An incredible 750,000 people have now signed up to be NHS volunteers in less than a week – three times higher than the initial target.

The applicants will be joining the coronavirus (Covid-19) effort and once the applications are processed they will work with the NHS as a volunteer army.

In a statement, the NHS wrote: “There are now a phenomenal 750,000 NHS Volunteer Responders signed up to relieve pressure on the NHS in England by supporting people most at risk to stay safe and well at home.

“Our team is now working flat out to process the many thousands of applications we’ve received, so we can get volunteers up and running as soon as possible. We have now paused recruitment and kindly ask anyone who is still interested in volunteering to wait a few weeks for the application process to reopen.”

Earlier this afternoon (29 March), Robert Jenrick addressed the media briefing where he said: “I think we’ve all been moved by the number of people who have signed up to be one of the Voluntary NHS Responders.

“Today we can announce an extraordinary three-quarters-of-a-million people have signed up to do that.”

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, went on: “In every city, in every town, in every village there’s going to be work to be done and in each of us there is the power to do it.

“And so please take part – please play your part. Please consider your friends, you family, your neighbours when you’re shopping. Please call the elderly and support them.

“When this is done – and it will be done – we all want to be proud of the part we have played together.”