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UK coronavirus lockdown live: MPs criticise government over Britons stuck abroad and lack of testing UK coronavirus lockdown live: MPs criticise government over lack of testing as death toll rises to 422
(32 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the latest UK developments in the coronavirus crisisRolling coverage of the latest UK developments in the coronavirus crisis
As of 9am on 24 March, a total of 90,436 have been tested: 82,359 negative. 8,077 positive.
As of 1pm, 422 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died.
A children’s nursery in Cornwall has been forced to close for key workers after burglars caused extensive damage.
Daisy Fays Nursery in Chiverton Cross, near Truro, was broken in to over the weekend. Two gas canisters were stolen and significant damage caused to the front entrance. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said:
The force was appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has described the chancellor’s decision to collect March’s beer duty payments as “incredibly disappointing” and “a huge blow” for the UK’s army of small independent brewers.Brewers have been calling on the chancellor to unilaterally cancel the payment, due to be debited from bank accounts on Wednesday, in the face of decimated sales following physical distancing measures including pub, bar and restaurant closures, and as of last night the closing of takeaway sales for beer businesses.
Siba says the average small brewer will be saddled with a beer duty bill of around £5,000, but for larger companies it could be as much as £500,000.
James Calder, Siba’s chief executive, said:
Brewers are urged to phone the HMRC “time to pay” helpline, which HMRC says is now fully staffed, but a poll of small brewers by Siba showed that only 21% have been able to get through.
An 80-year-old woman is the first person in the UK to die after contracting coronavirus in hospital, our colleague, Matthew Weaver, reports.
Marita Edwards, a retired cleaner and keen golfer, went to Newport’s Royal Gwent hospital for a routine gallbladder operation on 28 February.
The otherwise fit 80-year-old then caught an infection in hospital that she and her family were initially told was pneumonia. Last Thursday, almost three weeks after arriving at the hospital, she tested positive for Covid-19 and died the following day.
“If she had not been in hospital she would be still be alive,” said her son, Stuart Loud. “Clearly there was a coronavirus infection in the hospital which claimed my mum’s life.”
Her death raises questions about the hospital’s failure to test earlier for the disease and what precautions it took to curb its spread among patients and staff.
You can read the full story here.
Food banks are “extremely concerned” about staying open following the government’s clampdown on activity and are appealing for urgent clarification on how they can most safely operate, PA Media reports.
An increasing number of members of the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) are worried they may need to close amid efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Food banks are concerned about potentially spreading Covid-19 among service users and an ageing volunteer base, and are also faced with venue closures and reduced access to food supplies.
They are calling for guidance on how to best run doorstep food delivery operations, with some food banks turning to this model to avoid volunteers and service users gathering in one spot. They also want advice for volunteers sorting through donations, packing emergency food parcels and setting up areas for distribution.
IFAN coordinator Sabine Goodwin said most of IFAN’s 293 food aid provider members had expressed concern about potentially having to close.
Among the questions, food providers want to know if they need paperwork to continue operating, and, amid closures of churches and community buildings, they are asking whether these should be kept open for food distribution requirements.
If a provider is forced to shut, it also needs clarification on which agency or agencies will take responsibility for the people who would have previously been supported by the food bank.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, told LBC this morning that he argued at the Cobra emergency committee meeting that construction workers should be told to stay away from work, but that he was over-ruled by Boris Johnson.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, told LBC this morning that he argued at the Cobra emergency committee meeting that construction workers should be told to stay away from work, but that he was over-ruled by Boris Johnson.
Downing Street (see 2.32pm) and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister (see 9.50am), have been defending the decision to let some construction work in England carry on. In Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, has said work on buildings sites should halt.Downing Street (see 2.32pm) and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister (see 9.50am), have been defending the decision to let some construction work in England carry on. In Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, has said work on buildings sites should halt.
London’s ExCeL conference centre will become an emergency hospital treating coronavirus patients “within days”, with 500 beds initially made available at what will be the first of several crisis facilities dotted around the UK.London’s ExCeL conference centre will become an emergency hospital treating coronavirus patients “within days”, with 500 beds initially made available at what will be the first of several crisis facilities dotted around the UK.
The cavernous 100,000 sq metre (25-acre) Docklands site is being converted in a high-speed operation involving military planners and personnel and its capacity will rise quickly from the initial 500 beds, defence sources added.The cavernous 100,000 sq metre (25-acre) Docklands site is being converted in a high-speed operation involving military planners and personnel and its capacity will rise quickly from the initial 500 beds, defence sources added.
It is to deal with a surge in coronavirus patients because it is expected that London’s hospitals and their existing intensive care beds will soon be overflowing as patients with severe breathing difficulties are treated.It is to deal with a surge in coronavirus patients because it is expected that London’s hospitals and their existing intensive care beds will soon be overflowing as patients with severe breathing difficulties are treated.
Defence sources said more than one emergency hospital would built around the UK, although London is first because the rate of coronavirus infections is considered to be running 1.5 to 2.5 weeks ahead. “We will service and support the whole of the United Kingdom,” a source added.Defence sources said more than one emergency hospital would built around the UK, although London is first because the rate of coronavirus infections is considered to be running 1.5 to 2.5 weeks ahead. “We will service and support the whole of the United Kingdom,” a source added.
A West Midlands police force has had to deal with a large group of at least 20 people having an outdoor barbecue, less than 24 hours after the prime minister placed the country in lockdown.A West Midlands police force has had to deal with a large group of at least 20 people having an outdoor barbecue, less than 24 hours after the prime minister placed the country in lockdown.
In a tweet, Foleshill police wrote:In a tweet, Foleshill police wrote:
A £1m Netflix donation has been announced to help support the creative community following the coronavirus pandemic.A £1m Netflix donation has been announced to help support the creative community following the coronavirus pandemic.
A Covid-19 film and TV emergency relief fund will be administered by the Film and TV Charity, with support from the BFI.A Covid-19 film and TV emergency relief fund will be administered by the Film and TV Charity, with support from the BFI.
Alex Pumfrey, the chief executive of the Film and TV Charity, said:Alex Pumfrey, the chief executive of the Film and TV Charity, said:
In the Commons the Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne asks Matt Hancock, the health secretary, to confirm that it is acceptable for workmen to carry out repairs in people’s homes under the new guidelines. Swayne says he thinks that should be fine as long as people are not self-isolating because they are ill, or in a shielded group.In the Commons the Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne asks Matt Hancock, the health secretary, to confirm that it is acceptable for workmen to carry out repairs in people’s homes under the new guidelines. Swayne says he thinks that should be fine as long as people are not self-isolating because they are ill, or in a shielded group.
Hancock says he thinks people should only get repairs done at home if they are essential.Hancock says he thinks people should only get repairs done at home if they are essential.
Earlier Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, answered an urgent question in the Commons about Britons who are stranded abroad. The Conservative Caroline Nokes, who tabled the UQ, was scathing about the performance of the Foreign Office. Describing the experience of those abroad, she said:Earlier Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, answered an urgent question in the Commons about Britons who are stranded abroad. The Conservative Caroline Nokes, who tabled the UQ, was scathing about the performance of the Foreign Office. Describing the experience of those abroad, she said:
Raab replied:Raab replied:
Glastonbury festival has donated thousands of litres of hand sanitiser, gloves and face masks to frontline emergency services responding to the coronavirus pandemic.Glastonbury festival has donated thousands of litres of hand sanitiser, gloves and face masks to frontline emergency services responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
The supplies were due to be used during the now-postponed 50th anniversary of the music festival, which was scheduled to take place in June.The supplies were due to be used during the now-postponed 50th anniversary of the music festival, which was scheduled to take place in June.
Avon and Somerset police tweeted images of a forklift loading supplies into a van, as well as a police vehicle being loaded with boxes of medical-grade gloves.Avon and Somerset police tweeted images of a forklift loading supplies into a van, as well as a police vehicle being loaded with boxes of medical-grade gloves.
The festival announced on 18 March that its 50th anniversary event would have to be postponed until 2021.The festival announced on 18 March that its 50th anniversary event would have to be postponed until 2021.
Nadine Dorries, the health minister, is in the Commons chamber alongside Matt Hancock for today’s statement. She had coronavirus but has recovered.
In the Commons David Davis, a former Conservative cabinet minister, asked for clarification about the line in the government guidelines saying people should be able to leave home to provide care or help for a vulnerable person. Davis said this should not just cover professional carers.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said that volunteer carers were included too. But wherever possible they should try to observe the two-metre rule, he said.
Volunteer carers are covered by the rules saying they do not need to stay at home as well as professionals, Hancock says.
Opticians and dentists are being told to suspend routine appointments as part of stricter measures to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Guidance issued by health authorities and industry bodies to optical practices advises them to focus on essential or urgent care only during the outbreak, particularly for key workers. Meanwhile, the British Dental Association is advocating that dental professionals treat emergency cases only.
Specsavers said it would be suspending all routine testing “for the foreseeable future”. Its chief executive, John Perkins, said:
A spokeswoman for Boots said:
In the Commons Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is making a Commons statement about the new restrictions. In his opening remarks he summarised what the PM announced last night.
Jeremy Hunt, Hancock’s predecessor, has just asked a question. He wanted to know when routine coronavirus testing in the community would resume. He said he was concerned there was still not enough testing.
Hancock said he could not give a date for that, because he did not know when the new test kits would arrive. But millions were coming within the next few days and weeks, he said.
University staff in the UK will be relieved to hear that the Research Excellence Framework (Ref) 2021 has officially been put on hold, to take pressure off academic staff.
The announcement ends uncertainty over the massive exercise that was to get under way this year. The quadrennial exercise is used to rank departments on the quality and impact of their research and is a crucial component of determining research funding.
The announcement from the REF management states:
Further details can be found here.
Here are the main points from the Downing Street lobby briefing. For the second day, it was conducted entirely by conference call.
The prime minister’s spokesman said the police would be given the power to impose fines on people who do not comply with the rules announced yesterday. The fines would initially be set at £30, but the level could increase “significantly”, he said. He said that the power to impose these fines would be in place by Thursday, and that they would be used in particular to stop gatherings of more than two people in public. This power would be introduced by regulation in England under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act, he said. He said Wales would bring in its own regulations, and that Scotland and Northern Ireland would get the power to act under the coronavirus bill.
The spokesman said further guidance on how the new restrictions apply would be issued, probably later today.
The spokesman says 5,605 people were tested for coronavirus yesterday. Over the last week, 39,840 tests have been carried out, he said. And he said the total number of tests carried out is 83,945.
The spokesman defended the government’s decision to write to research institutes at the weekend asking for equipment that could be used to help carry out tests (see 11.20am), saying it was “no secret that we are rapidly scaling up our efforts to boost testing capacity”. A government source also questioned the Politico Europe report, saying Sunday was not the first time that the private sector and others had been asked for help. The source said this has been going on for weeks.
The spokesman dismissed the suggestion from Jeremy Hunt that the government may have left it too late to avoid the UK following Italy. (See 9.50am.) Asked about this, the spokesman said the government’s policy had been based on the advice of the medical and scientific experts
The spokesman was unable to say what protection was available for workers being told to go to work when they think their job is not essential. Asked about workers in this situation, the spokesman said that the government had produced a list of businesses that should close and that it expected employers to comply. When pressed further, the spokesman said this was “a direct instruction from the government and we would expect employers to adhere to it”
The spokesman said the government was in favour of construction work continuing in England in certain circumstances. Asked about this, he said:
The spokesman indicated that further advice might be given to explain what people should do if they lived apart from their boyfriend or girlfriend, particularly if one partner lived in a shared house. The spokesman said he he thought the guidance was clear, and that people should “follow the rules ... in a commons sense way”. but he acknowledged that some further clarification might be helpful.
The spokesman said that only around 10% of pupils went to schools in England. Those were pupils allowed to go to school because they were deemed vulnerable, or because their parents are key workers.
The spokesman said there were no plans to restrict public transport to key workers.
The spokesman said Boris Johnson has raised concerns with Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, about too many people using the underground in London. This is from HuffPost’s Paul Waugh.
The spokesman said prisons had stopped visits today to comply with social distancing rules.
Sports Direct employees have told the PA news agency they feel their lives are “undervalued” because they are still being made to work despite stores being closed to the public.
The retailer said on Tuesday that it would shut stores in a major U-turn after initially saying its high-street shops would continue to sell sports and fitness equipment in the face of coronavirus.
However, the company said its factories and warehouses would remain open and deliveries to customers would continue, all with physical distancing in place.
An anonymous employee told PA that Sports Direct full-time shop staff were also being told they had to work in-store despite the closures in order to receive their wages, “doing tasks they deem as essential such as valuations for stock and web orders”. They said:
Another worker, who also wished to remain anonymous, said they have been with Sports Direct since they were 16, adding that their partner was also employed by the company. They told PA:
The worker added that the company has not provided protective equipment and only recently heeded physical distancing advice.
Factory worker Leonnie Foster, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, told PA she would have to continue in her role despite the announcement.
Nicola Sturgeon has updated the Holyrood parliament this afternoon, as the Scottish government’s health secretary announced a quadrupling of intensive care beds.
Speaking in the chamber, where chairs have been removed to ensure that members sit a safe distance apart, Sturgeon set out further guidance for businesses, saying it was employers who should make decisions about who was going into work, rather than leaving it to employees to worry about this.
The first minister said if staff could work from home, employers should allow them to.
If staff cannot work from home, employers should ask whether they are contributing to fighting the coronavirus, and ask if they can operate their business in line with safe social distancing practices.
The health secretary, Jeane Freeman, then announced that NHS Scotland was making good progress on doubling ICU capacity, and beds were being freed up “so we are planning to quadruple ICU beds to over 700”.
She added that the health service would continue to prioritise testing in hospitals and to ensure staff could get back to work as quickly as possible. She added that the government was working to secure personal protective equipment required for frontline healthcare staff.
Staff in the Houses of Parliament are becoming increasingly concerned that they are facing unnecessary health risks because they are required to attend Westminster so that MPs can pursue non-urgent business which is unrelated to the coronavirus outbreak. The FDA union, which represents senior clerks, has written to John Benger, the clerk of the house, to protest about non-coronavirus business still being pursued in parliament this week, the Guardian has learned. The letter comes amid a swirl of rumours that parliament could be asked to shut down early following Boris Johnson’s decision on Tuesday to impose unprecedented restrictions on the movement on UK citizens. Amy Leversidge, the FDA’s assistant general secretary, said the union’s members who include senior clerks are being exposed to unnecessary risks:
The Conservative MP Peter Bone told the Guardian he would be withdrawing his two private member’s bills – the parliamentary constituencies (amendment) bill and the hospitals (parking charges and business rates) bill. He said:
The House of Commons media team was approached for comment.
With many people planning to use the coming weeks to do home improvements and gardening, the British Society for Surgery of the Hand is urging people to take extra care to avoid gardening accidents and injuries that could place unnecessary pressure on the NHS.
Hand surgeons are concerned that an increase in the number of people using power tools, lawn mowers and hedge trimmers could lead to a rise in serious injuries, putting strain on an already overburdened health service.
Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, reported a 37% increase in like-for-like sales last week, following growth of almost 9% the week before.
Data released by NHS Digital in 2019 showed there were almost 4,800 admissions to hospital for injuries caused by drills and other power tools in just 12 months, with common injuries including fingers that have been chopped off by a lawnmower or power tool, as well as deep cuts caused by hedge trimmers, and infections following people pricking their skin on thorns.
You can find more advice on the BSSH website.