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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: man is first to be arrested for alleged failure to self-isolate | UK coronavirus live: man is first to be arrested for alleged failure to self-isolate |
| (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 Scottish hotel has sacked more than a dozen members of staff over the coronavirus outbreak making them homeless, our Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks, reports. | |
| The workers at the Coylumbridge hotel near Aviemore received a letter yesterday informing them management was “taking the latest government advice” and that staff employment had been terminated, with those who live at the hotel complex asked to leave the premises immediately. | |
| The full story is here. | |
| The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katherine Viner, has written to readers about how we aim to cover the coronavirus crisis, emphasising the value of expertise, scientific knowledge and careful judgment in our reporting. | |
| She writes: | |
| Supermarket Lidl has announced plans to recruit 2,500 workers on four-week contracts to help keep up with high demand in stores as customers continue clearing shelves over the coronavirus outbreak. | |
| The grocer said recruits can start immediately and will be paid at least £9.30 an hour, adding “the new hires will be responsible for working together to keep the store clean, tidy and the shelves well stocked so that customers can get the products they need”. | |
| Police chiefs have today asked employers to give special volunteer constables paid leave during the coronavirus crisis. | |
| The National Police Chiefs’ Council say the move will boost the number of volunteers available, with police ranks expected to be depleted by illness and self-isolation in the coming months. | |
| Special constables have the full powers of a paid officer and there are 10,000 of them in England and Wales. Police expect to be placed under “great strain” during the national crisis caused by the pandemic. | |
| Other measures police chiefs are considering include making it easier for retired officers to rejoin. Martin Hewitt, chair of the NPCC, said: | |
| Among forces are considering to manage up to 25% of officers being absent at any one time, include extending shifts to 12 hours. | |
| The government has made public the scientific evidence from SAGE that has been supporting its response to the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| Covid-19 patients are being turned away by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust as demand for lifesaving treatment surges, the Telegraph is reporting (paywall). | Covid-19 patients are being turned away by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust as demand for lifesaving treatment surges, the Telegraph is reporting (paywall). |
| The news comes as the death toll in London rose 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. | The news comes as the death toll in London rose 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. |
| More on this story to come. | More on this story to come. |
| First details of the cuts to train services show around 50% of the timetable is expected to be cut initially, although decisions are being left to individual operators. | First details of the cuts to train services show around 50% of the timetable is expected to be cut initially, although decisions are being left to individual operators. |
| All train companies nationwide are expected to have new timetables published for next week available on National Rail by Sunday lunchtime, 22 March. | All train companies nationwide are expected to have new timetables published for next week available on National Rail by Sunday lunchtime, 22 March. |
| Among the first to announce new emergency timetables this morning were the big London commuter franchises. | Among the first to announce new emergency timetables this morning were the big London commuter franchises. |
| South Western Railway will cut services on a few branches entirely. Its last trains will depart earlier from London Waterloo, and many major commuter lines will have only half-hour or hourly services, particularly outside peak hours. | South Western Railway will cut services on a few branches entirely. Its last trains will depart earlier from London Waterloo, and many major commuter lines will have only half-hour or hourly services, particularly outside peak hours. |
| Southeastern said it would attempt to keep all stations open for now and run as early and late as possible to support key workers. | Southeastern said it would attempt to keep all stations open for now and run as early and late as possible to support key workers. |
| Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which has had extensive experience in slashing timetables at short notice for strikes and staff shortages, will be announcing timetable changes on Sunday for Monday. | Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which has had extensive experience in slashing timetables at short notice for strikes and staff shortages, will be announcing timetable changes on Sunday for Monday. |
| GTR, which operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services, will make further cuts to start from the following Monday, 30 March. | GTR, which operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services, will make further cuts to start from the following Monday, 30 March. |
| Steve White, chief operating officer, said GTR was doing its utmost to keep an an essential service running for key workers. He said: | Steve White, chief operating officer, said GTR was doing its utmost to keep an an essential service running for key workers. He said: |
| Its Gatwick Express trains will be slashed, with air passenger numbers at less than 10% of normal levels, and the airport set to reduce its operating capacity by one third to cut costs. | Its Gatwick Express trains will be slashed, with air passenger numbers at less than 10% of normal levels, and the airport set to reduce its operating capacity by one third to cut costs. |
| Network Rail has said retailers in its stations will not have to pay rent for the first quarter, as it attempts to help them survive as footfall vanishes. | Network Rail has said retailers in its stations will not have to pay rent for the first quarter, as it attempts to help them survive as footfall vanishes. |
| Farmers and farmworkers have been included on a list of key workers whose children can still go to school during the coronavirus crisis. | Farmers and farmworkers have been included on a list of key workers whose children can still go to school during the coronavirus crisis. |
| According to Farmers Weekly: “Some pointed out the irony of farmers and farmworkers being catapulted in just two weeks from ‘unskilled workers’ in the government’s post-Brexit immigration list to ‘key workers’ in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.” | According to Farmers Weekly: “Some pointed out the irony of farmers and farmworkers being catapulted in just two weeks from ‘unskilled workers’ in the government’s post-Brexit immigration list to ‘key workers’ in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.” |
| Refuse collectors and other waste and recycling employees are also on the list. | Refuse collectors and other waste and recycling employees are also on the list. |
| Jacob Hayler, at the Environmental Services Association, said: “We are pleased to see the government acknowledge the essential role of recycling and waste operatives during the Covid-19 pandemic.” | Jacob Hayler, at the Environmental Services Association, said: “We are pleased to see the government acknowledge the essential role of recycling and waste operatives during the Covid-19 pandemic.” |
| The competition watchdog has said it will clamp down on retailers using the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to exploit customers. | The competition watchdog has said it will clamp down on retailers using the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to exploit customers. |
| The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the outbreak has prompted concerns that people could be exploited by companies “charging excessive prices or making misleading claims about their products”. | The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the outbreak has prompted concerns that people could be exploited by companies “charging excessive prices or making misleading claims about their products”. |
| It said it has already contacted traders and platforms over excessive pricing of hand sanitiser as part of its efforts. | It said it has already contacted traders and platforms over excessive pricing of hand sanitiser as part of its efforts. |
| The CMA has now launched a taskforce to tackle businesses looking to exploit the coronavirus outbreak to take advantage of customers. | The CMA has now launched a taskforce to tackle businesses looking to exploit the coronavirus outbreak to take advantage of customers. |
| Related to this story: | Related to this story: |
| 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. | 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 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 reads: |
| The letter followed a similar call from almost 500 experts, organised by Dr Neil Howard of the University of Bath. | 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. | 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. | 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, as well as offering advice. | It will also continue to operate a night shelter for rough sleepers, providing hot meals and a place to wash clothes, as well as offering advice. |
| Michael Chandler, the chief executive, said: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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”. | 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. | 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. | 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: | Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay stressed the importance of testing for PSNI officers, saying it will allow many more to remain at work: |