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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson to hold daily briefing as confirmed cases pass 5,000 UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson holds 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-isolateFears people flouting social distancing rules will exacerbate crisis; shops under pressure to close; rough sleepers race against time to self-isolate
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced new shielding measures, which will involve up to 1.5 million people who are most at risk.
The NHS will contact by those at higher risk - asking people to not leave home for 12 weeks.
Others in the household won’t be required to follow same measures - just social distancing measures. Carers can still visit.
For those without a network, government will be setting up a network of local ‘hub’s - medicine and food to be distributed by local authorities. Parcels will be left on doorstep - emergency services and armed forces will support this effort.
The government is now taking special steps to protect the particularly vulnerable - 1.5 million people in all.
“This shielding will do more than any other single measure or save lives.”
He also reiterated that schools are closed tomorrow - expect for the children of key workers - and that people should take social distancing seriously.
“Don’t think that fresh air in its self automatically provides some sort of immunity.”
He said people should still stay two metres apart and follow social distancing advice. More measures will be implemented if necessary.
Boris Johnson starts his daily press thanking NHS staff, social care workers and the general public for their cooperation.
“I want to thank everyone who is being forced to do something different today. Everyone who didn;t visit their mum for Mother’s Day, but facetimed or rang or Skyped their mother today, thank you for your restraint and for what you did.
“Everyone who closed a restaurant or pub or bar, who would have could have done fantastic business on a fay like today,thank you for your sacrifice, I know how tough that must be
Johnson is stressing the importance of following social distancing advice - even to those who think they are “invulnerable” and are putting others at risk.
It’s Clea Skopeliti here, taking over from Jessica as the latest rise in UK coronavirus figures are announced.
There have been 281 deaths in the UK - an increase of 47.
The UK total number of confirmed cases is now at 5,700.
The coronavirus death toll in the UK has reached 281, the government said - an increase of 48.
There are now 5,683 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK. This is a rise of 665 on Saturday.
It’s Clea Skopeliti here, taking over from Jessica as the latest rise in UK coronavirus figures are announced.
A paramedic has described being evicted from his home because his landlady was concerned that he could spread Covid-19 at the property.
Joseph Hoar, a paramedic for South Western ambulance service, tweeted on Saturday night that he had been asked to leave his home within 24 hours because the owner was “super nervous about having someone from the NHS here”.
“It’s only a matter of time before you are in contact with the virus,” a screenshot of the WhatsApp message said. “Can you organise an Airbnb and collect your stuff tomorrow. Sorry I normally would never do this but it’s not worth the risk.”
Sarah-Jane Marsh, the CEO of Birmingham women’s and children’s NHS foundation trust, said that “nurses have been evicted from shared accommodation because people don’t want to live with them right now.”
The homeless charity Shelter also said it had received calls for help from tenants threatened with eviction because of the coronavirus crisis, including from an NHS worker.
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.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: In an internal 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.”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.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.
Earlier, one Waterstones employee said: “We all feel at risk. Most of us have someone in our homes that is at high risk but on our pay we cannot afford to leave.
“There have been times where we’ve had to go off the shop floor to have a panic attack.”
From next week, those who are especially vulnerable to coronavirus will be able to register for government support.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.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.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.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 licencePolice 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 couldGraham 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.
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”.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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 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.
Production on Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop from Monday due to coronavirus concerns, ITV has said.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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’.”