Carrie Symonds claps for NHS just a day after giving birth to Boris Johnson's baby boy - Daily Mail

Carrie Symonds claps for the NHS: Boris Johnson's fiancée tweets she has 'another wonderful reason' to salute healthcare heroes just a day after giving birth to PM's new son

• Carrie Symonds took part in the clap for care workers a day after giving birth
• On Twitter she said she had 'another wonderful reason to thank the NHS'
• PM Boris Johnson held his first press briefing since recovering from coronavirus
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Sam Baker For Mailonline

Published: 22:49 BST, 30 April 2020 | Updated: 23:00 BST, 30 April 2020

Carrie Symonds had another reason to thank the NHS this week as she confirmed she was clapping for health care workers the day after giving birth.

The 32-year-old posted on Twitter at 8pm tonight confirming she would be taking part in the nationwide weekly clap.

Symonds also took the opportunity to wish Captain Tom Moore a happy 100th birthday.

In the post she said: 'Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday.

Symonds (left) gave birth yesterday morning and fiancé Boris Johnson was present at the birth. Pictured: Symonds and Johnson arrive at The Midland, near Manchester Central convention complex on the eve of the Conservative Party conference on September 28, 2019

Carrie Symonds took to Twitter to thank the NHS and confirm that she was taking part in the weekly clap for care workers

'I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too

'Thank you so, so much!' 

Despite confirming she took part in the clap tonight, Symonds was not seen outside Downing Street with fiancé Boris Johnson.

Prime Minister made his first public appearance today since Symonds gave birth to their baby boy as he led the Downing Street press briefing.

This was also the first briefing he has led since recovering from coronavirus.

At his first Downing Street press briefing since recovering from coronavirus the PM thanked the NHS for a 'much happier hospital visit'

Boris Johnson (pictured outside Downing Street this evening at 8pm) led Britain's sixth weekly 'clap for carers' to thank the thousands of NHS staff and healthcare workers putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus after he overcame the deadly bug

The Prime Minister started by thanking the NHS.

He said: 'I want to thank everybody who has been doing such a good job in my absence, and I want to thank the NHS for so much - including getting me back here and, I might add, a very much happier hospital visit yesterday.'

Downing Street has been tight-lipped with information about their son, only releasing the gender of the child, the fact both mother and child were doing well and that Boris Johnson had been present at the birth.

The PM's father, Stanley Johnson, said he was 'absolutely delighted' and 'thrilled' by the birth of his grandson. 

No 10 said that Boris Johnson is not expected to take his two-week paternity leave until later in the year.

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2020-04-30 23:07:45Z
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Boris Johnson’s three-pronged blueprint will reveal ‘roadmap’ back to normality — but lockdown stays until Jun - The Sun

BORIS Johnson last night declared Britain has passed its coronavirus peak — as he promised to unveil a masterplan to exit lockdown next week.

The PM’s three-pronged blueprint will reveal how the economy can be restarted, children will be able to return to school and people can travel to work again safely.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

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The PM’s three-pronged blueprint will reveal how the economy can be restartedCredit: crown copyright

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Boris Johnson last night declared Britain has passed its coronavirus peakCredit: The Press Association

Three-pronged plan

Economy

The PM says he will unveil a 'comprehensive' plan to get the UK's economy moving again

Schools

The government are working out how to get children back to school and into childcare

Work

We will be told how we can travel to work again — and make life in the workplace easier

His “roadmap of options” is expected to be released on Thursday but, crucially, it will include a timeline on when any will start.

Mr Johnson insisted the virus is still too widespread for any relaxation of the tough restrictions, declaring that “dates and times will very much depend on the data”.

Downing Street aides said only tweaks “at best” should be expected at the next lockdown review on May 7. Large elements could continue into June and beyond.

The PM yesterday took the daily press conference for the first time since the virus sent him into intensive care last month. And last night, he joined in the Clap for Carers from outside No10. He also:

The latest data yesterday revealed new cases have more than halved since the numeric peak on Good Friday, and the new daily death toll of 674 has also halved since then.

While the toll stands at 26,771, it was still well below the worst-case scenario of 500,000, the PM argued.

Seizing on the positive news, Mr Johnson declared: “I can confirm today for the first time that we are past the peak of this disease, and on the downward slope.

“Or rather, we’ve come under what could have been a vast peak, as though we’ve been going through some huge alpine tunnel and we can now see the sunlight and pasture ahead of us.”

ANOTHER HUGE HEAVE OF 'COLLECTIVE DISCIPLINE'

But warning that there was much more still to be done, he added: “It is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain.”

Calling for another huge heave of “collective discipline”, the PM said: “I know we can do it, because we did it, we’ve shown we can do it, in phase one of this disease.

“This country came together in a way few of us have seen in our lifetimes.”

The PM also insisted the key to when the lockdown will end will be what effect actions have on the rate of the virus’s transmission — known as R, for reproduction.

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Boris Johnson joined the clap for carers after returning to the daily briefingsCredit: PA:Press Association

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Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance talked about 'halving time of the epidemic, when we previously we talked about the doubling time'Credit: crown copyright

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If R is higher than one, it means any infected person will pass on the virus to more than one other — and the bug could spread rapidly again in a fresh outbreak.

But if R can be kept under one, the disease should eventually fade away as not enough new people are infected to sustain it.

Covid-19’s R rate was at three when the lockdown was ordered on March 23.

In a bid to educate the public on the concept of R, the PM even showed a cartoon video about it at the press conference — put together by former Tory election campaign chief Isaac Levido and his Kiwi digital whizzkid Ben Guerin, who have both been drafted into No10 to help with the fight.

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN VIRUS SPREAD

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance revealed his best estimate is today’s R rate is “between 0.6 and 0.9 across the nation”.

He admitted there were regional differences, and the rate is still believed to be high in care homes.
In London, the R rate is as low as 0.5 to 0.7 per cent.

Sir Patrick added: “Because R is below one, we’re now talking about the halving time of the epidemic, when we previously we talked about the doubling time”.

Mr Johnson said the government is now able to draw up “much more sophisticated” ways of tackling the virus due to a huge influx of data which was previously unavailable.

Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff

We are urging Sun readers to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.

We are backing a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.

A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.” SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”

We are asking our readers to please sign the petition below.

The PM also insisted that the more the R rate is pushed down, “the faster we can get out of this”.

His declaration signals a victory for Health Secretary Matt Hancock in a Cabinet row on when to start relaxing lockdown restrictions.
Some ministers have not wanted to wait any longer to start reopening businesses.

But Mr Hancock has pushed for a longer timeframe in a bid to guarantee no second peak.

PM'S CANCER TREATMENT VOW

Meanwhile, the PM vowed cancer patients will get the treatment they need. He was asked about expert predictions of a “ticking timebomb” for sufferers, with fears the virus crisis could overshadow treatment.

The Sun’s Executive Editor and TalkRadio host Dan Wootton raised the question yesterday after leading oncologists feared there could be tens of thousands of extra cancer deaths as a result of the pandemic.

But Mr Johnson replied: “It’s very important if people have urgent conditions that needs treatment they should go to hospital.

“When it comes to urgent cancer care, people will get the treatment they need, let’s be absolutely clear about that.”

THINK BIG

Matt Hancock warned he must triple size of contact tracing force to end lockdown

COVER UP

Brits will be asked to wear face masks when lockdown is lifted, Boris confirms

HEADING TO THE EXIT

Boris promises plan next week for lockdown exit with UK now 'past peak'

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT

Influencers & celebrities are 'gateway drug' to fake virus news

STAY INSIDE

PM says we must 'keep going' with lockdown as he prepares to extend it to June

And chief medical officer Chris Whitty added that on top of cancer treatment, the NHS “definitely can” deal with emergencies such as strokes and heart attacks.

He said: “One of the worries we have is that people are thinking, ‘Well, I can’t go to the NHS because it can’t deal with these emergencies’. It definitely can.

“You are absolutely correct that what we are very determined to do is to make sure that as much as normal non-emergency services for the NHS and public health are switched on in a responsible way.”

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Mr Hancock has pushed for a longer timeframe for exiting lockdown in a bid to guarantee no second peakCredit: Press Association

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Restrictions will stay in place until June at least, Downing Street aides have warnedCredit: Getty Images - Getty

'TOO SLOW' DENIAL

BORIS Johnson issued a vigorous defence of his handling of the coronavirus crisis last night.

The PM rejected claims he was slow to order the lockdown.

Mr Johnson said he had imposed the social distancing measures earlier in the trajectory of the virus than countries such as Italy, Spain and France.

He insisted: “I think it was completely right to make our period of lockdown coincide as far as we possibly could with the peak of the epidemic.”

However, he did admit: “We’re learning lessons every day.”

He said the Government had struggled with logistical problems in getting adequate supplies of personal protective equipment for frontline workers and in expanding coronavirus testing.

But he vowed to overcome the challenges.

He also ruled out imposing austerity on Brits to pay for the Government’s extensive package of measures to prop up the economy.

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

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To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
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Boris Johnson rules out austerity to balance the books if coronavirus crisis damages the economy

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2020-04-30 22:25:58Z
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Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson's 'success' is 'woeful delusion' - Daily Mail

PIERS MORGAN: Breathless bullish*tter Boris can boast about his ‘successful' coronavirus war all he wants, but Britain’s horrendous death toll tells the real shameful story

By Piers Morgan for MailOnline

Published: 21:19 BST, 30 April 2020 | Updated: 22:14 BST, 30 April 2020

Boris is back!

And everything’s going to be great!

That was the emphatic message sent to the country today as the Prime Minister returned to the daily UK government coronavirus press briefing after weeks of absence while he battled the deadly disease himself.

He was breathless, I assume from residual side-effects of the virus.

But it could also have been from excitement at being able to deliver so much tremendously positive news.

Boris Johnson takes part during the 'Clap for our Carers' campaign in support of Britain's NHS in front of 10 Downing Street in central London on Thursday evening

BOOM! We’re over the peak of coronavirus and on the ‘downward slope’!

BOOM! The first stage of our battle with COVID-19 has been a triumph because we’ve ‘succeeded to avoid the tragedy that engulfed other parts of the world’ and 500,000 people didn’t die!

BOOM! The disintegrating economy’s going to ‘bounce back strongly’!

BOOM! There will be a ‘comprehensive roadmap’ released next week to show how we’ll be coming out of lockdown!

Going full Julie Andrews, Boris assured us that though it’s been like coming through ‘some huge alpine tunnel’, we’ll soon be seeing sunlight and pastures again!

Oh, and he wanted us to know ‘we are throwing everything at it, heart and soul, night and day’!

Wow, this all sounded fantastic.

It also sounded like complete and utter bullsh*t.

Boris Johnson gave heartfelt thanks to the NHS and urged Britons to 'keep going' with lockdown tonight as he headed his first Downing Street briefing since falling ill

A few weeks ago, I compared President Trump to Comical Ali, Saddam Hussein’s ludicrous ‘Information Minister’ during the Iraq War who boasted that American ‘infidels’ were killing themselves ‘in their hundreds’ at the gates of Baghdad – as TV viewers could hear US weaponry loudly destroying Iraqi forces in the background.

I didn’t think it would be possible for any world leader in this crisis to sound more delusional than Trump, whose antics at his own daily briefings have become an unedifying masterclass in how not to handle a pandemic.

But Boris managed to make Trump seem almost credible, and his sycophantic loyalists on social media lapped it up.

‘That’s our guy!’ they drooled as Boris informed us in no uncertain terms that we’re going to get this virus done, just as he got Brexit done.

But the virus isn’t like Brexit.

It’s not a political ideology that can be open to debate, or an argument that can be won with buffoonery, bluster and Churchillian soundbites.

PIERS MORGAN: None of Boris Johnson’s political skills that won him the Referendum and December’s election are working like they did before the virus struck

COVID-19 doesn’t even know who Boris Johnson is, let alone care for his love of Cicero, ability to speak fluent Latin, prodigiously enthralling private life, or distrust of the European Union.

When Boris fans, the vast majority of them with union jack flags and Brexit slogans in their profiles, scream abuse at me all day long on Twitter for challenging their hero’s coronavirus strategy, they do so because to them, any criticism of the government over this crisis is a re-run of the viciously toxic and partisan Brexit campaign.

(Ironically, they all loved me when I demanded the result of the Referendum be honoured, despite myself voting Remain)

But Brexit has never seemed more utterly irrelevant to this war, not least because EU member states ran for their own individual self-serving hills the moment it began.

And none of Boris Johnson’s political skills that won him the Referendum and December’s election are working like they did before the virus struck.

The reason for this lay in one simple chart that appeared on screen after he finished speaking.

Entitled ‘Global Death Comparision’, it showed that the UK is now trending to be the second worst country in the world for coronavirus deaths.

This follows yesterday’s massive spike in our official death toll following the government’s shamefully belated inclusion of deaths outside hospital in care homes and community.

The reported number of UK fatalities is now 26,711.

 The latest slides from the government revealed the global death comparison

But Financial Times journalists have crunched all the available Office of National Statistics data and estimate the real total including all ‘excess deaths’ is now over 48,000.

Whatever the exact number is, it’s a staggering and horrifying one.

It means a football stadium full of people has died already in this country, and people are still dying in their hundreds every day.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific officer, is on record as saying that a final death toll of 20,000 would have been a ‘good result’.

So, we’re now into bad result territory, and it’s clearly going to be a very, very bad result indeed.

The big question is why?

And the increasingly obvious answer is because the UK’s whole strategy to fight this virus has been a fiasco from start to finish.

We were scandalously slow and complacent in our response to its outbreak.

We were scandalously under-prepared for it, particularly when it came to stock-piling Personal Protection Equipment for health workers and securing enough coronavirus tests as soon as the severity of the crisis became clear.

We were scandalously late to order a lockdown.

We were scandalously complicit in sending infected elderly hospital patients back to care homes without testing them.

And we’ve been scandalously inconsistent in performing policy U-turn after policy U-turn.

As I watched the briefing today, I saw a Prime Minister who knows all this but is desperately trying to avoid any blame or accountability.

‘I had wonderful care!’ he declared, which is great – if you’re him.

But what about the dreadful lack of care he has shown to the oldest and most vulnerable members of our society?

Thanks to the disgraceful failure to test patients before sending them back to the homes, the country’s 11,000 care homes have become horrible hotbeds of infection and death both for the residents and care workers.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said earlier this week that care homes had always been a ‘priority’ from the start of this crisis.

But this is a demonstrable, as care home chiefs have raced to attest.

A handful of ministers and officials attended Cabinet in person today, while others joined by video conferencing

As late as mid-March, the government advice was still that there was little risk of anyone in a care home being infected, which explains why they were so lax with PPE or testing for care homes.

Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, batted away questions about our death toll by saying we should wait until it’s all over before being so judgmental. ‘Let’s not go charging in on who’s won and lost,’ he said, ‘this epidemic has a long way to go.’

Yet Boris Johnson had literally just said we’re ‘over the peak’.

Which one is it, Professor?

And given the government’s every move has apparently been ‘guided by the science’; forgive us if we don’t insist on asking rather difficult questions right now of the scientific decisions that have led us to have such a disastrous death toll.

Especially when ‘the science’ has changed so radically, so often.

We pursued a policy of ‘herd immunity’, as confirmed by Sir Patrick Vallance, for many weeks until our ‘experts’ suddenly realised it was a total disaster that would kill 500,000 people.

We didn’t lockdown for several weeks after most countries, because the ‘experts’ said we didn’t need to and encouraged mass gatherings at events like the Cheltenham Festival and big football matches featuring visiting fans from other places like Madrid that were, incredibly, IN LOCKDOWN THEMSELVES.

Then we U-turned on that too, and now we can’t even start to come out a lockdown because so many have died from the virus.

The same ‘experts’ told us on March 13 we would no longer be doing testing outside of serious hospital cases.

Then we did a U-turn on that and made mass testing a top priority - and have had to play catch-up ever since. Yet the World Health Organisation’s advice for months has been ‘TEST, TEST, TEST’.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds, pictured together on March 9, before the UK went into lockdown

And unlike 90% of the world, we've refused to impose any stringent checking or quarantine measures at our airports, because 'the science' said we didn’t need to, but are now apparently planning to finally do it. 

Today came yet another U-turn: for weeks, we’ve been assured by the ‘experts’ there’s no need to wear face-masks. Indeed, Matt Hancock said just 48 hours ago that the evidence for the need to wear them was ‘weak.’

Now Boris Johnson has said we’re most likely going to be asked to wear them, for ‘epidemiological’ reasons. So, the science changed on that too.

All of which beggars the question: why the hell should we continue to trust these dithering ‘experts’ and their ‘science’?

Or our Prime Minister who seems to rely on them so blindly?

I don’t say this lightly, but because these ‘experts’ have guided us in a very different way to those of almost every other country in the world and the consequences have been disastrous and undoubtedly cost many lives.

And because they are still guiding all our decision-making now.

Boris Johnson wants us to think he’s handled this crisis as well as could be expected.

But he hasn’t.

The WHO declared COVID-10 a ‘public health emergency’ on January 30, but Boris was too distracted by ‘getting Brexit done’ the next day to pay any proper attention.

He then spent much of February off work with his girlfriend Carrie, sorting out his divorce, and preparing to announce her pregnancy and their engagement.

In doing so, he missed the first five COBRA meetings about coronavirus, and after he finally did host one on March 2, he boasted to us all that he’d been to a hospital with coronavirus patients inside it and ‘shaken as many hands as possible.’ This was four days after Italy recorded its 79th death and most of Northern Italy was in lockdown.

Unsurprisingly, Boris went onto catch the virus and nearly died, taking him out of the war for another few weeks.

He was only saved by the brilliance of the NHS staff, of whom over a hundred have now died on the frontline because they haven’t been properly protected by the man they saved.

‘I had wonderful care’,’ he said today.

And that’s great – for him.

But the cold hard truth is that Boris Johnson didn’t care enough about this virus when it really mattered, and that has made Britain one of the world’s worst coronavirus death-traps.

For him to now claim some kind of success is a woeful delusion.

The stats don’t lie, especially when the stats are corpses.

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2020-04-30 21:38:48Z
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Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson joins clap for carers after illness - Daily Mail

Heavenly thanks! Boris Johnson claps for carers from steps of Downing Street after NHS workers saved his life during coronavirus battle - as rainbows break through clouds while millions cheer on doorsteps across UK

• Millions of Britons stepped outside to clap for NHS staff, carers and other frontline workers for sixth time 
• Prime Minister, 55, took part in clap for first time since recovering from virus and birth of his newborn son  
• Rainbows formed just as the nation prepared to applaud - the same symbol children have used to thank NHS 
• Do you have pictures/video of clap for carers in your area? Email them to georgia.simcox@mailonline.co.uk
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Lara Keay and Sam Baker and Georgia Simcox For Mailonline

Published: 20:02 BST, 30 April 2020 | Updated: 22:25 BST, 30 April 2020

Advertisement

Boris Johnson led Britain's sixth weekly 'clap for carers' to thank the thousands of NHS staff and healthcare workers putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus after he overcame the deadly bug. 

Clap for Carers is now in its sixth week, with millions of Britons up and down the country stepping onto their doorsteps, balconies and front gardens to applaud frontline workers at 8pm every Thursday.  

The Prime Minister clapped on the steps of Downing Street just hours after claiming the UK is 'past the peak' of the virus and on a 'downward slope' in the number of deaths at his first daily press conference back at No10. 

His partner Carrie Symonds tweeted to say she had 'another wonderful reason' to clap for the Health Service this week too after giving birth to their baby boy yesterday.  

There were three cheers for newly-promoted Colonel Tom Moore outside his home in Bedfordshire to mark his 100th birthday today, with the PM giving him a personal thank you and his neighbours coming out in force to sing for him. 

Tonight people stood in awe as rainbows formed above their towns and cities just as they prepared to clap - the same symbol children have been putting in their windows as a thank you to the NHS.

Boris Johnson (pictured outside Downing Street this evening at 8pm) led Britain's sixth weekly 'clap for carers' to thank the thousands of NHS staff and healthcare workers putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus after he overcame the deadly bug

The family of Retired British Army Colonel Tom Moore, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and grandchildren Benji and Georgia emerge from outside his home in Bedfordshire as people clap, cheer and wish him a happy 100th birthday at 8pm 

Medical staff outside the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, join in the applause to salute local frontline heroes

NHS workers and people applaud outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign tonight

NHS workers applaud outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of their colleagues

Tonight people stood in awe as rainbows formed above their towns and cities just as they prepared to clap - the same symbol children have been putting in their windows as a thank you to the NHS

The Prime Minister's appearance came as: 

• Britain today announced 674 more coronavirus deaths in hospitals, care homes and elsewhere, taking the UK's official death toll to 26,711; 
• A report has warned that London's transport network could be crippled when the UK eases lockdown measures after TfL furloughed 7,000 staff; 
• Ministers have admitted that the government will 'probably' miss Matt Hancock's target for carrying out 100,000 tests a day - although the numbers have jumped to 81,000; 
• A poll has found two-thirds of the public believe the government acted too late in imposing the lockdown; 
• Fresh questions have been raised about the SAGE group amid claims that it has been influenced by politicians and senior officials; 
• NHS fundraising hero Tom Moore has been promoted to colonel and honoured with an RAF flypast to mark his 100th birthday;
• Top surgeons have warned thousands of people will die of Covid-19 if Britain's strict lockdown is lifted at this stage, saying the NHS must not be used as a 'punchbag' to avoid economic damage; 
• Germany has said its coronavirus reproduction rate is 0.76, well below the growth level of one, despite fears over easing of curbs. But scientists have warned the UK has less room to manoeuvre on lockdown because it has far fewer intensive care beds   

Mr Johnson's fiancee and new mother Carrie Symonds said she would be joining in the clap for carers again, a day after giving birth to a baby boy.

She tweeted: 'Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday. I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too. Thank you so, so much!'

The PM said as he applauded the healthcare workers that saved his life: 'Thanks to the NHS. Thanks to everybody, thanks to all the carers and to Captain Tom!' 

He later tweeted: 'Tonight I proudly clapped outside 10 Downing Street for our fantastic NHS and carers. Thank you all for everything you are doing.' 

Mr Moore was made an honorary colonel by the Queen to mark his milestone birthday, which saw his fundraising total surpass £32million.

Residents of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire where 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore lives were out on the streets to sing him a happy birthday at the 8pm clap for carers gathering 

Nursing staff clap as their colleagues look out from a window at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow as they join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers

Medical staff laugh and smile as they clap their colleagues outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hosptial in central London

Chancellor Rishi Sunak was seen at a safe two metre distance to the Prime Minister on Downing Street this evening

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was pictured applauding outside his home in north London with his wife at 8pm 

Boris Johnson's fiancee and new mother Carrie Symonds said she would be joining in the clap for carers again, a day after giving birth to a baby boy

He only set out to raise thousands for the NHS when he began his mission to walk 100 laps of his garden by the time he turned 100. 

But after his campaign captured the heart of the nation donations flooded in, leaving him overwhelmed by the support.

Tonight residents of his village Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire flooded the streets to give him three cheers and sign him a happy birthday. His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and grandchildren Benji and Georgia stood at the gates of his home and beamed as they too clapped for the NHS.   

Chancellor Rishi Sunak was seen two metres apart from the PM on Downing Street, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer clapped with his wife outside their London home. 

Tweeting a photo of himself clapping, he wrote: 'We're past the peak, it's Captain Tom's Birthday and we have the best carers of anywhere in the world. So much to clap for tonight.'

Bagpiper Louise Marshall performs in Leith, Edinburgh, during tonight's clap for carers to say thank you to frontline staff

Doctors applaud their colleagues outside the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent in the sixth weekly clap for carers

Members of the public out on Westminster Bridge in central London stay a safe space apart to applaud frontline workers

NHS workers clap outside Aintree University Hospital and thank Liverpool for staying home, staying safe and for their support

Hospital staff outside King's College Hospital in Camberwell, south London, join in the applause to salute local heroes

A teary NHS worker at Liverpool's University Hospital stands outside to applaud her colleagues working on the frontline 

Nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead come out to applaud during the Clap For Our Carers on Thursday 

One resident in Penarth, Wales, came out to clap wearing a thank you T-shirt emblazoned with a rainbow - the new symbol of gratitude for the NHS  

Staff and First Responders outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, take part in the weekly clap for health care workers

NHS workers clapping outside Aintree University Hospital hold a banner from Louie, 3, saying happy birthday to Colonel Tom and thanking his mum

Met Police officers outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London join in the applause to salute local heroes

One family stands proudly on their street in central London beaming as they applaud NHS and frontline key workers up and down the country

Nuns outside St Anthony's Convent of Mercy in Sunderland sing and clap for the NHS and other key workers on the front line

The rainbow blessed Tina, Brogan and Lauren in Bourne, Lincolnshire, during the clap for carers. They clapped with their saucepans and spoons under an umbrella

Things got too emotional for one medic at Liverpool University Hospital who failed to contain her tears during the emotional clap 

One woman tweeted a picture of her elderly mother sat on a chair outside their home ready to clap for carers at 8pm 

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a video of her applauding and added: 'Thank you so much to everyone working hard every day to care for us and keep our essential services going #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForTheNHS'

People across the country also found unique ways to pay tribute to Captain To Moore - now an honorary colonel - including piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Louise Marshall - on his milestone birthday

Often referred to as Scotland's National Piper, Ms Marshall has been playing her bagpipes during every Clap for Carers so far.

But she wanted to join the rest of the country in adding a special tribute to Captain Tom, saying: 'It was really special, absolutely. This is my sixth week or so because I played the week before lockdown as well. I get so much amazing feedback.

'Especially because it was 'Colonel' Toms' birthday I thought I would play Happy Birthday for him. Everybody sang along and the rain stopped just in time as well. It was absolutely perfect.' 

One group of housemates in Brighton stood on their balcony with a sign saying 'PPE now' in reference to shortages of protective equipment for staff across the Health Service 

A man wearing a face mask claps for the NHS underneath a floral rainbow at University College Hospital, London

One woman outside King's College Hospital in London wearing blue gloves hangs from the window of a silver car as she joins in with the clap for key workers

Ambulance workers join in with the Clap for Carers in support of the NHS outside the Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets

Wellwishers are pictured beaming outside the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester to salute their local heroes 

Staff stand outside the Royal London Hospital and take part in the applause for carers and key workers on April 30

Nursing staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, look out from a window and join in the applause while wearing face masks and visors 

NHS staff are seen smiling as they clap for each other and their colleagues outside the Dorset County Hospital tonight 

Staff at King's College Hospital join members of the public in applauding key workers during the weekly Thursday night 8pm clapping

Meanwhile staff at Manchester Airport went one step further on Clap for Carers this week and showed their appreciation with a fabulous display on the runway.

They used planes, fire engines and other vehicles to spell out 'NHS thank you' and a water cannon salute was formed behind the vehicles. 

Manchester Airport currently remains open for a small number of essential flights. There are a few staff members still based at the airport, such as airline workers, handing agents and the fire service, who are all classed as key workers.

Nurses at the Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands take part in an emotional clap for carers for the sixth week in a row

Medics, nurses and NHS hospital staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital stand outside the front entrance at 8pm to salute local frontline heroes 

Workers at the Nightingale field hospital at the ExCeL Centre in east London stand at two metres saluting their colleagues

Members of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in Hartley Wintney near Basingstoke are seen clapping while social distancing this evening

Bus drivers and firemen in Northern Ireland were also among those showing appreciation for the NHS on Thursday.

The fire service arranged banners on some Co Antrim stations with the now familiar rainbow.

Public transport provider Translink also positioned buses at a Londonderry depot in the shape of a heart, while city of Derry Airport's ground staff and emergency response members stopped to applaud healthcare workers.  

People took to Twitter in the hour before the clap after spotting rainbows in multiple places across the country.

The rainbow has been adopted as a symbol for the weekly clap and one Twitter user, @Pazza_81, commented 'that's some timing' after the colourful displays lit up the sky. 

One household in Leeds erected a massive rainbow balloon archway outside of their house as they prepped for the weekly Thursday night clap

Local resident Megan Gates, plays 'You'll never walk alone' on her saxophone in Northampton to pay tribute to NHS workers

Howard Morritt is in a band and plays every Thursday. Last week he sang somewhere over the rainbow and this week Stand By Me. As he was preparing two minutes before the clap tonight, a rainbow appeared in the sky

Music teacher Kathy played has played Somewhere Over The Rainbow on the violin every Thursday evening at 8pm since lockdown in Aldridge, West Midlands

Captain Tom Moore's great nephew delivered a cake to staff at a Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust hospital. Another of Captain Tom's great nephews was one of the staff members who received the cake

Plaistow Fire Station crew in east London stand outside their building as they clap. The blue light on their fire engine can be seen flashing behind them

NHS workers outside A&E at the Aintree University Hospital line up despite the rain to applaud their colleagues at 8pm 

Staff at Manchester Airport showed their appreciation for key workers by using planes, fire engines and other vehicles to spell out 'NHS thank you' on the runway

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were sent a 10ft-high balloon tribute to the NHS including a balloon nurse and balloon Captain Tom Moore to celebrate his 100th birthday

St Bede's College in Manchester was lit up in blue to mark the weekly clap for carers paying tribute to the NHS 

Landmarks in Sunderland were lit up in rainbow colours to reflect the NHS rainbow at 8pm this evening 

Belfast's City Hall was lit up in blue - the colour of the NHS - to pay tribute to all the frontline workers risking their lives in the fight against coronavirus

Mutlicoloured arches were visible in London, Manchester and Liverpool, among others, and a few lucky people saw double rainbows. 

When the clock struck 8pm, Britons banged pots and pans, sang, chanted and dressed up to say thank you to those caring for patients in hospitals, care homes and the community.

Meanwhile emergency services vehicles blared their sirens and flashed their blue lights as they paid tribute to their colleagues.  

Buildings were lit up with messages of solidarity and gratitude, with several skyscrapers and other famous landmarks in London specially illuminated for the occasion.   

The nationwide campaign was started by a Dutch woman from London called AnneMarie Plas, who went viral with her plea to clap for healthcare workers after seeing it take place in her home country and others around Europe. 

A double rainbow appeared over Danbury, Essex, this evening, just in time for the 8pm clap for key workers

Jessica Gent posted this rainbow picture from London in the run-up to the sixth weekly Clap For Carers 

This pictured was taken in Billericay, Essex, in the run-up to tonight's Clap For Carers 

Another picture of a rainbow, the symbol children have painted in their windows to say thank you to the NHS, was posted online

Rainbows were seen nationwide, with one Twitter user called Pamela commenting: 'That's some timing' 

Do you have pictures/video of clap for carers in your area? Email them to georgia.simcox@mailonline.co.uk

'So much to be grateful for tonight': Kate Garraway says husband Derek is 'still with us' but is facing a 'battle' with coronavirus as she joins clap for carers 

By Joanna Crawley for MailOnline

Kate Garraway has given fans an update on her husband Derek Draper's condition as he continues to battle coronavirus.

Joining the clap for carers on Thursday night, the Good Morning Britain host shared a video on Instagram of herself applauding with her family, writing that they have 'so much to be grateful for tonight.' 

'Derek is still with us but what a battle it is. So grateful too for our amazing NHS doing so much for Derek everyday,' Kate wrote in a lengthy caption. 

'Wonderful to see all the support for them & our key workers every Thursday. We can’t thank them enough can we ? So brave,' she continued. 

'Sending love to everyone during this ghastly time , particularly all those struggling for whatever reason- none of this is easy.'

Smiling: Kate Garraway has given fans an update on her husband Derek's condition as he continues to battle coronavirus

'Thank you so much for your messages - they mean so much to me. . Love and so much thanks from me and the whole family. X'

The video showed Kate banging pots and pans on the doorstep of her London home, before she turned to face the camera with a smile on her face. 

Last Friday, Kate's Good Morning Britain co-host Ben Shephard revealed Derek, 52, was in a coma in intensive care after contracting the virus.  

Kate shared another heartbreaking update with fans on her Club Garraway Wellbeing website last week, as she thanked them for their messages of support.

The presenter went onto praise NHS staff for their incredible care of her husband as he remains in a 'deeply critical condition.'

Kate wrote: 'You may have seen over the last few week that my husband Derek has been seriously ill in hospital with COVID-19. 

'I am afraid that he remains in a deeply critical condition and is very ill, but he's still alive so there is hope.

'It remains an extremely worrying time for us all and the last couple of weeks have been the hardest of my life.

Update: Joining the clap for carers on Thursday night, the Good Morning Britain host shared a video on Instagram of herself applauding with her family

 

Battle: 'Derek is still with us but what a battle it is. So grateful too for our amazing NHS doing so much for Derek everyday,' Kate wrote in a lengthy caption

Kate went onto once again praise NHS staff for their incredible work caring for her husband, and thanked her fans for sending their own well wishes. 

She added: 'From the bottom of my heart a billion thank yous to the extraordinary NHS workers whose skills, dedication and downright guts in the face of so much personal risk, are keeping my Derek alive, just as they are for thousands of other COVID patients

'Sending so much love and support to the thousands who have had that hope for their loved ones stolen by this hideous disease. You are not alone and I hope that helps give you strength to withstand the torture of grief.

In our thoughts: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 52, took to Twitter on Wednesday to reply to a fan whose mum lights a candle for Derek every night 

Family: Former Blair adviser Derek, 52, pictured with their two children Darcey, 14, and William (Bill), ten, in November

'I wanted to send a huge thank you to all of you who have sent me such a wonderful messages wishing Derek well. It has meant the world to me.

Ben continued: 'She's been able to talk to him, just to support him. A bit of reassurance [to him] hearing her voice.'

Kate also sent her thanks, via the show, to fans who have sent messages of support and admitted they have been a great source of comfort for her.  

He said: 'She said she's passed on the messages you've sent to her along to Derek as well so he's getting a sense of the support and positivity coming from all of you... 

'She can't respond to everybody but in quieter moments when she has 10 minutes, she can scroll through and the support she's getting from them is really helping... It's really tough. It's really tough because as she said he is critically, critically ill.' 

Challenges: The presenter shared an update with fans on her blog, explaining Derek remains in a 'deeply critical condition' and praising NHS staff for their care (pictured in 2010)

Heartbreak: Last Friday, Kate's Good Morning Britain co-host Ben Shephard revealed Derek was in a coma in intensive care after contracting the virus

Katie Price REUNITES with children Princess and Junior as she leads the stars clapping for the carers in weekly salute to the NHS, police and key workers helping to fight COVID-19  

By Eve Buckland for MailOnline

Katie Price reunited with children Princess and Junior on Thursday for the first time since lockdown began as they joined a nationwide applause in honour of the NHS, police and key workers during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The former glamour model, 41, looked delighted as she applauded with Princess, 12, and Junior, 14, who she shares with ex husband Peter Andre, and son Harvey, 17 - leading the famous faces supporting those on the COVID-19 frontline.

Princess and Junior have been isolating with Peter, 47, his wife Emily, 30, and their two children - and under current government guidance children under 18 can be moved between their parents' houses.

The family applauded enthusiastically as Katie said: 'Keep up the good work!'                 

Good cause: Katie Price reunited with children Princess and Junior on Thursday for the first time since lockdown began as they joined a nationwide applause in honour of the NHS , police and key workers during the coronavirus pandemic

Praise you: Amanda Holden was joined by husband Chris Hughes and daughters Lexy, 14, and Holly, eight 

Cheers to you: Rod Stewart was seen applauding outside his Essex home with wife Penny Lancaster and his children

Love Island's Dr Alex George, who is an A&E doctor working on the frontline, dedicated his applause to Captain Tom Moore, who raised £30m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

The star, 30, said: 'This one's for you Captain Tom, or Colonel Tom as he now is. This is for you' as he used a wooden spoon to bang on a saucepan.' 

For the past six weeks, NHS workers have been the recipients of the cheers and claps from the nation. 

After the first week, the event, organised by the Clap For Our Carers campaign, was expanded to include all key workers, such as supermarket staff, the emergency services and teachers who are continuing to work.   

On Thursday Britain announced 674 more coronavirus deaths in hospitals, care homes and elsewhere, taking the UK's official death toll to 26,711.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has returned to work after battling coronavirus, said Britain was past the peak of the pandemic but warned of the importance of maintaining lockdown. 

Top surgeons have warned thousands of people will die of Covid-19 if Britain's strict lockdown is lifted at this stage, saying the NHS must not be used as a 'punchbag' to avoid economic damage.

Cute: Former Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh joined the applause with young sons Bobby, five and Cole, three

Tribute: She shared a clip of her cradling Apollo before posting a snap of one of her daughters raising a colander and spoon in the air in front of a rainbow, with the caption 'Thank you NHS'

Thank you: Brian May and wife Anita Dobson also joined the applause, with the Queen rocker writing: 'To all of you out there risking everything. With our love - THANK YOU'

Cute: Myleene Klass once again took to her doorstep with daughters Ava, 12, Hero, nine and son Apollo, seven months to applaud

Earlier in the day Katie posed with her children as they modelled Harvey's custom designed t-shirt. 

Mum of five Katie had previously said she was self-isolating with Harvey due to the disabled teenager falling within the high risk category of those more vulnerable to COVID-19. 

Katie exuded glamour as she posed in a black t-shirt, which featured Harvey's artwork of a rainbow and a frog, with the slogan 'Love From Harvey xxx.'

Princess, Junior and Harvet posed up in white versions of the shirt, with Princess pairing her shirt with monochrome shorts and the boys wearing black joggers.

Medic: Love Island's Dr Alex George, who is an A&E doctor working on the frontline, dedicated his applause to Captain Tom Moore, who raised £30m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden

The children looked delighted to be reunited with their mother and older brother as they linked arms with Katie and Harvey and celebrated his success.

 The t-shirts will raise money for the NHS amid the coronavirus crisis, with 100 per cent of profits donated.  

Katie recently praised her former husbands Kieran Hayler and Peter for looking after their children amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The former glamour model, who also has Jett, six, and Bunny, five, with ex-stripper Kieran, 33 - hailed the parents 'great dads' as she revealed she's been communicating with her kids over FaceTime.

Siblings: Princess and Junior looked happy to be back with their brother at home

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODI3NDg3NS9Ccml0YWluLWNvbWVzLXNpeHRoLXdlZWstY2xhcC1OSFMtY2xhcC1jYXJlcnMuaHRtbNIBZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODI3NDg3NS9hbXAvQnJpdGFpbi1jb21lcy1zaXh0aC13ZWVrLWNsYXAtTkhTLWNsYXAtY2FyZXJzLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-04-30 21:13:23Z
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