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| UK coronavirus: £84m pledged to produce a working vaccine as death toll rises by 170 to 34,636 — as it happened | |
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| Death rate rises in England and Scotland; Crown court jury trials to start on Monday; Boris Johnson acknowledges frustration over lockdown rules | Death rate rises in England and Scotland; Crown court jury trials to start on Monday; Boris Johnson acknowledges frustration over lockdown rules |
| That’s it for the UK blog today. As always thanks for reading along, and my colleague Clea Skopeliti is continuing our coronavirus coverage over on the global blog, as Spain records its lowest death toll in two months. | That’s it for the UK blog today. As always thanks for reading along, and my colleague Clea Skopeliti is continuing our coronavirus coverage over on the global blog, as Spain records its lowest death toll in two months. |
| Up to 20% of hospital patients in England got coronavirus while in for another illness. Up to a fifth of patients with Covid-19 in several hospitals contracted the disease while already being treated there for another illness. Some of the infections were passed on by hospital staff who were unaware they had the virus, while patients with coronavirus were responsible for the others. | Up to 20% of hospital patients in England got coronavirus while in for another illness. Up to a fifth of patients with Covid-19 in several hospitals contracted the disease while already being treated there for another illness. Some of the infections were passed on by hospital staff who were unaware they had the virus, while patients with coronavirus were responsible for the others. |
| UK daily coronavirus death toll lowest since lockdown began. A further 170 people died after contracting the virus, although due to hospital reporting delays, the numbers reported on Sundays and Mondays are typically lower than other days. | UK daily coronavirus death toll lowest since lockdown began. A further 170 people died after contracting the virus, although due to hospital reporting delays, the numbers reported on Sundays and Mondays are typically lower than other days. |
| Government pledges £84m to mass produce Oxford vaccine if trials successful. Oxford University has confirmed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, which will make 30m vaccine doses available to the UK by September if the trials are successful, as part of an agreement for 100m doses in total. | Government pledges £84m to mass produce Oxford vaccine if trials successful. Oxford University has confirmed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, which will make 30m vaccine doses available to the UK by September if the trials are successful, as part of an agreement for 100m doses in total. |
| UK wrong to rule out global coronavirus comparisons, experts say. Academics’ data on excess deaths shows the peak in England was higher than Italy’s. Ministers have said comparisons are not accurate because countries collect their data in different ways. | UK wrong to rule out global coronavirus comparisons, experts say. Academics’ data on excess deaths shows the peak in England was higher than Italy’s. Ministers have said comparisons are not accurate because countries collect their data in different ways. |
| Data on reopening schools reassuring, says WHO scientist. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said evidence from countries where schools have remained open suggests this has not led to large outbreaks of Covid-19. | Data on reopening schools reassuring, says WHO scientist. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said evidence from countries where schools have remained open suggests this has not led to large outbreaks of Covid-19. |
| Police quiz man over death of rail worker spat at by ‘Covid carrier’. Belly Mujinga, 47, died after a man who claimed to have the virus spat at and coughed over her at Victoria station. British Transport Police said detectives had now identified a 57-year-old man in connection with the incident. | Police quiz man over death of rail worker spat at by ‘Covid carrier’. Belly Mujinga, 47, died after a man who claimed to have the virus spat at and coughed over her at Victoria station. British Transport Police said detectives had now identified a 57-year-old man in connection with the incident. |
| Doctors believe blood-thinning drugs could help save lives in Covid-19 fight. Medical researchers have discovered a link between the virus and blood clots in the lungs. Specialists at Royal Brompton Hospital’s severe respiratory failure service used hi-tech CT scans to take images of lung function in critically-ill patients. All of those tested suffered a lack of blood flow, suggesting clotting within the small vessels in the lung. | Doctors believe blood-thinning drugs could help save lives in Covid-19 fight. Medical researchers have discovered a link between the virus and blood clots in the lungs. Specialists at Royal Brompton Hospital’s severe respiratory failure service used hi-tech CT scans to take images of lung function in critically-ill patients. All of those tested suffered a lack of blood flow, suggesting clotting within the small vessels in the lung. |
| Labour to plan green economic rescue from coronavirus crisis. Ed Miliband has called for the creation of a ‘zero-carbon army’ for eco-friendly industries, as part of Labour’s proposals to rescue the post-coronavirus economy with a radical green recovery plan, focused on helping young people who lose their jobs by retraining them in green industries. | Labour to plan green economic rescue from coronavirus crisis. Ed Miliband has called for the creation of a ‘zero-carbon army’ for eco-friendly industries, as part of Labour’s proposals to rescue the post-coronavirus economy with a radical green recovery plan, focused on helping young people who lose their jobs by retraining them in green industries. |
| Sharma wraps up the briefing by thanking the public for the action they are taking to reduce the R rate. | Sharma wraps up the briefing by thanking the public for the action they are taking to reduce the R rate. |
| Q: One of the government’s five tests for lifting lockdown is that any supply issues with PPE and tests are solved, and the NHS can meet future demand. Are we there yet and if not, what is your best estimate for when we will be there? | Q: One of the government’s five tests for lifting lockdown is that any supply issues with PPE and tests are solved, and the NHS can meet future demand. Are we there yet and if not, what is your best estimate for when we will be there? |
| Powis responds that the government is leading on procurement of PPE and securing tests. The situation has improved with PPE over the past few weeks but continues to be a challenge, he said, with many countries across the world seeking supplies. | Powis responds that the government is leading on procurement of PPE and securing tests. The situation has improved with PPE over the past few weeks but continues to be a challenge, he said, with many countries across the world seeking supplies. |
| Testing capacity has increased, he said, and all patients who present to hospital in an emergency are tested whether they show symptoms or not. | Testing capacity has increased, he said, and all patients who present to hospital in an emergency are tested whether they show symptoms or not. |
| NHS staff are tested if they show symptoms, but hospitals are now being encouraged to test asymptomatic staff as well, he added. | NHS staff are tested if they show symptoms, but hospitals are now being encouraged to test asymptomatic staff as well, he added. |
| The next question asks about regional differences to the easing of lockdown measures across the country. | The next question asks about regional differences to the easing of lockdown measures across the country. |
| Sharma is evasive in his answer, simply saying the government wants children to go back to school because “early learning is vital”, and this will happen at the earliest from 1 June. | Sharma is evasive in his answer, simply saying the government wants children to go back to school because “early learning is vital”, and this will happen at the earliest from 1 June. |
| He said academy chains across the country have said they will bring pupils back to school when the government says it is safe to do so. | He said academy chains across the country have said they will bring pupils back to school when the government says it is safe to do so. |
| BBC political correspondent Vicky Young asked: | BBC political correspondent Vicky Young asked: |
| Q: Is the government guaranteeing that the test, track and tracing system will be in place by 1 June, when many primary school pupils are due to return to classrooms in England? | Q: Is the government guaranteeing that the test, track and tracing system will be in place by 1 June, when many primary school pupils are due to return to classrooms in England? |
| “I want to thank teachers as they have managed to keep schools open for the children of essential workers,” Sharma said. | “I want to thank teachers as they have managed to keep schools open for the children of essential workers,” Sharma said. |
| “Safety is absolutely paramount,” he added. “That’s why we’ve set out measures ensuring smaller class sizes... regular cleaning of surfaces, children washing their hands... that’s how we’ll ensure children and teachers are safe.” | “Safety is absolutely paramount,” he added. “That’s why we’ve set out measures ensuring smaller class sizes... regular cleaning of surfaces, children washing their hands... that’s how we’ll ensure children and teachers are safe.” |
| Q: Why are visitors from France to the UK to be exempt from quarantine rules? | Q: Why are visitors from France to the UK to be exempt from quarantine rules? |
| “I think there’s a trade-off between the health of the nation and the health of the economy,” Sharma said. | “I think there’s a trade-off between the health of the nation and the health of the economy,” Sharma said. |
| He added that discussions have taken place with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, which will be made available in due course. | He added that discussions have taken place with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, which will be made available in due course. |
| There are no journalists live on screen today due to issues with Zoom, so Sharma will be reading questions out. | There are no journalists live on screen today due to issues with Zoom, so Sharma will be reading questions out. |
| However, the first question is from a member of the public, Peter, from County Durham. | However, the first question is from a member of the public, Peter, from County Durham. |
| Q: The R rate in the North East and Yorkshire is now the highest in England. Does the government acknowledge that a phased geographically-based lifting of the lockdown would have been a better option? | Q: The R rate in the North East and Yorkshire is now the highest in England. Does the government acknowledge that a phased geographically-based lifting of the lockdown would have been a better option? |
| Sharma responded that when national monitoring becomes more precise the government can look at different approaches for regions, but it is too soon for this right now. | Sharma responded that when national monitoring becomes more precise the government can look at different approaches for regions, but it is too soon for this right now. |
| Powis added that when we know the direct R rate - rather than discerning the R rate from modelling - the spread in different regions will become clearer. | Powis added that when we know the direct R rate - rather than discerning the R rate from modelling - the spread in different regions will become clearer. |
| The number of daily confirmed cases is stable, said Powis, showing the rate of infection is slowing, but this is reliant on people continuing to abide by the social distancing measures. | The number of daily confirmed cases is stable, said Powis, showing the rate of infection is slowing, but this is reliant on people continuing to abide by the social distancing measures. |
| The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals throughout all parts of the UK continues to fall, he added. | The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals throughout all parts of the UK continues to fall, he added. |
| The reduction has been greatest in London, but the fall has also been occurring in other parts of the country, although slower in some areas. | The reduction has been greatest in London, but the fall has also been occurring in other parts of the country, although slower in some areas. |
| The number of people attending A&E has risen, said Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England. | The number of people attending A&E has risen, said Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England. |
| A&E figures have show a record low number visits, as people avoided hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak. | A&E figures have show a record low number visits, as people avoided hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Powis said the number of people seeking help for things such as heart attacks “has now gone back to normal”. | Powis said the number of people seeking help for things such as heart attacks “has now gone back to normal”. |
| He said people are listening to the message that they should be using the NHS as normal when they need it. | He said people are listening to the message that they should be using the NHS as normal when they need it. |
| Sharma also announced the government is investing a further £93m in the Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Harwell in Oxfordshire, ensuring it opens in summer 2021, ahead of schedule. | Sharma also announced the government is investing a further £93m in the Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Harwell in Oxfordshire, ensuring it opens in summer 2021, ahead of schedule. |
| He added that six drugs for treating the virus have now entered clinical trials. | He added that six drugs for treating the virus have now entered clinical trials. |
| Sharma also confirmed that Oxford University has confirmed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, which will make 30 million vaccine doses available to the UK by September if the trials are successful, as part of an agreement for 100 million doses in total. | Sharma also confirmed that Oxford University has confirmed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, which will make 30 million vaccine doses available to the UK by September if the trials are successful, as part of an agreement for 100 million doses in total. |
| The UK will be the first to get access, he said. | The UK will be the first to get access, he said. |
| Sharma said the government has already invested £47m in the Oxford University and Imperial College London vaccine trials, but is today announcing a further £84m funding to help accelerate their work. | Sharma said the government has already invested £47m in the Oxford University and Imperial College London vaccine trials, but is today announcing a further £84m funding to help accelerate their work. |
| He said this money will be used to start mass producing the Oxford vaccine is the trials prove successful, so it can be distributed to the UK population straight away. | He said this money will be used to start mass producing the Oxford vaccine is the trials prove successful, so it can be distributed to the UK population straight away. |
| The funding will also allow Imperial to launch phase three of its vaccine trial later in the year. | The funding will also allow Imperial to launch phase three of its vaccine trial later in the year. |
| An update on the vaccine taskforce that Sharma announced last month, to coordinate government, academia and industry in the effort to find a Covid-19 vaccine. | An update on the vaccine taskforce that Sharma announced last month, to coordinate government, academia and industry in the effort to find a Covid-19 vaccine. |
| Imperial College is also making good progress, and is looking to move into clinical trials in mid-June, Sharma added. | Imperial College is also making good progress, and is looking to move into clinical trials in mid-June, Sharma added. |
| Sharma offers a reminder that the government has implemented a coronavirus alert level system, based on the R level (rate of infection across the country) saying we are on our way to level three, having been in level four since the start of lockdown. | Sharma offers a reminder that the government has implemented a coronavirus alert level system, based on the R level (rate of infection across the country) saying we are on our way to level three, having been in level four since the start of lockdown. |
| A week on from when Boris Johnson announced the easing of lockdown restrictions in England, he reminds people that they should be going back to work if they are unable to work at home, and that people can meet one other person at the park while maintaining two metre distance. | A week on from when Boris Johnson announced the easing of lockdown restrictions in England, he reminds people that they should be going back to work if they are unable to work at home, and that people can meet one other person at the park while maintaining two metre distance. |
| He said people should wear face coverings in shops and on public transport and work at home where possible. | He said people should wear face coverings in shops and on public transport and work at home where possible. |
| The latest coronavirus figures: | The latest coronavirus figures: |
| 91,206 tests were carried out yesterday | 91,206 tests were carried out yesterday |
| There have been 3,142 new recorded cases | There have been 3,142 new recorded cases |
| 10,035 people are in hospital with Covid-19, down 15%, from 11,817, this time last week | 10,035 people are in hospital with Covid-19, down 15%, from 11,817, this time last week |
| 34,636 have died after contracting Covid-19, an increase of 170 fatalties since yesterday | 34,636 have died after contracting Covid-19, an increase of 170 fatalties since yesterday |
| Due to a technical issue, today’s numbers do not include Northern Ireland cases, Sharma said. | Due to a technical issue, today’s numbers do not include Northern Ireland cases, Sharma said. |