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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/08/uk-coronavirus-london--enough-intensive-care-beds-says-sadiq-khan-live-news-boris-johnson
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| Record UK daily death toll of 938, as Rishi Sunak says Johnson is 'sitting up in bed' – as it happened | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Prime minister ‘improving’ in intensive care, says chancellor, as he announces £750m package for charities | Prime minister ‘improving’ in intensive care, says chancellor, as he announces £750m package for charities |
| There has been a record daily rise in the number of patients in the UK who died in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, which increased by 938 to 7,097. | There has been a record daily rise in the number of patients in the UK who died in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, which increased by 938 to 7,097. |
| The prime minister’s condition was said to be improving, with Boris Johnson “sitting up in bed” and “engaging positively” with the clinical team as his intensive care continues at St Thomas’ hospital in London. | The prime minister’s condition was said to be improving, with Boris Johnson “sitting up in bed” and “engaging positively” with the clinical team as his intensive care continues at St Thomas’ hospital in London. |
| The deputy chief government scientific adviser, Angela McLean, said the spread of coronavirus was not accelerating and the UK seems to be moving towards a flat curve, as the lockdown begins to bear fruit. Due to lags in reporting, the number of deaths can be expected to continue to increase, however. | The deputy chief government scientific adviser, Angela McLean, said the spread of coronavirus was not accelerating and the UK seems to be moving towards a flat curve, as the lockdown begins to bear fruit. Due to lags in reporting, the number of deaths can be expected to continue to increase, however. |
| The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a £750m package for the charity sector across the UK. | The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a £750m package for the charity sector across the UK. |
| Schools across the UK are not expected to reopen after the Easter break and will instead remain closed for the foreseeable future, officials have told the Guardian. | Schools across the UK are not expected to reopen after the Easter break and will instead remain closed for the foreseeable future, officials have told the Guardian. |
| The second NHS Nightingale hospital, which was built at the NEC in Birmingham, will open on Friday. It will have 500 beds to treat patients with coronavirus, with the capacity to expand to 2,000. | The second NHS Nightingale hospital, which was built at the NEC in Birmingham, will open on Friday. It will have 500 beds to treat patients with coronavirus, with the capacity to expand to 2,000. |
| Live updates continue on our global blog: | Live updates continue on our global blog: |
| Axel Scheffler, illustrator of the beloved Gruffalo stories, has created an ebook to help children understand the coronavirus pandemic. | Axel Scheffler, illustrator of the beloved Gruffalo stories, has created an ebook to help children understand the coronavirus pandemic. |
| The book, written in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), explains what Covid-19 is, how it affects people and the measures introduced to control the spread of the virus.Prof Graham Medley, professor of infectious disease modelling at the LSHTM, who advised on the book, said: | The book, written in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), explains what Covid-19 is, how it affects people and the measures introduced to control the spread of the virus.Prof Graham Medley, professor of infectious disease modelling at the LSHTM, who advised on the book, said: |
| The question-and-answer book is aimed at pre-school and primary school children, while another free book by children’s author and illustrator Lydia Monks features a character called Dr Dog, who explains the outbreak for two-to-five-year-olds.LSHTM has also helped develop an educational campaign for parents and children, fronted by a cartoon hand called Hans. | The question-and-answer book is aimed at pre-school and primary school children, while another free book by children’s author and illustrator Lydia Monks features a character called Dr Dog, who explains the outbreak for two-to-five-year-olds.LSHTM has also helped develop an educational campaign for parents and children, fronted by a cartoon hand called Hans. |
| Earlier this month Scheffler and Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson produced a series of coronavirus-themed cartoons, showing how some of their best-known characters, including the storybook monster, Zog and Stick Man, are coping with social distancing, home schooling and isolation. | Earlier this month Scheffler and Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson produced a series of coronavirus-themed cartoons, showing how some of their best-known characters, including the storybook monster, Zog and Stick Man, are coping with social distancing, home schooling and isolation. |
| The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the prison estate in England and Wales continues to rise, a daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows. | The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the prison estate in England and Wales continues to rise, a daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows. |
| As at 5pm on Tuesday, 129 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 47 prisons, an increase of around 11% compared to the same time on Monday. There are around 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons. | As at 5pm on Tuesday, 129 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 47 prisons, an increase of around 11% compared to the same time on Monday. There are around 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons. |
| The number of prison staff who tested positive for Covid-19 rose in the same period by around 26% to 24 across 13 prisons, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff rose by one to five in total. | The number of prison staff who tested positive for Covid-19 rose in the same period by around 26% to 24 across 13 prisons, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff rose by one to five in total. |
| The number of prisoners who have tested positive for Covid-19 and died is 10, the Guardian understands. | The number of prisoners who have tested positive for Covid-19 and died is 10, the Guardian understands. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Yesterday, the head of the prison service, Jo Farrar, told MPs that, on present accommodation levels, between 10,000 and 15,000 inmates would have to be released to achieve single-cell occupancy across the estate. | Yesterday, the head of the prison service, Jo Farrar, told MPs that, on present accommodation levels, between 10,000 and 15,000 inmates would have to be released to achieve single-cell occupancy across the estate. |
| In this very handy video explainer, the Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, explains the different ways coronavirus can affect people, the likelihood of going to hospital and what will happen to people who are admitted. | In this very handy video explainer, the Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, explains the different ways coronavirus can affect people, the likelihood of going to hospital and what will happen to people who are admitted. |
| Schools in the UK are not set to reopen and will instead remain closed for the foreseeable future, government sources in Cardiff and London have told the Guardian, despite reports that a change was being considered. | Schools in the UK are not set to reopen and will instead remain closed for the foreseeable future, government sources in Cardiff and London have told the Guardian, despite reports that a change was being considered. |
| Officials confirmed that schools would only reopen once the scientific advice was in favour, and that they would remain closed after the Easter holidays ended, which for most state schools would be on 20 April. | Officials confirmed that schools would only reopen once the scientific advice was in favour, and that they would remain closed after the Easter holidays ended, which for most state schools would be on 20 April. |
| Some head teachers say their staff remain too vulnerable for reopening, and others were concerned that the shutdown was being undermined by an academic study suggesting that school closures only had a narrow impact on the spread of infection. | Some head teachers say their staff remain too vulnerable for reopening, and others were concerned that the shutdown was being undermined by an academic study suggesting that school closures only had a narrow impact on the spread of infection. |
| Read more here: | Read more here: |
| Sunak says he is confident the emergency packages have been designed to “minimise the risk of fraud”. | Sunak says he is confident the emergency packages have been designed to “minimise the risk of fraud”. |
| After a warning that emergency measures leave the system vulnerable, he says the schemes are being designed “at pace” but many decisions have been made “deliberately to counter fraud”. | After a warning that emergency measures leave the system vulnerable, he says the schemes are being designed “at pace” but many decisions have been made “deliberately to counter fraud”. |
| Powis says now is not the time to become complacent: | Powis says now is not the time to become complacent: |
| Asked when schools could potentially reopen, McLean said it would be “completely premature” to give any indication on whether schools might reopen before the summer holidays because so much depends on how well the lockdown has worked. | Asked when schools could potentially reopen, McLean said it would be “completely premature” to give any indication on whether schools might reopen before the summer holidays because so much depends on how well the lockdown has worked. |
| Sunak added: | Sunak added: |
| Powis, asked if the UK’s testing rate would lead to more deaths compared with other countries, stressed the importance of testing before saying it is “one part of a set of different things” to be considered in any country’s strategy. | Powis, asked if the UK’s testing rate would lead to more deaths compared with other countries, stressed the importance of testing before saying it is “one part of a set of different things” to be considered in any country’s strategy. |
| He added: | He added: |
| Sunak warns that the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak will result in real hardship for people. He says: | Sunak warns that the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak will result in real hardship for people. He says: |
| Sunak says there will be a Cobra meeting on Thursday chaired by the first secretary of state, Dominic Raab, with the devolved administrations to discuss the approach to reviewing the lockdown. | Sunak says there will be a Cobra meeting on Thursday chaired by the first secretary of state, Dominic Raab, with the devolved administrations to discuss the approach to reviewing the lockdown. |
| The review will be based on the evidence and data from SAGE, which will be available from next week. | The review will be based on the evidence and data from SAGE, which will be available from next week. |
| However, the public should focus very seriously on “the here and now”, where the priority is to stop the spread of the virus, to get to the other side of the peak, so people must continue to follow the advice and stay at home. He said: | However, the public should focus very seriously on “the here and now”, where the priority is to stop the spread of the virus, to get to the other side of the peak, so people must continue to follow the advice and stay at home. He said: |
| Sunak warns he cannot save every job, business or charity with his emergency measures. | Sunak warns he cannot save every job, business or charity with his emergency measures. |
| Asked if some are falling through cracks and whether he needs to take urgent action for those not covered by his schemes, he said: | Asked if some are falling through cracks and whether he needs to take urgent action for those not covered by his schemes, he said: |
| Powis urges people needing emergency treatment to seek help “just as you always have done”. | Powis urges people needing emergency treatment to seek help “just as you always have done”. |
| He said: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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”. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. |