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Coronavirus UK live: vaccine 'not likely to come to fruition this year', says Raab Coronavirus UK live: vaccine 'not likely to come to fruition this year', says Raab
(32 minutes later)
Foreign secretary says speculating on how to ease lockdown is not responsible; home testing kits for key workers run out within hours for third day; Boris Johnson to return to work on MondayForeign secretary says speculating on how to ease lockdown is not responsible; home testing kits for key workers run out within hours for third day; Boris Johnson to return to work on Monday
Dominic Raab has said the government has no plans to publish the list of participants in the Sage committee of scientific experts, after the Guardian revealed that key meetings have been attended by Dominic Cummings.
“We don’t release as a matter of practice the names of all the members of Sage because the risk of them being subject to pressure, undue influence,” the first minister and foreign secretary said on Sunday.
He rejected the idea there had been a “lack of transparency” from the government over the group’s work.
“We’ve had the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, along with politicians like me standing up on a daily basis answering the questions, setting out their advice and making sure that we communicate as clearly as possible to the public what that advice is,” he said.
Some senior Conservatives, including the former cabinet minister David Davis, have joined calls for more information to be published about the committee’s deliberations.
Civil liberty campaigners are concerned that the public could be “coerced” into sharing data about their movements through a new coronavirus contract tracing app being developed by the government.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, says the app, which will be available within weeks, is “crucial for holding down the rate and the level of transmission” of Covid-19.
But the campaign group Liberty is worried that signing up to the phone app could become a compulsory condition for returning to work and being allowed out of lockdown when conditions are eased.
Such a condition would amount to coercion, Liberty claims. The warning came as the academic developing the app admitted that 60% of population would need to sign up to the app to make it effective.
Clare Collier, advocacy director at Liberty, said: “By presenting surveillance tools as a solution to lockdown, the government is drawing on the willingness we have all shown to make sacrifices in the face of this crisis while refusing to show it is taking seriously the enormous risks presented by invasive technology.
She added: “Contact-tracing technology may require us to sacrifice deeply sensitive personal information and there can be no question of state bodies or private companies sharing our personal data other than what is absolutely necessary. It is vital no-one is coerced into having the app installed, and using it as a condition for returning to work or everyday life will inevitably lead to discrimination.
“The opportunities presented by technology should be fully investigated, but seeking quick solutions in surveillance tools that rely on our personal data creates serious long-term threats to our rights and ways of life. The government needs to focus on providing a public health response that ensures we come through this crisis with our rights intact.”
Prof Christophe Fraser of the University of Oxford, who is leading a team developing the app, said that it would a require a very high take-up to be effective.
“For this intervention alone to stop a resurgence of the epidemic, about 60% of the population would have to use the app,” he told the BBC.
He added: “The app is going to be one of the building blocks of how to get out of the epidemic. For every one to two users who download the app, and who adhere to the instructions, you will prevent one infection.”
He explained if you become infected the app will send warning messages to anyone you have who has come within Bluetooth range of your phone. He said: “You’ll either get a message which says you’ve been in contact with a suspect case of Covid-19. Or you may later get a message and you’ve been a contact of a confirmed case. At that point, we would recommend quarantine of 14 days after the contact has taken place.”
He added: “When you install the app, this is an opt in system so it will work in the background. Your phone builds up a memory of the sort of anonymous IDs of the other phones you come into contact with. It needs to be a contact long enough that there’s a risk of transmission.”
Asked about privacy concerns he said: “The NHS records patient data already and we trust the NHS to look after private data. This is being developed with a minimal amount of data – enough to make it work. It’s a public health intervention with data collected within a health system.”
For the third day running since becoming available online, coronavirus home testing kits for key workers have been booked up within hours.For the third day running since becoming available online, coronavirus home testing kits for key workers have been booked up within hours.
More than 10 million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid-19 tests as officials race to hit their 100,000-a-day testing target by next Thursday.More than 10 million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid-19 tests as officials race to hit their 100,000-a-day testing target by next Thursday.
By 10am home testing kits for England were listed as “unavailable” on the government’s website - two hours after booking slots reopened. But it is still possible to book tests at drive-through centres in England and Scotland.By 10am home testing kits for England were listed as “unavailable” on the government’s website - two hours after booking slots reopened. But it is still possible to book tests at drive-through centres in England and Scotland.
UK universities are incapable of shifting their degrees online by the new academic year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, leading online education experts have warned.UK universities are incapable of shifting their degrees online by the new academic year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, leading online education experts have warned.
Simon Nelson, THE chief executive of FutureLearn, the Open University’s profit-making online learning platform, said there was insufficient time for UK universities to redesign and deliver undergraduate degrees online by September.Simon Nelson, THE chief executive of FutureLearn, the Open University’s profit-making online learning platform, said there was insufficient time for UK universities to redesign and deliver undergraduate degrees online by September.
His comments came as the former vice-chancellor of Edinburgh University, Sir Prof Tim O’Shea, warned that the UK higher education sector would need to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to provide just a handful of online courses next year, with most universities unprepared to deliver this.Nelson said:His comments came as the former vice-chancellor of Edinburgh University, Sir Prof Tim O’Shea, warned that the UK higher education sector would need to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to provide just a handful of online courses next year, with most universities unprepared to deliver this.Nelson said:
Neil Mosley, digital learning designer at Cardiff University, warned that very few universities already run undergraduate courses online because they are so complex, with students able to choose from many different modules. He added:Neil Mosley, digital learning designer at Cardiff University, warned that very few universities already run undergraduate courses online because they are so complex, with students able to choose from many different modules. He added:
Stress from coping with Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a generation of “burnt-out” nurses who will leave the profession when the crisis is over, according to healthcare experts, PA Media reports.Stress from coping with Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a generation of “burnt-out” nurses who will leave the profession when the crisis is over, according to healthcare experts, PA Media reports.
Researchers from the universities of Southampton and Surrey have developed guidance to help support the psychological and mental health needs of nursing staff in a bid to help them deal with the emotional and physical intensity of their work.Researchers from the universities of Southampton and Surrey have developed guidance to help support the psychological and mental health needs of nursing staff in a bid to help them deal with the emotional and physical intensity of their work.
Jill Maben, professor of health services research and nursing at the University of Surrey, said:Jill Maben, professor of health services research and nursing at the University of Surrey, said:
The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, highlights that prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, nurses were already under “considerable stress” because of understaffing, with 44,000 registered nurse vacancies in the UK.The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, highlights that prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, nurses were already under “considerable stress” because of understaffing, with 44,000 registered nurse vacancies in the UK.
The guidance identifies physiological and safety needs for nurses from the importance of ensuring they have enough food, drink, rest and recovery as well as protection from infection through to managers ensuring they are “highly visible and approachable”.The guidance identifies physiological and safety needs for nurses from the importance of ensuring they have enough food, drink, rest and recovery as well as protection from infection through to managers ensuring they are “highly visible and approachable”.
Jackie Bridges, professor of older people’s care at the University of Southampton, said:Jackie Bridges, professor of older people’s care at the University of Southampton, said:
Asked about high deaths rates in Gloucestershire following the Cheltenham racing festival, Raab insisted that the government followed the science on when it introduced the lockdown.Asked about high deaths rates in Gloucestershire following the Cheltenham racing festival, Raab insisted that the government followed the science on when it introduced the lockdown.
Asked about that Mail on Sunday report that millions of antibody tests had been ordered, Raab said he was not sure if they had been ordered, but he confirmed again that the government is looking at this.Asked about that Mail on Sunday report that millions of antibody tests had been ordered, Raab said he was not sure if they had been ordered, but he confirmed again that the government is looking at this.
He cautioned that it was unclear if antibody tests were reliable.He cautioned that it was unclear if antibody tests were reliable.
On the lockdown, Raab warned that it would not be a binary choice about lifting the restrictions. He said the public will have to adjust to a “new normal”, and that social distancing measures “are going to be with us for some time” to prevent a second spike in infections.On the lockdown, Raab warned that it would not be a binary choice about lifting the restrictions. He said the public will have to adjust to a “new normal”, and that social distancing measures “are going to be with us for some time” to prevent a second spike in infections.
Raab added: “We do need to make sure that the are next step is a sure-footed one.”Raab added: “We do need to make sure that the are next step is a sure-footed one.”
Raab would not be drawn on when schools could open again. But he said it would be “inconceivable” that schools will go back without some form of social distancing.Raab would not be drawn on when schools could open again. But he said it would be “inconceivable” that schools will go back without some form of social distancing.
Asked if sporting activity would resume this summer, Raab warned it would be “very difficult”. But he said professional sport “may be different” amid reports that the government has been in discussion with the Premier League about playing football matches behind closed doors.Asked if sporting activity would resume this summer, Raab warned it would be “very difficult”. But he said professional sport “may be different” amid reports that the government has been in discussion with the Premier League about playing football matches behind closed doors.
Dominic Raab has described passing the milestone of 20,000 coronavirus deaths in the UK as “heartbreaking”. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the foreign secretary said the figure would have been higher if the government had not introduced the lockdown.Dominic Raab has described passing the milestone of 20,000 coronavirus deaths in the UK as “heartbreaking”. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the foreign secretary said the figure would have been higher if the government had not introduced the lockdown.
On frontline NHS workers reusing protective equipment, Raab said guidance to the NHS was responsible. But he admitted the supply of PPE has been a “challenge”. He repeated that the government is “doing everything we can on that front”.On frontline NHS workers reusing protective equipment, Raab said guidance to the NHS was responsible. But he admitted the supply of PPE has been a “challenge”. He repeated that the government is “doing everything we can on that front”.
Asked about companies who say their offers of medical equipment had been declined, Raab said the government had to ensure that PPE was safe.Asked about companies who say their offers of medical equipment had been declined, Raab said the government had to ensure that PPE was safe.
But he admitted: “We are not in a place we want to be on PPE.”But he admitted: “We are not in a place we want to be on PPE.”
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said if lockdown measures are relaxed, mass testing will be needed at a community level that people can easily access.Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said if lockdown measures are relaxed, mass testing will be needed at a community level that people can easily access.
Asked on the Andrew Marr Show whether 100,000 tests a day is enough, Reeves said:Asked on the Andrew Marr Show whether 100,000 tests a day is enough, Reeves said:
She also urged the government “to count the number of deaths in care homes in the same way that they are counted in hospitals on a daily basis” and to ensure that those on the front line are properly protected.She also urged the government “to count the number of deaths in care homes in the same way that they are counted in hospitals on a daily basis” and to ensure that those on the front line are properly protected.
Scotland should “look seriously at social and economic reform” in its planning for recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Nicola Sturgeon has said, PA Media reports.Scotland should “look seriously at social and economic reform” in its planning for recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Nicola Sturgeon has said, PA Media reports.
The first minister said the virus has fundamentally changed everyday life but has given an opportunity to shape a different kind of future.The first minister said the virus has fundamentally changed everyday life but has given an opportunity to shape a different kind of future.
Stressing that lockdown measures are vital to suppress the spread of coronavirus, and could continue in their current form beyond this three-week period, she called on people to work together to develop ways Scotland can emerge stronger from the crisis.Stressing that lockdown measures are vital to suppress the spread of coronavirus, and could continue in their current form beyond this three-week period, she called on people to work together to develop ways Scotland can emerge stronger from the crisis.
Writing in the Herald on Sunday, she said:Writing in the Herald on Sunday, she said:
Earlier this week, as the Scottish government published a paper setting out a framework for how lockdown measures could be eased in the future, Sturgeon warned people must adapt to a new reality and said some restrictions to prevent spread could be in place until the end of the year or beyond.Earlier this week, as the Scottish government published a paper setting out a framework for how lockdown measures could be eased in the future, Sturgeon warned people must adapt to a new reality and said some restrictions to prevent spread could be in place until the end of the year or beyond.
Raab confirmed that Boris Johnson will start work full-time on Monday. He is “raring to go” and in “good spirits”, Raab said of the prime minister.Raab confirmed that Boris Johnson will start work full-time on Monday. He is “raring to go” and in “good spirits”, Raab said of the prime minister.
The foreign secretary, who has been deputising for the PM, said the last week three-weeks had been a “challenge” but it has been a team effort.The foreign secretary, who has been deputising for the PM, said the last week three-weeks had been a “challenge” but it has been a team effort.
He also warned that a coronavirus vaccine is unlikely to become available this year.He also warned that a coronavirus vaccine is unlikely to become available this year.
Raab confirmed the government was “looking at” ordering millions of antibody tests. But he stopped short of confirming a report in the Mail on Sunday that the order had been placed.Raab confirmed the government was “looking at” ordering millions of antibody tests. But he stopped short of confirming a report in the Mail on Sunday that the order had been placed.
On antigen tests, Raab claimed the government was “on track” to meet its target of 100,000 tests for Covid-19 by Thursday. He predicted there would be a “surge” of tests in the coming days.On antigen tests, Raab claimed the government was “on track” to meet its target of 100,000 tests for Covid-19 by Thursday. He predicted there would be a “surge” of tests in the coming days.
The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has insisted it would not be responsible to “speculate” on how to ease the lockdown.The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has insisted it would not be responsible to “speculate” on how to ease the lockdown.
Until we have evidence from scientists it would not be responsible, and it it would confuse the public, Raab told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday. He said setting out possibilities for how restrictions could be eased would send out “mixed messages” to the public.Until we have evidence from scientists it would not be responsible, and it it would confuse the public, Raab told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday. He said setting out possibilities for how restrictions could be eased would send out “mixed messages” to the public.
He pointed out that those pushing for an exit plan have not come forward with any “specific” measures.He pointed out that those pushing for an exit plan have not come forward with any “specific” measures.
Asked about publishing the advise and membership of Sage, Raab said some of its guidance was released. He also said that membership was kept secret to stop those on the committee being subjected to undue pressure and outside influence.Asked about publishing the advise and membership of Sage, Raab said some of its guidance was released. He also said that membership was kept secret to stop those on the committee being subjected to undue pressure and outside influence.
He also defended scientific and and medical advisers who said keeping the UK death toll below 20,000 would be a good outcome. “I don’t think you can blame the chief medical officers who were pressed repeatedly to try to put an estimate on how long it would take, how many people would pass away,” he said.He also defended scientific and and medical advisers who said keeping the UK death toll below 20,000 would be a good outcome. “I don’t think you can blame the chief medical officers who were pressed repeatedly to try to put an estimate on how long it would take, how many people would pass away,” he said.
Labour has called for an investigation into reports that call handlers at the privately run National Shielding Helpline have mocked and fobbed off callers during the coronavirus crisis.Labour has called for an investigation into reports that call handlers at the privately run National Shielding Helpline have mocked and fobbed off callers during the coronavirus crisis.
The shadow communities secretary, Steve Reed MP, said:The shadow communities secretary, Steve Reed MP, said:
Dominic Cummings observed, but did not get involved in decision-making on the government’s scientific group, Sage, according to Prof Neil Ferguson, a leading member of the panel.Dominic Cummings observed, but did not get involved in decision-making on the government’s scientific group, Sage, according to Prof Neil Ferguson, a leading member of the panel.
He said:He said:
Ferguson made the comments in an interview with Unherd’s Lockdown TV. His comments were followed up in the Sunday Times.Ferguson made the comments in an interview with Unherd’s Lockdown TV. His comments were followed up in the Sunday Times.
Downing Street admitted to the Guardian that Cummings and the former Vote Leave data specialist Ben Warner attended some Sage meetings.Downing Street admitted to the Guardian that Cummings and the former Vote Leave data specialist Ben Warner attended some Sage meetings.
A spokesman said: “Occasionally they ask questions or offer help when scientists mention problems in Whitehall.”A spokesman said: “Occasionally they ask questions or offer help when scientists mention problems in Whitehall.”
The shadow mental health minister, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who is working as a doctor during the crisis, criticised the government for entering the lockdown “too late”.The shadow mental health minister, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who is working as a doctor during the crisis, criticised the government for entering the lockdown “too late”.
Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, she said deaths could have been avoided if ministers had acted earlier.Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, she said deaths could have been avoided if ministers had acted earlier.
When it was pointed out that many countries in Europe had struggled with the pandemic, Allin-Khan said the UK should aspire to be the best.When it was pointed out that many countries in Europe had struggled with the pandemic, Allin-Khan said the UK should aspire to be the best.
She cited the example of Germany’s testing and tracing programme. Alllin-Khan pointed out that the deadline for 100,000 tests per day in the UK was set for three months after the start of the outbreak.She cited the example of Germany’s testing and tracing programme. Alllin-Khan pointed out that the deadline for 100,000 tests per day in the UK was set for three months after the start of the outbreak.
Allin-Khan also warned of the mental health impact of the crisis.Allin-Khan also warned of the mental health impact of the crisis.
Welcome to a Sunday edition of our coronavirus live blog.Welcome to a Sunday edition of our coronavirus live blog.
In a sign that Boris Johnson is on the mend, he has started flexing his classical education again. As the prime minister prepares to return to work on Monday, he is reported to have cited a saying by the Roman philosopher Cicero as a guiding approach to tackling the coronavirus crisis. “‘The health of the people should be the supreme law’,” Johnson told cabinet members during a three-hour meeting at Chequers, but he probably said it in Latin.In a sign that Boris Johnson is on the mend, he has started flexing his classical education again. As the prime minister prepares to return to work on Monday, he is reported to have cited a saying by the Roman philosopher Cicero as a guiding approach to tackling the coronavirus crisis. “‘The health of the people should be the supreme law’,” Johnson told cabinet members during a three-hour meeting at Chequers, but he probably said it in Latin.
It is also sign that Johnson appears to be in no hurry to ease the lockdown restrictions or set out a timetable for doing so, as opposition politicians and some in his own party are calling for.It is also sign that Johnson appears to be in no hurry to ease the lockdown restrictions or set out a timetable for doing so, as opposition politicians and some in his own party are calling for.
Johnson is also facing cross-party calls to stop his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, from attending meetings of the secret scientific group advising him on the pandemic, as demands grow for the committee’s deliberations to be made public.Johnson is also facing cross-party calls to stop his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, from attending meetings of the secret scientific group advising him on the pandemic, as demands grow for the committee’s deliberations to be made public.