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Coronavirus UK live: Covid-19 much more prevalent in care homes than official figures imply, says expert Coronavirus UK live: Covid-19 much more prevalent in care homes than official figures imply, says expert
(32 minutes later)
Coronavirus lockdown in the UK could last at least another month, as Dominic Raab said the country has not passed the peak.Coronavirus lockdown in the UK could last at least another month, as Dominic Raab said the country has not passed the peak.
More than 1,000 people who were rough sleeping in London have been found accommodation in hotels or other safe locations to allow them to self-isolate, according to the mayor of London’s office. The accommodation is being paid for from a £10m fund provided by City Hall and central government. In a press notice the mayor’s office said:
Labour is calling for the publication of daily figures showing how many people have died with coronavirus in care homes. This is from Liz Kendall, the shadow minister for social care.
Avrohom Pinter, a rabbi who commanded respect far beyond the strictly-Orthodox Jewish community in Stamford Hill, north London, that he served, has died after contracting Covid-19.Avrohom Pinter, a rabbi who commanded respect far beyond the strictly-Orthodox Jewish community in Stamford Hill, north London, that he served, has died after contracting Covid-19.
Pinter was a long-time member of the Labour party, a former local councillor, the principal of a Jewish girls’ school and unofficial spokesman of Europe’s biggest ultra-Orthodox community. He was admitted to a central London hospital last week, and died on Monday.Pinter was a long-time member of the Labour party, a former local councillor, the principal of a Jewish girls’ school and unofficial spokesman of Europe’s biggest ultra-Orthodox community. He was admitted to a central London hospital last week, and died on Monday.
Tributes were paid by communal and political figures. Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies, said: Tributes were paid by communal and political figures. The Jewish Leadership Council said Pinter was “an undoubted leader of exceptional talent and a strong advocate for his community with a broad sympathy for and understanding of the needs of Jews from across religious observance.”
The Jewish Leadership Council said Pinter was “an undoubted leader of exceptional talent and a strong advocate for his community with a broad sympathy for and understanding of the needs of Jews from across religious observance.”
Ephraim Mirivis, the chief rabbi, said he was “known to many as a tireless representative of the Jewish community in Stamford Hill, as a local councillor and as the principal of Yesoday Hatorah girls’ school.” His loss would be “widely felt across Anglo-Jewry and beyond.”
Pinter - who was a critic of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party - was a “giant of community politics” and would be mourned by all, tweeted Diane Abbott, his local MP and the former shadow home secretary.Pinter - who was a critic of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party - was a “giant of community politics” and would be mourned by all, tweeted Diane Abbott, his local MP and the former shadow home secretary.
According to David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary, Pinter was a “true leader… clever, erudite and inclusive. This is a huge loss. I will miss his counsel and good humour immensely.”According to David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary, Pinter was a “true leader… clever, erudite and inclusive. This is a huge loss. I will miss his counsel and good humour immensely.”
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said Pinter “did so much to help community relations in London and will be missed by so many”.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said Pinter “did so much to help community relations in London and will be missed by so many”.
Hackney Muslims said his passing “will be felt widely through the community. So many times the first to reach out, bonding and strengthening our wonderfully diverse community here... & beyond... Gonna miss ya heaps Rabbi P.”Hackney Muslims said his passing “will be felt widely through the community. So many times the first to reach out, bonding and strengthening our wonderfully diverse community here... & beyond... Gonna miss ya heaps Rabbi P.”
Pinter spoke to the Guardian three weeks ago about claims that guidance on social distancing was not being followed in some pockets of the ultra-Orthodox community in Stamford Hill.Pinter spoke to the Guardian three weeks ago about claims that guidance on social distancing was not being followed in some pockets of the ultra-Orthodox community in Stamford Hill.
He said most people were heeding the messages about physical distancing, but the government was “to a certain degree, abdicating responsibility” by not being clear and consistent in its advice. “People need to be told.”He said most people were heeding the messages about physical distancing, but the government was “to a certain degree, abdicating responsibility” by not being clear and consistent in its advice. “People need to be told.”
The Tour de France will not begin on 27 June in Nice as originally planned after the French president Emmanuel Macron extended the country’s ban on public events with large crowds until mid-July.The Tour de France will not begin on 27 June in Nice as originally planned after the French president Emmanuel Macron extended the country’s ban on public events with large crowds until mid-July.
As we reported earlier, Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, was asked on the Today programme this morning why the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has not taken up an invitation to attend the government’s Cobra emergency committee meetings discussing coronavirus. As Today subsequently made clear in a correction, one very good reason is that no such invitation has actually been offered. See the update at 8.28am for more.As we reported earlier, Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, was asked on the Today programme this morning why the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has not taken up an invitation to attend the government’s Cobra emergency committee meetings discussing coronavirus. As Today subsequently made clear in a correction, one very good reason is that no such invitation has actually been offered. See the update at 8.28am for more.
It is not just HC-One that is saying that the prevalence of coronavirus in its care homes is much higher than the official figures suggest. (See 9.27am.) As Robert Booth and Rowena Mason reports, MHA, another leading care home provider, says Covid-19 has affected around half of its homes. They report:It is not just HC-One that is saying that the prevalence of coronavirus in its care homes is much higher than the official figures suggest. (See 9.27am.) As Robert Booth and Rowena Mason reports, MHA, another leading care home provider, says Covid-19 has affected around half of its homes. They report:
The full story is here.The full story is here.
The ONS has just released its latest weekly death figures for England in Wales, which include a figure for the number of deaths in care homes. The daily coronavirus death figures published by the Department for Health and Social Care every afternoon only cover hospital coronavirus deaths.The ONS has just released its latest weekly death figures for England in Wales, which include a figure for the number of deaths in care homes. The daily coronavirus death figures published by the Department for Health and Social Care every afternoon only cover hospital coronavirus deaths.
The figures cover the week ending Friday 3 April (week 14 for the ONS). The report suggests that 10% of coronavirus deaths during this period were taking place outside hospital. Of those, more than half were in care homes, with the rest in private homes and hospices. The report says:The figures cover the week ending Friday 3 April (week 14 for the ONS). The report suggests that 10% of coronavirus deaths during this period were taking place outside hospital. Of those, more than half were in care homes, with the rest in private homes and hospices. The report says:
The problem with these figures, of course, is that they are probably more than two weeks out of date. The cut-off date was 11 days ago. But the figures are also based on information from registered death certificates, and on average they take five days to process.The problem with these figures, of course, is that they are probably more than two weeks out of date. The cut-off date was 11 days ago. But the figures are also based on information from registered death certificates, and on average they take five days to process.
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Jessica Murray.Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Jessica Murray.
On the Today programme this morning Sir David Behan, a former chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, and now a non-executive director for HC-One, one of Britain’s largest care home firms, said he thought the official figures for coronavirus in care homes were understating the scale of the problem.On the Today programme this morning Sir David Behan, a former chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, and now a non-executive director for HC-One, one of Britain’s largest care home firms, said he thought the official figures for coronavirus in care homes were understating the scale of the problem.
Yesterday Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, said 13.5% of the UK’s care homes had a confirmed case of coronavirus among their residents. But, as we reported earlier (see 8.18am), Behan told Today that, by 8pm yesterday, there had been 2,447 cases of either suspected or confirmed Covid-19 within his company’s care homes. The virus was present in 232 of its homes, about two thirds of the total.Yesterday Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, said 13.5% of the UK’s care homes had a confirmed case of coronavirus among their residents. But, as we reported earlier (see 8.18am), Behan told Today that, by 8pm yesterday, there had been 2,447 cases of either suspected or confirmed Covid-19 within his company’s care homes. The virus was present in 232 of its homes, about two thirds of the total.
Asked if he thought it was the case that his firms homes were being particularly badly hit, or if he thought the official figures for the incidence of Covid-19 in care homes were an understatement, he replied:Asked if he thought it was the case that his firms homes were being particularly badly hit, or if he thought the official figures for the incidence of Covid-19 in care homes were an understatement, he replied:
As my colleague Robert Booth reports, new research suggests that about half of all coronavirus deaths in some European countries appear to be happening in care homes.As my colleague Robert Booth reports, new research suggests that about half of all coronavirus deaths in some European countries appear to be happening in care homes.
A third of call centre workers continue to be required to work despite being non-essential workers, while only 2% of those who asked to work from home have had their request granted.These are the interim results from an online survey by Strathclyde University which has received over 2000 responses since it was opened on April 7, with a high proportion of Scottish respondents but spanning UK-wide workers.A third of call centre workers continue to be required to work despite being non-essential workers, while only 2% of those who asked to work from home have had their request granted.These are the interim results from an online survey by Strathclyde University which has received over 2000 responses since it was opened on April 7, with a high proportion of Scottish respondents but spanning UK-wide workers.
Key findings include: almost 60% of workers are still working having been designated as essential by their employer, with only 17.9% of those believing they are essential, stating they are working on mortgages, PPI and credit issues; 50% state they are working face-to-face with a co-worker; only a third of workers report that their employer is successfully implementing workplace distancing.Key findings include: almost 60% of workers are still working having been designated as essential by their employer, with only 17.9% of those believing they are essential, stating they are working on mortgages, PPI and credit issues; 50% state they are working face-to-face with a co-worker; only a third of workers report that their employer is successfully implementing workplace distancing.
Call centre expert Professor Phil Taylor, who is leading the study, said:Call centre expert Professor Phil Taylor, who is leading the study, said:
The Conservative peer and former work and pensions minister, Ros Altmann, has said she is “really concerned” about what is happening in the care sector. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:The Conservative peer and former work and pensions minister, Ros Altmann, has said she is “really concerned” about what is happening in the care sector. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Altmann said “one or two people from care homes” have told her they feel as though elderly people are being treated “like lambs to the slaughter”. She added:Altmann said “one or two people from care homes” have told her they feel as though elderly people are being treated “like lambs to the slaughter”. She added:
The shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, said Labour are seeking to have “as constructive a relationship as possible” with the government to defeat coronavirus.The shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, said Labour are seeking to have “as constructive a relationship as possible” with the government to defeat coronavirus.
Asked why the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is not taking up the government’s offer of joining the emergency Cobra meetings, Dodds told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:Asked why the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is not taking up the government’s offer of joining the emergency Cobra meetings, Dodds told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
She added:She added:
UPDATE: The Today programme subsequently broadcast a correction, saying that Starmer had not been invited to attend Cobra meetings (which explained why Dodds sounded a bit thrown by the question.) But Labour and other opposition parties have been invited to government briefings on coronavirus, and the Labour politicians Mark Drakeford and Sadiq Khan have participated in Cobra meetings in respective capacities as first minister of Wales and mayor of London.UPDATE: The Today programme subsequently broadcast a correction, saying that Starmer had not been invited to attend Cobra meetings (which explained why Dodds sounded a bit thrown by the question.) But Labour and other opposition parties have been invited to government briefings on coronavirus, and the Labour politicians Mark Drakeford and Sadiq Khan have participated in Cobra meetings in respective capacities as first minister of Wales and mayor of London.