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| UK coronavirus live news: Boris Johnson 'stable' in hospital as 854 new deaths reported across UK | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prime minister ‘stable’ in intensive care and not on ventilator, says No 10 | |
| And the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have also sent their wishes for a speedy recovery to the prime minister this morning. | |
| This is from the Queen’s Twitter feed. | |
| And this is from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. (The W at the end means that it is a personal message from Prince William, not just a message typed by a flunkey.) | |
| And there have been three new coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland, according to the latest update (pdf) from Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency. | |
| These three deaths, combined with the 758 from England (see 2.18pm), the 74 from Scotland (see 1.50pm) and the 19 from Wales (see 2.08pm), would take the UK total of new deaths to 854. | |
| We will get an official UK figure from the Department of Health and Social Care later. As Nadine White at HuffPost points out, there is normally a slight difference between the official UK total and the figure produced by the combination of the separate figures for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. That is because some of the reporting criteria differ. Yesterday the official DHSC figure for new UK deaths was 439. | |
| Air traffic in the UK is down 92% on the same day in 2019, while rail travel is down 95%, according to the latest government figures. The transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris - updating the Commons transport select committee on the effects of the coronavirus, in a meeting held remotely – said road volumes were also down 71% for last year overall, and by 83% on the strategic road network, or major roads. | Air traffic in the UK is down 92% on the same day in 2019, while rail travel is down 95%, according to the latest government figures. The transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris - updating the Commons transport select committee on the effects of the coronavirus, in a meeting held remotely – said road volumes were also down 71% for last year overall, and by 83% on the strategic road network, or major roads. |
| Bus passenger numbers are now down 88%, with services down 54% compared with 2019. | |
| In London, tube journeys are down by 94%, while bus journeys are 80% down on last year. Cross-Channel Eurostar journeys are now just 1% of last year’s numbers. | |
| And NHS England has just released its latest figures for coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England. In a statement it said: | And NHS England has just released its latest figures for coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England. In a statement it said: |
| Yesterday the figure for new coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England was 403, but the large difference between that figure and today’s may be partly explained by the delay in the reporting of some deaths that occurred over the weekend. | Yesterday the figure for new coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England was 403, but the large difference between that figure and today’s may be partly explained by the delay in the reporting of some deaths that occurred over the weekend. |
| There have been 19 further coronavirus deaths in Wales, according to Public Health Wales. In a statement its coronavirus incident director Dr Giri Shankar said: | There have been 19 further coronavirus deaths in Wales, according to Public Health Wales. In a statement its coronavirus incident director Dr Giri Shankar said: |
| The chocolate and confectionery giant Mars has donated 1m Easter eggs to NHS workers, food banks and community groups. | The chocolate and confectionery giant Mars has donated 1m Easter eggs to NHS workers, food banks and community groups. |
| The Easter treats, which include products under the Maltesers, M&Ms, Galaxy and Mars brands, have been handed out directly to hospitals including the new Nightingale hospital in London and the Countess of Chester hospital in the north-west. They will also be available via food banks and other community projects supplied by the national FareShare food distribution charity. | The Easter treats, which include products under the Maltesers, M&Ms, Galaxy and Mars brands, have been handed out directly to hospitals including the new Nightingale hospital in London and the Countess of Chester hospital in the north-west. They will also be available via food banks and other community projects supplied by the national FareShare food distribution charity. |
| The artist Jeremy Deller has created a poster celebrating the role of immigrants in combating the coronavirus to raise funds for refugees, asylum seekers and food banks during the pandemic. | The artist Jeremy Deller has created a poster celebrating the role of immigrants in combating the coronavirus to raise funds for refugees, asylum seekers and food banks during the pandemic. |
| Money raised from sales of the poster, which states Thank God For Immigrants, will support Refugee Action and the Trussell Trust, which runs two-thirds of the UK’s food banks. Its muted multi-coloured pastel hues also evoke church posters and Easter. | Money raised from sales of the poster, which states Thank God For Immigrants, will support Refugee Action and the Trussell Trust, which runs two-thirds of the UK’s food banks. Its muted multi-coloured pastel hues also evoke church posters and Easter. |
| Money raised from sales of the poster, which states Thank God For Immigrants, will support Refugee Action and the Trussell Trust, which runs two-thirds of the UK’s food banks. Its muted multi-coloured pastel hues also evoke church posters and Easter, although Deller said the words refer to any god. | |
| The A2-sized posters, which cost £25, are available from the website of graphic designer Fraser Muggeridge, who collaborated with Deller on the project. | |
| Deller said the poster was a comment on how public attitudes towards immigrants in the UK have shifted since the Covid-19 outbreak. “It’s what people must be thinking to themselves, even if they weren’t three months ago. Even Piers Morgan said it today. [The poster] is a reflection of how our value systems are changing. How our view of the world is changing.” | |
| Muggeridge said he hoped people would display the posters as a tribute to NHS staff and other key workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who are on the frontline of dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak. He said: | |
| The first four doctors who died of Covid-19 in the UK – Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, Amged el-Hawrani, 55, and Adil El Tayar, 64 and GP Dr Habib Zaidi, 76– were from a BAME background. Another, senior heart surgeon Jitendra Rathod, died aged 62 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Monday. Nurse Areema Nasreen, 36, died in late March at Walsall Manor hospital in the West Midlands, where she had worked for 16 years. | The first four doctors who died of Covid-19 in the UK – Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, Amged el-Hawrani, 55, and Adil El Tayar, 64 and GP Dr Habib Zaidi, 76– were from a BAME background. Another, senior heart surgeon Jitendra Rathod, died aged 62 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Monday. Nurse Areema Nasreen, 36, died in late March at Walsall Manor hospital in the West Midlands, where she had worked for 16 years. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, began her daily briefing today by sending her best wishes to the prime minister, telling him: “We are all willing you on, Boris.” She announced an increase of 268 positive cases in Scotland, taking the total to 4,229, and a further 74 deaths registered in the last 24 hours, taking the total deaths to 296. She cautioned that this increase reflected fewer registrations over the weekend. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, began her daily briefing today by sending her best wishes to the prime minister, telling him: “We are all willing you on, Boris.” She announced an increase of 268 positive cases in Scotland, taking the total to 4,229, and a further 74 deaths registered in the last 24 hours, taking the total deaths to 296. She cautioned that this increase reflected fewer registrations over the weekend. |
| Asked how long she would continue to work should she become ill with the virus herself, she said that she would seek guidance and “work as long as medically appropriate”, adding that continuity plans were in place in terms of the deputy first minister taking over. | Asked how long she would continue to work should she become ill with the virus herself, she said that she would seek guidance and “work as long as medically appropriate”, adding that continuity plans were in place in terms of the deputy first minister taking over. |
| Reporters raised concerns of care workers about the availability of PPE (personal protective equipment). Sturgeon said that she didn’t want anyone to feel they needed to whistleblow to the media at this time but that she wanted everyone with concerns about PPE or anything else to feel able to raise them directly with her government. She said that while there were known difficulties in the global supply chain, the safety of frontline workers would always drive decisions on provision of kit. | Reporters raised concerns of care workers about the availability of PPE (personal protective equipment). Sturgeon said that she didn’t want anyone to feel they needed to whistleblow to the media at this time but that she wanted everyone with concerns about PPE or anything else to feel able to raise them directly with her government. She said that while there were known difficulties in the global supply chain, the safety of frontline workers would always drive decisions on provision of kit. |
| Announcing a £5.3m funding boost for community pharmacists, Scotland’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, said that she was acutely aware of the impact of lockdown on mental health, especially amongst younger people, and that work was under way with youth organisations. | Announcing a £5.3m funding boost for community pharmacists, Scotland’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, said that she was acutely aware of the impact of lockdown on mental health, especially amongst younger people, and that work was under way with youth organisations. |
| Finally, responding to a question about the resignation of chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood over the weekend following the flagrant breach of her own lockdown guidance, Sturgeon urged people to acknowledge that “we are all trying to do our best”, adding: “Sometimes it’s most important to show people kindness is when they have made a mistake.” | Finally, responding to a question about the resignation of chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood over the weekend following the flagrant breach of her own lockdown guidance, Sturgeon urged people to acknowledge that “we are all trying to do our best”, adding: “Sometimes it’s most important to show people kindness is when they have made a mistake.” |
| Here is the Guardian’s latest Science Weekly podcast. Hannah Devlin speaks to Dr Jenna Macciochi about how our immune systems fight off infections such as coronavirus, and – as per lots of your questions – what happens if we’re immunocompromised | Here is the Guardian’s latest Science Weekly podcast. Hannah Devlin speaks to Dr Jenna Macciochi about how our immune systems fight off infections such as coronavirus, and – as per lots of your questions – what happens if we’re immunocompromised |
| The Wellcome Trust is calling on big businesses to donate $8bn (£6.4bn) for research into developing diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, my colleague Rupert Neate reports. His full story is here. | The Wellcome Trust is calling on big businesses to donate $8bn (£6.4bn) for research into developing diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, my colleague Rupert Neate reports. His full story is here. |
| Police were called to a funeral in the West Midlands after around 60 mourners flouted coronavirus lockdown measures. The group failed to disperse at Streetly crematorium after being encouraged to do so by officers, but no further action was taken. Walsall council have now said that the gates at the site will remain locked, with only controlled access given to mourners. In line with government guidance, the authority are allowing only 10 people to attend funerals. | Police were called to a funeral in the West Midlands after around 60 mourners flouted coronavirus lockdown measures. The group failed to disperse at Streetly crematorium after being encouraged to do so by officers, but no further action was taken. Walsall council have now said that the gates at the site will remain locked, with only controlled access given to mourners. In line with government guidance, the authority are allowing only 10 people to attend funerals. |
| Ch Supt Andy Parsons of West Midlands police said that the force would only enforce laws as “an absolute last resort”, but stressed that restrictions were in place to prevent more deaths during the pandemic. He said: | Ch Supt Andy Parsons of West Midlands police said that the force would only enforce laws as “an absolute last resort”, but stressed that restrictions were in place to prevent more deaths during the pandemic. He said: |
| There could be as many as 66,000 Covid-19 deaths in the UK during the first wave of the current pandemic, more than a third of the expected death toll across Europe, according to modelling by a US university. | There could be as many as 66,000 Covid-19 deaths in the UK during the first wave of the current pandemic, more than a third of the expected death toll across Europe, according to modelling by a US university. |
| The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine estimated that approximately 151,680 people were likely to die from the virus across the continent. According to a news release by the institute: | The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine estimated that approximately 151,680 people were likely to die from the virus across the continent. According to a news release by the institute: |
| There is more here, on the global coronavirus live blog. | There is more here, on the global coronavirus live blog. |
| Here is a full summary of the Downing Street lobby briefing. | Here is a full summary of the Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| Boris Johnson does not have pneumonia, Downing Street has said. Until now ministers and No 10 have refused to give a clear answer to this question. But asked if the PM has been diagnosed with pneumonia, the PM’s spokesman said: “That is not the case, no.” | Boris Johnson does not have pneumonia, Downing Street has said. Until now ministers and No 10 have refused to give a clear answer to this question. But asked if the PM has been diagnosed with pneumonia, the PM’s spokesman said: “That is not the case, no.” |
| The spokesman said that Johnson was “stable” overnight and “remains in good spirits”. (See 12.51pm.) | The spokesman said that Johnson was “stable” overnight and “remains in good spirits”. (See 12.51pm.) |
| Downing Street has signalled that it does not want to take up Donald Trump’s offer of experimental coronavirus drugs for Boris Johnson. (See 12.51pm.) | Downing Street has signalled that it does not want to take up Donald Trump’s offer of experimental coronavirus drugs for Boris Johnson. (See 12.51pm.) |
| Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, would take over if Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for the PM, got ill, the spokesman said. The spokesman said there was an established order of precedence in the government. After Raab, Sunak, is the next most senior person in the government, the spokesman said. (The spokesman sidestepped a question about who was next in seniority, and “how long it would take before Thérèse Coffey took charge”, but the order of precedence is normally the order in which ministers are listed on the official No 10 website. In theory, after Sunak, Priti Patel, the home secretary, and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, are next in seniority - in that order. Coffey is 11th on the list.) | Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, would take over if Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for the PM, got ill, the spokesman said. The spokesman said there was an established order of precedence in the government. After Raab, Sunak, is the next most senior person in the government, the spokesman said. (The spokesman sidestepped a question about who was next in seniority, and “how long it would take before Thérèse Coffey took charge”, but the order of precedence is normally the order in which ministers are listed on the official No 10 website. In theory, after Sunak, Priti Patel, the home secretary, and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, are next in seniority - in that order. Coffey is 11th on the list.) |
| Raab does not have the authority to “hire and fire” people in government while he is deputising for the PM, the spokesman said. | Raab does not have the authority to “hire and fire” people in government while he is deputising for the PM, the spokesman said. |
| The spokesman played down the prospect of the government announcing plans for an exit strategy from the lockdown anytime soon. He said that no was not the time to focus on this. | The spokesman played down the prospect of the government announcing plans for an exit strategy from the lockdown anytime soon. He said that no was not the time to focus on this. |
| The spokesman refused to say when the government would announce whether or not the lockdown measures are being extended. When they were announced by the PM, they were scheduled to run for a three-week period which will be over next Monday. The spokesman said that announcement about whether they would be extended would not necessarily come that day. He did not rule out it happening this week. | The spokesman refused to say when the government would announce whether or not the lockdown measures are being extended. When they were announced by the PM, they were scheduled to run for a three-week period which will be over next Monday. The spokesman said that announcement about whether they would be extended would not necessarily come that day. He did not rule out it happening this week. |
| He claimed there was no legal need for the lockdown to be renewed. [This is true in the short term, but the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, which give legal force to the lockdown measures in England, do have to be reviewed every 21 days, with the first review due by 16 April. And the regulations expire after six months.] | He claimed there was no legal need for the lockdown to be renewed. [This is true in the short term, but the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, which give legal force to the lockdown measures in England, do have to be reviewed every 21 days, with the first review due by 16 April. And the regulations expire after six months.] |
| The spokesman refused to speculate on suggestions that schools could be opened before other lockdown measures are reversed (a proposal backed by University College London research published today). | The spokesman refused to speculate on suggestions that schools could be opened before other lockdown measures are reversed (a proposal backed by University College London research published today). |
| The spokesman rejected claims that the PM was getting special treatment at the St Thomas’ Hospital. When asked about claims that a ventilator was being set aside for the PM, the spokesman said there was “significant spare capacity” available in hospitals, including ventilators. | The spokesman rejected claims that the PM was getting special treatment at the St Thomas’ Hospital. When asked about claims that a ventilator was being set aside for the PM, the spokesman said there was “significant spare capacity” available in hospitals, including ventilators. |
| The spokesman rejected claims that No 10 has not been fully frank with the media about the PM’s health. “We have a commitment to be as transparent as we can be throughout this process,” the spokesman said. | The spokesman rejected claims that No 10 has not been fully frank with the media about the PM’s health. “We have a commitment to be as transparent as we can be throughout this process,” the spokesman said. |
| The spokesman said Raab would be able to authorise military action in the PM’s absence. The spokesman said that, if a national security council was needed, Raab would chair it in the PM’s absence. There was a robust national security architecture in place, the spokesman said. And he said it had the authority and ability to respond to a military threat in the PM’s absence. | The spokesman said Raab would be able to authorise military action in the PM’s absence. The spokesman said that, if a national security council was needed, Raab would chair it in the PM’s absence. There was a robust national security architecture in place, the spokesman said. And he said it had the authority and ability to respond to a military threat in the PM’s absence. |
| The spokesman said Johnson had not spoken to Raab today. | The spokesman said Johnson had not spoken to Raab today. |
| Raab will not participate on the PM’s behalf in the weekly audience with the Queen, the spokesman said. The spokesman said that it has been agreed with Buckingham Palace that these weekly audiences will be suspended while the PM is ill. | Raab will not participate on the PM’s behalf in the weekly audience with the Queen, the spokesman said. The spokesman said that it has been agreed with Buckingham Palace that these weekly audiences will be suspended while the PM is ill. |
| The spokesman said Raab was feeling fine. | The spokesman said Raab was feeling fine. |
| Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, is working as usual, the spokesman said. But he said Dominic Cummings, the PM’s chief adviser, was still staying away from the office. Asked about the shortage of staff in No 10, the spokesman said it was “fully operational”. | Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, is working as usual, the spokesman said. But he said Dominic Cummings, the PM’s chief adviser, was still staying away from the office. Asked about the shortage of staff in No 10, the spokesman said it was “fully operational”. |
| Dominic Raab will lead the press conference later at 5pm. He will be joined by Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Prof Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. | Dominic Raab will lead the press conference later at 5pm. He will be joined by Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Prof Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. |