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| Coronavirus: Boris Johnson set to deliver first daily update | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson will outline the next steps in the UK's plan to fight coronavirus at the first of a series of daily news conferences. | Boris Johnson will outline the next steps in the UK's plan to fight coronavirus at the first of a series of daily news conferences. |
| The briefing will follow a Cobra meeting which is expected to look at what steps the government could take to protect elderly and vulnerable people. | The briefing will follow a Cobra meeting which is expected to look at what steps the government could take to protect elderly and vulnerable people. |
| The over-70s have been told they are allowed to go out for walks when their period of staying at home begins. | The over-70s have been told they are allowed to go out for walks when their period of staying at home begins. |
| The first person in Wales to die with Covid-19 brings the UK total to 36. | The first person in Wales to die with Covid-19 brings the UK total to 36. |
| Most of those who have died in the UK have been people over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions. | Most of those who have died in the UK have been people over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions. |
| The total number of people in the UK to test positive for the virus has risen by 171 in a day to a total of 1,543, according to the latest Department of Health figures. The latest cases include 30 more from Wales and 18 in Scotland. | The total number of people in the UK to test positive for the virus has risen by 171 in a day to a total of 1,543, according to the latest Department of Health figures. The latest cases include 30 more from Wales and 18 in Scotland. |
| More than 44,000 people have been tested in the UK. People self-isolating with mild symptoms are no longer being tested - the government said tests are primarily being given to hospital patients with respiratory problems, and to people in residential or care facilities experiencing outbreaks. | More than 44,000 people have been tested in the UK. People self-isolating with mild symptoms are no longer being tested - the government said tests are primarily being given to hospital patients with respiratory problems, and to people in residential or care facilities experiencing outbreaks. |
| Daily news conferences will be led by the prime minister or senior ministers, alongside Prof Chris Whitty, the government's chief medical adviser, and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. | Daily news conferences will be led by the prime minister or senior ministers, alongside Prof Chris Whitty, the government's chief medical adviser, and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. |
| It follows criticism of No 10 for an apparent lack of transparency over its plans to stem the spread of the virus, which causes the disease Covid-19. | It follows criticism of No 10 for an apparent lack of transparency over its plans to stem the spread of the virus, which causes the disease Covid-19. |
| Downing Street said the government was committed to keeping the public informed and would be led by science. | Downing Street said the government was committed to keeping the public informed and would be led by science. |
| Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that over-70s who will soon be asked to stay at home for an extended period would still be able to go for a walk outside. | Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that over-70s who will soon be asked to stay at home for an extended period would still be able to go for a walk outside. |
| "It's about being sensible but not mixing in crowds," he said. | "It's about being sensible but not mixing in crowds," he said. |
| And the BBC has said it will delay changes to the TV licence for the over-75s until August. Director General Tony Hall said it was important the corporation served the public "at this difficult time". | And the BBC has said it will delay changes to the TV licence for the over-75s until August. Director General Tony Hall said it was important the corporation served the public "at this difficult time". |
| The Cobra meeting, chaired by the PM, will discuss further interventions, such as protecting the elderly and vulnerable, and whether mass gatherings should be banned. | The Cobra meeting, chaired by the PM, will discuss further interventions, such as protecting the elderly and vulnerable, and whether mass gatherings should be banned. |
| Most schools across the UK remained open on Monday, despite blanket closures in countries such as Spain, France and Ireland. | Most schools across the UK remained open on Monday, despite blanket closures in countries such as Spain, France and Ireland. |
| Some decided to close, however, with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson due to meet head teachers to discuss their concerns later. | Some decided to close, however, with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson due to meet head teachers to discuss their concerns later. |
| Some universities have halted classes and moved all their lectures online while the National Education Union has said it is "unacceptable" for Ofsted inspections to go ahead during the pandemic. | |
| From Tuesday, face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability welfare payments will be suspended for three months. | From Tuesday, face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability welfare payments will be suspended for three months. |
| The suspension will apply to claimants of personal independence payments, employment and support allowance, some on Universal Credit and people on industrial injuries schemes. | The suspension will apply to claimants of personal independence payments, employment and support allowance, some on Universal Credit and people on industrial injuries schemes. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock said details of emergency legislation giving the government more powers to deal with the outbreak will be revealed on Tuesday. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock said details of emergency legislation giving the government more powers to deal with the outbreak will be revealed on Tuesday. |
| Hotels could be converted to makeshift hospitals and private hospitals could be called on to boost NHS bed numbers. | Hotels could be converted to makeshift hospitals and private hospitals could be called on to boost NHS bed numbers. |
| The government has asked any firms which may be able to help to produce ventilator machines for use in hospitals to call the Department for Business. | The government has asked any firms which may be able to help to produce ventilator machines for use in hospitals to call the Department for Business. |
| The fallout from the coronavirus has begun to hit industry, with travel operators and airlines reporting big reductions in services. | The fallout from the coronavirus has begun to hit industry, with travel operators and airlines reporting big reductions in services. |
| Easyjet, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Ryanair announced sweeping flight cancellations and warned hundreds of planes would be grounded. | Easyjet, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Ryanair announced sweeping flight cancellations and warned hundreds of planes would be grounded. |
| Train companies warned passenger numbers had fallen and P&O and Cunard said their cruise liners would suspend sailing until 11 April. | Train companies warned passenger numbers had fallen and P&O and Cunard said their cruise liners would suspend sailing until 11 April. |
| While the Luton car manufacturing site for Vauxhall will be closed from 19 to 27 March. Vauxhall cited supply disruptions and decline in the automobile markets. | While the Luton car manufacturing site for Vauxhall will be closed from 19 to 27 March. Vauxhall cited supply disruptions and decline in the automobile markets. |
| Mr Shapps told BBC Breakfast that good companies "shouldn't be put out of business" due to a downturn caused by the virus. | Mr Shapps told BBC Breakfast that good companies "shouldn't be put out of business" due to a downturn caused by the virus. |
| He will meet airline leaders and discuss potential financial support for businesses with Chancellor Rishi Sunak. | He will meet airline leaders and discuss potential financial support for businesses with Chancellor Rishi Sunak. |
| It comes as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a ban on non-essential travel to EU states - which does not include the UK as it split from the bloc in January. | |
| Calling for an initial travel ban of 30 days she said: "The less travel, the more we can contain the virus." | |
| Mr Johnson will speak with leaders of the G7 nations in a phone call on Monday, asking them to back the World Health Organization response and provide funding and expertise to develop a vaccine. | Mr Johnson will speak with leaders of the G7 nations in a phone call on Monday, asking them to back the World Health Organization response and provide funding and expertise to develop a vaccine. |
| A Public Health England (PHE) briefing, reported by the Guardian, warned the epidemic could last until spring 2021 and put 7.9 million people in hospital. | A Public Health England (PHE) briefing, reported by the Guardian, warned the epidemic could last until spring 2021 and put 7.9 million people in hospital. |
| Downing Street said the PHE briefing outlined a reasonable worst-case scenario. | Downing Street said the PHE briefing outlined a reasonable worst-case scenario. |
| In other key updates: | In other key updates: |
| What questions do you have about coronavirus? Let us know and a selection will be answered by a BBC journalist. | |
| Use this form to ask your question: | |