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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/20/uk-coronavirus-live-boris-johnson-against-lifting-lockdown-over-second-wave-fears
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| UK coronavirus live: 140,000 firms apply for relief from government furlough scheme; hospital death toll rises to 16,509 | UK coronavirus live: 140,000 firms apply for relief from government furlough scheme; hospital death toll rises to 16,509 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rishi Sunak says 140,000 gowns have arrived from Myanmar; No 10 says priority is avoiding second peak of infections when it considers easing lockdown | Rishi Sunak says 140,000 gowns have arrived from Myanmar; No 10 says priority is avoiding second peak of infections when it considers easing lockdown |
| The number of prison staff who have tested positive for Covid-19 rose 40% in three days, a daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows. | |
| As at 5pm on Sunday, 194 prison staff across 53 prisons were confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus, compared to 138 in the last available figures for Thursday. | |
| The number of prisoners who had tested positive for Covid-19 increased 9% in the same period to 278 inmates across 64 prisons. There are around 81,500 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons. | |
| A total of 13 prisoners are known to have contracted Covid-19 and died, including one inmate who died within prison walls. | |
| The Government recently announced an extension of testing to prison and probation staff. | |
| The Prison Service is to temporarily release up to 4,000 inmates who are within two months of their release date, as well as build 500 cells within the existing prison estate to increase single-cell occupancy. | |
| This is from Dan Tomlinson, an economist at the Resolution Foundation thinktank, commenting on what Rishi Sunak said at the press conference about the take-up of the furlough scheme that opened today. (See 5.05pm.) Tomlinson said: | This is from Dan Tomlinson, an economist at the Resolution Foundation thinktank, commenting on what Rishi Sunak said at the press conference about the take-up of the furlough scheme that opened today. (See 5.05pm.) Tomlinson said: |
| Sunak is now wrapping up. As is normal at these events, he ends by repeating the government’s stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives message. And, quoting what Dominic Raab said last week, he says: | Sunak is now wrapping up. As is normal at these events, he ends by repeating the government’s stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives message. And, quoting what Dominic Raab said last week, he says: |
| I’ll post a summary soon. | I’ll post a summary soon. |
| Q: Is this new approach, where you are taking equity in start-ups, something that you will want to maintain long term? | Q: Is this new approach, where you are taking equity in start-ups, something that you will want to maintain long term? |
| Sunak says this is an unprecedented approach. The UK is a European start-ups success story, he says. In the past the government has not needed to do something like this. He says they will keep this policy under review. | Sunak says this is an unprecedented approach. The UK is a European start-ups success story, he says. In the past the government has not needed to do something like this. He says they will keep this policy under review. |
| Q: Do you have any modelling that suggests how people might behave when the lockdown measures are relaxed? | |
| That is a good question, says McLean. | That is a good question, says McLean. |
| She says the behavioural scientists who advise the government are careful. If they were here, they would probably say it was difficult to predict. | She says the behavioural scientists who advise the government are careful. If they were here, they would probably say it was difficult to predict. |
| For example, who much will people go back to work when allowed? That is very hard to predict, she says. | For example, who much will people go back to work when allowed? That is very hard to predict, she says. |
| Q: Was the government too slow to ban major sports events? | Q: Was the government too slow to ban major sports events? |
| Sunak says that at every stage the government has followed the scientific advice, and by the need to make the right decisions at the right time. | Sunak says that at every stage the government has followed the scientific advice, and by the need to make the right decisions at the right time. |
| But it has been an unprecedented situation, he says. | But it has been an unprecedented situation, he says. |
| He says he believes that was the right guidance at the right time. | He says he believes that was the right guidance at the right time. |
| Q: On 11 March Liverpool hosted a match against Atletico Madrid. Subsequently mass gatherings were banned. The mayor of Madrid says now it was a mistake to allow that match to go ahead. Do you agree? | Q: On 11 March Liverpool hosted a match against Atletico Madrid. Subsequently mass gatherings were banned. The mayor of Madrid says now it was a mistake to allow that match to go ahead. Do you agree? |
| McLean says this has to be considered in the context of what the situation was at the time. Normally a football match is not a big risk. But of course you would not allow that now. | |
| Q: Can you promise councils that they get a fair funding settlement? | Q: Can you promise councils that they get a fair funding settlement? |
| Sunak says he used to be a local government minister. Of course he wants to support local government, he says. | Sunak says he used to be a local government minister. Of course he wants to support local government, he says. |
| Q: Some self-employed people are not getting help. Do you see why people back a universal income? And shouldn’t universal credit be more generous? | Q: Some self-employed people are not getting help. Do you see why people back a universal income? And shouldn’t universal credit be more generous? |
| Sunak says the UK’s scheme to help the self-employed is more generous than comparable schemes in other countries. | Sunak says the UK’s scheme to help the self-employed is more generous than comparable schemes in other countries. |
| On universal credit, he says people can get advance payments from day one. | On universal credit, he says people can get advance payments from day one. |
| Q: Tony Blair says he is terrified about the long-term consequences of the lockdown. Do you share that feeling? And is it correct that the Treasury analysis of the impact of the lockdown says there could be long-term damage to the economy, unlike the OBR’s, which was more optimistic? | Q: Tony Blair says he is terrified about the long-term consequences of the lockdown. Do you share that feeling? And is it correct that the Treasury analysis of the impact of the lockdown says there could be long-term damage to the economy, unlike the OBR’s, which was more optimistic? |
| Sunak says any responsible chancellor would have plans in place for a range of scenarios. | Sunak says any responsible chancellor would have plans in place for a range of scenarios. |
| He says this will be a challenging period. He will not be able to save every job. But he wants to get back to normal as soon as possible. | He says this will be a challenging period. He will not be able to save every job. But he wants to get back to normal as soon as possible. |
| Q: Would you support health staff refusing to work without the proper equipment? | Q: Would you support health staff refusing to work without the proper equipment? |
| Doyle says the guidance is very clear. People have to make a judgment about how to interpret it. But the guidance says what is safe and what is not. | Doyle says the guidance is very clear. People have to make a judgment about how to interpret it. But the guidance says what is safe and what is not. |
| Q: Some medical organisations are very worried about the new guidance for PPE issued last Friday. They think these new guidelines are based on equipment availability, not safety? | Q: Some medical organisations are very worried about the new guidance for PPE issued last Friday. They think these new guidelines are based on equipment availability, not safety? |
| Doyle says the advice is precautionary. She says it is based on guidance that already exists, and on what the WHO says should be done in exceptional circumstances. | Doyle says the advice is precautionary. She says it is based on guidance that already exists, and on what the WHO says should be done in exceptional circumstances. |
| Q: Do you have an estimate of the cost and the take-up for the furlough scheme? | Q: Do you have an estimate of the cost and the take-up for the furlough scheme? |
| Sunak says the Treasury has not produced its own estimate. The OBR published one last week, he said. | Sunak says the Treasury has not produced its own estimate. The OBR published one last week, he said. |
| (The OBR said the scheme might cost £42bn.) | (The OBR said the scheme might cost £42bn.) |
| Q: There are suggestions that your death figures understate coronavirus deaths by 40%. Is that accurate? | Q: There are suggestions that your death figures understate coronavirus deaths by 40%. Is that accurate? |
| Doyle says the hospital data does not tell the whole story. | Doyle says the hospital data does not tell the whole story. |
| She says 90% of deaths occur in hospital. | She says 90% of deaths occur in hospital. |
| But the pattern is different in different parts of the country. | But the pattern is different in different parts of the country. |
| Q: The governor of the Bank of England does seem to favour 100% loan guarantees. Why don’t you agree? | Q: The governor of the Bank of England does seem to favour 100% loan guarantees. Why don’t you agree? |
| Sunak says the governor said he wanted money to get to firms quickly. He says the level of support he has introduced is higher than in almost any other country. | Sunak says the governor said he wanted money to get to firms quickly. He says the level of support he has introduced is higher than in almost any other country. |
| Q: The PM seems to be making it clear that he won’t relax the lockdown any time soon. Is that right? | Q: The PM seems to be making it clear that he won’t relax the lockdown any time soon. Is that right? |
| Sunak says they have been clear that they will follow the scientific advice. | Sunak says they have been clear that they will follow the scientific advice. |
| In response to a question about the business loan scheme, Sunak says he is not persuaded by arguments saying he should provide a 100% loan guarantee, instead of an 80% loan guarantee. | In response to a question about the business loan scheme, Sunak says he is not persuaded by arguments saying he should provide a 100% loan guarantee, instead of an 80% loan guarantee. |
| Doyle says it is a “concern” that health workers feel they do not have the PPE they need. | Doyle says it is a “concern” that health workers feel they do not have the PPE they need. |