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UK coronavirus live: Nightingale hospital in London put 'on standby' after running out of patients, No 10 says UK coronavirus live: health secretary Matt Hancock leads daily government briefing
(32 minutes later)
No 10 says it was not a mistake to open Nightingale hospitals despite them being largely unused; England reports 204 new deaths, Northern Ireland six more, Wales 14 more and Scotland five moreNo 10 says it was not a mistake to open Nightingale hospitals despite them being largely unused; England reports 204 new deaths, Northern Ireland six more, Wales 14 more and Scotland five more
Here is the start of a Twitter thread from the FT’s Chris Giles, who has been trying to model the total number of coronavirus-related deaths.
Some rough sleepers may have to be put up in hostels or night shelters when lockdown measures begin to be eased, Housing minister Robert Jenrick said.
He said he does not want to “lose the opportunity that we have here and see those people drift back onto the streets when the lockdown starts to be eased in due course”.
But he said there is a limited capacity of “good quality move-on accommodation” for the more than 5,000 rough sleepers currently being put up in places such as hotels.
He said: “What we will do in the days and weeks ahead is assess what the capacity is in accommodation of that nature, how we can build more capacity at pace, what other accommodation is available on an interim basis, some of which will, I think unfortunately, be more basic, such as hostels and night shelters, simply because there isn’t sufficient of the type of accommodation we all want to be available, and then see how we can have a national strategy to try to move as many people as possible into that sort of accommodation and wrap care around them as well, because this is not simply a housing challenge, it’s one of mental health and addiction as well.”
The work and pensions secretary, Thérèse Coffey, has been updating MPs on her department’s work in tackling the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis. She said the “hidden heroes” in her department had processed an extraordinary 1.8m new claims for universal credit (UC) since mid-March – as well as 250,000 claims for jobseekers’ allowance (JSA), and 20,000 for employment support allowance (ESA).
Job centres have been closed and turned into claim processing centres, Coffey said, and hundreds of civil servants have been redeployed from other departments. The number of new applications has now “stabilised”, at 20,000 to 25,000 a day.
Coffey’s shadow counterpart, Jonathan Reynolds, one of several opposition frontbenchers making their debut today, called for “legacy benefits” such as JSA and ESA to be increased for a year, to help claimants through the crisis, as UC has been.
Coffey said that was not possible, saying that the complexity of the computer systems used to administer those benefits means that it takes “quite some time” to make changes – by which she said she meant months.
Here are the latest figures on take-up of the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme, the initiative that allows employees to be “furloughed” on 80% of wages, up to £2,500 per month. They mean that an extra 6.3m workers have, on a temporary basis, effectively been added to the government’s payroll.Here are the latest figures on take-up of the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme, the initiative that allows employees to be “furloughed” on 80% of wages, up to £2,500 per month. They mean that an extra 6.3m workers have, on a temporary basis, effectively been added to the government’s payroll.
In an article for the Guardian, Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine, says that increasing the amount of coronavirus testing to more than 100,000 tests per day (on one measure, for some of the time) is not by itself enough. He explains:In an article for the Guardian, Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine, says that increasing the amount of coronavirus testing to more than 100,000 tests per day (on one measure, for some of the time) is not by itself enough. He explains:
The full article is here.The full article is here.
Matthew Gould, head of the NHS’s digital arm, has defended his agency’s choice of a “centralised” contact-tracing app as opposed to the type of decentralised system chosen by many other European countries.Matthew Gould, head of the NHS’s digital arm, has defended his agency’s choice of a “centralised” contact-tracing app as opposed to the type of decentralised system chosen by many other European countries.
Speaking over a videolink to MPs and peers on parliament’s joint committee on human rights, Gould, the head of NHSX, said: “If the only thing we were optimising for [were privacy] it may well be that decentralised system would be the default choice but we are balancing privacy with the need for public health to get insight into what is happening.. [to learn] what contacts are most risky, what is the difference [in exposure] three days before symptoms or one day.” Speaking over a videolink to MPs and peers on parliament’s joint committee on human rights, Gould, the head of NHSX, said:
A centralised system gives us the chance to get important data about the virus that will help us, he added. The type of system could be altered. “Just because we have started down one route doesn’t mean we are locked into it,” Gould said.A centralised system gives us the chance to get important data about the virus that will help us, he added. The type of system could be altered. “Just because we have started down one route doesn’t mean we are locked into it,” Gould said.
He acknowledged there could be difficulties on the island of Ireland where the government in Dublin has chosen a non-centralised system. “We are about interoperability,” Gould insisted. “The French are taking a similar approach [to the UK].He acknowledged there could be difficulties on the island of Ireland where the government in Dublin has chosen a non-centralised system. “We are about interoperability,” Gould insisted. “The French are taking a similar approach [to the UK].
It should not be possible to identify individuals from the data sent to the centralised system, Gould noted. “We have said very clearly that data will only be used for public health purposes. It will not be used for law enforcement.”It should not be possible to identify individuals from the data sent to the centralised system, Gould noted. “We have said very clearly that data will only be used for public health purposes. It will not be used for law enforcement.”
Elizabeth Denham, the UK information commissioner, denied that her office was compromised by having been involved at an early stage with NHSX as it developed the system. She told peers and MPs that her office would still be able to carry out its independent oversight responsibilities.Elizabeth Denham, the UK information commissioner, denied that her office was compromised by having been involved at an early stage with NHSX as it developed the system. She told peers and MPs that her office would still be able to carry out its independent oversight responsibilities.
Councils could restrict access to rubbish tips by only allowing cars with particular number plates to visit on a given day, the local government secretary has said.Councils could restrict access to rubbish tips by only allowing cars with particular number plates to visit on a given day, the local government secretary has said.
Robert Jenrick said: “My view has been that local councils should reopen their waste and recycling sites. Robert Jenrick said:
“We all know the pressure that’s building up in some people’s homes, particularly those people who live in flats and apartments, without very much space, having bin bags and recycling and boxes from deliveries building up is both a challenge in terms of space but also a public health issue that needs to be resolved.”
He said an “orderly reopening” of sites was possible in most areas and guidance was being updated to class a trip to the tip as a “necessary journey”.He said an “orderly reopening” of sites was possible in most areas and guidance was being updated to class a trip to the tip as a “necessary journey”.
“There are ways in which councils can manage demand, by asking people to come with different registration plates on their cars or booking appointments and so on. .
“There are options available to councils if they are concerned about long queues.”
Although the UK government has yet to produced details of its plan to relax the lockdown restriction (the term “exit strategy” has apparently been banned by No 10, and given that there may never be an exit in the sense of a return to the status quo ante, perhaps they’ve got a point), that has not stopped lots of other people and organisations having a go. The Scottish government and the Welsh government have published outline proposals, here (pdf) and here respectively. The former prime minister Tony Blair has released at least three papers on the topic (here, here and here). The Institute for Government, a thinktank, has produced its own blueprint. And now the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the public spending thinktank, has also offered its thoughts on the topic.Although the UK government has yet to produced details of its plan to relax the lockdown restriction (the term “exit strategy” has apparently been banned by No 10, and given that there may never be an exit in the sense of a return to the status quo ante, perhaps they’ve got a point), that has not stopped lots of other people and organisations having a go. The Scottish government and the Welsh government have published outline proposals, here (pdf) and here respectively. The former prime minister Tony Blair has released at least three papers on the topic (here, here and here). The Institute for Government, a thinktank, has produced its own blueprint. And now the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the public spending thinktank, has also offered its thoughts on the topic.
In a 23-page paper (pdf), it floats the idea of offering firms subsidiesto get employees to work from home. Here is an extract.In a 23-page paper (pdf), it floats the idea of offering firms subsidiesto get employees to work from home. Here is an extract.
There is a summary of the IFS paper here.There is a summary of the IFS paper here.
A report from a multidisciplinary group convened by the Royal Society called Delve – Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics – has weighed up the evidence and come out in favour of the public wearing facemasks, including homemade cloth coverings, in a bid to tackle covid-19. It says:A report from a multidisciplinary group convened by the Royal Society called Delve – Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics – has weighed up the evidence and come out in favour of the public wearing facemasks, including homemade cloth coverings, in a bid to tackle covid-19. It says:
However the report stresses clear instructions should be given to the public, including that the wearing of masks is to protect others, rather than the wearer themselves, as well as information on reuse, and the importance of other measures such as washing hands.While there has been some concern that masks may cause some to become complacent, the authors say there is no evidence for this. “While there is anecdotal evidence of individual risk compensation behaviour, at a population level the introduction of safety measures like HIV prevention measures, seatbelts and helmets have led to increased safety and even increased safety oriented behaviour,” they write. “There is no evidence for individual risk compensation amongst the public during epidemics.”However, the team say more research is needed, including into the routes of transmission of Covid-19, when a mask may be most necessary and the extent of transmission from those who are infected but asymptomatic.However the report stresses clear instructions should be given to the public, including that the wearing of masks is to protect others, rather than the wearer themselves, as well as information on reuse, and the importance of other measures such as washing hands.While there has been some concern that masks may cause some to become complacent, the authors say there is no evidence for this. “While there is anecdotal evidence of individual risk compensation behaviour, at a population level the introduction of safety measures like HIV prevention measures, seatbelts and helmets have led to increased safety and even increased safety oriented behaviour,” they write. “There is no evidence for individual risk compensation amongst the public during epidemics.”However, the team say more research is needed, including into the routes of transmission of Covid-19, when a mask may be most necessary and the extent of transmission from those who are infected but asymptomatic.
Thanks to everyone who has been emailing over news tips to me. Please do continue to share your thoughts and insights.Thanks to everyone who has been emailing over news tips to me. Please do continue to share your thoughts and insights.
Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.comTwitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com
Even if only 20% of the population downloads the tracing-contact app it will start generating useful health information, the head of the NHS’s digital arm has told MPs and peers.
Giving evidence to parliament’s joint committee on human rights, Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX said children as young as 16 – and possibly younger - could be recruited to the pilot project being launched on the Isle of Wight.
“If we are going to gain the level of engagement from the public we need to win their trust,” he told committee members. The app will not know the identity of those who join it but they will be asked to register the first half of their post code “so that we can tell where hotspots [of infection] are building up”. He added:
Last week MPs on the Commons culture committee had a frustrating time at a hearing when they tried to get answers from representatives of Facebook, Google and Twitter about what they were doing to halt the spread of disinformation about coronavirus. Now Julian Knight, the committee chair, has written to the three companies with a series of follow-up questions. In a statement he accused them of being “deeply unhelpful”. He said:
An elderly resident has died at the care home on Skye where nearly all the residents and half the staff have contracted Covid-19. The BBC has reported the owners of the Home Farm home in Portree confirming one of its residents had died, after it emerged 29 of its 34 residents, and half its 52 staff had tested positive for the virus.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family who has lost a loved one,” a spokesman said.
The army has set up a mobile testing centre on Skye after local NHS managers ordered an urgent test and trace programme, to track the virus within the wider community. All the affected staff have been ordered home to self-isolate for seven days, while their immediate families have been asked to isolate for 14 days.
Scottish government data shows more than half of Scotland’s care homes have had at least one Covid-19 case since the start of the pandemic, with some reporting multiple fatalities. There have been 3,500 confirmed or suspected cases in care homes and as of last Sunday, 40% of care homes had at least one live case.
Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, said the government would ensure councils were “fully compensated” for the Covid-19 tasks they were asked to undertake. He told the housing and local government committee:
The committee chairman, Clive Betts, said multiple councils were saying they had committed to spend, or had already spent, more money than the government had given them.
Jenrick replied: “From the returns that we have received so far, covering the first two months of the response, March and April, it’s clear that the funding we have provided is more than enough in total for the response that is being done brilliantly on the ground by local councils.”
Some additional funding has also been directed to lower-tier authorities which have suffered “irrecoverable losses” due to fees lost from car parks and leisure centres.
The Football Association chairman, Greg Clarke, fears fans will not be returning to football stadiums “any time soon”, PA Media reports. “The reality is that we just don’t know how things are going to pan out,” Clarke said in a letter to the FA Council sent on Friday. “But with social distancing in place for some time to come, we do face substantial changes to the whole football ecosystem.”
The full story is here.
Britain and Ireland should make more use of their island status in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak, a public health expert has said.
Speaking at the “independent Sage” meeting (see 9.29am) chaired by Sir David King, Prof Gabriel Scally, visiting professor of public health at the University of Bristol, pointed to the approach of countries such as New Zealand. He said:
Scally noted that unlike many countries, Britain and Ireland had maintained open borders in the face of Covid-19.
“That seems to me, as we go into a situation where we are thinking of lifting restrictions, places us in sudden jeopardy,” he said, adding that a key issue in countries including China at present was cases of coronavirus imported into the country, including from citizens who had returned from travelling abroad. Scally went on:
The TUC has warned that the government’s draft guidelines for getting employees back to work (see 2.50pm) during the coronavirus crisis will put people’s health at risk and cannot be supported in their current form, our colleague Rowena Mason reports.
BuzzFeed has published details of the seven draft guidance documents drawn up by the government intended to show what firms in seven different sorts of work settings will need to do to protect staff when the lockdown gets lifted.
And these are from Alex Wickham, who published the story.
Boris Johnson is now contributing, via a pre-recorded video speech, to the coronavirus global response international pledging conference. He said finding a vaccine was “the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes”.