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| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson to warn public to 'act responsibly' when pubs reopen in England on Saturday | UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson to warn public to 'act responsibly' when pubs reopen in England on Saturday |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prime minister will give televised press conference as government struggles to balance protecting jobs and preventing second wave | Prime minister will give televised press conference as government struggles to balance protecting jobs and preventing second wave |
| I’m signing off now - handing over to Lucy Campbell. | |
| Sky is reporting that staff who move between care homes are more likely to contract COVID-19 - as it emerged that almost 20,000 deaths of care home residents in England and Wales have involved the virus. | |
| The ONS released the results from a study of more than 9,000 care homes, which found higher levels of coronavirus among temporary staff who work in multiple places. | |
| Such a situation was also found to increase the number of infections among residents. | |
| Another discovery was that care homes which give staff sick pay are likely to have fewer cases of COVID-19 among residents. | |
| Luxury hotels reopening on Saturday will turn away guests if they fail temperature checks as part of efforts to combat coronavirus. | |
| The Langham in central London, Cliveden House in Berkshire and The Bath Priory in Bath are among those which will screen visitors for signs of fever in an attempt to identify anyone with symptoms. | |
| Andrew Stembridge, executive director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, which owns a handful of boutique venues including Cliveden House, said he hopes the checks will be “quite relaxed”. | |
| Arriving guests will be greeted at the car park of their hotel and a member of staff will use a handheld contactless device to take their temperature. | |
| Stembridge told the PA news agency: “We put in our (booking) confirmation ‘If you are above 38C then I’m really sorry we’re going to have to send you home again’. | |
| “At least by doing it in the car park, you haven’t got that slightly awkward situation where someone’s already in the building.” | |
| He said he believes guests will be relieved such checks are being carried out. | |
| “It’s one thing going to Waitrose, but if you’re going into an environment where you’re going to be in there for the next three or four days, knowing that every single person has been temperature checked (gives you) peace of mind,” he said. | |
| The government is being urged to build on the huge public support shown for the NHS during the virus pandemic by giving health workers an early pay rise. | |
| Unions representing more than 1.3 million nurses, cleaners, physiotherapists, healthcare assistants, dieticians, radiographers, porters, midwives, paramedics and other NHS employees have written to the chancellor and the prime minister calling for pay talks to start soon. | |
| The unions, including Unison, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB, Unite, and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said the pandemic has made the dedication and commitment of NHS staff plain for all to see. | |
| Health workers are nearing the end of a three-year pay deal, and unions believe the government should provide funding for an early pay rise for all NHS staff, including domestics, catering workers, security guards and other support staff working for private contractors. | |
| Boris Johnson was told that improvements to staff pay would enable the NHS to hold on to experienced workers and help with the recruitment of new staff needed to fill vacancies. | |
| But the unions added that the government should not see the appeal for NHS workers to get an early pay rise as a Covid bonus. | |
| Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton said: | |
| Hannah Reed, from the RCN, said: “These people are the country’s greatest asset. When we celebrate that, politicians must think about how staff can be fairly paid and valued. | |
| And back to those ONS stats again, it seems that among male care home residents in England and Wales, Covid-19 was the leading cause of death across the period, accounting for a third (33.5%) of all deaths. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the second leading cause (24.7% deaths). | And back to those ONS stats again, it seems that among male care home residents in England and Wales, Covid-19 was the leading cause of death across the period, accounting for a third (33.5%) of all deaths. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the second leading cause (24.7% deaths). |
| For female care home residents, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of death (33.8% of deaths), followed by Covid-19 (26.6%). | |
| Covid-19 was the leading cause of death of male care home residents in all age groups. | |
| It was also the leading cause of death of female care home residents aged under 80 years, but for those aged 80 years and over dementia and Alzheimer’s was the leading cause. | |
| And here’s something heartwarming. After Man U’s Marcus Rashfield forced the government into a U-turn over school lunches, another footballer has made it his mission to send a four-year-old boy to the US for life-saving treatment is set to take on the English Channel - by kayak. | And here’s something heartwarming. After Man U’s Marcus Rashfield forced the government into a U-turn over school lunches, another footballer has made it his mission to send a four-year-old boy to the US for life-saving treatment is set to take on the English Channel - by kayak. |
| Liam Scott has spent most of the last year undergoing gruelling treatment for neuroblastoma, a rare cancer affecting around 100 UK children each year. | |
| And while the end of his treatment is finally approaching, there is a high chance the cancer could return. | |
| If it comes back, Liam, from Sevenoaks in Kent, would be left with just a 10% chance of survival, his mother said. | |
| An experimental vaccine could prevent the disease coming back but it is only available in New York and will cost 232,000. | |
| Footballer Charlie Holmes, who before the lockdown had never met Liam, has dedicated himself to ensuring the family-of-four hit their fundraising target before time runs out. | |
| Now he and Liam’s father Mike Scott are preparing for a daring new challenge they hope will be the last push for the funding - kayaking across the English Channel next week. | |
| Holmes, 21, told the PA news agency: “I am not gonna lie, I am really scared, it’s out of my comfort zone. | |
| “Obviously I have been in boats but there’s a difference between being on a boat and being on a plastic kayak crossing the Channel.” | |
| He said it would be the “best feeling” to arrive at Dungeness beach after the crossing to hear that they have hit the fundraising target. | |
| Earlier this year he completed a gruelling 140 miles of running in 14 days, all streamed live on Instagram during lockdown. | |
| The former Dagenham and Redbridge player added: “I have always been that person where if I say something I will stick to it.” | |
| A total of 210,464 has been raised so far against the target of 232,000, but Liam’s family know that time is running out. | |
| For it to have the best chance of success, Liam needs to have the vaccine soon after finishing his immunotherapy treatment in August. | |
| Mother Claire Scott, 40, told the PA news agency: “Team Liam has worked really hard pulling this together and we want to get to that final amount so that we can send Liam to New York to have the life-saving vaccine. | |
| “It’s so important he goes there. This is the final push.” | |
| She paid tribute to Holmes and his family, saying: “He has been for us all the way.“He said he’s never going to give up and he has stuck to those words.” | |
| The Channel crossing is scheduled for Tuesday but depends on the weather. | |
| Liam’s fundraising page can be accessed here: https://www.solvingkidscancer.org.uk/Appeal/liam | |
| This is an interesting one. Despite Boris Johnson’s encouragement for us all to get down the boozer and start spending on Saturday, just one in three pubs, bars and restaurants in Newcastle city centre will reopen for business that day, a council spokesman said. | This is an interesting one. Despite Boris Johnson’s encouragement for us all to get down the boozer and start spending on Saturday, just one in three pubs, bars and restaurants in Newcastle city centre will reopen for business that day, a council spokesman said. |
| A number of pubs on Tyneside have already stated they do not want to join the rush to reopen on so-called Super Saturday, fearing “total chaos” as drinkers head out to enjoy their first poured pint in months. | |
| Council figures show around 30% of licensees in the city centre have stated they will definitely welcome patrons once again on Saturday. | |
| A further 10% said they plan to open later in the month, once the initial rush has passed.Another 35% said they have not yet decided whether to open this month, with the remainder not stating their plans to licensing officials. | |
| Earlier this week, bosses of the popular Tyne Bar which overlooks the river said it will not be opening, along with other venues in the trendy Ouseburn. | |
| The bar said on Twitter: “After much careful consideration, we have decided not to rush into reopening on July 4. | |
| “We are genuinely concerned that this could be a day of total chaos for the pub trade and, like our mates at thecluny and kilnouseburn, we’ve decided it’s not worth the risk.” | |
| Looking at that ONS data in more depth: In England, the first death of a care home resident involving Covid-19 took place on March 6, while in Wales the first death occurred on March 17. | Looking at that ONS data in more depth: In England, the first death of a care home resident involving Covid-19 took place on March 6, while in Wales the first death occurred on March 17. |
| The daily number of deaths of care home residents peaked in England on April 17, when a total of 515 deaths occurred (413 in care homes, 100 in hospitals and two in other locations). | |
| In Wales the daily total peaked on April 12 with 26 deaths (23 in care homes and three in hospitals). | |
| A city theatre will not be reopening following the lockdown after administrators failed to find viable buyers for its two venues. | |
| Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST) was forced to close its sites because of the Covid-19 lockdown, causing severe cash flow problems and leading to its staff being furloughed and the company to go into administration. | |
| Now administrators Smith and Williamson have announced that negotiations with four potential buyers have fallen through and the theatres located in the centre of the Hampshire city and at the University of Southampton will be closed permanently leading to 86 people being made redundant. | |
| Greg Palfrey, national head of restructuring and recovery, said: | |
| Playwright James Graham posted on Twitter: | Playwright James Graham posted on Twitter: |
| Sam Hodges, NST chief executive officer, posted: “It’s appalling that the hard work that was just starting to grow shoots in our new theatre has been so brutally cut short.” | |
| But he added: “Whilst no buyer has been approved through the formal administration process, this doesn’t necessarily spell the end of the Nuffield Theatre as a cultural entity in the heart of the city. | |
| “Conversations are ongoing between stakeholders and interested parties and there is hope yet.” | |
| Props and equipment from the two theatres will be sold off to help pay creditors. | |
| The new father of, well, we’re not sure of how many, said the newest addition to his brood – his baby son Wilfred – is a “wonderful kid” and that he is a “pretty hands-on” dad. | The new father of, well, we’re not sure of how many, said the newest addition to his brood – his baby son Wilfred – is a “wonderful kid” and that he is a “pretty hands-on” dad. |
| He said that becoming a father is “an absolutely wonderful time” but added: “But for me at any rate it is very, very busy so the concept of paternity leave is not one that I’ve really been able to deal with.” | He said that becoming a father is “an absolutely wonderful time” but added: “But for me at any rate it is very, very busy so the concept of paternity leave is not one that I’ve really been able to deal with.” |
| Asked by presenter Nick Ferrari: “What’s the best part … cuddling him, changing him, feeding him, reading to him?” Johnson replied: “All that … it is a very detailed operation and there’s a lot of it, but I’m pretty hands-on.” | Asked by presenter Nick Ferrari: “What’s the best part … cuddling him, changing him, feeding him, reading to him?” Johnson replied: “All that … it is a very detailed operation and there’s a lot of it, but I’m pretty hands-on.” |
| The prime minister was asked on LBC Radio this morning why restrictions on going to the pub will be lifted on a Saturday, which typically sees a higher rate of alcohol-related issues for police and the NHS. | The prime minister was asked on LBC Radio this morning why restrictions on going to the pub will be lifted on a Saturday, which typically sees a higher rate of alcohol-related issues for police and the NHS. |
| Johnson replied: | Johnson replied: |
| When pressed by host Nick Ferrari on why Saturday was chosen rather than Monday and whether he only “hoped” it would be safe, Johnson added: | When pressed by host Nick Ferrari on why Saturday was chosen rather than Monday and whether he only “hoped” it would be safe, Johnson added: |
| The prime minister also refused to condemn his father for flying to Greece in an apparent breach of Foreign Office guidance to avoid non-essential travel. Stanley Johnson was widely criticised after travelling via Bulgaria to visit his Greek villa. | The prime minister also refused to condemn his father for flying to Greece in an apparent breach of Foreign Office guidance to avoid non-essential travel. Stanley Johnson was widely criticised after travelling via Bulgaria to visit his Greek villa. |
| He said: | He said: |
| For the first time, this week’s ONS survey asked people their ability to pay household bills and to meet any unexpected expenses, compared to before the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, they asked how safe people feel about having tradespeople in their homes for essential and non-essential work. | For the first time, this week’s ONS survey asked people their ability to pay household bills and to meet any unexpected expenses, compared to before the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, they asked how safe people feel about having tradespeople in their homes for essential and non-essential work. |
| The weekly survey, relating to the period 25 to 28 June, continued to cover regular topics such as personal well-being, the extent to which in work adults are travelling to work and are leaving their homes for various reasons and use of face coverings. | The weekly survey, relating to the period 25 to 28 June, continued to cover regular topics such as personal well-being, the extent to which in work adults are travelling to work and are leaving their homes for various reasons and use of face coverings. |
| Findings include: | Findings include: |
| Paying the usual household bills is ‘difficult or very difficult’ for 11% of adults, compared to 5% before the outbreak. Asked if their household could afford to pay an unexpected but necessary bill of £850 - 28% said they could not. | Paying the usual household bills is ‘difficult or very difficult’ for 11% of adults, compared to 5% before the outbreak. Asked if their household could afford to pay an unexpected but necessary bill of £850 - 28% said they could not. |
| More than 1 in 10 (11%) adults reported that they have had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual since the coronavirus outbreak, | More than 1 in 10 (11%) adults reported that they have had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual since the coronavirus outbreak, |
| Among working adults, 78% said they had either worked at home or travelled to work this week - the proportion of working adults who had travelled to work in the past seven days increased to 49% (compared with 44% last week). | Among working adults, 78% said they had either worked at home or travelled to work this week - the proportion of working adults who had travelled to work in the past seven days increased to 49% (compared with 44% last week). |
| In an emergency situation, such as needing repairs to a boiler or electrics, 51% of adults said they felt either very comfortable or comfortable having someone come into their home to carry out repairs. This fell to 37% for non-emergency work in their home, and 42% felt uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with this situation. | In an emergency situation, such as needing repairs to a boiler or electrics, 51% of adults said they felt either very comfortable or comfortable having someone come into their home to carry out repairs. This fell to 37% for non-emergency work in their home, and 42% felt uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with this situation. |
| The most common issue affecting adults’ well-being continues to be feeling worried about the future (62%). However, this week the proportion of people feeling stressed or anxious has fallen to 55% from 66% last week. “Feeling bored” has decreased to 45% of people, compared with 60% last week. | The most common issue affecting adults’ well-being continues to be feeling worried about the future (62%). However, this week the proportion of people feeling stressed or anxious has fallen to 55% from 66% last week. “Feeling bored” has decreased to 45% of people, compared with 60% last week. |
| The ONS also say that an estimated 73,600 weddings and same-sex civil partnership ceremonies may have been postponed in England during the three-month period of lockdown restrictions between 23 March and 3 July 2020. | The ONS also say that an estimated 73,600 weddings and same-sex civil partnership ceremonies may have been postponed in England during the three-month period of lockdown restrictions between 23 March and 3 July 2020. |
| From 4 July weddings in England will be able to take place with a maximum of 30 people who must maintain social distancing measures, avoid singing unless behind a screen, avoid consuming food or drink and avoid playing instruments that must be blown into. | From 4 July weddings in England will be able to take place with a maximum of 30 people who must maintain social distancing measures, avoid singing unless behind a screen, avoid consuming food or drink and avoid playing instruments that must be blown into. |
| It is estimated that 73,400 marriages have been postponed along with 300 same-sex civil partnerships (numbers have been rounded to nearest hundred). | It is estimated that 73,400 marriages have been postponed along with 300 same-sex civil partnerships (numbers have been rounded to nearest hundred). |
| He added that gyms would be able to reopen in a “couple of weeks”, and vowed to try to get theatres going “as fast as we possibly can”.The Prime Minister told the radio station: “The best way forward for the country is to get the economy moving again ... We want to get every part of our industry, including theatres, that are so vital.”On gyms, he added: “We are going to reopen gyms as soon as we can do it in a Covid-secure way and I think that the date for reopening gyms at the moment, if we can do it, is in just a couple of weeks’ time.” | He added that gyms would be able to reopen in a “couple of weeks”, and vowed to try to get theatres going “as fast as we possibly can”.The Prime Minister told the radio station: “The best way forward for the country is to get the economy moving again ... We want to get every part of our industry, including theatres, that are so vital.”On gyms, he added: “We are going to reopen gyms as soon as we can do it in a Covid-secure way and I think that the date for reopening gyms at the moment, if we can do it, is in just a couple of weeks’ time.” |
| Boris Johnson has said he wants to see better black representation at the top of the government.“Of course we can do more and we will do more. We need to make progress and we will. I think about this a lot. It is something I want to get right. We need to reflect the country we serve,” the Prime Minister told LBC radio.He indicated that he would not be prepared to “take the knee” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.“I don’t believe in gestures, I believe in substance,” he said.“I don’t want people to be bullied into doing things they don’t necessarily want to do.“If you think of what happened with those officers standing at the Cenotaph... They were being insulted in quite aggressive terms by members of the crowd and told to take the knee.“Some of them did and it was very difficult for the others who didn’t. That’s my position.” | Boris Johnson has said he wants to see better black representation at the top of the government.“Of course we can do more and we will do more. We need to make progress and we will. I think about this a lot. It is something I want to get right. We need to reflect the country we serve,” the Prime Minister told LBC radio.He indicated that he would not be prepared to “take the knee” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.“I don’t believe in gestures, I believe in substance,” he said.“I don’t want people to be bullied into doing things they don’t necessarily want to do.“If you think of what happened with those officers standing at the Cenotaph... They were being insulted in quite aggressive terms by members of the crowd and told to take the knee.“Some of them did and it was very difficult for the others who didn’t. That’s my position.” |
| New stats just out from the Office for National Statistics: | New stats just out from the Office for National Statistics: |
| Main points | Main points |
| Across the care homes included in the study, we estimate that 56% (95% Confidence Interval: 55% - 56%) reported at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 (staff or residents). | Across the care homes included in the study, we estimate that 56% (95% Confidence Interval: 55% - 56%) reported at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 (staff or residents). |
| Across the care homes that reported at least one confirmed case of coronavirus, we estimate that 20% of residents tested positive for COVID-19 (95% Confidence Interval: 19% - 21%), as reported by care home managers, since the start of the pandemic. | Across the care homes that reported at least one confirmed case of coronavirus, we estimate that 20% of residents tested positive for COVID-19 (95% Confidence Interval: 19% - 21%), as reported by care home managers, since the start of the pandemic. |
| Across the care homes that reported at least one confirmed case of COVID-19, we estimate that 7% of staff tested positive for COVID-19 (95% Confidence Interval: 6% - 8%), as reported by care home managers, since the start of the pandemic. | Across the care homes that reported at least one confirmed case of COVID-19, we estimate that 7% of staff tested positive for COVID-19 (95% Confidence Interval: 6% - 8%), as reported by care home managers, since the start of the pandemic. |
| These emerging findings reveal some common factors in care homes with higher levels of infections amongst residents. These include prevalence of infection in staff, some care home practices such as more frequent use of bank or agency nurses or carers, and some regional differences (such as higher infection levels within care homes in London and the West Midlands). There is some evidence that in care homes where staff receive sick pay, there are lower levels of infection in residents. | These emerging findings reveal some common factors in care homes with higher levels of infections amongst residents. These include prevalence of infection in staff, some care home practices such as more frequent use of bank or agency nurses or carers, and some regional differences (such as higher infection levels within care homes in London and the West Midlands). There is some evidence that in care homes where staff receive sick pay, there are lower levels of infection in residents. |
| Findings also include some common factors in care homes with higher levels of infection amongst staff. These include prevalence of infection in residents (although this is weaker than the effect of staff infection on residents), some care home practices (such as more frequent use of bank or agency nurses or carers, and care homes employing staff who work across multiple sites) and some regional differences (such as higher infection levels within care homes in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber). However regional differences may be affected by different patterns of testing in staff and residents over time. | Findings also include some common factors in care homes with higher levels of infection amongst staff. These include prevalence of infection in residents (although this is weaker than the effect of staff infection on residents), some care home practices (such as more frequent use of bank or agency nurses or carers, and care homes employing staff who work across multiple sites) and some regional differences (such as higher infection levels within care homes in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber). However regional differences may be affected by different patterns of testing in staff and residents over time. |
| Iain Bell, deputy national statistician said: “These are the first results from the Vivaldi study, a large-scale survey which looked specifically at infections in care homes which provide care for people with dementia and older people across England. From this we’ve estimated that over half of these care homes have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst their staff and residents. | Iain Bell, deputy national statistician said: “These are the first results from the Vivaldi study, a large-scale survey which looked specifically at infections in care homes which provide care for people with dementia and older people across England. From this we’ve estimated that over half of these care homes have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst their staff and residents. |
| “Future work will include more detailed analysis and will incorporate COVID-19 test results from the whole care home testing programme.” | “Future work will include more detailed analysis and will incorporate COVID-19 test results from the whole care home testing programme.” |