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| UK coronavirus live: Johnson U-turns on masks as experts fear up to 120,000 Covid-19 winter deaths | UK coronavirus live: Johnson U-turns on masks as experts fear up to 120,000 Covid-19 winter deaths |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson announces face coverings are to be mandatory in shops from 24 July with £100 fines for non-compliance | Boris Johnson announces face coverings are to be mandatory in shops from 24 July with £100 fines for non-compliance |
| The head of the British Chambers of Commerce has urged the government to provide “absolute clarity” to retailers on the new rules around wearing face coverings in shops and supermarkets. | |
| The government announced the U-turn on Monday night that face coverings will be made mandatory in these spaces as of 24 July. | |
| Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, told the PA news agency: | |
| He said the BCC was supportive of the new rules around face coverings, and said they would help to “restore consumer confidence” and encourage more people to head into their town centres to shop. | |
| Marshall added: | |
| Good morning! I’m Lucy Campbell, joining the blog for the rest of the day to bring you all the latest developments in UK politics and all things coronavirus. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work. Your tips and feedback are always welcome! | |
| Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ | |
| Here’s a roundup of the latest developments: | Here’s a roundup of the latest developments: |
| The government defends face covering U-turn | The government defends face covering U-turn |
| The environment secretary, George Eustice, has defended the government’s U-turn on making face coverings compulsory, saying its approach had been “evolving”. The rules on English shops will come into force on 24 July, over a month after face coverings became a requirement on public transport in England on 15 June. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will officially announce the measures in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon. The Metropolitan Police Federation has warned that requiring the public to wear face masks in shops will be almost impossible for police to enforce. | The environment secretary, George Eustice, has defended the government’s U-turn on making face coverings compulsory, saying its approach had been “evolving”. The rules on English shops will come into force on 24 July, over a month after face coverings became a requirement on public transport in England on 15 June. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will officially announce the measures in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon. The Metropolitan Police Federation has warned that requiring the public to wear face masks in shops will be almost impossible for police to enforce. |
| Hopes for V-shaped recovery fade | Hopes for V-shaped recovery fade |
| The British economy returned to growth more slowly than expected in May as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were gradually relaxed after the sharpest plunge on record a month earlier. The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.8% in May as the economy staged a modest recovery from April’s crash. The Office for Budget Responsibility warned that the UK economy won’t return to its pre-crisis levels until the end of 2022. | The British economy returned to growth more slowly than expected in May as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were gradually relaxed after the sharpest plunge on record a month earlier. The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.8% in May as the economy staged a modest recovery from April’s crash. The Office for Budget Responsibility warned that the UK economy won’t return to its pre-crisis levels until the end of 2022. |
| Lord Browne to step down from Huawei UK | Lord Browne to step down from Huawei UK |
| The former BP chief executive, Lord Browne, is to step down as Huawei’s UK chairman ahead of the Chinese tech giant being barred from playing any role in Britain’s 5G network. Browne has warned that Britain risks damaging a “very long relationship” with China if ministers choose to ban Huawei from Britain’s 5G network. | The former BP chief executive, Lord Browne, is to step down as Huawei’s UK chairman ahead of the Chinese tech giant being barred from playing any role in Britain’s 5G network. Browne has warned that Britain risks damaging a “very long relationship” with China if ministers choose to ban Huawei from Britain’s 5G network. |
| Coronavirus deaths exceed 50,000 in England and Wales | Coronavirus deaths exceed 50,000 in England and Wales |
| The number of deaths in England and Wales when Covid-19 was citing on the death certificate has exceeded 50,000, according to the latest weekly statistics from the ONS. A total of 50,548 deaths involving coronavirus were registered in England and Wales between 28 December 2019 and 3 July 2020, it said. | The number of deaths in England and Wales when Covid-19 was citing on the death certificate has exceeded 50,000, according to the latest weekly statistics from the ONS. A total of 50,548 deaths involving coronavirus were registered in England and Wales between 28 December 2019 and 3 July 2020, it said. |
| London museums to reopen | London museums to reopen |
| London’s Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum will all reopen in August. The three institutions held a joint virtual event to announce their plans to reopen. The Natural History Museum will reopen on 5 August, the V&A on 6 August, and the Science Museum on 19 August. | London’s Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum will all reopen in August. The three institutions held a joint virtual event to announce their plans to reopen. The Natural History Museum will reopen on 5 August, the V&A on 6 August, and the Science Museum on 19 August. |
| Retailers and police must both play a role in enforcing the use of face coverings by shoppers in England, a cabinet minister has said after officers warned the law would be unenforceable. | Retailers and police must both play a role in enforcing the use of face coverings by shoppers in England, a cabinet minister has said after officers warned the law would be unenforceable. |
| The environment secretary, George Eustice, also defended the government’s U-turn on making face coverings compulsory, saying its approach had been “evolving” and noting that it advised the public to wear them in crowded places in May to limit the spread of coronavirus. | The environment secretary, George Eustice, also defended the government’s U-turn on making face coverings compulsory, saying its approach had been “evolving” and noting that it advised the public to wear them in crowded places in May to limit the spread of coronavirus. |
| The rules on English shops will come into force on 24 July, over a month after face coverings became a requirement on public transport in England on 15 June. Anyone who disregards the rule for shops can be fined up to £100 by the police, reduced to £50 if they pay within 14 days. | The rules on English shops will come into force on 24 July, over a month after face coverings became a requirement on public transport in England on 15 June. Anyone who disregards the rule for shops can be fined up to £100 by the police, reduced to £50 if they pay within 14 days. |
| The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will officially announce the measures in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon. | The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will officially announce the measures in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Lord Browne is stepping down as Huawei’s UK chairman ahead of the Chinese tech giant being barred from playing any role in Britain’s 5G network. | Lord Browne is stepping down as Huawei’s UK chairman ahead of the Chinese tech giant being barred from playing any role in Britain’s 5G network. |
| A Huawei spokesman said: | A Huawei spokesman said: |
| Browne, the former boss of BP, has warned that Britain risks damaging a “very long relationship” with China if ministers choose to ban Huawei from Britain’s 5G network. | Browne, the former boss of BP, has warned that Britain risks damaging a “very long relationship” with China if ministers choose to ban Huawei from Britain’s 5G network. |
| Black workers’ deaths are going “unmeasured and unmanaged” in the pandemic according to Unison, Scotland’s largest union. | Black workers’ deaths are going “unmeasured and unmanaged” in the pandemic according to Unison, Scotland’s largest union. |
| The claim is made in response the National Records of Scotland (NRS) analysis of Covid-19 deaths by ethnic group, and signals continuing frustration about data recording on the impact of coronavirus on BAME communities. | The claim is made in response the National Records of Scotland (NRS) analysis of Covid-19 deaths by ethnic group, and signals continuing frustration about data recording on the impact of coronavirus on BAME communities. |
| As in England and Wales, NRS found a heightened Covid-19 risk for Asian and Chinese communities. However, NRS were unable to make any finding in relation to Black, African or African-Caribbean people in Scotland due to weaknesses in data recording. | As in England and Wales, NRS found a heightened Covid-19 risk for Asian and Chinese communities. However, NRS were unable to make any finding in relation to Black, African or African-Caribbean people in Scotland due to weaknesses in data recording. |
| The Unison analysis argues: | The Unison analysis argues: |
| National organiser Peter Hunter told the Guardian: | National organiser Peter Hunter told the Guardian: |
| Unison is calling on all organisations, including private contractors delivering public services, to be compelled to publish coronavirus race equality plans as a matter of urgency and longer term wants the Scottish government to address the issue of poor quality data on Scotland’s BAME communities. Last week the Guardian reported on similar calls about data on the Irish community in Scotland. | Unison is calling on all organisations, including private contractors delivering public services, to be compelled to publish coronavirus race equality plans as a matter of urgency and longer term wants the Scottish government to address the issue of poor quality data on Scotland’s BAME communities. Last week the Guardian reported on similar calls about data on the Irish community in Scotland. |
| Labour has called on the government to release better data to help councils combat coronavirus. | Labour has called on the government to release better data to help councils combat coronavirus. |
| The shadow health minister, Justin Madders, said: | The shadow health minister, Justin Madders, said: |
| In a letter to Dido Harding, who leads the government’s testing and tracing programme, Madders sets out four specific requests: | In a letter to Dido Harding, who leads the government’s testing and tracing programme, Madders sets out four specific requests: |
| Data is transmitted to local authorities on a daily basis, in real time if possible. | Data is transmitted to local authorities on a daily basis, in real time if possible. |
| There is reference to ethnicity in the data. | There is reference to ethnicity in the data. |
| That each positive test also identifies by name, postcode and workplace (if any) of the individual. | That each positive test also identifies by name, postcode and workplace (if any) of the individual. |
| That the proportion as well as the number of positive tests is provided. | That the proportion as well as the number of positive tests is provided. |
| Doctors in France have reported what they believe to be the first proven case of Covid-19 being passed on from a pregnant woman to her baby in the womb. | Doctors in France have reported what they believe to be the first proven case of Covid-19 being passed on from a pregnant woman to her baby in the womb. |
| The newborn boy developed inflammation in the brain within days of being born, a condition brought on after the virus crossed the placenta and established an infection prior to birth. He has since made a good recovery. | The newborn boy developed inflammation in the brain within days of being born, a condition brought on after the virus crossed the placenta and established an infection prior to birth. He has since made a good recovery. |
| The case study, published in Nature Communications, follows the birth of a number of babies with Covid-19 who doctors suspect contracted the virus in the womb. Until now, they have not been able to rule out the possibility that the babies were infected during or soon after delivery. | The case study, published in Nature Communications, follows the birth of a number of babies with Covid-19 who doctors suspect contracted the virus in the womb. Until now, they have not been able to rule out the possibility that the babies were infected during or soon after delivery. |
| “Unfortunately there is no doubt about the transmission in this case,” said Daniele De Luca, medical director of paediatrics and neonatal critical care at the Antoine Béclère hospital in Paris. | “Unfortunately there is no doubt about the transmission in this case,” said Daniele De Luca, medical director of paediatrics and neonatal critical care at the Antoine Béclère hospital in Paris. |
| The British economy returned to growth more slowly than expected in May as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were gradually relaxed after the sharpest plunge on record a month earlier. | The British economy returned to growth more slowly than expected in May as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were gradually relaxed after the sharpest plunge on record a month earlier. |
| The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.8% in May as the economy staged a modest recovery from April, when GDP crashed by a fifth during the first full month of lockdown. | The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.8% in May as the economy staged a modest recovery from April, when GDP crashed by a fifth during the first full month of lockdown. |
| After the biggest collapse in activity since records began, economists had expected some recovery in activity in May as the government eased restrictions on movement. However, the bounce back was weaker than growth of 5.5% forecast by City economists. | After the biggest collapse in activity since records began, economists had expected some recovery in activity in May as the government eased restrictions on movement. However, the bounce back was weaker than growth of 5.5% forecast by City economists. |
| London’s Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum will all reopen in August, PA Media reports. | London’s Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum will all reopen in August, PA Media reports. |
| London’s South Kensington museum district - usually a tourist and school holiday hotspot - has been closed since March. | London’s South Kensington museum district - usually a tourist and school holiday hotspot - has been closed since March. |
| The three institutions held a joint virtual event to announce their plans to reopen. The Natural History Museum will reopen on 5 August, the V&A on 6 August, and the Science Museum on 19 August. | The three institutions held a joint virtual event to announce their plans to reopen. The Natural History Museum will reopen on 5 August, the V&A on 6 August, and the Science Museum on 19 August. |
| V&A director Tristram Hunt said: | V&A director Tristram Hunt said: |
| The Office for Budget Responsibility doesn’t believe a V-shaped recovery is likely. | The Office for Budget Responsibility doesn’t believe a V-shaped recovery is likely. |
| Its new central forecast is that the UK economy won’t return to its pre-crisis levels until the end of 2022. In other words, it would take more than two years to recover the output lost in March and April. | Its new central forecast is that the UK economy won’t return to its pre-crisis levels until the end of 2022. In other words, it would take more than two years to recover the output lost in March and April. |
| But the OBR also says the pace of the recovery is “highly uncertain”. | But the OBR also says the pace of the recovery is “highly uncertain”. |
| It depends on several factors: the amount of scarring suffered by the economy, such as unemployment; whether (and when) effective vaccines and other treatments to crush Covid-19 are developed; how fast the lockdown is lifted; and whether government action to protect the economy works. | It depends on several factors: the amount of scarring suffered by the economy, such as unemployment; whether (and when) effective vaccines and other treatments to crush Covid-19 are developed; how fast the lockdown is lifted; and whether government action to protect the economy works. |
| There’s more on Business live blog: | There’s more on Business live blog: |