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| UK coronavirus live: death toll rises to 137; health officials get powers to detain | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the latest coronavirus developments in the UK | Rolling coverage of the latest coronavirus developments in the UK |
| The Labour MP Kate Osamor has been ordered to apologise by the Commons standards committee after it found that she broke parliamentary rules by using Commons notepaper to write a character reference for her son before he was sentenced in court for a drugs offence. The committee said in a report (pdf) that there was nothing wrong with Osamor supplying the reference, but that the use of Commons stationery implied her letter carried the authority of the house. But it was a relatively minor breach of rules, the committee suggested. | |
| The committee also said Osamor broke the code of conduct by threatening a journalist who came to her house, and by then at first refusing to respond to contact from the parliamentary commissioner for standards. | |
| In its report the committee said: | |
| The NHS has announced that a further 29 people who tested positive for coronavirus in England have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 128. It says the patients were aged between 47 and 96 years old and had underlying health conditions. | |
| These are hospital where the latest patients died: | |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust - 2 | |
| King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - 1 | |
| Barts Health NHS Trust - 2 | |
| North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust - 2 | |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust - 3 | |
| Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust - 1 | |
| Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust- 4 | |
| Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust - 2 | |
| Croydon Health NHS Trust - 1 | |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust - 2 | |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust- 1 | |
| Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust - 3 | |
| Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust- 1 | |
| Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - 1 | |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust - 2 | |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 1 | |
| Total: 29 | |
| It takes the total number of deaths in the UK to 137 | |
| The Co-op is to create 5,000 store-based posts which will provide temporary employment for hospitality workers who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus crisis. | |
| The retail giant said it is simplifying its recruitment process so successful candidates can start work within days. | |
| Permanent jobs will also be on offer at the Co-op’s 2,600 stores across the country. | |
| Pharmacies were warned not to take advantage of people panic-buying medical supplies after reports emerged of independent stores profiteering. | Pharmacies were warned not to take advantage of people panic-buying medical supplies after reports emerged of independent stores profiteering. |
| Most supermarkets and large chain chemists have been out of stock of over the counter drugs such as paracetamol in recent days as people have stripped the shelves bare in anticipation of becoming ill with Covid-19. | Most supermarkets and large chain chemists have been out of stock of over the counter drugs such as paracetamol in recent days as people have stripped the shelves bare in anticipation of becoming ill with Covid-19. |
| Some smaller pharmacies have been filling the gap by breaking down larger prescription batches of paracetamol and selling them on at inflated prices. The Guardian found one small pharmacy in south London offering paper bags of 13 paracetamol at 15p per tablet and without labelling, compared to 4p per tablet in supermarket packs last week. The same store was also selling a sample-sized bottle of hand sanitiser for £4, when standard supermarket bottles of hand sanitiser are 300ml, roughly six times the volume, and were priced at £3.49. | Some smaller pharmacies have been filling the gap by breaking down larger prescription batches of paracetamol and selling them on at inflated prices. The Guardian found one small pharmacy in south London offering paper bags of 13 paracetamol at 15p per tablet and without labelling, compared to 4p per tablet in supermarket packs last week. The same store was also selling a sample-sized bottle of hand sanitiser for £4, when standard supermarket bottles of hand sanitiser are 300ml, roughly six times the volume, and were priced at £3.49. |
| The regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council, told us that pharmacists may need to “depart from established procedures” given current exceptional circumstances and prepare smaller packs to keep families supplied, but should only sell them with the appropriate labelling and safety information. “The care of patients and the public should be the primary concern of pharmacy owners and professionals and they should not be exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic for financial gain,” a spokesperson said. | The regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council, told us that pharmacists may need to “depart from established procedures” given current exceptional circumstances and prepare smaller packs to keep families supplied, but should only sell them with the appropriate labelling and safety information. “The care of patients and the public should be the primary concern of pharmacy owners and professionals and they should not be exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic for financial gain,” a spokesperson said. |
| The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which represents pharmacists, said that splitting packs of paracetamol in this way was not normally within the rules, but that it was accepted that flexibility was needed. Its director of pharmacy Robbie Turner said: | The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which represents pharmacists, said that splitting packs of paracetamol in this way was not normally within the rules, but that it was accepted that flexibility was needed. Its director of pharmacy Robbie Turner said: |
| In the midst of further scenes of queues and panic at supermarkets, the logistics industry has appealed for calm, saying the supply chain is resilient and can cope with even the extreme disruption of coronavirus. | In the midst of further scenes of queues and panic at supermarkets, the logistics industry has appealed for calm, saying the supply chain is resilient and can cope with even the extreme disruption of coronavirus. |
| The Freight Transport Association said: | The Freight Transport Association said: |
| Policy director Elizabeth de Jong said: | Policy director Elizabeth de Jong said: |
| She said there were “challenges posed by the potential of illness and self-isolation of workers”, and that government could need to step in to help with driver shortages. | She said there were “challenges posed by the potential of illness and self-isolation of workers”, and that government could need to step in to help with driver shortages. |
| She added that it was vital that employees across logistics were recognised as key workers – and given urgent access to healthcare, washing and toilet facilities. | She added that it was vital that employees across logistics were recognised as key workers – and given urgent access to healthcare, washing and toilet facilities. |
| The Rail Freight Group said it was vital that all operational logistics employees, including rail freight staff, were classified as key workers. | The Rail Freight Group said it was vital that all operational logistics employees, including rail freight staff, were classified as key workers. |
| It also called on the government to waive access charges to the railway for freight trains during the crisis, to ensure the shipment of vital supplies even if disruption meant they were not fully loaded and normally economically viable. | It also called on the government to waive access charges to the railway for freight trains during the crisis, to ensure the shipment of vital supplies even if disruption meant they were not fully loaded and normally economically viable. |
| Police, public health and immigration officers will be able to detain people suspected of having coronavirus under new emergency powers rolled out by the government. | Police, public health and immigration officers will be able to detain people suspected of having coronavirus under new emergency powers rolled out by the government. |
| The new guidance would allow the officials to return people to where they have been asked to stay during the virus outbreak, believed to be in a bid to curb people leaving hospital early. They will also have the power to take people to screening and testing facilities. | The new guidance would allow the officials to return people to where they have been asked to stay during the virus outbreak, believed to be in a bid to curb people leaving hospital early. They will also have the power to take people to screening and testing facilities. |
| The bill says: “These measures look to fill existing gaps in powers to ensure the screening and isolation of people who may be infected or contaminated with the virus and to ensure that constables can enforce health protection measures where necessary.” | The bill says: “These measures look to fill existing gaps in powers to ensure the screening and isolation of people who may be infected or contaminated with the virus and to ensure that constables can enforce health protection measures where necessary.” |
| The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 0.1%, in a second emergency cut prompted by the coronavirus outbreak. | The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 0.1%, in a second emergency cut prompted by the coronavirus outbreak. |
| More to come over on our business live blog. | More to come over on our business live blog. |
| The government has published its coronavirus emergency powers bill. The full text is here (pdf) and it runs to 329 pages. | The government has published its coronavirus emergency powers bill. The full text is here (pdf) and it runs to 329 pages. |
| And here are the explanatory notes (pdf). This is the document that tells you what the bill will do in intelligible English. | And here are the explanatory notes (pdf). This is the document that tells you what the bill will do in intelligible English. |
| There are now 77 cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency has announced. | There are now 77 cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency has announced. |
| Trade bodies for the sport and physical activity sector have co-signed a joint letter to the chancellor setting out the urgent financial measures needed from government to stop community leisure facilities – and jobs – from disappearing amid the coronavirus pandemic. | Trade bodies for the sport and physical activity sector have co-signed a joint letter to the chancellor setting out the urgent financial measures needed from government to stop community leisure facilities – and jobs – from disappearing amid the coronavirus pandemic. |
| The letter, seen by the Guardian, stresses the value of the sector to nation’s (physical and mental) health and the economy, and outlines measures the government could take to protect businesses and jobs, including: | The letter, seen by the Guardian, stresses the value of the sector to nation’s (physical and mental) health and the economy, and outlines measures the government could take to protect businesses and jobs, including: |
| Salary payment support, as instituted in other European countries. | Salary payment support, as instituted in other European countries. |
| Rental/management fees reduction support. | Rental/management fees reduction support. |
| Making gym memberships tax deductible for a stipulated period. | Making gym memberships tax deductible for a stipulated period. |
| The bodies also seek clarification on the terms of loan provision, the government’s position on facility opening, business interruption insurance and the grounds for payouts, tailored financial support for self-employed physical activity professionals, as well as clarity on non-payment of VAT, NI, pension and payroll contributions during the period of disruption. | The bodies also seek clarification on the terms of loan provision, the government’s position on facility opening, business interruption insurance and the grounds for payouts, tailored financial support for self-employed physical activity professionals, as well as clarity on non-payment of VAT, NI, pension and payroll contributions during the period of disruption. |
| Our science correspondent, Hannah Devlin, has tackled some of the most prominent Covid-19 myths circulating at the moment, including on the effectiveness of face masks and how cautious young people should be. | Our science correspondent, Hannah Devlin, has tackled some of the most prominent Covid-19 myths circulating at the moment, including on the effectiveness of face masks and how cautious young people should be. |
| Here are some more lines from the briefing that Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, held earlier. It was billed as a science briefing, and Whitty and Vallance tried to stick to science, in at least one case refusing a question because it was deemed not “sciency” enough. | Here are some more lines from the briefing that Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, held earlier. It was billed as a science briefing, and Whitty and Vallance tried to stick to science, in at least one case refusing a question because it was deemed not “sciency” enough. |
| Whitty suggested that a long-term “exit strategy” from the current coronavirus policy could involve waiting for a vaccine. In response to a question about what the “exit strategy” was that would allow the restrictions currently imposed to be lifted, Whitty said there was a short, medium and long term view. In the short term, the aim was to delay and reduce the peak of the epidemic, he said. In the medium term, he said the aim was to reduce “overshoot” - which he said meant reducing the number of people who would get the virus overall. And in the long term, a vaccine was “one way out of this”, he said. But a vaccine would not happen very quickly, he said. He went on: | Whitty suggested that a long-term “exit strategy” from the current coronavirus policy could involve waiting for a vaccine. In response to a question about what the “exit strategy” was that would allow the restrictions currently imposed to be lifted, Whitty said there was a short, medium and long term view. In the short term, the aim was to delay and reduce the peak of the epidemic, he said. In the medium term, he said the aim was to reduce “overshoot” - which he said meant reducing the number of people who would get the virus overall. And in the long term, a vaccine was “one way out of this”, he said. But a vaccine would not happen very quickly, he said. He went on: |
| He said it was “improbable” to think a vaccine would be available within six months. | He said it was “improbable” to think a vaccine would be available within six months. |
| He said that it was unrealistic to expect to be able to get rid of the virus completely. He said: | He said that it was unrealistic to expect to be able to get rid of the virus completely. He said: |
| He said that, as the virus mutated, it was likely to become less dangerous. He said: | He said that, as the virus mutated, it was likely to become less dangerous. He said: |
| Two prisoners in Scotland have tested positive for the coronavirus, Scotland’s justice minister, Humza Yousaf, has said. Both inmates are in HMP Kilmarnock. | Two prisoners in Scotland have tested positive for the coronavirus, Scotland’s justice minister, Humza Yousaf, has said. Both inmates are in HMP Kilmarnock. |
| The individuals are currently being treated within the SPS estate and have not required hospital treatment.There are currently 28 individuals across the estate within SPS who are symptomatic. The spokeswoman said: “We are working closely with Health Protection Scotland and NHS colleagues to support those in our care and are following their advice. | The individuals are currently being treated within the SPS estate and have not required hospital treatment.There are currently 28 individuals across the estate within SPS who are symptomatic. The spokeswoman said: “We are working closely with Health Protection Scotland and NHS colleagues to support those in our care and are following their advice. |
| Prison visits are continuing to operate normally across Scotland. Any prisoner who presents with symptoms is required to self-isolate within their cell for seven days. | Prison visits are continuing to operate normally across Scotland. Any prisoner who presents with symptoms is required to self-isolate within their cell for seven days. |