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UK coronavirus live: Johnson sets target for 750,000 NHS volunteers as London hospitals see 'tsunami' of patients | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Rolling coverage of all the latest UK coronavirus developments | Rolling coverage of all the latest UK coronavirus developments |
The price farmers are getting for selling lamb has collapsed due to the coronavirus shutdown, according to the chief executive of the National Sheep Association.Phil Stocker said: | |
Half of UK food normally goes to out-of-home eating - restaurants, bars and canteens - with the other half sold to shoppers. Businesses are struggling to re-package trade products into retail products.“You have just pushed all of that [catering trade] into retail,” said Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union on Tuesday. “All of those supply chains, we absolutely have to make sure they are maintained and they are diverted into retail. Is is critical this happens this week.” | |
Pest control technicians have warned of potential rat infestations due to the stockpiling and hoarding of food during the Covid-19 outbreak. | |
The National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) said people buying huge quantities of perishable goods coupled with rubbish piling up due to missed bin collections could lead to the problem. | |
John Hope, the NPTA’s technical manager, appealed to the public to be more vigilant than usual to combat the risks posed by current circumstances. | |
He said “good housekeeping” was vital to combat the threat of pests such as rats, cockroaches, and houseflies. Hope told the PA news agency: | |
North Yorkshire Police has said it will use checkpoints to stop vehicles and ask drivers if their journey is essential during the lockdown. | |
Officers will ask motorists where they are going and why, and remind them of the message to stay at home. | |
The force’s assistant chief constable, Mike Walker, said: | |
Checkpoints will be not be signposted and could appear anywhere at any time, the force added. | |
The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. Here are two of the top lines. | |
Boris Johnson is now hoping to get 750,000 people to sign up for the NHS volunteer responders scheme. Some 560,000 people have expressed an interest already, the prime minister’s spokesman said. He went on: | |
When Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced the scheme on Tuesday, his target was to get 25,000 people to sign up. | |
Banks have received a formal warning from the government not to profiteer from the coronavirus crisis, No 10 revealed. The spokesman said that a letter has been sent to the banks from the chancellor, the governor of the Bank of England and the head of the Financial Conduct Authority saying that they will be monitored to ensure that benefits of the cheap loans being made available by the government do get passed on to businesses. The letter has been prompted by concerns that banks are charging excessive rates of interest. | |
I will post a full summary of the briefing soon. | |
More than 1,000 people have contacted MPs to raise concerns about being told to continue travelling into work despite the government’s plea for them to stay at home. | More than 1,000 people have contacted MPs to raise concerns about being told to continue travelling into work despite the government’s plea for them to stay at home. |
Office and call centre workers, TV engineers, and estate agents are among the workers who have replied to an appeal for information by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committee (BEIS). | Office and call centre workers, TV engineers, and estate agents are among the workers who have replied to an appeal for information by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committee (BEIS). |
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the committee said: | Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the committee said: |
While we await confirmation of the government’s plan to pay the self-employed whose incomes have collapsed during the virus outbreak, the Royal Society of Arts has run the numbers and thinks the chancellor’s widely trailed strategy is not as effective as it could be.Rishi Sunak, who has said working out a solution for the self-employed has been “extremely complicated”, is expected to offer the self-employed payments equivalent to 80% of their earnings over the last three years up to £30k. But the RSA thinks a temporary basic income of £1,500 initially to help manage immediate cashflow, followed by a weekly payment of £100 per week for three months would leave more people better off. It says: | While we await confirmation of the government’s plan to pay the self-employed whose incomes have collapsed during the virus outbreak, the Royal Society of Arts has run the numbers and thinks the chancellor’s widely trailed strategy is not as effective as it could be.Rishi Sunak, who has said working out a solution for the self-employed has been “extremely complicated”, is expected to offer the self-employed payments equivalent to 80% of their earnings over the last three years up to £30k. But the RSA thinks a temporary basic income of £1,500 initially to help manage immediate cashflow, followed by a weekly payment of £100 per week for three months would leave more people better off. It says: |
Anthony Painter, the thinktank’s chief research officer, added: | Anthony Painter, the thinktank’s chief research officer, added: |
Members of the public are being urged to take part in a national round of applause for NHS employees at 8pm this evening. | Members of the public are being urged to take part in a national round of applause for NHS employees at 8pm this evening. |
The Clap for our Carers campaign is trying to get as many people as possible to take part in the event from their gardens, front doors, balconies and windows to show their appreciation and support for health workers. | The Clap for our Carers campaign is trying to get as many people as possible to take part in the event from their gardens, front doors, balconies and windows to show their appreciation and support for health workers. |
A group of youths spat in the face of an RSPCA officer and shouted “have corona bitch”, as she tried to rescue a swan, the animal charity have said. | A group of youths spat in the face of an RSPCA officer and shouted “have corona bitch”, as she tried to rescue a swan, the animal charity have said. |
Leanne Honess-Heather was helping the bird, which had become tangled in a fishing line, when five teenagers – aged around 16 – approached her close to Rush Lyvars Fishing Lake in Hedon, Hull. | Leanne Honess-Heather was helping the bird, which had become tangled in a fishing line, when five teenagers – aged around 16 – approached her close to Rush Lyvars Fishing Lake in Hedon, Hull. |
Honess-Heather said she asked them to stand back before the “really upsetting” incident occurred. | Honess-Heather said she asked them to stand back before the “really upsetting” incident occurred. |
“They seemed to take offence to this, which led to two of the group spitting directly into my face, going in my mouth and eyes, as they yelled ‘have corona bitch’ at me,” she said. | “They seemed to take offence to this, which led to two of the group spitting directly into my face, going in my mouth and eyes, as they yelled ‘have corona bitch’ at me,” she said. |
“Like many other frontline services, most of my team are still out during this crisis, trying our best to continue to do our job, tending to, collecting and rescuing injured animals.” | “Like many other frontline services, most of my team are still out during this crisis, trying our best to continue to do our job, tending to, collecting and rescuing injured animals.” |
The swan, which had no long-term injuries after being cut free from the line, was released after being checked over by a vet. | The swan, which had no long-term injuries after being cut free from the line, was released after being checked over by a vet. |
The RSPCA is providing an emergency-only service to animals during the coronavirus pandemic. | The RSPCA is providing an emergency-only service to animals during the coronavirus pandemic. |
The NHS in Wales has issued around 3.5m extra pieces of PPE (personal protective equipment) to staff from its pandemic supplies, the chief executive of NHS Wales, Dr Andrew Goodall, said. This includes face-masks, gloves and clothing. | The NHS in Wales has issued around 3.5m extra pieces of PPE (personal protective equipment) to staff from its pandemic supplies, the chief executive of NHS Wales, Dr Andrew Goodall, said. This includes face-masks, gloves and clothing. |
Goodall told a press conference in Cardiff this had gone to hospitals, GP surgeries and social care workers. | Goodall told a press conference in Cardiff this had gone to hospitals, GP surgeries and social care workers. |
The Welsh chief medical officer, Dr Frank Atherton, said PPE was a “scarce resource” and added: “We can’t afford to misuse it.” | The Welsh chief medical officer, Dr Frank Atherton, said PPE was a “scarce resource” and added: “We can’t afford to misuse it.” |
Atherton said that from tomorrow 800 people a day in Wales would be tested for Covid-19. This would increase to 1,100 by next week and from 2,000-3,000 by the end of April. | Atherton said that from tomorrow 800 people a day in Wales would be tested for Covid-19. This would increase to 1,100 by next week and from 2,000-3,000 by the end of April. |
Atherton also restated that most people would get the virus. “The estimates were and still are that 80% of us will get the infection at some point,” he said. | Atherton also restated that most people would get the virus. “The estimates were and still are that 80% of us will get the infection at some point,” he said. |
The mayor of London’s press office has said early-morning tube use was down by another 13% on Thursday compared with yesterday, while early-morning bus usage in the capital was down by a further 8%. | The mayor of London’s press office has said early-morning tube use was down by another 13% on Thursday compared with yesterday, while early-morning bus usage in the capital was down by a further 8%. |
It added that compared with this time last year, tube passengers were down by a whopping 92%. | It added that compared with this time last year, tube passengers were down by a whopping 92%. |