Keeping Covid-19 deaths below 20,000 would be a good result says NHS medical director

THE United Kingdom will have done well if it comes through the coronavirus crisis with fewer than 20,000 deaths said the national medical director of the NHS, Stephen Powis.

When asked if he hoped that the United Kingdom was not on the same trajectory as countries such as Italy,  Stephen Powis said: “If we can keep deaths below 20,000 we will have done very well in this epidemic.

“If it is less than 20,000… that would be a good result though every death is a tragedy, but we should not be complacent about that,” said Powis, speaking at a news conference in Downing Street alongside Business Secretary Alok Sharma.

He said the NHS had been working incredibly hard to increase the intensive care capacity beyond the 4,000 beds it typically had.

Mr Powis insisted getting personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare staff was an ‘absolute priority’ as he detailed the numbers of products sent out.