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| UK coronavirus live: Two-metre rule could be relaxed as lockdown eased, minister suggests | UK coronavirus live: Two-metre rule could be relaxed as lockdown eased, minister suggests |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| BBC reports it has seen regulations which include staggered shift times and reduced hot-desking | BBC reports it has seen regulations which include staggered shift times and reduced hot-desking |
| Magistrates should be able to impose sentences of up to 12 months for a single offence as a temporary response to the coronavirus crisis in order to take pressure off the crown courts, MPs have been told. | |
| Addressing the justice select committee, John Bache, national chair of the Magistrates’ Association called for JPs to be given enhanced sentencing powers so that they can deal with an anticipated backlog of criminal cases once lockdown ends. | |
| Jury trials across England and Wales have been postponed during the pandemic because of the impossibility of maintaining social distancing during the crisis. | |
| Magistrates have long campaigned to be giving greater sentencing powers. The current limit for any single offence is six months. Legislation under the last Labour government raised that limit to 12 months but it has never been brought into effect. | |
| On Monday, Bache told a session of the justice select committee considering the impact of Covid-19 on the justice system that: | |
| Around 192 magistrates courts in England and Wales have been closed by the coronavirus crisis. Others are still dealing with urgent cases. Many magistrates are working remotely from home, dealing with significant quantities of single justice procedure cases such as driving fines. | |
| Last week Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, announced that small firms could apply for “bounce back” loans worth up to £50,000. These loans are meant to be simpler to obtain than some of the other coronavirus loans available, and they are 100% backed by the government (not 80% backed, liked the others, which means banks should have no qualms about lending). | |
| The scheme is now open. Here is the Treasury’s news release, and firms can apply here. | |
| The Times has more details about plans for that contact tracing app – about which more is expected to be announced by the health secretary at this evening’s press conference. | |
| The paper reports that researchers at Oxford University have set up a model in computer code, which simulates a city of 1 million people – all behaving as we do in normal times, using public transport, seeing friends and family – in order to track how the app would work. | |
| Early tests have been a success and the next stage is to roll the app out to residents on the Isle of Wight, where eight out of 10 people with smartphones need to download it in order for the trial to be effective. If this stage of the trial is a success it will be introduced across the rest of the country in weeks. | |
| The app uses bluetooth to record everybody you come in close contact with. The data it gathers will stay on your phone until you notify the app that you have symptoms, at which point it will be uploaded to a central server and people who need to self-isolate will be alerted. | |
| At least 15,000 staff will be needed to arrange testing for those with symptoms. In a separate report, the Times says that this work will be outsourced to private call centre operators including Serco. Staff will be given about a day of training before starting work. | |
| The Times reports that there is disagreement in government about how much data the app should gather. The app used in South Korea, for example, records real time location data, so that authorities can see where there are clusters of infections. There are no plans for the UK app to do this. The paper says: | |
| Demonstrators have blocked access to building sites for the HS2 high-speed railway in London and Warwickshire, in protest at construction work continuing amid the coronavirus crisis, PA Media reports. The group, who call themselves HS2 Rebellion, claim the work is non-essential and that, by failing to sop during the lockdown, it is putting the lives of workers and their families at risk. They say that health workers remain without personal protective equipment (PPE) and that money used for construction projects should be channelled to such medical supplies instead. | |
| Here is a tweet from HS2 Rebellion explaining their case. | |
| In an interview on the Today programme this morning Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, a medical research charity, and a member of Sage, the government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies, said that there was “nothing magical” about the two-metre rule and that other ways of minimising contact might be as effective . He told the programme: | In an interview on the Today programme this morning Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, a medical research charity, and a member of Sage, the government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies, said that there was “nothing magical” about the two-metre rule and that other ways of minimising contact might be as effective . He told the programme: |
| (As this BBC analysis by David Shukman explains, some of this “old data” goes back to the 1930s.) | (As this BBC analysis by David Shukman explains, some of this “old data” goes back to the 1930s.) |
| In his interview Farrar also said that, when the lockdown eased, he would not approve of separate rules applying to the over-70s just on the basis of their age. He said: | In his interview Farrar also said that, when the lockdown eased, he would not approve of separate rules applying to the over-70s just on the basis of their age. He said: |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day. |
| We’ve already covered the main lines from the interviews giving by Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, this morning. (See 8.49am.) Here are some of the other points he’s been making. | We’ve already covered the main lines from the interviews giving by Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, this morning. (See 8.49am.) Here are some of the other points he’s been making. |
| Wallace refused to back President Trump’s claim that evidence exists to show the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, went further yesterday, claiming there was “enormous” evidence to this effect. But Wallace would not endorse these claims. Asked if he agreed, he replied: | Wallace refused to back President Trump’s claim that evidence exists to show the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, went further yesterday, claiming there was “enormous” evidence to this effect. But Wallace would not endorse these claims. Asked if he agreed, he replied: |
| Wallace rejected claims there was a blanket rule saying the over-70s have to rigorously self-isolate. He said: | Wallace rejected claims there was a blanket rule saying the over-70s have to rigorously self-isolate. He said: |
| Wallace’s comment is correct, but it is striking that six weeks into the lockdown, there is still confusion about what the rules actually say. The problem was also highlighted by this tweet at the weekend from Matt Hancock, the health secretary, in response to the Sunday Times splash. | Wallace’s comment is correct, but it is striking that six weeks into the lockdown, there is still confusion about what the rules actually say. The problem was also highlighted by this tweet at the weekend from Matt Hancock, the health secretary, in response to the Sunday Times splash. |
| The confusion arises because there are three groups of people covered by social distancing rules: non-vulnerable people; around 1.5m people described as “clinically extremely vulnerable”, who have been told to “shield” at home at least until the end of June; and the over-70s and other “clinically vulnerable” people. | |
| Special rules (pdf) apply to the “clinically extremely vulnerable”. But people who are just “clinically vulnerable” are told to apply the same rules as everyone else, with the proviso that they should take “particular care” to minimise contact with people outside their home. | Special rules (pdf) apply to the “clinically extremely vulnerable”. But people who are just “clinically vulnerable” are told to apply the same rules as everyone else, with the proviso that they should take “particular care” to minimise contact with people outside their home. |
| Wallace said the absentee rate from coronavirus in the armed forces was about half that seen in the rest of the community. He said that might be because of the “strong personal discipline” imposed on members of the armed forces to follow hygiene routines. | Wallace said the absentee rate from coronavirus in the armed forces was about half that seen in the rest of the community. He said that might be because of the “strong personal discipline” imposed on members of the armed forces to follow hygiene routines. |
| Half the workforce at a care home on Skye have been sent home after contracting Covid-19, in a major outbreak which has infected nearly all the facility’s elderly residents. | Half the workforce at a care home on Skye have been sent home after contracting Covid-19, in a major outbreak which has infected nearly all the facility’s elderly residents. |
| NHS Highland tested all the staff and residents at Home Farm care home in Portree after cases emerged last week and found 28 out of its 34 residents were positive for Covid-19 and 26 of its 52 staff. | NHS Highland tested all the staff and residents at Home Farm care home in Portree after cases emerged last week and found 28 out of its 34 residents were positive for Covid-19 and 26 of its 52 staff. |
| Soldiers from Royal Regiment of Scotland have set up a mobile testing site in Broadford, a village on Skye, and extra staff have been drafted into help run the home with the help of the local council and NHS Highland. Infected staff have been told to self-isolate for seven days and their immediate family for 14 days. | Soldiers from Royal Regiment of Scotland have set up a mobile testing site in Broadford, a village on Skye, and extra staff have been drafted into help run the home with the help of the local council and NHS Highland. Infected staff have been told to self-isolate for seven days and their immediate family for 14 days. |
| Dr Ken Oates, the board’s director of public health, said: | Dr Ken Oates, the board’s director of public health, said: |
| Ian Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said the outbreak was particularly worrying because the nearest hospital ventilators were in Inverness, 112 miles away. | Ian Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said the outbreak was particularly worrying because the nearest hospital ventilators were in Inverness, 112 miles away. |
| Sir David King, a former government chief scientific adviser who will chair an “independent” alternative to the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) at midday, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the new board was necessary because he feared experts were deferring to ministers. Asked if that meant they were not free to speak their minds, he responded: | Sir David King, a former government chief scientific adviser who will chair an “independent” alternative to the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) at midday, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the new board was necessary because he feared experts were deferring to ministers. Asked if that meant they were not free to speak their minds, he responded: |
| King will launch his “alternative Sage” – in which experts will discuss the UK’s approach to coronavirus – on YouTube at 12pm. You can watch it here. He’ll follow up with a press conference at 4pm. | King will launch his “alternative Sage” – in which experts will discuss the UK’s approach to coronavirus – on YouTube at 12pm. You can watch it here. He’ll follow up with a press conference at 4pm. |
| King said yesterday that public trust in science risked being damaged by potential political interference. He cited the government policy on face masks, which he said appeared to be politically convenient, but ran in contradiction to the best available evidence. | King said yesterday that public trust in science risked being damaged by potential political interference. He cited the government policy on face masks, which he said appeared to be politically convenient, but ran in contradiction to the best available evidence. |
| The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has been speaking to broadcasters this morning. The PA Media news agency has quotes from his interview with Sky News, in which he said that ministers were trying to source as many masks as possible in case they change the advice to recommend the public wears them. | The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has been speaking to broadcasters this morning. The PA Media news agency has quotes from his interview with Sky News, in which he said that ministers were trying to source as many masks as possible in case they change the advice to recommend the public wears them. |
| Wallace was asked whether people would be hesitant to return to work when the lockdown is eased after weeks of strict stay-at-home messaging. He said: | Wallace was asked whether people would be hesitant to return to work when the lockdown is eased after weeks of strict stay-at-home messaging. He said: |
| Wallace suggested the two-metre distancing rule could be relaxed to allow people to go back to work. | Wallace suggested the two-metre distancing rule could be relaxed to allow people to go back to work. |
| Rachel Reeves, Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister, has been speaking to BBC Breakfast. She said the public “deserve to be levelled with” over a detailed plan for easing lockdown measures. | Rachel Reeves, Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister, has been speaking to BBC Breakfast. She said the public “deserve to be levelled with” over a detailed plan for easing lockdown measures. |
| An article in today’s Guardian reports that government scientific advisers are examining the impact of letting children in their final year of primary school return to classrooms from 1 June. | An article in today’s Guardian reports that government scientific advisers are examining the impact of letting children in their final year of primary school return to classrooms from 1 June. |
| You can read the full report here - | You can read the full report here - |
| In the second instalment of his interview with Sun newspapers – the first having been published in the Sun on Sunday – Boris Johnson said he feared he would not live to see his son born when he was admitted to intensive care with Covid-19. | In the second instalment of his interview with Sun newspapers – the first having been published in the Sun on Sunday – Boris Johnson said he feared he would not live to see his son born when he was admitted to intensive care with Covid-19. |
| Asked if he had ever worried he might not live to meet his son Wilfred, who was born on Wednesday, he said: | Asked if he had ever worried he might not live to meet his son Wilfred, who was born on Wednesday, he said: |
| The prime minister said he “couldn’t see the way out of the skip” but that he had a “natural buoyancy or refusal to give in or harbour negative thoughts”. | The prime minister said he “couldn’t see the way out of the skip” but that he had a “natural buoyancy or refusal to give in or harbour negative thoughts”. |
| Johnson added: “I owe my life to our doctors and nurses and the healthcare workers. They pulled my chestnuts out of the fire, no question.” | Johnson added: “I owe my life to our doctors and nurses and the healthcare workers. They pulled my chestnuts out of the fire, no question.” |
| Guardian political correspondent Kate Proctor reports on today’s front page that tech firms are in talks with ministers about creating health passports to help Britons return safely to work using coronavirus testing and facial recognition. | Guardian political correspondent Kate Proctor reports on today’s front page that tech firms are in talks with ministers about creating health passports to help Britons return safely to work using coronavirus testing and facial recognition. |
| The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, is speaking to broadcasters this morning. He’ll be on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at 8.10am. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves is also doing interviews with a range of broadcasters. I’ll bring you highlights from what they say. | The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, is speaking to broadcasters this morning. He’ll be on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at 8.10am. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves is also doing interviews with a range of broadcasters. I’ll bring you highlights from what they say. |
| A selection of bankers, including the heads of commercial banking at HSBC and RBS, will give evidence on the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis | A selection of bankers, including the heads of commercial banking at HSBC and RBS, will give evidence on the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis |
| The government’s former chief scientific adviser David King will launch his “alternative Sage” meeting of experts on YouTube at midday. They will discuss the UK’s approach to coronavirus. It should be worth a watch. He’ll follow up with a press conference at 4pm. | The government’s former chief scientific adviser David King will launch his “alternative Sage” meeting of experts on YouTube at midday. They will discuss the UK’s approach to coronavirus. It should be worth a watch. He’ll follow up with a press conference at 4pm. |
| The business secretary, Alok Sharma, will take questions in the Commons from 2.30pm. Expect him to be asked about that draft guidance for employers. | The business secretary, Alok Sharma, will take questions in the Commons from 2.30pm. Expect him to be asked about that draft guidance for employers. |
| The information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, and Matthew Gould, who is heading up the NHSX contact tracing app, will also appear before parliament’s joint committee on human rights at 2.30pm. They will discuss the privacy issues surrounding the new app. The NHSX app is being trialled on the Isle of Wight this week. | The information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, and Matthew Gould, who is heading up the NHSX contact tracing app, will also appear before parliament’s joint committee on human rights at 2.30pm. They will discuss the privacy issues surrounding the new app. The NHSX app is being trialled on the Isle of Wight this week. |
| The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will take this evening’s Downing Street coronavirus press conference at 5pm. Politico’s London Playbook reports that he will unveil plans for a vast South Korean-style “test, track and trace” scheme. | The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will take this evening’s Downing Street coronavirus press conference at 5pm. Politico’s London Playbook reports that he will unveil plans for a vast South Korean-style “test, track and trace” scheme. |
| As reported yesterday, it is expected that the government will extend the current lockdown measures on Thursday and that Johnson will use Sunday’s press conference to set out a more detailed plan for how and when they will start to be lifted. | As reported yesterday, it is expected that the government will extend the current lockdown measures on Thursday and that Johnson will use Sunday’s press conference to set out a more detailed plan for how and when they will start to be lifted. |
| Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s UK coronavirus live blog. I’m Frances Perraudin and I’ll be bringing you the latest updates in the country’s response to the pandemic. | Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s UK coronavirus live blog. I’m Frances Perraudin and I’ll be bringing you the latest updates in the country’s response to the pandemic. |
| A draft government plan to ease the coronavirus lockdown has been seen by the BBC. It includes the suggestion that employers should minimise the number of people using equipment, stagger shift times, reduce hot desking and maximise home-working. The guidance also states that – where the 2 metre physical distance between employers can’t be maintained – PPE, screens and additional hygiene procedures should be used. | A draft government plan to ease the coronavirus lockdown has been seen by the BBC. It includes the suggestion that employers should minimise the number of people using equipment, stagger shift times, reduce hot desking and maximise home-working. The guidance also states that – where the 2 metre physical distance between employers can’t be maintained – PPE, screens and additional hygiene procedures should be used. |
| The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning that businesses needed the government to be as specific as possible in its guidance. | The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning that businesses needed the government to be as specific as possible in its guidance. |
| Elsewhere, a request by UK universities for a £2bn bailout has been rejected by the government. Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, has instead said that institutions could continue to charge the full £9,250 annual tuition fee for undergraduates while campuses remained closed and face-to-face classes were suspended, as long high standards of online teaching were maintained. The government will also bring forward £2.6bn in tuition fees that universities would have received at the start of the next academic year, as well as £100m in research funding. You can read the full story from our education Richard Adams here – | Elsewhere, a request by UK universities for a £2bn bailout has been rejected by the government. Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, has instead said that institutions could continue to charge the full £9,250 annual tuition fee for undergraduates while campuses remained closed and face-to-face classes were suspended, as long high standards of online teaching were maintained. The government will also bring forward £2.6bn in tuition fees that universities would have received at the start of the next academic year, as well as £100m in research funding. You can read the full story from our education Richard Adams here – |