Atherstone's MP thanks hospital for 'all that is being done' in fight to stem coronavirus tide

MP Craig Tracey has spoken of the "very reassuring" comprehensive systems in place to deal with the threat of coronavirus at the main hospital and maternity services for Atherstone and district.

Atherstone's MP praised the staff at the George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton – which has had quarantine pods on site since mid-February – for "all that is being done and the work ahead".

The North Warwickshire parliamentarian joined neighbouring MP Marcus Jones for a fact-finding meeting with the NHS Trust hospital's management team.

They discussed the hospital's readiness to deal with Covid-19 risks which has now claimed its 11th victim UK-wide, including an elderly patient at the George Eliot.

The patient, who had tested positive for the virus and was "being treated for a number of serious underlying health conditions", died on Wednesday.

Mr Tracey said after yesterday's visit: "It is very reassuring to hear about the comprehensive systems in place to deal with the threat.

"I am sure I speak for all in passing on my thanks for all being done and for the work ahead."

Nuneaton MP Jones added: "It was a good meeting with management.

"We discussed a range of issues, particularly focusing on the hospitals response to the coronavirus."

Coronavirus has also forced a change of emphasis on another care organisation on the George Eliot hospital complex.

The Mary Ann Evans Hospice, which also serves Atherstone and North Warwickshire, is temporarily closing some of its services to refocus its efforts into the community. The move is seen to protect patients and ensure sufficient are available.

The nation awakes to find the lives of millions are being put on hold by the pandemic. People are being asked to self-isolate if they display signs of the virus.

Agreeing to remove yourself from contact with the outside world for seven days is included in Nub News's guide What you need to know about coronavirus compiled from Government-approved sources which can be found here.

Next week in a series of moves which will be backed by emergency legislation, the Government is gearing up to ban mass gatherings, firms will be asked to introduce more widespread working from home, police will be able to detain infected people and schools forced to stay open.

There is some good news locally despite sport being decimated nationwide.

Atherstone Town's Midland Football League fixture at Kirby Muxloe this afternoon is one of a handful of non-league matches to survive the cull on games nationwide.

And Atherstone Adders hockey club have a full programme for its nine teams today and an EH Cup quarter final against Southampton tomorrow at The Queen Elizabeth Academy on Sunday at 12 noon.

A promotional introduction to leisure in Atherstone and district in the form of a Discovery Weekend is still going ahead today and Sunday at Atherstone Liesure Centre. Many events are free..

The Football Association announced yesterday the Premier League will be suspended until April 4.

Next week's Champions League and Europa League matches were also postponed as was the Wales v Scotland Six Nations rugby match. England's cricket tour of Sri Lanka was also called off.

The London Marathon, scheduled to take place on April 26, was postponed until October 4.

Scores of major sporting and cultural events have already been suspended.

It was also announced that local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections on May 7 were being postponed for a year.

Other news includes:

New restrictions are being imposed on visitor access to the Palace of Westminster and overseas travel by MPs and peers is being strongly discouraged to keep Parliament functioning during the crisis.

The total of confirmed cases has risen to 798 in the UK, up 208 on the previous day including a London Underground driver.

The World Health Organisation said Europe has become the epicentre as Donald Trump said the UK could be added to the list of European countries included in the US travel ban after he described cases of coronavirus as having risen "fairly precipitously" since he initially announced the ban with the UK exemption.