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UK coronavirus live: Covid-19 death toll passes 60,000 UK coronavirus live: Covid-19 death toll passes 60,000
(32 minutes later)
Total number of deaths from Covid-19 across UK reaches 61,116; 55 MPs sign letter to PM expressing fears that government’s ‘levelling up’ for the north is being abandonedTotal number of deaths from Covid-19 across UK reaches 61,116; 55 MPs sign letter to PM expressing fears that government’s ‘levelling up’ for the north is being abandoned
NHS England said a further 207 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 32,117. The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows:
East of England - 17
London - 17
Midlands - 26
North East & Yorkshire - 44
North West - 77
South East - 13
South West - 13
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, one of the largest hospital trusts in England, is to cancel some elective operations as admissions of patients with Covid-19 rises steeply in Yorkshire, the Health Service Journal understands.
The HSJ, citing a well-placed source, reports that the trust has now entered its “surge” capacity - the repurposing of additional beds - and will cancel some routine surgical lists from Wednesday. The extent of cancellations has not yet been determined.
The trust is believed to be due to make an official announcement later this afternoon.
Amid rapid increases in the Yorkshire and North East region of patients in hospital with Covid-19, figures published by NHS England showed the total number in South Yorkshire was set to exceed the spring peak. This has already happened in the North West in Lancashire and Liverpool.
The HSJ reported last week that several hospital trusts in the region, including in Rotherham and Bradford, had already suspended non-urgent surgeries.
Head teachers have called on the UK government to make more laptops available to pupils studying at home as a matter of urgency, as the latest government figures confirmed a further drop in school attendance for Covid-related reasons.
Weekly attendance statistics published by the Department for Education revealed that more than half of secondary schools (55%) had one or more pupils who were self-isolating last week, up from 46% the week before. Overall, pupil attendance dropped to 86%, down from 89% a week earlier.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the latest figures painted “a grim picture” of the increasingly challenging situation facing schools with attendance falling amid rising infection rates.
He also criticised the government for suddenly and dramatically reducing the allocation of laptops last week, just as the majority of schools broke up for half term. Head teachers were told their allocation was being cut by up to 80% in order to prioritise devices for areas of highest need.
According to the DfE, last Thursday between six and seven per cent of all pupils in England did not attend classes for Covid-related reasons, up from four to five per cent a week earlier.
More than a quarter (26%) of all state schools in England, excluding those on half term last week, had one or more pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a positive Covid case, compared to 21% the week before.
And about 82% of secondary school pupils were in class last week, compared with 86% the week before, while in primaries attendance dropped from 92% to 90%.
The sound of the phone ringing once filled 49-year-old Rivka Gottlieb with dread. Her father was hospitalised in late March after contracting coronavirus but, unable to be with him because of lockdown, she nervously awaited every piece of news on his condition.
In mid-April, the phone rang and the news she feared came. She was devastated – but even then she couldn’t say goodbye in the way she wanted.
Gottlieb’s father is one of more than 60,000 people across the UK to have died from or with the deadly virus, the vast majority of them elderly, with partners, sons, daughters and other loved ones.
For many touched by these deaths, the strangeness of life in lockdown is made stranger and more isolating still by the numbness of grief. And by the knowledge that they were unable to say farewell in the way they would have imagined and wished. This is one of the reasons the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group is calling for pandemic bereavement support.
Here my colleague Aamna Mohdin tells the stories behind six of the more than 60,000 lives lost to Covid-19 – and the difficult goodbyes their relatives had to make.
There have been a further 1,207 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 45,046. Public Health Wales said seven further deaths had been reported, with the total rising to 1,790.There have been a further 1,207 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 45,046. Public Health Wales said seven further deaths had been reported, with the total rising to 1,790.
Rushcliffe Borough council leader Simon Robinson told the PA news agency he believes the new Tier 3 measures in Nottinghamshire are supported by a “majority” of residents. He said people were showing “a lot of resilience because people understand we need to get on top of the virus”. Detailed control measures for areas like the hospitality industry are expected to be announced by the Government sometime after 5 pm, he added, following days of negotiations with councils.Rushcliffe Borough council leader Simon Robinson told the PA news agency he believes the new Tier 3 measures in Nottinghamshire are supported by a “majority” of residents. He said people were showing “a lot of resilience because people understand we need to get on top of the virus”. Detailed control measures for areas like the hospitality industry are expected to be announced by the Government sometime after 5 pm, he added, following days of negotiations with councils.
Robinson said: “The restrictions are currently being detailed now with government.” “Then there will be an announcement this evening - I’m not quite sure how that will be done because Parliament is in recess,” he added.Robinson said: “The restrictions are currently being detailed now with government.” “Then there will be an announcement this evening - I’m not quite sure how that will be done because Parliament is in recess,” he added.
Ministers are examining how holiday clubs could be used to feed hungry youngsters in England in an effort to solve the free school meals row. One of the world’s leading Covid-19 experimental vaccines produces an immune response in older adults as well as the young, its developers say, raising hopes of protection for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus that has caused social and economic chaos around the world.
The Holiday Activity and Food Programme is the brainchild of Henry Dimbleby, the government’s food tsar and co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain, and was trialled across 17 local authorities over the summer. The Guardian’s health editor Sarah Boseley reports.
Dimbleby said the government “isn’t doing enough” to address the issue of children going hungry and called for urgent action. Ministers said they were examining the pilot schemes to see what lessons could be learned and Boris Johnson is reported to be considering giving extra funds to councils to set up the clubs.
Business minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News: “These are incredibly important pilots and we will look at how we can learn from those and how we can build on this.
A peer told of the “mounting panic” his family had faced ahead of school holidays when he was a child as he shared his experiences of receiving free meals.A peer told of the “mounting panic” his family had faced ahead of school holidays when he was a child as he shared his experiences of receiving free meals.
Labour’s Lord Griffiths of Burry Port told the House of Lords: “I was in receipt of free meals throughout my entire school career. My mother, a single woman, her only income was the contributions of the National Assistance, we lived in one room.Labour’s Lord Griffiths of Burry Port told the House of Lords: “I was in receipt of free meals throughout my entire school career. My mother, a single woman, her only income was the contributions of the National Assistance, we lived in one room.
“I remember very clearly, I can still taste and smell it, the mounting panic ahead of school holidays because the income we had could not stretch to feeding two boys and a mother in that day.“I remember very clearly, I can still taste and smell it, the mounting panic ahead of school holidays because the income we had could not stretch to feeding two boys and a mother in that day.
“Marcus Rashford and I have this, and probably only this, in common. We remember not in our heads but in our whole bodies. An old Etonian, of course, can’t be expected to have had the same experience.”“Marcus Rashford and I have this, and probably only this, in common. We remember not in our heads but in our whole bodies. An old Etonian, of course, can’t be expected to have had the same experience.”
Griffiths said children faced a “postcode lottery” given different councils and communities would act in different ways, to which education minister Baroness Berridge replied: “Many noble lords of all parties and none can recall circumstances in which their own needs - whether that be housing or food - were not met through the circumstances of their family.Griffiths said children faced a “postcode lottery” given different councils and communities would act in different ways, to which education minister Baroness Berridge replied: “Many noble lords of all parties and none can recall circumstances in which their own needs - whether that be housing or food - were not met through the circumstances of their family.
“It’s not a postcode lottery - 1.4 million children in England are entitled to free school meals, saving their families over £400 a year, and in addition to that, particularly through the soft drinks levy, the government has in nearly 2,500 schools been funding breakfast clubs to provide children with healthy food.“It’s not a postcode lottery - 1.4 million children in England are entitled to free school meals, saving their families over £400 a year, and in addition to that, particularly through the soft drinks levy, the government has in nearly 2,500 schools been funding breakfast clubs to provide children with healthy food.
Hi everyone. I am a news reporter from the Guardian, taking over the live feed for the UK coronavirus blog. Please do get in touch to share any thoughts, comments or news tips with me as I work. Thanks so much.Hi everyone. I am a news reporter from the Guardian, taking over the live feed for the UK coronavirus blog. Please do get in touch to share any thoughts, comments or news tips with me as I work. Thanks so much.
Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.comTwitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com
Supermarkets have issued a statement calling on the Welsh government to relax a ban on selling non-essential items during the 17-day firebreak lockdown.Supermarkets have issued a statement calling on the Welsh government to relax a ban on selling non-essential items during the 17-day firebreak lockdown.
Groups representing supermarkets made a series of recommendations to Welsh ministers on Tuesday following confusion over what can and cannot be sold during the 17-day firebreak period.Groups representing supermarkets made a series of recommendations to Welsh ministers on Tuesday following confusion over what can and cannot be sold during the 17-day firebreak period.
The joint statement by CBI Wales, the Welsh Retail Consortium, and the Association of Convenience Stores called on the Welsh government to “resolve the confusion”.The joint statement by CBI Wales, the Welsh Retail Consortium, and the Association of Convenience Stores called on the Welsh government to “resolve the confusion”.
Here’s part of the statement:Here’s part of the statement:
I’m handing over to my colleague Sarah Marsh now.I’m handing over to my colleague Sarah Marsh now.
On a day when the UK Covid death toll passed 60,000, there is a glimmer of good news. The chance of surviving the virus for those admitted to critical care units rose during the first wave of the pandemic, researchers have revealed.On a day when the UK Covid death toll passed 60,000, there is a glimmer of good news. The chance of surviving the virus for those admitted to critical care units rose during the first wave of the pandemic, researchers have revealed.
Writing in the journal Critical Care Medicine, researchers at the University of Exeter report how they analysed the outcomes for over 21,000 adults with Covid-19 admitted to 108 critical care units in England from March to the end of June this year.Writing in the journal Critical Care Medicine, researchers at the University of Exeter report how they analysed the outcomes for over 21,000 adults with Covid-19 admitted to 108 critical care units in England from March to the end of June this year.
The results, based on survival at 30 days after admission, reveal that at the end of March 72% of patients in high dependency units survived, compared with 58% for those in intensive care. By the end of June there had been a “substantial improvement”, with survival at 93% and 80% respectively.The results, based on survival at 30 days after admission, reveal that at the end of March 72% of patients in high dependency units survived, compared with 58% for those in intensive care. By the end of June there had been a “substantial improvement”, with survival at 93% and 80% respectively.
Crucially, the team said, the improvement in survival was still seen even when the team took into account factors such as age, ethnicity and sex of the patients, suggesting the change is not simply down to a shift in the demographics of people being admitted to critical care units as the months have gone by.Crucially, the team said, the improvement in survival was still seen even when the team took into account factors such as age, ethnicity and sex of the patients, suggesting the change is not simply down to a shift in the demographics of people being admitted to critical care units as the months have gone by.
Indeed even taking such factors into account, the team found that compared with the situation at the end of March, survival improved by almost 13% per week for those in high dependency units and 9% in intensive care by the end of June. That said, there was no clear improvement in survival in some particular groups, including black people in intensive care.Indeed even taking such factors into account, the team found that compared with the situation at the end of March, survival improved by almost 13% per week for those in high dependency units and 9% in intensive care by the end of June. That said, there was no clear improvement in survival in some particular groups, including black people in intensive care.
Among other reasons for the overall improvements, the team suggest growing experience of the disease among healthcare professionals could play a role, as could a reduction in the numbers of people being admitted to critical care units, reducing the number of patients being cared for. However, they also suggest other reasons, including the use of drugs such as dexamethasone to tackle Covid.Among other reasons for the overall improvements, the team suggest growing experience of the disease among healthcare professionals could play a role, as could a reduction in the numbers of people being admitted to critical care units, reducing the number of patients being cared for. However, they also suggest other reasons, including the use of drugs such as dexamethasone to tackle Covid.
“Temporal changes in Covid-19 disease severity at admission, patient selection for critical care management, critical care treatment, hospital capacity, and Covid-19 testing all offer potential explanations for our findings,” the team write.“Temporal changes in Covid-19 disease severity at admission, patient selection for critical care management, critical care treatment, hospital capacity, and Covid-19 testing all offer potential explanations for our findings,” the team write.
Lady Doreen Lawrence, author of a Labour-commissioned review of the impact of coronavirus on minority groups, has been speaking to the BBC about her findings. She says that the government has acted “too late” to mitigate those impacts.
“From the time the government knew about Covid, nothing was done,” she said. “When the deaths started going up around black and ethnic minorities, even then I don’t think anyone took much notice of that, and so for us to actually hear these voices and hear people and from their families and people within professions whose colleagues have died … to me that’s quite important.”
One nurse told the review: “I don’t come to work to die.” Lawrence said: “That was such a telling thing for me, that sort of choked me … nothing’s changed. How on earth have they prepared [for the second wave]? They have not prepared.”
My colleague Mark Sweney reports on one of the economic winners of the pandemic: publishing.
Bloomsbury has reported its most profitable first half since 2008, he writes, with profits surging 60% to £4m in the six months to the end of August. Revenues grew 10% to £78.3m. The better-than-expected performance sent Bloomsbury shares 15% higher, to 242p, at midday on Tuesday.
Nigel Newton, the company’s chief executive, said:
You can read Mark’s story here:
This is Archie Bland, covering UK coronavirus live until 1.30pm.
The latest ONS data reveals an interesting detail on infection rates: people who have been on holiday appear to contract the virus at a similar frequency to those who have not.
A major long-term study to track Covid-19 in the population had previously found that there were higher positivity rates among people who had travelled abroad. But the new figures, covering September 25 - October 8, show there is “no longer a difference”.
Just 3% of participants had travelled abroad. Of those who said they had not travelled abroad in the last 30 days, 0.49% tested positive for the virus, compared with 0.58% who had travelled.
Other key findings in the latest data set:
• Urban areas in England have higher positivity rates than rural areas.• 34% of those who tested positive had no symptoms when they were tested.• 32% of those who tested positive had a cough, fever or anosmia (a loss of their sense of smell) at the time of their test.• Those aged 17 to 24 had higher rates of positive Covid-19 swabs both in areas where there were high levels of infection and in areas with low levels of infection.
This morning David Mellen, the leader of Nottingham city council, said it was “difficult to tell” whether the city had the government support it needed for tier 3, adding that all areas had been given a “flat rate”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Mellen said costs and lost income from the first wave of Covid-19 “were not fully met as was promised”, meaning that budgets were “strained and stretched”.
Visitors to Nottingham city centre have been reacting to the announcement of forthcoming tier 3 measures on Thursday.
Carl Bellamy, who is retired, told PA he believed the “necessary” measures would be effective “if people obey the bloody rules”.
On the possibility of a four-week review of the measures, Bellamy said:
Nottingham resident Carl Green said the tier 3 restrictions were the right move for the city at present:
Jason Weliczko, who has run the popular Robin Hood baked potato shack in the city centre for 29 years, said he fears the R number will simply rise again after the restrictions lift.
The majority of secondary schools in England sent home at least one student because of coronavirus last week, UK government figures show.
Around 6-7% of state school pupils - excluding schools on half term - did not attend class for Covid-19-related reasons on 22 October, the Department for Education statistics suggest.
More than a quarter (26%) of schools said they had one or more pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a case of coronavirus inside the school. This equates to 55% of secondary schools and 20% of primary schools.
Overall, approximately 86% of students on the roll in state schools, excluding schools on half-term breaks, were in attendance on 22 October.
Around 82% of secondary school pupils and 90% of primary school pupils were in school last week, the figures show.
This is from Wythenshawe, Manchester.
A health watchdog has raised concerns about patients who were sent home from hospital before they got the result of their Covid-19 test, PA Media reports.
A new investigation by Healthwatch England and the British Red Cross found that 30% of those who were tested for Covid-19 while in hospital did not receive their test results before they left, according to a poll of 500 patients and carers.
Experts said more must be done to improve hospital discharges as the second wave of Covid-19 hits alongside traditional winter pressures.
The poll also found that 82% of respondents did not receive a follow-up visit and assessment at home after being discharged. Of these, 18% had some form of unmet need. Some told researchers they did not feel ready to leave hospital and 35% said they did not get a contact for further advice.
Healthwatch England and the British Red Cross have made a number of recommendations to help manage hospital discharges during a second peak of the crisis. These include: post-discharge check-ins and assessments, discharge checklists and giving patients a single point of contact for further support.
Sir Robert Francis, chairman of Healthwatch England, said it was essential to learn the lessons from March, “when hospitals were asked to discharge patients with little or no notice and the speed with which this took place was important but led to mistakes”.
The British Red Cross chief executive, Mike Adamson, said simple interventions, such as getting equipment and medicine delivered, or follow-up visits “can make the difference between good recovery or someone regressing to the point of readmission - precisely at the time we want people to stay well and stay at home”.
Prof Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said:
A hospital in Northern Ireland has run out of beds and is asking patients to not attend its emergency department, in the latest sign that Covid-19 may overwhelm the region’s health system.
On Tuesday, 33 patients were awaiting a bed in Antrim Area hospital, which said it was operating “beyond capacity”.
The Northern Health Trust said 180 to 200 staff were self-isolating across the trust, leaving gaps that further strained the system. On Monday, Northern Ireland reported 342 inpatients with Covid-19, exceeding the previous daily peak of 322 recorded on 8 April.
Tom Black, the chair of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, said a Nightingale hospital could supply more intensive care beds but that the system was experiencing a “triple whammy” of rising cases, staff shortages and threat of further winter pressures.
“This second wave seems to be much worse than the first wave,” he told BBC Radio Foyle.
GPs had experienced a lot of pressure over the last two months, now it was the turn of emergency departments, said Black.