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UK coronavirus live: London hospital declares 'critical incident' due to surge in patients UK coronavirus live: restaurants and pubs to close tonight; government will pay wages of those not working
(32 minutes later)
All the day’s developments as the government discusses new London clampdown on pubs, cinemas and gyms All the day’s developments as UK death toll reaches 177 and government announces new clampdown and financial easing
Boris Johnson said the government would be continually assessing the situation around pubs and cafes and other requested closures “to see if we can relax any of these measures”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is now outlining the government’s new package to protect workers and their employers, at the daily coronavirus press conference in Downing Street. This is a crucial issue for the economy, with some firms already laying staff off in response to a slump in demand this week.
Sunak says the economic intervention is “unprecedented” in the history of the British state, and will be one of the most comprehensive in the world.
People listening must realise “they will not face this alone, but it will take a collective national effort”, he declares.
To protect jobs, the chancellor announces that the government will step in and help pay wages, for the first time in UK history. It’s called the coronavirus job retention scheme.
Companies and organisations will be able to apply for a grant from HMRC to cover the wages of people who are not working due to coronavirus shutdowns, but who haven’t been laid off.
It will cover 80% of the salaries of these retained workers, up to £2,500 per month.
It means that workers across the company can retain their jobs, even if their bosses can’t afford to pay them, Sunak explains.
Johnson says the government is strengthening the measures announced on Monday to avoid unnecessary social contact.
Following agreement of all the four nations of the UK, Johnson said all cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants must close tonight.
Nightclubs, theatres, gyms, cinemas and leisure centres must also close on the same timescale.
Boris Johnson is starting his press conference now. New measures are expected as he updates the nation on his government’s response. He will be joined by Rishi Sunak, the chancellor and Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer.
A “critical incident” that had been declared at Northwick Park hospital following a surge in coronavirus patients has been stood down after lasting for 24 hours, the hospital confirmed.
Staff and residents at St Vincent’s retirement home have been using a combination of pen and paper and social media to send a message home to reassure families after the home was put on lockdown.Staff and residents at St Vincent’s retirement home have been using a combination of pen and paper and social media to send a message home to reassure families after the home was put on lockdown.
The chief constable of Merseyside police has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Liverpool Echo reports.The chief constable of Merseyside police has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Andy Cooke began self-isolating last week after displaying symptoms associated with the illness. He received confirmation that he had the condition today.Andy Cooke began self-isolating last week after displaying symptoms associated with the illness. He received confirmation that he had the condition today.
As of this morning, 32 cases had been confirmed on Merseyside, with 13 in Liverpool.As of this morning, 32 cases had been confirmed on Merseyside, with 13 in Liverpool.
EasyJet will ground the majority of its aircraft fleet from Tuesday 24 March, the airline has announced.EasyJet will ground the majority of its aircraft fleet from Tuesday 24 March, the airline has announced.
It will conclude rescue flights to repatriate customers by Monday, and will at most continue to run “a minimal schedule” of essential, mainly domestic routes.It will conclude rescue flights to repatriate customers by Monday, and will at most continue to run “a minimal schedule” of essential, mainly domestic routes.
With so many no-shows in recent weeks, EasyJet urged customers who do not intend to travel to rebook now to match any remaining flights to demand.With so many no-shows in recent weeks, EasyJet urged customers who do not intend to travel to rebook now to match any remaining flights to demand.
The airline has asked staff to take three months unpaid leave, but angered unions by also trying to reduce terms and conditions such as flexible rosters and meals.The airline has asked staff to take three months unpaid leave, but angered unions by also trying to reduce terms and conditions such as flexible rosters and meals.
Data from Italy indicates the coronavirus fatality rate is twice as high for men across all age groups, according to Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force response coordinator.Data from Italy indicates the coronavirus fatality rate is twice as high for men across all age groups, according to Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force response coordinator.
Birx reiterated the virus appears to be less deadly for younger people, but she emphasised younger people still need to take precautions.Birx reiterated the virus appears to be less deadly for younger people, but she emphasised younger people still need to take precautions.
“No one is immune,” Birx said. “We know it’s highly contagious to everyone. Do not interpret mild or moderate disease as lack of contagion or that you’re immune.”“No one is immune,” Birx said. “We know it’s highly contagious to everyone. Do not interpret mild or moderate disease as lack of contagion or that you’re immune.”
You can follow all our US coverage here.You can follow all our US coverage here.
A small transport operation, but one close to the Prime Minister’s heart, has fallen victim to the coronavirus.A small transport operation, but one close to the Prime Minister’s heart, has fallen victim to the coronavirus.
The Emirates Air Line – the east London cable car built on the instructions of the then mayor, Boris Johnson – will stop operating indefinitely from tomorrow.The Emirates Air Line – the east London cable car built on the instructions of the then mayor, Boris Johnson – will stop operating indefinitely from tomorrow.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 177.The total number of confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 177.
There have been 167 in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.There have been 167 in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
The number of deaths across the UK is up 40 on the equivalent total for yesterday – the biggest day-on-day rise since the outbreak began.The number of deaths across the UK is up 40 on the equivalent total for yesterday – the biggest day-on-day rise since the outbreak began.
The first coronavirus-related death in the UK was reported 15 days ago, on March 5.The first coronavirus-related death in the UK was reported 15 days ago, on March 5.
Manchester Airport will work from a single terminal following a fall in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.Manchester Airport will work from a single terminal following a fall in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesman said from Wednesday the airport, which has three terminals, will only operate Terminal One:A spokesman said from Wednesday the airport, which has three terminals, will only operate Terminal One:
Luxury perfumer Miller Harris is donating its entire stock of 11,000 hand washes, hand lotion and hard soaps as treats for the elderly via Age UK.Luxury perfumer Miller Harris is donating its entire stock of 11,000 hand washes, hand lotion and hard soaps as treats for the elderly via Age UK.
The company is distributing soaps and hand washes to Age UK across the country. Support workers will then deliver the package to those in need within their local areas.The company is distributing soaps and hand washes to Age UK across the country. Support workers will then deliver the package to those in need within their local areas.
Iconic luxury store Harrods has announced it will be closing its doors amid the coronavirus crisis.
The department store in Knightsbridge, London, said it will keep its food halls and pharmacy open to continue providing “essential services” - but the rest of the store will shut from 7pm this evening.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden is to remain open, free of charge, from this Saturday, 21 March, until further notice.
Botanic Garden Friends said it was hugely important for accessible outdoor spaces to support physical and mental health at this difficult time.
M&S, Lidl, Aldi, Danone and Coca-Cola European Partners have partnered with donations platform Neighbourly to create the Neighbourly Community Fund, funnelling funds directly to community organisations helping those most at risk during coronavirus crisis.
The partners have already committed a combined total of almost £500,000 to the fund, to provide immediate micro-grants to community organisations that are helping the people most affected by the outbreak, including the elderly, those on low incomes and people at risk of food insecurity.
The launch of the fund follows a new survey of Neighbourly’s front-line charity and community partners, which showed:
More than 60% of charities have already seen a reduction in food surplus donations from businesses in recent weeks
75% of organisations expect to provide emergency provision after schools close
77% of charities supporting older people expect services to be disrupted, with 75% of organisations who support young people fearing the same
Northwick Park Hospital has declared a “critical incident” due to a surge in patients with coronavirus, the Health Service Journal reports.
In a message to staff seen by the HSJ, the hospital in Harrow said it has no critical care capacity left and has contacted neighbouring hospitals about transferring patients who need critical care to other sites.
The hospital is run by London North West University Healthcare Trust, which has since reported six deaths related to coronavirus, all at Northwick Park.
The news comes on the same day the Daily Telegraph reported (paywall) that Covid-19 patients were being turned away by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust as demand for lifesaving treatment surges.
The death toll in London has risen more sharply than the rest of the country, with figures revealing yesterday that four in 10 coronavirus-related deaths so far in the UK have been in London.
You can read the full HSJ story here.
A further 39 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 167, NHS England said.
The patients were aged between 50 and 99 years old and had underlying health conditions.
They died at hospitals run by the following NHS Trusts:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Trust - 2 Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust - 1 South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 1 Medway NHS Foundation Trust - 1 Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust - 2 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - 1 Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust - 2 Great Western Hospital NHS Trust - 1 Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust - 2 Royal Gloucester NHS Foundation Trust - 1 Royal United Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - 1 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 4 Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust - 1 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - 4 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust - 1 Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust - 3 London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust - 1 Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - 4 St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 3 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust - 1 Croydon Health Services NHS Trust - 2
Total: 39.
WhatsApp is in talks to set up a dedicated NHS chatbot to allow people to access basic information about the coronavirus pandemic, sources with knowledge of the discussions have told the Guardian, as the messaging service seeks to shed its growing reputation as a hub for disinformation about the pandemic.
Any NHS chatbot is likely to follow the same pattern as the one the World Health Organization launched on Friday, which gives people access to up-to-date information about the virus, and emoji-laden guidance on how to combat its spread, through the messaging service.
WhatsApp sources said separately that it had also considered whether it should further limit the number of people and groups to whom a single message can be forwarded, but that no change was imminent. The service introduced a limit last year that prevents a single message or piece of content from being forwarded to more than five people or groups at a time in an attempt to reduce the spread of fake news.
You can read the full story here.
The government needs to introduce food rationing urgently to prevent key workers and disadvantaged families going hungry, leading food experts have said in a letter to the prime minister today.
Tim Lang, a former government adviser and professor of food policy at London’s City University, said a major food crisis was rapidly unfolding. Rationing is already taking place unofficially in supermarkets but in a way that takes no account of people’s need, he has told Downing Street along with fellow authors, Prof Erik Millstone of Sussex University, and Prof Terry Marsden of Cardiff University.
They warn that food banks and food share schemes that give food to those on low incomes are reporting serious shortages, while key workers who can only shop at the end of their shifts are finding shelves empty and nothing to eat.
Lang said:
The food bank was unable to source food and essentials such as tinned meat and vegetables, long-life milk, and toiletries such as toilet paper and soap even though it had funding to buy them.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, head of operations at Fareshare, a charity that supplies food manufacturing and retail surplus to charities that would usually feed 1 million people a week, said it too was struggling to get supplies. He called for the government to step in immediately with funding and mandatory allocation of supplies:
The experts’ letter to the prime minister says “there is a dangerous tendency to blame consumers” and that the problems only arise because of panic-buying. In the absence of clearer planning, with market mechanisms failing, consumers are only acting rationally in preparing for being confined at home, the authors add.
Before coronavirus struck, nearly 8bn meals a year in the UK were being eaten out of home. Suddenly people are having to make nearly all their meals at home.
Gibbon-Walsh said supermarkets were struggling to adapt their algorithms quickly enough. These limit the amount delivered to stores to the amount of shelf space, number of people available to stack them, and number of drivers, so even though retailers have surplus at distribution centres, they cannot get it to stores to meet current demand.
Parking app JustPark has launched a nationwide appeal to increase the number of free parking spaces near hospitals by allowing the general public to list spaces for free via their app.
The aim is to ease pressure on NHS staff and patients with more parking options and to help them avoid using public transport to and from the hospital.
The app will not be levying any fees from the listings, in order to say a huge thank you to NHS workers and a ‘get better soon’ to patients.
Details here.
When Boris Johnson says we’ll turn the Covid-19 tide in 12 weeks, it’s just another line for the side of a bus, writes columnist Marina Hyde.
Read the full piece here.
Television channels are scrambling to commission new programmes suitable for a stay-at-home audience, with Channel 4 today announcing that it has commissioned Jamie Oliver to present a daily show providing tips for cooking simple recipes in a crisis.
The programme, entitled Keep Cooking and Carry On, will be broadcast every weekday next week at 5.30pm – with Oliver pledging to teach people “how to make the most from kitchen staples and how to be creative with whatever ingredients they’ve got at home”.
The BBC is already preparing its own new public service programming slate, including daily educational programmes and recipes for people with limited food supplies.