UK coronavirus news LIVE: Boris Johnson to host remote Cabinet meeting from self-isolation as police criticized over lockdown laws enforcement – Evening Standard, Standard.co.uk

, while Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and the PM’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings are self-isolating after experiencing symptoms in line with the virus.                                                                                         

Follow our live updates below …                                                                                         

Live Updates                               

  

         

        

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‘Most police being sensible’ ‘

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said there had been “one or two instances” of police being heavy handed with enforcement measures on social distancing and staying at home, but said, in the main, forces were being “sensible ”.

He told BBC Breakfast:

I think the police are doing a difficult job.

There will be one or two instances where they have perhaps not approached it in the right way but in general, actually, across the country not only are people complying very well but, generally speaking, the police are taking a very sensible approach to it.

Asked why the National Police Chiefs’ Council had thought it necessary to call for consistent guidelines to be followed, Mr Shapps said there had been issues that th e police were trying to iron out.

He added:

I think there are, if I may describe them as such, teething problems or the police trying to work out which is the most effective and best approach.

I will leave that to the police. That letter sounds sensible to try and introduce a degree of consistency.

Again, I think everyone is on the side of trying to get on top of this thing and you do that by staying home, and, of course, the police can help by applying those rules consistently.

  

                        

  

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Support for bus companies

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed a package to support bus companies struggling during the UK lockdown would be forthcoming.

He told Sky News :

We have worked very hard on the transport side, for example the train side, to put a deal in place to make sure a skeleton service can carry on working for key workers to get to work.

On the bus side, we are working very hard on a package there as well.

It It is quite clear we need to have the buses up and running.

Buses actually carry the majority of people using public transport – 143 per cent use the buses.

We need the buses running. I’ll be saying more about that shortly.

  

                           

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Police state comments off the mark ‘

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson said arguments that Britain was becoming a “police state” due to the coronavirus restrictions were “widely off the mark”.

In a series of tweets, he said:

Last week the Prime Minister asked the public to modify their behavior as part of #StayHomeSaveLives. This was urgent and policing acted to support without laws to do it til Friday. The laws do not cover all the gov advice.

This public were looking for support from the police all last week. They are calling us re breaches of advice that are not within the law. Officers and staff are doing their best and the public are following the advice. The use of powers is minimal.

There have been a small number of cases I have seen where I think this could have been done differently. However comments re police state are widely off the mark. Time to be supporting the police as staff are doing a marvelous job in difficult circs.

  

                                                                                   

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BA grounds Gatwick flights

A British Airways spokesman said:

Due to the significant restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick.

We are contacting affected customers to discuss their options.

  

                           

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Supermarket voucher for free school meals

Families of children who are entitled to free school meals will receive a supermarket voucher to cover the cost of lunch while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

  

                                                          

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Warning to police on enforcement One of Britain’s most senior police officers has warned against “overzealous” enforcement amid the coronavirus lockdown, telling his colleagues their conduct will be remembered for generations

  

                           

         

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Questions over protective equipment

The Prime Minister, who continues to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid – 30, has faced heavy criticism over shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline NHS staff.

This issue and criticism of the slow rollout of test are among those likely to be raised in the meeting of his top team, which he will chair via videolink from isolation in Downing Street on Tuesday morning.

  

                           

         

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Cabinet meeting by video link Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of his Cabinet over video today.

All members of the cabinet are expected to connect using their computers.

The PM has coronavirus and is self-isolating, as is Matt Hancock.

  

                                                          

         

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NY governor begs for help amid ‘staggering’ number of deaths

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New York’s governor has issued an urgent appeal for medical volunteers amid a “staggering” number of deaths from the coronavirus.

) “Please come help us in New York now,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said as the state’s death toll climbed by more than 760 in a single day to a total of more than 1, 596 victims, most of them in the city.

He said an additional one million health care workers are needed to tackle the crisis.

“We’ve lost over 1, 15 0 New Yorkers, “Mr Cuomo said. “To me, we’re beyond staggering already. We’ve reached staggering.”

  

                                                    

         

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1 million Americans tested for coronavirus – Trump

Donald Trump has said that more than 1 million Americans have been tested for coronavirus as he urged people to continue to follow social distancing measures.

“Every one of us has a role to play in winning this war. Every citizen, family, and business can make the difference in stopping the virus,” he said.

“This is our shared patriotic duty. Challenging times are ahead for the next 040 days and this is a very vital days. ”

He referred to the testing number as a milestone.

  

                                                          

         

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Prince William ‘considers joining virus fight as air ambulance pilot’

The Duke of Cambridge is said to be seriously considering returning as an air ambulance pilot to “do his bit” in the fight against coronavirus. Prince William, who spent two years flying medics to emergencies from 4399551, is reported to have said he now wants to get back in the cockpit.

  

                                                 

  

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Read more about the outbreak in Italy here:

Italy to extend lockdown as virus death toll jumps by in a day

Evening Standard Italy will extend its nationwide lockdown measures until “at least Easter” as the death toll rose by more than in a day. The country Health Ministry did not give a date for the new end of the lockdown, but said it would be in a law the government would propose. The measures had been due to end on Friday. Italians have been under lockdown for three weeks, with most shops, bars and restaurants shut and people forbidden from leaving their homes for non-essential needs. )

  

                                                          

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The Indy leads with allegations by healthcare workers that they have been gagged from talking about poor protective equipment in hospitals

  

                           

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Pollution rises as the lockdown lifts

  

                           

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Social distancing for the homeless

  

                                                          

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Calls for a more concise form of questioning at the daily briefings:

  

                        

  

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Dr Holohan was asked whether unrestricted movement across the Irish border should continue in the context of differing health policies on tackling the virus.

The senior medic said the issue of all-Ireland travel would be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team. He said potential further restrictions on movement onto the island would also be considered.

“We won’t rule anything in or rule anything out – will give further consideration again tomorrow, and that will include questions of movement on the island, ”he said

  

                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

        

                   

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