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| UK coronavirus live: England at limit of lockdown easing, says Whitty; official UK death toll passes 46,000 | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Face coverings to be made mandatory in more indoor settings in England; government criticised for ‘shockingly short notice’ lockdown ahead of Eid | Face coverings to be made mandatory in more indoor settings in England; government criticised for ‘shockingly short notice’ lockdown ahead of Eid |
| A further 120 Covid-19-associated deaths have been recorded, according to today’s update on the government’s coronavirus data dashboard. That brings the government’s tally to 46,119. | |
| However, there is a caveat about this data, as my colleague Andrew Sparrow writes: | |
| This is a Public Health England figure for the UK as a whole. But, confusingly, the Department of Health and Social Care has given up publishing this figure as part of its only daily update, because it no longer views it as reliable. | This is a Public Health England figure for the UK as a whole. But, confusingly, the Department of Health and Social Care has given up publishing this figure as part of its only daily update, because it no longer views it as reliable. |
| The PHE figure is suspect because it includes people in England who tested positive for coronavirus and died, even if they died of something else. | |
| But the main problem with the headline total is that it is an underestimate because it does not include people who died from coronavirus without testing positive. When these deaths are included, total UK coronavirus deaths are more than 55,000. | But the main problem with the headline total is that it is an underestimate because it does not include people who died from coronavirus without testing positive. When these deaths are included, total UK coronavirus deaths are more than 55,000. |
| Lord Fowler, the Lord Speaker, has called the prime minister’s list of nominations for peerages a “missed opportunity”. He said: | |
| The prime minister has nominated his brother, Jo Johnson, his chief strategic adviser, Sir Edward Lister and several Tory grandees for peerages, while a suite of Brexiters are also set for the Lords, PA Media reports. | The prime minister has nominated his brother, Jo Johnson, his chief strategic adviser, Sir Edward Lister and several Tory grandees for peerages, while a suite of Brexiters are also set for the Lords, PA Media reports. |
| Philip May, husband of Theresa May, Boris Johnson’s immediate predecessor in Downing Street, is also destined for a knighthood, a list of nominations published today showed. | Philip May, husband of Theresa May, Boris Johnson’s immediate predecessor in Downing Street, is also destined for a knighthood, a list of nominations published today showed. |
| Ex-England cricket player and Brexit supporter Sir Ian Botham, newspaper owner Evgeny Lebedev and the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson will also head to the House of Lords. | Ex-England cricket player and Brexit supporter Sir Ian Botham, newspaper owner Evgeny Lebedev and the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson will also head to the House of Lords. |
| The 36-strong list includes numerous former MPs who rebelled against the Labour position to back Brexit, including Kate Hoey, Ian Austin, and Gisela Stuart. | The 36-strong list includes numerous former MPs who rebelled against the Labour position to back Brexit, including Kate Hoey, Ian Austin, and Gisela Stuart. |
| Notable absentees from the list include the former Commons speaker John Bercow and Labour’s former deputy leader Tom Watson. | Notable absentees from the list include the former Commons speaker John Bercow and Labour’s former deputy leader Tom Watson. |
| But Johnson did pick the Conservative former chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond for peerages, even after he stripped them from the Tory whip after they defied him over Brexit. | But Johnson did pick the Conservative former chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond for peerages, even after he stripped them from the Tory whip after they defied him over Brexit. |
| He also selected his own brother, Jo, who dealt his older sibling a major blow by resigning from his cabinet citing “the national interest”. | He also selected his own brother, Jo, who dealt his older sibling a major blow by resigning from his cabinet citing “the national interest”. |
| Lister, a long-term ally of the prime minister, having supported him as London mayor, also made Johnson’s list for peerages. | Lister, a long-term ally of the prime minister, having supported him as London mayor, also made Johnson’s list for peerages. |
| More from our north of England correspondent Josh Halliday. | More from our north of England correspondent Josh Halliday. |
| The leader of Bradford council, Susan Hinchcliffe, has accused some people of using the new restrictions in parts of the north “to play the blame game” and to “promote division and disharmony” [see 1.29pm.]. | The leader of Bradford council, Susan Hinchcliffe, has accused some people of using the new restrictions in parts of the north “to play the blame game” and to “promote division and disharmony” [see 1.29pm.]. |
| The Ministry of Justice has announced significant changes to the care of pregnant women and mothers and babies following a year-long review of prison mother and baby units. | The Ministry of Justice has announced significant changes to the care of pregnant women and mothers and babies following a year-long review of prison mother and baby units. |
| In the course of the review one baby died in prison and another was stillborn. The changes include individual care plans for each woman and increased staff training on supporting vulnerable mothers and pregnant women. Every female prison will have resident mother and baby specialist and a new advisory group will be established to ensure support for such women. | In the course of the review one baby died in prison and another was stillborn. The changes include individual care plans for each woman and increased staff training on supporting vulnerable mothers and pregnant women. Every female prison will have resident mother and baby specialist and a new advisory group will be established to ensure support for such women. |
| The support currently available to women on MBUs will now be extended to pregnant prisoners and those separated from young children. | The support currently available to women on MBUs will now be extended to pregnant prisoners and those separated from young children. |
| Six of the 12 women’s prisons have MBUs. More than 60% of women in custody have experienced domestic abuse and around half have a history of substance misuse. | Six of the 12 women’s prisons have MBUs. More than 60% of women in custody have experienced domestic abuse and around half have a history of substance misuse. |
| Lucy Frazer QC MP, the minister for prisons and probation said: | Lucy Frazer QC MP, the minister for prisons and probation said: |
| Kirsty Kitchen, the head of policy at Birth Companions, which supports pregnant women and mothers and babies in prison,said: | Kirsty Kitchen, the head of policy at Birth Companions, which supports pregnant women and mothers and babies in prison,said: |
| The leaders of Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities and the region’s mayor Andy Burnham have condemned the government’s communication of the change as causing “confusion and distress for our residents”.In a press conference, Burnham said he first heard about the proposed measures when he was called by Matt Hancock shortly before 5pm when the health and social care secretary was due to have a meeting with England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty.The meeting was delayed slightly at Burnham’s request, the mayor said, so that he could feed in information from local health officials. | The leaders of Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities and the region’s mayor Andy Burnham have condemned the government’s communication of the change as causing “confusion and distress for our residents”.In a press conference, Burnham said he first heard about the proposed measures when he was called by Matt Hancock shortly before 5pm when the health and social care secretary was due to have a meeting with England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty.The meeting was delayed slightly at Burnham’s request, the mayor said, so that he could feed in information from local health officials. |
| While Burnham said he supported the extra measures, he was concerned that they were first announced by Hancock on Twitter at 9.16pm without any additional detail.He also said the rules announced were slightly different to those briefed by Hancock on the phone earlier in the evening. Hancock had earlier suggested that the new measures would a larger part of the north of England, Burnham said, and would not restrict visits to people’s gardens.He added: | While Burnham said he supported the extra measures, he was concerned that they were first announced by Hancock on Twitter at 9.16pm without any additional detail.He also said the rules announced were slightly different to those briefed by Hancock on the phone earlier in the evening. Hancock had earlier suggested that the new measures would a larger part of the north of England, Burnham said, and would not restrict visits to people’s gardens.He added: |
| Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester city council, added: | Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester city council, added: |
| Leese said he agreed that the government needed to act quickly but that it was important to be “on exactly the same page” as government ministers and officials and that they were now hoping to have “real engagement” about refining the guidance.The 10 local authority leaders have asked for urgent clarification was needed on several areas:• How many people are allowed together in an outdoor space in the affected area? Is it 30, as is the rule in the rest of England, or is it only six?• Hospitality businesses need clarity on their ability to continue to operate if they have outdoor areas, they said.• The leaders also asked for the government to confirm that shielding arrangements would be extended for clinically vulnerable people in the areas affected where the new rules apply.• They said they are not convinced that banning people from meeting in private gardens is a “proportionate measure” and call on the government to provide further evidence or amend the regulations. | Leese said he agreed that the government needed to act quickly but that it was important to be “on exactly the same page” as government ministers and officials and that they were now hoping to have “real engagement” about refining the guidance.The 10 local authority leaders have asked for urgent clarification was needed on several areas:• How many people are allowed together in an outdoor space in the affected area? Is it 30, as is the rule in the rest of England, or is it only six?• Hospitality businesses need clarity on their ability to continue to operate if they have outdoor areas, they said.• The leaders also asked for the government to confirm that shielding arrangements would be extended for clinically vulnerable people in the areas affected where the new rules apply.• They said they are not convinced that banning people from meeting in private gardens is a “proportionate measure” and call on the government to provide further evidence or amend the regulations. |
| Nicola Sturgeon has urged young people to exercise much greater caution going to bars and social events after a spike of Covid-19 infections in Scotland, including 30 new confirmed cases overnight. | Nicola Sturgeon has urged young people to exercise much greater caution going to bars and social events after a spike of Covid-19 infections in Scotland, including 30 new confirmed cases overnight. |
| The first minister said about half of all the new cases over the last week involved people in their 20s and 30s, including young people in a new cluster of 13 cases in the Port Glasgow area which has involved staff at a pharmacy and an Amazon warehouse. | The first minister said about half of all the new cases over the last week involved people in their 20s and 30s, including young people in a new cluster of 13 cases in the Port Glasgow area which has involved staff at a pharmacy and an Amazon warehouse. |
| Included in the 30 new cases, the largest daily increase in eight weeks, were 12 infections in care homes. While there were no new deaths in hospital in the last 24 hours, the number of people in intensive care rose from two to four. | Included in the 30 new cases, the largest daily increase in eight weeks, were 12 infections in care homes. While there were no new deaths in hospital in the last 24 hours, the number of people in intensive care rose from two to four. |
| She urged people to act far more cautiously meeting other people, and to consider strictly limiting their socialising and observe distancing rules. | She urged people to act far more cautiously meeting other people, and to consider strictly limiting their socialising and observe distancing rules. |
| “Every single time one of us breaches one of those rules, we give this virus an opportunity to jump from us to someone else,” she said at a hastily arranged briefing. | “Every single time one of us breaches one of those rules, we give this virus an opportunity to jump from us to someone else,” she said at a hastily arranged briefing. |
| Jason Leitch, the Scottish government’s national clinical director, echoed warnings from the prime minister that the governments could reverse some relaxations. Ministers could use “a reverse gear” if they had to, Leitch said. | Jason Leitch, the Scottish government’s national clinical director, echoed warnings from the prime minister that the governments could reverse some relaxations. Ministers could use “a reverse gear” if they had to, Leitch said. |
| “There’s no doubt all of us in each nation of the UK will face clusters and outbreaks as we have in Scotland and possibly we will face more generalised increases in community transmission of Covid,” Sturgeon said. | “There’s no doubt all of us in each nation of the UK will face clusters and outbreaks as we have in Scotland and possibly we will face more generalised increases in community transmission of Covid,” Sturgeon said. |
| She also urged people to avoid all non-essential travel from Scotland to several areas of northern England affected by Thursday night’s emergency lockdown [see 11.49am.], pleading with Muslims in Scotland not to travel south to see family for the Eid festival today. | She also urged people to avoid all non-essential travel from Scotland to several areas of northern England affected by Thursday night’s emergency lockdown [see 11.49am.], pleading with Muslims in Scotland not to travel south to see family for the Eid festival today. |
| Sturgeon repeated her warnings for everyone to follow all the physical distancing and hygiene rules: | Sturgeon repeated her warnings for everyone to follow all the physical distancing and hygiene rules: |
| Tui has extended the suspension of holidays in Spain for UK customers. | Tui has extended the suspension of holidays in Spain for UK customers. |
| The UK’s largest tour operator has cancelled all trips to mainland Spain until at least 17 August, while its programmes in Spain’s Balearic Islands and Canary Islands are on hold until 10 August. | The UK’s largest tour operator has cancelled all trips to mainland Spain until at least 17 August, while its programmes in Spain’s Balearic Islands and Canary Islands are on hold until 10 August. |
| The firm is adding more flights and using larger aircraft for trips to Greece and Turkey to enable affected customers to change their holiday destinations. | The firm is adding more flights and using larger aircraft for trips to Greece and Turkey to enable affected customers to change their holiday destinations. |
| Tui UK and Ireland managing director, Andrew Flintham, said: | Tui UK and Ireland managing director, Andrew Flintham, said: |
| Tui announced on Thursday that it plans to close nearly a third of its high street stores in the UK and the Republic of Ireland to cut costs and respond to changes in customer behaviour. | Tui announced on Thursday that it plans to close nearly a third of its high street stores in the UK and the Republic of Ireland to cut costs and respond to changes in customer behaviour. |
| Further lockdown restrictions are being lifted in Wales to allow families and friends to be reunited, though the government admitted the new regime in northern England had given it pause for thought. | Further lockdown restrictions are being lifted in Wales to allow families and friends to be reunited, though the government admitted the new regime in northern England had given it pause for thought. |
| The Labour-led government said it had no plans to close the border between England and Wales but it was ready to reimpose “stay local” restrictions if there were fresh Welsh outbreaks. | The Labour-led government said it had no plans to close the border between England and Wales but it was ready to reimpose “stay local” restrictions if there were fresh Welsh outbreaks. |
| The first minister, Mark Drakeford, said it was important for people who had been separated to get back together before autumn. He stressed the pandemic would not be over by Christmas. | The first minister, Mark Drakeford, said it was important for people who had been separated to get back together before autumn. He stressed the pandemic would not be over by Christmas. |
| From Monday, up to 30 people will be able to meet outdoors in Wales, though physical distancing must be maintained for people over the age of 11. Younger children will no longer have to maintain a 2-metre distance from adults or other young people. | From Monday, up to 30 people will be able to meet outdoors in Wales, though physical distancing must be maintained for people over the age of 11. Younger children will no longer have to maintain a 2-metre distance from adults or other young people. |
| A further nine people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died in English hospitals, NHS England has announced. | A further nine people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died in English hospitals, NHS England has announced. |
| The patients were aged between 73 and 92. All had known underlying health conditions apart from one, who was 75. | The patients were aged between 73 and 92. All had known underlying health conditions apart from one, who was 75. |
| Here’s a regional breakdown of where the deaths occurred: | Here’s a regional breakdown of where the deaths occurred: |
| Midlands 1 | Midlands 1 |
| North East & Yorkshire 4 | North East & Yorkshire 4 |
| North West 2 | North West 2 |
| South East 2 | South East 2 |
| Nicola Sturgeon announced 13 new positive cases in Scotland, taking its total to 18,627. This is the largest rise in 13 weeks. There have been no deaths in the last 24 hours. | Nicola Sturgeon announced 13 new positive cases in Scotland, taking its total to 18,627. This is the largest rise in 13 weeks. There have been no deaths in the last 24 hours. |
| All new cases in the past seven days or so have been in the 20-39 age group, Sturgeon said. She said: | All new cases in the past seven days or so have been in the 20-39 age group, Sturgeon said. She said: |
| Brighton urges tourists to stay away | Brighton urges tourists to stay away |
| Brighton and Hove council has expressed concern about the number of people visiting the seaside resort and urged tourists to stay away. | Brighton and Hove council has expressed concern about the number of people visiting the seaside resort and urged tourists to stay away. |
| “If you’re not already here, please don’t travel to the city,” it said in a tweet. | “If you’re not already here, please don’t travel to the city,” it said in a tweet. |
| Folkestone and Hythe council warned that Kent beaches were “proving very popular” and urged visitors to plan ahead. | Folkestone and Hythe council warned that Kent beaches were “proving very popular” and urged visitors to plan ahead. |