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UK coronavirus live: Britain comes together to clap for carers on Covid frontline UK coronavirus live: Britain comes together to clap for carers on Covid frontline
(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
That’s the end of our UK live coverage for tonight, please follow worldwide developments on our global blog. Thanks for reading and writing in.
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, also came out to pay her respects tonight.
According to the BBC, “millions of people” were clapping across the country tonight, among them 100-year-old Dabirul Choudhury, from St Albans, who’s raised over £177,000 for coronavirus relief.
On my street in central Brixton, London, only two parties came to their windows to clap for about 15 seconds tonight. In previous weeks, people could be seen in most windows clapping and cheering.
Here a video that was posted by the British Medical Association in Scotland:
Boris Johnson came out of No 10 for a solo clap tonight, without his fiancée Carrie Symonds, who had accompanied him last week.
This from London Mayor Sadiq Khan:This from London Mayor Sadiq Khan:
This just in from Forces News, showing military staff in Bosnia, Turks and Caicos and Cornwall clapping for carers.This just in from Forces News, showing military staff in Bosnia, Turks and Caicos and Cornwall clapping for carers.
This from Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting.This from Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting.
People across the UK will pay tribute to coronavirus key workers tonight at 8pm GMT.People across the UK will pay tribute to coronavirus key workers tonight at 8pm GMT.
Every Thursday for the past nine weeks, people have been clapping from their doorsteps, windows and streets for NHS staff, bus drivers, retail staff and other key workers who have been risking their lives by going to work during the pandemic.Every Thursday for the past nine weeks, people have been clapping from their doorsteps, windows and streets for NHS staff, bus drivers, retail staff and other key workers who have been risking their lives by going to work during the pandemic.
Tonight’s Clap for Carers will go ahead against the backdrop of the government’s scrapping of the overseas surcharge for migrant NHS workers, a U-turn that came on Thursday after concerted pressure from opposition and Conservative backbenchers.Tonight’s Clap for Carers will go ahead against the backdrop of the government’s scrapping of the overseas surcharge for migrant NHS workers, a U-turn that came on Thursday after concerted pressure from opposition and Conservative backbenchers.
Daily summaryDaily summary
Here are the main points from today.Here are the main points from today.
Migrant care workers to be exempt from NHS surcharge after U-turnMigrant care workers to be exempt from NHS surcharge after U-turn
Downing Street has bowed to concerted pressure from the opposition and Conservative backbenchers to scrap the NHS surcharge for migrant health workers.Downing Street has bowed to concerted pressure from the opposition and Conservative backbenchers to scrap the NHS surcharge for migrant health workers.
After backbenchers including the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt criticised the government’s position, a No 10 spokesman said Boris Johnson had asked the Home Office and the Department for Health and Social Care to remove NHS and care workers from the scheme as soon as possible.After backbenchers including the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt criticised the government’s position, a No 10 spokesman said Boris Johnson had asked the Home Office and the Department for Health and Social Care to remove NHS and care workers from the scheme as soon as possible.
Hancock, the health secretary, confirmed that the government would roll out antibody testing next week, having signed contracts for 10m tests. Antibody tests show whether or not people have had coronavirus.Hancock, the health secretary, confirmed that the government would roll out antibody testing next week, having signed contracts for 10m tests. Antibody tests show whether or not people have had coronavirus.
He said: “We’ve signed contracts to supply in the coming months over 10 million tests from Roche and Abbott. From next week we will begin rolling these out in a phased way, at first to health and care staff, patients and residents.He said: “We’ve signed contracts to supply in the coming months over 10 million tests from Roche and Abbott. From next week we will begin rolling these out in a phased way, at first to health and care staff, patients and residents.
“The UK government has arranged supplies of these tests on behalf of the devolved administrations and each devolved nation is deciding how to use its test allocation and how testing will be prioritised and managed locally.“The UK government has arranged supplies of these tests on behalf of the devolved administrations and each devolved nation is deciding how to use its test allocation and how testing will be prioritised and managed locally.
“This is an important milestone and it represents further progress in our national testing programme.”“This is an important milestone and it represents further progress in our national testing programme.”
Hancock says 17% of Londoners may have had coronavirusHancock says 17% of Londoners may have had coronavirus
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.
UK records a further 338 coronavirus deaths, taking total to 36,042.UK records a further 338 coronavirus deaths, taking total to 36,042.
The latest UK figures reveal that 36,042 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in as of 5pm on Wednesday, up by 338 from 35,704 the day before.The latest UK figures reveal that 36,042 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in as of 5pm on Wednesday, up by 338 from 35,704 the day before.
In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Thursday, 128,340 tests were carried out or dispatched, with a total of 67,681 people tested and 2,615 positive results.In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Thursday, 128,340 tests were carried out or dispatched, with a total of 67,681 people tested and 2,615 positive results.
A total of 3,090,566 tests have been carried out, and 250,908 cases have been confirmed positive.A total of 3,090,566 tests have been carried out, and 250,908 cases have been confirmed positive.
Excess deaths in care homes during the coronavirus pandemic have peaked and “come down a long way”, England’s chief medical officer has confirmed.Excess deaths in care homes during the coronavirus pandemic have peaked and “come down a long way”, England’s chief medical officer has confirmed.
Prof Chris Whitty said there was a clear peak in excess deaths in hospitals in early April in England and Wales, followed by care homes.Prof Chris Whitty said there was a clear peak in excess deaths in hospitals in early April in England and Wales, followed by care homes.
The government adviser told the Downing Street press conference: “If you look at care homes, the other thing which people are rightly very concerned about... the care home deaths have peaked and come down a long way.The government adviser told the Downing Street press conference: “If you look at care homes, the other thing which people are rightly very concerned about... the care home deaths have peaked and come down a long way.
“But that peak was slightly later - one to two weeks after the peak in hospitals.”“But that peak was slightly later - one to two weeks after the peak in hospitals.”
Whitty said figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the excess deaths in care homes compared to the five-year average fell from 4,331 to 2,247 in the week ending 8 May.Whitty said figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the excess deaths in care homes compared to the five-year average fell from 4,331 to 2,247 in the week ending 8 May.
Earlier this week, Prof Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, told the health and social care committee he thought care homes were “probably at the top of the curve” in Covid-19 cases.Earlier this week, Prof Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, told the health and social care committee he thought care homes were “probably at the top of the curve” in Covid-19 cases.
One of the new coronavirus antibody tests to be rolled out across the UK is being produced in south Wales.One of the new coronavirus antibody tests to be rolled out across the UK is being produced in south Wales.
It is understood that Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, which has a factory in Pencoed, Bridgend, is the only firm producing the blood tests in the UK.It is understood that Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, which has a factory in Pencoed, Bridgend, is the only firm producing the blood tests in the UK.
On Thursday, Wales’ health minister, Vaughan Gething, welcomed news of the test, which will be available from Ortho and other suppliers across the UK, saying it was an “important step forward” in stopping the spread of Covid-19.On Thursday, Wales’ health minister, Vaughan Gething, welcomed news of the test, which will be available from Ortho and other suppliers across the UK, saying it was an “important step forward” in stopping the spread of Covid-19.
He said: “This test will tell us if people have already had coronavirus. But it is important to say, although the test can tell if someone has had the virus, it’s not certain as to how much immunity they’ll have to the virus.”He said: “This test will tell us if people have already had coronavirus. But it is important to say, although the test can tell if someone has had the virus, it’s not certain as to how much immunity they’ll have to the virus.”
Gething said work was being done in Wales to develop another type of antibody test involving taking a pinprick of blood and testing it with a device to give a result in just minutes, which would help to make antibody testing more widely available.Gething said work was being done in Wales to develop another type of antibody test involving taking a pinprick of blood and testing it with a device to give a result in just minutes, which would help to make antibody testing more widely available.
The US firm Ortho has had a site in Pencoed for 40 years and employs more than 500 people. It produces millions of tests each week for a range of diseases and medical conditions which are distributed around the world.The US firm Ortho has had a site in Pencoed for 40 years and employs more than 500 people. It produces millions of tests each week for a range of diseases and medical conditions which are distributed around the world.
Here are the main points from Matt Hancock’s press conference.
The health and social care secretary confirmed that the government would roll out antibody testing next week, having signed contracts for 10m tests. Antibody tests show whether people have had coronavirus. He said:
Hancock said a certification system would be developed for people who tested positive for coronavirus antibodies. He said:
He said an antibody surveillance study suggests that 17% of people in London have had coronavirus. In the rest of the country the figure is 5% or higher, he said.
He announced that a coronavirus test that can provide a result in 20 minutes is being piloted.
He played down suggestions that Boris Johnson had changed his stance on the NHS surcharge for migrant health and care workers. Asked why Johnson yesterday defended migrant care workers paying the charge, only to announce today that they will be exempted, Hancock said that when the prime minister was speaking in the Commons yesterday, he was defending the policy as a whole, not its application to care and NHS workers.
Prof John Newton, from Public Health England, the government’s testing coordinator, claimed it might be best to introduce the national contact-tracing system without the app. He was responding to a question from Sky’s Beth Rigby who said the government’s recovery plan document said an app would be integral to a successful contact-tracing system. (See 5.41pm.) Newton said the app was an “additional component” which could be “layered on top of the more personal contact tracing” by officials. He went on:
Prof Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical adviser, said the rate of all-cause excess deaths was now down to the average for a winter. He explained:
Whitty said the peak of deaths in care homes came one or two weeks after the peak of deaths in hospitals.
There has been a surge in paid users on Facebook’s business platform after home working rose due to the pandemic.
The social networks business-focused platform has gained 2 million paid users in little over six months.
Workplace from Facebook, the tech giant’s communication offering for companies and employees, has more than 5 million paid users, up from 3 million in October last year.
The firm said it was introducing a number of new features as businesses turned to home working during the lockdown and looked to continue remote working in the future.
Workplace Rooms is a collaborative video chat tool to take on the likes of Zoom, and its Workplace Live Video feature is receiving a number of improvements to provide better production value, control and interactivity.
Meanwhile, Oculus for Business is available to all those who wish to use virtual reality for productivity and collaboration in the workplace.
Workplace from Facebook - which is largely run from London - launched in October 2016 and started charging customers a year later.
The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the prison estate continues to rise, daily figures from the Ministry of Justice show.
As of 5pm on Wednesday, 434 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 75 prisons, a 0.5% increase in 24 hours, while there were 563 infected prison staff across 74 prisons, an increase of 1% in the same period.
There are around 80,300 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons, while around 33,000 staff work in the public sector prisons.
At least 21 prisoners are known to have contracted Covid-19 and died, as well as nine prison staff, including one Pecs worker.
A London choir has got together for a virtual performance after a planned show in Somerset was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Hi Lo Singers, from north-east London, performed a mash-up of Blackbird and I Will by the Beatles while they were unable to meet for rehearsals.
The musical director Geoff Walker asked each of the singers involved in the project to film their part at home, with the videos then being edited together.
The last time the singers met in person was in early March, when they rehearsed for their scheduled performance at Wells Cathedral in Somerset.
Emma Secher, one of the choir’s founders, said: “Our singers are a great bunch of people. One of them is an ICU doctor.
“A few of our singers have been ill with symptoms of the virus over the last weeks, so it was even more special to get everyone together.
“We plan to do a children’s virtual choir next.”
The Conservative MP Robert Halfon has also welcomed the No 10 U-turn on the NHS surcharge. He was one of the Tories who called for this move.
Q: [From an Edinburgh journalist] From August employers 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.