Atherstone's chance to 'join up' and fight alongside 250,000 volunteers in a NHS army to help the vulnerable AND defeat coronavirus

ACTS of good neighbourlyness from model citizens have dotted the pages of Atherstone's history.

And every day since coronavirus came knocking on the world's door, the good people of the town and surrounding district have no doubt shown individual kindnesses or are already part of the caring professions for which the UK is famous worldwide.

We have been told the silent killer that is Covid-19 is like being at war, and the spirit of a bygone age is needed to fight the enemy within.

Already people have pledged their support to help those who are less protected against the harshest actions of the pandemic.

But as a result of the Government's 'stay-at-home' instructions to the nation, some 1.5 million vulnerable people across the country have been instructed to "shield" themselves from society to ensure they do not get the virus.

And this is where the people of Atherstone and district can really make a difference – by joining a new model army of 250,000 volunteers in "good health" who can help those in greatest need.

Yes, Health Secretary Matt Hancock is recruiting a quarter of a million people to assist with the national effort to tackle coronavirus – simply by shopping, delivering medicines and supporting those who are shielding themselves against Covid-19.

He said more than 35,000 extra staff have already joined up to help fight against the virus, including retired doctors and nurses returning to the service and final year students.

Mr Hancock spoke after it was revealed that number of coronavirus dead in the UK now totalled 422 – a jump of 87 and the largest day-on-day increase in the number of deaths since the outbreak began.

Mr Hancock also confirmed that a temporary hospital – the NHS Nightingale hospital – would be opening at London's ExCeL centre.

It will comprise two wards, each of 2,000 people, and has been set up with the help of the military.

Mr Hancock said 11,788 recently retired NHS staff had responded to the call to return to the service, including 2,660 doctors, more than 2,500 pharmacists and other staff and 6,147 nurses.

"I pay tribute to each and every one of those who is returning to the NHS at its hour of need," Mr Hancock said.

Some 5,500 final-year medics and 18,700 final-year student nurses will also "move to the frontline" next week.

How can any one of you reading this join this army's ranks to help the fight – and beat coronavirus not just from out shores but the entire planet?

Here, hopefully, is all you need to know about joining up in this Q&A below.

Here are your questions answered on the NHS Volunteer Army:

Q Who is being asked to join? ?

People in good health are being asked to join the national effort to ensure vulnerable people can stay safe and well at home and to support local services. Q How many people are needed? ?

At least a quarter of a million.

Q What are volunteers being asked to do? ?

As many as 1.5 million vulnerable people across England have been instructed to "shield" themselves from society to ensure they do not get the virus. The volunteers will help ensure these people have vital supplies such as food and medicines. They may also be asked to drive people to appointments or make regular phone calls to those in isolation. Q What about local schemes already in place? ?

These people are not intended to replace local schemes already set up to help the vulnerable, but to provide additional assistance to the NHS.

Q How will we know who needs help? ?

GPs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, NHS 111 advisers and social care staff will all be able to request help for their at-risk patients via a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service, who will match people who need help with volunteers who live near to them. Q How can they join?

Members of the public can sign up here

If you are that able bodied person, or family, with time on their hands now – then click on that link and find out more.

The ppeal came as the UK has seen a massive 38 per cent rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours – up 2,240 to 8,077 – as the world total smashed through the 400,000 barrier.

The death toll in the UK has risen by its sharpest since the outbreak – up 87 to 422.

Italy, now by far the worst-affected country on the planet, saw confirmed cases rocket by 10,000 today to 69,176 with deaths rising by 1,350 to 6,820.

Spain saw the number of people testing positive leap by more than 6,500 to 39,676 with deaths up nearly 600 at exactly 2,800.

France had a terrible day too. Cases shot up by almost 6,000 from 16,481 to 22,304. The deaths rose by 430 from 674 to 1,104.

Germany saw 4,000 extra confirmed cases, sending the total to 32,781. But the death toll continues to be at a much-lower percentage than the rest of the world – up 40 in the last 24 hours to 156.

Worldwide the total number of cases stands at 414,098 with 18,543 deaths.

However, one bright note in a statistical sea of gloom – 108,293 pole have recovered from the virus, a quarter of the confirmed total.

#StayHomeSavesLives