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UK coronavirus live: death toll rises by 468 to nearly 34,500 UK coronavirus: Gavin Williamson leads daily briefing - follow live updates
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates, news and information on the Covid-19 pandemic in the UKLatest updates, news and information on the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
Dr Jenny Harries is going through the daily slides now.
Transport use is consistently low, though there is a slight rise in care use and light goods vehicles use as people begin to go back to work, she says.
There has been a sustained increase in testing, she says.
Despite the increase in testing capacity, “quite reassuringly” there is an overall downward trend, she says.
There is a “slow and steady” downward trend in hospital admissions with Covid-19 across the four nations.
The 7-day rolling average for daily deaths is also coming down, she says.
This is in line with what other European countries are doing to get their schools, nurseries and colleges back, he says.
Some pupils will be asked to return to school next month. Reducing class sizes, keeping children in small groups, will create a “protective, small bubble around them”, Williamson says.
He says schools will be rigorous about hygiene and hand washing.
School staff can already be tested for the virus. From 1 June this will be extended to cover school children and their families if any of them develop symptoms, he says.
Track and trace methods would then be used to prevent further spread.
The poorest, most disadvantaged children will be the ones who will fall furthest behind if schools remain closed, Williamson says.
The education secretary turns to wider plans for reopening of schools.
He says he is sorry to all children who were preparing for GCSE and A-level exams.
It’s now been eight weeks since schools closed to most pupils, he says, thanking workers who kept them open for the children of critical workers.
The government will only reopen schools when the five tests are met, he says.
But children do need to be back in school.
We can start planning for some pupils to return as early as next month, he says.
If rates of infection are decreasing, this will give us the green light to get some children back into school, he says. Reception, year 1 and year 6 will be allowed to return with smaller class sizes, along with students in years 10 and 12 on a limited basis to have face-to-face time with their teachers.
These children are being prioritised because they stand to lose more by missing school, he says.
Williamson is speaking now.
He is going through the daily figures on testing, positive cases, hospital admissions and deaths. This information can be found here.
The education secretary Gavin Williamson will front today’s daily government news briefing, due to begin shortly. He will be joined by the deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries.The education secretary Gavin Williamson will front today’s daily government news briefing, due to begin shortly. He will be joined by the deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries.
All residents and members of staff in care homes in Wales will be able to get a coronavirus test, the Welsh government has said.All residents and members of staff in care homes in Wales will be able to get a coronavirus test, the Welsh government has said.
The health minister, Vaughan Gething, said the change follows the latest scientific advice and brings Wales into line with England.The health minister, Vaughan Gething, said the change follows the latest scientific advice and brings Wales into line with England.
Opposition politicians said the original decision not to test everyone in care homes should be the subject of a future inquiry. From now, every care home in Wales will have access to testing and will be able to order online testing kits for their residents and staff.Opposition politicians said the original decision not to test everyone in care homes should be the subject of a future inquiry. From now, every care home in Wales will have access to testing and will be able to order online testing kits for their residents and staff.
Previously only residents and staff in care homes with confirmed cases of coronavirus were tested, as were homes with more than 50 beds, anyone being discharged from hospital into a care home, or anyone moving into a care home from the community.Previously only residents and staff in care homes with confirmed cases of coronavirus were tested, as were homes with more than 50 beds, anyone being discharged from hospital into a care home, or anyone moving into a care home from the community.
Gething said:Gething said:
Testing in Wales had been more restrictive than in England, where all care home residents and staff have been eligible for testing regardless of symptoms since the end of April.Testing in Wales had been more restrictive than in England, where all care home residents and staff have been eligible for testing regardless of symptoms since the end of April.
The first minister, Mark Drakeford, said at the time there was not a “clinical value” in testing everyone where no one was displaying symptoms.The first minister, Mark Drakeford, said at the time there was not a “clinical value” in testing everyone where no one was displaying symptoms.
Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell said:Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell said:
A further 468 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, taking the total across all settings in the UK to 34,466, the DHSC said.A further 468 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, taking the total across all settings in the UK to 34,466, the DHSC said.
A new “home-school” competition for children and young people has been launched to explore black British history and multicultural Britain.A new “home-school” competition for children and young people has been launched to explore black British history and multicultural Britain.
The competition, sponsored by the National Education Union (NEU), is part of the 100 Great Black Britons campaign created by Patrick Vernon to celebrate thecontinued legacy and achievements of black people in Britain.The competition, sponsored by the National Education Union (NEU), is part of the 100 Great Black Britons campaign created by Patrick Vernon to celebrate thecontinued legacy and achievements of black people in Britain.
Kevin Courtney, NEU joint general secretary, said:Kevin Courtney, NEU joint general secretary, said:
Arike Oke, managing director of Black Cultural Archives, said:Arike Oke, managing director of Black Cultural Archives, said:
Lavinya Stennett, founder of Black Curriculum, said:Lavinya Stennett, founder of Black Curriculum, said:
A senior British Transport Police officer has been criticised after travelling from Glasgow to his family home in Yorkshire during the lockdown.A senior British Transport Police officer has been criticised after travelling from Glasgow to his family home in Yorkshire during the lockdown.
BTP has confirmed Ch Supt Eddie Wylie returned to Yorkshire from his rented flat in Glasgow on two occasions between 21 March and 13 May, but claimed he did not breach Covid-19 regulations – after the UK went into lockdown on 23 March.BTP has confirmed Ch Supt Eddie Wylie returned to Yorkshire from his rented flat in Glasgow on two occasions between 21 March and 13 May, but claimed he did not breach Covid-19 regulations – after the UK went into lockdown on 23 March.
It said that on both occasions he travelled home alone and by car to minimise any possible exposure to others.It said that on both occasions he travelled home alone and by car to minimise any possible exposure to others.
In a statement, BTP said:In a statement, BTP said:
However, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said:However, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said:
NHS England has announced 181 more deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals in England to 24,527.
Of the 181 new deaths announced today:- 39 occurred on 15 May - 89 occurred on 14 May - 22 occurred on 13 May
The figures also show 23 of the new deaths took place between 3-12 May. The remaining eight deaths occurred in April, the earliest being on 4 April.
NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for post-mortem examinations to be processed and for data from the tests to be validated.
The latest NHS England figures show 8 April continues to have the deadliest day of the outbreak so far, with a current total of 889.
The number of people who have died after being tested positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland has risen to 473 after a further four deaths were reported by the Department of Health.
Another 40 positive cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, taking the total since the outbreak began to 4,357.
The DoH dashboard is here:
A total of 2,094 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, a rise of 41 from 2,053 on Friday, according to the latest Scottish government statistics.
The number of people to have tested positive for the virus rose to 14,447, up 187 from 14,260 the day before.
There are 59 patients with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 in intensive care, down from 71 on Friday, of whom 49 have tested positive.
There are 1,416 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 33.
People have been told to stay away from Loch Lomond thousands of people breached lockdown rules around the beauty spot in recent weeks, my colleagues Severin Carrell and Libby Brooks report.
Police data shows breaches have increased at weekends and on sunny days. The district, which includes the villages of Balloch and Luss on the banks of the loch, has had the highest number of lockdown breaches of any in Scotland. Police ordered 2,291 people to go home in 30 days.
A further 18 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Wales, taking the total number of deaths there to 1,191, health officials said.
Public Health Wales said another 183 people had tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 12,142.
Spokesman Dr Chris Williams said:
Piers Corbyn, the brother of the former Labour leader, has been led away in handcuffs after arriving at Hyde Park with a megaphone and espousing the conspiracy theory that 5G and the coronavirus pandemic are linked, calling it a “pack of lies to brainwash you and keep you in order”.
He was detained after declining to leave when asked to by an officer and refusing to provide his details, PA Media reports.
A group of about a dozen people has also gathered on Southampton Common to demonstrate against the lockdown. One protester, Dee, who did not wish to give her surname, said her job in the hair and beauty industry had been hit by the crisis. She told PA Media:
Boris Johnson’s father has said he has not noticed criticism of the prime minister’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking to Ta Nea, a Greek daily newspaper, Stanley Johnson said the government’s approach had been “on the right track”.
He told the paper from his home in Exmoor, south-west England:
Asked about his son’s own bout of coronavirus, which included a stay in intensive care, he said he “felt as any father must feel when his son is at death’s door”.
Before strict lockdown measures were introduced, he said he would ignore his son’s advice to avoid pubs.
“Of course I’ll go to a pub if I need to go to a pub,” he said.
The Department of Health has said mass high-quality testing is an integral part of dealing with coronavirus after the chair of the Royal College of GPs said doctors were concerned about the government’s strategy.
Prof Martin Marshall said:
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said:
Thousands of young people and frontline workers are turning to a text advice line for people in crisis during the coronavirus epidemic, as counsellors report a rise in anxiety caused by the lockdown.
In the two months since Boris Johnson announced restrictions on normal life, an extra 6,000 people have contacted the Shout line and there has been a 10% increase in the number of people with anxiety. Shout often deals with young people in considerable distress, and suicidal feelings are the most common issue raised. Typically, two-thirds of people texting are aged under 25.
The helpline, which was launched a year ago with the backing of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and a £3m investment from the Royal Foundation charity, reported that frontline and key workers are twice as likely as others to mention anxiety. Conversations concerning Covid-19 peaked on days where there were significant announcements, such as those about school closures and other lockdown details.
Around three dozen people have gathered in Hyde Park to protest against the coronavirus lockdown and the principle of mandatory vaccinations, with at least two people led away in handcuffs so far.
Standing close together near Speaker’s Corner, several held placards and banners including slogans like “freedom over fear” as police, including some on horseback, looked on, PA reports.
David Samson, 50, who said he works in finance, said he was attending the protest because “I never thought I’d see in my generation the suppressing of civil rights” over what he falsely described as a “fake virus”.