The Health and Social Care Secretary made the announcement as he fronted the daily Downing Street press conference to reveal 82 NHS workers and 16 social care staff had died so far. The payout has echoed of lump sums paid to the families of military personnel who are killed while fighting for the nation. Mr Hancock said: ‘I feel a deep personal sense of duty that we must care for their loved ones.’
Families of medics who tragically lost their own lives to coronavirus after bravely trying to save others will receive a £60,000 life assurance payout, Matt Hancock revealed tonight.
The Health and Social Care Secretary made the announcement as he fronted the daily Downing Street press conference to reveal 82 NHS workers and 16 social care staff had died so far.
The payout has echoes of lump sums paid to the families of military personnel who are killed while fighting for the nation.
Mr Hancock said: ‘I feel a deep personal sense of duty that we must care for their loved ones.
‘Today, I am able to announce that the Government is setting up a life assurance scheme for NHS and social care frontline colleagues.
‘Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential frontline work will receive a £60,000 payment.
‘Of course, nothing replaces the loss of a loved one but we want to do everything we can to support families who are dealing with this grief.’
It came as the UK today announced 360 more coronavirus deaths – the lowest daily count recorded since March 30 when just 180 fatalities were registered.
Some NHS services that have been paused due to the coronavirus crisis will be restored from tomorrow as the pressure eases;
NHS doctors have been issued an urgent alert about a sharp rise in the number of children being admitted to intensive care with a serious ‘inflammatory syndrome’ that may be linked to coronavirus;
Boris Johnson announced his comeback with a plea for Britons to stick to coronavirus lockdown rules – amid mounting signs the public is starting to take matters into its own hands by getting back to work;
Economists warned the UK could take years to recover the ground it has lost, and taxpayers will be footing the bill for the government’s bailouts for decades;
A partial membership list of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) which informs the Government’s coronavirus response is to be published after concerns about a lack of transparency;
Ministers have insisted the 100,000-a-day target for coronavirus tests can be met this week despite the current level languishing at around 29,000.
