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| UK coronavirus live: minister admits government likely to miss testing target | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Robert Buckland says government would have been criticised if target had been unambitious, while Boris Johnson will take daily briefing later | |
| A flypast is helping to mark the 100th birthday celebrations of Captain Tom Moore, the second world war veteran who has been elevated to national hero status and raised almost £30 million for the NHS. | |
| Moore, who captivated the country with his fundraising effort to walk 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday today, smashed his initial target of £1,000. | |
| A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane has been organised by the RAF to mark Capt Moore’s birthday, and he has been appointed as an honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College. After watching the flypast, Capt Moore said: | |
| Earlier this morning, he received a special video message from prime minister Boris Johnson and performer Michael Ball sang him happy birthday. In a message, which he dictated to his grandson Benjie, to mark his birthday, Capt Moore said: | |
| A cabinet minister has acknowledged that the government may not meet its target of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests by the end of the month. | |
| After intense criticism, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, pledged the country would be conducting the tests by the end of April but, with only 52,429 carried out in the 24 hours to yesterday, the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has now conceded it might not happen. He told BBC Breakfast: | |
| He added: “Yes, 52,000 isn’t 100,000, I know that ... but we are straining every sinew to get there... If he [Hancock] hadn’t set a target he would have been criticised for being unambitious. I think now is the time in respect of this to be bold ... being brave, I think, is something we should acknowledge even if the target isn’t met today.” | |
| Just 52,429 tests were carried out in the UK in the 24 hours to yesterday, on 33,455 people. | |
| An antiviral drug originally used to treat Eebola has shown “very encouraging results” at cutting recovery times for Covid-19 patients, according to a scientist leading the trials. | |
| Abdel Babiker, professor of epidemiology and medical statistics at UCL, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: | Abdel Babiker, professor of epidemiology and medical statistics at UCL, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: |
| The group of hospitalised adults with advanced coronavirus who received Remdesivir recovered “much faster” than the group that received a placebo, he said. | The group of hospitalised adults with advanced coronavirus who received Remdesivir recovered “much faster” than the group that received a placebo, he said. |
| Better air quality caused by the Covid-19 lockdown has led to more than 1,700 deaths in the UK to be avoided, according to a study. | Better air quality caused by the Covid-19 lockdown has led to more than 1,700 deaths in the UK to be avoided, according to a study. |
| The Europe-wide report found that levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - produced by road traffic and heavy industry - have dropped by some 40% in the past 30 days and that there has been a 10% reduction in the average level of particulate matter pollution. | The Europe-wide report found that levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - produced by road traffic and heavy industry - have dropped by some 40% in the past 30 days and that there has been a 10% reduction in the average level of particulate matter pollution. |
| It has caused an estimated 11,000 deaths related to air pollution to be avoided across the UK, including an estimated 1,752 in the UK – the second-highest number in the study behind Germany (2,083). | It has caused an estimated 11,000 deaths related to air pollution to be avoided across the UK, including an estimated 1,752 in the UK – the second-highest number in the study behind Germany (2,083). |
| However, the numbers are dwarfed by the Covid-19 death death toll across Europe, including the UK where fatalities passed 26,000 yesterday and are set to rise further. | However, the numbers are dwarfed by the Covid-19 death death toll across Europe, including the UK where fatalities passed 26,000 yesterday and are set to rise further. |
| The study, by the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), found there had been a 37% drop in power generation from coal across Europe as a result of the lockdowns, while oil consumption had fallen by some 33%. | The study, by the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), found there had been a 37% drop in power generation from coal across Europe as a result of the lockdowns, while oil consumption had fallen by some 33%. |
| Other avoided health impacts included 6,000 fewer new cases of asthma in children, 1.3 million fewer days of work absence, 1,900 avoided emergency room visits caused by asthma attacks, and 600 fewer premature births, the study said. | Other avoided health impacts included 6,000 fewer new cases of asthma in children, 1.3 million fewer days of work absence, 1,900 avoided emergency room visits caused by asthma attacks, and 600 fewer premature births, the study said. |
| The study’s authors Lauri Myllyvirta and Hubert Thieriot said their analysis used detailed air quality statistical modelling to separate the effects of weather conditions and changes in emissions. The researchers wrote: | The study’s authors Lauri Myllyvirta and Hubert Thieriot said their analysis used detailed air quality statistical modelling to separate the effects of weather conditions and changes in emissions. The researchers wrote: |
| “The major public health benefits of reduced coal and oil burning, over just one month are, however, a striking demonstration of the benefit to public health and quality of life if European decision-makers prioritise clean air, clean energy and clean transport in their plans to recover from the crisis, and reduce coal and oil consumption in a rapid and sustainable way.” | “The major public health benefits of reduced coal and oil burning, over just one month are, however, a striking demonstration of the benefit to public health and quality of life if European decision-makers prioritise clean air, clean energy and clean transport in their plans to recover from the crisis, and reduce coal and oil consumption in a rapid and sustainable way.” |
| Good morning folks, it’s Simon Murphy here at the helm of the live blog to steer you through the start of the day’s coronavirus developments in the UK. | Good morning folks, it’s Simon Murphy here at the helm of the live blog to steer you through the start of the day’s coronavirus developments in the UK. |
| As the Covid-19 death toll in the UK passed 26,000 yesterday – with new figures including fatalities in care homes as well as hospitals – Boris Johnson will today face the cameras at 5pm as he returns to the Downing Street conference later after overcoming the virus himself. Following the birth of his new child yesterday, both Johnson and others will have a chance later to thank health care staff battling the pandemic as the nation again unites later for Clap for Carers at 8pm. | As the Covid-19 death toll in the UK passed 26,000 yesterday – with new figures including fatalities in care homes as well as hospitals – Boris Johnson will today face the cameras at 5pm as he returns to the Downing Street conference later after overcoming the virus himself. Following the birth of his new child yesterday, both Johnson and others will have a chance later to thank health care staff battling the pandemic as the nation again unites later for Clap for Carers at 8pm. |
| First though, the prime minister will chair cabinet as the government today looks set to miss its deadline for carrying out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April. Just 52, 429 tests were carried out in the UK in the 24 hours to yesterday, on 33,455 people. | First though, the prime minister will chair cabinet as the government today looks set to miss its deadline for carrying out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April. Just 52, 429 tests were carried out in the UK in the 24 hours to yesterday, on 33,455 people. |
| Elsewhere, later this morning at 9.30am there will be a Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on coronavirus impact and Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee quizzing Facebook and Twitter. A World Health Organization Europe briefing will take place at 10am. | Elsewhere, later this morning at 9.30am there will be a Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on coronavirus impact and Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee quizzing Facebook and Twitter. A World Health Organization Europe briefing will take place at 10am. |