Coronavirus in UK

[Firebat]

Coronavirus lockdown: UK 'should not expect big changes'

People should not expect big changes to the coronavirus lockdown in Boris Johnson's speech to the nation on Sunday, a cabinet minister has said.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told BBC Breakfast the speech would set out a "cautious" road map for the UK, rather than immediate alterations.

Spoiler

It came as Wales announced people will be able to exercise outside more than once a day from Monday.

Meanwhile, a six-week-old baby with coronavirus died in England.

The NHS said the baby died at an undisclosed hospital on 3 May and had an underlying health condition, as it confirmed a further 332 patients had died in England.

Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced "modest" changes to the lockdown, saying he wanted Wales to "move in step with the other nations of the United Kingdom".

The new measures will also include allowing garden centres and recycling centres to reopen.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday the only change she was considering in the immediate term was to outdoor exercise.

Mr Dowden said the PM's speech, at 19:00 BST on Sunday, would cautiously begin to look to the future, with limited amendments to restrictions to begin with.

"On Sunday, what the prime minister will do is set out the road map ahead," he said.

"So we can start to look to the future, but we'll have to do so in a very tentative and cautious way. People should not expect big changes from the prime minister on Sunday.

"But what they should expect, and this is what people have been asking for some time, tell us where we're going. Give us a road map ahead. And that is what the prime minister will do."

He added: "The worst thing that could happen is that after the huge effort we've all put in… we don't want to have a second peak that overwhelms the NHS."

The total number of people who have died with coronavirus in hospitals, care homes and the wider community in the UK is 30,615 - a daily increase of 539, the latest figures show.

Newspapers reported UK government sources saying some lockdown measures will be lifted as early as Monday and the BBC's political editor Laura Kuennsberg reported the "stay at home" slogan is on the way out.

Mr Johnson had also said in the Commons on Wednesday he wanted to possibly "get going" with some measures to ease lockdown on Monday.

But BBC Newsnight's political editor Nicholas Watt said the government "had a wobble" after Mr Johnson "gave the impression to some people that more significant changes were on the way".

And the Welsh and Scottish governments suggested No 10 had sent "mixed messages" about the lockdown.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to make their own decisions on lockdown regulations:

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already extended the lockdown there - as she urged people to stick to restrictions over the bank holiday weekend
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford said people will be able to exercise outside more than once a day, with some libraries set to reopen too
In Northern Ireland, First Minister Arlene Foster has said "everything will stay as it is" for the next three weeks
No 10 has said Mr Johnson is in favour of a UK-wide approach, even if different parts begin to move at slightly different speeds based on the evidence for each nation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52585373

 

[Saj]

A total of 31,241 people have now died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, an increase of 626 people since yesterday.

 

[The Viper]

A total of 31,241 people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus, an increase of 626 from the previous 24 hours

There were 97,029 tests carried out in the past 24 hours, short of the government's 100,000 target for a sixth consecutive day

Not hitting the testing target is down to "day-to-day fluctuation" and "regional variations", says Environment Secretary George Eustice

Ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's speech on Sunday, Mr Eustice says there will be "no dramatic overnight change" to the lockdown approach

Mr Eustice tells the public it is "vitally important" to follow the current restrictions over the bank holiday weekend

 

[MenInG]

Second world war soldiers, sailors and airmen would “recognise and admire” the efforts NHS, care and key workers, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has said in her VE (Victory in Europe) day speech.

She praised the nation’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, saying that empty streets have been filled with “love and care”, as she commemorated 75 years to the day Britain and its Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender at the end of the Second World War.

The Queen also highlighted the relevance of the VE day message to the coronavirus pandemic - “never give up, never despair”.

 

[Robert]

I think outdoor seating pubs will be allowed to open in the summer.

Government allowed alcohol shops to remain open, seems its essential products here in the UK.

I cant imagine the amount of alcoholics who will ermerge. I have no issue with people drinking or pubs, it's British culutre, just pointing out the damage which is being done with this drug in households under lockdown.

Is being done?

Got any statistical evidence of a rise in alcoholism?

I would say it is possible that there has been a rise in mental illness but we simply won’t know until the GP surgeries come properly back on line and referrals to mental health services resume.

 

[James]

Do you still support this party after the abysmal performance with this virus?

They have lost my support for sure.

Timing is everything. In my opinion it’s not that they have done the wrong things - it’s that they have done them at the wrong times. i.e far too late. They were too slow to lock the country down and too reactive.

If they had proactively implemented the same kind of lockdown at the beginning of March, my guess is that there would have been far less than 30,000 dead and we would be looking at a full summer lifting of the lockdown in June.

 

[MenInG]

The shadow foreign secretary has sharply criticised the government's advice for those returning to the UK.

Talking about the 14-day quarantine for people flying into the UK, Lisa Nandy called for clarity.

"The big problem is actually getting that advice to people in the first place and it's been far too slow and far too confusing for most people," she told BBC Breakfast.

"For weeks we've had mixed messages being briefed out of government."

She said her office was in touch with about 3,000 British nationals who are still stranded abroad.

And those who have returned to the UK have not been given guidance on what they should be doing when they get home, she said.

 

[MenInG]

Heathrow Airport has said that any quarantine measures must be medically effective, meet public expectations and be deliverable by airports.

The comments come in response to the prospect of a 14-day quarantine being implemented for travellers arriving in the UK.

"We will continue to do everything we can to support the government in tackling the health crisis whilst keeping vital trading routes open for British businesses in every corner of the UK,” a spokesman said.

"Heathrow is more than just an airport, it is the heart that keeps economic blood flowing for this country and it is vital our industry has the ability to bounce back quickly when the UK is ready to build back Britain together."

Heathrow bosses said there needs to be a common international standard for health in aviation.

 

[Firebat]

Further 36 coronavirus deaths in Scotland and nine more in Wales

A further 36 people have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths recorded there to 1,847, the Scottish government has announced.

In Wales, nine more people have died after testing positive for the virus, taking the total there to 1,099, Public Health Wales has said.

 

[Firebat]

England reports 207 more deaths

A further 207 people have died in England after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths recorded there to 22,972, NHS England has said.

These figures are just for deaths in hospitals. Later today, as is now usual, we will get UK-wide statistics that also include deaths in care homes and the community of people who tested positive for the coronavirus.

 

[Saj]

A further 346 people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths recorded in the country to 31,587 as of 5pm on Friday.

 

[MenInG]

 

[Saj]

What did we learn from UK government briefing?

Today’s UK government briefing has now finished - if you're just catching up here's a quick summary:

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces a £250m emergency fund for improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure

It means pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors will be created in England within weeks

Trials of e-scooters will also be fast-tracked and rental schemes extended from four local authorities to every region who wants them

He would not confirm a 14-day quarantine for passengers arriving in the UK

A further 346 people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths recorded to 31,587

The government has missed its target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day for the seventh day in a row

Shapps urged people to stay at home over the bank holiday weekend - stressing that government guidance had not changed

He said emerging from the pandemic will be a "gradual process" and the government will be proceeding with "extreme caution", ahead of a statement from the PM on the next steps tomorrow night

 

[MenInG]

A Covid-19 alert system is set to be launched by the government in England to track the virus, the prime minister is expected to announce on Sunday.

The system will rank the threat level from coronavirus on a scale of one to five and be adjusted according to data.

Boris Johnson is due to give a televised address updating the nation on the progress of lockdown measures.

The PM is expected to unveil a new slogan, telling the public to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives".

He is not expected to provide dates for when the restrictions - first announced on 23 March - might change.

The new system will apply to England only but the government is working with the devolved administrations as they develop their own.

It is understood the system - with alerts ranging from green (level one) to red (level five) - will be similar to the one used to keep the public informed about the terror threat level.

Mr Johnson is expected to say England is currently at stage four but moving towards stage three.

The warning tool - to be administered by a new "joint biosecurity centre" - will also reflect the virus threat in different parts of the country, meaning the threat level in one city could differ quite widely from another.

This could inform the local alteration of restrictions in England.

A meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee involving the cabinet, devolved nations and the Mayor of London will be held before Mr Johnson's televised address on Sunday evening, with the plans to be put before Parliament on Monday.

The prime minister is set to warn the nation that the UK is entering the most "dangerous" phase of the battle against the virus, according to the Sun on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of his address, he told the paper: "We're past the peak now but we'll have to work even harder to get every step right.

"Mountaineers always say that coming down from the peak is the most dangerous bit. That's when you're liable to be over-confident and make mistakes.

"You have very few options on the climb up - but it's on the descent you have to make sure you don't run too fast, lose control and stumble."

On Saturday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned the government would proceed with "extreme caution" when lifting lockdown measures.

Speaking at the daily coronavirus press conference he said the move beyond Covid-19 would not be "a single leap to freedom" as he pledged £250m to improve cycling and walking infrastructure across England in the coming weeks.

Mr Shapps also refused to confirm if 14-day quarantines would be introduced for people arriving in the UK, saying he would wait for Mr Johnson to address the nation on Sunday.

Another 346 UK coronavirus deaths were recorded on Saturday, taking the total to 31,587.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed 50,000 coronavirus test samples were sent to the US earlier this week after problems in UK laboratories.

A spokesperson said expanding Britain's virus testing network had involved setting up an "entirely new" lab network to process tests, adding "contingencies" - such as sending swabs abroad - were in place for when "problems arise".

It comes as the government failed to hit the 100,000 daily testing target for the seventh day running. There were 96,878 tests delivered in the 24 hours up to 09:00 BST on Friday.

In other developments:

More than 70 public figures - including Baroness Doreen Lawrence and author Malorie Blackman - are calling for a full independent public inquiry into deaths from Covid-19 among people from ethnic minority backgrounds
The Prince of Wales has hailed the "dedication, resilience and hard work" of Britain's postal workers during the pandemic. Charles left a letter addressed to "Everyone at Royal Mail" outside his home in Birkhall, Aberdeenshire
And religious leaders have warned that social distancing will be impossible in some places of worship if government ministers allow them to reopen - with one leader saying churches might not return to normal services before the end of the year

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52602635

 

[MenInG]

Scotland rejects new UK coronavirus slogan

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not use the UK government's new slogan, "Stay alert, control the virus, protect lives."

Sturgeon said her government was not consulted about the change. "The Sunday papers is the first I’ve seen of the PM’s new slogan," she wrote on Twitter.

"It is of course for him to decide what’s most appropriate for England, but given the critical point we are at in tackling the virus, #StayHomeSaveLives remains my clear message to Scotland at this stage."

The new slogan, which replaces "Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives", has been criticised by some for being vague and unsuitable for tackling transmission of a virus.

 

[Rana]

Scotland rejects new UK coronavirus slogan

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not use the UK government's new slogan, "Stay alert, control the virus, protect lives."

Sturgeon said her government was not consulted about the change. "The Sunday papers is the first I’ve seen of the PM’s new slogan," she wrote on Twitter.

"It is of course for him to decide what’s most appropriate for England, but given the critical point we are at in tackling the virus, #StayHomeSaveLives remains my clear message to Scotland at this stage."

The new slogan, which replaces "Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives", has been criticised by some for being vague and unsuitable for tackling transmission of a virus.

Best of luck Scotland

 

[Rana]

Nobody answered my question,

Are tax payers in England having to pick up the bill for Scotland’s deteriorating economy from 10th May? Sturgeon is being selfishly stubborn in her approach but does she have this covered or is she expecting a bailout from Westminster?

 

[James]

The previous slogan was punchy, crystal clear, and left us in no doubt of what the laws were and what we had to do.

This new slogan however is just rubbish.

 

[Rana]

The previous slogan was punchy, crystal clear, and left us in no doubt of what the laws were and what we had to do.

This new slogan however is just rubbish.

It’s in line with the track and trace app

 

[HitWicket]

Nobody answered my question,

Are tax payers in England having to pick up the bill for Scotland’s deteriorating economy from 10th May? Sturgeon is being selfishly stubborn in her approach but does she have this covered or is she expecting a bailout from Westminster?

Their regulations are going to be pretty much the same as ours with no significant differences.

 

[Rana]

Their regulations are going to be pretty much the same as ours with no significant differences.

Oh so that’s why Sturgeon has been rampantly tweeting a separate agenda and criticising Westminster? Why don’t you wait and see before you further make embarrassing claims

 

[Rana]

Sturgeon has made it crystal clear, the regulations in Scotland are not changing besides they are allowed to walk a bit more!

They have the previous slogan and England have a completely different slogan. We are not in lockstep as much as some jokers might want to think we are

 

[Rana]

I respect Scotland’s decision, but I would like them to also detach itself from England and work independently.

 

[HitWicket]

Oh so that’s why Sturgeon has been rampantly tweeting a separate agenda and criticising Westminster? Why don’t you wait and see before you further make embarrassing claims

I'd hardly call criticising a few words changing in a slogan (with very little change in the intended meaning) as 'rampantly tweeting a separate agenda'.

 

[Rana]

I'd hardly call criticising a few words changing in a slogan (with very little change in the intended meaning) as 'rampantly tweeting a separate agenda'.

https://twitter.com/nicolasturgeon/status/1259391575261696000?s=21

They are not in bed with Westminster. Wake up

 

[Rana]

So in Scotland, the police will continue to enforce stay at home orders

In England, the police have no authority to keep you home anymore.

But

“ Their regulations are going to be pretty much the same as ours with no significant differences.”

 

[HitWicket]

So in Scotland, the police will continue to enforce stay at home orders

In England, the police have no authority to keep you home anymore.

But

“ Their regulations are going to be pretty much the same as ours with no significant differences.”

You seriously don't understand the difference between laws and regulations and a short slogan...?

 

[Rana]

You seriously don't understand the difference between laws and regulations and a short slogan...?

No, you have no grasp on reality which is very apparent.

Sturgeon had to bring her chief constable at the daily briefing the other day to warn Scots about breaking lockdown rules. The slogan for Scotland is significant, they are not going to backtrack now that Sturgeon has played this freedom fighter gimmick. That is their law, they have the police to enforce it.

Please don’t waste your time with me, you are just going to be disappointed again and again pal.

 

[Rana]

https://twitter.com/policescotland/status/1259415451551109121?s=21

Sturgeon retweeted this morning. They are doing this for the next three weeks now so that Sturgeon can still look like Mel Gibson in Braveheart.

 

[HitWicket]

No, you have no grasp on reality which is very apparent.

Sturgeon had to bring her chief constable at the daily briefing the other day to warn Scots about breaking lockdown rules. The slogan for Scotland is significant, they are not going to backtrack now that Sturgeon has played this freedom fighter gimmick. That is their law, they have the police to enforce it.

Please don’t waste your time with me, you are just going to be disappointed again and again pal.

The slogan for Scotland contains no different underlying message than the slogan for the rest of the UK, and neither effect any kind of law or police powers in any way.

Scotland have decided to stick with the clearer 'stay at home' message, the rest of the UK have unfortunately decided to go with the far less clear 'stay alert' message to encapsulate a variety of messages in one statement such as staying at home wherever possible, working from home wherever possible and limiting contact with others.

 

[Firebat]

UK sent 50,000 Covid-19 samples to US for testing

The government has admitted sending about 50,000 coronavirus tests to the US last week for processing after "operational issues" in UK labs.

The Department of Health said sending swabs abroad is among the contingencies to deal with "teething problems".

Spoiler

The samples were airlifted to the US in chartered flights from Stansted Airport, the Sunday Telegraph said.

Results will be validated in the UK and sent to patients as soon as possible.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said expanding Britain's virus testing network had involved setting up an "entirely new" lab network to process tests, adding "contingencies" - such as sending swabs abroad - were in place for when "problems arise".

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the kits had to be sent abroad because of a "temporary failure" at a lab.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the move "shows our determination to get the job done".

Meanwhile, the government has sent an urgent alert to hospitals recalling 15.8m protective goggles due to safety concerns.

Although the "Tiger Eye" protectors, purchased in 2009 during the swine flu pandemic, were in CE marked boxes - meaning they should have met European Union safety requirements - the goggles have since been retested and do not provide proper splash protection.

Commenting on the recall, which was first reported in the Sunday Telegraph, a DHSC spokeswoman said the safety of front-line staff was "our top priority".

She added that hospital trusts should have enough goggles to "immediately stop" using the "Tiger Eye" protectors. A further 9.2m of the goggles are in quarantine, she added.

The revelations come as the government failed to hit the 100,000 daily tests target set by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for the seventh day in a row.

There were 96,878 tests delivered in the 24 hours up to 09:00 BST on Friday, down from 97,029 the day before.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said his "ambition" was to hit 200,000 tests "by the end of this month - and then go even higher".

But health leaders said they expected "fluctuations" in the figures, and that testing was still much higher than it was at the start of the outbreak.

Speaking at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing on Saturday, deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said he expected "fluctuation" in the day-to-day figures.

He said: "We are now really at a high plateau, in the region of 100,000 tests per day.

"I don't think we can read too much into day-to-day variations, but the macro picture is this is now at a much, much higher level than it ever was at the beginning of this crisis."

BBC health reporter Rachel Schraer said the UK did not start with the resources to do mass testing, unlike some other countries.

But it also took several weeks to expand from an initial eight public health laboratories to a wider network of private and university labs.

Unlike the UK, countries like Germany and South Korea rapidly stockpiled kits and made the test available to a larger number of labs.

Prof Van-Tam also told the briefing that the test-and-trace strategy of finding people with the virus and tracking people they have been in contact with was "part of the solution" needed to ease the lockdown.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52603566

 

[Firebat]

Latest updates from the UK:

An alert system to rank the threat level of the virus in England is set to be launched by the government. The prime minister is expected to unveil the system, as part of his address to the nation at 19:00 BST

The PM also introduced a new slogan telling the public to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives" - a change in messaging from "stay at home". However, the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said the "stay at home" advice will remain in place

More than 70 public figures are calling for a full independent public inquiry into deaths from Covid-19 among people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The government has admitted sending about 50,000 coronavirus tests to the US last week for processing after "operational issues" in UK labs

Decisions on which shops reopen after lockdown should be based on safety, not their size or business type, the British Retail Consortium has said

Religious leaders have warned that social distancing will be impossible in some places of worship if government ministers allow them to reopen

 

[Firebat]

BREAKING: England announces 178 more hospital deaths

The NHS has announced another 178 deaths in England of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in English hospitals to 23,150.

There have been another 10 confirmed deaths in Scotland, 12 more in Wales, and five in Northern Ireland.

The UK-wide figure, which also includes deaths in care homes and the community, will be announced later.

 

[Firebat]

 

[Firebat]

Experts have previously warned against over-interpreting daily figures of people dying with Covid-19 in the UK, since they often reflect reporting delays.

Spikes or dips may in part reflect bottlenecks in the reporting system, rather than real changes in the trend.

Many hospitals will not report deaths that happened over the weekend until the middle of the following week.

 

[Rana]

The slogan for Scotland contains no different underlying message than the slogan for the rest of the UK, and neither effect any kind of law or police powers in any way.

Scotland have decided to stick with the clearer 'stay at home' message, the rest of the UK have unfortunately decided to go with the far less clear 'stay alert' message to encapsulate a variety of messages in one statement such as staying at home wherever possible, working from home wherever possible and limiting contact with others.

You are as confused as the message from the UK. Scottish people can’t go out, English people can.

 

[Firebat]

BREAKING - Sturgeon: Rules in Scotland 'have not changed'

Scotland's First Minister has asked the UK government not to deploy its new "stay alert" messaging in her country, saying people should "stay at home full stop".

Nicola Sturgeon announced a minor change to lockdown measures - namely removing the limit to exercising once a day - but said they "mustn't squander the progress" by "easing up too soon" or sending out "mixed messages".

Asked about the new government messaging, she said she didn't "understand what stay alert means".

She confirmed she had taken part in a COBR emergency meeting with Boris Johnson this afternoon, and said that we may hear the PM "announce other immediate changes" in his speech tonight.

"But for the avoidance of doubt, let me be clear, rules here have not changed [in Scotland]," she added.

 

[Saj]

Scientific advisers to the UK government have reportedly warned that the country could suffer more than 100,000 deaths by the end of the year if lockdown measures are relaxed too quickly.

The Sunday Times reports that the government was warned about the potential death toll early last week, with an unnamed scientific adviser telling he newspaper: “There is very limited room for manoeuvre”.

PM Boris Johnson will make a speech to the nation on Sunday evening and is expected to set out a "roadmap" for easing the restrictions.

 

[HitWicket]

You are as confused as the message from the UK. Scottish people can’t go out, English people can.

More straight up lies from yourself, I guess I should of come to expect it by now. The regulations in the rest of the UK are currently identical to Scotland, and that's unlikely to change in any way particularly notable tonight.

People in Scotland can't go out unless it's for exercise, work that can't be done from home or for essentials/to help others with essentials. People in the rest of the UK also have to stay at home wherever possible.

 

[Rana]

More straight up lies from yourself, I guess I should of come to expect it by now. The regulations in the rest of the UK are currently identical to Scotland, and that's unlikely to change in any way particularly notable tonight.

People in Scotland can't go out unless it's for exercise, work that can't be done from home or for essentials/to help others with essentials. People in the rest of the UK also have to stay at home wherever possible.

Where have I lied??

@mods can you please look into this. I’m sick of this man and his mates abusing me here

 

[HitWicket]

Where have I lied??

@mods can you please look into this. I’m sick of this man and his mates abusing me here

It's very clearly explained in the post you've quoted. You've claimed people in Scotland can't go out people in England can. This is not true for the reasons detailed above.

 

[Rana]

It's very clearly explained in the post you've quoted. You've claimed people in Scotland can't go out people in England can. This is not true for the reasons detailed above.

The message from Scotland is Stay at Home and from England is Stay Alert. How challanged are you to not understand the difference? Sturgeon has police on high alert for the next 3 weeks, Johnson does not after 7:00pm.

You can’t handle embarrassment so you resort to personal jibes

 

[HitWicket]

The message from Scotland is Stay at Home and from England is Stay Alert. How challanged are you to not understand the difference? Sturgeon has police on high alert for the next 3 weeks, Johnson does not after 7:00pm.

You can’t handle embarrassment so you resort to personal jibes

I'll repeat multiple things again as you've clearly failed to comprehend them:

1) Slogans are not laws or legal regulations, people in Scotland are clearly still allowed out for the same reasons everyone in the rest of the UK currently is. They can go to work if it's not possible to work from home, they can go out for essentials, exercise etc.

2) The 'stay alert' part of the new slogan includes the requirement to stay at home as much wherever possible and only go to work if it's not possible to work from home (i.e no different to what the 'stay at home' message in Scotland means).

 

[Rana]

I'll repeat multiple things again as you've clearly failed to comprehend them:

1) Slogans are not laws or legal regulations, people in Scotland are clearly still allowed out for the same reasons everyone in the rest of the UK currently is. They can go to work if it's not possible to work from home, they can go out for essentials, exercise etc.

2) The 'stay alert' part of the new slogan includes the requirement to stay at home as much wherever possible and only go to work if it's not possible to work from home (i.e no different to what the 'stay at home' message in Scotland means).

You are thicker than Hadrian’s wall!

If you don’t know, UK police has handed out numerous fines to those who have broken ‘stay at home’ regulations. Those fines will continue to be handed out in Scotland whereas English people no longer follow the clear and strict message for stay at home. Scottish people are allowed to go out for an extra walk now maybe. English people can be out all day, every day. The police will not interfere.

Unless you are purposely wasting my time here, I strong advise that you steer clear of me. You claimed England will not be lifting its measures. Now wait until 7:00

 

[HitWicket]

You are thicker than Hadrian’s wall!

If you don’t know, UK police has handed out numerous fines to those who have broken ‘stay at home’ regulations. Those fines will continue to be handed out in Scotland whereas English people no longer follow the clear and strict message for stay at home. Scottish people are allowed to go out for an extra walk now maybe. English people can be out all day, every day. The police will not interfere.

Unless you are purposely wasting my time here, I strong advise that you steer clear of me. You claimed England will not be lifting its measures. Now wait until 7:00

Again, the slogan is not what they're being fined for breaking. They're being fined for breaking the legal regulation that states people shouldn't leave their house without one of the reasonable excuses indicated (i.e exercise, essentials, work they can't do from home etc.). The government have stated the new 'stay alert' still includes the fact that people should stay at home wherever possible indicating there's not going to be any significant change to this part of the legal regulations.

On a side note people all over the UK have always been legally allowed to go out for multiple pieces of excercise a day, the legal regulations have never limited people to 1 piece of exercise a day, it's just government advisement.

 

[Rana]

Again, the slogan is not what they're being fined for breaking. They're being fined for breaking the legal regulation that states people shouldn't leave their house without one of the reasonable excuses indicated (i.e exercise, essentials, work they can't do from home etc.). The government have stated the new 'stay alert' still includes the fact that people should stay at home wherever possible indicating there's not going to be any significant change to this part of the legal regulations.

On a side note people all over the UK have always been legally allowed to go out for multiple pieces of excercise a day, the legal regulations have never limited people to 1 piece of exercise a day, it's just government advisement.

Scotland is not on the same page as England, there is no question about this.

 

[Saj]

A further 269 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died in the UK, taking the overall total to 31,855.

It is the lowest daily figure since 29 March when there were 214 fatalities in a 24-hour period.

The new figure released by the Department of Health is for coronavirus-related fatalities in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the community, as of 5pm on Saturday.

Numbers at the weekend can sometimes be lower than during the week as some administration staff who collate the figures may not be working.

There have been 178 new deaths in hospitals in England, bringing the total to 23,149.

 

[Rana]

Are tax payers in England having to pick up the bill for Scotland’s deteriorating economy from 10th May? Sturgeon is being selfishly stubborn in her approach but does she have this covered or is she expecting a bailout from Westminster?

Does anyone have an idea?

 

[HitWicket]

Are tax payers in England having to pick up the bill for Scotland’s deteriorating economy from 10th May? Sturgeon is being selfishly stubborn in her approach but does she have this covered or is she expecting a bailout from Westminster?

Does anyone have an idea?

If Scotland have any significantly different, stricter regulations to the rest of the UK in the future (which there is currently no indication of) that affect their economy it will likely be because their R value is higher than the rest of the UK. Given they've been following the instructions of the UK government that can't really be put on them anymore than it can the UK government.

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Boris Johnson speech


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CtQ7osi32jk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[HitWicket]

So that's that done with not just minimal changes to laws or regulations, but absolutely none at all.

 

[MenInG]

Summary:

The prime minister says that if the alert level means the dates for the plan have to be adjusted “we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right”.

He says the country will come back from “this devilish illness” and will return to “robust health”.

The UK “will be changed by this experience”, he says, but he believes “we can be stronger and better than ever before”.

He signs off saying: “But for now we must stay alert, control the virus and save lives. Thank you very much.”

Boris Johnson pays tribute to the efforts of the country so far, praising the “patience and common sense” of the nation.

He describes the elderly as having shown “fortitude”, saying he wants to be able to end their isolation “as fast as we can”.

After praising the “bravery and hard work” of NHS staff and care workers, he also thanks other essential workers including the police, bus drivers and bin collectors, as well as the scientists working to get a vaccine.

He says “millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness” have helped get us through the first phase, and we can use “this plan to get us through the next”.

The PM says the government “will not hesitate to put on the brakes” if there are further outbreaks of the virus.

He says the country has been through “the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous”.

He says everyone in government “has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need”.

“But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work.”

Boris Johnson says the government’s plan over the next two months will be driven by the “science, data and public health” - not “hope or economic necessity”.

He stresses that all of the changes are “conditional” – and depends on a series of “big ifs”, adding that the entire country needs to follow the advice to keep the R level down.

He says he’s serving notice that it will “soon be time” to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.

The PM adds that it's because the number of infection are now down "that this measure will now be effective".

Boris Johnson says the next step could be to re-open “at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places” at the earliest by July.

He is tentative, however, saying it is “subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice”, and adding that it would only happen “if and only if the numbers support it”.

But, “provided they are safe and enforce social distancing”, the government hopes to take the step.

The PM says he believes the first stage of “going further” will be to the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools.

He says school returns will be done in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

But he warns the earliest this could happen is 1 June, after half-term.

He adds: “Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays.

“And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.”

Johnson says it will "soon be the time... to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air".

The prime minister says some of the hospitality industry could open by July.

He says: "At the earliest by July - and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing."

Boris Johnson says if the government achieves its goal of a "world-beating system", it will be “testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day”.

The latest government figures show testing has not reached the 100,000 a day target for the past eight days.

He claims progress on testing has been “fast”, but there is “so much more to do”.

“We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer, and we will pick it up where it strikes," he adds.

Johnson says the new alert system will be able to detect “local flare ups” and give a national picture, but, while the R number is between 0.5 and 0.9, he says it is “potentially only just below one”.

The PM adds: “And though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the conditions I have given. We have by no means fulfilled all of them.”

Schools will return on June 1 "at the earliest", with primary schools returning first, says Boris Johnson.

Boris Johnson says the next step from Wednesday will be to “encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise”.

He says: “You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”

But he warns people “must obey the rules on social distancing” and to enforce them, the fines police can give out will be increased.

Johnson says, “with ever increasing data” and being able to track progress, “if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out, then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further.”

Boris Johnson says, as there is more to do, “this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week”, and instead, he says the government is taking “the first careful steps to modify our measures”.

First up is going to work. The PM says people have been told to work from home if they can, but says: “We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.”

He says he wants it to be safe for those employees, so calls on people to “avoid public transport if at all possible”, adding: “We must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.”

The PM says: “So, work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.”

He also says the government has been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces safe - or “COVID-secure”.

"This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week," the prime minister says.

"Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.

"We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work."

Boris Johnson says there will be five alert levels in the system, with level one meaning the disease is no longer present in the UK and level five being “the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed”.

The PM says we have been at level four during the lockdown, but “thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to level three”.

However, he says “everyone will have a role to play in keeping the R down… by staying alert and following the rules.”

And he adds there are two more things to do “to keep pushing the number of infections down”.

“We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS, and though the numbers are coming down sharply now, there is plainly much more to be done.

“And if we are to control this virus, then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims, and for tracing their contacts.”

 

[Rana]

So that's that done with not just minimal changes to laws or regulations, but absolutely none at all.

Everyone will be going to work next week

 

[Rana]

Thousands of firms can now set up for work once again Alhamdolillah

 

[HitWicket]

Everyone will be going to work next week

No, they won't. A small increase in people going to work may occur, however there was never any laws of regulations stopping those will be part of that small increase going to work last week.

 

[Rana]

No, they won't. A small increase in people going to work may occur, however there was never any laws of regulations stopping those will be part of that small increase going to work last week.

Furlough scheme will be coming to an end soon. Please contact your employer before he lays you off

 

[HitWicket]

Furlough scheme will be coming to an end soon. Please contact your employer before he lays you off

Please stop spreading false information (yet again), the furlough scheme doesn't end for nearly another 2 months and will almost certainly be extended in some form for multiple months after that (perhaps a gradual reduction from 80% or removal of certain industries from the scheme).

Anyway, I think the primary point of our discussion was your suggestion that the government would be changing it's regulations today and we'd have different regulations to Scotland. In reality there has been zero changes in the regulations and we still have the same regulations in place as Scotland do.

 

[Rana]

Please stop spreading false information (yet again), the furlough scheme doesn't end for nearly another 2 months and will almost certainly be extended in some form for multiple months after that (perhaps a gradual reduction from 80% or removal of certain industries from the scheme).

Anyway, I think the primary point of our discussion was your suggestion that the government would be changing it's regulations today and we'd have different regulations to Scotland. In reality there has been zero changes in the regulations and we still have the same regulations in place as Scotland do.

Please stop spreading false hope for lockdown fans

you have to be in la la land to believe tomorrow will not be any different to what it was in the last 7 weeks

And the Furlough scheme will most likely be ending soon also. Please stop getting comfortable on government handouts.

Peace out, stay blessed. STAY ALERT, CONTROL THE VIRUS, SAVE LIVES

 

[MenInG]

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer says the Prime Minister "appears to be effectively telling millions of people to go back to work without a clear plan for safety or clear guidance as to how to get there without using public transport"

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LONDON: I want to be as clear as possible: social distancing measures are still in place.<br><br>Lockdown hasn’t been lifted and we all still need to play our part in stopping the spread of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>.<br><br> My statement: <a href="https://t.co/MJwPEFCOVl">pic.twitter.com/MJwPEFCOVl</a></p>— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan/status/1259548519574261760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

 

[HitWicket]

Please stop spreading false hope for lockdown fans

False hope of what? If wanting people who can work at home to continue doing so until we've avoided the risk of a 2nd peak and maintaining the current social distancing guidelines makes me a 'lockdown fan' then I'm happy with that tag.

you have to be in la la land to believe tomorrow will not be any different to what it was in the last 7 weeks

I've already acknowledged above that there will likely be a small increase in people going to work in the coming week? Of course there will still be many who can work from home, still have their business shut by the governments regulations, can't safely enforce social distancing in their workplace or don't currently have a customer base due to the lockdown etc.

And the Furlough scheme will most likely be ending soon also. Please stop getting comfortable on government handouts.

Like I've said, the furlough scheme is open for at least nearly another 2 months and all indications have been that there will be an extension in some form or another. I'm not sure why you seem to keep referring to myself as being on said scheme, for one I'm not and secondly there shouldn't be any shame in being on the scheme if your job isn't currently viable.

Peace out, stay blessed. STAY ALERT, CONTROL THE VIRUS, SAVE LIVES

Yep, don't forget the pretty important sub-slogans of "Stay at home wherever possible" and "Work from home wherever possible" as well.

 

[MenInG]

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I felt like I was in the room and he was talking to me...what a brilliant speech <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BorisJohnson</a> well done &#55357;&#56399;</p>— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) <a href="https://twitter.com/benstokes38/status/1259549649133805568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[IMMY69]

Felt he just watched the darkest hour and was shouting at me....

 

[Rana]

Felt he just watched the darkest hour and was shouting at me....

Tbh this wasn’t a very helpful announcement or roadmap.

“Go to work if you can’t work from home.”

So what if you are a hairdresser, estate agent, beautician?

What about professional sportsmen? Clearly they can’t train from home so they should start training?

Need massive clarity

 

[IMMY69]

Tbh this wasn’t a very helpful announcement or roadmap.

“Go to work if you can’t work from home.”

So what if you are a hairdresser, estate agent, beautician?

What about professional sportsmen? Clearly they can’t train from home so they should start training?

Need massive clarity

Yes extremely disappointing...

The pressure to lift the lockdown must be immense and understandably so but this was just confusing...

 

[Rana]

PM is going to be under the pump all day tomorrow. I seriously need a proper haircut, I can’t be going to work looking like Raadhe from Tere Naam. We need our barbers

 

[Rana]

Guys living in Wales and Scotland who have to work in England will be fined bu their governments if they travel outside of their borders?

 

[HitWicket]

Guys living in Wales and Scotland who have to work in England will be fined bu their governments if they travel outside of their borders?

There never was any regulations preventing people from travelling to work so they'd face no issues.

Barbers will still be shut because they're on the original forceful business closure list (and obviously can't maintain social distancing), would recommend investing in a set of clippers and trying your best!

 

[irfan]

Furlough scheme ends on 30 June, I doubt it will be extended as the cost to underwrite it is huge, people are going to have a rude awakening, most of these jobs will not be available as the whole economy has been destroyed, these viruses are not going to go away, the world will just have to live with it and carry on as best as they can.

Take responsibility for your health, lose weight, stop eating so much, increase your Vit D intake.

 

[HitWicket]

Furlough scheme ends on 30 June, I doubt it will be extended as the cost to underwrite it is huge, people are going to have a rude awakening, most of these jobs will not be available as the whole economy has been destroyed, these viruses are not going to go away, the world will just have to live with it and carry on as best as they can.

Take responsibility for your health, lose weight, stop eating so much, increase your Vit D intake.

There's an update on the furlough scheme coming Tuesday apparently, the indications from the papers have been they'll either try and gradually reduce from the 80% figure or/and they'll only allow businesses in certain areas (hospitality for example) to apply for an extension.

 

[Rana]

Furlough scheme ends on 30 June, I doubt it will be extended as the cost to underwrite it is huge, people are going to have a rude awakening, most of these jobs will not be available as the whole economy has been destroyed, these viruses are not going to go away, the world will just have to live with it and carry on as best as they can.

Take responsibility for your health, lose weight, stop eating so much, increase your Vit D intake.

Agreed boss. InshaAllah we will be back to normal late July. But serious damage has been done

 

[King-Misbah]

Agreed boss. InshaAllah we will be back to normal late July. But serious damage has been done

Serious damage? As in, I hate the lockdown but we have already over 30k deaths. Without a lockdown, there would have been more deaths.

 

[Rana]

Serious damage? As in, I hate the lockdown but we have already over 30k deaths. Without a lockdown, there would have been more deaths.

Serious damage either way

 

[King-Misbah]

Serious damage either way

I would take financial loss over people losing their lives. I do understand your point as we do not balance the virus and economic reality. However, being a 1st world country, we can surely lockdown till the deaths, spread minimise. It is a difficult situation for all unfortunately.

 

[Rana]

I would take financial loss over people losing their lives. I do understand your point as we do not balance the virus and economic reality. However, being a 1st world country, we can surely lockdown till the deaths, spread minimise. It is a difficult situation for all unfortunately.

Your opinion is respectable but the financial loss is going to cause pain and depression that may have a lasting impact for a decade. Knowing how the US and GB work, I wouldn’t be surprised if this leads to a ‘mission to liberate’ certain countries as a cover up to recover the losses.

I am already in a very high band of tax payer, I can only imagine how much more tax I will have to pay to help recover the loss we are suffering. Very early days, I hope and pray for everyone to continue with their jobs/work very soon

 

[The Viper]

Britain's job retention scheme set to be extended to September: The Telegraph

Britain's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is set to be extended until the end of September, at a reduced rate of 60 percent, while also topping up the pay packets of staff brought back to work on a part-time basis, The Telegraph reported here late on Sunday.

Changes to the furlough scheme could be announced by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, as soon as Monday, the report said.

Cabinet ministers have *begun telling bosses that the plan will continue throughout the summer, with taxpayers footing the bill for 60 percent of wages, the newspaper added, citing sources.

A Treasury source told the newspaper that talks were ongoing with final decisions yet to be taken.

“Future decisions around the scheme will take into account the wider context of any lockdown extension, as well as the public health response, so that people and businesses can get back to work when it is safe to do so,” a Treasury spokesperson said in response to a Reuters request for comment.

Along with the extension, the chancellor is expected to announce that furloughed staff returning to work part time will have their wages “topped up” by the government, according to the report. Businesses are to be incentivised to gradually bring staff back to work so that social distancing rules can be observed and operations can be slowly built back up.

The Telegraph had reported last week that the furlough scheme is set to become more flexible, including allowing some staff to work part-time and reducing the amount of government wage subsidy.

First announced in March, the furlough scheme was originally open for three months, backdated from March 1 to the end of May and was later extended by a month until the end of June.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...to-september-the-telegraph-idUSKBN22M0ST?il=0

 

[Rana]

Britain's job retention scheme set to be extended to September: The Telegraph

Britain's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is set to be extended until the end of September, at a reduced rate of 60 percent, while also topping up the pay packets of staff brought back to work on a part-time basis, The Telegraph reported here late on Sunday.

Changes to the furlough scheme could be announced by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, as soon as Monday, the report said.

Cabinet ministers have *begun telling bosses that the plan will continue throughout the summer, with taxpayers footing the bill for 60 percent of wages, the newspaper added, citing sources.

A Treasury source told the newspaper that talks were ongoing with final decisions yet to be taken.

“Future decisions around the scheme will take into account the wider context of any lockdown extension, as well as the public health response, so that people and businesses can get back to work when it is safe to do so,” a Treasury spokesperson said in response to a Reuters request for comment.

Along with the extension, the chancellor is expected to announce that furloughed staff returning to work part time will have their wages “topped up” by the government, according to the report. Businesses are to be incentivised to gradually bring staff back to work so that social distancing rules can be observed and operations can be slowly built back up.

The Telegraph had reported last week that the furlough scheme is set to become more flexible, including allowing some staff to work part-time and reducing the amount of government wage subsidy.

First announced in March, the furlough scheme was originally open for three months, backdated from March 1 to the end of May and was later extended by a month until the end of June.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...to-september-the-telegraph-idUSKBN22M0ST?il=0

More and more tax. Ya Allah Khair!