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| UK coronavirus live: 'stop squabbling' over school closures, says children's commissioner | UK coronavirus live: 'stop squabbling' over school closures, says children's commissioner |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates, news and information on the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK | Latest updates, news and information on the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK |
| Test, track and trace is critical as a second wave is still a possibility, Sir Mark Walport, chief executive of UK Research and Innovation and a former government chief scientific adviser, said. | |
| He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: | |
| Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, added the RCGP is aware of concerns from healthcare workers about the accuracy and timing of some test results. | |
| He said: | |
| He also called for GPs to be given guidance on how to help patients get tested, and asked for “transparent communication” from government. | |
| The government needs to move away from an “arbitrary focus on numbers” to a clear testing strategy to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections, the Royal College of GPs has warned. | |
| In a letter to the health secretary Matt Hancock, RCGP chair Prof Martin Marshall said there is a lack of confidence in the government’s testing strategy - including in the accuracy and timing of results. He added that while improvements have been made, a clear and comprehensive plan is needed to stop a second swell of cases. | |
| Prof Marshall wrote: | |
| Prof Marshall said a joined-up approach is required between the NHS, social care and community care - including care homes which he warned are on the “front lines” of the pandemic, adding: | |
| He stressed the importance of confidence in the testing strategy from both the healthcare profession and the general public as the government moves to ease parts of the lockdown. | |
| The government also needs to clearly inform the public about the importance of test, track and trace, and other measures that will accompany the NHS Covid-19 tracking app, Prof Marshall added. | |
| People are being asked to “think twice” before visiting national parks and beaches on the first weekend since lockdown measures were partially eased in England. | People are being asked to “think twice” before visiting national parks and beaches on the first weekend since lockdown measures were partially eased in England. |
| With no limit on the amount of exercise allowed and how far one can travel within England for it, an estimated 15m leisure trips will be made by car in the UK this weekend, an RCA survey indicates. | With no limit on the amount of exercise allowed and how far one can travel within England for it, an estimated 15m leisure trips will be made by car in the UK this weekend, an RCA survey indicates. |
| And with sunny weather predicted, the County Councils Network is urging people to stay local, warning that some facilities remain closed and places may be forced to close again if overcrowding makes physical distancing impossible. | And with sunny weather predicted, the County Councils Network is urging people to stay local, warning that some facilities remain closed and places may be forced to close again if overcrowding makes physical distancing impossible. |
| National parks including the Lake District and the Peak District have told travellers to stay away for the sake of the communities that live there and to avoid straining the emergency services. Cornwall council also warned people to think twice before going into the sea this weekend as there won’t be any lifeguards on duty. | National parks including the Lake District and the Peak District have told travellers to stay away for the sake of the communities that live there and to avoid straining the emergency services. Cornwall council also warned people to think twice before going into the sea this weekend as there won’t be any lifeguards on duty. |
| This, from BBC Breakfast, gives the perspective of many in seaside towns. | This, from BBC Breakfast, gives the perspective of many in seaside towns. |
| Good morning. Ministers and teaching unions should “stop squabbling and agree a plan” for the reopening of schools in England, the children’s commissioner for England has said. Anne Longfield said schools needed to reopen “as quickly as possible” because many disadvantaged pupils were losing out as a result of schools being closed for so long. | Good morning. Ministers and teaching unions should “stop squabbling and agree a plan” for the reopening of schools in England, the children’s commissioner for England has said. Anne Longfield said schools needed to reopen “as quickly as possible” because many disadvantaged pupils were losing out as a result of schools being closed for so long. |
| Teachers’ leaders met the government’s scientific advisers on Friday, but no agreement was reached on how to open schools safely. And last night the British Medical Association backed the teaching unions’ opposition to phased reopening from 1 June, saying it was “absolutely right” for the unions to urge caution and prioritise testing before reopening. | Teachers’ leaders met the government’s scientific advisers on Friday, but no agreement was reached on how to open schools safely. And last night the British Medical Association backed the teaching unions’ opposition to phased reopening from 1 June, saying it was “absolutely right” for the unions to urge caution and prioritise testing before reopening. |
| The BMA council’s chair, Chaand Nagpaul, said in a letter to his NEU counterpart, Kevin Courtney: | The BMA council’s chair, Chaand Nagpaul, said in a letter to his NEU counterpart, Kevin Courtney: |
| It comes after the revelation on Friday that the UK’s R number (reproduction rate) had risen in the past week to between 0.7 and 1. That is dangerously close to levels that could bring a second wave of infections. There are regional differences and the increase could also reflect what is happening in hospitals and care homes, but it has brought the government’s easing of lockdown measures in England into question. | It comes after the revelation on Friday that the UK’s R number (reproduction rate) had risen in the past week to between 0.7 and 1. That is dangerously close to levels that could bring a second wave of infections. There are regional differences and the increase could also reflect what is happening in hospitals and care homes, but it has brought the government’s easing of lockdown measures in England into question. |
| Some local authorities, including Liverpool city council and Hartlepool borough council, have already challenged the government’s timetable amid fears that 1 June is too early to guarantee it will be safe. | Some local authorities, including Liverpool city council and Hartlepool borough council, have already challenged the government’s timetable amid fears that 1 June is too early to guarantee it will be safe. |
| However, the Times (paywall) reports that the heads of four primary school chains are preparing to defy the teaching unions and back the government’s plans to reopen to some pupils next month. | However, the Times (paywall) reports that the heads of four primary school chains are preparing to defy the teaching unions and back the government’s plans to reopen to some pupils next month. |
| Schools in Wales will not be going back on 1 June and it is not expected that schools in Scotland or Northern Ireland will go back before the summer holidays begin. | Schools in Wales will not be going back on 1 June and it is not expected that schools in Scotland or Northern Ireland will go back before the summer holidays begin. |
| I’ll be bringing you all the latest UK coronavirus news throughout the day, so please do get in touch if you would like to share a news tip, advice, comments or suggestions. | I’ll be bringing you all the latest UK coronavirus news throughout the day, so please do get in touch if you would like to share a news tip, advice, comments or suggestions. |
| Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ | Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ |