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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 says country has not passed the peak
One in 10 hospital nurses is off work due to coronavirus, internal NHS figures suggest.
Data from the Covid-19 national operational dashboard from Saturday, seen by the Health Service Journal, show that across English acute trusts there were 28,063 Covid-19-related absences reported among nurses and midwives - 10% of a headcount of around 280,000.
This could include staff who have symptoms themselves or those who are in isolation due to someone in their home showing signs of illness.
The news comes as the NHS has increased testing capacity to include family members of health service staff and ministers said they are “confident” the government will achieve its target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month.
The Health Service Journal story is here.
From Sky’s economics editor Ed Conway
A serious concern since the emergence of Covid-19 has been whether those who have had it can get it a second time – and what that means for exiting this crisis.
In this video explainer, the Guardian’s science correspondent Hannah Devlin looks at how our bodies fight coronavirus when infected, how we develop immunity and if we can get reinfected with Covid-19.
The ONS has also published a separate report today explaining in detail how its coronavirus death figures differ from the Department for Health and Social Care’s. Nick Stripe, head of health analysis and life events at the ONS said:
Sky’s Ed Conway has another graph illustrating the ONS figures showing how the death rate is now soaring above what is normal for this time of year. (See 11.41am.)
The UK Space Agency is making £2.6m of funding available to the space sector for solutions that can help the NHS respond to coronavirus.
In partnership with the European Space Agency, this will fund a number of projects that could include using drones to deliver test kits and PPE, or using satellite communications to carry out some appointments online rather than face-to-face.
Here are two charts from the ONS figures for weekly deaths in England and Wales published earlier.
This shows how the weekly death toll is now starting to soar above what is normal for this time of year.
According to Nick Stripe, head of health analysis and life events at the ONS, “the 16,387 deaths that were registered in England and Wales during the week ending 3 April is the highest weekly total since we started compiling weekly deaths data in 2005.”
And this chart shows how more men than women are dying with coronavirus.
The ONS figures for coronavirus deaths include all deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate. The Department for Health and Social Care figures for coronavirus deaths cover people who died in hospital who had tested positive for coronavirus. The ONS figures included people who died outside hospital and people who were not tested. As the ONS says, “a doctor can certify the involvement of Covid-19 based on symptoms and clinical findings – a positive test result is not required [for coronavirus to be mentioned on the death certificate].”
The former commercial director for the London Olympics will lead efforts to get supplies to vulnerable people during the lockdown, the communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.The former commercial director for the London Olympics will lead efforts to get supplies to vulnerable people during the lockdown, the communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
Leaving his role as commercial director at Chelsea Football Club, Chris Townsend OBE has volunteered three months of his time to lead the government’s shielding programme, where he will oversee the cross-government effort getting vital food and medicine to those who are clinically vulnerable people and shielding.Leaving his role as commercial director at Chelsea Football Club, Chris Townsend OBE has volunteered three months of his time to lead the government’s shielding programme, where he will oversee the cross-government effort getting vital food and medicine to those who are clinically vulnerable people and shielding.
Around 250,000 boxes of food have been delivered by wholesalers to those at highest risk from the disease who have been advised to shield themselves from exposure to coronavirus by staying in strict isolation.Around 250,000 boxes of food have been delivered by wholesalers to those at highest risk from the disease who have been advised to shield themselves from exposure to coronavirus by staying in strict isolation.
But around 1.5m people have been advised to shield and the government insisted that “hundreds of thousands” more food parcels would be delivered in the coming weeks.But around 1.5m people have been advised to shield and the government insisted that “hundreds of thousands” more food parcels would be delivered in the coming weeks.
Townsend said:Townsend said:
A fund-raising campaign by a WW2 veteran who is aiming to walk one hundred lengths of his back garden (25m in length) before his 100th birthday at the end of the month has smashed through the £1m barrier.A fund-raising campaign by a WW2 veteran who is aiming to walk one hundred lengths of his back garden (25m in length) before his 100th birthday at the end of the month has smashed through the £1m barrier.
Tom Moore, aged 99, had hoped to raise £1,000 for the NHS but huge public interest in his initiative led to a surge in donations over the Easter weekend, which now stands at nearly £1.5m.Tom Moore, aged 99, had hoped to raise £1,000 for the NHS but huge public interest in his initiative led to a surge in donations over the Easter weekend, which now stands at nearly £1.5m.
Donations are still rolling in from tens of thousands of supporters, with every penny going to NHS Charities Together to support healthcare workers who are battling the coronavirus pandemic.Donations are still rolling in from tens of thousands of supporters, with every penny going to NHS Charities Together to support healthcare workers who are battling the coronavirus pandemic.
On his 100th birthday on 30 April, Tom was due to celebrate by having a large party with 100 guests, but this has been cancelled. Dozens of celebrities, including Jason Donovan, have sent Tom good luck messages and birthday wishes via social media.On his 100th birthday on 30 April, Tom was due to celebrate by having a large party with 100 guests, but this has been cancelled. Dozens of celebrities, including Jason Donovan, have sent Tom good luck messages and birthday wishes via social media.
Tom is now ahead of schedule and hoping to complete the 2.5km (1.6 miles) distance by Thursday, instead of his initial target of 30 April.Tom is now ahead of schedule and hoping to complete the 2.5km (1.6 miles) distance by Thursday, instead of his initial target of 30 April.
Hailing the NHS for the “incredible” service that he has received in the past – including treatment for a broken hip and skin cancer – he said: “I thank the British public from the bottom of my heart.”Hailing the NHS for the “incredible” service that he has received in the past – including treatment for a broken hip and skin cancer – he said: “I thank the British public from the bottom of my heart.”
Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, Tom trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army for WW2, rising to captain and serving in India and Burma. He now lives in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire.Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, Tom trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army for WW2, rising to captain and serving in India and Burma. He now lives in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire.
This should be interesting.This should be interesting.
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: 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 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.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 an unofficial spokesmanfor 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. 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.”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.”
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.
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:
The full story is here.
The ONS has just released its latest weekly death figures for England and 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.