HEALTH secretary Matt Hancock has announced that a new temporary hospital will be built in London’s Excel centre.

The hospital, called the NHS Nightingale Hospital, will be open and ready for patients next week.

Mr Hancock, who gave yesterday’s Downing Street briefing, said: “The NHS Nightingale Hospital will comprise two wards, each of 2,000 people.

“With the help of the military and with NHS clinicians we will make sure that we have the capacity that we need so that everyone can get the support that they need.”

Mr Hancock also said the government is seeking 250,000 NHS volunteers to help out during the pandemic.

It comes as the department of health and social care confirmed 8,077 people have tested positive for coronavirus from 90,436 tests.

As of 1pm on Tuesday, 422 had died after contracting the illness.

Mr Hancock confirmed government has bought 3.5 million antibody tests to show whether people have had the virus.

He also stated that 7.5 million pieces of protective equipment had been shipped out in the last 24 hours, describing it as “literally a military effort”.

The health secretary said construction workers can continue to go to work, but must remain two metres apart at all times.

He said: “The judgement we have made is that in work, in many instances, the two-metre rule can be applied.

“In my work place, in the House of Commons, you can see it every day.

“Where possible, people should work from home and employers have a duty to ensure that people are more than two metres apart.

“The principles of what we are trying to achieve is to keep people apart to slow the spread.

“The more people follow the rules, the faster we will all get through this.”

In the House of Commons on Tuesday, South Dorset MP Richard Drax asked home secretary Priti Patel to “remind the public that they’ve got to stay at home”

It came after many visitors came to Dorset’s coastlines and parks at the weekend.

Mr Drax said: “Thousands unfortunately disobeyed the government’s guidelines and descended on Dorset’s coastlines, parks and everywhere else, causing local residents to get extremely cross.

“Could my right honourable friend just reassure the House and remind the public that they’ve got to stay at home and not mix in the huge numbers that they were doing.”

Ms Patel urged all members of the public to follow guidance and advice.

Locally, Nationwide Building Society said the majority of its administration staff in Bournemouth were now working from home.

The society has a large administration operation at Portman House on Richmond Hill, Bournemouth.

A spokesman said: “This step will protect the society’s employees and our ability to continue to support our members.