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UK coronavirus live: test and trace figures show performance falling back on three key indicators UK coronavirus live: test and trace figures show performance falling back on three key indicators
(32 minutes later)
Priti Patel describes violence in Brixton as ‘utterly vile’; footage on social media shows police vehicles being smashed and officers chasedPriti Patel describes violence in Brixton as ‘utterly vile’; footage on social media shows police vehicles being smashed and officers chased
Correspondence between the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, and the Conservative donor Richard Desmond will lead to further scrutiny by MPs, the head of the housing select committee said this morning.
Clive Betts, the chair of the housing communities and local government committee, said Jenrick had given parliament the impression that his contact with the property developer ended after meeting him at a fundraising dinner in November.However, documents released on last night showed they had “extensive” contact afterwards and raises further questions about the minister’s proprietary, Betts said. He told the Guardian:
Betts said that he was shocked to see that Jenrick had apparently entertained the possibility of going to visit the site.
Betts said the committee could launch an inquiry into when ministers should withdraw from planning decisions. “We should look at when ministers should withdraw from involvement once they have been lobbied, to ensure that there is not even an appearance of being susceptible to lobbying. In planning matters, appearances are important,” he said.
Asked about the minister Nadhim Zahawi’s comments this morning claiming voters could consider attending Conservative fundraising events if they want to raise planning issues with MPs (see 8.42am), Betts said:
Here are the main points from the latest weekly test and trace figures (pdf) published by the Department for Health and Social Care. They cover the period between 11 June and 17 June.Here are the main points from the latest weekly test and trace figures (pdf) published by the Department for Health and Social Care. They cover the period between 11 June and 17 June.
On three of the key indicators, performance is falling behind what it was the week before.On three of the key indicators, performance is falling behind what it was the week before.
Some 70.3% of the 6,923 people who tested positive for coronavirus and were referred to the service were reached and asked to provide details of their recent contacts. That is down from 75.2%, the equivalent figure for the previous week.Some 70.3% of the 6,923 people who tested positive for coronavirus and were referred to the service were reached and asked to provide details of their recent contacts. That is down from 75.2%, the equivalent figure for the previous week.
Of those people who were reached and asked to provide details of their close contacts, 69.9% were reached within 24 hours. That is down from 77%, the equivalent figure for the previous week.Of those people who were reached and asked to provide details of their close contacts, 69.9% were reached within 24 hours. That is down from 77%, the equivalent figure for the previous week.
And of those people whose names were given to the service because they had been in close contact with someone testing positive, the service reached 81.7% of them to ask them to self-isolate. That is down from 90.9%, the equivalent figure for the previous week.And of those people whose names were given to the service because they had been in close contact with someone testing positive, the service reached 81.7% of them to ask them to self-isolate. That is down from 90.9%, the equivalent figure for the previous week.
From the BBC’s Laura KuenssbergFrom the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
The Department for Health and Social Care has published the latest weekly test and trace figures.The Department for Health and Social Care has published the latest weekly test and trace figures.
I will take a more detailed look at the figures shortly.I will take a more detailed look at the figures shortly.
Here is my colleague Matthew Weaver’s story about the violence at the mass street party in Brixton.Here is my colleague Matthew Weaver’s story about the violence at the mass street party in Brixton.
Some of the best reporting on the coronavirus coverage has come from Radio’s 4 statistics factcheck programme, More or Less. In particular, it has been looking at the reliability of the government’s testing statistics in detail, and generally its verdict has been withering.Some of the best reporting on the coronavirus coverage has come from Radio’s 4 statistics factcheck programme, More or Less. In particular, it has been looking at the reliability of the government’s testing statistics in detail, and generally its verdict has been withering.
But now Tim Harford, the programme’s presenter, has tried using a home testing kit himself, and the experience has left him more sceptical than ever about the value of the oft-quoted statistic given by ministers for the number of tests being carried out per day. Four categories of test contribute to the overall number, but a large proportion are tests sent to people to use at home which count in the official figures when they get sent out. Harford thinks many of them never get returned. He explains why here.But now Tim Harford, the programme’s presenter, has tried using a home testing kit himself, and the experience has left him more sceptical than ever about the value of the oft-quoted statistic given by ministers for the number of tests being carried out per day. Four categories of test contribute to the overall number, but a large proportion are tests sent to people to use at home which count in the official figures when they get sent out. Harford thinks many of them never get returned. He explains why here.
The government started to count “tests sent out” in its headline testing numbers (which implies tests completed) near the end of April, when it was under pressure to reach the 100,000 tests a day target set for the end of that month. With help from the new, elastic methodology, the target was supposedly hit. Boris Johnson then set a target of achieving the capacity to carry out 200,000 tests a day by the end of May. This goal was also reached, and now the government says it does not just have the capacity for more than 200,000 tests per day, it is doing more than 200,000 per day.The government started to count “tests sent out” in its headline testing numbers (which implies tests completed) near the end of April, when it was under pressure to reach the 100,000 tests a day target set for the end of that month. With help from the new, elastic methodology, the target was supposedly hit. Boris Johnson then set a target of achieving the capacity to carry out 200,000 tests a day by the end of May. This goal was also reached, and now the government says it does not just have the capacity for more than 200,000 tests per day, it is doing more than 200,000 per day.
But these figures have been criticised as misleading, not just because they include tests sent out but not necessarily completed, but because if people provide a swab test (nose and throat) as well as a saliva test, that counts as two tests, not one.But these figures have been criticised as misleading, not just because they include tests sent out but not necessarily completed, but because if people provide a swab test (nose and throat) as well as a saliva test, that counts as two tests, not one.
At one point the government also published figures for the number of individuals actually tested per day. But, on the day it supposedly reached the 100,000 target with a headline figure for tests of 122,347, the small print showed that only 73,191 individuals had been tested. The gap between the headline figure and the total for number of individuals actually tested grew ever more embarrassing, and last moth the government stopped publishing a daily figure for the number of individuals tested. It is still not releasing that data, claiming it cannot do so until the data is robust.At one point the government also published figures for the number of individuals actually tested per day. But, on the day it supposedly reached the 100,000 target with a headline figure for tests of 122,347, the small print showed that only 73,191 individuals had been tested. The gap between the headline figure and the total for number of individuals actually tested grew ever more embarrassing, and last moth the government stopped publishing a daily figure for the number of individuals tested. It is still not releasing that data, claiming it cannot do so until the data is robust.
It’s not just Brixton where there were large gatherings last night after the hottest day of the year so far.It’s not just Brixton where there were large gatherings last night after the hottest day of the year so far.
There were reports on hundreds of young people congregating on the seafront in Hove, East Sussex, where police were called after “pockets” of violence broke out.There were reports on hundreds of young people congregating on the seafront in Hove, East Sussex, where police were called after “pockets” of violence broke out.
One witness said the teenagers should have finished their GCSEs and had their prom on Wednesday if it wasn’t for the coronavirus lockdown.One witness said the teenagers should have finished their GCSEs and had their prom on Wednesday if it wasn’t for the coronavirus lockdown.
Large groups were also pictured gathering in the Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate in breach of the coronavirus regulations.Large groups were also pictured gathering in the Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate in breach of the coronavirus regulations.
There was also trouble on Exmouth beach in Devon, where hundreds of people gathered before police were called to a “large group of people fighting”.There was also trouble on Exmouth beach in Devon, where hundreds of people gathered before police were called to a “large group of people fighting”.
And this was the scene at the Meadows park in Edinburgh on Wednesday night. One residents said the park looked “like a nightclub” as youngsters gathered to enjoy the warm weather. The crime writer Ian Rankin photographed the rubbish left behind this morning.And this was the scene at the Meadows park in Edinburgh on Wednesday night. One residents said the park looked “like a nightclub” as youngsters gathered to enjoy the warm weather. The crime writer Ian Rankin photographed the rubbish left behind this morning.
Around 10,000 care home residents and staff will be repeatedly tested for coronavirus in a study forming part of the government’s testing strategy, PA Media reports. The repeat testing will give a “detailed picture” of infections in over 100 care homes in England and allow them to react quickly to outbreaks, the Department of Health and Social Care said.Around 10,000 care home residents and staff will be repeatedly tested for coronavirus in a study forming part of the government’s testing strategy, PA Media reports. The repeat testing will give a “detailed picture” of infections in over 100 care homes in England and allow them to react quickly to outbreaks, the Department of Health and Social Care said.
Helen Whately, the care minister, said:Helen Whately, the care minister, said:
Footage on social media shows police officers and vehicles being pelted with objects when they attended an illegal music event in Brixton, south-east London, last night.Footage on social media shows police officers and vehicles being pelted with objects when they attended an illegal music event in Brixton, south-east London, last night.
The disorder broke out after police tried to break up the party, which was in breach of coronavirus lockdown measures. Warning: the footage below contains some bad language.The disorder broke out after police tried to break up the party, which was in breach of coronavirus lockdown measures. Warning: the footage below contains some bad language.
On the Today programme this morning Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service and the former permanent secretary at the communities department (where Robert Jenrick is secretary of state), said that even though Jenrick “got to the right place in the end”, in that he turned down a follow-up meeting with Richard Desmond to discuss the Westferry development, the documents released last night raised troubling issues. Kerslake explained:On the Today programme this morning Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service and the former permanent secretary at the communities department (where Robert Jenrick is secretary of state), said that even though Jenrick “got to the right place in the end”, in that he turned down a follow-up meeting with Richard Desmond to discuss the Westferry development, the documents released last night raised troubling issues. Kerslake explained:
Kerslake said the fact that Desmond was able to raise the application with Jenrick at a dinner “creates the impression - and appearance here is really important - that the developer has some level of influence over the decisions”.Kerslake said the fact that Desmond was able to raise the application with Jenrick at a dinner “creates the impression - and appearance here is really important - that the developer has some level of influence over the decisions”.