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UK coronavirus live: Scotland to relax 2m rule but lockdown-easing paused in some towns after outbreaks UK coronavirus live: Scotland to relax 2m rule but lockdown-easing paused in some towns after outbreaks
(31 minutes later)
Scotland’s distancing rule to be relaxed for some sectors; lockdown-easing paused in some Scottish towns; Wales to partially reopen tourism sector; getting English schools back to normal critical, Williamson saysScotland’s distancing rule to be relaxed for some sectors; lockdown-easing paused in some Scottish towns; Wales to partially reopen tourism sector; getting English schools back to normal critical, Williamson says
Sir Keir Starmer has said that many more children could be back in school now if the government had shown more leadership on this issue. Commenting on the plan announced today for all pupils in England to return in September, he said in a clip for broadcasters:
Starmer’s comment follows repeated claims by Boris Johnson and other ministers, heard again at PMQs yesterday, that Labour does not support children going back. The claim is based on comments made by party figures earlier this year questioning whether it was safe for pupils to return. The Conservative attack line clearly stung, because Starmer has been stressing recently how firmly the party is now committed to pupils going back. Today he is effectively trying to outbid Johnson on this issue.
The government’s lockdown that has closed schools, premises and companies while limiting free movement is the “most sweeping and far-reaching” restriction on fundamental rights since the second world war, the high court has been told. As Owen Bowcott reports, in a challenge to the legality of emergency legislation, the businessman Simon Dolan, whose Jota Aviation company has been delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS, is testing the full extent of the powers under which England has been confined for the past 101 days.
Here is Owen’s full story on the opening of the hearing.
Here is a question from a reader in the comments.
This came up at the No 10 lobby briefing. The prime minister’s spokesman said that, although the Leicester lockdown was announced on Monday night, effectively it was only advisory for the first day or so because the legislation did not get signed until Wednesday. He said:
Earlier I posted the figures from the government’s latest test and trace bulletin showing that it is not yet meeting its target of getting all test results delivered within 24 hours. (See 11.50am.)Earlier I posted the figures from the government’s latest test and trace bulletin showing that it is not yet meeting its target of getting all test results delivered within 24 hours. (See 11.50am.)
The figures in the document cover “pillar 2” tests – those provided by commercial partners for members of the population at large. They do not cover testing in “pillar 1” – in NHS hospitals and Public Health England laboratories – because the data is not available for PHE laboratories.The figures in the document cover “pillar 2” tests – those provided by commercial partners for members of the population at large. They do not cover testing in “pillar 1” – in NHS hospitals and Public Health England laboratories – because the data is not available for PHE laboratories.
But NHS England has been in touch to say that on average its laboratories produce test results within 14 hours. And 90% of them produce results on average within 24 hours.But NHS England has been in touch to say that on average its laboratories produce test results within 14 hours. And 90% of them produce results on average within 24 hours.
A “partial reopening” of the tourism sector in Wales is to take place over the next few weeks as long as rates of coronavirus continue to fall, the Welsh government has announced.A “partial reopening” of the tourism sector in Wales is to take place over the next few weeks as long as rates of coronavirus continue to fall, the Welsh government has announced.
The Labour-led government has asked visitors to enjoy their time in the country – but to respect local communities.The Labour-led government has asked visitors to enjoy their time in the country – but to respect local communities.
Bars, restaurants and cafes with outdoor spaces are set to be allowed to re-open from 13 July.Bars, restaurants and cafes with outdoor spaces are set to be allowed to re-open from 13 July.
The final decision about outdoor re-opening will be made at the next Welsh government review on 9 July.The final decision about outdoor re-opening will be made at the next Welsh government review on 9 July.
Future decisions about indoor re-opening will be made later and depend on the success of outdoor opening.Future decisions about indoor re-opening will be made later and depend on the success of outdoor opening.
The “stay-local” instruction in Wales is due to lifted on Monday, which will allow outdoor attractions to re-open from then.The “stay-local” instruction in Wales is due to lifted on Monday, which will allow outdoor attractions to re-open from then.
The date from which owners of self-contained accommodation in Wales can accept bookings is being brought forward to 11 July from 13 July, to help with the pattern of Saturday-to-Saturday bookings.The date from which owners of self-contained accommodation in Wales can accept bookings is being brought forward to 11 July from 13 July, to help with the pattern of Saturday-to-Saturday bookings.
The minister for international relations and the Welsh language, Eluned Morgan, said:The minister for international relations and the Welsh language, Eluned Morgan, said:
Morgan defended the government’s cautious approach to bars, cafes and restaurants re-opening.Morgan defended the government’s cautious approach to bars, cafes and restaurants re-opening.
She said: “If we open too quickly we will have to go back into lockdown. That is why we are taking this step-by-step controlled approach.”She said: “If we open too quickly we will have to go back into lockdown. That is why we are taking this step-by-step controlled approach.”
The two-metre social distancing in Wales will remain for pubs but Morgan said the government was working with the industry on additional measures for circumstances when the two-metre rule could not work.The two-metre social distancing in Wales will remain for pubs but Morgan said the government was working with the industry on additional measures for circumstances when the two-metre rule could not work.
Additional measures may include a designated person being in charge of making sure premises were Covid-19 safe and taking names of customers so they could be traced if needed.Additional measures may include a designated person being in charge of making sure premises were Covid-19 safe and taking names of customers so they could be traced if needed.
NHS England has recorded a further 35 coronavirus hospital deaths in England. The full figures are here.NHS England has recorded a further 35 coronavirus hospital deaths in England. The full figures are here.
For comparison, here are the equivalent daily figures announced by NHS England over the past fortnight.For comparison, here are the equivalent daily figures announced by NHS England over the past fortnight.
Thursday 18 June - 62Thursday 18 June - 62
Friday 19 June - 46Friday 19 June - 46
Saturday 20 June - 71Saturday 20 June - 71
Sunday 21 June - 26Sunday 21 June - 26
Monday 22 June - 20Monday 22 June - 20
Tuesday 23 June - 46Tuesday 23 June - 46
Wednesday 24 June - 51Wednesday 24 June - 51
Thursday 25 June - 55Thursday 25 June - 55
Friday 26 June - 67Friday 26 June - 67
Saturday 27 June - 78Saturday 27 June - 78
Sunday 28 June - 18Sunday 28 June - 18
Monday 29 June - 19Monday 29 June - 19
Tuesday 30 June - 37Tuesday 30 June - 37
Wednesday 1 July - 50Wednesday 1 July - 50
The Local Government Association says the extra support for English councils announced by Robert Jenrick earlier (see 9.43am) does not go far enough. Here is an extract from the statement from the LGA chairman, James Jamieson. He said:The Local Government Association says the extra support for English councils announced by Robert Jenrick earlier (see 9.43am) does not go far enough. Here is an extract from the statement from the LGA chairman, James Jamieson. He said:
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: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:
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.)
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.
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:
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.