NHS heroes thanked for sacrificing their lives as quarantined Boris Johnson joins millions of Brits to clap workers

BRITS loudly applauded their NHS heroes this evening for putting their lives on the line to fight coronavirus.

Millions of people came to their front doors and onto balconies to proudly clap for those on the frontline - as the quarantined Prime Minister joined the salute.

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Mr Johnson was pictured clapping the medics as he continues to self isolate and Prince William and Kate Middleton sent a message of support.

The PM told those gathered outside: "I am not allowed out really, I am just standing here."

Police officers and firefighters sounded their sirens to show their appreciation, as other medics grinned and applauded outside their hospitals.

The first emotional Clap For Carers took place on Thursday, March 26, and is expected to continue on a weekly basis.

ITV paused its programming as part of the tribute while Brits - including celebs like David Beckham, Paddy McGuiness and Rita Ora - whooped and cheered on the NHS and frontline key workers.

Last week millions cheered and set off fireworks to celebrate all those helping the country stay afloat.

Earlier Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking publicly for the first time since catching the killer bug, also paid tribute to them.

He told medics: "Many of those who died from the NHS were people who came to this country to make a difference - and they did, and they've given their lives in sacrifice and we salute them."

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The Sun urged readers to get behind a weekly pause for thanks, and encouraged people to even turn their house blue in support — like 200 UK landmarks including Tower Bridge, the White Cliffs of Dover and Angel of the North near Gateshead.

Millions took part in the first clap and Mr Hancock, in isolation with the illness at the time, said: “It was incredibly moving to see the country come together to thank our NHS heroes.”

Today he added: "I just want to give a shout out to the healthcare staff and the clap for carers has been a magical moment.

"I think so many of us felt so emotional when that happened last week and the whole country responded like it did.

"I know it's something The Sun has been leading the charge on and I pay tribute to your work in making sure that every single health and social worker across the NHS and across social care and other public servants know they are valued for the work they are doing, sometimes very dangerous work, to tackle this virus."

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Head of NHS England Stephen Powis said: "Can I add to that, I'm also very grateful on behalf of the NHS for the work that you and others have been doing, in terms of the media, supporting the NHS and I know tonight at 8'o'clock thousands will be coming to their doors."

It comes as the UK coronavirus death toll shot up by 569 today to 2,961 people - including 44 with no underlying health conditions.

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, added: “I know how much last week’s extraordinary scenes meant to my colleagues.

"So I would like to thank The Sun for backing this campaign.”

Four doctors have died after contracting Covid-19 - Dr Alfa Saadu, ear, nose and throat consultant Amged El-Hawrani, 55, Adil El Tayar, 63, an organ transplant specialist and Southend GP Dr Habib Zaidi.

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The Clap For Carers campaign, which started online, was staged because "during these unprecedented times they need to know we are grateful", according to the organisers.

Celebrities, members of the Royal Family and Brits from all over the country joined together last week, with other countries following suit in emotional applause.

A week ago, the total number of positive cases for the whole of the UK was 11,658.

The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has been rising on average by around 17 per cent per day - suggesting we are no closer to the "curve" flattening.

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NHS England today confirmed a further 561 people have died - bringing the total number of hospital deaths in the country to 2,698.

The latest victims were aged between 22 and 100 - including 44 with no underlying health conditions.

Positive cases for the deadly disease in the UK have also risen to 33,718 - up 4,244 from yesterday.

Today we told how an expert has urged the Government to muster its "Dunkirk spirit" to tackle the coronavirus testing crisis. 

Sir Paul Nurse, head of the Francis Crick Institute, called on the Prime Minister to let "small ship" labs start screening for Covid-19 - before time runs out.

It comes as the Government appears to be finally changing its approach over testing following weeks of insisting all screening should be carried out centrally.

TESTING TIMES

The measures followed by the UK were intended to make sure checks are properly conducted.

But they contrast dramatically by the decentralised approach successfully deployed in countries like Germany where 70,000 people are tested every day - compared to about 8,000 in Britain.

The Government have blamed the lack of testing on a shortage of testing materials used to properly make up kits.

In the latest virus tragedy a mum of six-year-old twin boys died of coronavirus despite having no known underlying health conditions.

Caroline Saunby, 48, had taken "every precaution under the sun" but contracted the deadly bug and died in hospital days later.

An exhausted paramedic battling coronavirus has today begged Brits "stay at home so I can see my son" after she was pictured with her head in her hands at the wheel of an ambulance.

Hannah Cassford was snapped looking utterly worn out as she joins the NHS frontline heroes trying to beat the killer bug.

The 27-year-old, from south east London, was caught in a brief moment of rest as she prepared to head to another emergency coronavirus incident.

The image went viral on Facebook after she posted the photo with a defiant plea to the public to stay at home during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

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