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UK coronavirus live: Grant Shapps denies chief nurse dropped from No 10 briefing ‘after refusing to back Dominic Cummings’ UK coronavirus live: Grant Shapps denies chief nurse dropped from No 10 briefing ‘after refusing to back Dominic Cummings’
(33 minutes later)
Minister says says he doesn’t think this is true Ruth May was dropped over Cummings; R value for all regions close to 1; death toll rises by 202 to 41,481Minister says says he doesn’t think this is true Ruth May was dropped over Cummings; R value for all regions close to 1; death toll rises by 202 to 41,481
Hartwig Fischer, the head of the British Museum, which has faced its own controversies about looted historical artefacts, said in response to Boris Johnson’s comments that there was “a debate to be had” about the removal of statutes.
He said:
Prisons are starting to report spikes in violence, often linked to illicitly-brewed alcohol, as well as a rise in self-harm and suicide, as the heavily restrictive regime designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus continues, the chair of a prison watchdog network has warned.
In a letter to the justice select committee, Dame Anne Owers, the chair of the independent monitoring boards (IMBs), statutory bodies set up to monitor welfare of prisoners in individual prisons, said while prisoners were initially compliant, as lockdown restrictions in the community are relaxed, frustration is growing.
Some of the violence in prisons is fuelled by “hooch”, alcohol brewed illicitly behind bars, often using fruit rations and bread or through boiling deodorant. It is believed the restrictions have impeded the flow of illegal drugs into the prison and turned some inmates towards brewing their own alcohol.
The restrictive regime in prisons has seen increased time in cells, segregation and a ban on all visits to prisons across the country.
As at 5pm on Thursday, 492 prisoners had tested positive for Covid-19 across 80 prisons, a 0.4% increase in 24 hours, while there were 961 infected staff across 105 prisons, revised down from 964 due to an error with reporting.
Owers said the IMBs had raised concerns about mental health across the prison estate.
In one prison there had been an increase in sleeping tablet prescriptions, she said.
Elsewhere, the letter revealed that symptomatic prisoners in isolation often have no direct human contact and some were unable to access showers. At one prison, healthcare visited only on the first and fifth day of isolation.
As a result, concerns have been expressed that prisoners are reluctantto reveal symptoms to avoid such extreme isolation.
Q. When will student nurses get clarity on the shape their courses are going to take from September?
Powis says institutions are having to rethink the way they do teaching and effectively deliver training in a Covid context.
And that’s the end of the press conference.
Q. What solid, measurable action is being taken to make sure the NHS and social care system is a safe, supportive place for BAME nurses?
Shapps says Kemi Badenoch is working with PHE on recommendations on this.
Powis adds there is an understanding that people at greater risk need additional support and risk assessments against the work they’re doing, and where necessary redeploy them.
Q. Is it acceptable that student nurses who answered the government’s call to join the frontline response to Covid-19 are being asked to carry out duties beyond their level of competence? How will they be fully protected and supported?
Shapps says people should be working in areas in which they are and feel competent.
Q. Is it fair to say that UK businesses aren’t ready to trade with the EU without a deal at the beginning of the year?
Shapps says business is being provided with the certainty that the transition period will end at the end of the year.
Q. Is it a possibility the strain of Covid-19 and leaving the EU without sufficient trading arrangement could leave the NHS without enough medicine supplies?
Shapps says that with everything going on we’ve never had a medicines shortage so he’s confident this won’t happen.
Powis says the NHS has a very good understanding of supply chains and looking ahead to deal with problems that might arise.
Disruption to medicine supplies happens often and the NHS is good at dealing with them, he adds.
Q. What would be the best replacement for quarantine system if the review concludes a different approach needs to be taken?Q. What would be the best replacement for quarantine system if the review concludes a different approach needs to be taken?
Shapps says air bridges / travel corridors with countries with lower infection are a potential way forward, along with testing at ports and airports.Shapps says air bridges / travel corridors with countries with lower infection are a potential way forward, along with testing at ports and airports.
Q. Is the government in talks with countries regarding air bridges, how are the talks going and have any countries declined to work with the UK so far?Q. Is the government in talks with countries regarding air bridges, how are the talks going and have any countries declined to work with the UK so far?
Shapps says they don’t want to reimport the virus from abroad, hence an initial blanket quarantine.Shapps says they don’t want to reimport the virus from abroad, hence an initial blanket quarantine.
They are actively working on travel corridors, he says. The first review of quarantine will take place on 29 June, he adds.They are actively working on travel corridors, he says. The first review of quarantine will take place on 29 June, he adds.
They will only open up air bridges when it’s safe to do so, he says.They will only open up air bridges when it’s safe to do so, he says.
Q. What extra arrangements are the NHS putting in place to prepare for a potential second wave this winter and the effects of a second lockdown?Q. What extra arrangements are the NHS putting in place to prepare for a potential second wave this winter and the effects of a second lockdown?
Powis says staff working flexibly, the Nightingale hospitals are there in case we need them, and different ways of working such as remote consultation will all ensure there is capacity to deal with a second wave.Powis says staff working flexibly, the Nightingale hospitals are there in case we need them, and different ways of working such as remote consultation will all ensure there is capacity to deal with a second wave.
Q. What do you say to businesses in the south-west who are actually quite worried about it [the R value]?Q. What do you say to businesses in the south-west who are actually quite worried about it [the R value]?
Shapps says stay alert and stay at home as much as possible.Shapps says stay alert and stay at home as much as possible.
Q. The R rate may have risen above 1 in the south-west [between 0.9 and 1.1]. Are we moving now towards the possibility of regional lockdown?Q. The R rate may have risen above 1 in the south-west [between 0.9 and 1.1]. Are we moving now towards the possibility of regional lockdown?
Shapps says a large number of tests are being produced, which gives more data about where issues could bubble up in future.Shapps says a large number of tests are being produced, which gives more data about where issues could bubble up in future.
Powis says Sage takes data from numerous academic groups who do modelling around the R number to produce a consensus.Powis says Sage takes data from numerous academic groups who do modelling around the R number to produce a consensus.
There is a range, as a result, he says.There is a range, as a result, he says.
The most important thing is that in all regions, the central projection is below 1, he adds.The most important thing is that in all regions, the central projection is below 1, he adds.
Q. Why has there been an increased in outbreaks in hospitals in the last week?Q. Why has there been an increased in outbreaks in hospitals in the last week?
Powis says we are moving from community incidence, to over time there more local, discrete, individual outbreaks, including in hospitals and other settings.Powis says we are moving from community incidence, to over time there more local, discrete, individual outbreaks, including in hospitals and other settings.
Q. Given the dismal economic figures today, wouldn’t it be sensible to mandate wearing masks everywhere, not just on public transport, to get the economy back on its feet and stop further spread of the virus?Q. Given the dismal economic figures today, wouldn’t it be sensible to mandate wearing masks everywhere, not just on public transport, to get the economy back on its feet and stop further spread of the virus?
Shapps says face coverings on public transport not face masks.Shapps says face coverings on public transport not face masks.
Social distancing is still the most important thing to do along with washing your hands and not touching your face, he says.Social distancing is still the most important thing to do along with washing your hands and not touching your face, he says.
Public transport is an enclosed space, but that’s not the case out on the streets, he adds.Public transport is an enclosed space, but that’s not the case out on the streets, he adds.
Hendy says that as the economy ramps up, it seems logical to mandate face coverings now on public transport.Hendy says that as the economy ramps up, it seems logical to mandate face coverings now on public transport.
Powis adds the evidence is weak but there is some evidence, so it’s better for enclosed spaces.Powis adds the evidence is weak but there is some evidence, so it’s better for enclosed spaces.
Q. The R number is still near to 1, largely to the amount of coronavirus in hospitals and care homes. Does that show we’re not preventing the spread there?Q. The R number is still near to 1, largely to the amount of coronavirus in hospitals and care homes. Does that show we’re not preventing the spread there?
Powis says minimising the risk of infection in hospitals is an area that is being focused on, e.g. increased testing for staff and patients.Powis says minimising the risk of infection in hospitals is an area that is being focused on, e.g. increased testing for staff and patients.
Q. Is it true, and do you think it’s right, that the chief nursing officer Ruth May is either unwilling or unable to attend these press conferences any more because she won’t defend Dominic Cummings?Q. Is it true, and do you think it’s right, that the chief nursing officer Ruth May is either unwilling or unable to attend these press conferences any more because she won’t defend Dominic Cummings?
Shapps says he doesn’t think this is true as she has attended many times and he’s noticed one of her tweets is pinned on the No 10 Twitter feed.Shapps says he doesn’t think this is true as she has attended many times and he’s noticed one of her tweets is pinned on the No 10 Twitter feed.
Powis says he doesn’t know but he’s been here many times saying exactly what he thinks.Powis says he doesn’t know but he’s been here many times saying exactly what he thinks.
Q. How can it be that where you live can double your chances of dying from Covid-19, doesn’t this show more needs to be done to deal with health inequalities?Q. How can it be that where you live can double your chances of dying from Covid-19, doesn’t this show more needs to be done to deal with health inequalities?
Shapps says he agrees more needs to be done to level up health inequalities and linked issues such as access to opportunities.Shapps says he agrees more needs to be done to level up health inequalities and linked issues such as access to opportunities.
Powis says the NHS is focusing on this more in its long-term plan.Powis says the NHS is focusing on this more in its long-term plan.
Many of the risk factors e.g. diabetes, obesity, are seen more frequently in deprived areas of the country, he says.Many of the risk factors e.g. diabetes, obesity, are seen more frequently in deprived areas of the country, he says.
Tackling those issues fundamentally in a targeted approach will mean people are less likely for infections such as Covid-19, he adds.Tackling those issues fundamentally in a targeted approach will mean people are less likely for infections such as Covid-19, he adds.
Simon from Dorset asks what work is being done to establish if antibodies mean less risk of infection or possible immunity.Simon from Dorset asks what work is being done to establish if antibodies mean less risk of infection or possible immunity.
Powis says after any infection the body will generate antibodies to control the infection and ensure the virus doesn’t take hold in future infection.Powis says after any infection the body will generate antibodies to control the infection and ensure the virus doesn’t take hold in future infection.
They are now measuring antibodies and getting a sense of how many people have developed antibodies to the virus, he says.They are now measuring antibodies and getting a sense of how many people have developed antibodies to the virus, he says.
It will only be studies over time that answer the question, but they’re underway in the UK and internationally, he says.It will only be studies over time that answer the question, but they’re underway in the UK and internationally, he says.
Siren is recruiting healthcare staff who might have been exposed into a study to observe if they are infected again and how that corresponds with antibody levels, he says.Siren is recruiting healthcare staff who might have been exposed into a study to observe if they are infected again and how that corresponds with antibody levels, he says.
David from Sunderland asks what specific plans the government has to create jobs.David from Sunderland asks what specific plans the government has to create jobs.
Shapps says the government has an enormous battle on its hands in recovering from the pandemic.Shapps says the government has an enormous battle on its hands in recovering from the pandemic.
They’ve tried to put their arms around the British people to protect jobs from a temporary but severe jolt to the economy, he adds.They’ve tried to put their arms around the British people to protect jobs from a temporary but severe jolt to the economy, he adds.
They want to be proactive in getting the economy going again in a safe way, he says.They want to be proactive in getting the economy going again in a safe way, he says.
People should avoid large gatherings, including to protest, Shapps says.People should avoid large gatherings, including to protest, Shapps says.
For the sake of your health and that of friends and families, don’t attempt mass gatherings, he says.For the sake of your health and that of friends and families, don’t attempt mass gatherings, he says.