250,000 volunteers sought for NHS as UK sees highest virus deaths in a day

The unprecedented national effort to combat the spread of the virus has continued today.

The Government followed up yesterday’s demand for people to stay at home with a mass text message to the whole population. The Health Secretary said the new instructions were not requests but rules – but questions remain over exactly who is allowed to leave their home and how the police will enforce it.

He also announced a recruitment drive for 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS – and plans for a new hospital to open next week at the Excel Centre in east London.