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UK coronavirus live: excess deaths reached almost 55,000 in early May, says ONS UK coronavirus live: excess deaths reached almost 55,000 in early May, says ONS
(32 minutes later)
Overall deaths in England and Wales in week up to 8 May were down for the third week in a row, at 12,657Overall deaths in England and Wales in week up to 8 May were down for the third week in a row, at 12,657
The Treasury has quadrupled the value of loans available to larger businesses which have been affected by coronavirus. In an announcement this morning it said that companies will now be able to receive up to £200m from the coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme, which previously had a maximum payout of £50m. It said that loans under the expanded scheme will be made available to firms from Tuesday May 26. The Queen has discussed “the state of the world” and the Covid-19 pandemic with the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
So far only £359m has been made available to businesses through the coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme. But almost £19bn has been made available through the Covid corporate financing facility, more than £8bn through bounce back loans, and £6bn through the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme The 94-year-old monarch, who is also Queen of Canada, spoke to Trudeau yesterday – the day of her official birthday in the country. Trudeau tweeted:
Victoria Day - 18 May - is the Queen’s official birthday in Canada. As monarch of the Commonwealth, the Queen has a strong bond with Canada. It has been her most frequent overseas destination, visiting it more than 20 times.
As a young child in the 1970s, Trudeau met the Queen several times through his father, Pierre Trudeau, who was one of Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers.
The government has issued a response to the ONS death figures figures out today. (See 9.44am, 10.11am, 10.42am and 10.56am.) A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said:
The Treasury has quadrupled the value of loans available to larger businesses affected by coronavirus. In an announcement this morning it said that companies would now be able to receive up to £200m from the coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme, which previously had a maximum payout of £50m. It said that loans under the expanded scheme would be made available to firms from Tuesday 26 May.
So far only £359m has been made available to businesses through the coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme. But almost £19bn has been made available through the Covid corporate financing facility, more than £8bn through bounce-back loans, and £6bn through the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme.
And here are two charts from the ONS report that illustrate excess death figures. The figures relate to England and Wales.And here are two charts from the ONS report that illustrate excess death figures. The figures relate to England and Wales.
This chart tracks the figures for all deaths, and the figures for coronavirus deaths. Excess deaths are those above the five-year average.This chart tracks the figures for all deaths, and the figures for coronavirus deaths. Excess deaths are those above the five-year average.
And this chart shows that, although deaths not involving coronavirus were above average for six weeks in early spring, in the week ending 8 May deaths not involving coronavirus were actually below the long-term average. But, overall, the death rate that week was still well above the long-term average because of the coronavirus deaths.And this chart shows that, although deaths not involving coronavirus were above average for six weeks in early spring, in the week ending 8 May deaths not involving coronavirus were actually below the long-term average. But, overall, the death rate that week was still well above the long-term average because of the coronavirus deaths.
Today’s ONS figures show that the proportion of coronavirus deaths taking place in care homes rose in early May, with care home deaths accounting for 42.4% of coronavirus-related fatalities registered in England and Wales in the week ending 8 May. This was up from 40% the previous week.Today’s ONS figures show that the proportion of coronavirus deaths taking place in care homes rose in early May, with care home deaths accounting for 42.4% of coronavirus-related fatalities registered in England and Wales in the week ending 8 May. This was up from 40% the previous week.
This chart from the ONS report helps to illustrate this point.This chart from the ONS report helps to illustrate this point.
The Treasury has this morning published new figures about the impact of its various coronavirus job and business support schemes showing, among other things, that 8m jobs have now been furloughed, at a cost so far of £11.1bn.The Treasury has this morning published new figures about the impact of its various coronavirus job and business support schemes showing, among other things, that 8m jobs have now been furloughed, at a cost so far of £11.1bn.
A “significant percentage” of patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 had blood clots in their lungs, a study has revealed. As PA Media reports, research carried out by a team at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has found infection caused by coronavirus to be associated with a high incidence of venous thromboembolism, a condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the leg, groin or arm and can travel to the lungs, leading to pulmonary embolism.A “significant percentage” of patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 had blood clots in their lungs, a study has revealed. As PA Media reports, research carried out by a team at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has found infection caused by coronavirus to be associated with a high incidence of venous thromboembolism, a condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the leg, groin or arm and can travel to the lungs, leading to pulmonary embolism.
Of the 274 consecutive cases of Covid-19 admitted to hospital, 21 (7.7%) were diagnosed with venous thromboembolism. Blood clot on the lungs was seen in 16 (76.2%) of these cases.Of the 274 consecutive cases of Covid-19 admitted to hospital, 21 (7.7%) were diagnosed with venous thromboembolism. Blood clot on the lungs was seen in 16 (76.2%) of these cases.
The study, published in the Clinical Medicine Journal, was carried out at the Brighton and Sussex university hospitals NHS trust, including two acute hospital sites in southern England.The study, published in the Clinical Medicine Journal, was carried out at the Brighton and Sussex university hospitals NHS trust, including two acute hospital sites in southern England.
The figure given by the ONS statistician Nick Stripe for UK excess deaths (see 10.11am) is broadly in line with the forecasts for this number that other specialists have been producing.The figure given by the ONS statistician Nick Stripe for UK excess deaths (see 10.11am) is broadly in line with the forecasts for this number that other specialists have been producing.
Yesterday the Financial Times’ Chris Giles, who has been doing his own modelling for excess deaths, posted these on Twitter.Yesterday the Financial Times’ Chris Giles, who has been doing his own modelling for excess deaths, posted these on Twitter.
And yesterday Jamie Jenkins, a former ONS official, produced his own latest daily estimate.And yesterday Jamie Jenkins, a former ONS official, produced his own latest daily estimate.
Nick Stripe, head of the health analysis and life events division at the Office for National Statistics, told the BBC a few minutes ago that the total number of excess deaths in the UK - the number above what might expected at this time of year, judged by a five-year average, was just under 55,000 by early May.Nick Stripe, head of the health analysis and life events division at the Office for National Statistics, told the BBC a few minutes ago that the total number of excess deaths in the UK - the number above what might expected at this time of year, judged by a five-year average, was just under 55,000 by early May.
Scientists, and ministers, have repeatedly said that the excess death figures will ultimately prove the most reliable guide as to how badly the UK has been hit by coronavirus.Scientists, and ministers, have repeatedly said that the excess death figures will ultimately prove the most reliable guide as to how badly the UK has been hit by coronavirus.
Stripe told the BBC:Stripe told the BBC:
Stripe said that within the next couple of weeks the ONS planned to publish more research looking at why the excess deaths figure was so high. But he said a report published by the ONS on Friday, on deaths in April, did shed some light on what was happening. He went on:Stripe said that within the next couple of weeks the ONS planned to publish more research looking at why the excess deaths figure was so high. But he said a report published by the ONS on Friday, on deaths in April, did shed some light on what was happening. He went on:
Stripe said there could be two reasons for this increase. First “normal care pathways” could be disrupted; ie, fewer patients were going to hospital, because the hospitals were concentrating on coronavirus. Second, coronavirus might be a factor in these deaths, without doctors being able to confirm that. He explained:Stripe said there could be two reasons for this increase. First “normal care pathways” could be disrupted; ie, fewer patients were going to hospital, because the hospitals were concentrating on coronavirus. Second, coronavirus might be a factor in these deaths, without doctors being able to confirm that. He explained:
The Office for National Statistics has just published the latest weekly death figures for England and Wales. They cover the week up to Friday 8 May (or week 19, as the ONS calls it).The Office for National Statistics has just published the latest weekly death figures for England and Wales. They cover the week up to Friday 8 May (or week 19, as the ONS calls it).
Here are the main points.Here are the main points.
Overall deaths in England and Wales in the week up to 8 May were down for the third week in a row, at 12,657. But they were still 3,081 above the five-year average for that week.Overall deaths in England and Wales in the week up to 8 May were down for the third week in a row, at 12,657. But they were still 3,081 above the five-year average for that week.
Some 31.1% of the deaths in the week up to 8 May involved coronavirus being mentioned on the death certificate, down from 33.6% the previous week.Some 31.1% of the deaths in the week up to 8 May involved coronavirus being mentioned on the death certificate, down from 33.6% the previous week.
Overall deaths in care homes in the week up to 8 May were down, from 6,409 to 4,248. But the proportion involving coronavirus was up from 37.8% the previous week to 39.2%.Overall deaths in care homes in the week up to 8 May were down, from 6,409 to 4,248. But the proportion involving coronavirus was up from 37.8% the previous week to 39.2%.
Britain’s farmers and carmakers will be protected under a new post-Brexit trade regime that will result in 60% of goods coming into the country tariff-free from the start of next year, the government has announced. Our colleague Larry Elliott has the full story here.
The government news release on the announcement is here. And here is the government’s UK global tariff tool, where businesses can check the proposed tariff on any particular item.
Sir Adrian Smith, the incoming president of the Royal Society, has given an interview to the Times, saying that ministers should not say “we are simply doing what scientists tell us”. He said:
Smith starts as head of the Royal Society in November and said he expected his term in the role to be marked an in-depth review into Britain’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
I wonder what Smith will make of comments by the work and pensions secretary to Sky News this morning that “if the science was wrong, advice at the time was wrong”.
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies will probably be surprised to hear Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, saying this morning that there are a “substantial number” of job vacancies around. (See 9.11am.) The IFS has published what it plans to be the first of regular reports on the number of job vacancies available. “Job vacancies are an early indicator of economic activity,” it explains. And as Frances reported earlier, it found that when the lockdown was first announced, job vacancies dried up almost entirely. “New postings on 25 March were just 8% of their levels in 2019,” it says.
The report says that there has been some improvement since mid-April, but that “this has been entirely driven by vacancies in health and social care”.
Xiaowei Xu, one of the authors of the IFS report, said:
The work and pensions secretary, Thérèse Coffey, has been speaking to broadcasters this morning. She insisted that people who had lost their jobs in the coronavirus crisis could find roles in the agricultural sector this summer.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that we should be prepared for the unemployment rate to “increase significantly”, but insisted “there are a substantial number of vacancies already”. Asked where the vacant roles were, she said:
Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) published today found a sharp fall in job vacancies since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. They found that, by the time the lockdown was announced, firms had stopped posting new vacancies almost entirely, with new postings on 25 March just 8% of their levels in 2019.
Coffey defended the government’s coronavirus testing record as having improved from a “standing start”. Asked about criticism by the Commons science and technology committee (see 8.13am), she told BBC Breakfast:
Plans to restore the Houses of Parliament – at a cost of £4bn – have been put on hold, due to the “impact of the current health crisis on public finances”.
The independent body set up to manage the project said it would reassess the decision to relocate MPs and peers while the work was under way. The announcement comes after the National Audit Office (NAO) warned last month that costs for the scheme should not be allowed to slip in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sarah Johnson, CEO of the Sponsor Body, said:
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits surged in April as the coronavirus lockdown hit the economy, figures released this morning show.
The UK claimant count jumped by 69% during the month, as 856,000 more people received universal credit and jobseeker’s allowance benefits in April. That lifted the claimant count to nearly 2.1 million people, from 1.24 million in March. In the south-west, the claimant count almost doubled during the month.
The Office for National Statistics cautions that this is only preliminary data, and will include some people still in work who can now apply for Universal Credit after chancellor Rishi Sunak relaxed the entitlement rules to help people affected by the pandemic.
But economists say it’s a very alarming increase – the biggest since the 1970s – showing the economic damage caused to the UK in the last few months.
The ONS has also found that the number of paid employees fell by over 457,000 in April, to around 28.57 million people – another sign that unemployment is rising as the UK falls into recession. The unemployment rate for January-March dropped to 3.9%, but that mostly covers the period before the lockdown began.
Our business live blog has more details and reaction –
Guardian economics correspondent Richard Partington reports that employers’ groups have been warned that government wage subsidies for disabled and vulnerable workers could be drastically scaled back from August under Treasury plans to wind down its Covid-19 furlough scheme.
The Commons science and technology committee has criticised the government for what it described as “inadequate” coronavirus testing capacity throughout the pandemic.
The group of MPs identified several lessons to learn from the UK’s handling of the outbreak, and criticised a lack of transparency over some crucial decision-making. They called on the government to “urgently” build up capacity for contact tracing, a key tactic in helping ease existing lockdown measures.
In a letter to the prime minister assessing evidence to the committee during the pandemic, its chairman Greg Clark – the Tory former business secretary – said:
Clark also said Public Health England (PHE) had repeatedly failed to answer questions over the “pivotal” decision to ignore mass testing in favour of other tactics.
He said the decision meant that residents in care homes and care home workers could not be tested at a time when the spread of the virus was at its most rampant. Clark wrote:
Here’s a little summary of some of what we can expect today.
The work and pensions secretary, Thérèse Coffey, is out speaking to broadcasters this morning. I’ll bring you the highlights from that.
At 9.30am, experts in social care from around the world will give evidence to the Commons health and social care committee about Covid-19 in care homes.
Also at 9.30, we will also get new data from the Office for National Statistics about the number of coronavirus-related deaths registered in England and Wales for the week ending 8 May.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will be summoned to the commons chamber at 12.30 for an urgent question on care homes.
The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will give evidence to the Lords economic affairs committee at 3pm.
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s UK coronavirus live blog.
A study by the Resolution Foundation thinktank has found that younger and older workers are being hardest hit by the squeeze on earnings during the coronavirus crisis. More than one in three 18 to 24-year-olds, and three in 10 workers in their early 60s, are receiving less pay than they did at the start of the year. This compares with less than a quarter of workers aged 35 to 49.
The report – based on a survey of more than 6,000 UK adults between May 6 and 11 – warned that younger workers risk their pay being scarred for years to come, while older workers may end up involuntary retired well before reaching their state pension age. Maja Gustafsson, a researcher at the Resolution Foundation, said:
Official figures just out show that unemployment increased by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to the end of March. (Important to note that lockdown didn’t start until 24 March.) Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Iain Duncan Smith – former Tory leader and former work and pension secretary – said “there was always going to be a big hit to the economy by locking down the economy”. He warned that there was a lag effect, so the numbers would get worse.
I’m Frances Perraudin and I’ll be bringing you the latest developments in the pandemic in the UK today. You contact me with tips and comments on twitter @fperraudin and on frances.perraudin@theguardian.com.