THE NHS will cancel or delay all non-emergency operations to free up vital resources key to combatting the coronavirus pandemic.
As the virus sweeps through the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said surgery that was not time sensitive would either be cancelled or postponed.
The NHS will cancel or postpone non time-sensitive procedures to save vital resources to battle coronavirusCredit: Getty – Contributor
On Monday he told the Commons that ventilators were key to treating those suffering the worst effects of COVID-19.
The Government has asked manufacturers to step up efforts to help in the production of kit needed.
He said: “The measures that I’ve just outlined are unprecedented in peacetime.
“We will fight this virus with everything we’ve got.
“We are in a war against an invisible killer and we’ve got to do everything we can to stop it.
“We will be cancelling or postponing non-time sensitive elective surgery and the NHS will make a statement about this later today.”
On Monday NHS England said a further 21 people died after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of deaths in England to 55.
Overall confirmed cases in Britain surged to 1,543 – a jump of 171 more from Sunday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all Brits should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres, stop all non-essential contact and travel, and work from home if they can.
He set out the need for “drastic action” to tackle the “fast growth” of coronavirus across the UK as increased social distancing measures are introduced for the population.
As part of the measures, anyone living in a household with somebody who has either a persistent cough or fever must now also isolate themselves for 14 days.
All people should avoid gatherings and crowded places, while people who are vulnerable – including those who are elderly – will need to undertake even more drastic measures.
Mr Johnson said that from Tuesday mass gatherings are something “we are now moving emphatically away from”.
He said “if you or anyone in your household” had one of the two symptoms – a high temperature or continuous cough – “you should stay at home for 14 days”.
“That means that if possible you should not go out, even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise and in that case at a safe distance from others.”
The Health Secretary announced the measures after NHS England confirmed 55 people had died from COVID-19Credit: Getty Images – Getty
More Stories
Justice Rajiv Shakdher also asked the media houses AGR Outlier Media Pvt Ltd. and Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd. to ensure that no defamatory content is uploaded on social media platforms or displayed on their channels.
Two people have become the first passengers on a Hyperloop, a technology considered to be the future of high-speed ground transport.