passengers will be assessed and continually monitored after landing in the UK.
Anyone displaying symptoms would not have been permitted to board the plane.
Officials said that anyone developing symptoms on the flight would have been taken to a separate cabin on the plane.
And any passenger displaying symptoms on landing would be transferred to an NHS hospital.
Image: Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes will be used to house the returnees
Meanwhile, the British ambassador to China has admitted mistakes in the evacuation of Britons from Wuhan.
Dame Barbara Woodward told Sky News' Tom Cheshire that people "got the wrong information" in the initial evacuation flight last week but that the Foreign Office had "learnt the lessons from that".
She said that the UK had been giving aid to China, including medical supplies, but the offer of experts had not been accepted by Chinese authorities.
"So far the Chinese haven't taken that up," she said. "But the offer is absolutely on the table."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker"
The first group of Britons who returned on a flight last month are currently quarantined at Arrow Park in Merseyside.
Outside China, there are 288 cases of the virus in 24 countries, with one death, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:56 The coronavirus epidemic has been declared a public health emergency of international concern, but what does this mean?
The French health minister said on Saturday that five Britons, including a nine-year-old child, had been tested positive for coronavirus in France after staying in a chalet in the Alps.
Image: A general view shows the French Alpine resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie, France, where five British nationals were diagnosed with coronavirus
The infected Britons are not in a serious condition and were taken to hospitals in Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Grenoble along with six other British nationals who came into contact with the carrier.
It also emerged on Saturday that the carrier came into contact with a student at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) in Brighton, who was later told to self-isolate for 14 days following advice from Public Health England.
Image: A Brighton student has been told to self-isolate. Pic: PACA
Elsewhere, British honeymooner Alan Steele, who was transferred from the cruise liner Diamond Princess to hospital in Japan with the virus was said to be feeling well and in good spirits.
The liner had been isolated in the port of Yokohama before going back out to sea, with 61 people taken to hospital after testing positive for the virus.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:13 Alan Steele is first named British person to carry coronavirus
As of 2pm on Sunday, the Department of Health said 795 people had been tested for the virus in the UK, with four cases confirmed.
The two Britons first diagnosed with the virus had recently travelled from China and are still being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary infectious diseases centre in Newcastle.
One is a student at the University of York, while the other is a family member.
Image: Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province
There have been more than 37,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in China, according to official data, while the virus has spread to at least 27 other countries and regions, infecting more than 330 people.


news--2020-02-09--Coronavirus: 'Gutted' Briton says he was not allowed to leave Wuhan because of two jackets

Josh Skarratts , who lives in the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak , was hoping to be back in the UK by now .
His name was on a list of more than 200 Britons and foreign nationals who were evacuated out of Wuhan on a plane chartered by the UK government .
But the comedy club owner 's hopes of leaving the city this weekend were dashed - because of his clothing , he says .
Here is his account of what happened : I feel let down and quite a bit gutted to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and evacuated - but at the very last moment being rejected because of failing one temperature check .
I was taken to the airport by a friend after we got a special pass to be allowed to drive on the roads because without that documentation you can lose your licence .
I managed to get my boarding pass at the airport and then got to the customs area before the authorities thought it was a good idea to get my temperature checked and they took my passport .
Then they put a thermometer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a hoodie and another jacket at the time , which in retrospect was a little bit stupid .
The luggage requirements meant I was able to take 15kg of hand luggage only .
Because it 's quite cold in England now and I wanted to be prepared , I decided to wear both my jackets .
However , my temperature was 37.5C , which authorities deemed was too high for me to fly .
They asked me to sign a form saying I consented to be kept in quarantine in China but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted my temperature to be checked again .
I had three more readings which were 36.8C , 36.6C and 37C - in the normal range for the human body .
But because the authorities in China only take the highest temperature as the basis for their flight decision , they said it was too high for me to be allowed to get on the plane .
I was told by British authorities that my name had been removed from the manifest .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's quite a difficult pill to swallow when you know the exact reason why you were n't allowed on the plane could have been avoided .
When you come that close to getting out of the danger zone and then at the very last moment you get told you 're not it 's quite heart-wrenching to be honest .
I was telling my family and my friends that I was coming back .
I was looking forward to seeing everybody .
But I 'm still here - and all because of two jackets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of here goes to Barbados or somewhere else warm because I do n't want to have to wear to jackets !
I was then taken by ambulance back to my apartment , and I asked the doctors in the vehicle if they had been busy .
He said they were not as busy as before , which I think is a good sign .
Now I am back in my apartment waiting for the next chance to get on a plane .
I feel fine .
I just have a bit of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two jackets , was also not allowed on the flight because of his high temperature and he stayed at my apartment overnight before making his way to his own place a couple of hours drive from Wuhan .
I 'm confident that the Foreign Office and the British Embassy will help me and the other British national to get out of Wuhan .
It currently feels like when you 're driving a car you 've just missed the green light and you 're waiting for the next green light .
Now you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front and just waiting for it to go green - but it 's a very long red light .
I 'm fairly certain I 'm not going to catch the coronavirus because of the precautions that I take .
I was speaking to my father last night and obviously he was quite upset and irate about the situation .
He also called the Foreign Office and they assured him that me and the other British national will be the first on the list for any other possible flights .
From what we understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British flights out of here - but they will try to put us on any other plane out of here whether it be another French one , Filipino one , or South African one .
There 's still quite a lot of foreigners here and a lot of them still want to evacuate .
I gave quite a lot of food supplies away to a friend before I went to the airport so my supplies are quite low but I still have enough rice and pasta for a couple of weeks .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supermarket .
Employees there are wearing full hazmat suits , checking temperatures of everybody going in and making sure they wash their hands before they go in and then before they come out with hand sanitisers .
When you see that , you do worry a bit - but then you realise they are taking the necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of infection and it 's relieving in a way to see that it 's been taken in such a serious way .
I do n't think the coronavirus is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If anything it 's going to make them stronger .
It 's similar to how Manchester dealt with their terrorist attack in 2017 and it will be something that we look at as a dark part of our history but it brought us closer together afterwards and made us stronger .
Although I am able to go outside , a friend of mine has a relative who is not so lucky .
The family member lives in a building where one person has been diagnosed with coronavirus .
So the whole building has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each apartment is allowed to leave and only for food supply runs .
And there 's a doctor that is going to every single apartments every single day to check everybody .
The residents are not allowed to leave without specific permission from the local authorities there - so I imagine it can get pretty serious in that situation .

Josh Skarratts, who lives in the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, was hoping to be back in the UK by now.
His name was on a list of more than 200 Britons and foreign nationals who were evacuated out of Wuhan on a plane chartered by the UK government. But the comedy club owner's hopes of leaving the city this weekend were dashed - because of his clothing, he says.
Here is his account of what happened:
I feel let down and quite a bit gutted to get so close to being on the plane and evacuated - but at the very last moment being rejected because of failing one temperature check.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:25 Briton blocked from boarding flight in Wuhan
I was taken to the airport by a friend after we got a special pass to be allowed to drive on the roads because without that documentation you can lose your licence.
I managed to get my boarding pass at the airport and then got to the customs area before the authorities thought it was a good idea to get my temperature checked and they took my passport.
Then they put a thermometer underneath my armpits.
But I was wearing a hoodie and another jacket at the time, which in retrospect was a little bit stupid.
The luggage requirements meant I was able to take 15kg of hand luggage only.
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Because it's quite cold in England now and I wanted to be prepared, I decided to wear both my jackets.
However, my temperature was 37.5C, which authorities deemed was too high for me to fly.
They asked me to sign a form saying I consented to be kept in quarantine in China but I would not sign it as I wanted my temperature to be checked again.
I had three more readings which were 36.8C, 36.6C and 37C - in the normal range for the human body.
But because the authorities in China only take the highest temperature as the basis for their flight decision, they said it was too high for me to be allowed to get on the plane.
I was told by British authorities that my name had been removed from the manifest.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
It's quite a difficult pill to swallow when you know the exact reason why you weren't allowed on the plane could have been avoided.
When you come that close to getting out of the danger zone and then at the very last moment you get told you're not it's quite heart-wrenching to be honest.
I was telling my family and my friends that I was coming back. I was looking forward to seeing everybody.
But I'm still here - and all because of two jackets.
I hope the next plane out of here goes to Barbados or somewhere else warm because I don't want to have to wear to jackets!
I was then taken by ambulance back to my apartment, and I asked the doctors in the vehicle if they had been busy.
He said they were not as busy as before, which I think is a good sign.
Image: Mr Skarratts filmed his journey to the airport, where motorways were empty
Now I am back in my apartment waiting for the next chance to get on a plane. I feel fine. I just have a bit of a headache.
Another British national, wearing two jackets, was also not allowed on the flight because of his high temperature and he stayed at my apartment overnight before making his way to his own place a couple of hours drive from Wuhan.
I'm confident that the Foreign Office and the British Embassy will help me and the other British national to get out of Wuhan.
It currently feels like when you're driving a car you've just missed the green light and you're waiting for the next green light.
Now you're at the red light right at the front and just waiting for it to go green - but it's a very long red light.
I'm fairly certain I'm not going to catch the coronavirus because of the precautions that I take.
I was speaking to my father last night and obviously he was quite upset and irate about the situation. He also called the Foreign Office and they assured him that me and the other British national will be the first on the list for any other possible flights.
Image: The plane has landed at RAF Brize Norton from Wuhan in China
From what we understand there won't be any other exclusively British flights out of here - but they will try to put us on any other plane out of here whether it be another French one, Filipino one, or South African one.
There's still quite a lot of foreigners here and a lot of them still want to evacuate.
I gave quite a lot of food supplies away to a friend before I went to the airport so my supplies are quite low but I still have enough rice and pasta for a couple of weeks.
And I am allowed to go to the supermarket.
Image: Mr Skarratts was taken by ambulance back to his apartment after being prevented from flying
Employees there are wearing full hazmat suits, checking temperatures of everybody going in and making sure they wash their hands before they go in and then before they come out with hand sanitisers.
When you see that, you do worry a bit - but then you realise they are taking the necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of infection and it's relieving in a way to see that it's been taken in such a serious way.
I don't think the coronavirus is going to break the people of Wuhan. If anything it's going to make them stronger.
It's similar to how Manchester dealt with their terrorist attack in 2017 and it will be something that we look at as a dark part of our history but it brought us closer together afterwards and made us stronger.
Although I am able to go outside, a friend of mine has a relative who is not so lucky.
The family member lives in a building where one person has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
So the whole building has been quarantined and only one person from each apartment is allowed to leave and only for food supply runs.
And there's a doctor that is going to every single apartments every single day to check everybody.
The residents are not allowed to leave without specific permission from the local authorities there - so I imagine it can get pretty serious in that situation.


news--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: US deaths linked to disease now exceed China

The number of people who have died in the US after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 3,393 , surpassing China 's 3,305 reported fatalities .
It comes after governor Andrew Cuomo announced the number of fatalities across New York state linked to COVID-19 had increased by 332 to 1,550 since Monday .
The total number of cases in the state , he said , now stands at almost 80,000 .
More than 163,000 cases have been recorded in the country overall , according to the Center for Disease Control ( CDC ) .
Johns Hopkins University , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts the overall number at just over 175,000 .
Only Spain , with 8,189 , and Italy , with 12,428 , have recorded more deaths among countries that have the illness , according to Reuters .
Globally , more than 39,000 people have died since the pandemic began in China late last year , while there are more than 800,000 cases in all .
Mr Cuomo , whose brother , Chris , a presenter on CNN , has tested positive for the coronavirus , announced that he has ordered 17,000 ventilators from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) each .
Two hundred and fifty more ambulances and 500 paramedics and emergency medical technicians ( EMTs ) are headed to the city to help manage record numbers of calls for help but Mr Cuomo said the city needed up to a million extra workers .
As the city , the US epicentre of the outbreak , announced its first coronavirus death of someone under 18 years old , a temporary hospital set up in a convention centre has begun accepting patients .
A Navy hospital ship is expected to start taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob Javits Convention Center and the USNS Comfort are designed to take pressure off New York City hospitals as coronavirus cases spike .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker The company said several of its hospitals - including Long Island Jewish Medical Center , Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson and Glen Cove Hospital , are at or near capacity .
`` We 're still going up the mountain .
The main battle is at the top of the mountain , the apex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that the apex is between seven and 21 days away .
Mr Cuomo said it was `` unclear '' when life will return to normal , and that he did not feel comfortable laying out a timeline .
In a sign of the impact on the economy , 1.2 million calls were made to the state 's unemployment administration on Monday , compared with an average of 50,000 calls a week prior to the outbreak , an official said .
One of the New Yorkers who has died after contracting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dr James Goodrich .
He died on Monday after suffering complications related to COVID-19 .
On Monday , US President Donald Trump said coronavirus deaths in the US are expected to peak in two weeks , while his top scientific adviser , Dr Anthony Fauci , warned the outbreak could kill up to 200,000 Americans .
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci told Sky News the coronavirus outbreak had been `` an unusual crisis for this president '' .
Mr Trump , he said , `` tries to go to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Garden and yell out fake science '' .
`` But the numbers were overwhelming '' , forcing him to listen , the former aide said , to senior advisers such as Dr Fauci .
`` He [ Mr Trump ] was n't able to curve the reality of the science to what he wanted it to be , '' Mr Scaramucci said .

The number of people who have died in the US after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 3,393, surpassing China's 3,305 reported fatalities.
It comes after governor Andrew Cuomo announced the number of fatalities across New York state linked to COVID-19 had increased by 332 to 1,550 since Monday.
The total number of cases in the state, he said, now stands at almost 80,000.
Image: Mr Cuomo said the apex of the number of cases is 'seven to 21 days away'
More than 163,000 cases have been recorded in the country overall, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Johns Hopkins University, which is compiling the data on cases, puts the overall number at just over 175,000.
Only Spain, with 8,189, and Italy, with 12,428, have recorded more deaths among countries that have the illness, according to Reuters.
Globally, more than 39,000 people have died since the pandemic began in China late last year, while there are more than 800,000 cases in all.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:16 1,000-bed hospital ship arrives in NYC
Mr Cuomo, whose brother, Chris, a presenter on CNN, has tested positive for the coronavirus, announced that he has ordered 17,000 ventilators from China, costing around $25,000 (£20,000) each.
Two hundred and fifty more ambulances and 500 paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are headed to the city to help manage record numbers of calls for help but Mr Cuomo said the city needed up to a million extra workers.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:03 Explainer: How to self-isolate
As the city, the US epicentre of the outbreak, announced its first coronavirus death of someone under 18 years old, a temporary hospital set up in a convention centre has begun accepting patients.
A Navy hospital ship is expected to start taking patients from today. Beds at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and the USNS Comfort are designed to take pressure off New York City hospitals as coronavirus cases spike.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
The company said several of its hospitals - including Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson and Glen Cove Hospital, are at or near capacity.
"We're still going up the mountain. The main battle is at the top of the mountain, the apex of the curve," he said, adding that the apex is between seven and 21 days away.
Mr Cuomo said it was "unclear" when life will return to normal, and that he did not feel comfortable laying out a timeline.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:02 Lockdown: The dos and don'ts
In a sign of the impact on the economy, 1.2 million calls were made to the state's unemployment administration on Monday, compared with an average of 50,000 calls a week prior to the outbreak, an official said.
One of the New Yorkers who has died after contracting the illness was revealed to be world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr James Goodrich. He died on Monday after suffering complications related to COVID-19.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said coronavirus deaths in the US are expected to peak in two weeks, while his top scientific adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, warned the outbreak could kill up to 200,000 Americans.
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci told Sky News the coronavirus outbreak had been "an unusual crisis for this president".
Mr Trump, he said, "tries to go to a microphone in the White House or the Rose Garden and yell out fake science".
"But the numbers were overwhelming", forcing him to listen, the former aide said, to senior advisers such as Dr Fauci.
"He [Mr Trump] wasn't able to curve the reality of the science to what he wanted it to be," Mr Scaramucci said.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Temperature reading glasses tested in China

Glasses that claim to be able to measure people 's temperature are being tested in China to identify people with the coronavirus .
The invention , which could help tackle COVID-19 , was developed by Rokid Inc , a Chinese company which specialises in artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies for gaming and manufacturing .
According to the company 's vice president , Xiang Wenjie , demand for the glasses - which were developed in only two weeks - is rising .
A thousand units of the T1 glasses have already been sold to governments , industrial parks and schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , T1 can provide portable , distant and prompt temperature checking , which would be a great help , '' Mr Xiang said .
They are equipped with an infrared sensor and camera to allow the wearer to `` see '' people 's temperatures , and will soon be upgraded to take multiple temperature readings simultaneously .
Measuring temperatures from a distance has become a crucial tool in efforts to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus .
Heathrow Airport in London is to try out temperature screening technology to monitor people moving through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Temperature screening is already being used in some other airports - Hong Kong is even testing out cleaning robots and a full-body disinfectant booth said to sanitise passengers ' bodies and clothes in 40 seconds .
Rokid says its upgraded glasses will be used in airports as well as shopping malls to take temperature readings at the same time .
The company says it is now is upgrading the T1 to take temperature readings simultaneously in these public places .

Glasses that claim to be able to measure people's temperature are being tested in China to identify people with the coronavirus.
The invention, which could help tackle COVID-19, was developed by Rokid Inc, a Chinese company which specialises in artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies for gaming and manufacturing.
According to the company's vice president, Xiang Wenjie, demand for the glasses - which were developed in only two weeks - is rising.
A thousand units of the T1 glasses have already been sold to governments, industrial parks and schools.
"Apart from fixed temperature measurement, T1 can provide portable, distant and prompt temperature checking, which would be a great help," Mr Xiang said.
They are equipped with an infrared sensor and camera to allow the wearer to "see" people's temperatures, and will soon be upgraded to take multiple temperature readings simultaneously.
Measuring temperatures from a distance has become a crucial tool in efforts to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.
Image: Heathrow is monitoring passengers' temperatures
Heathrow Airport in London is to try out temperature screening technology to monitor people moving through the airport for signs of coronavirus.
Temperature screening is already being used in some other airports - Hong Kong is even testing out cleaning robots and a full-body disinfectant booth said to sanitise passengers' bodies and clothes in 40 seconds.
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Rokid says its upgraded glasses will be used in airports as well as shopping malls to take temperature readings at the same time.
The company says it is now is upgrading the T1 to take temperature readings simultaneously in these public places.


news--2020-05-06--Coronavirus: Convalescent plasma trials begin for COVID-19 treatment

Trials to treat COVID-19 using the blood plasma from those who have already recovered from the illness have begun .
The first 14 units of convalescent plasma from former coronavirus patients have been supplied to three NHS trusts , and transfusions have already taken place .
The trial will aim to look at the effectiveness of the plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 , with more hospitals taking part in the test over the coming months .
Convalescent plasma is rich in antibodies from those who have already tested positive , and then recovered from coronavirus , and can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop their own immune system 's response .
The NHS is also increasing its capacity to collect the plasma from the public , so it can be used on a mass scale should it prove successful in helping patients .
There is some evidence that people will benefit , but its safety and effectiveness has to be confirmed before it can be used more widely .
Gail Miflin , chief medical officer for NHS Blood and Transplant , said : `` We 're delighted the first patients are receiving convalescent plasma transfusions thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 're carrying out a clinical trial to see how effective transfusions are and we wish every patient well .
Several hospitals are already taking part and this number will quickly grow as more people become eligible to donate plasma .
`` Plasmapheresis donation is new to NHSBT but we 're quickly increasing appointments and we 've taken more than 400 donations so far .
`` We 're rapidly building collection capacity so that if our trial shows the transfusions are effective , we can supply hospitals at a large scale .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the moment and we 're expanding to all 23 of our donor centres , and some new venues in large cities .
`` We 're using NHS data to contact people with a positive test result who live near our donor centres .
People who have recovered can also give us their details at nhsbt.nhs.uk .
`` Plasma donation is safe and easy and you could save lives - if you get the call , please donate . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 43 , has been part of the trial and said : `` Donating my plasma was a fantastic experience .
The staff here at Birmingham Donor Centre have been very friendly and I have been very well looked after .
`` I had COVID-19 six weeks ago .
I had body aches , fever and fatigue , and a positive test result .
`` I wanted to do something to potentially help others and to help develop a treatment .
`` I am a chest doctor at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe end of it .
`` It 's been a pretty nasty illness .
It 's made a lot of people very ill and unfortunately some people have not survived .
It 's good to be able to try help by donating plasma too . ''
If people have recovered from COVID-19 and they are willing to donate , they can provide details through a form on the NHSBT website , www.nhsbt.nhs.uk .

Trials to treat COVID-19 using the blood plasma from those who have already recovered from the illness have begun.
The first 14 units of convalescent plasma from former coronavirus patients have been supplied to three NHS trusts, and transfusions have already taken place.
The trial will aim to look at the effectiveness of the plasma as a treatment for COVID-19, with more hospitals taking part in the test over the coming months.
Image: Convalescent plasma is being given out in a trial. Pic: NHS
Convalescent plasma is rich in antibodies from those who have already tested positive, and then recovered from coronavirus, and can be given to those who are struggling to develop their own immune system's response.
The NHS is also increasing its capacity to collect the plasma from the public, so it can be used on a mass scale should it prove successful in helping patients.
There is some evidence that people will benefit, but its safety and effectiveness has to be confirmed before it can be used more widely.
Gail Miflin, chief medical officer for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We're delighted the first patients are receiving convalescent plasma transfusions thanks to the generosity of our donors.
"We're carrying out a clinical trial to see how effective transfusions are and we wish every patient well. Several hospitals are already taking part and this number will quickly grow as more people become eligible to donate plasma.
"Plasmapheresis donation is new to NHSBT but we're quickly increasing appointments and we've taken more than 400 donations so far.
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Image: The plasma is taken from recovered COVID-19 patients. Pic: NHS
"We're rapidly building collection capacity so that if our trial shows the transfusions are effective, we can supply hospitals at a large scale.
"We are collecting in nine cities at the moment and we're expanding to all 23 of our donor centres, and some new venues in large cities.
"We're using NHS data to contact people with a positive test result who live near our donor centres. People who have recovered can also give us their details at nhsbt.nhs.uk.
"Plasma donation is safe and easy and you could save lives - if you get the call, please donate."
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Dr Abhi Lal, 43, has been part of the trial and said: "Donating my plasma was a fantastic experience. The staff here at Birmingham Donor Centre have been very friendly and I have been very well looked after.
"I had COVID-19 six weeks ago. I had body aches, fever and fatigue, and a positive test result.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:00 Could donated plasma could treat COVID-19?
"I wanted to do something to potentially help others and to help develop a treatment.
"I am a chest doctor at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. I look after people at the severe end of it.
"It's been a pretty nasty illness. It's made a lot of people very ill and unfortunately some people have not survived. It's good to be able to try help by donating plasma too."
If people have recovered from COVID-19 and they are willing to donate, they can provide details through a form on the NHSBT website, www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Trump calls outbreak worse 'attack' than 9/11 and Pearl Harbor

US President Donald Trump has called the coronavirus outbreak the `` worst attack '' on the US , saying the outbreak had affected the country more than Pearl Harbor or 9/11 .
Mr Trump has doubled down on his criticism of China over the outbreak , and said that the COVID-19 pandemic is the `` enemy '' .
He told White House reporters on Wednesday evening : `` We went through the worst attack we 've ever had on our country , this is worst attack we 've ever had .
`` This is worse than Pearl Harbor , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's never been an attack like this .
`` And it should have never happened .
Could 've been stopped at the source .
Could 've been stopped in China .
It should 've been stopped right at the source .
And it was n't . ''
The president added : `` I view the invisible enemy as a war .
I do n't like how it got here , because it could have been stopped , but no , I view the invisible enemy like a war . ''
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on China , with the president and his secretary of state , Mike Pompeo even claiming they have evidence the virus was developed in a lab in Wuhan , China - a claim the Chinese government flatly denies .
Mr Pompeo later admitted he is not certain that COVID-19 came from a Wuhan lab .
The Chinese government responded to the latest comments by Mr Trump saying the enemy the US is facing is the virus - not China .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the US have died with coronavirus - the highest death toll in the world , while more than 1.2 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 , according to Johns Hopkins University By comparison , the attack on Pearl Harbor claimed the lives of more than 2,000 American troops , with the September 11 attacks in 2001 killing almost 3,000 citizens .
In January , Mr Trump praised his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over his handling of the outbreak , but has since made a full U-turn on his comments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the president .

US President Donald Trump has called the coronavirus outbreak the "worst attack" on the US, saying the outbreak had affected the country more than Pearl Harbor or 9/11.
Mr Trump has doubled down on his criticism of China over the outbreak, and said that the COVID-19 pandemic is the "enemy".
He told White House reporters on Wednesday evening: "We went through the worst attack we've ever had on our country, this is worst attack we've ever had.
"This is worse than Pearl Harbor, this is worse than the World Trade Center. There's never been an attack like this.
"And it should have never happened. Could've been stopped at the source. Could've been stopped in China. It should've been stopped right at the source. And it wasn't."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:24 Trump heartland split over COVID-19 response
The president added: "I view the invisible enemy as a war. I don't like how it got here, because it could have been stopped, but no, I view the invisible enemy like a war."
Mr Trump's administration has blamed the outbreak on China, with the president and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo even claiming they have evidence the virus was developed in a lab in Wuhan, China - a claim the Chinese government flatly denies.
Mr Pompeo later admitted he is not certain that COVID-19 came from a Wuhan lab.
The Chinese government responded to the latest comments by Mr Trump saying the enemy the US is facing is the virus - not China.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
More than 73,000 people in the US have died with coronavirus - the highest death toll in the world, while more than 1.2 million people have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University
By comparison, the attack on Pearl Harbor claimed the lives of more than 2,000 American troops, with the September 11 attacks in 2001 killing almost 3,000 citizens.
In January, Mr Trump praised his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over his handling of the outbreak, but has since made a full U-turn on his comments, in what is a crucial election year for the president.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Uber plunges to $2.9bn loss but 'encouraged' as lockdowns ease

Uber has reported a loss of $ 2.9bn ( £2.3bn ) for the first quarter as the coronavirus took its toll , but said it saw encouraging signs in markets beginning to open up after lockdowns .
The Silicon Valley firm said its ride-hailing business had been `` hit hard by the ongoing pandemic '' , though its smaller Uber Eats division was buoyed by a surge in food deliveries .
Uber 's results come a day after it announced that it was to cut 3,700 jobs as the coronavirus had resulted in a slump in ride bookings .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , as chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said bookings in the US started to recover last week as some states reopen following lockdowns .
Mr Khosrowshahi said : `` While our rides business has been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic , we have taken quick action to preserve the strength of our balance sheet , focus additional resources on Uber Eats , and prepare us for any recovery scenario .
`` Along with the surge in food delivery , we are encouraged by the early signs we are seeing in markets that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The bulk of Uber 's quarterly losses came from a $ 2.1bn ( £1.7bn ) writedown on the value of the company 's overseas investments including in Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi and Singapore-based Grab , as demand collapsed in the markets where they operate .
Uber has been battling to turn its rapid expansion into underlying profits by the end of this year but last month abandoned its guidance on annual financial results due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19 pandemic .
The company 's loss of $ 2.9bn for the January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three times worse than the $ 1bn ( £800m ) loss reported a year earlier .
Revenues from ride hailing in the latest quarter were up 2 % to $ 2.47bn ( £1.97bn ) - though that was more than 18 % down on the October to December period .
Uber Eats grew on both measures , with its revenue of $ 819m ( £652m ) up 53 % compared to last year , though the pace of that expansion was slower than in the fourth quarter .

Uber has reported a loss of $2.9bn (£2.3bn) for the first quarter as the coronavirus took its toll, but said it saw encouraging signs in markets beginning to open up after lockdowns.
The Silicon Valley firm said its ride-hailing business had been "hit hard by the ongoing pandemic", though its smaller Uber Eats division was buoyed by a surge in food deliveries.
Uber's results come a day after it announced that it was to cut 3,700 jobs as the coronavirus had resulted in a slump in ride bookings.
But shares rose in after-hours trading following latest results, as chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said bookings in the US started to recover last week as some states reopen following lockdowns.
Mr Khosrowshahi said: "While our rides business has been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic, we have taken quick action to preserve the strength of our balance sheet, focus additional resources on Uber Eats, and prepare us for any recovery scenario.
"Along with the surge in food delivery, we are encouraged by the early signs we are seeing in markets that are beginning to open back up."
Image: Uber Eats has enjoyed a surge in growth
The bulk of Uber's quarterly losses came from a $2.1bn (£1.7bn) writedown on the value of the company's overseas investments including in Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi and Singapore-based Grab, as demand collapsed in the markets where they operate.
Uber has been battling to turn its rapid expansion into underlying profits by the end of this year but last month abandoned its guidance on annual financial results due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
The company's loss of $2.9bn for the January to March period this year is nearly three times worse than the $1bn (£800m) loss reported a year earlier.
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Revenues from ride hailing in the latest quarter were up 2% to $2.47bn (£1.97bn) - though that was more than 18% down on the October to December period.
Uber Eats grew on both measures, with its revenue of $819m (£652m) up 53% compared to last year, though the pace of that expansion was slower than in the fourth quarter.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus lockdown changes will be 'modest' and 'small', says Dominic Raab

The public have been told not to expect widespread changes to the coronavirus lockdown in England when Boris Johnson addresses the nation this weekend .
Speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said any short term changes to the coronavirus measures will be `` modest , small , incremental and very carefully monitored '' .
In response to a question from Sky 's political editor Beth Rigby , he added : `` If we find in the future the R level [ the rate of infection ] goes back up or that people are n't following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability then to put back measures in place . ''
Mr Raab also said the existing rules would continue to apply over the bank holiday weekend .
He added : `` For the moment it is really important , particularly as people look towards a warm bank holiday weekend , that we continue to follow the guidance in place at this time . ''
A total of 30,615 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus , with the UK having the highest recorded death toll in Europe .
The lockdown was introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of COVID-19 .
By law it must be reviewed every three weeks , with the latest deadline falling on Thursday .
The prime minister will set out how some of the measures will be eased on Sunday evening , with some changes potentially taking effect as early as Monday .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker But people have been warned not to expect a widespread relaxation of the rules , with Downing Street insisting that the alterations will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's spokesman said the PM would use `` maximum caution '' when starting to ease some of the strict social distancing measures .
`` We are at a critical moment in the fight against the virus and we will not do anything that risks the progress the British public has made , '' he told journalists earlier on Thursday .
The comments came after a number of newspaper front pages ran with headlines featuring phrases like `` lockdown freedom beckons '' and `` first steps to freedom '' , raising fears of mixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the changes , the PM is preparing to amend the `` stay at home '' slogan and relax the one form of exercise a day limit .
With summer approaching , he may give the go-ahead to picnics , trips to the park and outings in the countryside .
But English primary schools are unlikely to re-open until the end of May , secondary schools not before the end of June and it could be the end of August before pubs and restaurants open their doors again .
Mr Raab said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` contains appropriate measures to be taken at appropriate milestones , subject to very clear conditions '' .
`` There will be detailed guidance to help inform , advise and reassure the public , businesses and other organisations , '' the foreign secretary said .
`` To get this right , we have set milestones .
Some changes can confidently be introduced more quickly than others and some of those other ones will take longer to introduce . ''
The UK government has stressed that it wants all parts of the UK to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But leaders of the devolved administrations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to take their own decisions and could decide to move at a different pace .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the lockdown `` must be extended '' in Scotland and warned that she would not be `` pressured '' by Westminster into easing restrictions `` prematurely '' .
The Welsh government has said speculation on how lockdown measures could be lifted in England risked sending `` mixed messages '' to people in other parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold a news conference at 12.30pm on Friday to set out his government 's next steps with the lockdown .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party supported a continuation of the lockdown and urged people to stick to the rules over the weekend .
`` The health and safety of the nation has to come first and therefore we can not lift these restrictions until we 're clear that the infection is under control , '' he said .
Asked if he thought there had been mixed messages from the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be absolute clarity that we all must follow the rules until lockdown is lifted .
`` It does n't mean we ca n't discuss what comes next , but we 've got to follow those rules . ''
Acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said there were `` serious questions about the consequences of any significant relaxation '' of the lockdown and called for ministers to publish their evidence for making any changes .

The public have been told not to expect widespread changes to the coronavirus lockdown in England when Boris Johnson addresses the nation this weekend.
Speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said any short term changes to the coronavirus measures will be "modest, small, incremental and very carefully monitored".
In response to a question from Sky's political editor Beth Rigby, he added: "If we find in the future the R level [the rate of infection] goes back up or that people aren't following the rules, we must have the ability then to put back measures in place."
Image: Boris Johnson will address the nation on Sunday evening
Mr Raab also said the existing rules would continue to apply over the bank holiday weekend.
He added: "For the moment it is really important, particularly as people look towards a warm bank holiday weekend, that we continue to follow the guidance in place at this time."
A total of 30,615 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, with the UK having the highest recorded death toll in Europe.
The lockdown was introduced on 23 March to try to contain the spread of COVID-19.
By law it must be reviewed every three weeks, with the latest deadline falling on Thursday.
The prime minister will set out how some of the measures will be eased on Sunday evening, with some changes potentially taking effect as early as Monday.
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But people have been warned not to expect a widespread relaxation of the rules, with Downing Street insisting that the alterations will be "very limited".
Mr Johnson's spokesman said the PM would use "maximum caution" when starting to ease some of the strict social distancing measures.
"We are at a critical moment in the fight against the virus and we will not do anything that risks the progress the British public has made," he told journalists earlier on Thursday.
The comments came after a number of newspaper front pages ran with headlines featuring phrases like "lockdown freedom beckons" and "first steps to freedom", raising fears of mixed messages confusing the public.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:36 Starmer on UK deaths: 'How did it come to this?'
As part of the changes, the PM is preparing to amend the "stay at home" slogan and relax the one form of exercise a day limit.
With summer approaching, he may give the go-ahead to picnics, trips to the park and outings in the countryside.
But English primary schools are unlikely to re-open until the end of May, secondary schools not before the end of June and it could be the end of August before pubs and restaurants open their doors again.
Mr Raab said the government's roadmap for the next phase "contains appropriate measures to be taken at appropriate milestones, subject to very clear conditions".
"There will be detailed guidance to help inform, advise and reassure the public, businesses and other organisations," the foreign secretary said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 7:37 Scotland lockdown 'must be extended'
"To get this right, we have set milestones. Some changes can confidently be introduced more quickly than others and some of those other ones will take longer to introduce."
The UK government has stressed that it wants all parts of the UK to move together in easing the lockdown.
But leaders of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to take their own decisions and could decide to move at a different pace.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the lockdown "must be extended" in Scotland and warned that she would not be "pressured" by Westminster into easing restrictions "prematurely".
The Welsh government has said speculation on how lockdown measures could be lifted in England risked sending "mixed messages" to people in other parts of the UK.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 12:18 The UK government is 'failing to test people'
First Minister Mark Drakeford will hold a news conference at 12.30pm on Friday to set out his government's next steps with the lockdown.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party supported a continuation of the lockdown and urged people to stick to the rules over the weekend.
"The health and safety of the nation has to come first and therefore we cannot lift these restrictions until we're clear that the infection is under control," he said.
Asked if he thought there had been mixed messages from the government, Sir Keir said: "There needs to be absolute clarity that we all must follow the rules until lockdown is lifted.
"It doesn't mean we can't discuss what comes next, but we've got to follow those rules."
Acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said there were "serious questions about the consequences of any significant relaxation" of the lockdown and called for ministers to publish their evidence for making any changes.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Government blames test target failure on 'technical issues' in labs

The government has blamed `` technical issues '' in labs for its failure to reach its coronavirus test target for four consecutive days .
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said the problems were `` not hugely surprising '' given how fast testing has been scaled up .
He did not spell out exactly what the issues were but admitted `` there has been a bit of a drop off in the tests in the last couple of days '' .
COVID-19 test numbers stood at 69,463 in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday - well short of the 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ease the UK 's lockdown .
Downing Street said technical issues in one of the testing labs had contributed to this low number of tests .
The prime minister 's spokesman said : `` Yesterday 's figures reflect some particular technical issues which affected the number of samples which were processed over the proceeding 24 hours .
`` These were issues which arose in a single lab .
We 've worked to resolve them and capacity is being rapidly restored . ''
Speaking later at the daily COVID-19 briefing , Foreign Secretary Dominic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday .
The only two days the government claimed to have met its target were 1 and 2 May - the days immediately after the deadline imposed by the health secretary .
But critics point out these figures included tests posted out rather than actually used , and those with return delivery errors people have been advised to bin .
When the stark fall in the number of tests was revealed at the Downing Street daily news conference on Wednesday , Public Health England 's medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
She spent a matter of seconds discussing the slide showing the latest figures before moving swiftly on .
`` This is a whole new venture - a massive expansion in what we can do in terms of diagnostic tests in this country , '' Mr Lewis told Sky News ’ Kay Burley @ Breakfast .
`` I think all the organisations and people involved in doing that have done a phenomenal job with a new virus and a new test going from scratch to where we are . ''
The Independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff and patients at hospitals and GP surgeries because of a shortage of vital chemicals .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to increase the number of coronavirus tests available to 200,000 a day by the end of May .
More and more people are also now eligible to ask for the tests - after those reserved just for NHS staff were not all taken up .

The government has blamed "technical issues" in labs for its failure to reach its coronavirus test target for four consecutive days.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said the problems were "not hugely surprising" given how fast testing has been scaled up.
He did not spell out exactly what the issues were but admitted "there has been a bit of a drop off in the tests in the last couple of days".
Image: Brandon Lewis said the testing issue was 'not hugely surprising'
COVID-19 test numbers stood at 69,463 in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday - well short of the 100,000 a day ministers say are necessary to ease the UK's lockdown.
Downing Street said technical issues in one of the testing labs had contributed to this low number of tests.
The prime minister's spokesman said: "Yesterday's figures reflect some particular technical issues which affected the number of samples which were processed over the proceeding 24 hours.
"These were issues which arose in a single lab. We've worked to resolve them and capacity is being rapidly restored."
Speaking later at the daily COVID-19 briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab revealed some 86,583 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday.
The only two days the government claimed to have met its target were 1 and 2 May - the days immediately after the deadline imposed by the health secretary.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:14 Drop in COVID-19 tests skimmed over in govt briefing
But critics point out these figures included tests posted out rather than actually used, and those with return delivery errors people have been advised to bin.
When the stark fall in the number of tests was revealed at the Downing Street daily news conference on Wednesday, Public Health England's medical director Yvonne Doyle skirted quickly over the issue.
She spent a matter of seconds discussing the slide showing the latest figures before moving swiftly on.
"This is a whole new venture - a massive expansion in what we can do in terms of diagnostic tests in this country," Mr Lewis told Sky News’ Kay Burley@Breakfast.
"I think all the organisations and people involved in doing that have done a phenomenal job with a new virus and a new test going from scratch to where we are."
The Independent reported widespread testing has been suspended for staff and patients at hospitals and GP surgeries because of a shortage of vital chemicals.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to increase the number of coronavirus tests available to 200,000 a day by the end of May.
More and more people are also now eligible to ask for the tests - after those reserved just for NHS staff were not all taken up.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Criminals advertising fake masks and testing kits to locked-down Britons

Adverts for fake coronavirus masks , testing kits and vaccines are among a new explosion of emails targeting locked-down Britons .
In the past fortnight 160,000 suspect emails have been reported to the UK 's National Cyber Security Centre ( NCSC ) , part of the government 's GCHQ intelligence agency .
In a war on cyber criminals , the agency has taken down more than 300 bogus websites , including those with mock-ups of official sites .
In one email , scam victims are asked to give personal and banking details so they can claim an unspecified government refund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must provide details that can `` be verified against the same set of information '' to update their TV licensing system .
Ciaran Martin , chief executive of the NCSC , said : `` This really is a phenomenal response from the British public .
I would like to thank them for embracing our reporting service as well as the many organisations which have promoted it .
`` While cyber criminals continue to prey on people 's fears , the number of scams we have removed in such a short timeframe shows what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fighting back .
`` I would urge people to remain vigilant and to forward suspect emails to us .
If it looks too good to be true , it probably is . ''
The flood of reports comes after the agency urged the public last month to alert it to potential scams via report @ phising.gov.uk .
In one day alone , 10,000 suspect emails were passed on after the reporting system was featured on a popular financial advice TV show .
The system , developed with the City of London Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offers analysis of new trends in cyber crime .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Commander Karen Baxter , the force 's national fraud lead , said : `` While the world is coming together to combat this global health crisis , criminals are intent on exploiting our unease , anxiety and vulnerabilities in these unprecedented times .
`` The fact the public have taken the opportunity to fight back and show these criminals how unacceptable this is , is fantastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime .
The more the police know about fraud , and fraud attempts , the better chance they have of tracking down those responsible and bringing them to justice . ''

Adverts for fake coronavirus masks, testing kits and vaccines are among a new explosion of emails targeting locked-down Britons.
In the past fortnight 160,000 suspect emails have been reported to the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the government's GCHQ intelligence agency.
In a war on cyber criminals, the agency has taken down more than 300 bogus websites, including those with mock-ups of official sites.
Image: One of the adverts offering a fake testing kit
In one email, scam victims are asked to give personal and banking details so they can claim an unspecified government refund.
In another they are told they must provide details that can "be verified against the same set of information" to update their TV licensing system.
Image: One scam is aimed at TV licence renewal
Ciaran Martin, chief executive of the NCSC, said: "This really is a phenomenal response from the British public. I would like to thank them for embracing our reporting service as well as the many organisations which have promoted it.
"While cyber criminals continue to prey on people's fears, the number of scams we have removed in such a short timeframe shows what a vital role the public can play in fighting back.
Image: One email asks for details to claim an unspecified government refund
"I would urge people to remain vigilant and to forward suspect emails to us. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
The flood of reports comes after the agency urged the public last month to alert it to potential scams via report@phising.gov.uk.
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In one day alone, 10,000 suspect emails were passed on after the reporting system was featured on a popular financial advice TV show.
The system, developed with the City of London Police, promises to take down dubious websites and offers analysis of new trends in cyber crime.
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Commander Karen Baxter, the force's national fraud lead, said: "While the world is coming together to combat this global health crisis, criminals are intent on exploiting our unease, anxiety and vulnerabilities in these unprecedented times.
"The fact the public have taken the opportunity to fight back and show these criminals how unacceptable this is, is fantastic.
"Fraud is an incredibly under-reported crime. The more the police know about fraud, and fraud attempts, the better chance they have of tracking down those responsible and bringing them to justice."


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: 'Nothing has bound the planet together quite so much, whilst also separating us'

Coronavirus is out there all on its own .
There 's been nothing like it .
And it compares to no other journalistic challenge .
Certainly nothing I 've reported on in more than 30 years comes close to how this virus has enveloped the entire planet and affected everybody I know , no matter where they are .
I 've been stunned at receiving worried messages from far-flung fixers , producers , camera crews and friends I 've worked with in all corners of the world I 've reported from .
My friend in a Syrian refugee camp wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my dear friend and former producer in India called , texted and WhatsApped .
My workmates from the Democratic Republic of Congo alongside those in Zimbabwe , Zambia , South Africa , Hong Kong , Pakistan , Afghanistan and South America sent their caring inquiries and prayers .
Yes .
Imagine that .
A friend from YEMEN , one of the poorest countries in the world , texting me to ask if my family and I are OK and safe in BRITAIN , a rich , first-world country , with a solid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
It has been both staggering and humbling - and it has also shown how connected we all are , how this virus has bound us all together in a common understanding that 's utterly incomparable .
I do a privileged job .
And it 's one I absolutely love .
I 've adored it since I first started out as a trainee reporter on a local British weekly newspaper when I was just 18 years old .
As a foreign correspondent , I 've spent the best part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's hotspots , being shot at , bombed and shelled .
My team and I reported on the outbreak of ebola in west Africa as well as the start of the coronavirus spread in Hong Kong in January .
I 've been lucky enough to have a front row seat as a journalist to some of the most searing and seminal events over the past twenty years and I 've felt nothing but gratitude for the opportunities I 've been given to be that witness to them .
It 's been heartbreaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake up still , feeling so damned lucky to do this job .
Now please bear with me while I give you some background .
For the past 15 years or so , I 've lived with my family outside Britain .
We 've travelled around together as a family from Delhi to Dubai , South Africa and now we 're based in Istanbul in Turkey .
My job generally involves kissing them goodbye , closing the door and getting on a plane knowing they are safe at home whilst I do my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm back with them again .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker But coronavirus has changed everything for everyone - including journalists .
We were lucky to be able to fly away from Sierra Leone and Liberia where ebola was claiming so many lives .
We left Hong Kong behind midway through January and went back home having spoken to some of their top epidemiologists who warned us of how deadly and dangerous coronavirus was .
We saw the Hong Kong people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bleach and how every public area was cleaned , sprayed and wiped down with disinfectant .
That was JANUARY !
Since then though , the world has changed beyond recognition .
Now , no family is safe .
No home is entirely secure .
There is no street where you can safely say coronavirus is n't lurking .
There appears to be no country which is immune .
On top of that , the worldwide slamming shut of borders to stop the march of this deadly virus has seen the separation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My colleagues - cameraman Kevin Sheppard and producer Stephanie De Groote - and I were called back from Turkey to Britain to cover the spread of the virus in anticipation of it hitting the UK hard .
I left Istanbul and half my family behind bound for Britain just as the prime minister was announcing lockdown in the UK on 24 March .
We arrived at Istanbul airport in the early morning only to find it virtually mothballed .
The cavernous thoroughfares in one of the biggest airports in the world were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shops were shut and the large duty-free outlets seemed to be wrapped in clingfilm .
The thousands of flights normally operating from the airport had mostly been cancelled .
Three were displaying on the boards that morning - to Baku , Sarajevo and London .
A few days earlier , I 'd tried to persuade my three older children studying at university in Britain to return to be with us in Turkey .
`` We 'll think about it Mum , '' they said .
`` It seems fine here . ''
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boarded the plane at Istanbul wearing masks and gloves to find every single passenger was doing the same including the entire flight crew and captain .
We landed four hours later in lockdown London in a capital and country which appeared to be in denial .
I saw no-one wearing masks .
In fact , we stood out in ours as we headed to an Airbnb where we decided we 'd stay so we could operate as a 'household ' team for the duration .
We knew we 'd be meeting COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and virus hotspots , so we needed to distance ourselves from colleagues and any relatives back in UK .
Little did we realise we 'd still be here six weeks later , still in the Airbnb with no prospect of returning to Turkey and home any time soon .
We focused on Warrington in northwest England because few areas outside of London and the big cities appeared to be getting much attention .
Warrington Hospital is n't a huge , shiny London or Glasgow hospital with all the latest equipment and resources that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ command .
But to us , it represented perhaps the majority in UK - medium-sized with a workforce drawn mostly from the surrounding areas .
And yet we were stunned by the fortitude of the people inside and out , coping with quite unprecedented events .
Nothing seems to have bound the planet together quite so much as coronavirus whilst also separating us .
It has tested the human spirit , but the human spirit we saw , has also astounded .
Of course , it 's been different all over the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singapore and New York can not be compared with the Democratic Republic of Congo .
Warrington probably can not be compared with any other UK town .
Every experience will be different but it also , seems to me , be the same .
It 's based on the same fears , the same sense of loss , the same feeling of danger and despair .
We met ordinary people in Warrington doing some extraordinary things in the face of fear , panic and , let 's not swerve it , the sheer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw doctors and nurses working all hours and being innovative and in some cases , ingenious .
When they realised early on that their COVID patients were faring much better if they were kept OFF ventilators , they switched tactics .
That meant trying to clear the patients ' airways , support their breathing in other , less traumatically invasive ways .
But the hospital only had little more than a handful of sophisticated Continuous Positive Airways Pressure ( CPAP ) machines , but the smallness of their medical teams meant they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why not use the black boxes used to treat sleeping disorders ?
`` There was suddenly a worldwide demand for CPAP , '' Dr Mark Forrest said , `` and whilst there were plans to produce many more of them in UK we needed them now , not in a few hours , weeks or months ' time . ''
The medical teams realised they had dozens of smaller , less sophisticated versions of CPAP machines in the store of the sleeping disorder clinic and in the community .
They rounded them up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and oxygen - and suddenly they 'd increased the numbers of patients they could treat by about 600 % .
It meant suddenly they were seeing a lot more people leave intensive care after being treated with their modified black boxes - as well as many more NOT having to 'step up ' into ICU at all .
As Dr Forrest told us : `` We 're not the brainiest , we 're not the best , we 're just doing what we can . ''
The smallness of their teams seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them more agile , quicker to make decisions , more able to coordinate and cooperate .
But we also saw the community outside the hospital pulling together .
Hidden in a trading estate on the outskirts of the town , we saw the town 's Sikh community turning up at five o'clock in the morning to spend at least four hours making hundreds and hundreds of free meals which they took to the hospital to feed the health workers on shift , every weekend .
We talked to family-run undertakers who spoke of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pick up bodies from care homes and in the community .
They told us of their disbelief at the official figures , how their experience suggested the death toll was probably double what 's being reported .
And how they felt it was their duty and honour to provide as caring and memorable a send-off as possible for those lost at any time , but especially now during these coronavirus times .
We also spoke to many survivors too .
These were people bound by one overriding emotion , the sheer horror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they felt they were staring him in the face , convinced their lives were over .
One 32-year-old mother wrote letters to all her three children saying goodbye whilst waiting for the ambulance to take her hospital .
Julia Cotter was so certain she was dying , she scribbled notes so her kids `` would have something to remember her by '' .
She told them how she loved them , how proud she was of them and how she `` could n't wish for better children '' .
Every one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help but be moved .
Her mother Kath was in tears hearing the letter Julia had left for the nurses who 'd saved her life .
She wrote : `` Your management , I hope can see how you are taking broken , frightened people who have accepted that their time is here and spinning that round to give them a second chance , a whole extra go at life . ''
Other survivors too spoke of `` getting a second chance '' .
Donna Wall , a 47-year-old mother of two told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted again .
This virus has turned so much upside down .
Maybe forever .
But it 's brought some inspirational people to the fore and in every corner of the world that you look at , in all this despair and sometimes overwhelmingly pain , there are folk just striving to do good and coping against all the odds .
Coronavirus : The Home Front - Sky News foreign correspondent Alex Crawford returns to the UK to report on the impact of coronavirus through the eyes of a hospital and town in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sky Atlantic at 10pm tonight and on Sky News at 7pm tomorrow

Coronavirus is out there all on its own. There's been nothing like it. And it compares to no other journalistic challenge.
Certainly nothing I've reported on in more than 30 years comes close to how this virus has enveloped the entire planet and affected everybody I know, no matter where they are.
I've been stunned at receiving worried messages from far-flung fixers, producers, camera crews and friends I've worked with in all corners of the world I've reported from.
Image: Alex Crawford has reported from all over the world including Libya
My friend in a Syrian refugee camp wrote to me, fixers from Yemen texted, my dear friend and former producer in India called, texted and WhatsApped.
My workmates from the Democratic Republic of Congo alongside those in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Afghanistan and South America sent their caring inquiries and prayers.
Image: Special correspondent Alex Crawford in South Sudan
Yes. Imagine that. A friend from YEMEN, one of the poorest countries in the world, texting me to ask if my family and I are OK and safe in BRITAIN, a rich, first-world country, with a solid infrastructure and a health service envied around the world.
It has been both staggering and humbling - and it has also shown how connected we all are, how this virus has bound us all together in a common understanding that's utterly incomparable.
I do a privileged job. And it's one I absolutely love. I've adored it since I first started out as a trainee reporter on a local British weekly newspaper when I was just 18 years old.
Image: Sky News crew narrowly escapes missile fire in Idlib
As a foreign correspondent, I've spent the best part of the last two decades being sent around the world's hotspots, being shot at, bombed and shelled.
Advertisement
My team and I reported on the outbreak of ebola in west Africa as well as the start of the coronavirus spread in Hong Kong in January.
Image: The team covered the ebola outbreak in west Africa
I've been lucky enough to have a front row seat as a journalist to some of the most searing and seminal events over the past twenty years and I've felt nothing but gratitude for the opportunities I've been given to be that witness to them. It's been heartbreaking at times, traumatic too but I wake up still, feeling so damned lucky to do this job.
Now please bear with me while I give you some background. For the past 15 years or so, I've lived with my family outside Britain. We've travelled around together as a family from Delhi to Dubai, South Africa and now we're based in Istanbul in Turkey. My job generally involves kissing them goodbye, closing the door and getting on a plane knowing they are safe at home whilst I do my job and count the days until I'm back with them again.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
But coronavirus has changed everything for everyone - including journalists. We were lucky to be able to fly away from Sierra Leone and Liberia where ebola was claiming so many lives.
We left Hong Kong behind midway through January and went back home having spoken to some of their top epidemiologists who warned us of how deadly and dangerous coronavirus was. We saw the Hong Kong people rushing out to buy masks and gloves and bleach and how every public area was cleaned, sprayed and wiped down with disinfectant. That was JANUARY!
Image: Alex Crawford was in Hong Kong in January as the territory locked down
Since then though, the world has changed beyond recognition. Now, no family is safe. No home is entirely secure. There is no street where you can safely say coronavirus isn't lurking. There appears to be no country which is immune.
On top of that, the worldwide slamming shut of borders to stop the march of this deadly virus has seen the separation of friends and family all over the planet.
My colleagues - cameraman Kevin Sheppard and producer Stephanie De Groote - and I were called back from Turkey to Britain to cover the spread of the virus in anticipation of it hitting the UK hard.
I left Istanbul and half my family behind bound for Britain just as the prime minister was announcing lockdown in the UK on 24 March.
We arrived at Istanbul airport in the early morning only to find it virtually mothballed. The cavernous thoroughfares in one of the biggest airports in the world were virtually empty. The clothes and trinket shops were shut and the large duty-free outlets seemed to be wrapped in clingfilm.
The thousands of flights normally operating from the airport had mostly been cancelled. Three were displaying on the boards that morning - to Baku, Sarajevo and London. A few days earlier, I'd tried to persuade my three older children studying at university in Britain to return to be with us in Turkey. "We'll think about it Mum," they said. "It seems fine here." How wrong we all were.
My team boarded the plane at Istanbul wearing masks and gloves to find every single passenger was doing the same including the entire flight crew and captain. We landed four hours later in lockdown London in a capital and country which appeared to be in denial. I saw no-one wearing masks. In fact, we stood out in ours as we headed to an Airbnb where we decided we'd stay so we could operate as a 'household' team for the duration.
We knew we'd be meeting COVID-19 patients, survivors and probably going into hospitals and virus hotspots, so we needed to distance ourselves from colleagues and any relatives back in UK. Little did we realise we'd still be here six weeks later, still in the Airbnb with no prospect of returning to Turkey and home any time soon.
Image: An NHS thank you sign in Warrington
We focused on Warrington in northwest England because few areas outside of London and the big cities appeared to be getting much attention.
Warrington Hospital isn't a huge, shiny London or Glasgow hospital with all the latest equipment and resources that maybe one set in a metropolis can command. But to us, it represented perhaps the majority in UK - medium-sized with a workforce drawn mostly from the surrounding areas. And yet we were stunned by the fortitude of the people inside and out, coping with quite unprecedented events.
Nothing seems to have bound the planet together quite so much as coronavirus whilst also separating us. It has tested the human spirit, but the human spirit we saw, has also astounded.
Of course, it's been different all over the world. Yemen cannot be compared with Singapore and New York cannot be compared with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Warrington probably cannot be compared with any other UK town.
Every experience will be different but it also, seems to me, be the same. It's based on the same fears, the same sense of loss, the same feeling of danger and despair.
Image: Charlotte Bradshaw with baby George. Her partner was unable to be at the birth as he is shielding at home
We met ordinary people in Warrington doing some extraordinary things in the face of fear, panic and, let's not swerve it, the sheer terror of catching this virus. We saw doctors and nurses working all hours and being innovative and in some cases, ingenious.
When they realised early on that their COVID patients were faring much better if they were kept OFF ventilators, they switched tactics. That meant trying to clear the patients' airways, support their breathing in other, less traumatically invasive ways.
But the hospital only had little more than a handful of sophisticated Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) machines, but the smallness of their medical teams meant they were able to brainstorm a quick alternative. Why not use the black boxes used to treat sleeping disorders?
"There was suddenly a worldwide demand for CPAP," Dr Mark Forrest said, "and whilst there were plans to produce many more of them in UK we needed them now, not in a few hours, weeks or months' time."
The medical teams realised they had dozens of smaller, less sophisticated versions of CPAP machines in the store of the sleeping disorder clinic and in the community. They rounded them up, modified them, attached different tubes, and oxygen - and suddenly they'd increased the numbers of patients they could treat by about 600%.
It meant suddenly they were seeing a lot more people leave intensive care after being treated with their modified black boxes - as well as many more NOT having to 'step up' into ICU at all.
As Dr Forrest told us: "We're not the brainiest, we're not the best, we're just doing what we can." The smallness of their teams seems to have been an advantage, making them more agile, quicker to make decisions, more able to coordinate and cooperate.
Image: Warrington hospital security officer Richard Fishwick, A.K.A COVID Cop
But we also saw the community outside the hospital pulling together. Hidden in a trading estate on the outskirts of the town, we saw the town's Sikh community turning up at five o'clock in the morning to spend at least four hours making hundreds and hundreds of free meals which they took to the hospital to feed the health workers on shift, every weekend.
We talked to family-run undertakers who spoke of being called out several times a night to pick up bodies from care homes and in the community. They told us of their disbelief at the official figures, how their experience suggested the death toll was probably double what's being reported. And how they felt it was their duty and honour to provide as caring and memorable a send-off as possible for those lost at any time, but especially now during these coronavirus times.
We also spoke to many survivors too. These were people bound by one overriding emotion, the sheer horror of getting so close to death that they felt they were staring him in the face, convinced their lives were over.
One 32-year-old mother wrote letters to all her three children saying goodbye whilst waiting for the ambulance to take her hospital. Julia Cotter was so certain she was dying, she scribbled notes so her kids "would have something to remember her by". She told them how she loved them, how proud she was of them and how she "couldn't wish for better children".
Every one of the Sky crew hearing her story couldn't help but be moved. Her mother Kath was in tears hearing the letter Julia had left for the nurses who'd saved her life.
She wrote: "Your management, I hope can see how you are taking broken, frightened people who have accepted that their time is here and spinning that round to give them a second chance, a whole extra go at life."
Image: Julia Cotter wrote goodbye letters to her children
Other survivors too spoke of "getting a second chance". Donna Wall, a 47-year-old mother of two told us she'd never take anything for granted again.
This virus has turned so much upside down. Maybe forever. But it's brought some inspirational people to the fore and in every corner of the world that you look at, in all this despair and sometimes overwhelmingly pain, there are folk just striving to do good and coping against all the odds.
Coronavirus: The Home Front - Sky News foreign correspondent Alex Crawford returns to the UK to report on the impact of coronavirus through the eyes of a hospital and town in the north west of England, on Sky Atlantic at 10pm tonight and on Sky News at 7pm tomorrow