Daily US Times: Identical twin sisters Katy Davis and Emma Davis have died within three days of each other after testing positive for coronavirus.

Thirty-seven-year-old Katy was children’s nurse, died at Southampton General Hospital on Tuesday. Her identical twin Emma died at the same hospital early on Friday. Emma herself was a former nurse.

“They always said they had come into the world together and would go out together as well,” said their sister Zoe.

She said the “amazing” pair had other health conditions, lived together, and had been unwell for some time.

“There are no words to describe how special they were,” she said.

“All they ever wanted to do was to help other people. Ever since they were young…they’d pretend they were doctors and nurses caring for their dolls.”

“They gave their everything to all the patients they looked after. They were exceptional.”

It doesn’t feel like any of this is real, Zoe said.

Katy worked at Southampton Children’s Hospital, tested positive for Covid-19 on admission to hospital and died on Tuesday evening.

Chief executive of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Paula Head, said: “Katy has been described by her colleagues… as a nurse people would aspire to be like and that nursing was more than just a job to her.”

“On behalf of everyone here… including our patients and the communities we serve, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to her family.”

“She’s been described as a dedicated and selfless nurse who had time for everyone sharing her skills and knowledge to ensure excellent patient care,” the Royal College of Nursing said in a statement.

Emma Davis also worked at the same hospital in the colorectal surgery unit for nine years until 2013.

Chief nursing officer Gail Byrne said in a message to staff: “She had the same underlying health condition as Katy and had been unwell prior to her admission when she tested positive for Covid-19.

“It goes without saying just how devastating and tragic this is for the family and all who knew them.

Colleagues and persons who knew Emma described her as an excellent nurse who was calm and cheerful and a good leader.

On Thursday evening, hospital staff held a “Clap for Katy” outside the main entrance, hours before her twin Emma’s death.

According to a list compiled by the Nursing Times, a total of 50 British nursing staff have died during the pandemic.