that was stephen powis from nhs england.is a challenging time and there are many things the government is asking the nation to do differently as we work together to fight the pandemic. there is one message i want to start with loud and clear, which is be responsible when you shop and think of others. buying more than you need means others may be left without. it is making life more difficult for front line workers such as doctors and nurses and nhs support staff, who are working so hard in difficult circumstances. as you shop, think of those finishing their late shift, he need to pop to the local shop at the end of a long day. today, the prime minister and i have spoken to the retail sector. there is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand. in the past week, sales are some foods have increased significantly and manufacturers have produced around 50% more food than they usually would. there is no shortage of food available and more is arriving at s

i am joined today by doctorjenny harries, the deputy chief medical officer, and professor stephen powisthe battle against this virus. 143,186 people have now been tested for the virus. of those, 25,150 have tested positive. and sadly, yesterday we recorded the highest single increase in the number of deaths as a result covid—19. in the number of deaths as a result covid-19. 381 in the number of deaths as a result covid—19. 381 people died, meaning that of those hospitalised in the uk, the numberwho that of those hospitalised in the uk, the number who have passed away now totals 1789. every death is the loss of a loved one, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who are grieving. overall, 10,767 people in england have been admitted to hospital with covid—19 symptoms. the largest number of those is in london, with 3915 people in hospital care. while in the midlands, the number of those hospitalised is now 1918, and accelerating upwards. these numbers reinforce the vital importance of following the government's social distancing guidelines. the more we restrict contact, the more we sl

and nhs england national medical director stephen powis asked people not to stockpile food, and saidving nhs staff of the supplies they need. we'll hearfrom him in a bit. but first, here's the environment secretary. we recognise that this is a challenging time and that there are many things that the government is asking the nation to do differently asking the nation to do differently as we work together to bright this pandemic. however, there is one meshes i want to start with cloud and clear this afternoon which is be responsible when you sharp and think of others. buying more than you need means that others may be left without. and it is making life more difficult for those front line workers such as our doctors and nurses and nhs support stuff who are working so hard in such difficult circumstances. so, as you sharp, think of those who are their late shifts and need to pop to the local sharp at the end of a long day. today, the prime minister and i have spoken to the retail sector. there is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is more than enough food to go

this is professor stephen powis, he works for nhs england, medical director.if there was none of the social distancing moves that were put in place, we were looking at 570,000 deaths. with some moves that have been put in it could have been halved to 260,000. now we are told that if things go as well as they could to do, we could end up with 20,000 deaths. it's a horrendous number, a stark number, but i would say it is indicative of the success we have had so far, that people are becoming aware now ofjust how dangerous this is, how vital it is for every single person in this country to follow the government advice. of course, every single deathis advice. of course, every single death is a tragedy, every single death is a tragedy, every single deathis death is a tragedy, every single death is heartbreaking for those, the loved ones of those who are dying. that multiplied by 20,000 times is a pain and anguish that is almost unfathomable. and some of them we could avoid if we do the right thing. just a quick comment from both of you on the sunday telegraph story.

speaking at a downing street press conference earlier, the medical director of nhs england professor stephen powisgures of those likely to die from coronavirus will continue to rise but restrictions will help to limit numbers. if it's less than 20,000, as sir patrick vallance said, that would be a good result, although every death, as i've said, is absolutely a tragedy. but we shouldn't be complacent about that. although that would be a good result, it will only happen if we stop the transmission of the virus. i sound like a broken record on this but it really is the way that if we are going to get to the numbers of deaths that you're talking about, it doesn't happen by luck. it's notjust chance. it's because of the actions that you take, that i take, that we all take to reduce the transmission of the virus. so it is possible to get on top of this virus, but you do that by stopping the transmission. that's the basis of social distancing. that's what the government has introduced, on the best scientific advice. that's what other countries have done and we've seen in previous epidemics that it's a s

and the medical director of nhs england, professor stephen powis, says there are "green shoots" that, but he urged people to continue abiding by social distancing rules, emphasising that we are by no means "out of the woods" and suggesting the next two weeks are critical. let's listen again to what mr gove had to say. i'd like first to update you all on the facts about the spread of covid—19 and the steps that we are then taking in the battle against this virus. 143,186 people have now been tested for the virus. of those, 25,150 have tested positive. and sadly, yesterday we recorded the highest single increase in the number of deaths as a result covid—19. 381 people died, meaning that of those hospitalised in the uk, the number who have passed away now totals 1789. every death is the loss of a loved one, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who are grieving. overall, 10,767 people in england have been admitted to hospital with covid—19 symptoms. the largest number of those is in london, with 3915 people in hospital care, while in the midlands, the number of those hospitalised

he was joined by the medical director of nhs england professor stephen powis who said the figures of rise but restrictions will help to limit numbers he was also asked about testing for nhs staff and how full intensive care beds around the uk currently are. as you know the nhs has been working very ha rd to as you know the nhs has been working very hard to increase the capacity beyond the 4000 or so bad that we typically have and that has been pursued firstly in london, although work is going on all over the country because, as you are also aware, the infection has spread a bit quicker in london. so, we are not at capacity yet within london, but beds are being opened all the time to produce that extra capacity. so in the first instance, we are using theatres and recovery areas, those are areas in hospitals where anaesthetic machines, ventilators are already used for surgery and can be readily adapted to take critically ill patients, and that has already occurred, you may have seen some has already occurred, you may have seen some of that in london hospitals. that is almost doubling t

here's stephen powis again.here is that we will likely see a reduction in the number of infections first, followed by a reduction in the number of hospitalizations, probably a week or two later. then finally, a reduction in the number of deaths, because that clearly is a sequence — infection, hospitalization, and then unfortunately for some, death. so i expect we will still see unfortunately a rise in deaths, because that is the measure that unfortunately we will turn around last. let's go to germany now, where the chief health adviser has warned that the rate of deaths from coronavirus is rising there, and will continue to do so. on monday, the country released figures showing a45 people with coronavirus had died. -- 455 —— 455 people. new figures released today show the total death toll has increased to 682. that's the biggest dailyjump so far. according to lotar veeler, early testing has helped to keep the rate relatively low until now. germany has the capacity to conduct half a million tests a week as our be

let's speak to nhs england's medical director, stephen powis whojoins us now from westminster.gramme. it's an incredible response, isn't it? we have seen incredible responses throughout this. this is a health emergency, as the government has said. we can all play a role in ensuring we get on top of coronavirus. at the same time, that we expand capacity in the nhs. yesterday we sent out a call to arms one army of nhs volunteers, looking for 250,000 volunteers. 0vernight, we already had 170,000 people signing up. that is three every minute signing up to help the nhs. it is an astonishing response. did you expect any sort of response like that? 170,000 since the appeal went out. already, more than two thirds of the way there?” went out. already, more than two thirds of the way there? i think at times of crisis, people come together. the vast majority of people in the country are doing what the government has asked us to do. it's important everybody does that. because that is what will save lives. there are vast numbers of people looking to help neighbours, vulnerable people who li

he was joined by the medical director of nhs england, professor stephen powis, who said the figures of a good result, although every death, as i have said, is absolutely a tragedy. but we should not be complacent about that. although that would be a good result, it will only happen if we stop the transmission of the virus. i sound like a broken record player on this, but it really is the way that if we are going to get to the numbers of deathsy you are talking about, it does not happen by luck. it is notjust chance, it is because of the actions you take, i take, that we all take, to reduce the transmission of the virus. so it is possible to get on top of this virus, but you do that by stopping the transmission. that is the basis of social distancing, that is what the government has introduced on scientific advice. on the best scientific advice. that is what other countries have done. and we have seen in previous epidemics that it is a successful measure. so i cannot emphasise enough to everybody watching today that you have the chance to save a life. you have a chance to stop a ventila

scale of that public response, which has been described as ‘astonishing' by one senior doctor, stephen powisve seen incredible responses throughout this. this is a health emergency, as the government has said. we can all play a role in ensuring we get on top of coronavirus. and at the same time, that we expand capacity in the nhs. yesterday we sent out a call to arms for an army of nhs volunteers, looking for 250,000 volunteers. overnight, we have already had 170,000 people signing up. that's three a minute signing up to help the nhs. it is an astonishing response. i think at times of crisis, people come together. the vast majority of people in the country are doing what the government has asked us all to do. it's important everybody does that. because that is what will save lives. there are vast numbers of people looking to help neighbours, vulnerable people who live close by. so, no, it doesn't surprise me at all. in times like this, as the chief medical officer has already said, we see outbreaks of altruism, people wanting to help. it is a wonderful response, in the same way that all thos

the medical director at nhs england, stephen powis, said panic—buyers are depriving nhs staff of the needed. and, frankly, we should all be ashamed that that has to happen. this is unacceptable. these are the very people that we will all need to look after, perhaps us, or our loved ones in the week ahead. need to look after, perhaps us, or our loved ones in the week aheadlj may critical care nurse. i have just finished 14 hours of work. they wanted to get some stuff in for the next 48 hours. there is no fruit, no vegetables, ijust next 48 hours. there is no fruit, no vegetables, i just don't next 48 hours. there is no fruit, no vegetables, ijust don't know how i'm supposed to stay healthy. and those people... they are just stripping shelves of basic foods. you just need to stop it! because people like me that are going to be looking after you when you are at your lowest... just to stop it! please. sobering thoughts there. joining us now are retail expert claire bailey and paddy lillis, the general secretary of the union of shop, distributive and allied workers. good morning to you bo