UK prime minister says 20,000 former NHS staff return to fight virus
England's deputy chief medical officer said it could be six months before life returns to "normal"
In a video posted online, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed that some 20,000 former National Health Service (NHS) staff have returned to work to help the fight against coronavirus.
The UK prime minister, who is self-isolating after testing positive for the virus, said the country would get through the crisis "together", reports the BBC.
England's deputy chief medical officer said it could be six months before life returns to "normal".
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Coronavirus death toll in the UK is 1,228. Among those to have died is Amged El-Hawrani, a 55-year-old doctor and ear, nose and throat consultant at Queen's Hospital Burton. Last week an organ transplant consultant died after testing positive for the virus.
Professor Andrew Goddard, the head of the Royal College of Physicians, said "about one in four" of its workforce was currently off work, either with symptoms or isolating because family members have symptoms.
"I have got lots of colleagues sitting at home with family members. They themselves don't have symptoms and are chomping at the bit to try and get back to work," he said.
He added that widespread testing would mean staff who are well can return to work.
The UK government said it was ramping up testing of NHS frontline workers.
