This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/22/uk-coronavirus-live-police-could-enforce-london-lockdown-says-khan-seven-people-die-in-wales
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson to hold daily briefing as confirmed cases pass 5,000 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Fears people flouting social distancing rules will exacerbate crisis; shops under pressure to close; rough sleepers race against time to self-isolate | Fears people flouting social distancing rules will exacerbate crisis; shops under pressure to close; rough sleepers race against time to self-isolate |
| Waterstones chief executive James Daunt has said all stores will close from Monday evening after staff raised concerns about the risk to their health by coming into contact with customers with no protection. | |
| In an email seen by the Guardian, Daunt said: | |
| Daunt added that staff had been told only to continue to work if they were willing to, but “we must be sure that everyone is truly willing... it is only by closing we can be absolutely sure of this.” | |
| The majority of staff will be placed on furlough, but a skeleton staff will be retained to manage deliveries, while the company will now shift to bolstering its online service. | |
| From next week, those who are especially vulnerable to coronavirus will be able to register for government support. | |
| People who have a health condition which makes them extremely vulnerable will be able to receive help, for instance in getting essential supplies. | |
| The service is due to go live next week, and people will be able to register online. | |
| NHS England is sending out letters to vulnerable people with certain health conditions next week to advise them on measures to protect themselves, including avoiding face-to-face contact for 12 weeks. | |
| Police in Scotland have used emergency powers to close a number of pubs after they “recklessly” flouted the ban on bars and clubs from remaining open, and warned they could now lose their licence | Police in Scotland have used emergency powers to close a number of pubs after they “recklessly” flouted the ban on bars and clubs from remaining open, and warned they could now lose their licence |
| Malcolm Graham, a deputy chief constable, said police were visiting those bars today to enforce the closure order announced on Friday night after pubs in Glasgow, Greenock and Kilmarnock were among those reportedly staying open over the weekend. | Malcolm Graham, a deputy chief constable, said police were visiting those bars today to enforce the closure order announced on Friday night after pubs in Glasgow, Greenock and Kilmarnock were among those reportedly staying open over the weekend. |
| One publican in Greenock was quoted saying he would continue serving until forced to stop. | One publican in Greenock was quoted saying he would continue serving until forced to stop. |
| Graham said the police would impose emergency closure orders, which last 24 hours per order but can be extended, and report those who ignored the orders to local licensing boards. The force was also poised to use new emergency powers being introduced next week, as soon as they could | Graham said the police would impose emergency closure orders, which last 24 hours per order but can be extended, and report those who ignored the orders to local licensing boards. The force was also poised to use new emergency powers being introduced next week, as soon as they could |
| “I am aware that a small number of public houses are intent on defying this instruction and have indicated that they will remain open until legally ordered to close,” Graham said. | “I am aware that a small number of public houses are intent on defying this instruction and have indicated that they will remain open until legally ordered to close,” Graham said. |
| As many people continue to go on pre-planned holidays, tourist boards across the UK have urged people to respect government advice on social distancing and unnecessary travel. | As many people continue to go on pre-planned holidays, tourist boards across the UK have urged people to respect government advice on social distancing and unnecessary travel. |
| With schools closed and Easter holidays approaching, families are choosing to ignore calls to stay at home and limit social interactions. | With schools closed and Easter holidays approaching, families are choosing to ignore calls to stay at home and limit social interactions. |
| Visit Cornwall asked holidaymakers online to “please stay away” to help reduce the speed that the virus was spread and avoid “needless lives being lost”. | Visit Cornwall asked holidaymakers online to “please stay away” to help reduce the speed that the virus was spread and avoid “needless lives being lost”. |
| Cherilyn Mackrory, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth said the message to tourists was simple: | Cherilyn Mackrory, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth said the message to tourists was simple: |
| The calls come as the Department of Transport and Network Rail announced significant transport reductions to provide more reliable services for key workers as well as the shipping of essential items such as food and fuel. | The calls come as the Department of Transport and Network Rail announced significant transport reductions to provide more reliable services for key workers as well as the shipping of essential items such as food and fuel. |
| Similar measures on service reduction have been agreed by the Welsh and Scottish governments, which will be implemented from Monday. On Sunday, north Wales-based Pario Leisure Group handed over two holiday parks and more than 250 beds to the NHS after its parks were forced to close to holiday guests and caravan owners. | Similar measures on service reduction have been agreed by the Welsh and Scottish governments, which will be implemented from Monday. On Sunday, north Wales-based Pario Leisure Group handed over two holiday parks and more than 250 beds to the NHS after its parks were forced to close to holiday guests and caravan owners. |
| Park owner Wyn Williams said it was important for people to help one another and “ensure spirits are kept high”. | Park owner Wyn Williams said it was important for people to help one another and “ensure spirits are kept high”. |
| Schools in Scotland have been ordered to cancel plans to allow 15- to 18-year-olds into classes tomorrow to complete exam coursework, Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, has announced. | Schools in Scotland have been ordered to cancel plans to allow 15- to 18-year-olds into classes tomorrow to complete exam coursework, Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, has announced. |
| Numerous secondary schools, including all those in areas such as Perth and Kinross, and others in Falkirk, Bishopbriggs and North Ayrshire, had told pupils in S4, 5 and 6 on Friday and Saturday they were expected to attend school on Monday to finish essential coursework. Private schools are also asking pupils to resit their preliminary exams, similar to mocks in England. | Numerous secondary schools, including all those in areas such as Perth and Kinross, and others in Falkirk, Bishopbriggs and North Ayrshire, had told pupils in S4, 5 and 6 on Friday and Saturday they were expected to attend school on Monday to finish essential coursework. Private schools are also asking pupils to resit their preliminary exams, similar to mocks in England. |
| Sturgeon added that after a surge in the number of non-residents fleeing to Scottish islands to holiday homes or caravan parks, a clampdown on ferry travel to the islands had also been tightened further. | Sturgeon added that after a surge in the number of non-residents fleeing to Scottish islands to holiday homes or caravan parks, a clampdown on ferry travel to the islands had also been tightened further. |
| CalMac, the country’s main ferry firm, announced last week it would take no new bookings until July. Sturgeon said that from now on, Scotland’s ferry companies would only take bookings for essential travel. She also asked the countries hotels and B&Bs to stop taking bookings. | CalMac, the country’s main ferry firm, announced last week it would take no new bookings until July. Sturgeon said that from now on, Scotland’s ferry companies would only take bookings for essential travel. She also asked the countries hotels and B&Bs to stop taking bookings. |
| Sturgeon said since Friday she had spoken to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which runs the country’s exams system, and had agreed this weekend to immediately cancel all course work classes. | Sturgeon said since Friday she had spoken to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which runs the country’s exams system, and had agreed this weekend to immediately cancel all course work classes. |
| She said schools still had an essential role to play to look after the most vulnerable children or those whose parents were key workers. A list of occupations who would get priority was being circulated soon, but intensive care unit nursing staff and critical care specialists were at the top of it. | She said schools still had an essential role to play to look after the most vulnerable children or those whose parents were key workers. A list of occupations who would get priority was being circulated soon, but intensive care unit nursing staff and critical care specialists were at the top of it. |
| She said the expert advice had not changed but they had realised over the weekend the virus was spreading through the community far faster than thought. “Therefore we need to do more to reduce the risks,” she said. | She said the expert advice had not changed but they had realised over the weekend the virus was spreading through the community far faster than thought. “Therefore we need to do more to reduce the risks,” she said. |
| “Everybody should consider every time that they’re planning to come into contact with people whether that contact is necessary, and if it’s not necessary, don’t do it,” she said. | “Everybody should consider every time that they’re planning to come into contact with people whether that contact is necessary, and if it’s not necessary, don’t do it,” she said. |
| Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s chief medical officer, said epidemiologists now estimated that any infected person could infect between four to six people. They had originally calculated it was two to three other people. That could lead to “an explosion of cases”, she said. | Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s chief medical officer, said epidemiologists now estimated that any infected person could infect between four to six people. They had originally calculated it was two to three other people. That could lead to “an explosion of cases”, she said. |
| Primark is to close all 189 of its UK stores on Sunday and cancel all orders from suppliers as demand shrinks due to social distancing amid coronavirus crisis. | Primark is to close all 189 of its UK stores on Sunday and cancel all orders from suppliers as demand shrinks due to social distancing amid coronavirus crisis. |
| Primark boss Paul Marchant said: | Primark boss Paul Marchant said: |
| Other high street retailers, such as John Lewis, TK Maxx, River Island and Timpson, have also announced closures amid the pandemic. | Other high street retailers, such as John Lewis, TK Maxx, River Island and Timpson, have also announced closures amid the pandemic. |
| Doctors have said they feel like “lambs to the slaughter” due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) on the front line of the fight against coronavirus, according to the chair of the Doctors’ Association UK, Rinish Parmar. | Doctors have said they feel like “lambs to the slaughter” due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) on the front line of the fight against coronavirus, according to the chair of the Doctors’ Association UK, Rinish Parmar. |
| Parmar is one of 5,000 health workers who have signed a letter to the prime minister calling for more PPE to protect NHS staff, their patients and also their families at home. | Parmar is one of 5,000 health workers who have signed a letter to the prime minister calling for more PPE to protect NHS staff, their patients and also their families at home. |
| Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show today, Parmar said: | Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show today, Parmar said: |
| Waitrose and John Lewis have outlined measures that will be in place from tomorrow to support NHS workers: | Waitrose and John Lewis have outlined measures that will be in place from tomorrow to support NHS workers: |
| All Waitrose shops will protect a proportion of deliveries of “hard to find” and essential stock exclusively for NHS workers to ensure they have better opportunity to access basic shopping items at all times of the day. | All Waitrose shops will protect a proportion of deliveries of “hard to find” and essential stock exclusively for NHS workers to ensure they have better opportunity to access basic shopping items at all times of the day. |
| NHS staff will receive priority checkout treatment in all Waitrose supermarkets either through a dedicated till or moved to the front of the queue. | NHS staff will receive priority checkout treatment in all Waitrose supermarkets either through a dedicated till or moved to the front of the queue. |
| John Lewis is donating comfort items and Easter gift food to local hospitals, to support workers. | John Lewis is donating comfort items and Easter gift food to local hospitals, to support workers. |
| Berangere Michel, executive director for customer service at the John Lewis Partnership, said: | Berangere Michel, executive director for customer service at the John Lewis Partnership, said: |
| Earlier this week the John Lewis Partnership launched a £1m Community Support Fund, along with a protected shopping hour for the elderly and vulnerable. | Earlier this week the John Lewis Partnership launched a £1m Community Support Fund, along with a protected shopping hour for the elderly and vulnerable. |
| An elderly patient with an underlying medical condition has become the second person to die in Northern Ireland after testing positive for coronavirus, the country’s Department of Health said. | An elderly patient with an underlying medical condition has become the second person to die in Northern Ireland after testing positive for coronavirus, the country’s Department of Health said. |
| As of 2pm on Sunday, testing has resulted in 20 new positive cases in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 128. | As of 2pm on Sunday, testing has resulted in 20 new positive cases in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 128. |
| The total number of tests completed in Northern Ireland is 2,484. A total of 44 were aged 44 or under, another 44 aged 45-69 and 40 were aged 70 or over. Males made up 73 cases and females 55. | The total number of tests completed in Northern Ireland is 2,484. A total of 44 were aged 44 or under, another 44 aged 45-69 and 40 were aged 70 or over. Males made up 73 cases and females 55. |
| The health minister, Robin Swann, said: | The health minister, Robin Swann, said: |
| Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme this morning, First Minister Arlene Foster said enforcement of social distancing was needed in some cases to prevent the spread of coronavirus. | Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme this morning, First Minister Arlene Foster said enforcement of social distancing was needed in some cases to prevent the spread of coronavirus. |
| Production on Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop from Monday due to coronavirus concerns, ITV has said. | Production on Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop from Monday due to coronavirus concerns, ITV has said. |
| In a statement it announced: | In a statement it announced: |
| Eastenders confirmed it has suspended filming earlier this week, while Home and Away, Australia’s popular soap, has also stopped production to protect to protect staff from the virus. | Eastenders confirmed it has suspended filming earlier this week, while Home and Away, Australia’s popular soap, has also stopped production to protect to protect staff from the virus. |
| The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is facing mounting pressure to extend the coronavirus bailout to include the UK’s five million self-employed workers, as a survey reveals half would keep working if they had symptoms. | The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is facing mounting pressure to extend the coronavirus bailout to include the UK’s five million self-employed workers, as a survey reveals half would keep working if they had symptoms. |
| On Friday, Sunak said self-employed workers could access £94.25 a week in universal credit but he gave a far more generous deal to employees, who will receive 80% of their wages, up to £2,500 a month. | On Friday, Sunak said self-employed workers could access £94.25 a week in universal credit but he gave a far more generous deal to employees, who will receive 80% of their wages, up to £2,500 a month. |
| He is being lobbied to go further in the coming days or risk public health by incentivising self-employed taxi drivers, couriers and other gig economy workers and zero-hours contractors to keep working while ill. | He is being lobbied to go further in the coming days or risk public health by incentivising self-employed taxi drivers, couriers and other gig economy workers and zero-hours contractors to keep working while ill. |
| According to a survey carried out on Wednesday and Thursday, 47% of the self-employed and 51% in “atypical” work such as those on zero-hours contracts would feel obliged to work even if they had the virus. | According to a survey carried out on Wednesday and Thursday, 47% of the self-employed and 51% in “atypical” work such as those on zero-hours contracts would feel obliged to work even if they had the virus. |
| To help combat misinformation about coronavirus on social media, the NHS has been working with Twitter to ensure local NHS organisations have blue-tick verification. | To help combat misinformation about coronavirus on social media, the NHS has been working with Twitter to ensure local NHS organisations have blue-tick verification. |
| The NHS is has been working with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to verify or ‘blue tick’ over 800 accounts belonging to NHS organisations including hospital trusts and local commissioning groups. | The NHS is has been working with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to verify or ‘blue tick’ over 800 accounts belonging to NHS organisations including hospital trusts and local commissioning groups. |
| It has also worked with Twitter to suspend a false account posing as a hospital and putting out inaccurate information about the number of coronavirus cases, as well as publicly condemning homeopaths promoting false treatments. | It has also worked with Twitter to suspend a false account posing as a hospital and putting out inaccurate information about the number of coronavirus cases, as well as publicly condemning homeopaths promoting false treatments. |
| Both Twitter and Facebook are now directing users to the NHS website if they search for coronavirus. | Both Twitter and Facebook are now directing users to the NHS website if they search for coronavirus. |
| A man has appeared in court accused of making fake coronavirus test kits and attempting to send them across the world, police said. | A man has appeared in court accused of making fake coronavirus test kits and attempting to send them across the world, police said. |
| Frank Ludlow, 59, of West Sussex, was arrested at a Post Office near his home on Friday after 60 Covid-19 treatment kits were seized by police in the US. | Frank Ludlow, 59, of West Sussex, was arrested at a Post Office near his home on Friday after 60 Covid-19 treatment kits were seized by police in the US. |
| The kits, which were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection Agency officers in Los Angles on Wednesday, were labelled as “Anti-Pathogenic treatment” and had been sent from the UK, City of London Police said. | The kits, which were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection Agency officers in Los Angles on Wednesday, were labelled as “Anti-Pathogenic treatment” and had been sent from the UK, City of London Police said. |
| They allegedly contained chemicals which are “extremely harmful” when the user is instructed to wash and rinse their mouth with them, police said. | They allegedly contained chemicals which are “extremely harmful” when the user is instructed to wash and rinse their mouth with them, police said. |
| Police believe some of the kits could still be in circulation and urged people not to use them. | Police believe some of the kits could still be in circulation and urged people not to use them. |
| Tariq Sarwar, head of operations for enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said: | Tariq Sarwar, head of operations for enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said: |
| Detective chief superintendent Clinton Blackburn, from the City of London of Police, said: “If you have purchased one of these kits, it’s important you do not use it. Instead, report it to Action Fraud via their website or by calling 0300 123 2040 and quoting ‘Trinity CV19 treatment kits’.” | Detective chief superintendent Clinton Blackburn, from the City of London of Police, said: “If you have purchased one of these kits, it’s important you do not use it. Instead, report it to Action Fraud via their website or by calling 0300 123 2040 and quoting ‘Trinity CV19 treatment kits’.” |