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UK coronavirus live: migrant care workers to be exempt from NHS surcharge after U-turn; Matt Hancock leads briefing UK coronavirus live: migrant care workers to be exempt from NHS surcharge after U-turn
(32 minutes later)
Government has signed deal for 10m antibody tests to be rolled out next week; health secretary says 17% of Londoners and 5% of rest of country have had Covid-19; official UK death toll rises to 36,042Government has signed deal for 10m antibody tests to be rolled out next week; health secretary says 17% of Londoners and 5% of rest of country have had Covid-19; official UK death toll rises to 36,042
The Conservative MP Robert Halfon has also welcome the No 10 U-turn on NHS surcharge. He was one of the Tories who called for this move.
Q: [From an Edinburgh journalist] From August will have to contribute to the cost of furlough. But the hospitality sector won’t be opening up then. So will they get extra help?
Hancock says he understands the specific concern, particularly for a city like Edinburgh that is so dependent on the festival.
And that’s it. The press conference is over.
Robbie Savage, former footballer and a columnist from the Daily Mirror, goes next.
Q: Why are young people who play the working class game of football not able to train, when people can play sport like tennis?
Hancock says he understands why people want to play football. But the rules are in place so we can get a grip of the virus.
Q: Why are some governing bodies allowing one-on-one coaching with under-18s, but not football?
Whitty says he understands the point.
He says the scientists were very confident that doing things outdoors is safer than indoors.
He says you can play some sports and keep to the two-metre rule. But football is a contact sport, he says. So football is a bigger risk.
He says the experts have had to think about what the reproduction rate for the infection has to be for this to be safe.
Q: So what is the pathway to grassroots football being allowed to restart? Will we have to wait for a vaccine?
Hancock says he very much hopes not.
Whitty says his expectation is that a vaccine before next year on a widespread basis is very unlikely. He says there may have to be some changes to the way football is played. But he hopes football can be played. Outdoors is safer than indoors.
Q: Is there a point where contact tracing will not be able to work because there are too many cases?
Hancock says, because of the surveillance system, they now have a much better idea of what R is. So they should be able to prevent that, he says.
Q: If we never needed the app to launch a contact-tracing system, could we not have launched the contact-tracing system earlier?
Hancock says the app is working in the Isle of Wight. But rolling it out nationwide will be harder, he says.
Q: The government’s coronavirus recovery plan says an app is integral to a contact-tracing system. Now you are not saying that. Why?
(Here is a quote from the document. It says “For such a [contact tracing] system to work, several systems need to be built and successfully integrated. These include .... automated, app-based contact-tracing through the new NHS Covid-19 app.)
Hancock says the contact-tracing system must be in place by 1 June. There are 24,000 contact tracers, as of yesterday.
The technology is an important part, but not the only part, he says.
Q: Yesterday the PM said it was right to make migrant care workers pay the NHS surcharge. Now he says that’s wrong. What changed his mind?
Hancock says yesterday the PM was talking about the surcharge in general. (See 4.46pm.) Now he is talking about exemptions, he says.
Q: Did the PM change his mind on exempting care workers from the NHS surcharge, or was he just worried about losing votes?
Hancock says the PM has asked him and the home secretary to look at how NHS and care workers can be removed from this as soon as possible.
He says the purpose of the surcharge was a fair one; to ensure that everyone contributes to the NHS.
Q: Are you still planning to impose a cap on the amount of social care costs any individual has to pay? And has the crisis strengthened the case for reform?
Hancock says the government is working on creating a sustainable care system, as it promised in its manifesto.
Q: When will that emerge? And will it stop people having to sell their homes to pay for care?
Hancock says it will stop people having to sell their homes. He has seen the injustice of this. People cannot insure themselves against this risk, he says.
But he says he can’t say when the care plan will be published.
Hancock is now addressing a question from Finlay, a member of the public. Will the vaccine be compulsory?Hancock is now addressing a question from Finlay, a member of the public. Will the vaccine be compulsory?
Hancock says the government will only recommend a vaccine if it is safe. And so if the government recommends it, people should use it.Hancock says the government will only recommend a vaccine if it is safe. And so if the government recommends it, people should use it.
He says he is not addressing the issue of compulsion now. But he would hope that everyone would want to use it.He says he is not addressing the issue of compulsion now. But he would hope that everyone would want to use it.
Whitty says you can use vaccines to protect a whole population. Whitty says you can use vaccines to protect a whole population, or you can give it to those most at risk. You might do this because there are limited supplies, or because it only provides partial protection.
Or you can give it to those most at risk. You might do this because there are limited supplies, or because it only provides partial protection.
Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, is presenting the slides now.Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, is presenting the slides now.
Here are the figures from the ONS for the number of people with coronavirus now.Here are the figures from the ONS for the number of people with coronavirus now.
And this chart shows excess death. Whitty says he has repeatedly said excess deaths is the best measure of the seriousness of the epidemic. He says you can see the peak. Now it is coming down to the level of a normal winter flu oubreak - albeit winter levels in spring or early summer. And this chart shows excess deaths. Whitty says he has repeatedly said excess deaths is the best measure of the seriousness of the pandemic. He says you can see the peak. Now it is coming down to the level of a normal winter flu oubreak – albeit winter levels in spring or early summer.
Hancock says the antibody tests suggest that 17% of people in London may have had coronavirus. In the rest of the country the figure is 5%, he says.Hancock says the antibody tests suggest that 17% of people in London may have had coronavirus. In the rest of the country the figure is 5%, he says.
He says the government has signed a deal with Roche and Abbott that will lead to 10m antibody tests being available in the UK. He says these will be rolled out to NHS and care staff and patients first.He says the government has signed a deal with Roche and Abbott that will lead to 10m antibody tests being available in the UK. He says these will be rolled out to NHS and care staff and patients first.
Hancock is now reading out the latest testing and death figures.Hancock is now reading out the latest testing and death figures.
Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, is taking the UK government’s daily press conference.Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, is taking the UK government’s daily press conference.
He starts by talking about mental health. It is OK to say you are stressed, he says.He starts by talking about mental health. It is OK to say you are stressed, he says.
He urges people to come together for Mental Health Awareness Week.He urges people to come together for Mental Health Awareness Week.
This is from William Wragg, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee. He was one of the first Conservatives to say he would support a Labour proposal to exempt all migrant health and care workers from the NHS surcharge. (See 8.33am.)This is from William Wragg, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee. He was one of the first Conservatives to say he would support a Labour proposal to exempt all migrant health and care workers from the NHS surcharge. (See 8.33am.)
No 10 has clarified that the new policy, removing all migrant NHS and care workers from the NHS surcharge, will cover “all NHS workers, ranging from medical health staff including vital porters and cleaners”. It also includes independent health workers and social care workers.No 10 has clarified that the new policy, removing all migrant NHS and care workers from the NHS surcharge, will cover “all NHS workers, ranging from medical health staff including vital porters and cleaners”. It also includes independent health workers and social care workers.
For migrants working outside the health and social care industry, the NHS surcharge will remain in place, and the planned increase, from £400 to £624, will go ahead in October. “It is fair to expect people arriving in the UK to work in non-health roles who might use the NHS to make a contribution,” a government source said.For migrants working outside the health and social care industry, the NHS surcharge will remain in place, and the planned increase, from £400 to £624, will go ahead in October. “It is fair to expect people arriving in the UK to work in non-health roles who might use the NHS to make a contribution,” a government source said.
In March, Priti Patel, the home secretary, announced a limited exemption from the NHS surcharge for NHS workers. She said that around 2,800 migrant doctors, nurses and paramedics would have their visas extended for free for a year, and that they would not have to pay the NHS surcharge.In March, Priti Patel, the home secretary, announced a limited exemption from the NHS surcharge for NHS workers. She said that around 2,800 migrant doctors, nurses and paramedics would have their visas extended for free for a year, and that they would not have to pay the NHS surcharge.
Under the new No 10 policy (see 4.37pm) NHS and care workers seem to be getting a permanent exemption.Under the new No 10 policy (see 4.37pm) NHS and care workers seem to be getting a permanent exemption.
This is from Sir Keir Starmer.This is from Sir Keir Starmer.
The No 10 U-turn marks a victory for Sir Keir Starmer. The Labour leader raised the issue at PMQs yesterday and challenged Boris Johnson to remove it for care workers. Johnson said he had “thought a great deal about this”, but he defended the arrangements.
Starmer said:
And Johnson replied:
U-turns are always embarrassing for politicians, particularly when they are as blatant as this one. But, in the long-term, they can be beneficial. Opposition parties need grievances; U-turns sweep those grievances off the table.
Downing Street has now performed a U-turn on the NHS surcharge, and announced that all migrant NHS and care workers will join the health workers already benefitting from an exemption. A No 10 spokesman put out this statement.
You can read the full story here:
According to a snap YouGov poll, by a margin of almost two to one, people think migrant health and care workers should be exempt from the NHS surcharge. Even among Conservative supporters there is a small majority in favour of the exemption (although not among those who are pro-Brexit).
But if you were wondering why Downing Street seems reluctant to give in to the pressure for a U-turn on this, another finding from the poll provides an answer – overall, the NHS surcharge is massively popular. Even Labour supporters are in favour, the poll suggests.
UPDATE: It is worth pointing out that this YouGov question is misleading because it ignores the fact that migrant workers do pay for the NHS through their taxes. But the idea that they don’t is implicit in the policy; in fact, it is the whole rationale for the policy (which is why many people find it so objectionable).
The number of frontline prison officers fell in the first three months of the year, figures from the Ministry of Justice show, prompting warnings against “flashpoints” developing in jails.
As at the end of March, there were 21,928 prison officers working in bands 3 to 5 – frontline officers – 226 fewer than at the end of December, 702 fewer than in March 2019, and 2,902 fewer than at the end of March 2010.
Experts have warned prisons could be potential hotspots for the coronavirus and the government has introduced a highly restrictive regime in an attempt to contain the spread of disease behind bars. At least 21 prisoners and nine staff have contracted the virus and died.
The shadow justice secretary, David Lammy, said:
The Conservatives have criticised Labour politicians in the London assembly for pressing ahead with an investigation into Boris Johnson and his dealings with Jennifer Arcuri when he was mayor. (See 12.16pm.) In a statement issued by CCHQ, the Tory MP Gareth Bacon said:
The hymn Abide With Me, sung just before every FA Cup final since the early 20th century, will belted out once more this Saturday in aid of NHS charities.
Before what would have been kick-off at Wembley for the 2020 cup final, an online recording of the song will be broadcast across the internet.
The annual climax to the English football season in May was one of the sporting casualties of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Members of the Fans Choir, who sang Abide With Me’ at the Arsenal v Aston Villa final in 2015, have teamed up again to release Abide With Us’ in solidarity with NHS staff fighting the pandemic.
“We’re all footy mad and missing our singing!” said Dave Gilhooley, who has compiled the video from Fans Choir members’ contributions from all over the country.
“It’s a chance for fans all over the country to sing your footy socks off on your doorstep for the game that you love, the NHS and key workers that have sacrificed so much on our behalf.
“A Just Giving page has been set up, the aim being to raise money for NHS families decimated by losing a loved one to the dreadful C-19 disease,” he added.
A cafe owner who installed dozens of shower curtains between tables in a bid to combat coronavirus has said he hopes his idea can inspire other businesses.
Francini Osorio has used more than 30 curtains as dividers between tables in a trial phase during the Covid-19 lockdown and has more on order.
Osorio also plans to use an air purifier in an effort to protect customers at the Francini Cafe De Colombia in Worcester.
The businessman, originally from Colombia, who is readying his cafe to reopen, said: “Where I come from we don’t sink, we stand up and we keep going.”
Osorio, who plans to provide gloves and encourage people to bring their own masks, said of the curtains, which will be sprayed with disinfectant: “The idea is to keep people together but separated by the curtain.
“If this has inspired people, that’s brilliant.”
A ban on a mosque opening for Friday prayers due to the Covid-19 pandemic is a breach of worshippers’ human rights, the high court has heard.
Tabassum Hussain, the chairman of the executive committee of the Jamiyat Tabligh-ul-Islam Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Bradford, is seeking an urgent injunction against the Department of Health and Social Care.
The injunction would allow his place of worship to open for communal prayers on Friday, before the end of Ramadan this weekend.
Under the latest emergency rules to deal with the pandemic, places of worship must remain closed, although a faith leader can attend the venue to broadcast prayers and acts of worship via the internet.
Hussain argues that the closures are unlawful and breach his rights to religious freedom and worship.
In another easing of the lockdown in England, the Department for Education has said that students who had to abandon their belongings in university accommodation can now go and get them. In new guidance issued today, the DfE told universities to contact the students affected:
There’s a slight sting in the tail: students who can’t go – because they are isolating or perhaps living overseas – may find their belongings put into storage for a price.
“If there are costs to you in carrying out this service, we understand students may be required to cover these costs but we would not expect you to make a profit from such a service,” the DfE told universities.