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| Coronavirus UK live: Scottish death toll rises; Boris Johnson 'in good spirits' after discharge from intensive care | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| No 10 defends Robert Jenrick’s lockdown journeys; public urged to stay home over Easter; FCO charters 12 flights to bring nationals back from India | |
| Firefighters are to fit face masks for frontline NHS and clinical care staff and deliver medical supplies to hospitals and care facilities during the coronavirus outbreak. | |
| Firefighters have been wearing respiratory masks for decades and the specialist trainers are certified to undertake the face-fit testing. | |
| The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently warned that the incorrect fitting of a protective face mask can increase the risk of Covid-19 infection and “lead to immediate or long-term ill-health or can even put the ...wearer’s life in danger.” | |
| Under the agreement, firefighters could also assist in the delivery of PPE to the social care sector which has reported critical shortages of essential equipment. | |
| Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union (FBU) General Secretary, said: | |
| Under a previous agreement, fire and rescue personnel were already able to assist in delivery of essential items like food and medicines to vulnerable people, drive ambulances, assist ambulance staff and move dead bodies, should the outbreak cause mass casualties. | |
| Firefighters will maintain their core responsibilities while providing the services specifically related to the pandemic. The agreement made by the FBU with fire chiefs provides for the arrangements to be in place for an initial two months but the time period can be altered if all parties agree. | |
| Downing Street said shops that are allowed to remain open during the lockdown are free to sell whatever items they have in stock. | |
| Asked about the idea of police patrolling particular supermarket aisles to see what people are buying, the prime minister’s spokesman said: | |
| Commenting on the news that the housing secretary Robert Jenrick visited his elderly parents, the prime minister’s official spokesman said they were “confident” he had complied with physical distancing rules: | |
| The spokesman added Jenrick has said himself that his wife and children consider their home in Herefordshire to be their family home. | |
| Asked about cabinet ministers commuting to and from London, the spokesman said: | |
| Boris Johnson is in “very good spirits” after being discharged from intensive care, Downing Street said at the daily lobby briefing. | |
| The prime minister’s spokesman said he was “enormously grateful” for the care he had received from NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital. He said: | |
| The spokesman said he was not aware of any contact between Johnson and No 10 and that it was too early to say how long he would need to remain in hospital. He added: | |
| A man has been arrested in Greater Manchester after biting a female police constable and punching two other officers as they enforced lockdown. | |
| Police were called on Thursday evening to reports a man was causing a disturbance on Drake Street in Rochdale.Attending officers had attempted to explain to the man that in line with government guidelines around Covid-19, people shouldn’t be going around to other people’s homes, Greater Manchester police (GMP) said. While trying to engage with the man, two officers were both punched. One of those officers - a 21-year-old female police constable - was then seriously bitten and had to attend hospital, before being discharged to recover at home.A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, domestic violence assault, section 18 assault with intent to resist arrest and regulation 8 of the Health Protection Regulation 2020 (Coronavirus). He remains in police custody for questioning by officers.Superintendent Richard Hunt, of GMP’s Rochdale district, said: | |
| A further 48 people have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total there to 495, the first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. | A further 48 people have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total there to 495, the first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. |
| Sturgeon said there are now 5,275 confirmed positive cases in Scotland, up by 318 from 4,957 the day before. | Sturgeon said there are now 5,275 confirmed positive cases in Scotland, up by 318 from 4,957 the day before. |
| There are 207 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, a decrease of five on Thursday. | There are 207 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, a decrease of five on Thursday. |
| Sturgeon added that 1,832 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. | Sturgeon added that 1,832 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. |
| Two-thirds (67%) of nurses do not feel they have access to sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), a survey has found. | Two-thirds (67%) of nurses do not feel they have access to sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), a survey has found. |
| Almost 3,500 nurses responded to the survey by the Nursing Standard, with just under a third (31%) saying they have used their own money to buy PPE, and one in 10 (11%) saying they resorted to making their own. | Almost 3,500 nurses responded to the survey by the Nursing Standard, with just under a third (31%) saying they have used their own money to buy PPE, and one in 10 (11%) saying they resorted to making their own. |
| One nurse described the PPE provision as shocking, inadequate and unsafe. She added: | One nurse described the PPE provision as shocking, inadequate and unsafe. She added: |
| There were also complaints that masks, when available, are frequently poorly fitting and out of date, some by years. | There were also complaints that masks, when available, are frequently poorly fitting and out of date, some by years. |
| Almost all staff said they have access to disposable gowns (96%) and gloves (98%) but only 27% reported access to fluid-resistant surgical masks and 42% reported they had eye protection through a visor or goggles. | Almost all staff said they have access to disposable gowns (96%) and gloves (98%) but only 27% reported access to fluid-resistant surgical masks and 42% reported they had eye protection through a visor or goggles. |
| Public Health England has different advice for the level of PPE staff should wear in different settings but some healthcare workers have suggested the guidelines do not offer them sufficient protection. Additionally, NHS staff have been complaining for weeks about low specification PPE and shortages of protective equipment. | Public Health England has different advice for the level of PPE staff should wear in different settings but some healthcare workers have suggested the guidelines do not offer them sufficient protection. Additionally, NHS staff have been complaining for weeks about low specification PPE and shortages of protective equipment. |
| NHS England and ministers have insisted that shortages of PPE are due to distribution issues rather than inadequate supplies and that they have scaled up deliveries over the past three weeks. | NHS England and ministers have insisted that shortages of PPE are due to distribution issues rather than inadequate supplies and that they have scaled up deliveries over the past three weeks. |
| The leaders of the UK’s headteachers’ unions have told the Department for Education they hope schools in England can reopen even for as little as two weeks before the summer holidays, if scientific advice allows.The leaders of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) told Schools Week that the DfE had shown interest in the idea of pupils having a limited return before the end of July, rather than waiting until the new school year starts in September.Geoff Barton, general secretary of ASCL, said it would be “incredibly cathartic” if schools could reopen, and helpful for pupils preparing to move from primary to secondary school. But he cautioned: | The leaders of the UK’s headteachers’ unions have told the Department for Education they hope schools in England can reopen even for as little as two weeks before the summer holidays, if scientific advice allows.The leaders of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) told Schools Week that the DfE had shown interest in the idea of pupils having a limited return before the end of July, rather than waiting until the new school year starts in September.Geoff Barton, general secretary of ASCL, said it would be “incredibly cathartic” if schools could reopen, and helpful for pupils preparing to move from primary to secondary school. But he cautioned: |
| Paul Whiteman of the NAHT said: | Paul Whiteman of the NAHT said: |
| The DfE’s position is that schools in England remain closed “until further notice” except for defined groups, and the governments in Wales and Scotland have explicitly ruled out schools reopening in the near term. | The DfE’s position is that schools in England remain closed “until further notice” except for defined groups, and the governments in Wales and Scotland have explicitly ruled out schools reopening in the near term. |
| A boutique hotel in Edinburgh run by one of the world’s oldest medical bodies says it has now donated more than 1,000 nights of free accommodation to health workers involved in combating the coronavirus. | A boutique hotel in Edinburgh run by one of the world’s oldest medical bodies says it has now donated more than 1,000 nights of free accommodation to health workers involved in combating the coronavirus. |
| The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), which traces its origins to 1505 and now trains and accredits surgeons from across the world, opened its hotel Ten Hill Place next to its headquarters, Surgeons’ Hall, in 2005 to raise funds. | The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), which traces its origins to 1505 and now trains and accredits surgeons from across the world, opened its hotel Ten Hill Place next to its headquarters, Surgeons’ Hall, in 2005 to raise funds. |
| It said the hotel has made 129 bedrooms available for hospital staff, with packed continental breakfasts and free evening meals, to reduce their need to commute and help medical staff avoid other vulnerable family members in isolation. | It said the hotel has made 129 bedrooms available for hospital staff, with packed continental breakfasts and free evening meals, to reduce their need to commute and help medical staff avoid other vulnerable family members in isolation. |
| It is also in talks with Scotland’s interim chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, about converting the hotel into temporary hospital accommodation if the city’s hospitals overflow. | It is also in talks with Scotland’s interim chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, about converting the hotel into temporary hospital accommodation if the city’s hospitals overflow. |
| Prof Michael Griffin, the president of the RSCEd, said: | Prof Michael Griffin, the president of the RSCEd, said: |
| Fewer than one in five healthcare workers who suspected they had coronavirus actually tested positive for the disease, according to one of the first published UK studies of mass testing on NHS workers. | Fewer than one in five healthcare workers who suspected they had coronavirus actually tested positive for the disease, according to one of the first published UK studies of mass testing on NHS workers. |
| Scientists from Sheffield, which started testing all symptomatic healthcare workers a fortnight before much of the rest of the UK, have published research showing that 81% of staff reporting symptoms tested negative. | Scientists from Sheffield, which started testing all symptomatic healthcare workers a fortnight before much of the rest of the UK, have published research showing that 81% of staff reporting symptoms tested negative. |
| Some 1,533 staff were tested over the two weeks from 17 March. Of these, just 282 (18%) tested positive. Five (< 1%) had an indeterminate result. | Some 1,533 staff were tested over the two weeks from 17 March. Of these, just 282 (18%) tested positive. Five (< 1%) had an indeterminate result. |
| More than a third of staff had completed at least one shift while symptomatic. | More than a third of staff had completed at least one shift while symptomatic. |
| Twenty-five were nursing staff, eight were doctors, nine were other patient-facing clinical staff, nine were laboratory or secretarial staff and one worked in cleaning services. | Twenty-five were nursing staff, eight were doctors, nine were other patient-facing clinical staff, nine were laboratory or secretarial staff and one worked in cleaning services. |
| On 17 March, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) started testing any staff who were complaining of an “influenza-like illness”. This was defined as anyone with a reported fever and one of: cough, sore throat, runny nose, myalgia, headache. | On 17 March, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) started testing any staff who were complaining of an “influenza-like illness”. This was defined as anyone with a reported fever and one of: cough, sore throat, runny nose, myalgia, headache. |
| They were directed to self-swab in the on-site assessment pods and given written and pictorial instructions to show how to do it correctly. | They were directed to self-swab in the on-site assessment pods and given written and pictorial instructions to show how to do it correctly. |
| Four times a day the swabs were transported to the laboratory at the Northern General hospital, where they were tested. | Four times a day the swabs were transported to the laboratory at the Northern General hospital, where they were tested. |
| The majority of test results were communicated to staff on the same or the next day. Staff with a negative test were able to return to work if they felt well enough to do so. | The majority of test results were communicated to staff on the same or the next day. Staff with a negative test were able to return to work if they felt well enough to do so. |
| Concluding their study, the Sheffield scientists said: | Concluding their study, the Sheffield scientists said: |
| They added: | They added: |
| Earlier on in the UK’s coronavirus crisis, Sheffield was one of the local authorities with the highest number of cases – a fact local virologists attributed to Sheffield testing more people, earlier, than almost anywhere else. | Earlier on in the UK’s coronavirus crisis, Sheffield was one of the local authorities with the highest number of cases – a fact local virologists attributed to Sheffield testing more people, earlier, than almost anywhere else. |
| On 1 April, a consultant virologist in the city claimed Sheffield was carrying out 10% of all tests in the UK. | On 1 April, a consultant virologist in the city claimed Sheffield was carrying out 10% of all tests in the UK. |
| The public have been warned they are more likely to see police officers in masks and gloves in certain situations during the pandemic where there is considered to be a risk of transmission. | The public have been warned they are more likely to see police officers in masks and gloves in certain situations during the pandemic where there is considered to be a risk of transmission. |
| Police chiefs said officers can wear fluid-resistant masks and gloves when sat in cars or vans with colleagues or when they can not keep 2 metres away from members of the public. The guidance said: | Police chiefs said officers can wear fluid-resistant masks and gloves when sat in cars or vans with colleagues or when they can not keep 2 metres away from members of the public. The guidance said: |
| John Apter, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said the public should not be concerned if they, on occasions, see police officers wearing PPE: | John Apter, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said the public should not be concerned if they, on occasions, see police officers wearing PPE: |
| The guidance was issued by the National Police Chiefs Council and College of Policing. Officers are told they should fully protect themselves if dealing with someone infected with the virus and to maintain social distancing. | The guidance was issued by the National Police Chiefs Council and College of Policing. Officers are told they should fully protect themselves if dealing with someone infected with the virus and to maintain social distancing. |
| Chief constable Andy Rhodes, the NPCC wellbeing lead, said: | Chief constable Andy Rhodes, the NPCC wellbeing lead, said: |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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: | Dame Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: |