Personal Protective Equipment in health setting. Image: Simon Davis/DFID’ CC BY 2.0

Number of deaths in UK has risen by 980, bringing the total to 8,958

The UK death toll has now exceeded the worst daily figures seen in Italy and Spain.

And it does not include people who have died in care homes or the community.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the UK will now ensure daily deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline workers.

He said it had been a ‘Herculean effort’, after criticism the government was not doing enough to protect critical NHS staff.

Officials said the lockdown ‘beginning to pay off’ but it was still a ‘dangerous situation.’

Mr Hancock indicated that Britain is competing in the world market for PPE material.

He warned: ‘There’s enough PPE to go around, but only if it’s used in line with our guidance. We need everyone to treat PPE like the precious resource that it is.’

He also cautioned against using protective gear outside of health and social care settings, saying handwashing, social distancing and staying at home were the best ways for people to stay safe.

His new catchphrase for the daily Downing Street briefing was: ‘A front door is better than any face mask.’

Number of deaths in UK rises by 980, bringing the total to 8,958

The death toll, which doesn’t include people who died in care homes or the community, has now exceeded the worst daily figures seen in Italy and Spain https://t.co/zFFJjX11LU pic.twitter.com/ecoXWZZBiF

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 10, 2020

As the crisis continues there are fears that the long-term damage is not likely to be just economic and a matter of people dying.

The psychological impact on children is becoming a matter of great concern.

Fifth of primary children afraid to leave house over Covid-19, survey finds https://t.co/6T4Jthgqed

— Guardian news (@guardiannews) April 11, 2020

British newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail included headlines showing that Britain is beginning to be resigned to a lockdown likely to last months, perhaps even a year.

It is even being suggested that social distancing may be indefinite.

The Times presented a more hopeful story that a vaccine might be ready for use by September.

Saturday’s Daily Telegraph:
“Social distancing ‘could be indefinite’”
#tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers
(via @hendopolis) pic.twitter.com/dnMdMApeWs

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 10, 2020

Saturday’s Daily Mail:
“UK ‘not back to normal for year’”
#tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers
(via @hendopolis) pic.twitter.com/HBZ0IyFuKe

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 10, 2020

Saturday’s The Times:
“Vaccine for virus could be ready by September”
#tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers
(via @hendopolis) pic.twitter.com/VXwW5j9DS2

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 10, 2020

Record fatalities in the US

The US has become the first country to record more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in one day.

John Hopkins University reported that there had been 2,108 deaths in the past 24 hours.

The disproportionate number of BAME victims has led to a debate in the US and UK about how poverty, social justice and discrimination affects the identity of the people worse affected.

Why was New York hit so badly by the deadly #coronavirus pandemic, and could its leaders have done anything differently?https://t.co/EjSbTOrGqt pic.twitter.com/6HH6wW3voJ

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 10, 2020

“If you look fit, if you look young, you are still at risk for getting and spreading and dying of coronavirus”
US Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks out about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on people of colour. https://t.co/YyndGSwKl7 pic.twitter.com/cZgHrD2TcR

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 10, 2020

Coronavirus park closures hit BAME and poor Londoners most https://t.co/Cr5YgdgLKA

— Guardian news (@guardiannews) April 10, 2020

$910,000 for Beatles lyrics manuscript

If the news had not been so dramatic and urgent, the fiftieth anniversary of the break-up of the Beatles might have been given more attention.

It has been covered with features and retrospective articles.

The importance and currency of the Beatles so long after they became famous throughout the world is certainly marked by a record bid in an auction for the original manuscript of ‘Hey Jude.’

The Beatles’ handwritten ‘Hey Jude’ lyrics sell for $910,000 at auction https://t.co/mZq24B1arJ pic.twitter.com/Fwer8fDC14

— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) April 11, 2020