Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Salford have jumped to 127, a 23 rise on the previous day, which makes the city have the current highest number of cases in Greater Manchester. There have also been 28 deaths at Salford Royal Hospital, which doesn't include statistics for those who have sadly died in care homes or elsewhere.
Manchester now has 126 confirmed cases of the virus, followed by Oldham with 108, Stockport 101, Trafford 96, Rochdale 89, Bury 72, Tameside 69, Wigan 65 and Bolton 28.
The University of Salford, meanwhile, has donated specialist equipment to help run tens of thousands of COVID-19 tests per day...
"The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction equipment, or RT-PCR, can detect as little as one virus particle in swabs taken from inside the mouth or nose" states the University "The ABI 7500 machine is normally used by University researchers looking into lung inflammatory and fibrotic diseases."
The University has also donated personal protection equipment, or PPE, to Salford Royal Hospital Trust, including around 37,000 pairs of disposable gloves, over 500 lab coats, 100 pairs of safety glasses and 10 full body suits, as well as a supply of hand sanitiser.
The University's Maker Space a state-of-the-art engineering and digital fabrication facility has developed a prototype visor which is currently being tested by Salford Royal and will go into production this week, with 75 visors a day being made.
"I am so proud of the way in which university staff have stepped up to support our NHS at this vital time" says Professor Sheila Pankhurst, Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Environment "As a civic university, we are committed to supporting our community and local partners at all times, but never more so than now as part of this national effort to combat coronavirus.
"Staff acted swiftly and with great generosity to get much needed supplies and equipment to the frontline of this battle" she adds "When we put the call out for volunteers, we were inundated with staff wanting to help. We are all so grateful for all the work that the NHS is doing and that includes many of our current students and alumni who work in these vital services so this contribution is the least that we could do."
Meanwhile, the Walkden and Little Hulton Step into Action Group, set up by Gemma Fish and Henry Hill, a neuro rehab nurse at Salford Royal Hospital, has now recruited thirty volunteers who have been helping dozens of housebound people in the community with everything from delivering a newspaper, to collecting prescriptions and shopping, to sorting broken boilers, and just chatting.
The group has also helped over one hundred people find local employment, and supported self employed and recently unemployed people to get help from the Government's recently announced financial packages.
With a lot of staff from Bolton Hospital living in Walkden and Little Hulton, the group has also been helping donate items like toiletries, PPE equipment and food.
"Having received many messages offering help, money etc we have set up a JustGiving page for anyone who wants to donate" says Gemma "All the monies will be used to buy toiletries, PPE and food, with any monies that may be left over used within the community to help assist them with any basic needs required.
"We are trying to raise as much awareness as possible across our community and the surrounding areas" she adds We are working alongside the team at Spirit of Salford too but we are focused on our immediate area. We just want everybody in every household in our community to know we are here to help..."
To donate to the Walkden and Little Hulton Step into Action Group click here
For more details on the Group see also previous Salford Star article click here.
APRIL FOOLS' DAY
Over the years the Salford Star has prided itself on its ace April Fools' Day pranks but this year we didn't think it would be appropriate. So, instead, we intend to do a roundup of previous year's stories from bombs at Salford Quays, to the rat tax, rickshaws and Bez becoming Salford MP. Watch this space!
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