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UK coronavirus live: Hancock says contact tracing system in place 'in weeks' as death toll rises by 759 UK coronavirus live: Hancock says contact tracing system in place 'in weeks' as death toll rises by 759
(32 minutes later)
Today’s rise takes UK hospital death toll to 18,100, as health secretary says 15 social care staff are among those to die with Covid-19Today’s rise takes UK hospital death toll to 18,100, as health secretary says 15 social care staff are among those to die with Covid-19
Labour says it has been approached by 36 British companies who say they have offered to help the government with the supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) and who say they have not had a reply. According to Labour, the 36 include:
In an open letter to Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, his Labour shadow, Rachel Reeves, has given details of all 36 companies (some of whom have asked not to be named). She told Gove:
Prince Charles has urged the world to reshape and reset towards a “green recovery” and more sustainable future once the coronavirus crisis has passed.
In a message to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, he said the slowdown of human and industrial activity during the pandemic showed how quickly the Earth could heal itself, highlighting improved air quality in some of the world’s major cities and the return of wildlife to communities and waterways.
He added:
Hundreds of people have become homeless during the coronavirus lockdown, the mayor of Greater Manchester has said.
Speaking at a weekly briefing on the region’s response to the pandemic on Wednesday, Andy Burnham said 344 people had been recorded as newly homeless and requiring accommodation since the strict restrictions were implemented.
He added that the Greater Manchester combined authority had helped 1,140 homeless people to be housed safely during the crisis but 115 people were still sleeping rough in the region. He said:
Burnham said government funding was only available to provide support for pre-identified homeless people during the pandemic, but those who were newly homeless did not qualify. He added:
In the latest episode of our Science Weekly podcast, the Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, speaks to Dr Dipesh Patel about the effects of Covid-19 on people with diabetes, including the role that glucose levels and a high BMI might play. Have a listen here.
Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Sir Simon McDonald, the head of the Foreign Office, was pressurised into withdrawing his statement to a select committee yesterday saying the government took a political decision not to participate in the EU’s ventilator procurement scheme. Asked who put pressure on McDonald, the prime minister’s spokesman said: “Nobody.”Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Sir Simon McDonald, the head of the Foreign Office, was pressurised into withdrawing his statement to a select committee yesterday saying the government took a political decision not to participate in the EU’s ventilator procurement scheme. Asked who put pressure on McDonald, the prime minister’s spokesman said: “Nobody.”
Asked to explain McDonald’s surprise decision to issue a statement saying that his original evidence had been based on a “misunderstanding” (see 9.37am), the spokesman said:Asked to explain McDonald’s surprise decision to issue a statement saying that his original evidence had been based on a “misunderstanding” (see 9.37am), the spokesman said:
The government’s current position is that it failed to take part in the EU procurement scheme because of a communications error, which meant ministers were not aware of the opportunity available.The government’s current position is that it failed to take part in the EU procurement scheme because of a communications error, which meant ministers were not aware of the opportunity available.
As my colleague Daniel Boffey reports, the European commission has challenged this account, saying the UK was well aware of what was on offer.As my colleague Daniel Boffey reports, the European commission has challenged this account, saying the UK was well aware of what was on offer.
But, as the Guardian reported last month, before the government started arguing that the UK did not participate in the scheme because of a communications problem (one source claimed the problem was to do with emails being missed), Downing Street said it was not taking part in the scheme because the UK was “no longer a member [of the EU]” and was “making our own efforts”.But, as the Guardian reported last month, before the government started arguing that the UK did not participate in the scheme because of a communications problem (one source claimed the problem was to do with emails being missed), Downing Street said it was not taking part in the scheme because the UK was “no longer a member [of the EU]” and was “making our own efforts”.
A senior police officer has given an emotional thank-you speech to NHS staff who cared for him when he contracted Covid-19. The health of construction workers is being “threatened by watered-down advice” on physical distancing on building sites, Unite has said.
Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby tweeted updates about his condition, including breathing difficulties, in the first week after falling ill, but was then admitted to intensive care and put on a ventilator.
The West Midlands police officer spent more than three weeks in Worcester Royal Hospital, and was brought to tears as he made his way out to the sound of applause from NHS staff.
As he made his way out of the hospital in a wheelchair, Dolby became tearful as he said:
Speaking of her relief, his wife Mary said:
The health of construction workers is being “threatened by watered down advice” on physical distancing on building sites, Unite has said.
The union said the latest guidance being given to building workers – issued to coincide with a return to work at a large number of sites this week, particularly in the London area – was unsafe and placed them at unnecessary risk.The union said the latest guidance being given to building workers – issued to coincide with a return to work at a large number of sites this week, particularly in the London area – was unsafe and placed them at unnecessary risk.
The guidance now states that where workers are required to work within two metres of each other, they should “work side by side, or facing away from each other, rather than face to face”, the union said.The guidance now states that where workers are required to work within two metres of each other, they should “work side by side, or facing away from each other, rather than face to face”, the union said.
When this is not possible and workers have to work “face to face” within two metres of each other, workers should “keep this to 15 minutes or less where possible”.When this is not possible and workers have to work “face to face” within two metres of each other, workers should “keep this to 15 minutes or less where possible”.
Unite has written to the business secretary Alok Sharma warning that workers’ lives were being endangered and asking that the “defective procedures” be withdrawn immediately. Unite has written to the business secretary, Alok Sharma, warning that workers’ lives are being endangered and asking that the “defective procedures” be withdrawn immediately.
The union has also launched a hotline so that workers can report concerns and provide evidence of unsafe working practices.The union has also launched a hotline so that workers can report concerns and provide evidence of unsafe working practices.
Unite national officer Jerry Swain said:Unite national officer Jerry Swain said:
Liz Truss, the women and equalities minister (and international trade secretary), has dismissed concerns over the number of female ministers leading the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference as “tokenism”. At a committee hearing this morning, Truss said “excessive focus” on the gender of the politician leading the televised briefing “does a disservice to women”. Our colleague Frances Perraudin has the full story.Liz Truss, the women and equalities minister (and international trade secretary), has dismissed concerns over the number of female ministers leading the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference as “tokenism”. At a committee hearing this morning, Truss said “excessive focus” on the gender of the politician leading the televised briefing “does a disservice to women”. Our colleague Frances Perraudin has the full story.
There have now been 309,000 applications for the government to pay the wages of furloughed staff through its coronavirus job retention scheme, Downing Street has said. That means 2.2m workers could benefit, it says. The scheme opened on Monday.There have now been 309,000 applications for the government to pay the wages of furloughed staff through its coronavirus job retention scheme, Downing Street has said. That means 2.2m workers could benefit, it says. The scheme opened on Monday.
Hundreds of asylum seekers in Glasgow have been given less than an hour’s notice to pack up their flats before being moved into city centre hotels, where they claim social distancing is “impossible”, our colleague Libby Brooks reports.Hundreds of asylum seekers in Glasgow have been given less than an hour’s notice to pack up their flats before being moved into city centre hotels, where they claim social distancing is “impossible”, our colleague Libby Brooks reports.
The day after announcing limited prisoner release to ease pressure in Scotland’s jails, the justice secretary, Humza Yousaf, has been challenged on emergency amendments that extend 24-hour-a-day detention and lift requirements for clean clothes.The day after announcing limited prisoner release to ease pressure in Scotland’s jails, the justice secretary, Humza Yousaf, has been challenged on emergency amendments that extend 24-hour-a-day detention and lift requirements for clean clothes.
The head of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Judith Robertson, and the Scottish prisons inspector, Wendy Sinclair, met Yousaf earlier today to raise significant human rights concerns about the amendments to prison rules.The head of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Judith Robertson, and the Scottish prisons inspector, Wendy Sinclair, met Yousaf earlier today to raise significant human rights concerns about the amendments to prison rules.
Robertson told the Guardian:Robertson told the Guardian:
The pair also raised issues around oversight and scrutiny, as well as inconsistent practice around different prisons.The pair also raised issues around oversight and scrutiny, as well as inconsistent practice around different prisons.
There are already serious concerns about prisoners’ wellbeing after family visits were suspended and exercise and other activities severely restricted because of social distancing. The Scottish government announced plans to provide phones in cells last week, with some necessary security restrictions.There are already serious concerns about prisoners’ wellbeing after family visits were suspended and exercise and other activities severely restricted because of social distancing. The Scottish government announced plans to provide phones in cells last week, with some necessary security restrictions.
The Department for Health and Social Care has just published the latest daily UK coronavirus hospital death figures. There have been 759 new deaths, taking the total to 18,100.The Department for Health and Social Care has just published the latest daily UK coronavirus hospital death figures. There have been 759 new deaths, taking the total to 18,100.
The full details are here.The full details are here.
Yesterday the daily rise was 823.Yesterday the daily rise was 823.
The Guardian’s latest Politics Weekly podcast is out. Jonathan Freedland and guests discuss a historic week in parliament, as prime minister’s questions goes “virtual”, and Larry Elliott speaks to the Enlightened Economist, Diane Coyle, about the potential for economic reform post-pandemic.The Guardian’s latest Politics Weekly podcast is out. Jonathan Freedland and guests discuss a historic week in parliament, as prime minister’s questions goes “virtual”, and Larry Elliott speaks to the Enlightened Economist, Diane Coyle, about the potential for economic reform post-pandemic.