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UK coronavirus live: launch test and trace or risk second wave, NHS leaders warn UK coronavirus live: launch test and trace or risk second wave, NHS leaders warn
(32 minutes later)
Government told it is running out of time to kick off testing systemGovernment told it is running out of time to kick off testing system
Staying in Scotland for a moment, the deputy first minister John Swinney has said the country faces “a challenging situation” in care homes due to testing capacity.
Appearing on the Today programme, Swinney was asked if all care workers in infected homes in Scotland were now being tested, he replied: “They are eligible for testing now, yes.”
Pressed further, he said: “Well, they should be able to get the test because they are eligible to get it and there is plenty of testing capacity available.”
The Scottish government has recruited 600 people to undertake contact tracing and was aiming to get 2,000 in place in total.
On the 2,000, he said: “We won’t need them on day one when we start this process, but at the end of this month when we want to be in a position to deliver a contact-tracing strategy, that will be able to be delivered in Scotland.”
Heriot-Watt university is to remove a controversial stone sculpture commissioned by Alex Salmond pledging Scotland would never abandon free tuition, after fee-paying students objected to its message.
The sculpture quoted Salmond’s statement as first minister that “the rocks will melt with the sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scotland’s students”, and was placed on the access road into Heriot-Watt’s campus on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The university, along with the rest of its sector, faces significant financial problems due to the coronavirus pandemic with an expected collapse in the number of overseas and EU students attending UK universities.
It is understood foreign students were unhappy with it since they pay thousands of pounds a year in fees. Although Scottish students pay no fees, those from the rest of the UK also pay up to £9,250 a year to study in Scotland.
Until Brexit, EU students were also exempt from paying tuition fees in Scotland, due to a quirk of EU law. Scottish ministers now have to decide whether to require fees from EU students after the UK’s transition period finishes in January 2021.
Heriot-Watt was ridiculed by critics for allowing the sculpture to be installed due to its bombastic tone and highly political message. It was erected during Salmond’s final days in office after he lost the independence referendum in 2014. It was reported at the time that other universities refused to accept it.
The university said:
Another issue weighing on the government this morning is that of the NHS surcharge – the fees some overseas health workers are charged to use the NHS.
A senior Tory MP, William Wragg, has backed Labour’s calls for the charge to be scrapped, saying that “now is the time for a generosity of spirit towards those who have done so much good”.
Wragg, who is chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, said he was “sure” that his Conservative colleagues would be supportive of his stance.
Immigrants from outside the European Economic Area – often including NHS cleaners, porters and other healthcare staff – are required to pay an NHS surcharge of £400 a year, rising to £624 from October.
On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, James Brokenshire was repeatedly asked whether the government would get rid of the charge. His answer, to paraphrase, was probably not:
My esteemed colleague Sarah Boseley has written a very good explainer on the government’s test, track and trace strategy, which is dominating the headlines this morning.My esteemed colleague Sarah Boseley has written a very good explainer on the government’s test, track and trace strategy, which is dominating the headlines this morning.
But in brief, the strategy aims to:But in brief, the strategy aims to:
Test people to see if they currently have the virus.Test people to see if they currently have the virus.
Track how and where the virus is spreading.Track how and where the virus is spreading.
Trace people who may be infected.Trace people who may be infected.
Central to this plan has been a new NHS app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight.Central to this plan has been a new NHS app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said last week that the app would be ready to start being rolled out in mid-May. However, ministers now say it won’t be ready until the next few weeks.Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said last week that the app would be ready to start being rolled out in mid-May. However, ministers now say it won’t be ready until the next few weeks.
The clock, as NHS figures are saying this morning, is very much ticking. The government’s own scientific advisers say that a comprehensive and rapid test, track and trace system is crucial to any easing of the lockdown.The clock, as NHS figures are saying this morning, is very much ticking. The government’s own scientific advisers say that a comprehensive and rapid test, track and trace system is crucial to any easing of the lockdown.
Security minister James Brokenshire is touring the TV and radio studios for the government this morning.Security minister James Brokenshire is touring the TV and radio studios for the government this morning.
Responding to concerns from NHS leaders about delays to the test, track and trace system, Brokenshire insists he is “confident” that it will be in place by 1 June (11 days from now).Responding to concerns from NHS leaders about delays to the test, track and trace system, Brokenshire insists he is “confident” that it will be in place by 1 June (11 days from now).
Brokenshire told Sky News that the app “will be introduced in the coming weeks in parallel” with the system employing track and trace staff. He added:Brokenshire told Sky News that the app “will be introduced in the coming weeks in parallel” with the system employing track and trace staff. He added:
Pushed on whether the app is needed to competently track and trace, Brokenshire told Kay Burley: “Of course Kay, we want to see the app rolled out, work continues at pace in relation to that, learning from the experience in the Isle of Wight, so that that can be adopted more broadly.” Brokenshire added that the app provides “extra support”.Pushed on whether the app is needed to competently track and trace, Brokenshire told Kay Burley: “Of course Kay, we want to see the app rolled out, work continues at pace in relation to that, learning from the experience in the Isle of Wight, so that that can be adopted more broadly.” Brokenshire added that the app provides “extra support”.
Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS providers – which represents hospital trusts – has said the health service risks being “overwhelmed” in a second peak of Covid-19 unless ministers quickly set out a clear strategy for its test, track and trace programme.Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS providers – which represents hospital trusts – has said the health service risks being “overwhelmed” in a second peak of Covid-19 unless ministers quickly set out a clear strategy for its test, track and trace programme.
He said NHS Trusts, GPs and workers on the 111 service have “not had clear information and instructions about what their role will be in this process”.He said NHS Trusts, GPs and workers on the 111 service have “not had clear information and instructions about what their role will be in this process”.
He added:He added:
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK developments on the coronavirus pandemic.Leading the headlines today are NHS leaders warning that the government is running out of time to launch its test and trace system if a possible second wave of coronavirus is to be avoided.Niall Dickson, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation - which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, wrote to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, because his members were “concerned” over an apparent lack of a clear strategy.Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK developments on the coronavirus pandemic.Leading the headlines today are NHS leaders warning that the government is running out of time to launch its test and trace system if a possible second wave of coronavirus is to be avoided.Niall Dickson, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation - which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, wrote to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, because his members were “concerned” over an apparent lack of a clear strategy.
“We would therefore urge you to produce such a strategy with a clear implementation plan ahead of any further easing of the lockdown,” Dickson said in his letter.Test, track and trace - TTT - means testing people for coronavirus, tracking the spread of the virus, then tracing the people with whom an infected person has come into contact. The government’s own scientific advisers have said such a system is critical to any lifting of the lockdown.We will bring you all the day’s developments from the Commons and beyond. Thank you for joining us.“We would therefore urge you to produce such a strategy with a clear implementation plan ahead of any further easing of the lockdown,” Dickson said in his letter.Test, track and trace - TTT - means testing people for coronavirus, tracking the spread of the virus, then tracing the people with whom an infected person has come into contact. The government’s own scientific advisers have said such a system is critical to any lifting of the lockdown.We will bring you all the day’s developments from the Commons and beyond. Thank you for joining us.