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Coronavirus: English councils to get extra £1.6bn Coronavirus: Parks and cemeteries must stay open, says communities minister
(30 minutes later)
Local councils in England will have an extra £1.6bn to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has said. Parks and cemeteries must remain open and close family can attend loved ones' funerals, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.
The money is in addition to the £1.6bn already given to local authorities. Speaking at Number 10, he said "people need parks" but they must observe social distancing and not congregate in groups.
He stressed that parks and cemeteries must remain open and close family can go to their loved ones' funerals. He also announced an extra £1.6bn for local councils in England.
Speaking at Number 10, he said research was needed to better understand the disproportionate impact of the virus on people from BAME communities. And the ethnicity of victims will be recorded, in an attempt to understand why it affects some groups more.
England's chief medical officer has asked Public Health England to look at what might be accounting for increased risks and increased deaths in particular ethnic communities. Giving the government's daily briefing, Mr Jenrick said he had "made it clear" to councils that all parks must remain open, after some closed their gates in recent weeks.
Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said he was also concerned. He said lockdown measures were harder for those without gardens or open spaces and that they needed to be accessible for "the health of the nation".
He said a number of NHS England staff were from the groups affected and he wanted to know what they could do to support and protect them. He said funerals can go ahead with close family members present so that they can say a "respectful goodbye" to those they love.
Giving the government's daily briefing, Mr Jenrick also made it clear parks must remain open, as "people need parks". But he said people must observe social distancing and not congregate in groups.
Funerals can go ahead with close family present to say a "respectful goodbye" to those they love, he said, adding that he had asked councils to keep cemeteries open to allow families to grieve for their loved ones.
He pointed to the death of 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton, who died after contracting Covid-19.He pointed to the death of 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton, who died after contracting Covid-19.
He said the tragedy was compounded after the family could not attend his funeral, adding: "That is not right and it shouldn't have happened."He said the tragedy was compounded after the family could not attend his funeral, adding: "That is not right and it shouldn't have happened."
Councils are facing increased costs from supporting vulnerable people and providing essential services. Standing alongside the minister, NHS England's medical director addressed the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS and other caring staff.
In a letter to all councils in England, Mr Jenrick said they were the "unsung heroes" of the coronavirus response. Prof Stephen Powis said it was "critical" PPE gets to NHS staff so they can follow the best possible guidance on its use.
He wrote: "We stand shoulder to shoulder with local government and my priority is to make sure they are supported so they can continue to support their communities through this challenging time. Mr Jenrick said 400,000 gowns were arriving in the UK from Turkey on Sunday.
"Up and down the country, council workers are the unsung heroes as we tackle this virus. They are in the front line of the national effort to keep the public safe and deliver the services people need." Councils are facing increased costs during the coronavirus outbreak, from supporting vulnerable people and providing essential services.
He said the new total of £3.2bn in funding meant an extra £300m would go to the devolved administrations - £155m for Scotland, £95m for Wales and £50m for Northern Ireland. Mr Jenrick said council workers were the "unsung heroes" of the coronavirus response.
Before today's funding announcement, Richard Watts, the Local Government Association's resource chairman, warned Mr Jenrick of "extreme cost-cutting". The additional £1.6bn announced doubles the amount the government has said it will pay.
In a letter to the minister, he thanked him for his "hard work on behalf of local government" but said the cash was an "insufficient sum". Mr Jenrick has said the new total of £3.2bn in funding means an extra £300m would go to the devolved administrations - £155m for Scotland, £95m for Wales and £50m for Northern Ireland.
Local Government Association (LGA) chairman, Cllr James Jamieson, welcomed the extra cash pledge, saying it would give councils "breathing space". But Richard Watts, the LGA's resource chairman, had previously warned Mr Jenrick of "extreme cost-cutting".
Mr Jenrick thanked 99-year-old Captain Tom Moore, who has raised an "astonishing" £23m for the NHS, and announced he would be guest of honour at opening of the new Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate next week.
He also acknowledged research was needed to better understand the disproportionate impact of the virus on people from BAME communities.
England's chief medical officer has asked Public Health to look at what might be accounting for increased risks and increased deaths in particular groups.
Prof Powis said he was also concerned, especially as a number of NHS England staff were from the groups affected and he wanted to know what they could do to support and protect them.