UK COVID-19 deaths surge past 1,000

A medical staff member tests an NHS worker for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 at a drive-in facility set up in the carpark of Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington, Greater London on Mar 28, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Glyn Kirk)

The Conservative leader, who himself tested positive for COVID-19 this week, issued the warning in a leaflet being sent to all UK households explaining how their actions can help limit the spread.

"We know things will get worse before they get better," Johnson wrote.

"But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal."

New health ministry figures on Saturday showed Britain's death toll jumped from 759 to 1,019 in 24 hours, with more than 17,000 people infected.

Johnson is currently self-isolating in Downing Street, but says he has only mild symptoms and is still leading the government's response to the outbreak.

His health minister, Matt Hancock, has also tested positive, and England's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, is staying at home with suspected symptoms.

Britain was put on lockdown this week as the virus spread, with everybody told to stay home wherever possible, and all non-essential shops and services shut.

The leaflet, sent to 30 million British households, will explain the rules on leaving the house and how to spot if someone has coronavirus.

DON'T BE COMPLACENT

The state-run National Health Service has been frantically freeing up hospital beds, and is building a 4,000-bed field hospital in a London conference centre, which is due to open next week.

But there are still fears it cannot cope, and a senior NHS official said on Friday that hospitals in London - the epicentre of the UK outbreak - were facing a "tsunami" of patients.

Stephen Powis, medical director of the NHS in England, told the government's daily news conference on Saturday that it was coping so far.

"We have not reached capacity. I'm also confident that capacity is expanding, particularly in London, so that we keep ahead of increased patient numbers," he said.

However, he added that "now is not the time to be complacent", saying it was vital that everybody followed the advice to stay at home.

"We will see over the course of the next month exactly how that will play out," he said.

BURBERRY HOSPITAL GOWNS

With many medics angry at a lack of kit, the government has asked manufacturers to switch to making ventilators, scrubs and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks.

The Royal Mint is one of those taking up the challenge, switching production from coins to medical visors. It made 750 on Saturday and hopes to increase this to 4,000 a day from next week.

Luxury fashion house Burberry also announced it was converting its trench coat factory in Yorkshire, northern England, to make non-surgical gowns and masks for patients.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said Saturday that the government would speed up the process of testing new PPE, and of licensing new producers of hand sanitisers.

Johnson remotely chaired a coronavirus videoconference on Saturday morning, he added.

"There are no gaps in the government. We are collectively all working very hard, led by the prime minister," Sharma said.

Johnson's pregnant partner, Carrie Symonds, reportedly moved out of Downing Street several days ago to the couple's south London home to self-isolate there.