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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson remains in hospital 'for observation' after 'comfortable night' UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson remains in hospital 'for observation' after 'comfortable night'
(32 minutes later)
Downing Street does not deny prime minister received oxygen treatment as cabinet meeting on Tuesday postponedDowning Street does not deny prime minister received oxygen treatment as cabinet meeting on Tuesday postponed
The mother of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Dolors Sala, 82, has died in Barcelona after contracting Covid-19.
Police leaders have told MPs they hope to have access to Covid-19 testing before the end of the month but face “difficult decisions” about which officers will have access to the screenings.
Chief superintendent Paul Griffiths, president of the Police Superintendents’ Association and Sergeant Simon Kempton, operational lead for Covid-19 at the Police Federation of England and Wales, told a remote session of the Home Affairs Select Committee they understood coronavirus tests had been ordered but were unsure on timetables for rolling them out.
Yvette Cooper, chair of the committee, asked when police might be able to access testing as part of the Government’s testing strategy. Griffiths said:
Griffiths said he understood the tests were to ascertain whether the subject had the disease, rather than an antibody test.
Kempton said they hoped to have the tests by the end of the month.”Even then, there’s going to be some difficult decisions about who gets them first,” he said. “One of the jobs of my senior colleagues is managing that effect.”
Keir Starmer, has named his full shadow cabinet, including Ed Miliband as shadow business secretary and the return of Lord Falconer as shadow attorney general.
He said:
Here’s the full list:
· Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition
· Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Labour party
· Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
· Lisa Nandy, Shadow Foreign Secretary
· Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Home Secretary
· Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
· David Lammy, Shadow Justice Secretary
· John Healey, Shadow Defence Secretary
· Ed Miliband, Shadow Business, Energy and Industrial Secretary
· Emily Thornberry, Shadow International Trade Secretary
· Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
· Jonathan Ashworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
· Rebecca Long-Bailey, Shadow Education Secretary
· Jo Stevens, Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
· Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
· Luke Pollard, Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary
· Steve Reed, Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary
· Thangam Debbonaire, Shadow Housing Secretary
· Jim McMahon, Shadow Transport Secretary
· Preet Kaur Gill, Shadow International Development Secretary
· Louise Haigh, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary (interim)
· Ian Murray, Shadow Scotland Secretary
· Nia Griffith, Shadow Wales Secretary
· Marsha de Cordova, Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary
· Andy McDonald, Shadow Employment Rights and Protections Secretary
· Rosena Allin-Khan, Shadow Minister for Mental Health
· Cat Smith, Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Engagement
· Lord Falconer, Shadow Attorney General
· Valerie Vaz, Shadow Leader of the House
· Nick Brown, Opposition Chief Whip
· Baroness Smith, Shadow Leader of the Lords
· Lord McAvoy, Lords’ Opposition Chief Whip
Boris Johnson in ‘good spirits’ but remains in hospital
Boris Johnson has tweeted that he is in “good spirits” but No 10 has stopped describing his symptoms as “mild”. As the prime minister continues to be observed by doctors, Downing Street said it was too early to say whether he would be staying for another night and did not deny that he had been given oxygen treatment.
Tuesday’s cabinet meeting postponed
Dominic Raab chaired Monday’s coronavirus meeting, while a cabinet meeting planned for Tuesday has been postponed. The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, has reportedly returned to work after self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms. Dominic Cummings is yet to return to work in Downing Street but remains in communication with officials, a spokesman said.
Nicola Sturgeon warns of ‘worse to come’
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon has warned “there is almost certainly worse still to come” after Scotland’s death toll increased to 222. Among the latest two deaths were a home care worker from West Dumbartonshire. Sturgeon stressed that this would not be a “true figure” and would be “artificially low” as officials change the way deaths are reported.
Sturgeon defends initial decision not to sack Scotland’s CMO
Earlier Sturgeon defended her decision not to sack Catherine Calderwood as soon as it emerged that Scotland’s chief medical officer had twice visited her second home while fronting the stay at home campaign. But she said by Sunday evening it became clear the Calderwood’s behaviour was “undermining” the message that people should stay at home.
Deaths in England increase by 403
The number of people who have died from coronavirus in the England has increased by 403 to 4,897. NHS England said the latest victims were aged between 35 and 106 years old. Of the 403 patients (aged between 52 and 94 years old), 15 had no known underlying health condition.
Deaths in Wales increase by 27 to 193
The death toll in Wales from coronavirus has increased by 27 to 193. A Covid-19 testing centre at Cardiff City’s stadium is due to open on Tuesday. The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has said he believes the lockdown will have to continue beyond Easter.
Antibody test ‘at least a month away’
A mass antibody test is at least a month away, a leading government scientific adviser has said. Professor Sir John Bell, from Oxford University, who advises the government on life sciences, said the search was on for an antibody test that would prove effective, but those tested so far had failed. He also warned the test was at least a month a way.
Labour frontbencher taken to hospital
Tony Lloyd, 70, the Labour MP for Rochdale, has been taken to hospital in Manchester with coronavirus. Lloyd is the shadow Northern Ireland secretary. Richard Burgon, the former shadow justice secretary, has been sacked by Labour’s new leader Keir Starmer Andrew Gwynne has stepped down as shadow communities secretary, complaining of being sidelined as election coordinator under Jeremy Corbyn.
Jenrick warns councils against park closures
The communities secretary warned councils to only close parks as a “last resort”. South London’s Brockwell Park was reopened after closing on Sunday a day after thousands appeared to ignore physical distancing measures in the park.
Surge in domestic abuse calls
There was a 25% surge in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline in a five-day period during the coronavirus lockdown, according to the charity Refuge. There was also increase of about 150% in visits to nationaldahelpline.org.uk compared with the last week in February. The warning came after dozens of organisations helping domestic violence victims reported an increase in their caseload since the start of the UK’s outbreak.
Debenhams set to go into administration
The department store chain Debenhams is on the brink of collapse after bosses confirmed it has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators affecting around 22,000 workers. The majority of its employees in the UK are currently being paid under the government’s furlough scheme, after its stores closed following the shutdown of non-essential stores.
Nearly 13,000 retired health professionals and students have offered to work in Scotland’s health service to help cope with the extra demands of the coronavirus crisis, Jeane Freeman, the Scottish health secretary, has said.
Freeman said that by Monday morning 12,725 people had answered an appeal for retired staff and students to come forward, including more than 2,600 former nurses, more than 3,000 nursing students, 1,272 retired doctors and more than 1,650 with social care experience.
The remainder were physiotherapists, biomedical students, occupational therapists; dentists and midwives, paramedics. Students would be fully paid, and be able to complete their studies, while all the recruits would be entitled to sick pay equivalent to an employee with five years’ experience, she added.
“That response in a relatively short period of time shows the incredible dedication of our health care community, current, retired and future, to give us all their skills and expertise to help us meet the challenge ahead,” Freeman said.
They had registered directly with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian or via a national “accelerated recruitment portal”. Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, said on Monday about 6% of NHS staff in Scotland were off work with coronavirus-related illnesses or responsibilities.
Boris Johnson is still in hospital suffering from coronavirus and had a “comfortable night” but No 10 has dropped the description of his symptoms as mild.
As the prime minister continues to be observed by doctors, Downing Street said it was too early to say whether he would be staying for another night and did not deny that he had been given oxygen treatment.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said he was in St Thomas’ hospital in south London and was in “good spirits”, while continuing to work on his red box of government papers.
A dairy farmer in Wales says he has been forced to dump 11,500 litres of milk because of the pandemic.A dairy farmer in Wales says he has been forced to dump 11,500 litres of milk because of the pandemic.
Llyr Griffiths provides milk to Freshway, which supplies a number of high-profile companies including Starbucks and British Airways.Llyr Griffiths provides milk to Freshway, which supplies a number of high-profile companies including Starbucks and British Airways.
In a post on Facebook, he wrote:In a post on Facebook, he wrote:
The number of people who have died from coronavirus in the England has increased by 403 to 4,897.The number of people who have died from coronavirus in the England has increased by 403 to 4,897.
The UK figure will be available later.The UK figure will be available later.
It is the second day in a row that the rise is lower than the day before. Last weekend there was also a dip in the rise in recorded deaths which was attributed to a lack of officials available over the weekend to verify the latest numbers.It is the second day in a row that the rise is lower than the day before. Last weekend there was also a dip in the rise in recorded deaths which was attributed to a lack of officials available over the weekend to verify the latest numbers.
The NHS said the patients were aged between 35 and 106 years old. Of the 403 patients (aged between 52 and 94 years old), 15 had no known underlying health condition.The NHS said the patients were aged between 35 and 106 years old. Of the 403 patients (aged between 52 and 94 years old), 15 had no known underlying health condition.
The death toll in Wales from coronavirus has increased by 27 to 193.The death toll in Wales from coronavirus has increased by 27 to 193.
Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:
The Scottish government has confirmed that 222 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland have died.The Scottish government has confirmed that 222 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland have died.
Boris Johnson has tweeted that he is in “good spirits” after his hospital tests. He says he is in touch with his team.
A mass antibody test is at least a month away, a leading government scientific adviser has said.
Professor Sir John Bell, from Oxford University, who advises the government on life sciences, said the search was on for an antibody test that would prove effective, but those tested so far had failed.
Oxford is involved in scrutinising antibody tests that can tell people whether they have had the virus and can get back to normal life – one of the key routes out of the UK’s current lockdown.
In a blog on the university website under the header “What next?”, Bell said:
Bell said “large-scale testing” was a government strategy “which will be crucial for getting us back to our normal lives in the coming months”. He explained that long-term protection to Covid-19 comes from antibodies – “small proteins produced by your immune system that attack the virus and neutralise it”.
Bell added: “These antibodies emerge during an infection and peak 28 days after the infection. They then remain for months afterwards continuing to provide protection, and the cells that produce them also are available to fight off the infection if it returns.”
Readers have been in touch to point out that large numbers of people were not flouting physical distancing measures in Brockwell Park, south London, on Saturday.
Chris Tryhorn writes:
Another reader, who did not want to be named, said:
Tony Lloyd, 70, the Labour MP for Rochdale, has been taken to hospital in Manchester with coronavirus, ITV’s Hannah Miller reports.
Lloyd is still the shadow Northern Ireland secretary.
A Covid-19 testing centre at Cardiff City’s stadium is due to open on Tuesday. At the Welsh government’s press conference, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, said initially more than 200 tests a day would be carried out there.
The first key workers to be tested will be from the Gwent area, which has been a virus hot spot so far. Police officers and care home workers as well as NHS staff will be tested.
Drakeford said 1,100 tests were now being carried out. By mid-April 5,000 tests a day procured by the Welsh government will be carried out. Another 4,000 will be drawn down from the UK-wide provision.
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has said he believes the lockdown will have to continue beyond Easter.
He said: “Everything that I have seen so far suggests to me that it would be foolish to throw away the enormous effort that everyone has made by simply removing the constraints we have been living under at that point. Everything I have seen suggests to me a further period of constraint will be necessary.”
Drakeford called for Cobra to meet soon to review the regulations. He said: “It’s important the four governments of the UK come together to consider the evidence and decide the best way forward together.”
He added there were signs that the lockdown was beginning to take effect but warned: “We know that things are likely to get worse before they get better.”
Drakeford said police in north and west Wales had reported some concern about people travelling to second homes over the warm weekend. “That is not essential travel,” he told a press conference in Cardiff.
But he also said: “I want to thank the thousands and thousands of people right across Wales who continue to follow the rules.”
Johnson’s chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, is yet to return to work in Downing Street but remains in communication with officials, a spokesman said.
“He is not back in No 10 today. He is in contact with No 10,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said.
Cummings was last seen in public running out of Downing Street shortly after Johnson announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.
During that Downing Street briefing, the spokesman also said 16,000 tests were conducted on Sunday, including 1,000 for NHS workers and their families.
That is still way behind the 100,000 a day testing target set for the end of April by Matt Hancock, the health secretary. It is also way below the 25,000 tests Boris Johnson promised on 18 March.
The Protestant Orange Order has cancelled its annual Twelfth of July celebrations for only the third time since the 18th century.
Sixteen Orange parades in Northern Ireland and one in the Irish Republic will not go ahead this year. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland said the cancellations were “in the best interests of our members, their families and the wider community”.
Since its formation at the end of the 1800s the Orange Order’s parades marking the victory of Prince William of Orange against the Catholic forces of James II at the Battle of Boyne have only been called off twice before: during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and during the second world war.
Boris Johnson remains in St Thomas’ hospital “for observation”, with No 10 saying he had a “comfortable night” and is “in good spirits”.
Downing Street is not denying that the prime minister received oxygen treatment last night. Officials are refusing to give any further update on his condition.
When asked if he had pneumonia, the spokesman said any change in his condition would be made public. No 10 is no longer describing Johnson’s symptoms as “mild”, but confirmed he has a temperature and a cough.
The PM remains in charge but the daily coronavirus meeting was chaired by Dominic Raab, who will continue to do so while Johnson is absent.
Raab is still working from the Foreign Office, rather than Downing Street. Johnson is continuing to work through his red box of papers and No 10 is following infection advice in relation to the box.
There will be no cabinet on Tuesday, instead the daily coronavirus meeting will replace it.
Johnson went to hospital by private car but No 10 refused to say what type. It was his first visit to hospital since falling ill.
No 10 insisted it had been “transparent throughout” despite having claimed up until Johnson’s admission that his symptoms were mild.
A spokesman dismissed a Russian report that Johnson is on a ventilator as “disinformation”. The PM will be guided by the advice from his doctors when it comes to calls for him to stop working and rest, he said.