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| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson 'very concerned' about second wave of infections if lockdown lifted too soon | UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson 'very concerned' about second wave of infections if lockdown lifted too soon |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Anger mounts over PPE shortages; culture secretary says official minute’s silence for NHS workers killed by virus ‘a very good idea’ | Anger mounts over PPE shortages; culture secretary says official minute’s silence for NHS workers killed by virus ‘a very good idea’ |
| Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister, has been giving interviews this morning to promote a report on how to ease the lockdown written by his thinktank, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Broadly he has been trying to avoid criticising the government, but in an interview with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire he got sucked into the argument about whether Boris Johnson was at fault for missing five meetings of the Cobra emergency committee on coronavirus in the early weeks of the crisis. | |
| This was the central allegation in a Sunday Times Insight investigation published yesterday (paywall). That prompted the government to publish a 2,000-word rebuttal last night that said, among other things, that the Sunday Times was wrong to say Cobra was normally chaired by the PM. | |
| Asked if Johnson should have attended those Cobra meetings, Blair largely avoided the invitation to criticise the PM - although he did insinuate that Johnson might have been somewhat negligent. Blair said: | |
| But Derbyshire came back to the topic towards the end of what was a long interview, and this time she did get Blair to come out with a more direct criticism. He said: | |
| Scotland’s emergency hospital for Covid-19 patients, the NHS Louisa Jordan, will be ready to receive patients from today after construction on the £43m facility was finished. | Scotland’s emergency hospital for Covid-19 patients, the NHS Louisa Jordan, will be ready to receive patients from today after construction on the £43m facility was finished. |
| The facility was built in around 18 days in exhibition halls at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow, and will initially offer 300 beds with the potential to expand capacity to 1,036 beds. | The facility was built in around 18 days in exhibition halls at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow, and will initially offer 300 beds with the potential to expand capacity to 1,036 beds. |
| Although the majority of emergency coronavirus hospitals in the UK are named after Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of professional nursing who ran field hospitals in the Crimean War, the Scottish site is named after a nurse who died treating troops in Serbia in 1915, during a typhus outbreak. | Although the majority of emergency coronavirus hospitals in the UK are named after Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of professional nursing who ran field hospitals in the Crimean War, the Scottish site is named after a nurse who died treating troops in Serbia in 1915, during a typhus outbreak. |
| Its completion comes amid growing confidence the facility will not be needed as the number of critical cases in Scotland shows signs of plateauing. | Its completion comes amid growing confidence the facility will not be needed as the number of critical cases in Scotland shows signs of plateauing. |
| Although weekend data does not cover all fatalities, it emerged yesterday that 10 more people had died in hospital in Scotland from Covid-19, bringing the death toll to 903. | Although weekend data does not cover all fatalities, it emerged yesterday that 10 more people had died in hospital in Scotland from Covid-19, bringing the death toll to 903. |
| There has been a further drop in the numbers being treated in intensive care, down by eight, to a total yesterday of 174. In all, 1,797 people are in Scottish hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a rise of four. | There has been a further drop in the numbers being treated in intensive care, down by eight, to a total yesterday of 174. In all, 1,797 people are in Scottish hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a rise of four. |
| Non-British key workers who are on the coronavirus frontline in the NHS and elsewhere should be granted British citizenship, Plaid Cymru is proposing. In a letter to the home secretary, the Plaid MP Hywel Williams said: | Non-British key workers who are on the coronavirus frontline in the NHS and elsewhere should be granted British citizenship, Plaid Cymru is proposing. In a letter to the home secretary, the Plaid MP Hywel Williams said: |
| Williams also pointed out that 25% of UK hospital staff were born overseas. | Williams also pointed out that 25% of UK hospital staff were born overseas. |
| A ‘good news’ tweet from NHS England | A ‘good news’ tweet from NHS England |
| At yesterday’s government press conference Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, urged journalists to have “a more adult, and more detailed conversation” about shortages of PPE (personal protective equipment). The government was facing an unprecedented challenge, she said, and much had been achieved. | At yesterday’s government press conference Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, urged journalists to have “a more adult, and more detailed conversation” about shortages of PPE (personal protective equipment). The government was facing an unprecedented challenge, she said, and much had been achieved. |
| Her comments have angered the Doctors’ Association UK, a trade association for doctors. Its chair, Dr Rinesh Parmar said: | Her comments have angered the Doctors’ Association UK, a trade association for doctors. Its chair, Dr Rinesh Parmar said: |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver. |
| Boris Johnson is not back at work yet but, as we have reported already (see 7.26am), it is already clear that he is starting to exert a firm grip on the government’s handling of coronavirus. On Saturday the Daily Telegraph ran a story (paywall) quoting an unnamed cabinet minister saying pressure for the lockdown was coming from the public, not from ministers. It said: | Boris Johnson is not back at work yet but, as we have reported already (see 7.26am), it is already clear that he is starting to exert a firm grip on the government’s handling of coronavirus. On Saturday the Daily Telegraph ran a story (paywall) quoting an unnamed cabinet minister saying pressure for the lockdown was coming from the public, not from ministers. It said: |
| Today Steven Swinford in the Times (paywall) says that when Johnson had a meeting with Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, and aides at Chequers on Friday (Raab and some advisers were there in person; other officials participated by video conference), the prime minister expressed extreme caution about the idea of lifting the lockdown. Swinford reports: | Today Steven Swinford in the Times (paywall) says that when Johnson had a meeting with Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, and aides at Chequers on Friday (Raab and some advisers were there in person; other officials participated by video conference), the prime minister expressed extreme caution about the idea of lifting the lockdown. Swinford reports: |
| Asked about the Times report, Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, effectively confirmed it on the BBC this morning. (See 8.17am.) Downing Street is also giving the story the thumbs up. Asked about this this morning, a No 10 source said: | Asked about the Times report, Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, effectively confirmed it on the BBC this morning. (See 8.17am.) Downing Street is also giving the story the thumbs up. Asked about this this morning, a No 10 source said: |
| The Scottish government is urging Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit transition period by the maximum possible period of two years. | The Scottish government is urging Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit transition period by the maximum possible period of two years. |
| Michael Russell, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for Europe, said prolonging the transition until the end of 2022 would allow time to rethink the future relationship with the EU. In a statement he said: | Michael Russell, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for Europe, said prolonging the transition until the end of 2022 would allow time to rethink the future relationship with the EU. In a statement he said: |
| He also accused the UK government of pushing ahead in talks with the EU without involving the devolved government at Edinburgh. | He also accused the UK government of pushing ahead in talks with the EU without involving the devolved government at Edinburgh. |
| The joint ministerial committee on EU negotiations, which is composed of representatives from the four nations of the UK, has not met since January, Russell said. | The joint ministerial committee on EU negotiations, which is composed of representatives from the four nations of the UK, has not met since January, Russell said. |
| His intervention came as EU and UK negotiators prepared to hold their first-ever negotiations via video link on Monday. This week’s four-day round of talks is only the second set of negotiations on a post-Brexit future. Coronavirus has led to the cancellation of two previous rounds, squeezing an already tight timetable to forge a wide-ranging deal on trade and security by the end of the year. | His intervention came as EU and UK negotiators prepared to hold their first-ever negotiations via video link on Monday. This week’s four-day round of talks is only the second set of negotiations on a post-Brexit future. Coronavirus has led to the cancellation of two previous rounds, squeezing an already tight timetable to forge a wide-ranging deal on trade and security by the end of the year. |
| Dowden also defended Boris Johnson’s failure to attend five Cobra meetings about coronavirus at the start of the outbreak. | Dowden also defended Boris Johnson’s failure to attend five Cobra meetings about coronavirus at the start of the outbreak. |
| Asked whether the prime minister’s attendance didn’t matter, Dowden told Today: | Asked whether the prime minister’s attendance didn’t matter, Dowden told Today: |
| Dowden has now rowed back on his earlier suggestion that the delayed PPE shipment will arrive today. Speaking on the Today programme he said the government was only “hopeful” that the flight would take off today. | Dowden has now rowed back on his earlier suggestion that the delayed PPE shipment will arrive today. Speaking on the Today programme he said the government was only “hopeful” that the flight would take off today. |
| He said: | He said: |
| Dowden also confirmed that the government wais reluctant to lift the lockdown for fear of sparking a second wave of infections. | Dowden also confirmed that the government wais reluctant to lift the lockdown for fear of sparking a second wave of infections. |
| He told BBC Breakfast: | He told BBC Breakfast: |
| Asked when the government might allow mass gathering again, Dowden suggested ministers are considering a staggering an easing of the restrictions. He said: | Asked when the government might allow mass gathering again, Dowden suggested ministers are considering a staggering an easing of the restrictions. He said: |
| Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, has cast doubt on the government’s claim that the delayed PPE shipment form Turkey will arrive today. | Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, has cast doubt on the government’s claim that the delayed PPE shipment form Turkey will arrive today. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: |
| Dowden also backed Labour and union call for a minute’s silence to honour the NHS workers who have died from coronavirus. | Dowden also backed Labour and union call for a minute’s silence to honour the NHS workers who have died from coronavirus. |
| Dowden, who as culture minister has responsibility for such ceremonies, suggested the government would soon announce that an official minute’s silence will be held. He said: | Dowden, who as culture minister has responsibility for such ceremonies, suggested the government would soon announce that an official minute’s silence will be held. He said: |
| Asked if it would be an official minute’s silence, Dowden said: “Yes I think it could be, but we will make an announcement on that at an appropriate time.” | Asked if it would be an official minute’s silence, Dowden said: “Yes I think it could be, but we will make an announcement on that at an appropriate time.” |
| The Labour leader Keir Starmer, responding to the call by Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives for a minute’s silence to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus, said: | The Labour leader Keir Starmer, responding to the call by Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives for a minute’s silence to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus, said: |
| The government has said the delayed delivery of PPE from Turkey is due to arrive later today. The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said he expected the flight to take off this afternoon. | The government has said the delayed delivery of PPE from Turkey is due to arrive later today. The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said he expected the flight to take off this afternoon. |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said he did not want to make further promises after his cabinet colleague Robert Jenrick said the shipment would arrive on Sunday. But Dowden added that it was his understanding the delivery would be made later on Monday. | Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said he did not want to make further promises after his cabinet colleague Robert Jenrick said the shipment would arrive on Sunday. But Dowden added that it was his understanding the delivery would be made later on Monday. |
| Jenrick promised the shipment would consist of 84 tonnes of PPE, including 400,000 much-needed surgical gowns. | Jenrick promised the shipment would consist of 84 tonnes of PPE, including 400,000 much-needed surgical gowns. |
| Welcome to our UK coronavirus live blog. | Welcome to our UK coronavirus live blog. |
| Boris Johnson is reported to be cautious about easing the lockdown for fear of sparking a second wave of coronavirus infections. | Boris Johnson is reported to be cautious about easing the lockdown for fear of sparking a second wave of coronavirus infections. |
| According to the Times, the prime minister held a two-hour meeting on Friday with key figures in the government at which he said lifting restrictions too soon could result in a “second peak” and lead to another lockdown. | According to the Times, the prime minister held a two-hour meeting on Friday with key figures in the government at which he said lifting restrictions too soon could result in a “second peak” and lead to another lockdown. |
| Meanwhile, hospital leaders have directly attacked the government for the first time during crisis over the shortage of personal protective amid increasing frustration at delays to a promise shipment of PPE from Turkey. | Meanwhile, hospital leaders have directly attacked the government for the first time during crisis over the shortage of personal protective amid increasing frustration at delays to a promise shipment of PPE from Turkey. |
| And the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has warned that vaccines are “long shots” in the immediate fight against coronavirus. | And the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has warned that vaccines are “long shots” in the immediate fight against coronavirus. |
| Writing in the Guardian, he said: | Writing in the Guardian, he said: |