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UK coronavirus live: No 10 says it won't 'gamble away' lockdown success by relaxing it too soon UK coronavirus live: No 10 says it won't 'gamble away' lockdown success by relaxing it too soon
(32 minutes later)
Minister admits government may fail to hit testing target; death toll in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rises; more than 9,000 fines issued to people breaking lockdown rules, say policeMinister admits government may fail to hit testing target; death toll in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rises; more than 9,000 fines issued to people breaking lockdown rules, say police
The Guardian’s latest Science Weekly podcast is out. Sarah Boseley talks to Prof Helen McShane about why there has been interest in the tuberculosis vaccine and whether it could play a role in protecting us against Covid-19.
The UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued a stern warning that GCSE and A-level grade assessments this summer should not unfairly penalise children from minority ethnic minority backgrounds, as well as disabled pupils and those with special educational needs.
David Isaac, the EHRC’s executive chair, said Ofqual, England’s exams regulator, should warn schools to account for potential bias in making assessments to determine grades in the place of exams.
“If we don’t get this right the future of some disadvantaged young people is severely at risk. We can’t let the crisis happening now affect the future of disadvantaged pupils when so many, particularly disabled pupils and those of ethnic minority background, already face an uphill battle,” Isaac said.
“At this time it is critically important that public authorities meet the requirements of the public sector equality duty, and consider the needs and disadvantages facing pupils with different protected characteristics when they are deciding and implementing their response to the coronavirus emergency.”
In its response to Ofqual’s consultation, the EHRC called for teachers to be told how to “minimise the risk of conscious or unconscious bias” in assessing pupils, and for pupils to have a “meaningful and timely route of appeal, including on grounds of suspected unlawful discrimination”.
In March the government and Ofqual announced that formal exams for A-levels and GCSEs would be scrapped and replaced by assessments by schools, moderated by examination boards and Ofqual’s formula to award individual grades to each pupil. Governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have adopted similar methods.
A spokesperson for Ofqual said: “We do recognise there are concerns about the potential for students to be disadvantaged by this approach and published an equality impact assessment, informed by a review of research literature on bias in teacher assessments, when our consultation was launched. We have and will be engaging further with organisations and groups that have raised concerns about this issue.“Our standardisation model will be designed to ensure, so far as is possible, that students are not advantaged or disadvantaged on the basis of their socio-economic background or because they have a particular protected characteristic.
“Students who do not feel their calculated grade reflects their performance will also have the opportunity to sit an exam in the autumn. We will shortly consult on details of the autumn exam series – we hope anyone with views about how the series might run, or its impact on particular students, will respond to our further consultation.”
Here is a good question from below the line.
There is no accurate running total, but the Office for Budget Responsibility produced a good, provisional guess in the report (pdf) it published two weeks ago looking at the impact of coronavirus on the public finances. The news reports focused on the OBR’s suggestion that GDP could fall by 35% in the second quarter of the year, leading to unemployment rising by more than 2m, and so these figures were slightly overlooked.
These OBR figures are based partly on government policies already announced and partly based on a “reference scenario” - a plausible assumption as to what might happen, including a three month lockdown followed by three months of partial lockdown.
The figures are breathtaking. The government would have to spend an extra £100bn this year, the OBR suggests. The figures are on page 18, or in this chart here.
But that’s only the start. The OBR also looked at the amount the government was likely to lose through lost tax revenue, and this sum came to an astonishing £130bn for this financial year. The chart is on page 20.
That is why the OBR thinks the coronavirus crisis could see government borrowing rise by more than £200bn, creating the biggest single-year deficit since world war two.
Public Health Wales has released this week’s survey of how the public feel about the coronavirus and its impact on their lives. The survey is the second full report after an initial pilot to quiz members of the public, and involved more than 679 Welsh residents selected at random, with results adjusted to population demographics.Among results, the survey reveals 11% of people think they have had coronavirus – down from 13% the week before – with 9% unsure. “Of those that think they have been infected, 8% have had this confirmed with a test,” the survey adds. What’s more, 12% of people say a family member or friend has been hospitalised or died from Covid-19, up from 8% the week before. And while 58% of people think the government is doing a good job, 26% disagree or disagree strongly.The virus also appears to be fuelling concerns, with 65% of those living with children worried about the children’s wellbeing and almost one in five worrying a lot about their mental health. A similar proportion, 20%, said they worry a lot about losing their job or getting a new one.Prof Karen Hughes, who coordinates the survey for Public Health Wales, added: “Week on week, we are monitoring the views and behaviours of people in Wales during the coronavirus restrictions. Over the coming weeks we will be examining how age, gender and poverty affect people’s ability to cope and ensure such information is available to those delivering support services.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among prison staff has outripped prisoners for the first time since the lockdown restrictions were imposed, the latest daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows.As at 5pm on Wednesday, 341 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 72 prisons, a 1% rise in 24 hours, while 364 prison staff across 64 prisons were confirmed to have the virus, an 8% rise in the same period. Prison staff have had access to testing, while prisoner testing has been “limited and variable”, according to a recent Public Health England report.There are around 81,100 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons, and around 33,000 staff work in the public sector prisons.The figures published by the MoJ are not live cases but include individuals who have recovered.The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among prison staff has outripped prisoners for the first time since the lockdown restrictions were imposed, the latest daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows.As at 5pm on Wednesday, 341 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 72 prisons, a 1% rise in 24 hours, while 364 prison staff across 64 prisons were confirmed to have the virus, an 8% rise in the same period. Prison staff have had access to testing, while prisoner testing has been “limited and variable”, according to a recent Public Health England report.There are around 81,100 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons, and around 33,000 staff work in the public sector prisons.The figures published by the MoJ are not live cases but include individuals who have recovered.
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As lockdown transforms the UK into a nation of DIY barbers and hairstylists, Community Integrated Care - one of Britain’s biggest social care charities - is asking celebrities and the public to “show they care” with their hair.As lockdown transforms the UK into a nation of DIY barbers and hairstylists, Community Integrated Care - one of Britain’s biggest social care charities - is asking celebrities and the public to “show they care” with their hair.
The #CareWithHair challenge encourages people to share their DIY hair styling experiences on social media and donate the money they would have spent on professional hair treatments. All money raised will help support the wellbeing of social care workers and the people they support through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.The #CareWithHair challenge encourages people to share their DIY hair styling experiences on social media and donate the money they would have spent on professional hair treatments. All money raised will help support the wellbeing of social care workers and the people they support through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Famous faces committed to taking part include several leading Super League rugby league stars, such as Peter Mata’utia (Castleford Tigers), Willie Isa (Wigan Warriors), and Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), England Rugby and Saracens hero, Owen Farrell, as well as England lioness and Manchester City footballer, Georgia Stanway - shown clipping the hair of boyfriend and rugby player Oliver Ashall - and Sky Sports host Terry O’Connor. Famous faces committed to taking part include several leading Super League rugby league stars, such as Peter Mata’utia (Castleford Tigers), Willie Isa (Wigan Warriors), and Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), England Rugby and Saracens hero Owen Farrell as well as England lioness and Manchester City footballer Georgia Stanway - shown clipping the hair of boyfriend and rugby player Oliver Ashall - and Sky Sports host Terry O’Connor.
Parliamentarians in Wales have been told there is “no easy way out” of the coronavirus crisis. Giving evidence to the Welsh assembly’s health committee, Dr Rob Orford, Wales’ chief scientific adviser for health, said the government did not have “a lot of headroom” because infection levels would increase if lockdown restrictions were significantly lifted. He said:Parliamentarians in Wales have been told there is “no easy way out” of the coronavirus crisis. Giving evidence to the Welsh assembly’s health committee, Dr Rob Orford, Wales’ chief scientific adviser for health, said the government did not have “a lot of headroom” because infection levels would increase if lockdown restrictions were significantly lifted. He said:
More than 9,000 fines have been handed to people in England and Wales for allegedly flouting coronavirus lockdown laws, according to new figures. As PA Media reports, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 8,877 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) had been recorded by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period. Some 397 were for repeat offenders, with one person fined six times.More than 9,000 fines have been handed to people in England and Wales for allegedly flouting coronavirus lockdown laws, according to new figures. As PA Media reports, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 8,877 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) had been recorded by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period. Some 397 were for repeat offenders, with one person fined six times.
Police have been given powers to hand out a £60 penalty, that is reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the government’s restriction of movement rules.Police have been given powers to hand out a £60 penalty, that is reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the government’s restriction of movement rules.
Boris Johnson has released the text of a letter he has written to Capt Tom Moore, the war veteran and NHS fundraiser who is celebrating his 100th birthday today.
Robin Swann, the health minister in the Northern Ireland executive, has said there have been another nine deaths in Northern Ireland of patients who tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the region recorded so far by his department to 347.
NHS England has announced 391 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 20,131. The full details are here. NHS England says:
Of the 391 new deaths announced today, 78 occurred on 29 April, 140 occurred on 28 April and 42 occurred on 27 April.
Public Health Wales has reported a further 22 deaths from coronavirus, taking the total in Wales to 908. The full details are here.
Boris Johnson has been urged to publish the UK’s exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown to give clarity to businesses and communities across the country. The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said that, while there was an understanding of the need for lockdown, transparency was needed for what comes next. In an interview with ITV News, Starmer also said he believed an inquiry into the UK’s response to the pandemic was “inevitable”. “I think the government were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment, and may now be slow on our exit strategy,” he said.
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The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. Here are the main points.
The prime minister’s spokesman again played down the prospect of any significant change to the lockdown next week, saying it would be wrong to “gamble away” what has already been achieved. No 10 has been transmitting this message for some days, but this seemed to be an even stronger hint that people should not expect too much from the review of the lockdown due by Thursday next week. The spokesman said:
When asked if the lockdown could continue until June, the spokesman said people would have to wait for the government decision. But he also reminded reporters of what Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, has said about how the virus will be around for a significant period of time. The spokesman went on:
The spokesman said that Sage, the scientific advisory group for emergencies, is still examining the impact that different relaxation measures might have on R, the reproduction number (the infection rate of the virus), and that it did not present any findings to cabinet today. This work will be crucial because the government will only implement measures relaxing the lockdown that, taken together, do not push R above 1.
The spokesman said Boris Johnson chaired a political meeting of cabinet before the normal cabinet today. At normal cabinet ministers received updates from Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.
The spokesman came close to ruling out the lockdown measures being eased region by region, instead of on a UK-wide basis. Yesterday Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said that although he favoured maintaining a UK-wide approach, there might be a case for letting island communities do their own thing. But the spokesman played down the prospect of this happening. He said:
The spokesman indicated that this would be the approach the government would follow going ahead. He also said all four nations of the UK were keen to carry on moving ahead as one.
The spokesman refused to concede that the government was not likely to meet its target of getting coronavirus testing up to 100,000 per day by today. He pointed to the progress made in recent weeks towards hitting this target as evidence that testing had intensified.
The spokesman was unable to cite evidence defending a claim that “public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency”. At the end of last week another Downing Street spokesman made that claiming in a response to the Guardian’s story about Dominic Cummings taking part in Sage meetings that included the line: “Public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency partly because of ludicrous stories such as this.” Asked to defend the statement, the spokesman, who is a civil servant, said this was a matter for his party political press colleagues (who also speak on the PM’s behalf). As this YouGov chart illustrates, polling suggests that the crisis has not led to a collapse in trust in the media.
The spokesman said Johnson would be taking part in the Clap for Carers event tonight.
The spokesman refused to give any more information about the PM’s new baby son. He would not even say whether or not Carrie Symonds and the baby remained in hospital.
An attempt to overturn the judiciary’s temporary freeze preventing evictions and home repossessions during the pandemic is being made in the court of appeal.
Lawyers for an insolvency firm have lodged an emergency application over the alleged failure to keep up payments on mortgages on two houses in Hertfordshire that were already the subject of a legal dispute.
The judicial practice direction ensuring that no one would lose their homes during the outbreak or be the subject of legal action that could result in being made homeless was authorised by the master of the rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, who is head of the civil judiciary in England and Wales.
Philip Rainey QC, acting for Mehmet Arkin, an insolvency practitioner, told the court of appeal in a hearing conducted over remote video links on Thursday, that the rules were “ultra vires” - having not been made in accordance with the law.
“It’s particularly important during an emergency that restrictive measures have a proper basis in law,” Rainey told the court. “There are very good reasons why parliament would wish to impose restrictions on what would normally be acceptable in a democracy but there must be a proper legal basis.”
The practice direction used by the judiciary, number 51.2, only refers to matters that the courts are “piloting” as experiments within the court system, Rainey said. It could not legally be the basis for the suspension of repossession actions which had been imposed.
But Sir Geoffrey Vos, chancellor of the high court, suggested that the practice direction had been imposed in an emergency and that it was effectively “trialling” changes to the rules. “This is to see what measures can deal with [cases] in the context of a clogging up of justice”.
Lady Justice Simler said the emergency rules did not prevent access to justice but merely imposed a 90-day delay on the process of house repossessions.
Lawyers for the justice secretary, Robert Buckland QC, have intervened in the case because of its significance.
The Housing Lawyers Practitioners Committee has also been permitted to intervene. In a statement issued before the hearing, the organisation’s co-chairs, Marina Sergides and Simon Mullings, said: “The issues are crucial to our members and their clients.”
In their legal submissions to the court, lawyers for the HLPA said: “If the appellants succeed in persuading the court that [the practice direction] is ultra vires then [this freeze] will cease to apply to all possession claims.”
That would expose many vulnerable people to losing their homes during the lockdown, they argued. “A significant proportion of members’ clients are also vulnerable as a result of physical and/or mental health problems, as a result of which they find it difficult properly to understand information and provide their solicitors with documents and instructions even face-to-face.”
The submission added: “This is a time when litigants, particularly those of limited means, are liable to find it particularly difficult to engage with the courts and with their lawyers if they have them. Practitioners and the courts are under exceptional pressure and the resources available to them are depleted. The provisions take effect for a temporary period while court procedures in response to Covid-19 are evaluated and they are subject to review.”
The hearing continues.
Consumers still panic-buying toilet roll have another option from today. A brand new recycled toilet paper brand has been launched, with all profits helping to fund wellbeing packs along with travel and accommodation costs for NHS frontline workers.
So-called Serious Tissues was set up by the brains behind Change Please, a Big Issue Invest-backed social enterprise which helps get homeless people off the street by training them as coffee baristas. The new product is made from paper and cardboard recycled from offices and homes.
Originally designed to help tackle the climate change crisis and save some of the 10m trees cut down every year to make toilet paper, the new product was meant to go on sale in the summer. But the launch was brought forward in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and to direct all profits to NHS Charities Together.