Tuesday, March 3, 2020 http://www.dailymail.co.ukQQQvolunteer nHS
army to tackle
‘maSS epidemic’
By Sophie Borland and Jason Groves
AN ARMY of NHS volunteers
is being called up to help tackle
the coronavirus menace.
With Boris Johnson warning of a ‘mass
epidemic’, officials are urgently trying to
speed up the six-month process of
becoming a hospital volunteer.
Helpers could be asked to feed patients,
ferry them around wards or deliver medicines.
The move is expected to be in a dramatic
battle plan to be unveiled this morning.
Other possible measures include allowing
border officials to detain travellers if they are
suspected of carrying the deadly virus.
Should the contagion spread, big gatherings
may be suspended as part of a ‘social-distanc-
ing’ strategy. Employees will be encouraged
to work from home to avoid unnecessary
travel. And a ‘war room’ in the Cabinet Office
and in every Whitehall ministry will have a
lead official to coordinate their responses.
Mr Johnson warned of a ‘very significant
expansion’ of the disease, possibly in days.
However, amid signs of panic in schools and
shops, he called for ‘business as usual’ for now.
Four more cases were confirmed yesterday
- and one ruled a false alarm – making the
national total 39. In other developments:
n The Treasury is preparing to find billions of
pounds in next week’s budget to help firms
cope with the financial fallout;
n B A , E a s y J e t a n d Ry a n a i r cancelled
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Priti Patel
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UK cases rise to 39 ++ Hundreds of flights axed ++ 11 more
schools shut ++ Now, stung into action, Boris plans a...
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yesterday70p
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