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UK coronavirus live: hospital death toll reaches 7,097, a record daily rise of 938 UK coronavirus live: Rishi Sunak gives government briefing, as death toll reaches 7,097, a record daily rise of 938
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson ‘responding to treatment’ in intensive care; Wales to extend lockdown Boris Johnson sitting up in bed in intensive care, says chancellor, as he announces £750m package for charities
As of 5pm on 7 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 7,097 have died. That is a rise of 938, up from 6,159 the previous day – the highest day-on-day rise so far. Powis urges people needing emergency treatment to seek help “just as you always have done”.
As of 9am 8 April, 282,074 tests have concluded, with 14,682 tests on 7 April.232,708 people have been tested of which 60,733 tested positive. He said:
Even after the number of people in critical care stabilises or even begins to fall, the number of deaths will continue to rise because of long reporting lags. The number is expected to keep rising even after the curve has flattened.
Another chart illustrates that the curve has started to flatten at least in some parts of the country in the last 24 hours, in terms of the number of patients in critical care which has increased by just 4%. That is good news.
McLean is speaking now.
One chart shows footfall across 17 rail stations through the month of March, which was down 94% by the end of March compared with the first week.
The number of new cases day-by-day is “not accelerating out of control”. This is good news.
The number of people in hospital beds with Covid-19 is highest in London, followed by the Midlands. This is a slower responding record of new infections, but the rate at which it is rising is “definitely getting slower” and “looks like we’re beginning to get towards a flat curve”.
Sunak has announced £750m of funding for the charity sector, £370m of which will support small, local charities working with vulnerable people.
In England, this support will be provided for organisations through the National Lottery communities fund.
And the government will allocate £60m of this funding through the Barnett formula to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It will also provide a further £360m directly to charities providing essential services and supporting vulnerable people. Up to £200m of those grants will support hospices, with the rest going to organisations like St John Ambulance and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, as well as charities supporting vulnerable children, victims of domestic abuse or disabled people.
The government will also match pound-for-pound whatever the public donates to the BBC’s Big Night In charity appeal, starting with at least £20m to the National Emergencies Trust appeal.
The prime minister is receiving “excellent care” and remains in intensive care, where his condition is “improving”. He has been “sitting up in bed” and “engaging positively” with the clinical team.
Sunak is speaking now.
232,708 people in the UK have now been tested. 60,734 were positive, an increase of 5,492 cases since yesterday.
19,438 people have been admitted to hospital, 7,097 of whom have now died, an increase of 938 fatalities since yesterday.
The daily Downing Street news briefing is due to begin shortly and will be led by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak.
He will be joined by Stephen Powis, the national medical director for NHS England, and Angela McLean, the deputy chief government scientific adviser.
As of 5pm on 7 April, of those treated in hospital in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 7,097 have died, the Department for Health and Social Care said. That is a rise of 938, up from 6,159 the previous day – the highest day-on-day rise so far.
As of 9am on 8 April, 282,074 tests have concluded, with 14,682 tests on 7 April.232,708 people have been tested of which 60,733 tested positive.
The overall test figure excludes data from Northern Ireland, and test data from Charing Cross and Southampton has not been included because of a processing delay, the department added.
A temporary morgue will be built at an aerodrome in Lancashire with capacity to house 1,000 bodies.A temporary morgue will be built at an aerodrome in Lancashire with capacity to house 1,000 bodies.
The site at BAE Systems in Warton is due to be built in about eight days.The site at BAE Systems in Warton is due to be built in about eight days.
Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire county council, said:
A lack of protective equipment for nurses is “fundamentally compromising” the care they can give patients, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned, with nurses’ safety also being put at risk.A lack of protective equipment for nurses is “fundamentally compromising” the care they can give patients, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned, with nurses’ safety also being put at risk.
The union said despite repeated assurances that more personal protective equipment (PPE) is on the way, kit is still not reaching the front line.The union said despite repeated assurances that more personal protective equipment (PPE) is on the way, kit is still not reaching the front line.
Nurses are still being forced to share equipment, buy their own or reuse kit, according to the RCN’s chief executive and general secretary, Dame Donna Kinnair.Nurses are still being forced to share equipment, buy their own or reuse kit, according to the RCN’s chief executive and general secretary, Dame Donna Kinnair.
In a letter to the parliamentary health committee chairman and former health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, Kinnair said nurses were being forced to choose between their sense of duty and the safety of themselves and their families. The letter reads:In a letter to the parliamentary health committee chairman and former health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, Kinnair said nurses were being forced to choose between their sense of duty and the safety of themselves and their families. The letter reads:
Global shortages of PPE have led to shortfalls on the NHS frontline as medics try to care for the rising tide of patients with Covid-19.Global shortages of PPE have led to shortfalls on the NHS frontline as medics try to care for the rising tide of patients with Covid-19.
Officials have said millions of pieces of kit have been distributed and a hotline has been established to help frontline staff get PPE where it is needed most. But in a submission of evidence to the health committee’s Covid-19 inquiry, the RCN added:Officials have said millions of pieces of kit have been distributed and a hotline has been established to help frontline staff get PPE where it is needed most. But in a submission of evidence to the health committee’s Covid-19 inquiry, the RCN added:
A lack of PPE and hand sanitiser is particularly acute for nurses in GP surgeries and care homes, the RCN added. The RCN said that insufficient and inadequate PPE meant health and care employers were breaching statutory obligations.A lack of PPE and hand sanitiser is particularly acute for nurses in GP surgeries and care homes, the RCN added. The RCN said that insufficient and inadequate PPE meant health and care employers were breaching statutory obligations.
The union said it had written to the Health and Safety Executive calling for intervention.The union said it had written to the Health and Safety Executive calling for intervention.
About four in 10 cars on the roads in Greater Manchester are exploiting quieter conditions during the lockdown by exceeding the speed limit, Andy Burnham has said.About four in 10 cars on the roads in Greater Manchester are exploiting quieter conditions during the lockdown by exceeding the speed limit, Andy Burnham has said.
The region’s mayor said figures show an expected large decrease in the number of vehicles on the roads, but the number of speeding motorists has doubled.The region’s mayor said figures show an expected large decrease in the number of vehicles on the roads, but the number of speeding motorists has doubled.
In his weekly press briefing, Burnham said:In his weekly press briefing, Burnham said:
Last week, two other police forces said they had seen an increase in speeding and warned motorists not to drive irresponsibly during the travel restrictions.Last week, two other police forces said they had seen an increase in speeding and warned motorists not to drive irresponsibly during the travel restrictions.
North Wales police caught a driver travelling at 113mph and another at 101mph, while North Yorkshire police said a car was clocked travelling at 132mph.North Wales police caught a driver travelling at 113mph and another at 101mph, while North Yorkshire police said a car was clocked travelling at 132mph.
Channel 4 will cut its content budget by £150m in an effort to navigate a way through the coronavirus crisis, it has been announced.Channel 4 will cut its content budget by £150m in an effort to navigate a way through the coronavirus crisis, it has been announced.
The channel said:The channel said:
The statement said Channel 4 would maintain its support for the creative sector – continuing to commission and develop content for 2020 and 2021 - with ringfenced funding for nations and regions, and BAME-led independent producers.The statement said Channel 4 would maintain its support for the creative sector – continuing to commission and develop content for 2020 and 2021 - with ringfenced funding for nations and regions, and BAME-led independent producers.
A “virtual parliament” must be swiftly established so the government can be scrutinised during the coronavirus outbreak, a cross-party group of peers has urged.
The 210-strong group called on the leader of the House of Lords, Lady Evans, to prioritise allowing oral questions and statements to be made using video-conferencing technology, and said that if those measures could be successfully introduced, they then wanted the use of digital technology to be extended to include legislation and voting.
The peers, including the Conservative former minister Lord Bourne, Labour’s Lord Dubs and the Liberal Democrat Lady Benjamin, called for “new ways of working” to be introduced.
Lord German, a Lib Dem peer who was key to organising the call, said parliament had to lead by example while continuing to fulfil its crucial duties:
The Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, wrote to peers warning that the challenges could go a “long way beyond” 21 April and said authorities were working “incredibly hard” to allow members to participate from home.
In the Commons, the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has also urged the government to allow MPs to be able to work “virtually” if the crisis continues after the date they are due to return.
The National Trust is urging people to stay at home over Easter in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.
The Easter weekend would traditionally involve hundreds of thousands of people flocking to National Trust properties, gardens and beauty spots across the UK. But they are all closed as the country remains in lockdown as part of strict measures to control the outbreak.
The National Trust director general, Hilary McGrady, said:
The charity is also launching a new programme of online activities for children and families and is calling on people to hold on to rainbow signs, letters and other pieces of ephemera from the lockdown. McGrady added:
The former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said he is “self-isolating as a precaution” after experiencing a fever and persistent cough since Saturday. After consulting NHS 111, he decided to remain in self-isolation for the rest of the week, he said.
The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP said he would be “out of action” over the next few days but constituents could still contact his team who would continue to work hard in his absence.
The UK’s largest travel firm, Tui, has just cancelled all its beach holidays for the next five weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It said on Wednesday that all package trips up to and including 14 May were being cancelled, while all its Marella Cruises sailings had been suspended until at least June. Tui said:
Currently bookings for the May half-term, one of the busiest weeks in the holiday calendar, are set to go ahead, although that looks unlikely. Earlier this week the Foreign and Commonwealth Office extended its ban on all but essential travel outside the UK, and said this would run until further notice.
Tui has told affected passengers not to contact the firm, and it will get in touch. It is currently only offering those with cancelled trips the chance to rebook, rather than the full refunds as required by law.
Rory Boland, from the consumer group Which?, said:
The number of deaths linked to coronavirus in a hospital setting in Northern Ireland has risen to 78, with five more reported on Wednesday.
There were 84 new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total in the region to 1,339, according to the Public Health Agency.
A further 828 people, who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 6,483, NHS England said.
Patients were aged between 22 and 103 years old. Forty-six of the 828 patients (aged between 35 and 96 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
The Scottish government has announced an extra £5m in emergency financial support for students at Scottish colleges and universities facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.The government’s announcement said:
The remainder will be taken from further education student support budgets “for immediate use” as emergency funds.
Richard Lochhead, the further and higher education minister, said all bursaries, grants and loans would continue to be paid, with the extra funding to help those with concerns around accommodation costs, general living expenses and wellbeing.
Public Health Wales said 33 more people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in Wales to 245.
Dr Robin Howe, from Public Health Wales, also said 284 new cases have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 4,073, adding that the true number is likely to be higher.
Dr Howe said case numbers would be “lower than usual” on Thursday as officials move back the time when they count new cases.
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has confirmed the lockdown will not be lifted next week in Wales.
He told a virtual Welsh assembly meeting:
Drakeford said he had discussed the next steps with the UK, Scottish and Northern Ireland governments and added: “The precise nature of what will follow will be agreed in the following days.”
He thanked the people of Wales for their efforts so far.
The Welsh government said people flouting the lockdown had been recorded by all four police forces in Wales.
Some people had visited holiday homes, which had caused tension. Concerns have been raised by Gwent police about busy roads and motorcyclists congregating in some parts of their area, while South Wales police officers have attended incidents including a children’s birthday party, a football match and a group of hikers.
Drakeford said:
He said breaches had been “sporadic” but warned that if police said stronger powers were needed, they would receive them.