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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-complianceBoris Johnson announces face coverings are to be mandatory in shops from 24 July with £100 fines for non-compliance
The Guardian is interested to hear from retailers about how they feel about the policy of mandatory masks in shops. Do you think it will be effective? How will you encourage shoppers to wear masks, and will you contact the police if they don’t?
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Nicola Sturgeon has said that the UK government’s decision to exclude social care staff from a post-Brexit fast-track visa system for health workers could have “a potentially devastating impact” on the care workforce in Scotland, which includes 6-8% of care home workers who come from other countries within the European Union.
She said she would “continue to make very strong representations to the UK government to change that”.
She added that the exclusion risked “doing huge practical damage to our economy ... and sending the message [post-lockdown] that we don’t want people to come and settle here from other countries”.
Sturgeon added that the reopening of Scotland’s hospitality sector tomorrow represents the “biggest and highest risk” of exiting lockdown so far. Referencing the new lockdowns imposed in Melbourne and California recently, she reiterated that the most immediate risk to Scots is not a second wave in the autumn but continuation of the first wave right now.
The Welsh government has suggested people in tourist areas of Wales might be required to wear face masks to address the concerns of local people.
From 27 July people in Wales will be required to wear face coverings when they are on public transport but so far the Welsh administration has not followed the move from the UK government to make them compulsory in shops in England.
At the Welsh government’s daily press conference, finance minister Rebecca Evans said:
Asked about comments from her Labour colleague in England, the shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, that the UK government had been “slow and muddled” over coverings, Evans said Covid-19 was at its “lowest ebb” in Wales since the pandemic began.
Evans also announced there will be no stamp duty payable on property sales below £250,000 in Wales from 27 July.
Ryanair has announced it will remove up to 1,000 flights from its UK-Ireland routes in August and September as Ireland “maintains a defective quarantine restriction on EU visitors”.
The airline said in a statement:
No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland for the sixth day in a row, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
The first minister told the Scottish government’s coronavirus briefing that 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, no change on last Wednesday’s figure.
She said 18,368 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by three from 18,365 on Monday.
A total of 668 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, up 67 from 550 the previous day, she added. Of these 12 were in intensive care, up six in 24 hours.
Deaths registered in England and Wales dipped below the five-year average for the third consecutive week, according to the Office for National Statistics.
There were 9,140 deaths registered in the week ending 3 July, which was 0.5% lower than the five-year average. Of these, 532 were Covid-related, accounting for 6% of the total.
However, the number of deaths at home remain above the five-year average, prompting concerns people may not be getting medical help if they fall ill. There were 755 more deaths in private homes during week 27 than in an average week, most of which were not Covid-related.
The total number of deaths registered mentioning Covid-19 in England and Wales is now at 50,548, the latest figures show.
The north-west had the highest number of Covid-19 deaths for the sixth consecutive week, with 100 deaths in the week to 3 July. Deaths in the region have not declined as swiftly as they have in other parts of England.
The number of deaths involving the virus only increased in the east of England and London. Fatalities rose 23% in London (35 to 43 deaths) and up 14% in east (59 to 67 deaths).
Contact tracers in England have been locked out of their accounts this morning, hindering their ability to reach people who may have contracted the coronavirus, Sky News is reporting.Contact tracers in England have been locked out of their accounts this morning, hindering their ability to reach people who may have contracted the coronavirus, Sky News is reporting.
A Tier 2 contact tracer (which means they have a clinical background) told Sky that those whose account with Amazon Web Services (who provide the infrastructure for the test and trace system in England) was activated on 13 May has been unable to login due to the sudden expiration of their passwords.A Tier 2 contact tracer (which means they have a clinical background) told Sky that those whose account with Amazon Web Services (who provide the infrastructure for the test and trace system in England) was activated on 13 May has been unable to login due to the sudden expiration of their passwords.
It isn’t known how many contact tracers have been affected by the issue. A source told Sky that the password reset site, run by Sitel, has also crashed.It isn’t known how many contact tracers have been affected by the issue. A source told Sky that the password reset site, run by Sitel, has also crashed.
You can read the full Sky News story here.You can read the full Sky News story here.
As we reported earlier, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum are to reopen in August - but are planning for around a fifth of the usual number of visitors.As we reported earlier, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum are to reopen in August - but are planning for around a fifth of the usual number of visitors.
The three institutions are opening their doors again with new safety measures. Timed, free tickets will be needed to enter the museums.The three institutions are opening their doors again with new safety measures. Timed, free tickets will be needed to enter the museums.
The V&A is initially opening from Thursday to Sunday each week. Its director, Tristram Hunt, said it will see what the “appetite” is from the public for visiting.The V&A is initially opening from Thursday to Sunday each week. Its director, Tristram Hunt, said it will see what the “appetite” is from the public for visiting.
The V&A and the Natural History Museum said they are expecting around an 80% reduction in visitors initially.The Natural History Museum will reopen on 5 August, the V&A on 6 August, and the Science Museum on 19 August.The V&A and the Natural History Museum said they are expecting around an 80% reduction in visitors initially.The Natural History Museum will reopen on 5 August, the V&A on 6 August, and the Science Museum on 19 August.
Hunt said that “reopening is only the first phase to our recovery, which is set to last well into next year”.Hunt said that “reopening is only the first phase to our recovery, which is set to last well into next year”.
Natural History Museum director Sir Michael Dixon said he is looking forward to reopening “our wonderful cathedral to nature”. The “period of lockdown” has inspired new exhibition ideas, he added.Natural History Museum director Sir Michael Dixon said he is looking forward to reopening “our wonderful cathedral to nature”. The “period of lockdown” has inspired new exhibition ideas, he added.
The museum will open Wednesday to Sunday. Face coverings will be recommended but are not yet mandatory, although museums will look at the latest government guidance.The museum will open Wednesday to Sunday. Face coverings will be recommended but are not yet mandatory, although museums will look at the latest government guidance.
The Science Museum will open seven days a week until 6 September, after which it will be open Wednesday to Sunday.The Science Museum will open seven days a week until 6 September, after which it will be open Wednesday to Sunday.
Museum bosses said they were “impressed” with the government settlement but long-term viability would be more of an issue, and they are expected to need more government support to survive long term if social distancing continues.Museum bosses said they were “impressed” with the government settlement but long-term viability would be more of an issue, and they are expected to need more government support to survive long term if social distancing continues.
The government is to issue new guidance for patients and their families on “do not attempt resuscitation orders” (DNARs) after a woman threatened legal action, PA Media reports.The government is to issue new guidance for patients and their families on “do not attempt resuscitation orders” (DNARs) after a woman threatened legal action, PA Media reports.
Kate Masters instructed law firm Leigh Day to take the government to court over its failure to provide consistent advice on DNARs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.Kate Masters instructed law firm Leigh Day to take the government to court over its failure to provide consistent advice on DNARs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, concerns have been raised by care organisations that elderly people and others are being pressured into signing DNAR forms.During the pandemic, concerns have been raised by care organisations that elderly people and others are being pressured into signing DNAR forms.
Masters said she was concerned that DNARs were being imposed in “seemingly blanket ways”, without consultation with patients or their families. In her legal letter to the government and the health secretary, Matt Hancock, she provided examples of DNARs being made without consultation and said concerns about blanket DNARs were a result of Hancock delegating resuscitation policies to a local level during the pandemic.Masters said she was concerned that DNARs were being imposed in “seemingly blanket ways”, without consultation with patients or their families. In her legal letter to the government and the health secretary, Matt Hancock, she provided examples of DNARs being made without consultation and said concerns about blanket DNARs were a result of Hancock delegating resuscitation policies to a local level during the pandemic.
The government has now said it will publish two documents to ensure patients and families understand how DNAR decisions are made in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.The government has now said it will publish two documents to ensure patients and families understand how DNAR decisions are made in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.
One document will be for patients and their families setting out matters such as the right to be involved in the decision and how to request a review, while the other is for NHS staff. Both will be published on the NHS website.One document will be for patients and their families setting out matters such as the right to be involved in the decision and how to request a review, while the other is for NHS staff. Both will be published on the NHS website.
Davina Hehir, director of policy and legal strategy at Compassion in Dying, which supported the move, said:Davina Hehir, director of policy and legal strategy at Compassion in Dying, which supported the move, said:
Experts have been reacting to the government’s U-turn on the wearing of face coverings.Experts have been reacting to the government’s U-turn on the wearing of face coverings.
Dr David Strain, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Exeter and also chair of the British Medical Association’s medical academic staff committee, said that masks should be used until there is less than one new case per million of population per day:Dr David Strain, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Exeter and also chair of the British Medical Association’s medical academic staff committee, said that masks should be used until there is less than one new case per million of population per day:
Dr Rachel McCloy, associate professor in applied behavioural science, University of Reading, said:Dr Rachel McCloy, associate professor in applied behavioural science, University of Reading, said:
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 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.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 Media news agency:Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, told the PA Media 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.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: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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
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.
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.
The Unison analysis argues:
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.
Labour has called on the government to release better data to help councils combat coronavirus.
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:
Data is transmitted to local authorities on a daily basis, in real time if possible.
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 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.
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.
“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 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
There’s more on Business live blog: