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| UK coronavirus news: government says it’s ‘too early’ to say when lockdown will end as death toll reaches 5,373 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Dominic Raab confirms he has not spoken to Boris Johnson since Saturday as PM remains hospital ‘for observation’ | |
| The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 among prisoners has increased by a fifth in three days, the latest figures have shown. | |
| As at 5pm on Sunday, 107 prisoners had tested positive for coronavirus across 38 prisons, up 21% from 88 inmates across 29 jails as at 5pm Thursday. There are 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales in 117 prisons. | |
| The number of prison staff who have tested positive rose during the same period from 15 across nine prisons to 19 staff across 12 prisons, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff remained at four. | |
| On Saturday, the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, announced that up to 4,000 risk-assessed prisoners who are within two months of their release date will be temporarily released from jail. | |
| The Downing Street press conference has now finished. Raab said planning for the end of the lockdown was taking place, but added: | |
| “The risk right now is if we take our focus off the strategy, which is beginning to work, we won’t get through this peak as soon as we want to.” | |
| Whitty reiterates that it was not him who told the prime minister to go to hospital. Asked if Johnson could have pneumonia, he adds: “This is a question for him and his medical advisers, who are outstanding. | |
| “I am absolutely not going to discuss any individual patient and I do not have the full details, nor should I.” | |
| Whitty says he is “very confident” that the UK will develop antibody tests “over the next period”. | |
| He adds that it should not be “particularly surprising to anyone who understands how tests are developed” that prototypes so far have failed. | |
| Raab suggests that he has not spoken to the prime minister today, but spoke to him “over the weekend”. | |
| Boris Johnson is being “kept abreast of all the relevant developments”, although Raab chaired a meeting that he would usually chair. | |
| Whitty says that some coronavirus patients will be “perfectly capable” of working from their hospital beds, while others are not. He adds that it’s up to the individual patient and their doctor. | |
| Whitty says there are several things to consider when deciding on an exit strategy for the UK’s coronavirus lockdown: | |
| Direct effects of people dying from coronavirus. | |
| Indirect effects of the NHS being overwhelmed by patients. | |
| Effects of other healthcare being postponed during the outbreak. | |
| Long-term health effects of the socioeconomic impact. | |
| Raab adds that while the prime minister is “in charge”, he will continue to take doctors’ advice on what to do next. | |
| The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, says he had also advised Johnson to take the medical advice of the NHS doctors who are treating him. | |
| Angela McLean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, is now speaking at the Downing Street press conference. | Angela McLean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, is now speaking at the Downing Street press conference. |
| She says the growth in the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 symptoms is not as bad at it would have been if lockdown measures had not been put in place. | She says the growth in the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 symptoms is not as bad at it would have been if lockdown measures had not been put in place. |
| The number of cases had steadily grown up until 1 April. “But it really is too soon to see the effects of the big changes we all made to our lives from 23 March onwards,” she added. | The number of cases had steadily grown up until 1 April. “But it really is too soon to see the effects of the big changes we all made to our lives from 23 March onwards,” she added. |
| Even if the number of people being admitted to hospitals and ICU units does start to stabilise, the number is expected to rise “because of course it takes time after people have been admitted to hospital for them either to get better, or very sadly to die.” | Even if the number of people being admitted to hospitals and ICU units does start to stabilise, the number is expected to rise “because of course it takes time after people have been admitted to hospital for them either to get better, or very sadly to die.” |
| The government has helped more than 20,000 Britons get home from Spain since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as 13,000 from Egypt and 8,000 from Indonesia. | The government has helped more than 20,000 Britons get home from Spain since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as 13,000 from Egypt and 8,000 from Indonesia. |
| The Foreign Office is deploying its diplomatic network around the world to source and buy ventilators and protective equipment for the NHS, says Raab. | The Foreign Office is deploying its diplomatic network around the world to source and buy ventilators and protective equipment for the NHS, says Raab. |
| A total of 17,911 people have been admitted to hospital in the UK with coronavirus symptoms. | A total of 17,911 people have been admitted to hospital in the UK with coronavirus symptoms. |
| Raab also reiterates that the prime minister, Boris Johnson, remains in hospital under observation and continues to lead the government. | Raab also reiterates that the prime minister, Boris Johnson, remains in hospital under observation and continues to lead the government. |
| Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has begun the daily Downing Street press briefing on the coronavirus outbreak. | Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has begun the daily Downing Street press briefing on the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Angela Merkel has sent Boris Johnson her well wishes as he remains in hospital with coronavirus symptoms. | Angela Merkel has sent Boris Johnson her well wishes as he remains in hospital with coronavirus symptoms. |
| The German chancellor’s spokesman said on Twitter that she wished him “much strength and a speedy recovery and hopes that he can leave hospital soon”. | The German chancellor’s spokesman said on Twitter that she wished him “much strength and a speedy recovery and hopes that he can leave hospital soon”. |
| Local councils and teachers’ unions have welcomed a government announcement that food vouchers made available to schools and families of children entitled to free school meals in England are being extended to cover the Easter holidays. | Local councils and teachers’ unions have welcomed a government announcement that food vouchers made available to schools and families of children entitled to free school meals in England are being extended to cover the Easter holidays. |
| Ministers said last week that qualifying families could claim shopping vouchers of £15 a week per child in term time only. But over the weekend Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the vouchers would continue to be paid over the two-week Easter break, benefiting an estimated 1.3 million youngsters in England. | Ministers said last week that qualifying families could claim shopping vouchers of £15 a week per child in term time only. But over the weekend Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the vouchers would continue to be paid over the two-week Easter break, benefiting an estimated 1.3 million youngsters in England. |
| Cllr Judith Blake, chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “We are pleased that the government has listened to our call to extend the food voucher scheme to cover the Easter holidays.“No young person should have to go hungry and ensuring vulnerable pupils - including those on free school meals and with special educational needs and disabilities - are provided for is a top priority for councils and schools. | Cllr Judith Blake, chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “We are pleased that the government has listened to our call to extend the food voucher scheme to cover the Easter holidays.“No young person should have to go hungry and ensuring vulnerable pupils - including those on free school meals and with special educational needs and disabilities - are provided for is a top priority for councils and schools. |
| “There are over 1.3 million young people entitled to free school meals and the number of families in need is likely to be much greater as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has forced thousands of families into financial insecurity, meaning parents who did not previously qualify for free school meals may be eligible for them. | “There are over 1.3 million young people entitled to free school meals and the number of families in need is likely to be much greater as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has forced thousands of families into financial insecurity, meaning parents who did not previously qualify for free school meals may be eligible for them. |
| Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Many struggling families will be finding it even harder than normal to make ends meet in the current emergency and with children at home for a long period. | Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Many struggling families will be finding it even harder than normal to make ends meet in the current emergency and with children at home for a long period. |
| “The extension of the voucher scheme will make a real difference in helping to alleviate the risk of children going hungry.” | “The extension of the voucher scheme will make a real difference in helping to alleviate the risk of children going hungry.” |
| The Department of Health and Social Care said as of 5pm yesterday 5,373 people who had tested positive for coronavirus have died in UK hospitals. | The Department of Health and Social Care said as of 5pm yesterday 5,373 people who had tested positive for coronavirus have died in UK hospitals. |
| The total is up 439 from 4,934 yesterday, although it does not take into account those who have died in the community. | The total is up 439 from 4,934 yesterday, although it does not take into account those who have died in the community. |
| As of 9am on Monday, 208,837 people had been tested for the virus, of which 51,608 had tested positive. | As of 9am on Monday, 208,837 people had been tested for the virus, of which 51,608 had tested positive. |
| Police are investigating a suspected hate crime in which a person coughed in the face of a woman who is registered blind. | Police are investigating a suspected hate crime in which a person coughed in the face of a woman who is registered blind. |
| Wiltshire police said the woman, who is aged in her 50s, was walking with her guide dog in Melksham at the weekend. | Wiltshire police said the woman, who is aged in her 50s, was walking with her guide dog in Melksham at the weekend. |
| Her guide dog alerted her that a person was nearby so the victim shouted out that she couldn’t social distance as she was unable to see and asked the person to keep their distance. | Her guide dog alerted her that a person was nearby so the victim shouted out that she couldn’t social distance as she was unable to see and asked the person to keep their distance. |
| However, instead of keeping a distance, the person approached the victim and coughed in her face – the victim felt their breath against her cheek. | However, instead of keeping a distance, the person approached the victim and coughed in her face – the victim felt their breath against her cheek. |
| Sgt David Hambly said: “Especially due to the current climate, the victim felt especially anxious and shocked by this person’s actions and immediately went home and washed her face and hands. | Sgt David Hambly said: “Especially due to the current climate, the victim felt especially anxious and shocked by this person’s actions and immediately went home and washed her face and hands. |
| “This is completely unacceptable behaviour and we are treating this as an incident of hate crime – the suspect in this case has shown complete disregard for this woman’s health and vulnerabilities and I know members of the local community will be both saddened and disappointed to hear of this person’s actions.” | “This is completely unacceptable behaviour and we are treating this as an incident of hate crime – the suspect in this case has shown complete disregard for this woman’s health and vulnerabilities and I know members of the local community will be both saddened and disappointed to hear of this person’s actions.” |
| The incident took place at approximately 6pm on Saturday 4 April. | The incident took place at approximately 6pm on Saturday 4 April. |
| Nine people have died at a Liverpool care home since last Sunday, the Liverpool Echo reports. | Nine people have died at a Liverpool care home since last Sunday, the Liverpool Echo reports. |
| One of those who died at Oak Springs Care Home this weekend tested positive for the virus, while two residents who are exhibiting symptoms of the virus remain in a critical condition in hospital. | One of those who died at Oak Springs Care Home this weekend tested positive for the virus, while two residents who are exhibiting symptoms of the virus remain in a critical condition in hospital. |
| A member of staff has also now tested positive for the virus and is self-isolating, after receiving a test because her partner works for the NHS. | A member of staff has also now tested positive for the virus and is self-isolating, after receiving a test because her partner works for the NHS. |