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| UK coronavirus live: Gove gives daily briefing as death toll reaches 28,446, up 315 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Cabinet Office minister says Boris Johnson will say more this week about how people will be allowed to go back to work | |
| Gove says the government has pledged an additional £1.6 billion to councils across England to support their “essential frontline services” including adult social care. | |
| Gove said “before we can ease the existing restrictions we must ensure the government’s five tests are met - that the number of cases are falling, that death rates are declining, that the NHS has what it needs, and that measures are in place to stop a second peak overwhelming the NHS.” | |
| He said he is “particularly conscious” that those in the frontline of our public services will need “clear guidance on safe working”. | |
| The minister added: “They’ll need the right personal protective equipment and appropriate access to testing if we are to make all the progress that we want in the weeks ahead. | |
| “We’re consulting with employers and unions, professionals and public health experts, to establish how we can ensure that we have the safest possible working environments, and the Prime Minister will be saying more later this week.” | |
| Gove said more than 200,000 key workers and their families had been tested for coronavirus. | |
| He said criteria for testing had been extended beyond key workers to anyone over 65 displaying symptoms and anyone who has to travel to get to work. | |
| Gove also confirmed that this week the government will be piloting new “test, track and trace procedures” on the Isle of Wight with a view to having them in place more widely later this month. | |
| Reaction to Gove’s admission on the testing numbers. | |
| Gove paid tribute to Muslims celebrating Ramadan during lockdown who are mourning the loss of a loved one. | |
| He said: “For those experiencing the first Ramadan without a loved one, this will be a particularly painful time. | |
| “As with Christians who could not celebrate Easter together in church, and the Jewish community whose Passover rituals were affected by social distancing, our thoughts are with Muslim neighbours who cannot break their fast together and must adapt their religious and cultural practices because of the crisis.” | |
| The Cabinet Minister said: “The prime minister’s comprehensive plan will explain how we can get our economy moving, how we can get our children back to school, how we can travel to work more safely and how we can make life in the workplace safer.” | |
| He added that over the Easter holidays, 60% of schools remained open for the children of key workers. | |
| Gove reveals 76,496 coronavirus tests were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am this morning, which is below the 100,000 target it had previously set. | |
| Gove says the prime minister will say more this week about how people will be allowed to go back to work when the UK’s lockdown is eased. | |
| Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove begins the briefing by confirming that 76,496 coronavirus tests were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am this morning. | |
| And he announces 28,446 people have now died with coronavirus in the UK, up by 315 from 28,131 the day before. | |
| The government’s 4pm briefing has been delayed and is expected to start within the next 20 minutes. | The government’s 4pm briefing has been delayed and is expected to start within the next 20 minutes. |
| The Welsh government does “not see the science” in recent extensions to England’s testing policy, according to Wales’ health minister Vaughan Gething. | The Welsh government does “not see the science” in recent extensions to England’s testing policy, according to Wales’ health minister Vaughan Gething. |
| He also raised doubts about the benefits and validity of England’s 100,000 tests-per-day target and defended his own country’s decision not to extend testing to all care homes regardless of whether there is an outbreak. | He also raised doubts about the benefits and validity of England’s 100,000 tests-per-day target and defended his own country’s decision not to extend testing to all care homes regardless of whether there is an outbreak. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Gething said: “England have gone out and created lots of capacity very quickly and they’ve then gone out and used that capacity. | Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Gething said: “England have gone out and created lots of capacity very quickly and they’ve then gone out and used that capacity. |
| “The challenge is though, that from a policy point of view there is clearly a difference, but that’s partly because England decided that having set a big target they needed to go out and use all the tests. | “The challenge is though, that from a policy point of view there is clearly a difference, but that’s partly because England decided that having set a big target they needed to go out and use all the tests. |
| “Now, other people will tell you about how many of those tests are actual tests, or tests that have been sent out. | “Now, other people will tell you about how many of those tests are actual tests, or tests that have been sent out. |
| “But part of the difficulty we’ve had is that the scientific underpinning for how and why you extend that policy isn’t something where there has been a fully informed debate in advance, and we don’t see that the science supports all of the differences in policy and the testing reach in England.” | “But part of the difficulty we’ve had is that the scientific underpinning for how and why you extend that policy isn’t something where there has been a fully informed debate in advance, and we don’t see that the science supports all of the differences in policy and the testing reach in England.” |
| Asked if Wales could increase its number of tests available, Gething said: “That capacity is being increased each week. | Asked if Wales could increase its number of tests available, Gething said: “That capacity is being increased each week. |
| “For the current purpose of keeping people safe, in particular key workers, on understanding people in our healthcare system actually have coronavirus, we do have enough capacity. | “For the current purpose of keeping people safe, in particular key workers, on understanding people in our healthcare system actually have coronavirus, we do have enough capacity. |
| “But the continued build-up of capacity here is being driven at what happens for us to be able to get out of lockdown.” | “But the continued build-up of capacity here is being driven at what happens for us to be able to get out of lockdown.” |
| He also criticised the UK Government for including a testing centre in Cardiff on its test-booking website, despite it being under the control of the Welsh Government, and as such tells users that testing is “unavailable” in Wales. | He also criticised the UK Government for including a testing centre in Cardiff on its test-booking website, despite it being under the control of the Welsh Government, and as such tells users that testing is “unavailable” in Wales. |
| Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove is scheduled to lead the government’s press conference in around five minutes. | Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove is scheduled to lead the government’s press conference in around five minutes. |
| Joining him for the Downing Street briefing will be Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director for NHS England. | Joining him for the Downing Street briefing will be Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director for NHS England. |
| Airline UK, which represents British Airways, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and other UK-based airlines, has warned that a 14-day quarantine period “would effectively kill air travel”. | Airline UK, which represents British Airways, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and other UK-based airlines, has warned that a 14-day quarantine period “would effectively kill air travel”. |
| Transport secretary Grant Shapps today told the BBC a compulsory 14-day quarantine could be imposed on anyone arriving in the country so when infection rates in the country are under control “we’re not importing”. | Transport secretary Grant Shapps today told the BBC a compulsory 14-day quarantine could be imposed on anyone arriving in the country so when infection rates in the country are under control “we’re not importing”. |
| Tim Alderslade, Airline UK chief executive, said a quarantine would “completely shut off the UK from the rest of the world when other countries are opening up their economies” and described the possible quarantine measure as a “blunt tool”. | Tim Alderslade, Airline UK chief executive, said a quarantine would “completely shut off the UK from the rest of the world when other countries are opening up their economies” and described the possible quarantine measure as a “blunt tool”. |
| A paramedic has died in hospital after contracting Covid-19. | A paramedic has died in hospital after contracting Covid-19. |
| He has been named locally as Robert Black from Campbeltown in Scotland. He died in a Glasgow hospital on Saturday. | He has been named locally as Robert Black from Campbeltown in Scotland. He died in a Glasgow hospital on Saturday. |
| Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), who did not name Black, said the service had been “greatly saddened” by the loss of a “dear colleague”. | Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), who did not name Black, said the service had been “greatly saddened” by the loss of a “dear colleague”. |
| On behalf of the SAS, she offered her “heart-felt condolences and deepest sympathies” to his family. | On behalf of the SAS, she offered her “heart-felt condolences and deepest sympathies” to his family. |
| Howie added: “I would also like to thank our NHS Scotland colleagues for the compassionate care they have shown our friend during their illness.” | Howie added: “I would also like to thank our NHS Scotland colleagues for the compassionate care they have shown our friend during their illness.” |
| Radio station Argyll FM, where Black worked, said on its Facebook page that he was “a much loved member” of the team and would be “sorely missed”. | Radio station Argyll FM, where Black worked, said on its Facebook page that he was “a much loved member” of the team and would be “sorely missed”. |
| At the Scottish government’s daily briefing, health secretary Jeane Freeman announced that outreach workers supplying emergency Naloxone, the life-saving overdose reversal drug, will not be prosecuted. | At the Scottish government’s daily briefing, health secretary Jeane Freeman announced that outreach workers supplying emergency Naloxone, the life-saving overdose reversal drug, will not be prosecuted. |
| Whilst it might seem peculiar that anyone attempting to save a life would be at risk of breaking the law, remember that drug laws are reserved to Westminster, there are particular legal restrictions around who can supply this particular drug and this change will allow drug treatment services to offer the life-saving kits without any concerns. | Whilst it might seem peculiar that anyone attempting to save a life would be at risk of breaking the law, remember that drug laws are reserved to Westminster, there are particular legal restrictions around who can supply this particular drug and this change will allow drug treatment services to offer the life-saving kits without any concerns. |
| Freeman said that the Lord Advocate has agreed that “it would not be in the public interest, for the duration of the current crisis, for any individual working for a service registered with the Scottish government to be prosecuted for supplying naloxone in an emergency to save a life”. | Freeman said that the Lord Advocate has agreed that “it would not be in the public interest, for the duration of the current crisis, for any individual working for a service registered with the Scottish government to be prosecuted for supplying naloxone in an emergency to save a life”. |
| She also announced extra funding for two specialist organisations helping people with autism, acknowledging that changes to routine and stress are especially difficult for those who are autistic, as well as more support for young people and families – funding to develop digital resources on mental well-being for teens and funding for a helpline that specialises in help for those experiencing relationship difficulties. | She also announced extra funding for two specialist organisations helping people with autism, acknowledging that changes to routine and stress are especially difficult for those who are autistic, as well as more support for young people and families – funding to develop digital resources on mental well-being for teens and funding for a helpline that specialises in help for those experiencing relationship difficulties. |
| Earlier on Sunday, first minister Nicola Sturgeon backed up the Welsh government on Twitter as regards who will make decisions about children returning to school. Both Welsh and Scottish governments have stressed that they would prefer a four nations approach to lifting lockdown, but the differences in tone between devolved administrations and Westminster are becoming ever more apparent. | Earlier on Sunday, first minister Nicola Sturgeon backed up the Welsh government on Twitter as regards who will make decisions about children returning to school. Both Welsh and Scottish governments have stressed that they would prefer a four nations approach to lifting lockdown, but the differences in tone between devolved administrations and Westminster are becoming ever more apparent. |
| Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, has spoken about the prospect of a vaccine in the next year. He told NBC “the prospects are pretty good, I certainly wouldn’t put the possibility at 80 percent”. Sir Bell said: “People who have dedicated their careers to this kind of a problem have a tendency to get excited about the prospects because the prospects are pretty good. | Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, has spoken about the prospect of a vaccine in the next year. He told NBC “the prospects are pretty good, I certainly wouldn’t put the possibility at 80 percent”. Sir Bell said: “People who have dedicated their careers to this kind of a problem have a tendency to get excited about the prospects because the prospects are pretty good. |
| “I certainly wouldn’t put the possibility at 80% -- that’s a pretty big number. But we are gradually reeling it in bit by bit and as every day goes by, the likelihood of success goes up.” He added: “We’ve already started clinical trials, so we’ve already given the vaccine to about a thousand people and we’re going to grow that pretty rapidly. | “I certainly wouldn’t put the possibility at 80% -- that’s a pretty big number. But we are gradually reeling it in bit by bit and as every day goes by, the likelihood of success goes up.” He added: “We’ve already started clinical trials, so we’ve already given the vaccine to about a thousand people and we’re going to grow that pretty rapidly. |
| “We’ve consolidated the phase one and two programs because we are pretty confident that the vector itself is safe because it’s been used in about 5,000 people already up to now. | “We’ve consolidated the phase one and two programs because we are pretty confident that the vector itself is safe because it’s been used in about 5,000 people already up to now. |
| “So that’s allowed us to really accelerate the phase one program and we hope that there would be enough disease that we would get evidence that the vaccine has efficacy by the beginning of June.” | “So that’s allowed us to really accelerate the phase one program and we hope that there would be enough disease that we would get evidence that the vaccine has efficacy by the beginning of June.” |
| Of the 21,180 reported coronavirus deaths so far in hospitals in England, 11,090 (52%) have been people aged 80 and over while 8,238 (39%) were 60-79. | Of the 21,180 reported coronavirus deaths so far in hospitals in England, 11,090 (52%) have been people aged 80 and over while 8,238 (39%) were 60-79. |
| A further 1,691 (8%) were aged 40-59, with 150 (1%) aged 20-39 and 11 (0.05%) aged 0-19, according to NHS England. | A further 1,691 (8%) were aged 40-59, with 150 (1%) aged 20-39 and 11 (0.05%) aged 0-19, according to NHS England. |
| The number of deaths announced so far by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has reached 778, the highest number for any trust in England. | The number of deaths announced so far by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has reached 778, the highest number for any trust in England. |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has announced 520 deaths. Three trusts have announced between 400 and 500 deaths: the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (446), King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (432) and Barts Health NHS Trust (412). | London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has announced 520 deaths. Three trusts have announced between 400 and 500 deaths: the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (446), King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (432) and Barts Health NHS Trust (412). |
| A further seven trusts have announced between 300 and 400 deaths. | A further seven trusts have announced between 300 and 400 deaths. |
| A further 14 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of deaths to 983, Public Health Wales said. | A further 14 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of deaths to 983, Public Health Wales said. |
| Another 174 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 10,329. | Another 174 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 10,329. |
| As of 2pm today, 12,097 people positive for coronavirus in Scotland while 1,571 patients have sadly died, an increase of 12. | As of 2pm today, 12,097 people positive for coronavirus in Scotland while 1,571 patients have sadly died, an increase of 12. |
| Some 60,295 people in Scotland have been tested for the virus. | Some 60,295 people in Scotland have been tested for the virus. |