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UK coronavirus live: Hancock confirms masks to be compulsory in shops and supermarkets in England UK coronavirus live: Hancock confirms masks to be compulsory in shops and supermarkets in England
(32 minutes later)
Face coverings will be mandatory from 24 July with £100 fines for non-compliance and shops can call police to enforceFace coverings will be mandatory from 24 July with £100 fines for non-compliance and shops can call police to enforce
Public Health Wales said a further two people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,543.
There were 21 new cases. The revised total for confirmed cases in Wales stands at 16,836, 209 fewer than the previous day’s figures because of “de-duplication”.
People with non-life-threatening conditions are to be asked to make an appointment ahead of attending Wales’s biggest A&E unit, reports PA Media.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is introducing a “phone first” triage system for its emergency unit at the University hospital of Wales.
Patients requiring urgent care will be assessed and signposted to the “most appropriate medical help”, the health board said.
Those suffering life-threatening emergencies such as symptoms of a stroke, loss of breathing or a suspected heart attack should still call 999.
The health board said that returning to how patients accessed the emergency unit before the coronavirus pandemic was not “deemed safe for our patients or staff”.
Emergency Unit consultant Dr Katja Empson said:
A similar system is in operation in Denmark, where all but the most ill patients must ring ahead and make an appointment at an A&E unit.
This was the health secretary announcing the decision to make face masks mandatory:
And this was the response from the shadow health secretary:
Richard Holden asks how many people across the country have been tracked and traced.
Hancock says 144,000 people have been asked to isolate.
Martyn Day asks about public health messaging regarding face coverings and for a confirmed introduction date for the new rules.
Hancock says the scale of the increase in testing will be large enough and there is a risk-based testing regime in place for NHS staff.
The Tory former health secretary Jeremy Hunt asks what plans are in place to increase test and trace to establish whether people have coronavirus or seasonal flu, and if they plan to introduce routine testing for frontline NHS staff.
Hancock says he won’t pre-judge the decision to be made on Thursday regarding Leicester.
The shadow health and social secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, is speaking now.The shadow health and social secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, is speaking now.
Why has it taken two months to make face coverings mandatory, he asks.Why has it taken two months to make face coverings mandatory, he asks.
And why the 10-day delay before it comes into effect, he adds.And why the 10-day delay before it comes into effect, he adds.
He asks Hancock to clarify the government’s position on workers returning to offices.He asks Hancock to clarify the government’s position on workers returning to offices.
And he asks if Leicester will be able to ease out of lockdown later this week and how this will be communicated.And he asks if Leicester will be able to ease out of lockdown later this week and how this will be communicated.
They want to give people more confidence to shop safely and protect shop workers, he says.They want to give people more confidence to shop safely and protect shop workers, he says.
A way to do this is through use of face coverings, he says.A way to do this is through use of face coverings, he says.
Face coverings should be mandatory in shops and supermarkets, Hancock confirms.Face coverings should be mandatory in shops and supermarkets, Hancock confirms.
People who don’t wear one will face fines of up to £100 in line with those on public transport, he says.People who don’t wear one will face fines of up to £100 in line with those on public transport, he says.
Children under 11 and those with disabilities will be exempt, he says.Children under 11 and those with disabilities will be exempt, he says.
A shop can refuse people entry and call the police if they don’t have a face covering, he says. A shop can refuse people entry if they don’t have a face covering, and call police if there is a problem, he says.
Wearing a face covering doesn’t mean ignoring other measures including washing your hands and social distancing, Hancock adds. Wearing a face covering doesn’t mean ignoring other measures, including washing your hands and social distancing, Hancock adds.
Hancock is speaking now on the “substantial progress” being made against the virus.Hancock is speaking now on the “substantial progress” being made against the virus.
Yesterday’s figures show 530 new cases, down 90% since the peak, he says.Yesterday’s figures show 530 new cases, down 90% since the peak, he says.
The latest number of deaths across the UK is 11, the lowest since 13 March, he adds.The latest number of deaths across the UK is 11, the lowest since 13 March, he adds.
This progress can’t lead to complacency, he says.This progress can’t lead to complacency, he says.
The health and social care secretary is due to give a statement on coronavirus shortly.The health and social care secretary is due to give a statement on coronavirus shortly.
Members of the Independent Sage group set up by Sir David King, a former chief scientific adviser, said on Tuesday that face masks must be made freely available to those who cannot afford them.Members of the Independent Sage group set up by Sir David King, a former chief scientific adviser, said on Tuesday that face masks must be made freely available to those who cannot afford them.
Prof Stephen Reicher at the University of St Andrews said masks could be posted to every household along with information on how they can help and how to wear them. Another option, he said, was to hand masks out on public transport and other places where needed.Prof Stephen Reicher at the University of St Andrews said masks could be posted to every household along with information on how they can help and how to wear them. Another option, he said, was to hand masks out on public transport and other places where needed.
In a public briefing, the committee, which was established amid concerns over the transparency of advice reaching ministers from the government’s official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), called for a “light touch” when it came to policing the wearing of masks. Shoppers who fail to wear one could face a £100 fine under amended legislation, a move the experts said went too far.In a public briefing, the committee, which was established amid concerns over the transparency of advice reaching ministers from the government’s official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), called for a “light touch” when it came to policing the wearing of masks. Shoppers who fail to wear one could face a £100 fine under amended legislation, a move the experts said went too far.
While children under 11 and those with certain physical and mental conditions will be exempt from the rules, the threat of fines could make some groups feel under attack, Reicher said.While children under 11 and those with certain physical and mental conditions will be exempt from the rules, the threat of fines could make some groups feel under attack, Reicher said.
Dr Zubaida Haque at the Runnymede Trust, a race equality thinktank, said:Dr Zubaida Haque at the Runnymede Trust, a race equality thinktank, said:
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?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?
Also, if you’re a retailer in Scotland, which has already made face masks mandatory in shops, we’d like to hear how it’s gone, and what advice you might have for English retailers on managing the wearing of masks.Also, if you’re a retailer in Scotland, which has already made face masks mandatory in shops, we’d like to hear how it’s gone, and what advice you might have for English retailers on managing the wearing of masks.
Please get in touch using the form below:Please get in touch using the form below:
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.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 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”.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.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.
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.
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.
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 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”.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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 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.
Marshall added: