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Coronavirus UK live: vaccine 'not likely to come to fruition this year', says Raab Coronavirus UK live: hospital death rate rises by 413; George Eustice gives daily Downing Street briefing
(32 minutes later)
Foreign secretary says speculating on how to ease lockdown is not responsible; England reports lowest increase in death toll since the end of March; Scotland deaths rise by 18, Wales deaths up by 14; Boris Johnson to return to work on Monday Vaccine ‘not likely to come to fruition this year’, says foreign secretary; Speculating on how to ease lockdown is not responsible, says Raab; Boris Johnson to return to work on Monday
Q: When will the PM set out a lockdown exit strategy? What evidence is there for care home deaths coming down?
Eustice said the lockdown will be reviewed in two weeks. It is important that we don’t risk a second peak. You’ll be hearing from the PM over the next week, he said.
Powis the information needed to lift the lockdown was not available. He cited research about immunity to the virus. This is not going to be binary it is going to a continuing evolving approach.
Q: How can the public get an idea of the balance of Sage without confirmation of the membership. And when will contact tracing resume?
Eustice said it is important that scientists can discuss free of influence. The composition of the committee also changes.
Powis says he has no problem with the names of the members of Sage being published. On contact tracing, he said it takes a lot of resources. A digital app will help. It is easier to do when there fewer people, he said.
Q: Could schools open and when will care home patients be tested?
Eustice said social distancing will need to take place when schools open, but he gave no commitment to opening schools.
Powis said the R reproduction number needs to be below 1 before schools could be open. It is highly likely that there will be a “combination of measures” to try to keep that number below 1. Testing is expanding at the moment. It is important that it continues to expand, Powis said.
Powis showed encouraging data suggesting that hospitals admissions were down.
“We now have a very definite trend in the reduced number of people in hospitals with Covid-19,” he said.
Eustice repeated that it was too early to talk about easing the lockdown. He stressed that the government would need to see progress on its five tests before the lockdown could be eased.
Eustice said 413 people were reported to have died with coronavirus in UK hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the UK’s total of hospital deaths to 20,732. This is the lowest daily rise since the end of March.
Eustice said 29,058 tests were completed on Saturday - still way behind the target of 100,000. He said the number of hospital admissions had fallen to 15,953.
The environment secretary, George Eustice, is about to lead today’s Downing Street briefing. He will be joined by Stephen Powis, the medical director of NHS England.
Some rural dwellers in England have turned to vigilantism by attempting to block roads, confront cyclists and erect signs in an effort to deter people from travelling to the countryside for exercise during the lockdown, the Guardian has been told.
The National Rural Crime Network has received reports of “small-scale vigilantism” by certain residents growing angry at people driving long distances to the countryside and other beauty spots, for walks or cycle rides. The organisation’s chair said people had even been “aggressively driving at cyclists”.
Their behaviour has caused concern with those who point out people enjoying the countryside to exercise are not necessarily breaking government rules if they maintain physical distancing, with one police leader telling vigilantes not to take the law into their own hands.
Senior doctors fear that thousands of routine vaccination appointments may be missed or delayed because of the coronavirus lockdown, raising the risk of sudden and potentially fatal outbreaks of other diseases when restrictions on movement are finally eased.Senior doctors fear that thousands of routine vaccination appointments may be missed or delayed because of the coronavirus lockdown, raising the risk of sudden and potentially fatal outbreaks of other diseases when restrictions on movement are finally eased.
GPs and accident and emergency departments have witnessed unprecedented falls in the numbers of people seeking medical care in recent weeks, prompting concerns that vital routine immunisations for infections such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough are falling by the wayside.GPs and accident and emergency departments have witnessed unprecedented falls in the numbers of people seeking medical care in recent weeks, prompting concerns that vital routine immunisations for infections such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough are falling by the wayside.
“We are very concerned. There are no data yet because we have only been in lockdown for a month, but there are plenty of anecdotes from practice nurses and others saying they have noticed a decline in vaccine uptake,” said Helen Bedford, a professor of children’s health at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s health promotion committee.“We are very concerned. There are no data yet because we have only been in lockdown for a month, but there are plenty of anecdotes from practice nurses and others saying they have noticed a decline in vaccine uptake,” said Helen Bedford, a professor of children’s health at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s health promotion committee.
Second home owners in Wales could be ordered to leave their properties under “draconian” measures adopted by the Welsh Government, the first minister has said, PA reports.Second home owners in Wales could be ordered to leave their properties under “draconian” measures adopted by the Welsh Government, the first minister has said, PA reports.
Mark Drakeford said there were ongoing discussions with the police and local authorities about enforcing such a ban. Mark Drakeford said there were discussions with the police and local authorities about enforcing such a ban.
On Friday revised lockdown regulations were published, which made it clear people cannot remain away from the place they live.On Friday revised lockdown regulations were published, which made it clear people cannot remain away from the place they live.
This was seen in some quarters as a way of clamping down on the use of second homes as there had been calls for a ban on travelling to the properties.This was seen in some quarters as a way of clamping down on the use of second homes as there had been calls for a ban on travelling to the properties.
Drakeford told the BBC’s Politics Wales programme there were human rights and legal issues that required “thinking through”. He said:Drakeford told the BBC’s Politics Wales programme there were human rights and legal issues that required “thinking through”. He said:
Last week a group of doctors from across Wales called for second homes to be made illegal during the pandemic and warned that non-essential travel to them was “highly likely” to increase the presence of Covid-19 in rural areas.Last week a group of doctors from across Wales called for second homes to be made illegal during the pandemic and warned that non-essential travel to them was “highly likely” to increase the presence of Covid-19 in rural areas.
John Lewis is reopening its textiles factory in Lancashire, which usually makes curtains, pillows and duvets, to make 8,000 clinical gowns for the NHS to help medical staff caring for coronavirus patients.John Lewis is reopening its textiles factory in Lancashire, which usually makes curtains, pillows and duvets, to make 8,000 clinical gowns for the NHS to help medical staff caring for coronavirus patients.
The department store’s Herbert Parkinson factory is bringing back 15 expert sewers from furlough, who will use medical-grade fabric to make washable protective gowns for staff at the Northumbria NHS foundation trust which runs at least nine hospitals and other clinical centres in the north-east.The department store’s Herbert Parkinson factory is bringing back 15 expert sewers from furlough, who will use medical-grade fabric to make washable protective gowns for staff at the Northumbria NHS foundation trust which runs at least nine hospitals and other clinical centres in the north-east.
The move comes amid a shortage of protective equipment for NHS workers, and particularly protective gowns made with the non-woven, spun bond, laminate called SMMS, which John Lewis will use.The move comes amid a shortage of protective equipment for NHS workers, and particularly protective gowns made with the non-woven, spun bond, laminate called SMMS, which John Lewis will use.
The eminent barrister and writer Philippe Sands, suggests that the attorney general, Suella Braverman, should intervene to stop Dominic Cummings from attending Sage meetings.The eminent barrister and writer Philippe Sands, suggests that the attorney general, Suella Braverman, should intervene to stop Dominic Cummings from attending Sage meetings.
Braverman, is best known for her passion for Brexit and loyalty to the government, so this seems highly unlikely, but it’s an interesting suggestion.Braverman, is best known for her passion for Brexit and loyalty to the government, so this seems highly unlikely, but it’s an interesting suggestion.
Testing for coronavirus remains a particular problem in Wales.Testing for coronavirus remains a particular problem in Wales.
A reader, who did not want to be named, emailed a photo of an empty testing centre at Cardiff Stadium at 1.45pm on Sunday.A reader, who did not want to be named, emailed a photo of an empty testing centre at Cardiff Stadium at 1.45pm on Sunday.
The reader said:The reader said:
The Welsh government has scraped a target for 5,000 tests per day blaming problems with obtaining supplies.The Welsh government has scraped a target for 5,000 tests per day blaming problems with obtaining supplies.
And health minister Vaughan Gething claimed the lockdown had been so effective that 5,000 test per day are no longer needed.And health minister Vaughan Gething claimed the lockdown had been so effective that 5,000 test per day are no longer needed.
Despite daily testing capacity increasing to 1,800, the numbers of completed tests fell from 1,301 on Friday to 775 on Saturday, Public Health Wales said.Despite daily testing capacity increasing to 1,800, the numbers of completed tests fell from 1,301 on Friday to 775 on Saturday, Public Health Wales said.
The first minister, Mark Drakeford has defended the delay in launching an online system for key workers to book coronavirus tests in Wales.The first minister, Mark Drakeford has defended the delay in launching an online system for key workers to book coronavirus tests in Wales.
Speaking to the BBC he said he wanted to ensure the online booking system worked before it was launched.Speaking to the BBC he said he wanted to ensure the online booking system worked before it was launched.
Public Health Wales has announced that deaths in Wales have risen by 14 to 778. It also said that infections had increased by 178 to 9,078.Public Health Wales has announced that deaths in Wales have risen by 14 to 778. It also said that infections had increased by 178 to 9,078.
NHS England has announced that 336 people have died from coronavirus, taking England’s total to 18,420.
This is the lowest daily rise announced by the NHS England since the end of March. Lower figures tend to be announced on Sundays when there are fewer staff to verify the numbers.
The victims were aged between 28 and 100 years old. Only 22 of the victims had no known underlying health condition.
At the start of the outbreak, deaths were concentrated in London. Now the deaths are more evenly spread across England. The NHS gave this breakdown:
East of England 49
London 64
Midlands 57
North East & Yorkshire 66
North West 46
South East 43
South West 11
There have been 18 more coronavirus deaths in Scotland, takings its death toll to 1,249. The Scottish Government also announced that 10,324 people have tested positive for the virus.
The director of Sense About Science and former chief executive of the Science Council has called on the government to be more open about its scientific advisory group after the Guardian revealed that Dominic Cummings has attended some of its meetings.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme, Tracey Brown said “opacity is the problem”. She said: “I think the composition of that committee is something for government to justify and explain and would only make sense if government did start explaining its thinking in how it’s using the output of that committee, what weight it is giving to different advice in looking at the trade-offs that we’ve got to make to work our way through this crisis.
“The focusing on Sage and particular members of Sage - we’re going to see more of this circus, sort of outing of people, the differences in decisions, the differences in advice, differences in views and that kind of thing unless Government works out how to get into a better conversation with the nation.”
While former Vote Leave campaigner Ben Warner, has been sitting in on Sage meetings alongside Dominic Cummings, his brother Marc Warner has been given a role in developing the contact tracing app.
Marc, the founder of Faculty. AI, has been recruited to advice the government on the data science, Carole Caldwalladr reminds us.
Marc Warner previously co-authored a paper by Oxford’s Big Data Institute backing the concept.
We should point out that the Scott Trust, the ultimate owner of the Guardian, is the sole investor in GMG Ventures, which is a minority shareholder in Faculty.
People around the UK have come up with inventive ways to take part in the 2.6 Challenge, which involves any activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26, to fundraise or donate to their chosen charity via twopointsixchallenge.co.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to clarify the advice it published on Saturday about so-called “immunity passports”, which could be issued to people who have recovered from Covid-19 on the assumption that they would be immune to reinfection.
The WHO alarmed some in the scientific community when it said, in a briefing note published on Saturday, that “there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection”.
Late last night, the Geneva-based body walked back its statement, saying: “We expect that most people who are infected with #COVID19 will develop an antibody response that will provide some level of protection.”
Our global coronavirus blog has more:
The involvement of the prime minister’s chief political adviser, Dominic Cummings, in meetings of the scientific group advising the UK government’s response to the coronavirus has left other attendees shocked, concerned and worried for the impartiality of advice, the Guardian can reveal.
One attendee of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said they felt Cummings’s interventions had sometimes inappropriately influenced what is supposed to be an impartial scientific process.
A second Sage attendee said they were shocked when Cummings first began participating in Sage discussions, in February, because they believed the group should be providing “unadulterated scientific data” without any political input.
The environment secretary, George Eustice, has been lined up to lead today’s Downing Street briefing.
He is expected to be joined by Steven Powis, the medical director of the NHS.
Key advisers on the on the government’s scientific advisory group have cautioned against too much focus on antibody tests, amid reports that ministers have ordered up to 50m of them.
Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust and a member, said such test would be very useful, but a “distraction” until reliable tests can be found.
And a new paper by Imperial College London, co-authored by Sage member Prof Neil Ferguson warns that these tests are only 90% reliable or less on rapid diagnostic tests.
It cautions against using antibody tests as the basis for immunity passports.
It says:
More than 1,250 British travellers in Bangladesh are to be brought back to the UK after the government chartered a further five repatriation flights amid the coronavirus pandemic, PA Media reports.
Flights from Dhaka to London will take place between 29 April and 7 May and bring the total number of flights from Bangladesh organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to nine.
One of the outbound planes will carry United Nations staff and medical professionals deploying to support the Covid-19 response in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Once completed, the government will have brought back more than 2,100 British travellers from the country in total.
Due to the number of people already registered for a flight via the CTM website, the majority of seats are likely to be allocated to people who are on waiting lists, the FCO added.
Foreign Office minister of state Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said:
Our teams in Bangladesh and the UK continue to work around the clock to support British nationals during this difficult time and get them home safely.
More than 13,200 people have returned to the UK on FCO-chartered flights from 18 different countries or territories. On Thursday, the FCO said more than 3,600 Britons stranded in India would be brought home on 14 flights starting on Tuesday, bringing the total number of repatriation flights from India up to 52.
More than 1,700 Britons have returned from South Africa and over 1,200 people have been flown back from Peru.