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| UK coronavirus live: Scotland to relax 2-metre rule but lockdown-easing paused in some towns after outbreaks | UK coronavirus live: Scotland to relax 2-metre rule but lockdown-easing paused in some towns after outbreaks |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Scotland’s distancing rule to be relaxed for some sectors; lockdown-easing paused in some Scottish towns; getting English schools back to normal critical, Williamson says | Scotland’s distancing rule to be relaxed for some sectors; lockdown-easing paused in some Scottish towns; getting English schools back to normal critical, Williamson says |
| Here are the main points from the Downing Street lobby briefing. | Here are the main points from the Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| No 10 suggested headteachers should use their discretion in deciding whether parents who don’t sent their children to school in England in September should be fined. Asked if fines should always be imposed, the prime minister’s spokesman said: | No 10 suggested headteachers should use their discretion in deciding whether parents who don’t sent their children to school in England in September should be fined. Asked if fines should always be imposed, the prime minister’s spokesman said: |
| Boris Johnson will give a press conference tomorrow, the spokesman said. He said Johnson also wants people not to “overdo it” when pubs reopen in England on Saturday. The spokesman said: | Boris Johnson will give a press conference tomorrow, the spokesman said. He said Johnson also wants people not to “overdo it” when pubs reopen in England on Saturday. The spokesman said: |
| The spokesman said some councils had been slow in obtaining postcode-level coronavirus data because they had been late returning data agreements. He said: | The spokesman said some councils had been slow in obtaining postcode-level coronavirus data because they had been late returning data agreements. He said: |
| Boris Johnson has used an interview with the Evening Standard to signal that the furlough scheme will not be extended beyond October. He has been under pressure to extend it, particularly for workers in sectors like the performing arts, where there is as yet no prospect of theatres and other venues being able to return to normal. But Johnson said the scheme had to end eventually. He told the paper: | |
| The OBR estimates that the scheme will have cost the government £60bn by October. | The OBR estimates that the scheme will have cost the government £60bn by October. |
| The Association of School and College Leaders has said that trying to follow the guidance set out for schools in England for September will be “mind-boggling”. In a statement Geoff Barton, the ASCL general secretary, said “a sense of reality” was needed. Headteachers would do their best, he said. But, echoing what the NAHT union said (see 10.19am), Barton said ministers should develop a “plan B” too. He said: | The Association of School and College Leaders has said that trying to follow the guidance set out for schools in England for September will be “mind-boggling”. In a statement Geoff Barton, the ASCL general secretary, said “a sense of reality” was needed. Headteachers would do their best, he said. But, echoing what the NAHT union said (see 10.19am), Barton said ministers should develop a “plan B” too. He said: |
| This week’s Brexit talks have been concluded earlier than expected. While “useful”, David Frost, the UK chief negotiator, said they showed “significant differences” still remained. He said: | This week’s Brexit talks have been concluded earlier than expected. While “useful”, David Frost, the UK chief negotiator, said they showed “significant differences” still remained. He said: |
| And this is what Nicola Sturgeon said about face masks being made compulsory in shops. She said: | And this is what Nicola Sturgeon said about face masks being made compulsory in shops. She said: |
| In England face coverings are compulsory on public transport, but not in shops (despite people like Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, calling for this.) | In England face coverings are compulsory on public transport, but not in shops (despite people like Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, calling for this.) |
| Here is the document (pdf) from the Scottish government summarising the latest moves announced by Nicola Sturgeon for the relaxation of the lockdown. | Here is the document (pdf) from the Scottish government summarising the latest moves announced by Nicola Sturgeon for the relaxation of the lockdown. |
| This is what it says about how the 2-metre rule will be relaxed for some sectors. | This is what it says about how the 2-metre rule will be relaxed for some sectors. |
| The document says public transport, outdoor hospitality, indoor hospitality and retail are the sectors where the two-metre rule will be waived, subject to mitigating measures being used. | The document says public transport, outdoor hospitality, indoor hospitality and retail are the sectors where the two-metre rule will be waived, subject to mitigating measures being used. |
| The Scottish government has also published today the report (pdf) from the advisory group that reviewed the 2-metre rule for Sturgeon. The review concluded: | The Scottish government has also published today the report (pdf) from the advisory group that reviewed the 2-metre rule for Sturgeon. The review concluded: |
| Nicola Sturgeon has announced there will be a temporary freezing of lockdown rules around a number of towns in Dumfries and Galloway after an outbreak of cases, after an outbreak straddling the border with England. | Nicola Sturgeon has announced there will be a temporary freezing of lockdown rules around a number of towns in Dumfries and Galloway after an outbreak of cases, after an outbreak straddling the border with England. |
| While many rules would be easing across Scotland this weekend, Sturgeon said people living around towns including Gretna, Annan, Dumfries, Lockerbie and Canonbie were still required to stay within five miles of their homes, while outdoor restaurants and care homes would remain closed to visitors. | While many rules would be easing across Scotland this weekend, Sturgeon said people living around towns including Gretna, Annan, Dumfries, Lockerbie and Canonbie were still required to stay within five miles of their homes, while outdoor restaurants and care homes would remain closed to visitors. |
| She said 10 new cases had emerged, with three businesses affected, and mobile testing units were being deployed while local health officials launched a concerted contact-tracing effort. Those restrictions would remain in place until next week at the earliest. | She said 10 new cases had emerged, with three businesses affected, and mobile testing units were being deployed while local health officials launched a concerted contact-tracing effort. Those restrictions would remain in place until next week at the earliest. |
| For the rest of Scotland, outdoor cafes and beer gardens will be allowed to reopen from Monday, after the R number, the rate of infection from coronavirus remained at 0.6 to 0.8, with only about 1,500 people in Scotland thought to be infected. | For the rest of Scotland, outdoor cafes and beer gardens will be allowed to reopen from Monday, after the R number, the rate of infection from coronavirus remained at 0.6 to 0.8, with only about 1,500 people in Scotland thought to be infected. |
| From 10 July, face masks would be mandatory in all Scotland’s shops, she added, following similar requirements (which anecdotal evidence suggests has been frequently ignored by passengers) on public transport and in taxis. | From 10 July, face masks would be mandatory in all Scotland’s shops, she added, following similar requirements (which anecdotal evidence suggests has been frequently ignored by passengers) on public transport and in taxis. |
| Sturgeon said there would be no immediate cuts in the 2 metre physical distancing rules to 1 metre or 1.5 metres, because her government’s scientific advice showed the risks of transmitting Covid-19 were too high. That would be eased soon, with customers warned they were entering a 1-metre zone. | Sturgeon said there would be no immediate cuts in the 2 metre physical distancing rules to 1 metre or 1.5 metres, because her government’s scientific advice showed the risks of transmitting Covid-19 were too high. That would be eased soon, with customers warned they were entering a 1-metre zone. |
| Sturgeon also urged residents of south-west Scotland to avoid travelling to pubs and restaurants in England while the local lockdown was in place. | Sturgeon also urged residents of south-west Scotland to avoid travelling to pubs and restaurants in England while the local lockdown was in place. |
| Here are the main points from Gavin Williamson’s opening statement to MPs about the new guidance for all pupils in England to return to school in September. | Here are the main points from Gavin Williamson’s opening statement to MPs about the new guidance for all pupils in England to return to school in September. |
| Williamson said having schools return to normal was “critical to our national recovery”. He said: | Williamson said having schools return to normal was “critical to our national recovery”. He said: |
| He said “as a minimum” whole year groups would have to be kept separate. | He said “as a minimum” whole year groups would have to be kept separate. |
| He said all schools and colleges would be issued with a small number of testing kits for pupils or staff who develop symptoms. He said: | He said all schools and colleges would be issued with a small number of testing kits for pupils or staff who develop symptoms. He said: |
| He said it was his intention for Ofsted inspections to resume from January 2021. | He said it was his intention for Ofsted inspections to resume from January 2021. |
| He said from 20 July nurseries and childminders would no longer have to place limits on the number of children able to learn and play together. | He said from 20 July nurseries and childminders would no longer have to place limits on the number of children able to learn and play together. |
| According to the DfE guidance, schools should consider holding music lessons or classes outside, perhaps with pupils sitting back to back. It says: | According to the DfE guidance, schools should consider holding music lessons or classes outside, perhaps with pupils sitting back to back. It says: |
| In the Commons Richard Burgon, the Labour MP, asks for an assurance that government scientists have signed off today’s advice as safe. | In the Commons Richard Burgon, the Labour MP, asks for an assurance that government scientists have signed off today’s advice as safe. |
| Williamson says Public Health England has signed off the new guidance. | Williamson says Public Health England has signed off the new guidance. |
| The National Education Union says that Ofqual is being “unrealistic” in assuming that exams in England can go ahead next summer largely as normal, despite the months of teaching time lost as a result of the lockdown. In a response to the Ofqual consultation announced today (see 10.47am), Nansi Ellis, the NEU assistant general secretary, said: | The National Education Union says that Ofqual is being “unrealistic” in assuming that exams in England can go ahead next summer largely as normal, despite the months of teaching time lost as a result of the lockdown. In a response to the Ofqual consultation announced today (see 10.47am), Nansi Ellis, the NEU assistant general secretary, said: |
| Labour’s Helen Hayes asks how tutoring can take place over the summer when many of the most disadvantaged pupils do not have access to a laptop. | Labour’s Helen Hayes asks how tutoring can take place over the summer when many of the most disadvantaged pupils do not have access to a laptop. |
| Williamson claims 202,000 laptops are being provided to pupils in this category. | Williamson claims 202,000 laptops are being provided to pupils in this category. |
| Robert Halfon, the Conservative chair of the Commons education committee, says he welcomes the announcement today. | Robert Halfon, the Conservative chair of the Commons education committee, says he welcomes the announcement today. |
| Referring to research saying four in 10 pupils have not been in regular contact with teachers during the lockdown, he asks if Williamson will investigate why this was. | Referring to research saying four in 10 pupils have not been in regular contact with teachers during the lockdown, he asks if Williamson will investigate why this was. |
| Williamson says he will ask Ofsted to investigate. He says this is important because there will be further local lockdowns. | Williamson says he will ask Ofsted to investigate. He says this is important because there will be further local lockdowns. |