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UK coronavirus live news: Boris Johnson says too early to ease lockdown as second peak would be disaster
UK coronavirus live news: Boris Johnson says too early to ease lockdown as second peak would be disaster
(32 minutes later)
Deaths rise in England, Scotland and Wales; Sage experts to be named; prime minister said UK must avoid second peak of cases in first public statement since recovery
Deaths rise in England, Scotland and Wales; Sage experts to be named; prime minister said UK must avoid second peak of cases in first public statement since recovery
The country’s biggest betting firms will remove all TV and radio advertising for games and products during the Covid-19 lockdown, amid concern over problem gamblers.
Industry body, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), said firms have voluntarily agreed to remove all their gaming product advertising for at least six weeks.
It comes a week after the Government wrote to gambling firms asking them to provide regular updates on how they are tackling problem gambling during the lockdown. It also follows a survey revealing that people who gamble regularly online are doing so just as often or more frequently during the lockdown, despite the lack of sporting fixtures.
The BGC said existing TV and radio advertising slots will be replaced by safer gambling messages, donated to charities or removed from broadcast where contracts allow. BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said:
Prompted partly by Boris Johnson’s speech outside Downing Street this morning, Tom McTague has written a powerful and thoughtful article for the Atlantic about the extent to which Johnson’s optimism is an advantage or a disadvantage.
Here is an extract, but it is worth reading the whole thing.
People undergoing fertility treatment will be able to freeze embryos, eggs and sperm for an extra two years so that they are not unfairly caught out by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Current storage limits are set at 10 years, at which point people must decide if they want to undergo fertility treatment, or have their frozen eggs, sperm and embryos destroyed.
But ministers do not want patients to be “unfairly caught out” after procedures were paused earlier this month due to Covid-19. The time limits will be extended to give time for treatments to resume, the Department of Health said. Health minister Lord Bethell said:
It comes as the Guardian today reports on women whose IVF treatments have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to research by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UCL London and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, published today, the peak for coronavirus hospital deaths in England was probably passed on 8 April. Here is an extract from the news release.
Prof David Leon from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who led the research, said:
At her news conference Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said that “in the coming days” she would be saying more about the different options for relaxing the lockdown, and “how we’re going about assessing those”.
At her news conference Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said that “in the coming days” she would be saying more about the different options for relaxing the lockdown, and “how we’re going about assessing those”.
The Scottish government has already published a document (pdf) explaining in outline what principles it will apply as it moves to ease social distancing, and Sturgeon’s comment will be seen as putting pressure on London to match her level of policy candour.
The Scottish government has already published a document (pdf) explaining in outline what principles it will apply as it moves to ease physical distancing, and Sturgeon’s comment will be seen as putting pressure on London to match her level of policy candour.
NHS England has reported an extra 329 coronavirus hospital deaths in England, taking the total to 18,749.
NHS England has reported an extra 329 coronavirus hospital deaths, taking the total to 18,749.
It says that patients were aged between 29 and 100 years old and that 22 of the 329 patients (aged between 29 and 89 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
It says that patients were aged between 29 and 100 years old and that 22 of the 329 patients (aged between 29 and 89 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
The full set of data for today is available here (pdf).
The full set of data for today is available here (pdf).
The 329 figure is much lower than other recent daily figures have been. The equivalent daily figure announced on Saturday was 711. This will partly be explained by the weekend, because the number of deaths reported on Saturdays and Sundays always tends to be lower than during the week, because of staffing levels.
The 329 figure is much lower than other recent daily figures have been. The equivalent daily figure announced on Saturday was 711. This will partly be explained by the weekend, because the number of deaths reported on Saturdays and Sundays always tends to be lower than during the week, because of staffing levels.
There have been another eight coronavirus deaths in Wales, where the total is now 796, according to the latest figures from Public Health Wales.
There have been another eight coronavirus deaths in Wales, where the total is now 796, according to the latest figures from Public Health Wales.
A total of 1,262 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 13 from 1,249 on Sunday, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, announced at her news conference earlier.
A total of 1,262 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 13 from 1,249 on Sunday, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, announced at her news conference earlier.
She said 10,521 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 197 from 10,324 the day before.
She said 10,521 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 197 from 10,324 the day before.
There are 134 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of one on Sunday, she added.
There are 134 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of one on Sunday, she added.
The latest daily figures from Scotland are here.
The latest daily figures from Scotland are here.
They are fortunate to have survived where others have tragically fallen victim to Covid-19. Now patients who have recovered from the disease are giving back by donating their blood plasma in a bid to help treat others infected with the virus.
They are fortunate to have survived where others have tragically fallen victim to Covid-19. Now patients who have recovered from the disease are giving back by donating their blood plasma in a bid to help treat others infected with the virus.
Around 6,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus have signed up to donate their blood plasma, including more than 500 people who were admitted to hospital.
Around 6,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus have signed up to donate their blood plasma, including more than 500 people who were admitted to hospital.
The plasma from former patients – rich in the antibodies that develop as somebody recovers from an illness – will be transfused into people who are seriously ill with Covid-19 and struggling to develop their own antibodies.
The plasma from former patients – rich in the antibodies that develop as somebody recovers from an illness – will be transfused into people who are seriously ill with Covid-19 and struggling to develop their own antibodies.
Photos issued by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) show former patients giving their blood plasma at Tooting Blood Donor Centre, London, in a process known as plasmapheresis, which uses a machine similar to that used in regular blood platelet donation.
Photos issued by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) show former patients giving their blood plasma at Tooting Blood Donor Centre, London, in a process known as plasmapheresis, which uses a machine similar to that used in regular blood platelet donation.
The number of antibodies rises steadily in the bloodstream of those who have been ill and is thought to peak between 21 and 28 days after recovery. Donors must have tested positive for the illness either at home or in hospital, but should now be three to four weeks into their recovery, ideally 29 days.
The number of antibodies rises steadily in the bloodstream of those who have been ill and is thought to peak between 21 and 28 days after recovery. Donors must have tested positive for the illness either at home or in hospital, but should now be three to four weeks into their recovery, ideally 29 days.
A donation session takes around 45 minutes to give two units of plasma, and can be repeated as regularly as every fortnight.
A donation session takes around 45 minutes to give two units of plasma, and can be repeated as regularly as every fortnight.
More from an earlier post, as my colleague Denis Campbell reports that children are falling ill with a new and potentially fatal combination of symptoms apparently linked to Covid-19, including a sore stomach and heart problems.
More from an earlier post, as my colleague Denis Campbell reports that children are falling ill with a new and potentially fatal combination of symptoms apparently linked to Covid-19, including a sore stomach and heart problems.
The children affected appear to have been struck by a form of toxic shock syndrome, he reports. Some have been left so seriously unwell that they have had to be treated in intensive care. At least one has undergone extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, which is used when someone’s life is at risk because they can no longer breathe for themselves.
The children affected appear to have been struck by a form of toxic shock syndrome, he reports. Some have been left so seriously unwell that they have had to be treated in intensive care. At least one has undergone extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, which is used when someone’s life is at risk because they can no longer breathe for themselves.
In a letter to GPs in north London, reported by Health Service Journal, NHS bosses said:
In a letter to GPs in north London, reported by Health Service Journal, NHS bosses said:
You can read the story here.
You can read the story here.
More from the news earlier that the names of some of the experts on the scientific group advising the UK government’s response to the coronavirus crisis will be published, as Downing Street confirms it will happen “in the coming days”.
“It’s right that only the names of those who wish to disclose their participation will be published,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) advice documents and evidence are expected to be published some time this week, he added.
It comes after the Guardian revealed the involvement of the prime minister’s chief political adviser, Dominic Cummings, in meetings of Sage. Cummings’ attendance and participation in the group’s meetings raised questions about the independence of its scientific advice.
There was also an interesting line on Brexit at the No 10 lobby briefing.
Downing Street said there would have to be “political movement on the EU side” for the talks with the EU on a post-Brexit trade deal to succeed. The prime minister’s spokesman was responding to Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, claiming last week that the UK was running down the clock in the negotiations. The spokesman said the government did not accept this. He went on:
Good news for fans of vegan sausage rolls, as Greggs becomes the latest highstreet retailer to announce plans to reopen stores during the lockdown.
The bakery chain is due to reopen a small number of stores for takeaway and delivery after shutting all its sites due to the pandemic.
It comes after firms such as B&Q have reopened their doors to shoppers, while John Lewis has said it hopes to reopen all its shops next month.
Rival chains, including Burger King, Pret a Manger and KFC, have already reopened a small number of sites for takeaway and delivery. It is understood that Leon is due to reopen six of its restaurants for delivery and click-and-collect, in addition to the 16 it has kept open to sell groceries.
The boss of the bakery chain has told staff it plans to open 20 stores in the Newcastle area from Monday 4 May as part of a “controlled trial”.
Roger Whiteside, the chief executive, said he hoped the trial would inform the business about what changes needed to be made to operate safely and meet physical distancing guidelines. He said he believed the trial, which will involve a limited product range and shorter trading hours, would take at least two weeks.
In a letter to staff, Whiteside said he hoped to open around 700 stores, including 150 franchise shops, with new operational measures in place from 8 June. He said:
The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. Here are the main coronavirus-related points.
The prime minister’s spokesman said that the government would not be able to say on Thursday whether or not it had met the target of reaching 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month. Thursday is the last day of April. But the spokesman said that it took a while to get information about how many tests were carried out on a particular day. He said:
He said that even on Friday it might not be “difficult” to say whether the target had been hit. He said it took 72 hours for the results of home testing kits to be delivered, “and therefore show up in the numbers”.
The spokesman said that government now has the capacity to carry out 53,000 tests per day. The most recent daily figures show more than 29,000 tests being carried out.
The spokesman said that more than 40 drive-through testing centres are now open. He said there would be 48 by the end of the month, as well as 96 mobile testing sites by early May.
Boris Johnson is due to speak to Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, this week about the coronavirus crisis, the spokesman said. The spokesman said that this would follow Johnson’s declaration this morning that he wanted to work with the opposition parties on policies around relaxing the lockdown. (See 11.04am.) Johnson is also planning to speak to all opposition parties next week, the spokesman said.
The spokesman confirmed that members of Sage, the scientific advisory group for emergencies, who are happy to be named as members of the committee, will soon have their names disclosed. Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, also revealed this at a separate briefing this morning. (See 12.08pm.)
The spokesman said that another tranche of evidence from Sage submitted to the government about coronavirus would be published this week.
The spokesman refused to say whether Johnson anticipated the fight against coronavirus entering a third phase after the “second phase” mentioned by the PM in his speech this morning. (See 11.04am.) Asked how many phases there would be, the spokesman said he was “not in a position to answer that question”.
The spokesman was unable to cite any evidence to justify a claim from Dominic Raab in an interview yesterday saying that deaths in care homes were going down.
The spokesman said Johnson was back at work “full time” now. Asked if that is what his doctors advised, the spokesman said he had been following their advice throughout.
But the spokesman was unable to confirm that Johnson would be doing PMQs on Wednesday. But he said Johnson would be chairing cabinet this week, on Thursday.
The spokesman said the government would not be involved in choosing the daily question submitted from a member of the public to be taken at the regular press conference. (See 11.30am.) A polling company (YouGov) will choose the questions.
Matt Hancock will hold today’s daily press conference, the spokesman said. He will be with Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Prof John Newton from Public Health England, who is described by No 10 as the government’s “testing tsar”.
The spokesman said that the Department for Health and Social Care would be issuing statement later in response to a report from Health Service Journal saying doctors are concerned about a small number of children affected by a coronavirus-related syndrome. Here is the report.
The British Hollywood actor Riz Ahmed has revealed he has lost two family members to Covid-19, as he warns about the impact of the pandemic on minorities across the world.
The actor and rapper, who said the outbreak is “reflecting and revealing the faultlines in our society”, added that he hopes the surge of appreciation for the NHS draws attention to prejudice against the people from ethnic minorities who keep it running.
“I’m seeing reports of India, where the government are calling it ‘corona-jihad’ and they’re trying to blame it on the spread of Muslims and they are segregating hospitals between Muslims and non-Muslims,” he told GQ Hype.
“Trump is using it as an excuse to try to ban immigration and the Hungarian government is centralising power off the back of this.
“I’m looking at the fact it’s hitting African-Americans twice as hard; I’m looking at the fact that 50% of NHS frontline workers – is it 50%? – are ethnic minorities.”
Referring to the viral video of Clap For Me Now – which features UK residents and people of foreign heritage reciting an anti-racist poem - he compared it to his latest album, in which he symbolically broke up with Britain. He said:
He added: “I have lost two family members to Covid. I just want to believe their deaths and all the others aren’t for nothing. We gotta step up to re-imagine a better future.”
He likened the pandemic to an alien invasion. “It’s bringing humanity together against the common enemy. So there is this potential for this momentous, unique-in-the-history-of-our-species moment, of us all going through this crazy challenge together and only being able to get through this together.
“And yet, in the midst of that, insofar as any crisis is a mirror, reflecting your priorities and patterns, this crisis is reflecting and revealing the faultlines in our society, the broken records that are stuck in our head, the f***eries and the power plays that are still dominating how we are running our planet, the rising intolerance.”
A new NHS Nightingale hospital is to officially open in Bristol today, providing up to 300 intensive care beds for coronavirus patients.
The facility, based at the University of the West of England’s Frenchay campus, is one of seven Nightingale hospitals to be set up around the country.
The opening comes amid criticism that the flagship 4,000-bed Nightingale hospital in east London is well under capacity and is becoming a “white elephant”. The Guardian revealed last week that dozens of patients with Covid-19 had been turned away from the new hospital because it had too few nurses to treat them. Until a week ago it had treated just 41 patients.
The new Bristol hospital will be opened by the Earl of Wessex, who will be joined by the health secretary, Matt Hancock, and Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, via video link.
Run by North Bristol NHS trust, the hospital will provide 300 fully ventilated beds if local services require them. This is six times the intensive care capacity of a large hospital in the south-west.
Tomorrow, London’s Nightingale hospital will hold a minute’s silence at 11am for health and other key workers who have died from Covid-19.
Councils are facing a funding shortfall of up to £9.6bn as a result of the coronavirus crisis and some are considering axing services, town hall leaders have told MPs on the Commons housing and communities select committee.
Additional spending, particularly on social care, and reductions in increasingly important commercial incomes mean they may need a central government bailout four times higher than the £3.2bn already announced by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, according to Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA).
The assessment of the shortfall is derived from a survey of councils carried out in April by the government, to which 98% of councils responded. Many councils rely on commercial investments. Luton borough council relies on a multi-million pound income from its shareholding in Luton airport to shore up the finances. Incomes from these have been hit hard by the lockdown. “We need the cast iron guarantee that we will be funded to the amount we are delivering to our communities,” Jamieson said.
The LGA told MPs that some councils were actively considering issuing section 114 notices to freeze some spending and limit council expenditure to essential services only, but said that none of these had been triggered yet.
In response to Boris Johnson’s speech, Sir Ed Davey, the acting Liberal Democrat leader, said:
Barristers in England and Wales have gone from working on average 50 hours a week to only 18 hours now, a survey has found, with more than half of self-employed counsel reporting they will not be able to survive financially if the lockdown lasts six months.
The snapshot of legal opinion comes as the courts enter their second month of closure with only a few urgent hearings continuing and a small number of online cases being dealt with through remote video sessions.The survey by the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, reveals that Covid-19 is having a devastating effect on the profession’s sustainability due to the abrupt drop-off in hearings and other legal work. The research also showed that the financial impact of Covid-19 is greater on barristers from BAME or state school backgrounds. The survey found that:
65% of self-employed barristers who responded had had a reduction in work: the typical barrister has gone from working more than 50 hours a week to working fewer than 18 hours a week.
53% of self-employed barristers cannot survive six months and 74% cannot survive a year.
31% of criminal barristers will not be able to continue to practise within three months; 69% will not last six months and 88% will no longer be practising within a year.
83% of young barristers (those in the first seven years of practice) cannot survive a year.
7% think access to justice is currently acceptable; 77% of self-employed barristers say people are now unable to properly access justice.
Amanda Pinto QC, the chair of the Bar Council, said:
The names of some of the experts on the scientific group advising the UK government’s response to the coronavirus crisis will be published shortly, the government’s chief scientific adviser has said.
It comes after the Guardian revealed the involvement of the prime minister’s chief political adviser, Dominic Cummings, in meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). Cummings’ attendance and participation in the group’s meetings raised questions about the independence of its scientific advice.
After mounting pressure on Downing Street to disclose more details about the group – whose membership and advice the government has kept secret – Sir Patrick Vallance told a briefing for science journalists that the identities of the experts are usually revealed after the emergency is over, and that had also been the advice for the coronavirus crisis.
“But I believe that we should be more prepared to publish names sooner, and intend to do so shortly,” he said. “So we will be publishing names of those that are happy to have their names published.”
The group would also release a list of the documents, and eventually the documents themselves, that have fed into Sage meetings, he added.
The Guardian also revealed that Ben Warner, who worked with Cummings on the Vote Leave campaign for Brexit, had attended Sage meetings. Downing Street insists there is nothing untoward about the pair’s attendance at Sage meetings, saying they are largely taking part as silent observers.
However, one attendee of Sage told the Guardian they felt Cummings’ interventions had sometimes inappropriately influenced what is supposed to be an impartial scientific process. A second 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.
