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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 |
| A tweet summarising the measures in Scotland: | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has warned people may be asked to self-isolate themselves repeatedly once ministers introduce a new “test, trace, isolate” policy after the coronavirus lockdown eases. | |
| The Scottish government published a new policy paper on how it will tackle future Covid-19 infections during later phases of the pandemic, which will focus heavily on “early and effective” identification of new cases through testing, and then tracking down and isolating other people in contact with infected people. | |
| The paper said Scottish labs would need to conduct at least 15,500 tests a day, to cover about 2% of the population. The NHS would also need to find and train 2,000 additional people to specialise in contact tracing. | |
| The document said the new “test, trace, isolate, support” strategy would underpin the post-lockdown approach, alongside all existing measures such as social distancing, good hygiene such as regular handwashing, use of face-coverings in crowded public places and disease surveillance. | |
| It was “designed to help us interrupt chains of transmission in the community by identifying cases of Covid-19, tracing the people who may have become infected by spending time in close contact with them, and then supporting those close contacts to self-isolate, so that if they have the disease they are less likely transmit to it to others.” | |
| Anyone would had been closer than two metres from an infected person for 15 minutes or more would be required to self-isolate for 14 days, the document said. | |
| Testing capacity would need to expand dramatically to cope: Scotland’s daily testing potential would hit 8,000 samples a day by mid-May, with another 4,000 tests a day done at the UK government’s Lighthouse laboratory at Glasgow university. | |
| The first minister warned this would, in effect, become the new normal. It would be effective once community transmission rates were at a much lower level than at present, she indicated. | |
| “It is important to stress that ‘test, trace, isolate, support’ will be most effective when levels of infection are low – lower than now – and stay low, and that its success relies on all of us knowing and agreeing what to do if we have symptoms, and being prepared to self-isolate when advised to do so. | |
| “This will not be easy. In this next phase, we will be asking people to self-isolate, not for their own benefit, and not because we know for certain that they have contracted the disease, but in order to protect others in case they have. | |
| “People may face self-isolation not just once, but on repeat occasions.” | |
| Care home workers say employers are playing “Russian roulette” with their lives as personal protective equipment (PPE) is withheld or rationed amid unclear guidance, according to a union. In some homes PPE is being locked away, Unison said, while in others staff are being told they only need to wear it once a resident has confirmed coronavirus. Care workers have told the union they are being forced to use bin bags to protect themselves from potentially contracting or spreading Covid-19. | |
| Other staff said they had asked for PPE such as masks and visors, but were told “head office is following government guidelines and will only give them out when they suspect someone might have Covid-19”. PHE guidance states that staff “should have access to the PPE that protects them for the appropriate setting and context”. | |
| Courts in England and Wales have managed to keep going during the Coronavirus crisis unlike those in most other European countries, the justice minister Chris Philp has told MPs. | |
| Giving evidence to the justice select committee, the minister denied that any cases had been dropped because of the pandemic and said courts are operating at around 49% of their previous workload. | |
| Philp told MPs: “Our jurisdiction has done pretty well in keeping functioning when compared to the rest of Europe. In most of Europe, the courts have shut down completely. “ | |
| On an average pre-Coronavirus day, Philp said, courts would handle around 8,320 cases. By comparison on 27 April, the courts in England and Wales handled 4,066 cases. Around 85% of those heard involved some form of remote hearing by video link or phone. Many of the hearings, he acknowledged, were procedural hearings rather than full trials. | |
| Extra cleaners have been hired to ensure that the 149 courts that remain open during the pandemic are cleaned more regularly, MPs have been informed. | |
| Philp told the committee that the right to jury trial would be upheld once they resume. The only change being considered, he said, is whether the minimum jury size could be reduced to seven jurors to improve social distancing. It is currently nine. | |
| A consultation on raising the compulsory retirement age for magistrates would be conducted immediately after lockdown ends, he added. The current mandatory retirement age is 70. | |
| Hello everyone. I am helping Andrew today on the live blog. As ever, your input is really valuable. Please do share with me any comments, thoughts, and news tips. Thanks in advance. | |
| Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com | |
| Turning away from coronavirus for a moment, there is big news in Labourworld. Jennie Formby has announced that she standing down as general secretary. In a statement she said: | |
| This is important because the general secretary runs Labour HQ and Formby’s resignation means that Sir Keir Starmer can now install one of his own allies in the post. Formby, who worked for Unite before becoming general secretary in 2018, was close to Jeremy Corbyn and his faction in the party. In the Conservative party a new leader is free to install his or her acolytes in top jobs at party HQ but in the Labour party the general secretary is more independent, and harder to move if he or she has the backing of the national executive committee. It took Corbyn more than two years to instal a general secretary viewed as a loyalist. | |
| Paying tribute to Formby, Starmer said: | |
| Labour’s NEC will meet soon to decide the timetable for electing a new general secretary. | |
| Asda has offered priority delivery slots to thousands of care homes for the next six months and donated 250,000 face masks to protect workers and residents, the supermarket said. | Asda has offered priority delivery slots to thousands of care homes for the next six months and donated 250,000 face masks to protect workers and residents, the supermarket said. |
| Bosses said 3,500 care homes across the country will be able to book the slots. | Bosses said 3,500 care homes across the country will be able to book the slots. |
| It follows similar moves by other supermarkets to offer deliveries to those finding it hardest to get to stores during the coronavirus lockdown. | It follows similar moves by other supermarkets to offer deliveries to those finding it hardest to get to stores during the coronavirus lockdown. |
| The Asda chief executive, Roger Burnley, said: “The impact of Covid on our care system has been the subject of numerous news reports in recent days, and the challenges facing our nation’s care homes and the staff who are working so hard to protect some of our most vulnerable people have been heartbreaking to see. | |
| “Giving priority access to these amazing care homes is, I believe, the right thing for us to do - and I am proud that, having built the capacity of our online delivery service in recent weeks from 450,000 slots to 700,000 weekly slots, we are able to do this for our care homes.” | “Giving priority access to these amazing care homes is, I believe, the right thing for us to do - and I am proud that, having built the capacity of our online delivery service in recent weeks from 450,000 slots to 700,000 weekly slots, we are able to do this for our care homes.” |
| The medical-grade masks will be delivered later this month, he added. | The medical-grade masks will be delivered later this month, he added. |
| The “alternative Sage [Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies]” meeting (see 9.29am) organised by Sir David King, the government’s former chief scientific adviser, is just getting going now. There is a live feed here. | The “alternative Sage [Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies]” meeting (see 9.29am) organised by Sir David King, the government’s former chief scientific adviser, is just getting going now. There is a live feed here. |
| The Office for National Statistics has published a report this morning on well-being (or happiness, to put it crudely, although the ONS uses various different measures to assess this). As you would expect, coronavirus has led to an increase in the overall level of misery. | The Office for National Statistics has published a report this morning on well-being (or happiness, to put it crudely, although the ONS uses various different measures to assess this). As you would expect, coronavirus has led to an increase in the overall level of misery. |
| Here are the main points. | Here are the main points. |
| Almost half (49.6%) of people in Great Britain reported “high” levels of anxiety between 20 and 30 March. (The lockdown was announced on 23 March.) That is more than double the level at the end of 2019 (21%). This chart makes the same point in another way. It shows how the average level of anxiety in that 10-day period was 5.18 out of 10, compared to a long-term average of about 3. | Almost half (49.6%) of people in Great Britain reported “high” levels of anxiety between 20 and 30 March. (The lockdown was announced on 23 March.) That is more than double the level at the end of 2019 (21%). This chart makes the same point in another way. It shows how the average level of anxiety in that 10-day period was 5.18 out of 10, compared to a long-term average of about 3. |
| Over the same 10-day period 20.7% of people reported low levels of life satisfaction. That is more than double the figure for the final quarter of 2019, when just 8.4% of people said they felt like this. A low level of life satisfaction means a score of 0 to 4, when people are asked to give their satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10. | Over the same 10-day period 20.7% of people reported low levels of life satisfaction. That is more than double the figure for the final quarter of 2019, when just 8.4% of people said they felt like this. A low level of life satisfaction means a score of 0 to 4, when people are asked to give their satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10. |
| Here is the full standards committee report into Conor Burns. | Here is the full standards committee report into Conor Burns. |
| An investigation was launched after a complaint was made to the parliamentary commissioner for standards saying that Burns had written a letter on Commons notepaper in an attempt to help his father recover money that was allegedly owed to him following a loan. In the letter to the complainant, who is not named in the report, Burns also suggested that he might raise the case in the Commons chamber using parliamentary privilege if his father did not get the money he felt was owed to him. | An investigation was launched after a complaint was made to the parliamentary commissioner for standards saying that Burns had written a letter on Commons notepaper in an attempt to help his father recover money that was allegedly owed to him following a loan. In the letter to the complainant, who is not named in the report, Burns also suggested that he might raise the case in the Commons chamber using parliamentary privilege if his father did not get the money he felt was owed to him. |
| In his conclusion the standards committee said: | In his conclusion the standards committee said: |
| Burns told the committee that he accepted he should not have written the letter he did on Commons notepaper, but that he was under a “huge amount of personal stress” at the time. He said he was sorry for what he had done. | Burns told the committee that he accepted he should not have written the letter he did on Commons notepaper, but that he was under a “huge amount of personal stress” at the time. He said he was sorry for what he had done. |
| Downing Street has announced that Conor Burns has resigned as an international trade minister. A No 10 spokesman said: | Downing Street has announced that Conor Burns has resigned as an international trade minister. A No 10 spokesman said: |
| On the basis of a report from the parliamentary commissioner, the Commons standards committee said that Burns should receive a seven-day suspension from the House of Commons for abusing his position as an MP in order to further his private family interests. | On the basis of a report from the parliamentary commissioner, the Commons standards committee said that Burns should receive a seven-day suspension from the House of Commons for abusing his position as an MP in order to further his private family interests. |
| Burns became an MP in 2010 but only became a minister last summer, when Boris Johnson became PM. His promotion was seen as a reward for his having been one of Johnson’s most loyal backbench supporters. | Burns became an MP in 2010 but only became a minister last summer, when Boris Johnson became PM. His promotion was seen as a reward for his having been one of Johnson’s most loyal backbench supporters. |
| I will post more from the standards committee report shortly. | I will post more from the standards committee report shortly. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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). | 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 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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: |