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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/mar/20/uk-coronavirus-live-confusion-over-key-workers-list-as-schools-close
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UK coronavirus live: confusion over list of key workers as schools close | UK coronavirus live: confusion over list of key workers as schools close |
(32 minutes later) | |
All the day’s developments as schools across the UK close their doors | All the day’s developments as schools across the UK close their doors |
A letter to the chancellor calling for the introduction of a universal basic income to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has been signed by 150 MPs. | |
The Labour MP for Enfield, Feryal Clark, tweeted a copy of the letter, which said the crisis “must act as a catalyst for innovative and bold solutions”. | |
The letter reads: | |
The letter followed a similar call from almost 500 experts, organised by Dr Neil Howard of the University of Bath. | |
One of London’s most famous live music venues which has hosted David Bowie, Adele and Amy Winehouse is to reopen on Monday as a hub for the local coronavirus response. The Union Chapel in Islington has cancelled forthcoming performances but will become the base for the local Covid-19 task force supporting rough sleepers. It will host a food bank and an initiative to proactively contact the most vulnerable people who may be in self-isloation. Staff including sound and lighting engineers will be asked if they want to take roles helping handle and distribute donations of food, but particularly hand sanitiser and soap which they plan to distribute to rough sleepers. | |
The venue, which doubles as a non-conformist church, will also periodically open bathrooms to allow rough sleepers to wash themselves regularly to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. The food and soap collection and distribution is being operated with Islington Council, the Museum of Homelessness and Streets Kitchen, while the venue will work with the charity Help on Your Doorstep to contact the vulnerable in isolation. | |
It will also continue to operate a night shelter for rough sleepers, providing hot meals and a place to wash clothes, alongside advice. | |
Michael Chandler, the chief executive, said: | |
The British Fashion Council, the not-for-profit organisation that promotes British design globally, has put a call out asking those with “production capacity” to help with shortages. | |
Saying in a post on Instagram that “in times of need, the fashion industry can be of service,” they are working with both the Department for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) and the Department for health and social care (DHSC) to manufacture essential products such as facemasks. The call follows some designers already taking matters into their own hands: Phoebe English, a London-based designer known for her focus on sustainability, announced earlier this week she would be turning her sewing machines to making face masks for medical professionals. While Kerby Jean-Raymond, the New York-based designer of Pyer Moss, has made his head office into donation centre. | |
A third person has died in Wales after contracting coronavirus, the chief medical officer for the country has confirmed. | |
They were aged 71 and had underlying health conditions, and were being treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Bridgend. | |
The Police Federation has called for officers in Northern Ireland to be tested for Covid-19 amid fears the spread of the virus could result in a skeleton workforce. | |
The representative body for Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers has also called for personal protective equipment to be made available for officers, including masks, gloves and scenes-of-crime white suits, as well as “spit and bite guards”. | |
There are currently around 200 coronavirus tests being conducted each day in the region. Only people being admitted to hospital and those in care settings are being routinely tested. | |
Plans were announced yesterday to increase that number to 800 within the next 10 days and also to widen the scope of the testing to cover certain groups of healthcare workers. | |
Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay stressed the importance of testing for PSNI officers, saying it will allow many more to remain at work: | |
There is still a lot of confusion about provision of school places for the children of key workers. | |
What we do know however is that the government has now clarified in its latest advice that households with at least one parent or carer identified as a critical or key worker will be able to send their children to school if necessary. | |
This is important because previously the Department for Education had advised that if just one parent was a critical worker, the other would be expected to stay at home to look after the children, but the changed guidance will be a relief to many families. | |
It’s perhaps inevitable in such a fast moving and unprecedented scenario that advice will adapt and change. | |
Much of the detail about how this emergency school/childcare system will work is still to emerge, but schools will be expected to be flexible to demand. | |
Some parents who are key workers may need only part-time care for their children in the emergency setting, others may choose not to send their children to school, but find alternative arrangements instead. | |
The government has published this Q&A for parents, but there are still many uncertainties for parents and headteachers who will close their schools for most children this afternoon, but will be working over the weekend to draw up plans for their new-look school on Monday. | |
After the Department for Education issued its guidance on occupations to be classed as key workers who qualify for childcare in school over the coming weeks and months, school and business leaders have reacted with their concerns.Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said parents should keep their children at home if possible from Monday, and to only send them to school if there was no safe alternative: | |
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, wants the government to offer more clarity, amid worries that the number of potential children attending could be far higher than the 10% figure suggested by Gavin Williamson, the education secretary for England.“School leaders have many questions that remain unanswered about how this will work in practice. We will continue to work with Government throughout the day to provide greater clarity to schools to enable this reduced offer to be up and running as soon as possible,” Whiteman said. | |
Matthew Fell, the CBI’s director of UK policy, said: | |
The World Snooker Championship has been postponed until at least July, PA reports. | The World Snooker Championship has been postponed until at least July, PA reports. |
The installation of the next Fourth Plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square has been postponed because of coronavirus. | The installation of the next Fourth Plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square has been postponed because of coronavirus. |
Heather Phillipson’s The End - a sculpture of a whirl of cream topped with parasites - was due to be installed on 26 March. | Heather Phillipson’s The End - a sculpture of a whirl of cream topped with parasites - was due to be installed on 26 March. |
Anywhere but Westminster is back, and needs your help covering the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the UK. | Anywhere but Westminster is back, and needs your help covering the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the UK. |
John and John are aiming to produce a weekly film, centred on how people and places are responding to the crisis, dealing with the issues they have always covered: questions about power, community, and how everyday life is actually lived. | John and John are aiming to produce a weekly film, centred on how people and places are responding to the crisis, dealing with the issues they have always covered: questions about power, community, and how everyday life is actually lived. |
More details on the new project and how you can take part here. | More details on the new project and how you can take part here. |
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle has been cancelled until further notice, ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship reports. | The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle has been cancelled until further notice, ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship reports. |
A man has been arrested on the Isle of Man for failing to self-isolate, Sky News is reporting. | A man has been arrested on the Isle of Man for failing to self-isolate, Sky News is reporting. |
The detention of the man, reportedly aged 26, came after the Crown dependency’s government announced earlier this week that everyone arriving on the island must self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they have symptoms. | |
Chief Minister Howard Quayle said anyone breaching the quarantine regulations could face a fine up to 10,000 or three months in jail. | |
The coronavirus crisis could push the vulnerable ambulance service over the edge, writes NHS paramedic Jake Jones. | The coronavirus crisis could push the vulnerable ambulance service over the edge, writes NHS paramedic Jake Jones. |
You can read the full piece here. | You can read the full piece here. |
The Rugby Football Union has announced the end of the season for all league, cup and county rugby in England, except the Gallagher Premiership, PA reports. | The Rugby Football Union has announced the end of the season for all league, cup and county rugby in England, except the Gallagher Premiership, PA reports. |
The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, is self-isolating after showing symptoms of coronavirus. | The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, is self-isolating after showing symptoms of coronavirus. |
The news, which was reported by various sources today and attributed to the UK government, comes after Frost’s EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, said he had tested positive for the disease yesterday. | The news, which was reported by various sources today and attributed to the UK government, comes after Frost’s EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, said he had tested positive for the disease yesterday. |