The news that Prince Charles has coronavirus came on the day the outbreak claimed Britain’s youngest victim.
The death of 21-year-old Chloe Middleton is a reminder that all ages are at risk.
Our thoughts are with her family. We also wish the Prince a speedy recovery.
The heir to the throne was one of the lucky ones who has been able to receive a test.
Our concern is the delay in rolling out a testing regime for NHS staff and care workers.
Boris Johnson says he hopes to have widespread testing available as quickly as possible.
The Prime Minister has yet to explain why Britain has been so slow to act when other countries such as South Korea have been aggressively testing for the bug.
Germany has the capacity to test 160,000 people a week. The UK has tested just 97,000 since the virus first appeared on our shores.
It looks like no coincidence that Germany has reported more cases of the coronavirus than Britain but has lower mortality rate.
Ministers also need to explain why it is taking so long to provide personal protection equipment to NHS and care workers.
Without masks, gloves and sanitisers these frontline workers are putting themselves and their patients at risk.
The Government is asking all of us to do our bit to help the country through this crisis. In return we expect it to play its part by providing NHS staff with the equipment they need and to rapidly expand the testing programme.
Clap for heroes
When the call went out for volunteers to support the NHS in its hour of need some thought it would go unanswered.
Instead people have responded in their hundreds of thousands.
This same spirit has also seen more than 10,000 former doctors and nurses come out of retirement to help the NHS. Everyone who does so knows they could be putting their own life at risk in order to save the lives of others.
They deserve our thanks and support.
Which is why we urge you to join the national round of applause at 8pm tomorrow night for all our NHS carers.
