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Coronavirus UK live: Boris Johnson still in hospital as public urged to stay home for Easter Coronavirus UK live: Boris Johnson still in hospital as public urged to stay home for Easter
(32 minutes later)
Robert Jenrick faces questions; PM out of intensive care; FCO charters 12 flights to bring stranded nationals back from IndiaRobert Jenrick faces questions; PM out of intensive care; FCO charters 12 flights to bring stranded nationals back from India
There are “heartbreaking” cases of employees being made redundant after being denied help from the government’s job retention scheme, Citizens Advice has said, fearing the government’s “bold” action to protect workers during the pandemic could be undermined by confusion and “patchy use” of the scheme by some employers.
The charity said advisers are seeing daily cases of people who are at risk of slipping through the safety net despite potentially being entitled to support.
New research by the charity shows around six million people in the UK (18% of the workforce) have had their hours cut, been laid off or made redundant.
Almost four out of 10 (38%) have lost household income because of the crisis, with nearly one in 12 (8%) losing 80% of household income.
Demand for its redundancy advice has doubled, with its web page titled “what to do if your employer has told you not to work” being the most-read page this month with more than 175,000 views.
The charity highlighted the case of a father-of-four called Mark who returned to work as an HGV driver in February, after spending eight months caring for his daughter who is undergoing treatment for a rare cancer.
In March, the family were told they needed to self-isolate as his daughter is one of the 1.5m who must be shielded. Mark was made redundant the next day as he could not return to work. He said:
Dame Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said:
Costume staff from the English National Opera have turned their skills to making scrubs for medics on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic.On their GoFundMe page, organiser Sarah Bowern explains:
The costume team for the BBC drama His Dark Materials have also so far raised more than £41,000 to help dress medics and released their first scrubs this week.
The team behind the campaign also worked on Downton Abbey and have been backed by actor Hugh Bonneville who tweeted:
The legendary Manchester nightclub, the Hacienda, which closed down in 1997, is hosting a stay at home rave tomorrow to help keep people entertained and encourage them not to venture out over the Easter weekend.
The line up includes former Hacienda resident DJs Graeme Park, Jon Da Silva and Tom Wainwright, as well as US house music legends Todd Terry, David Morales and Roger Sanchez. The event, which begins at noon and finishes at midnight, can be watched online here.
Morrisons Foundation, the charitable arm of Morrisons supermarket, has set aside a fund of £500,000 over the next three months to help charities offer additional protection, services and support to the homeless as a result of Covid-19.
Rough sleepers have been identified as one of the most at risk groups, as they are more likely to have underlying health conditions and are less able to access basic sanitation.
Charities can apply online for grants of up to £10,000. Charities will be able to apply for financial help to support rough sleepers, which includes supplying food and healthcare essentials. It also covers the delivery of services in hostels and shelters, including the payment for additional staff, purchase of PPE equipment and the provision of emergency accommodation. The fund will also allow charities to provide information and advice regarding health and wellbeing services and helplines.
David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said:
Nick Connolly, managing director of End Youth Homelessness, said:
Further to our earlier post, Cambridgeshire Police has posted another statement on Twitter to clarify that officers “are not monitoring what people are buying from supermarkets”.Further to our earlier post, Cambridgeshire Police has posted another statement on Twitter to clarify that officers “are not monitoring what people are buying from supermarkets”.
It said an earlier tweet (now deleted) had been made by an “over exuberant officer”. It had caused a stir online after it seemed to suggest officers had checked “the non essential aisles were empty” in a local Tesco.It said an earlier tweet (now deleted) had been made by an “over exuberant officer”. It had caused a stir online after it seemed to suggest officers had checked “the non essential aisles were empty” in a local Tesco.
The force tweeted:The force tweeted:
The initial tweet had come just a day after the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, Nick Adderley, was criticised for the controversial suggestion that officers could start searching shopping trolleys if people kept flouting social distancing rules.The initial tweet had come just a day after the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, Nick Adderley, was criticised for the controversial suggestion that officers could start searching shopping trolleys if people kept flouting social distancing rules.
Adderley has since said his use of language was “clumsy” after being criticised for his remarks, including by the home secretary Priti Patel who said they were “not appropriate”.Adderley has since said his use of language was “clumsy” after being criticised for his remarks, including by the home secretary Priti Patel who said they were “not appropriate”.
The shadow home secretary has urged the cabinet minister Robert Jenrick to fully explain himself after the Guardian revealed he had travelled more than an hour away to visit his parents at the weekend – despite warning others to stay at home during the coronavirus lockdown.The shadow home secretary has urged the cabinet minister Robert Jenrick to fully explain himself after the Guardian revealed he had travelled more than an hour away to visit his parents at the weekend – despite warning others to stay at home during the coronavirus lockdown.
The communities secretary – who has made media appearances urging people to save lives by remaining in their properties even if tempted to see loved ones – went to see his parents at their Shropshire home, 40 miles by road from his own.The communities secretary – who has made media appearances urging people to save lives by remaining in their properties even if tempted to see loved ones – went to see his parents at their Shropshire home, 40 miles by road from his own.
It also emerged that Jenrick travelled 150 miles from his London property, where he stayed at the start of the lockdown, to his £1.2m Herefordshire home from where he travelled to his parents. His website says he lives with his family near Newark, his constituency in Nottingham, and London.It also emerged that Jenrick travelled 150 miles from his London property, where he stayed at the start of the lockdown, to his £1.2m Herefordshire home from where he travelled to his parents. His website says he lives with his family near Newark, his constituency in Nottingham, and London.
Asked whether he thought Jenrick was ignoring the government’s stay at home advice, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:Asked whether he thought Jenrick was ignoring the government’s stay at home advice, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
The full story is here.The full story is here.
A doctors’ leader has insisted that GPs will visit elderly residents of care homes during the coronavirus outbreak after complaints that doctors were refusing to attend sick patients in residential care.A doctors’ leader has insisted that GPs will visit elderly residents of care homes during the coronavirus outbreak after complaints that doctors were refusing to attend sick patients in residential care.
Dozens of elderly residents, many of whom have underlying health problems and dementia, have died in Scottish care homes or fallen ill with Corvid-19, including several large clusters. Care England, the industry body, estimates up to 1,000 people have died in English care homes but have not been officially counted.Dozens of elderly residents, many of whom have underlying health problems and dementia, have died in Scottish care homes or fallen ill with Corvid-19, including several large clusters. Care England, the industry body, estimates up to 1,000 people have died in English care homes but have not been officially counted.
Age Scotland, the elderly persons charity, said earlier this week it knew of cases where GPs were failing to visit care homes and insisting on doing telephone consultations or referring people to an NHS helpline. The older’s people’s charity Age Scotland, said earlier this week it knew of cases where GPs were failing to visit care homes and insisting on doing telephone consultations or referring people to an NHS helpline.
The Royal College of GPs issued a joint statement with Scottish Care, the umbrella body for care homes, on Friday to insist GPs would visit patients where necessary but confirmed the pandemic had led to a significant shift towards telephone and video consultations.The Royal College of GPs issued a joint statement with Scottish Care, the umbrella body for care homes, on Friday to insist GPs would visit patients where necessary but confirmed the pandemic had led to a significant shift towards telephone and video consultations.
Dr Carey Lunan, the chair of RCGP Scotland, and Professor Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care said the situation was worsened by a shortage of personal protective equipment; they and the Royal College of Nursing had written to the Scottish government last week to complain. Dr Carey Lunan, the chair of RCGP Scotland, and Prof Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care said the situation was worsened by a shortage of personal protective equipment; they and the Royal College of Nursing had written to the Scottish government last week to complain.
Lunan and Macaskill said they knew it was “an incredibly worrying time” for residents and their families.Lunan and Macaskill said they knew it was “an incredibly worrying time” for residents and their families.
It seems Cambridgeshire Police have raised some brows on social media with the news that officers attended Tesco in Barhill, Cambridgeshire, this morning and checked “non-essential aisles”. Judging by comments on the post on Twitter, this has left many confused over what constitutes (and who determines what constitutes) a “non-essential” aisle or item. It seems Cambridgeshire police have raised some eyebrows on social media with the news that officers attended Tesco in the village of Bar Hill this morning and checked “non-essential aisles”. Judging by comments on the post on Twitter, this has left many confused over what constitutes (and who determines what constitutes) a “non-essential” aisle or item.
Officers have been patrolling supermarkets this morning, just a day after a chief constable was criticised for suggesting officers could search shopping trolleys if people kept flouting social distancing rules.Officers have been patrolling supermarkets this morning, just a day after a chief constable was criticised for suggesting officers could search shopping trolleys if people kept flouting social distancing rules.
Northamptonshire Police chief constable Nick Adderley has since said his use of language was “clumsy” after being criticised for his remarks, including by the home secretary Priti Patel who said they were “not appropriate”. The Northamptonshire police chief constable, Nick Adderley, has since said his use of language was “clumsy” after being criticised for his remarks, including by the home secretary, Priti Patel, who said they were “not appropriate”.
The tweet by the force’s Cambridge team said:The tweet by the force’s Cambridge team said:
Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, Cambridgeshire Police had issued thanks to a local chocolatier for an essential (?) delivery... Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, Cambridgeshire police issued thanks to a local chocolatier for an essential (?) delivery...
A 460-bed Nightingale hospital is to be built in Washington, Tyne and Wear, for the North East, the Conservative MP Richard Holden has said. A 460-bed Nightingale hospital for the north-east is to be built in Washington, Tyne and Wear, the Conservative MP Richard Holden has said.
It is being built with the help of the Army at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park in a unit that is bigger than a football pitch, and will be divided into 16 wards, which will take coronavirus patients if units in the region cannot cope with demand. It is being built with the help of the army at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park in a unit that is bigger than a football pitch, and will be divided into 16 wards, which will take coronavirus patients if units in the region cannot cope with demand.
The MP for North West Durham, tweeted: The MP for North West Durham tweeted:
A similar development for the South West is being created at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter, according to reports. A similar development for the south-west is being created at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter, according to reports.
The NHS has already set up temporary hospitals in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Harrogate.The NHS has already set up temporary hospitals in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Harrogate.
In a separate interview this morning as he did the early broadcast round, Dr Paul Cosford said it is “not unreasonable” to expect the lockdown to continue for several weeks.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
He added there is the possibility the restrictions could be lifted in stages. He said:
The O2 arena in Greenwich is being turned into a training facility for NHS staff, in a bid to support the rapidly constructed NHS Nightingale hospital at ExCel London.
At present, the centre is expected to operate from 12 April until 29 June – with the facility available without hire fee.
While no patients will be treated at the O2, the facility is expected to support staff training.
“While this will result in further rescheduling of events booked to take place during this period, the priority for us all at this time is to help save lives and we know our customers and partners will understand our desire to support the NHS in this way,” the O2 said on its website.
Dr Paul Cosford, the medical director for Public Health England, has called for people to stay at home over the Easter weekend because physical distancing measures are working.
Reiterating the “good news” issued by Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, at the daily news briefing on Thursday, Cosford said the number of new cases looks to be starting to flatten and the number of deaths is not accelerating as fast as it would if there was “uncontrolled transmission” across communities.
With “some time yet” still to go before the UK gets through the peak, Cosford said “we must carry on” with physical distancing.
He told Good Morning Britain:
Good morning! This is Lucy Campbell, I’ll be taking over the blog for the rest of the day. We’ll be bringing you all the latest UK developments on coronavirus. As always, any tips, comments, advice or suggestions are most welcome. Please feel free to email me at lucy.campbell@guardian.co.uk or get in touch via Twitter, I’m on @lucy_campbell_.
TV presenter Kate Garraway says her husband, who is being treated in hospital for Covid-19, is still in intensive care and “very ill”.
In a message read out on air by her Good Morning Britain co-presenter Ben Shephard, Garraway said it “remains an excruciatingly worrying time”.
Her husband, Derek Draper, 52, a former lobbyist and political adviser, was admitted to hospital last Monday.
Garraway praised the NHS team treating him as “extraordinary”, saying: “I know that it’s only their professionalism, dedication and bravery that has kept Derek with us so far. I also know that they are working just as hard on all the patients in their care.” She added:
She and Draper, who have been married since 2005, have a daughter and a son.
Boris Johnson’s father, Stanley, has spoken of his relief after the prime minister was moved from intensive care where he was being treated for Covid-19.
Stanley Johnson said he was “amazingly thankful” for the efforts of the NHS and appreciative for the outpouring of support.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said his son must now rest to continue recovering from coronavirus. The prime minister is still being treated at St Thomas’ hospital in London.
“This is pretty straightforward now. He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don’t think you can say this is out of the wood now,” he said.
“He has to take time. I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.”
He added: “To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have got to make sure we play the game properly now.”
My colleague, Robert Booth, also brings readers an exclusive story on today’s Guardian front page detailing how hundreds of people are dying in care homes from confirmed or suspected coronavirus without yet being officially counted.
He reports that more than 120 residents of the UK’s largest charitable provider of care homes are thought to have died from the virus in the last three weeks, while another network of care homes is reported to have recorded 88 deaths.
Care England, the industry body, estimated that the death toll is likely to be close to 1,000, despite the only available official figure for care home fatalities being dramatically lower.
He has also written a harrowing accompanying piece shining a light on the struggle going on inside UK care homes as they battle rising Covid-19 deaths. In one Buckinghamshire care home, in which eight patients with dementia have died in quick succession in just three weeks, he writes:
Morning folks, Simon Murphy here to steer you through this morning’s UK coronavirus news. To recap, the nation was given a dose of good news when it emerged last night that prime minister Boris Johnson had been moved from intensive care where he was being treated for coronavirus. He remains at St Thomas’ hospital in London.
Separately, the Guardian revealed that the cabinet minister Robert Jenrick travelled to visit his parents at the weekend, despite repeatedly urging the public to stay at home during the lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. The Guardian established that the housing, communities and local government secretary – who has made media appearances urging people to save lives by remaining in their properties even if tempted to see loved ones – went to see his parents at their Shropshire home, 40 miles by road from his own.
Jenrick defended himself on Twitter after a source close to him had earlier admitted that he had made the journey during lockdown conditions, but said he dropped off food and medication, and did not enter the house. The Guardian understands that the local community has been supporting Jenrick’s parents by delivering groceries in recent weeks. This was not denied, though the source said Jenrick had collected and delivered medication for his parents, too.
The story was followed up widely across Fleet Street, including on the front page of the Daily Telegraph:
It was also taken up by the Daily Mail on its front page, focusing on Jenrick also staying at his second home.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has chartered 12 more flights to bring more than 3,000 stranded UK nationals back from India. It follows seven flights that have already been arranged between April 8 and April 12 and will bring the total number of Britons repatriated from India to around 5,000.
The new flights will leave from Goa, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram between April 13 and April 20 with bookings opened on Friday.