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| UK coronavirus live: some non-Covid NHS treatments to restart, as 360 hospital deaths take toll to 21,092 | UK coronavirus live: some non-Covid NHS treatments to restart, as 360 hospital deaths take toll to 21,092 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Families of NHS staff who die from coronavirus to get £60,000; Johnson says lockdown cannot yet end as second peak would be disaster | Families of NHS staff who die from coronavirus to get £60,000; Johnson says lockdown cannot yet end as second peak would be disaster |
| Here’s a summary of some of the key events in another day of fast-moving developments in the UK as the coronavirus pandemic continues: | |
| Boris Johnson says it is too soon to ease the lockdown. Speaking outside Downing Street after spending time recuperating at Chequers, the prime minister said although he acknowledged the pressure to relax the rules, he highlighted that this was also a moment of “maximum risk”. He said: “This is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle [coronavirus] to the floor, and so it follows that this is the moment of opportunity. This is the moment when we can press home our advantage. It is also the moment of maximum risk, because I know that there will be many people looking now at our apparent success and beginning to wonder whether now is the time to go easy on those social distancing measures.” | |
| The NHS will restart some vital services, including cancer care, from tomorrow, health secretary Matt Hancock says, as he admitted the government has a “lot of work” to do to hit its 100,000 a day testing target. Some 29,058 tests had been carried out in England, Scotland and Wales in the 24 hours up to 9am on Saturday, according to the latest figures, suggesting the Government is way off its 100,000 a day target set for this Thursday. But Hancock claimed the government was “broadly where we expected to be” in terms of testing capacity but admitted there was a lot of work to do to hit the 100,000 a day goal. | |
| A further 360 people have died in UK hospitals in the last 24 hours after contracting Covid-19, representing a dip in the daily number of fatalities. It means that so far 21,092 people have died in UK hospitals to date after testing positive for the virus. The figure does not include those who have died in care homes so the true coronavirus death toll is likely to be significantly higher. The 360 daily death toll is down from 413 yesterday. | |
| The families of NHS and social care staff who die during their coronavirus work will get payments worth £60,000, health secretary Matt Hancock has announced. The government is looking at what can be done to help the families of other frontline workers who have died during the crisis, he says. So far, 82 NHS and 16 social care workers have died during the pandemic, he added. | |
| Firms will be able to get loans worth up to £50,000, chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced, as part of a ‘bounce back’ scheme for businesses with 100% government backing. Companies will be able to get loans worth up to 25% of turnover, with a maximum payment of £50,000, he told the Commons. The government will pay the interest for the first 12 months, he says. And the government will back them 100%. He describes them as “bounce back” loans, and he says people will be able to apply from Monday next week. There will be no forward-looking eligibility test, he says. | |
| 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. 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 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. | |
| Here’s a video snippet of the health secretary Matt Hancock’s earlier announcement that the families of NHS and social care staff who die during their coronavirus work will get payments worth £60,000. | |
| The government is looking at what can be done to help the families of other frontline workers who have died during the crisis, he says. So far, 82 NHS and 16 social care workers have died during the pandemic, he added. | |
| Here are the main points from the press conference. | |
| Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, said the coronavirus epidemic had “a very long way to run”. He also implied that further peaks were likely as social distancing measures start to ease. Asked about the likely overall death toll, he said: | |
| And later he said: | |
| Ministers insist their priority at the moment is to avoid a second peak. Whitty’s comment suggests the scientists think some sort of second peak is inevitable. | |
| Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said that he was “very worried” by reports of a small number of children needing treatment in intensive care for for a condition called “multi-system inflammatory state”. Whitty said it was “entirely plausible” that this was linked to coronavirus. (See 6pm.) | |
| Whitty was unable to reassure grandparents that they will be able to hug their grandchildren any time soon. He was responding to a question submitted by Lynne, a woman from Skipton, who was the first person to participate under a new initiative allowing a member of the public to submit a question every day. She asked: | |
| Whitty said this would depend on whether Lynne has a “significant medical problem in a way that means she has to be shielding and she’s an older person”. He went on: | |
| Hancock added: | |
| Hancock announced that the families of NHS and care staff who have died from coronavirus will receive payments of £60,000. He said 82 NHS workers and 16 social care staff had died so far. He went on: | |
| The scheme could be extended to other frontline workers, he said. | |
| Hancock said some NHS services which had been paused due to the coronavirus outbreak will be restored from tomorrow. | |
| He said the government would be able to run a contact tracing system with 100,000 coronavirus tests (the government’s target for the end of this week) being carried out a day. | |
| He said there were 3,190 spare critical care beds - adding “42% of oxygen-supported beds in the NHS now lie empty”. | |
| He did not rule out the government introducing quarantine for travellers arriving in Britain in the next phase of the crisis. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the government may put new arrivals in quarantine for 14 days. Asked about the proposal, Hancock did not deny it was an option. He said: | |
| More detail from the situation inside the country’s jails as my colleague Jamie Grierson reports that the latest Ministry of Justice figures show the increase in confirmed cases of Covid-19 among prisons in England and Wales is continuing to slow. | More detail from the situation inside the country’s jails as my colleague Jamie Grierson reports that the latest Ministry of Justice figures show the increase in confirmed cases of Covid-19 among prisons in England and Wales is continuing to slow. |
| As at 5pm on Sunday, 324 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 71 prisons, an increase of less than 1% in 24 hours. The number of prison staff confirmed to have the disease increased by 1% in the same period to 296 workers across 59 prisons. | |
| There have been 321 confirmed cases of coronavirus among prisoners and 293 among staff. There are 81,500 prisoners in England and Wales and about 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons. | There have been 321 confirmed cases of coronavirus among prisoners and 293 among staff. There are 81,500 prisoners in England and Wales and about 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons. |
| Five members of prison staff and 15 prisoners are known to have contracted Covid-19 and died. The justice secretary, Robert Buckland, struck an optimistic tone earlier on Monday as he told MPs “cases and deaths are much lower than originally predicted” in prisons with “positive signs” the approach was working, although he cautioned: “We are not out of the woods yet.” | Five members of prison staff and 15 prisoners are known to have contracted Covid-19 and died. The justice secretary, Robert Buckland, struck an optimistic tone earlier on Monday as he told MPs “cases and deaths are much lower than originally predicted” in prisons with “positive signs” the approach was working, although he cautioned: “We are not out of the woods yet.” |
| Opposition politicians in Gloucestershire have called for a public investigation into the decision to allow the Cheltenham racing festival and other sporting events to go ahead in March in the days immediately prior to the nationwide lockdown. | Opposition politicians in Gloucestershire have called for a public investigation into the decision to allow the Cheltenham racing festival and other sporting events to go ahead in March in the days immediately prior to the nationwide lockdown. |
| Data about the higher number of cases in the county compared with other parts of the south-west has led to growing questions as to whether the four-day event attended by 125,000 people could have led to a spike in the numbers who caught the disease and even died. | |
| Paul Hodgkinson, the Lib Dem opposition leader on the county council, highlighted “emerging evidence” picked up by the Somerset County gazette, which show a marked uplift in cases in Gloucestershire from March 31, a little over two weeks after the festival ended on March 13. | |
| He said that the Lib Dems in Cheltenham “are subsequently calling for a public investigation into whether Government encouragement to proceed with sporting fixtures and mass-gatherings, at a time when other countries were struggling to contain Covid-19, increased the spread of infections throughout the UK and put the health of Cheltenham residents and visitors at risk”. | He said that the Lib Dems in Cheltenham “are subsequently calling for a public investigation into whether Government encouragement to proceed with sporting fixtures and mass-gatherings, at a time when other countries were struggling to contain Covid-19, increased the spread of infections throughout the UK and put the health of Cheltenham residents and visitors at risk”. |
| Last week the Guardian reported that public health experts said there should be an inquiry into whether Cheltenham led to a spike in coronavirus cases after mortality data showed that more people had died in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trusts (148) than nearby two trusts in Bristol (75 and 70) plus those in Swindon (79) and Bath (50). But local public health officials have been reluctant to make any connection with the festival, arguing that Gloucestershire is a separate case from the rest of the south west, with one nearby trust, Worcestershire Acute hospitals, registering 178 deaths. They say that “a number of factors” are behind Gloucestershire’s case number. | |
| Just 33 prisoners have so far been freed from jail early as part of efforts to stem the spread of Covid-19, despite plans to release thousands. | |
| The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) pledged earlier this month to release up to 4,000 low-risk prisoners on temporary licence to ease overcrowding, as well as pregnant inmates and mothers with babies, but it has managed only a tiny fraction of that number. | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) pledged earlier this month to release up to 4,000 low-risk prisoners on temporary licence to ease overcrowding, as well as pregnant inmates and mothers with babies, but it has managed only a tiny fraction of that number. |
| It comes as there are now confirmed cases in more than half of jails in England and Wales. A total of 321 inmates are confirmed to have contracted coronavirus as of 5pm on Saturday, and 15 have died, the justice secretary has confirmed. As many as 293 prison staff have also tested positive for Covid-19 in 53 jails and five have died. | It comes as there are now confirmed cases in more than half of jails in England and Wales. A total of 321 inmates are confirmed to have contracted coronavirus as of 5pm on Saturday, and 15 have died, the justice secretary has confirmed. As many as 293 prison staff have also tested positive for Covid-19 in 53 jails and five have died. |
| All offenders must pass a risk assessment before their release is approved. But plans to release a “significant number” over the last week had to be put on hold after six inmates were released by mistake due to an “administrative error” before being returned to prison, the MoJ said. | All offenders must pass a risk assessment before their release is approved. But plans to release a “significant number” over the last week had to be put on hold after six inmates were released by mistake due to an “administrative error” before being returned to prison, the MoJ said. |
| Answering questions in the House of Commons on Monday, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: “Progress has, I admit, been careful and slow, but we have reached a position now where, also taking into account the release of pregnant women, a total of 33 prisoners have been released. | Answering questions in the House of Commons on Monday, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: “Progress has, I admit, been careful and slow, but we have reached a position now where, also taking into account the release of pregnant women, a total of 33 prisoners have been released. |
| In another plan, low-risk offenders could be moved into temporary prison cells in the grounds of seven jails so fewer are sharing. Prison charities have launched legal action against the Justice Secretary, claiming measures taken so far to address coronavirus behind bars are “unlawful” because they will have a “manifestly insufficient impact”. They have called for a judicial review if urgent action is not taken to address their concerns. | In another plan, low-risk offenders could be moved into temporary prison cells in the grounds of seven jails so fewer are sharing. Prison charities have launched legal action against the Justice Secretary, claiming measures taken so far to address coronavirus behind bars are “unlawful” because they will have a “manifestly insufficient impact”. They have called for a judicial review if urgent action is not taken to address their concerns. |
| Bad news for music fans as it has been announced, perhaps inevitably, that the annual Latitude Festival has been cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. | Bad news for music fans as it has been announced, perhaps inevitably, that the annual Latitude Festival has been cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| The popular music and arts festival, which was due to take place in Suffolk in mid-July with headliners including Liam Gallagher, the Chemical Brothers and Haim, will offer refunds via ticketing partners or let people retain their tickets for next year. Confirming the cancellation, organisers said in a statement on Twitter: | The popular music and arts festival, which was due to take place in Suffolk in mid-July with headliners including Liam Gallagher, the Chemical Brothers and Haim, will offer refunds via ticketing partners or let people retain their tickets for next year. Confirming the cancellation, organisers said in a statement on Twitter: |
| The statement added: “We’re going to put our all into planning the best Latitude you’ve ever been to and can’t wait to see you in July 2021. For now keep safe, keep healthy and look after each other.” | The statement added: “We’re going to put our all into planning the best Latitude you’ve ever been to and can’t wait to see you in July 2021. For now keep safe, keep healthy and look after each other.” |
| Hancock says, if he had been told a month ago the NHS would be able to get to this point without its capacity being over-run, he would have been very pleased. | Hancock says, if he had been told a month ago the NHS would be able to get to this point without its capacity being over-run, he would have been very pleased. |
| And that’s it. The press conference is over. | And that’s it. The press conference is over. |
| Hancock says the new Nightingale hospitals will not be used for general medical procedures. | Hancock says the new Nightingale hospitals will not be used for general medical procedures. |
| But they will ease the pressure on other hospitals, allowing more non-coronavirus patients to be seen. | But they will ease the pressure on other hospitals, allowing more non-coronavirus patients to be seen. |
| Powis says the Nightingale hospitals show how the NHS can be agile and flexible, adapting its model of care. | Powis says the Nightingale hospitals show how the NHS can be agile and flexible, adapting its model of care. |
| Q: How long will it take for NHS operations that have been suspended to be reinstated? | Q: How long will it take for NHS operations that have been suspended to be reinstated? |
| Hancock says the most urgent treatments should be rescheduled first. | Hancock says the most urgent treatments should be rescheduled first. |
| What happens will have to be locally driven, he says. | What happens will have to be locally driven, he says. |
| Q: What do you know about the condition affecting a small number of children with coronavirus-type symptoms? (See 9.38am.) | Q: What do you know about the condition affecting a small number of children with coronavirus-type symptoms? (See 9.38am.) |
| Hancock says he is “very worried” about this and officials are looking at it closely. | Hancock says he is “very worried” about this and officials are looking at it closely. |
| Powis says only a small number of cases have appeared. But he says the NHS and Public Health England are looking into this urgently. | Powis says only a small number of cases have appeared. But he says the NHS and Public Health England are looking into this urgently. |
| It is too early to say whether there is a link to coronavirus, he says. | It is too early to say whether there is a link to coronavirus, he says. |
| But he says this sort of disease is very rare. If parents are worried about their children, they should ring 111, or 999. The NHS is there for sick children. | But he says this sort of disease is very rare. If parents are worried about their children, they should ring 111, or 999. The NHS is there for sick children. |
| Whitty says this is a very rare situation. But he says it is “entirely plausible” that there is a link with coronavirus. | Whitty says this is a very rare situation. But he says it is “entirely plausible” that there is a link with coronavirus. |
| He says the numbers involved are very small. | He says the numbers involved are very small. |
| Here is the Health Service Journal story about this condition. | Here is the Health Service Journal story about this condition. |
| And here is an article from our colleague Ian Sample, the Guardian’s science editor. | And here is an article from our colleague Ian Sample, the Guardian’s science editor. |
| Q: Will the government cancel beer duty? | Q: Will the government cancel beer duty? |
| Hancock says he will raise this suggestion with the chancellor. But he says Rishi Sunak’s loan scheme announced today is an important step. | Hancock says he will raise this suggestion with the chancellor. But he says Rishi Sunak’s loan scheme announced today is an important step. |
| Q: So are you saying there is no plan for opening schools? | Q: So are you saying there is no plan for opening schools? |
| Hancock says it is “too early” to make decisions on this. | Hancock says it is “too early” to make decisions on this. |
| People should follow the social distancing rules, he says. | People should follow the social distancing rules, he says. |
| Whitty says there is “room for manoeuvre” between where R is now, and R hitting 1. | Whitty says there is “room for manoeuvre” between where R is now, and R hitting 1. |
| The government is looking at what options are within those boundaries, he says. | The government is looking at what options are within those boundaries, he says. |
| He says these are ultimately decisions for ministers. | He says these are ultimately decisions for ministers. |
| But he says there will have to be “difficult choices”. You cannot do everything people want and still keep the R below 1, he says. | But he says there will have to be “difficult choices”. You cannot do everything people want and still keep the R below 1, he says. |
| Hancock says the NHS never stopped treating people. | Hancock says the NHS never stopped treating people. |
| But, because it now has more capacity, it can do some procedures that were halted. | But, because it now has more capacity, it can do some procedures that were halted. |
| Powis says the NHS is not undertaking some of the services that were paused. He says some cancer treatments were delayed for good clinical reasons. | Powis says the NHS is not undertaking some of the services that were paused. He says some cancer treatments were delayed for good clinical reasons. |
| He says this should not be seen as evidence that the lockdown is being relaxed. | He says this should not be seen as evidence that the lockdown is being relaxed. |
| The NHS can do this because the lockdown has been successful at reducing Covid numbers, he says. | The NHS can do this because the lockdown has been successful at reducing Covid numbers, he says. |
| Q: To what extent has your advice on sending children to school changed? If they did go back, what impact would that have on the R number? And can children spread the virus amongst themselves? | Q: To what extent has your advice on sending children to school changed? If they did go back, what impact would that have on the R number? And can children spread the virus amongst themselves? |
| Whitty says the great majority of children do not get coronavirus, or only have minor symptoms. But there are a small number of relatively severe cases, he says. | Whitty says the great majority of children do not get coronavirus, or only have minor symptoms. But there are a small number of relatively severe cases, he says. |
| He says having schools open does contribute to increasing the R. Closing schools helped to get R below 1. | He says having schools open does contribute to increasing the R. Closing schools helped to get R below 1. |
| He says there is quite a debate around the world about the contribution children make to the spread of this virus, and whether there is a difference between young children and older children. But we don’t really know, he says. It is a new disease. | He says there is quite a debate around the world about the contribution children make to the spread of this virus, and whether there is a difference between young children and older children. But we don’t really know, he says. It is a new disease. |
| He says children probably spread this less than they spread flu. But he says people are not sure what impact opening schools would have on R. | He says children probably spread this less than they spread flu. But he says people are not sure what impact opening schools would have on R. |
| Powis says the NHS has been worried about people not seeking treatment because they don’t want to go to hospital because of the coronavirus situation. | Powis says the NHS has been worried about people not seeking treatment because they don’t want to go to hospital because of the coronavirus situation. |
| Attendance at A&E is down, he says. | Attendance at A&E is down, he says. |
| He says it will become clearer over time what impact this is having on people’s health. | He says it will become clearer over time what impact this is having on people’s health. |
| But “the NHS is always there for you”, he says. | But “the NHS is always there for you”, he says. |