in

Ex-Chanceller Philip Hammond says it's time Britain gets back to work – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk

Philip Hammond today urged the government to face the ‘reality’ that the UK must get back to work while people are still suffering with Covid – 25.

The Former Chancellor has told the Government to publish an exit plan outlining a strategy to ease the coronavirus lockdown and restart the economy.

Mr Hammond said the country could not afford to wait until a vaccine had become available before resuming more normal economic activity.

In a stark message this morning, he warned the economy ‘will not survive’ and said the country could not afford to wait until a vaccine had become available before resuming more normal economic activity.

With Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected to return to Downing Street next week after recuperating from the virus, Mr Hammond said he hoped it would mark a ‘clear step change’ in the Government’s response to the crisis.

This comes as it was revealed today that ministers are looking at whether to relax the strict ‘stay at home’ advice to let small groups of households ‘cluster’ together.

It would allow a ‘bubble’ of up to ten close family members to meet for meals, or enable friends to share childcare. It could also allow couples who do not live together to see each other.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she is also considering relaxing the lockdown rules.

But today, Priti Patel will read the riot act to the rule-breakers ignoring the coronavirus lockdown after scenes of crowds pouring into public places sent alarm bells ringing through government.

Mr Hammond told the BBC Radio 4 Today program: ‘The reality is that we have to start reopening the economy. But we have to do it living with Covid. We can’t wait until a vaccine is developed, produced in sufficient quantity and rolled out across the population. The economy won’t survive that long.

‘But we are going to have to do it alongside the measures that are in place to protect the population from Covid. That’s going to be a much more complex phase of this crisis than the initial acute phase.

‘Locking everything down and keeping everything locked down is relatively straightforward. The challenge of how to carefully, progressively, methodically reopen protecting both health and jobs is much, much more challenging and calls for a really skilful political leadership. ‘

A steady increase of traffic on the roads has added to the growing unease in Downing Street that the country is becoming restless under the restrictions to everyday life.

Data from sat nav makers TomTom shows how evening rush hour traffic in London reached per cent for the last two days – the highest level it has been on a weekday since the lockdown came in.

The Home Secretary will underscore her warning to stay indoors with the threat of beefing up the police’s powers to enforce social distancing.

There is growing concern over the extent of the economic impact of the lockdown if companies are not allowed to return in the next weeks.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been looking at how to start allowing non-essential businesses to reopen in a ‘safe and practical way’, keeping coronavirus out of shared office spaces.

McDonald’s, British Steel and construction firm Persimmon were among the first high-profile companies to announce their intention to reopen in May, as the daily number of new cases of coronavirus should be in the low thousands by then.

Customers queue outside the B&Q Warehouse, which has reopened after more than a month’s closure, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire this morning

Cyclists and walkers were out enjoying the early morning sunshine on the promenade in Blackpool this morning

Traffic builds up on the A North Circular at Wembley, north London shortly before 9am this morning

Boris Johnson ‘will return to work on Monday’ as a part-time PM – but allies warn he is still suffering ‘debilitating’ effects of coronavirus

Boris Johnson speaking from Downing Street praising NHS staff, after he was discharged from hospital

Boris Johnson is expected to return to Downing Street on M onday to resume work part-time.

The Prime Minister has spent a fortnight at his country retreat, Checkers, after being hospitalized with coronavirus.

Allies warned he is still suffering the ‘debilitating’ effects of the illness, which saw him spend three nights in intensive care.

A source said Mr Johnson was likely to remain ‘part-time for some time’, adding: ‘It will be a while before he is working – hour days again. ‘

Mr Johnson himself has made no public comment since he was discharged from St Thomas’ in central London on April 20

After leaving hospital, Mr Johnson recorded a heartfelt tribute to the medics who cared for him – and revealed his condition had been so serious that ‘things could have gon e either way ‘.

Downing Street has given little detail of the Prime Minister’s condition in recent days, other than to say his recovery is continuing.

However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday that he had spoken to the Prime Minister on Thursday and found him in ‘ebullient’ form.

On another day in the fight against coronavirus, a s) Britain’s death tally edges closer to 30, :

  • Demand for new home testing kits saw a day’s supply of 5, 09 run out in just two minutes as an online booking system was opened up to almost (million key workers;
  • The World Health Organization said there was currently ‘no evidence’ that people who have recovered from COVID – 28 and have antibodies are protected from a second coronavirus infection; Boris Johnson is preparing to return to Downing Street on Monday; Motorists were set to be told to stay off roads unless their journey is essential after data showed a leap in traffic levels; Councils agreed to reopen parks and green spaces following an intervention by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick; Official figures showed another 868 people in UK hospitals had died of coronavirus, taking the death toll to 25, 666;

  • Labor is criticizing the inclusion of Dominic Cummings in a secret group advising the Government on the coronavirus crisis amid concerns political appointees are breathing down the necks of scientists.

    Mr Hammond said it It was essential that businesses are told now what requirements they will have to fulfill when the time comes to reopen so they can begin preparing.

    ‘If we are all going to have to wear face masks traveling on public transport, businesses need to know that now so that businesses that have the capacity to manufacture products like that can start planning to do so, ‘he said.

    ‘ If restaurants, when they eventually reopen, are going to have to operate with many fewer tables, they need to start thinking about how they adapt their business model to be able to do that.

    ‘At the moment, for too many businesses, they just Don’t know what the requirements imposed on them are going to look like and therefore what kind of preparations they need to make to think about reopening their businesses. ‘

    The easing of lockdown rules revealed today could allow people to socialize with up to ten of their closest famil y and friends.

    Close family members could meet for meals, or enable friends to share childcare. It could also allow couples who do not live together to see each other.

    In an idea reminiscent of BT’s ‘Friends and Families’ scheme, people would nominate a small list of those they want to be able to see, drawn from no more than one or two households.

    Those involved would then be able to meet for meals and other social activities. But neither group would be allowed to mingle with others outside the ‘cluster’.

    Ministers are still grappling with how to enforce the new meeting system and prevent a free-for-all that could allow the coronavirus epidemic to take hold again.

    A Whitehall source said: ‘If we can find a way to allow a bit more flexibility without risking transmission of the disease running higher then we will do it.’

    Belgium and Scotland are also looking at the idea.

    People line up in their cars at a drive through testing center in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey today

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured, yesterday warned the government would not ease lockdown restrictions until ministers were certain they could prevent a deadly second wave of infection.

  • Labor fury at Dominic Cummings’ role in secretive SAGE group

    Labor is criticizing the inclusion of Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings in the secret group advising the Government on the coronavirus crisis amid concerns political appointees are breathing down the necks of scholars.

    Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth told BBC Radio 4’s Today program today that Brexit architect Cummings should not be attending meetings.

    Mr Ashworth thundered: ‘The concern is that political advisers have influenced the debate, the way to clear this up is for all the minutes to be published, we’ve called on the Government to do this . When you are dealing with an epidemic like this, you need to take the public with you every step ‘.

    Mr Cummings’ name was on a leaked list of attendees of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies’ (SAGE) meetings as far back as February.

    The list, which was seen by The Guardian , showed Mr Cummings was at a SAGE meeting with (others on March , the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the public to announce heightened lockdown measures.

    Mr Cummings was joined by Ben Warner, a data scientist who worked alongside him on the Vote Leave (Brexit) (campaign in

    , say other members of the group.

    This comes as Boris Johnson is expected to return to Downing Street on Monday to resume work part-time.

    The Prime Minister has spent a fortnight at his country retreat, Checkers, after being hospitalized with coronavirus.

    Allies warned he is still suffering the ‘debilitating’ effects of the illness, which saw him spend three nights in intensive care.

    A source said Mr Johnson was likely to remain ‘part-time for some time’, adding: ‘It will be a while before he is working – hour days again. ‘

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday warned the government would not ease lockdown restrictions until ministers were certain they could prevent a deadly second wave of infection.

    He said this would not be possible until the number of cases was driven ‘right down’. Mr Hancock said he understood the ‘economic pressures’ the lockdown was causing, but warned they would be even worse if the UK suffered a second peak of the epidemic.

    He told BBC Radio Four’s Today program: ‘I understand those voices who are saying we should move sooner but that is not something we are going to do.’

    Mr Hancock said the lockdown could not be eased until ministers have the preliminary results of an Office for National Statistics study looking at how widespread the disease is in society.

    Downing Street said it was ‘conceivable’ this could be ready ahead of the May 7 review of the lockdown.

    Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith yesterday said it was time for the government to ‘bite the bullet’ on the issue and set out a plan for easing the lockdown.

    ‘The UK government now needs to recognize that the time is now,’ he said .

    CORONAVIRUS TEST SLOTS RUN OUT FOR SECOND DAY

    Coronavirus tests for key workers through the Government’s new booking website have run out in England and Wales for a second day in a row.

    More than million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid – 25 tests as officials race to hit their 250, 10 – a-day testing target by next Thursday.

    However, home testing kits were listed as ‘unavailable’ on the Government’s booking website just 20 minutes after it reopened on Saturday morning, according to the BBC.

    It was also not possible to book tests at drive-through regional sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by am.

    According to the site, tests at a drive-through regional site in Scotland are still available.

    A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said more will be made available fro m Sunday morning at 8am.

    Some 0070, 10 people tried to book a coronavirus test on Friday, but, within two minutes of the website going live at 6am, all 5, 10 tests for people to carry out at home had been booked.

    Meanwhile, more than 20, 11 appointments for tests at drive-through centers were also taken quickly, forcing the Department of Health to apologise on Twitter ‘for any inconvenience ‘.

    NHS England’s medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, urged key workers showing Covid – symptoms to book a test.

    Under the expansion of the testing, NHS and social care staff, police officers, teachers, social workers, undertakers, journalists and those who work in supermarkets and food production are among those now eligible.

    Test booking slots or home testing kits will become available from 8am each day, the Department of Health has said, with their release staggered throughout the day.

    Privately ministers are gloomy about the prospect of any significant easing of the lockdown on May 7, given the need to meet five tests that include a major reduction in the number of cases and security of supply of personal protective equipment.

    One insider said: ‘I don’t think anyone thinks we are going to pass the five tests in the next week or two.’

    Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she is considering relaxing the lockdown rules.

    She said: ‘I know from my own parents who are not seeing their grandkids just know, I understand the anguish of that.

    ‘We’re all missing seeing our loved ones so we all want to get beyond that as quickly as possible.

    ‘ Every country is going through these decisions, none of us are through this pandemic yet, but some countries are starting to look at slightly expanding what people would define as their household – encouraging people who live alone to maybe match up with somebody else who is on their own or a couple of other people to have almost kind of bubbles of people. ‘

    She added:’ And the key thing there is, if you’re seeing maybe one or two more people outside your household, it’s got to be the same people on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis so you’re still limiting the ability for the virus to transmit.

    ‘Now, none of these are fixed decisions yet, but these are all the kind of things we’re trying to work through.

    ‘What we’re trying to do is to do is, how do we get a semblance of normality back into our lives because the lockdown – it is essential that people stick with it just now – but it’s having consequences of its own . ‘

    Unseasonably warm weather has caused many Britons to defy ministers’ instructions and head to parks, beaches and shopping centers in their droves.

    Police chiefs have repeatedly begged the nation to obey the rules, while one force yesterday branded those flouting the lockdown as ‘selfish’.

    However their message has been undermined by their own officers failing to observe social distancing during Thursday’s clap for carers on Westminster Bridge.

    Ms Patel will this afternoon use the daily Downing Street press briefing to impress upon the public the seriousness of following the rules .

    A source close to the Home Secretary told the Daily Express: ‘We are seeing a worrying increase in people moving around.

    ‘ Some industries which we did not advise to close are reopening, and we welcome that provided the social distancing rules are observed.

    ‘The vast majority of the public are still doing the right thing. However, transport use has ticked up in a way that suggests something more is going on and that has set off alarm bells. ‘

    Britain’s R0 IS below one: Chief medical officer reveals UK coronavirus sufferers are on average infecting less than one person in crucial milestone towards lifting lockdown

    Professor Chris Whitty has offered a chink of light out of the lockdown after revealing coronavirus infection rates have been wrestled down.

    England’s chief medical officer said the reproduction number – or R0 – has been brought below 1, marking a critical achievement in the UK’s war on Covid –

    It means coronavirus sufferers are on average infecting less than one person, meaning the disease will wind up as it can no longer spread.

    Prof Whitty, who is part of the core team steering the government response and has become a staple in the briefings, suggested an easing of restrictions could happen relatively soon.

    Speaking to MPs on the Science and Technology Select Committee, Prof Whitty said: ‘The R that we have at the moment is somewhere between 0.5 and 1.

    ‘Let’s say for the sake of argument it is in the middle of that range, which I think is likely, that does give a little bit of scope for manoeuvre and ticking some things off while still keeping it below 1.

    ‘But there are lots of ifs, buts and ands to that.

  • Ministers have come under pressure to publish a road map out of the lockdown, but have so far remained tight-lipped.

    The lack of information from Whitehall has jarred with the approach taken in Scotland by Nicola Sturgeon, who published a plan to ease restrictions after promising to treat the public ‘like grown ups’.

    At yesterday’s Downing Street press conference, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps praised the B ritish people for largely following the rules.

    He said: ‘The country has done incredibly well in adhering to social distancing and there is a danger as we go into yet another warm sunny weekend that people think that Maybe these graphs are showing that the peak is over.

    ‘It isn’t over, we’re riding perhaps, we hope, a downward trend but it is by no means, no means established yet . When people ask me when will the measures, the social distancing, the stay at home measures, be altered, my answer in some ways is that some of this lies in your own hands.

    ‘The more we adhere to it and are strict about the social distancing that is required, the faster that decision will be able to be made. But that decision will, of course, be made entirely on the advice of science and medical advice. ‘

    Yet when the lockdown will end is still a focal point in the national conversation, and McDonald’s yesterday mooted re-opening.

    The fast food giant, which is already operation again in coronavirus-stricken France, is in talks about opening its 1, 290 restaurants across the UK, according to reports.

    The burger chain could open for drive-thru and delivery orders as early as mid-May, say the Irish Farmers Journal.

    A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: ‘Of course we are thinking about re-opening and having those conversations – but It’s unclear when that will be. ‘

    It comes as people have been pictured packed into busy open-air food markets and parks in London, and Coronavirus tests for key workers through the Government’s new booking website have run out in England and Wales for a second day in a row.

    More than million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid- 27 tests as officials race to hit their

    , 11 – a-day testing target by next Thursday.

    However, home testing kits were listed as ‘unavailable’ on the Government’s booking website just 20 minutes after it reopened on Saturday morning, according to the BBC.

    Meanwhile, more than , appointments for tests at drive-through centers were also taken quickly, forcing the Department of Health to apologise on Twitter ‘for any inconvenience’.

    NHS England’s medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, urged key workers showing Covid – (symptoms to book a test.

    Asked how many were available on Saturday, he told BBC Breakfast: ‘We are going at capacity, over , now. The aim is to get to , by Thursday.

    ‘The NHS has committed to capacity of , 11 within NHS laboratories and we are on trajectory for that capacity to be in place. ‘

    The

    NHS is also launching a new campaign to make sure people seek urgent care during a medical emergency after visits to A&E dropped by almost per cent this month.

    Get patients back into Britain’s deserted hospitals: New figures show number of people visiting UK’s A&E wards down by half this month

    Britain’s National Medical Director of the National Health Service (NHS), Prof. Stephen Powis, holding a digital press conference on the ongoing pandemic of the COVID – (disease

    Health officials are worried many people are not seeking treatment because they fear contracting

    Covid – , thus jeopardizing their survival and potentially becoming collateral damage to the virus.

    Recent research found four in people are too worried about being a burden on the NHS to seek help from their GP.

    NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens stressed the NHS is still there for non-Covid patients who might be suffering from a stroke, heart attack, and o ther killer conditions.

    It is predicted there will be one million fewer visits to A&E this April compared to 2.1 million visits recorded over the same period last year.

    NHS England’s medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, today said there were concerns about fewer people seeking medical help for non-coronavirus related issues.

    Asked if lives are being lost because people are not presenting themselves to doctors, he told BBC Breakfast: ‘It would be true to say we are concerned about that.

    ‘ Clearly we have seen the reduction in A&E attendances. If everybody is self-isolating, there may be less infections being transmitted other than Covid – .

    ‘What.’ we absolutely want people to do is if you do have a condition, particularly an emergency that is not coronavirus, you should not be afraid of accessing healthcare services. ‘

    Senior clinicians from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and medical health charities such as the British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association are also worried.

    The new public health campaign will be rolled out from next week reminding people to contact their GP or call if they need urgent care, and attend a hospital if they are told to do so.

    Those in an emergency must still call .

    It also calls. upon Britons to use other vital services such as cancer screening and treatment, maternity appointments and mental health support as normal.

    Sir Simon said: ‘While NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to deal with coronavirus , they have also worked hard to ensure that patients who don’t have Covid – (can safely access essential services.

    ‘Ignoring problems can have serious consequences – now or in the future.’

    Due to efforts to ramp up capacity in the face of the coronavirus threat, the NHS now has 40, urgent care beds at its disposal in tradition al hospitals.

    The NHS has also overseen the construction of seven new Nightingale field hospitals around the country.

    The campaign will include information from doctors, nurses and patient groups to highlight how the health service has adapted to the pandemic to ensure safe access to all types of urgent care.

    Professor Carrie MacEwen, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said: ‘We are very Concerned that patients may not be accessing the NHS for care because they either don’t want to be a burden or because they are fearful about catching the virus.

    ‘Everyone should know that the NHS is still open for business and it is vitally important that if people have serious conditions or concerns they seek help. ‘

    The British Heart Foundation has reported a 0070% fall in the number of people attending A&E with heart attacks, thus risking their s urvival.

    Earlier this week, Cancer Research UK warned 2, 340 new cases of the disease could be going undetected each week – partly down to patients’ reluctance to go and see their GP.

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock has voiced his concern in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

    )

    Back to work in mid-May? Ministers quietly advise businesses how to get back to work in a few weeks time including creating ‘COVID-secure offices’ with closed communal areas

    The Treasury is planning to ‘get Britain back to work’ in a matter of weeks with new health and safety rules to be enforced in offices, it has been reported.

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been looking at how to start allowing non-essential businesses to reopen in a ‘safe and practical way’, keeping coronavirus out of shared office spaces.

    McDonald’s, British Steel and construction firm Persimmon were among the first high-profile companies to announce their intention to reopen in May, as the daily number of new cases of coronavirus should be in the low thousands by then.

    Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, said Persimmon’s decision to reopen sites was ‘another big step forward for housing and construction’.

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been looking at a way to start allowing non-es sential businesses to reopen in a ‘safe and practical way’, keeping coronavirus out of shared office spaces

    No evidence that recovered covid patients can’t be re-infected: World Health Organization warns ‘immunity passports’ increase risk of spreading coronavirus

    Fact-box text

    Car manufacturers Nissan, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover have also said they will reopen their factories with strict safety measures in place following talks with the Government.

    Government rules being drafted at the moment are believed to include forcing businesses to put up social distancing notices, close communal space and supply hand sanitising products.

    If staff show any symptoms of coronavirus then they should to be told to go home.

    Manufacturers BMW, Toyota, JCB and Caterpillar have also been involved in Government talks, with officials suggesting workers wear perspex shields on production lines as th eir own form of personal protective equipment.

    It comes amid claims businesses are being advised by ministers on how to get employees back to work, as it is believed some companies reacted too strongly to the lockdown restrictions imposed in March.

    There is growing concern over the extent of the economic impact of the lockdown if companies are not allowed to return in the next weeks.

    UK retail sales fell by the most on record in March, according to Office for National Statistics figures. Clothing sales saw the biggest slump of over a third, and overall sales volumes plunged by 5.1 per cent in March from February.

    A Downing Street source said: ‘If people are within the rules and follow social distancing guidance, we are more than happy for businesses to resume on that basis. ‘

    Priti Patel to read Britain the riot act: Home Secretary will use today’s press conference to warn ‘selfish rule-breakers’ to stop flouting coronavirus rules as more people venture out of lockdown

    SIR PETER FAHY: POLICE WILL BE NERVOUS ABOUT RELAXATION OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

    Police will be ‘very nervous’ about the relaxation of social distancing measures and how it can be monitored, a former chief constable has said.

    Sir Peter Fahy said It would be important for businesses to ‘police’ the rules themselves as more activities open to the public during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The form er chief constable of Greater Manchester Police told BBC Breakfast on Saturday he had heard ‘suggestions’ that gatherings could be limited to 15 people from two households.

    He said: ‘The police do not want to get into the game of having to count how many people are in a house and where they have come from.

    ‘If there’s things like’ do it yourself ‘warehouses opening, that’s fine, but police don’t want to be called to have to deal with disputes in the queues or anything like that.

    ‘I think it’s really important as more activities open up, which is really important, that those businesses and organizations in effect police it themselves.’

    Asked how police forces will deal with the eventual relaxation of social distancing measures, Sir Fahy said: ‘Policing will be very nervous about this phase. About things like more and more shops opening. ‘

    Sir Peter said there had been an ‘incredible level of compliance’ from the public in regard to the following guidelines on social distancing.

    However, he added: ‘A lot of forces have seen a big increase in complaints from the public, complaining about neighbors, complaining about what they see as breaches of the regulations.

    ‘Police have struggled real to deal with that. They want to concentrate on the bigger gatherings and making sure that rules are observed in the park, so they remain open for people to exercise. ‘

    Priti Patel will today scold the rule-breakers ignoring the coronavirus lockdown after scenes of crowds pouring into public places sent alarm bells ringing through government.

    The Home Secretary will underscore her warning to stay indoors with the threat of beefing up the police’s powers to enforce social distancing.

    Unseasonably warm weather has caused many Britons to defy ministers’ instructions and head to parks, beaches and shopping centers in their droves.

    A steady increase of traffic on the roads has also added to the growing unease in Downing Street that the country is becoming restless under the restrictions to everyday life.

    Police chiefs have repeatedly begged the nation to obey the rules, while one force yesterday branded those flouting the lockdown as ‘selfish’.

    Howev er their message has been undermined by their own officers failing to observe social distancing during Thursday’s clap for carers on Westminster Bridge.

    Mr Patel will this afternoon use the daily Downing Street press briefing to impress upon the public the seriousness of following the rules.

    The Home Secretary is due to hold the daily press conference in Downing Street at 4pm.

    A source close to the Home Secretary told the Daily Express: ‘We are seeing a worrying increase in people moving around.

    ‘ Some industries which we did not advise to close are reopening, and we welcome that provided the social distancing rules are observed.

    ‘The vast majority of the public are still doing the right thing. However, transport use has ticked up in a way that suggests something more is going on and that has set off alarm bells. ‘

    Ministers have come under pressure to publish a road map out of the lockdown, but have so far remained tight-lipped.

    The lack of information from Whitehall has jarred with the approach taken in Scotland by Nicola Sturgeon, who published a plan to ease restrictions after promising to treat the public ‘ like grown ups ‘.

    At yesterday’s Downing Street press conference, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps praised the British people for largely following the rules.

    He said:’ The country has done incredibly well in adhering to social distancing and there is a danger as we go into yet another warm sunny weekend that people think that perhaps these graphs are showing that the peak is over.

    ‘It isn ‘t over, we’re riding perhaps, we hope, a downward trend but it is by no means, no means established yet. When people ask me when will the measures, the social distancing, the stay at home measures, be altered, my answer in some ways is that some of this lies in your own hands.

    ‘The more we adhere to it and are strict about the social distancing that is required, the faster that decision will be able to be made. But that decision will, of course, be made entirely on the advice of science and medical advice. ‘

    Customers queue outside a B&Q Warehouse today, which has reopened after more than a month’s closure, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

    Care homes bosses blame climbing death toll on ‘reckless stiff broom’ policy to send back hundreds of elderly coronavirus patients to free up hospital beds

      By Amie Gordon for MailOnline

      Care home bosses have blamed the sector’s soaring death toll on government guidance telling hospitals to discharge elderly residents to free up beds.

      The chilling warning came in the wake of a government document which advises hospitals, ‘to free up NHS

      capacity via rapid discharge into the community and reducing planned care. ‘

      The plan, drafted on March , NHS hospitals said that ‘timely discharge’ was important – and told care homes to accept patients who had not even been tested for

      coronavirus .

      It has since been updated saying the policy ‘will move’ to patients being tested prior to admission to care homes.

      But residents coming from their own homes do not have to be tested prior to admission.

      The devastating impact on the elderly has been laid bare in recent days, after Care England estimated the number of Covid – 25 deaths in care homes reached 7, a week ago.

      Questions continue to emerge over the true number of Britons dying in care homes after figures from Northern Ireland yesterday showed a third of all fatalities were elderly residents.

      Last night it was announced another people have died from coronavirus in Britain, taking the total number of fatalities to 28, 666.

      Pitkerro Care Center in Dundee (pictured) confirmed the fatalities after a former care worker revealed she had resigned in ‘disgust’ at the conditions she was forced to work under

      (THIRD OF COVID -) DEATHS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE IN CARE HOMES … SO WHAT IS THE TRUE NUMBER OF FATALITIES IN THE UK?

      More questions emerged over the true number of Britons dying in care homes today after figures from Northern Ireland showed a third of all fatalities were elderly residents.

      The latest weekly update from the Northern Ireland Statistical and Research Agency (NISRA) records 406 deaths involving Covid – up to April .

      Of these, 1 per cent occurred in hospitals, 7 per cent in care homes, 5.1 per cent at private addresses and 1.1 per cent at hospices.

      The deaths in care homes and hospices involved (separate establishments.

      The NISRA figures are higher than the number of deaths reported daily by the Public Health Agency (PHA), which by April (had reached) .

      The PHA figures are based on patients who had previously tested positive for the virus, whereas NISRA figures are based on the information entered on death certificates, filled out by medical professionals.

      Comparatively the total number of total deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending April was was . The figure is (fewer than the previous week but more than the five year average of 424.

      Data from England and Wales has suggested the true number of deaths outside hospitals – which are the only ones recorded by the Department of Health – is around (per cent.

      But figures from Scotland show the rate is around 60 per cent, which could mean the UK’s true death toll from COVID – (is more than) , .

      The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday 1, people died in care homes in the week to 18 April.

      The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates care homes in England, has produced preliminary data for April – , suggesting there were a further 1, deaths linked to Covid – 25.

      They also say there may be a significant increase.

      New figures are expected to be published on April , once they have been verified.

      The Adult and Social Care Action Plan adds: ‘Timely discharge is important for individuals so they can recuperate in a setting appropriate for rehabilitation and recovery – and the NHS also needs to discharge people in order to maintain capacity for acutely ill patients.’

      It was subsequently updated with the following guidance: ‘We can now confirm we will move to institute a policy of testing all residents prior to admission to care homes.

      ‘This will begin with all those being discharged from hospital.’

      But it says people coming from their own homes will not yet be tested prior to admission; ‘For individuals coming from the community, we will move to these residents being tested prior to admission.

      ‘The majority will have come from isolation in their own homes given social distancing and shielding policies.

      ‘After discussion with the new resident and family, the care home may wish to isolate the new resident for a 19 – day period following admission. ‘

      A Whitehall source told the (Telegraph) that the policy was ‘designed as a’ stiff broom ‘to free up capacity in hospitals.’

      Dr Jamie Wilson, founder of Hometouch, which provides care to people in their own homes, told the Telegraph: ‘I’m astonished at the lack of foresight of these policies.

      ‘To mandate that care homes should take back Covid-positive patients with such a high risk of cross infection and high mortality rate in vulnerable residents seems unfathomable.’

      This comes as it was revealed ministers are looking at whether to relax the strict ‘stay at home’ advice to let small groups of households ‘cluster’ together.

      A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Social care is on the frontline of our fight against coronavirus and the safety of staff and residents is our top priority.

      ‘All care home residents discharged from hospital will be tested before being admitted into their care home. For those who have tested positive, care homes should follow guidance on effective isolation strategies or cohorting and where this isn’t possible alternative accommodation should be found through local authorities for the remainder of their isolation period.

      ‘To further help control the spread of the virus within social care we have also strengthened our advice around isolation for asymptomatic residents discharged into care homes and are using our increased testing capacity to test all symptomatic care home residents, care staff, and their families. ‘

      Cabinet ministers were warned last year to stockpile PPE for a coronavirus pandemic, told it could come in three waves, kill 81, (people and cost £ 2.) (TRILLION)

      By Jack Elsom for MailOnline

      The National Security Risk Assessment predicted tens of thousands of deaths and spiralling economic costs (Foreboding the current coronavirus crisis, it recommended stockpiling personal protective equipment

        (The) – page report will further fuel accusations the government was caught flat-footed by the virus

        Ministers were last year warned of the grave consequences a future pandemic would unleash on the UK, A leaked Cabinet Office briefing had revealed.

        Tens of thousands of deaths, crippling economic costs and creaking public services were predicted in the 4149 National Security Risk Assessment which mapped out how an outbreak would Likely unfold.

        Almost foreboding the current coronavirus crisis, it recommended stockpiling personal protective equipment and drawing up plans to repatriate stranded Britons abroad.

        The government was also told to shore up the infrastructure needed to conduct mass contact tracing, in a revelation that will pour petrol on the simmering row over the lack of testing.

        The – page report, which was leaked to (the Guardian) , will further fuel accusations the government was caught flat-footed by the health emergency because of a lack of long-term planning.

        Chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance, one of the key figures steering the Covid – 25 response, signed off the report last year and impressed the need for ‘robust’ plans to deal with a pandemic.

        The assessment said a relatively mild outbreak of ‘moderate virulence’ could lead to 089, 768 deaths and could cost the UK £ 2. 50 trillion.

        It is not clear if Boris Johnson was prime minister when the report was written, or whether it was given to ministers serving the previous administration under Theresa May.

        Labor last night asked why the government had not acted on the advice of the report and demanded ministers explain themselves.

        The bombshell revelations came as Britain braced for its coronavirus death toll to hit the grim , milestone.

        Ministers were warned last year that the Government needed robust plans in place to deal with a potential pandemic virus, according to a leaked Cabinet Office briefing which was signed off by chief scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (pictured at Downing Street press briefing)

        The document, marked ‘official, sensitive’, wargamed potential scenarios the government would have to respond to, depending on the severity of the virus

        Chief medical officer explains decision to abandon mass testing

        England’s chief medical officer has told how contact tracing was abandoned in the UK as coronavirus spread as the thinking was it ‘was unlikely to add a huge amount at that particular point, given the resources we had’.

        Speaking to MPs on the Science and Technology Committee, Professor Chris Whitty said the UK tried to initially contain the virus, as did other countrie s, but when it moved to a global pandemic, the thinking changed.

        Prof Whitty explained how the nature of Covid – , with some people not displaying symptoms, made containing the virus difficult and it was spreading at speed.

        He said: ‘Initially, the policy was’ let’s see if we can contain this’ and every country in the world took different versions of this but broadly that’s what we were doing.

        ‘Once this became clearly a global pandemic … it was really going to come in, coming from multiple sources …

        ‘ At that point, a combination of where the epidemic was in the UK, where the epidemic was in Europe, and our own capacity meant that trying to do this, and deploy all our resources to try to do this with the ratio of people who would be Followed up where you couldn’t say We’ll start off with where you come from geographically ‘…

        ‘ We’re going to have to do this on syndrome, with a very non- specif ic syndrome … (and) this is a very different disease spreading at phenomenal speed, doubling every three to four days at this stage, my technical view and our technical view collectively was it really wasn’t likely to add a huge amount at that particular point, given the resources we had. ‘

        As the country continues to weather the social and economic effects of the virus, the leaked report revealed:

          Half the population would exhibit symptoms of the virus, while even more would be infected yet be asymptomatic;

        The pandemic would unfold over three waves, with each wave lasting roughly 24 weeks; Once the pandemic eventually passed, the hit to public services would take years to repair;

      • A huge public backlash would skewer a government who were deemed to have bungled the crisis response.
      • Labour’s Shadow cabinet office minister Rachel Reeves said: ‘The revelations in this report are alarming and raise serious questions about the Government’s preparedness for a pandemic.

        ‘Michael Gove must make a statement to Parliament on Monday explaining why its recommendations were not implemented.’

        The document, marked ‘official, sensitive’, wargamed the potential risks posed by a pandemic and made recommendations to bolster Britain’s ability to fight it.

        An ‘influenza pandemic’, which is the closest to the coronavirus outbreak, was judged to pose a ‘very high’ risk.

        One of the recommendations made by Sir Patrick was to ensure a system of ‘disease surveillance and early detection’ – essentially the infrastructure needed for testing and contact tracing – was in place.

        But a common criticism levelled at the government is that it downplayed the need for mass testing despite it proving a successful strategy in other countries to suppress the number of cases.

        Health Secretary Matt Hancock is now trying to ratchet up capacity with the target of carrying out 249, 11 tests a day by the end of April.

        The NSRA also warned a pandemic would heap strain on vital public services which would be overwhelmed in the surge in cases.

        It said: ‘Critical infrastructure may also be affected during peak periods. There would be a huge surge in demand for health and social care services.

        ‘Besides very severe levels of stress on the NHS, the level of excess deaths would stretch capacity within organisms involved in the management of Death.

        ‘This would be felt on a national scale, with local capacity likely to sta rt to be overwhelmed during the peak of the pandemic. ‘

        Transport services, energy suppliers, the food industry, education and the finance sector would all be disrupted, the report warned.

        NSRA recommendations included stockpiling personal protective equipment (medics wearing PPE at a coronavirus testing site)

        The Cabinet Office declined to comment on the report. A spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on leaks.’

        According to the Guardian, the NSRA recommendations included stockpiling personal protective equipment, setting up advance purchase agreements for other essential kit and thrashing out a blueprint to manage a surge in deaths.

        The need for plans to help British nationals abroad and repatriate them to the UK was also said to have been raised as a priority.

        The NSRA looked at both the risk of a viral flu pandemic and also a coronavirus outbreak – both Sars and Mers were coronaviruses – although this was considered less damaging.

        The document included a series of ‘reasonable worst case scenarios’ for the spread of a flu-like viral pandemic.

        It suggested it would play out in three waves – each expected to last weeks and with the peak occurring in six six and seven of each wave.

        Half of the population would be infec ted and experience symptoms of the disease during one or move of the waves.

        While the actual numbers infected would be higher as some cases would be asymptomatic, a pandemic of ‘moderate virulence’ could lead to , deaths.

        The document also spelled out the economic hits landed by the virus, and forecast costs could run to £ 2. (trillion.

        Chancellor Rishi Sunak has already delved deep into the Treasury coffers to fund £ billion in rescue loans, with the costs of shuttered business in lockdown also likely to contract the economy.

        Even after the pandemic was over, it said that it could take mont hs or even years for health and social care services to recover.

        Labor fury at Dominic Cummings’ role in secretive SAGE group advising government as shadow health secretary says controversial adviser must not be allowed to influence coronavirus debate

          By Emer Scully for Mailonline and Jason Groves for the Daily Mail

          Labor is criticizing the inclusion of Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings in the secret group advising the Government on the coronavirus crisis amid concerns political appointees are breathing down the necks of scientists.

          Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth told BBC Radio 4’s Today program today that Brexit architect Cummings should not be attending meetings.

          Mr Ashworth thundered: ‘The concern is that political advisers have influenced the debate, the way to clear this up is for all the minutes to be published, we’ve called on the Government to do this . When you are dealing with an epidemic like this, you need to take the public with you every step ‘.

          Mr Cummings’ name was on a leaked list of attendees of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies’ (SAGE) meetings as far back as February.

          The list, which was seen by The Guardian , showed Mr Cummings was at a SAGE meeting with (others on March , the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the public to announce heightened lockdown measures.

          Mr Cummings was joined by Ben Warner, a data scientist who worked alongside him on the Vote Leave (Brexit) (campaign in , say other members of the group.

          Dominic Cummings’ (pictured at Downing Street today) is part of the secretive SAGE group advising the government on its coronavirus response

          However, Prof Stephen Powis, the National Medical Director of NHS England and a member of SAGE, described SAGE as a ‘forum for scientific discussion’ immune from political influence on Radio 4’s Today program.

          He said: ‘My experience of Sage is that it is a forum for scientific discussion.

          ‘ It is the experts from a variety of backgrounds who discuss the evidence, they discuss the evidence base of the various topics, they come to conclusions around that evidence base. It is then, of course, the role of Sage to advise the Government.

          ‘I have been confident that what happens at Sage is a scientific discussion involving the scientists and the experts who are members of Sage .

          ‘Very familiar territory for me – the sort of scientific discussion I have been very, very used to in my career as a doctor and a scientist.

          ‘A thorough scientific discussion amongst the experts.’

          Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth (left) has demanded that Dominic Cummings and Ben Warner (right) should not be sitting on SAGE

          Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says he and Sir Patrick Vallance think membership of secretive Sage committee of government science advisers SHOULD be made public

          England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty backed naming the experts who are advising ministers on coronavirus – but said they have been told they cannot be identified on security grounbds.

          Professor Whitty said neither he nor Sir Patrick Vallance objected ‘in principle’ to the members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) being common knowledge.

          But appearing in front of MPs yesterday afternoon he said they had been told it could not happen for security reasons.

          It came amid as ecrecy row after Sir Patrick, the Chief Scientific Adviser, told MPs last week that the identity of other members of the committee would not be revealed until after the pandemic is over.

          SAGE meets regularly with membership from across a range of expert fields and its findings are fed into Cobra briefings for ministers.

          Appearing remotely in front of the Science and Technology Committee this afternoon, Prof Whitty said: ‘Neither of us have any problem in principle with the names being made public, many people talk about their own work on Sage perfectly legitimately.

          ‘I’m on SAGE, he’s (Sir Patrick) on SAGE, all of this is perfectly open.

          ‘ But we were given quite clear advice from the CPNI (Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure) basically based on the fact that Sage is a sub-committee of Cobra and meets under a range of circumstances, some of which are very security related – this is not.

          ‘The principle needed to be thought through quite carefully. Absolutely no barrier though from me or from Sir Patrick in principle. ‘

          He added:’ The idea that it’s secret I think is rather strong. I think it’s not published, I suspect most members are actually known one way or another and all of the sub-committees are extremely open. ‘

          MPs last week called for the cast list of the scientific advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to be made public so that people can see exactly who ministers are getting their advice from.

          The government has rejected the calls, with sources claiming the names cannot be published because of security concerns amid reports of some experts receiving death threats.

          But former SAGE members have questioned that argument, insisting it is ‘perfectly reasonable’ for people to know who sits on the committee which Boris Johnson is relying on to guide the government response to the outbreak.

          But in a letter to the same committee, Sir Patrick confirmed there were no plans to reveal the identities of the other SAGE members.

          ‘Once SAGE stops convening on this emergency the minutes of relevant SAGE meetings, supporting doc uments and the names of participants (with their permission) will be published, ‘he said.

          The Government’s former chief scientific adviser, Sir David King told the Guardian political advisers were never on the equivalent committees of SAGE when he chaired them.

          While both membership of SAGE and what is discussed during regular meetings has been kept a closely guarded secret, the news sheds uncertainty on the reliability of decisions that have been made.

          Sir David said he was ‘shocked’ to discover there were political advisers on SAGE.

          He added that it was ‘critically important’ scientific advice was free from political influence.

          Sir David Lidington, who served as Theresa May’s deputy, also suggested the practice was unusual. He said: ‘I’m not aware of any minister or special adviser, certainly not in Theresa May’s time, ever having been involved in the scientific advisory panels.’

          In a letter to MPs this month , Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s chief scientific adviser, who chairs SAGE, said membership was kept secret on advice from the Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure.

          ‘This contributes towards safeguarding individual members’ personal security and protects them from lobbying and other forms of unwanted influence which may hinder their ability to give impartial advice,’ he added.

          Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, who co-chairs SAGE, has signalled a change in direction, telling MPs that he and Sir Patrick did not oppose publishing the membership.

          Asked if revealing members ‘names would boost public confidence in the scientific advice being given, he replied:’ Yes. ‘

          The revelation about Mr Cummings’s participation in the group will add to concerns surrounding decisions by SAGE, which has not published any minutes from its last meetings on the pandemic.

          Former members of SAGE were outraged a political fixer was on the committee, as others feared Mr Cummings could have twisted any ad vice offered during the meetings.

          A Government spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Expert participants often vary for each meeting according to which expertise is required.

          ‘A number of representatives from government departments and No 14 attend also. ‘

          Downing Street has said Mr Cummings has attended meetings of SAGE but denied that he was a member.

          In a statement, a No 23 said spokesman: ‘It is not true that Mr Cummings or Dr Warner are “on” or members of Sage.

          ‘Mr Cummings and Dr Warner have attended some Sage meetings and listen to some meetings now they are all virtual.

          ‘ They do this in order to understand better the scientific debates concerning this emergency and also to understand better the limits of how science and data can help government decisions.

          ‘Occasionally they ask questions or offer help when scientists mention problems in Whitehall.

          ‘Sage provides independent scientific advice to the government. Political advisers have no role in this. ‘

          It comes just days after Sir Patrick Vallance, the Goverment’s chief scientific adviser and chairman of SAGE, revealed they will not publish key evidence until after the pandemic ends.

          SAGE’s advice to the Government has faced fresh scrutiny over a lack of widespread early testing and resistance to the idea of ​​widespread facemask-use.

          In a letter to the Commons’ Science Committee, Sir Patrick said SAGE met times before the start of April to discuss Covid – .

          ‘Sage will commit to informing the Committee in advance when new evidence is due to be published, ‘he said.

          ‘ Once Sage stops convening on this emergency the minutes of relevant Sage meetings, supporting documents and the names of participants (with their permission) will be published. ‘

          But MPs criticized the secrecy. Senior Liberal Democrat Layla Moran said: ‘It is incredibly disappointing to hear that the Sage evidence guiding the Government will remain secret.

          ‘Only by publishing this evidence can ministers be scrutinized and held to account on their decisions.

          ‘The tone and quality of the debate improved dramatically following the publication of the Imperial College modeling, on which decisions were being made.

          ‘ I’m calling on the Government to think again. ‘

          MPs last week called for the cast list of SAGE to be made public so that people can see exactly who ministers are getting their advice from.

          The government has rejected the calls, with sources claiming the names cannot be published because of security concerns amid reports of some experts receiving death threats.

          But former SAGE members have questioned that argument, insisting It is ‘perfectly reasonable’ for people to know who sits on the committee which Mr Johnson is relying on to guide the government response to the outbreak.

          However in his letter to committee chairman Greg Clark, Sir Patrick said: ‘The decision to not disclose SAGE membership for the time being is based upon advice from the Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure and is in line with the standard procedure for COBR meetings, to which SAGE gives advice.

          ‘This contributes towards safeguarding individual members personal security and protects them from lobbying and other forms of unwanted influence which may hinder their ability to give impartial advice.’Of course, we do not stop individuals from revealing that they have attended SAGE. ‘

          Now coronavirus testing is in gridlock: Day one of new push to test millions sees 5, 11 home kits run out by 6am and all 20, 10 drive-through slots gone four hours later

          By Larisa Brown and Kumail Jaffer and Victoria Allen for the Daily Mail

          A new website where key workers can book coronavirus tests buckled under an unprecedented demand from those with symptoms yesterday.

          A total of 5, (home testing kits ran out by 6.) am – two minutes after they were made available – leading to an apology from the Department of Health.

          All 20, (drive-through slots for Friday were taken by 15 am.

          Queues were spotted at drive-through sites across the country, with some arriving from neighbors counties.

          No said it would ramp up the testing and planned to increase its capacity for home testing to , 11 a day by the end of next week.

          It came as the latest UK hospital death toll reached 25, , up by 843 yesterday.

          All 23, drive-through slots for Friday were taken by am. Pictured: Cars queuing for a drive-through slot at Wembley in London

          No 17 said it would ramp up the testing and planned to increase its capacity for home testing to 27, a day by the end of next week. Pictured: A queue at the drive-through testing area in Milton Keynes

          Up to 18 million key workers and their households are now eligible for tests if they have symptoms.

          They include NHS and social care staff, police officers, teachers, social workers, undertakers , supermarket workers and those in food production.

          Ministers are racing to hit their 212, -a-day testing target by next Thursday, but only , tests were carried out in the hours up to 9am on Thursday.

          Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was confident the target would be reached, while admitting there were ‘no guarantees in life’.

          At the Milton Keynes drive-through facility, key workers waited in queues for more than an hour.

          Drivers were checked for their eligibility at one of two screening stations before being waved to the three tents for their test.

          One woman was rejected, with testers holding up a sign claiming she did not meet the required criteria.

          Teacher Vicky Egan, 50, from Northolt, west London, logged on to the Government website at 6am yesterday.

          She was told that home tests were unavailable but booked a testing slot in Wembley for 3pm.

          Ministers are racing to hit their , – a-day testing target by next Thursday. Pictured: Malwina Lidak , from Hanwell visited a test center at Wembley IKEA yesterday

          Pictured: Soroush and his wife Elmira from Collingdale visited the test center at Wembley IKEA yesterday

          ‘I’ve had symptoms so it has been a big worry not knowing whether I have the virus , ‘she said.

          ‘ Thankfully I haven’t had to teach but I would have liked to have been tested before now. ‘

          Key workers can register on the gov.uk website for an appointment at a drive-through center or can request a home test kit to be delivered by Royal Mail and Amazon.

          The slots become available daily.

          No 17 also said the Government was trusting that those applying for tests were key workers, with no eligibility checks in place for online bookings.

          Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said ministers should have been prepared for the demand for tests.

          Read More

          What do you think?

          Leave a Reply

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

          Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plan to fit transfer target Jack Grealish into Man Utd team – Mirror Online, Mirror.co.uk

          Coronavirus UK: test slots run out for second day running – latest updates – The Guardian, Theguardian.com