Skip to main content

New story in Health from Time: ‘Outbreaks of Altruism.’ 250,000 People in U.K. Volunteer to Help Vulnerable, Amid Growing Coronavirus Crisis



As the U.K. grabbles with its growing coronavirus crisis, some 250 000 people have registered to volunteer with the National Health Service (NHS), the U.K.’s publicly funded healthcare system to help those with underlying health conditions.

The NHS put out a call for volunteers over the age of 18 and in good health to assist the country’s 1.5 million people living with underlying health conditions who have been advised to self-isolate for three months. By this morning, the NHS had exceeded its target, just one day after the health secretary Matt Hancock announced the new volunteer scheme.

Stephen Powis, the medical director of NHS England said there has been “oubreaks of altruism.”

Volunteers can register to chat with people self-isolating or to deliver food and drugs. Individuals can also volunteer to provide transport for patients who are medically fit for discharge and can assist in moving equipment, supplies, and medication between different NHS sites.

The volunteers will be joined by 11, 000 former health practitioners and 24,000 students currently in their final year of medical school.

The U.K has at least 8,167 coronavirus cases, with 423 deaths reported so far. The country was placed under strict lockdown on March 23, with all non-essential businesses required to close. People can only leave home to buy basic necessities, help the vulnerable, give blood or travel to and from work when “absolutely necessary.” Individuals are also permitted to do one form of exercise outside but can only do so alone or with one member of their household.

Today, Prince Charles, the 71-year-old royal who is next in line for the throne, announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus. He is now self-isolating in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

New video by gymvirtual on YouTube

Rutina para adelgazar | Ejercicios para perder peso en casa ♥ ♥ LÉEME / DESPLIÉGAME ♥ ♥ Hola a todos, hoy os traigo una rutina de cardio de 25 minutos para quemar grasa y adelgazar en casa. En la web https://ift.tt/39VJREp encontraréis los calendarios de entrenamiento tanto para principiantes como para avanzados. Si quieres conseguir tú transformación en solamente 12 semanas, entra ya en http://www.pgv12.com y elige el PLAN PGV12 que más se adapte a ti. Nuestro lema: YO PUEDO CON TODO Los hashtags: #GymVirtual #YPCT #YoPuedoConTodo #PGV12 ♡♡ ¡SUSCRÍBETE! ♡♡ http://www.youtube.com/user/gymvirtual ................................................................................................................................. ♡♡ PLAN DE ENTRENAMIENTO + NUTRICIÓN 12 SEMANAS♡♡ http://www.pgv12.com ................................................................................................................................. ♡♡¡ECHA UN VISTAZO A NUESTRA TIENDA ONLINE! ♡♡ https://ift.tt/2Un...
Read more

New story in Health from Time: After Cruise Ships and Nursing Homes, Will Universities Be the Next COVID-19 Tinderboxes?

The fall semester has yet to begin, but student athletes training for the season can already be found on college campuses across the U.S. And so can COVID-19. Since the start of July there have been at least two outbreaks among student athletes, coaches, and staff—with 37 infected at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill and 22 at Boise State . Clusters of infection have been traced to college town bars popular with students. A common misconception is that young people with COVID-19 don’t die and therefore college re-openings pose little risk. Sadly, this isn’t the case. COVID-19 deaths in the young are rare, but they happen. Universities across the U.S. are mourning the loss of students in the lead-up to the school year, including Joshua Bush , a 30-year old nursing student at the University of South Carolina, Trevor Syphus Lee , a 27-year old senior at Utah Valley University, and Juan Garcia , a 21-year old Penn State undergraduate. One might imagine th...
Read more

New story in Health from Time: ‘We Are In Crisis.’ COVID-19 Exacerbates Problems for People With Disabilities

Jeiri Flores is normally a busy, upbeat 29-year-old. But amid the COVID-19 pandemic, her go-to thought has been dark. “If I get this,” she thinks, “I’m gonna die.” This is not an unfounded fear. Flores has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and needs assistance with everyday tasks, including making food and getting dressed. Her disability means it’s tougher for her immune system to kick illnesses; she’s still recovering from a bout of pneumonia she had in January. So beating COVID-19 could easily mean a protracted battle and months in a hospital—a prospect that comes with a cascading series of challenges unique to people with disabilities. At a time when all Americans are facing unforeseen obstacles and concerned about their futures, Flores and more than 60 million Americans with disabilities like her are facing perhaps the toughest road of all. With hospitals restricting visitors amid the pandemic, Flores and others who rely on family and aides for assistance and advoca...
Read more