News review – Thursday 30 April 2020

Lockdown

Telegraph
Boris Johnson will on Thursday warn the nation not to expect major changes to the lockdown after it emerged Britain has one of the world’s worst coronavirus death rates. The Prime Minister will use his first Downing Street press conference since his return to work to explain why social restrictions must largely remain in place. Data published by the Cabinet Office on Wednesday show Spain and Belgium are the only two countries with a worse per-head death rate than Britain. On eight separate days this month, more than 1,000 people died of the virus, detailed statistics for accumulated deaths in hospitals, care homes and other settings showed. Mr Johnson will chair a Cabinet meeting on Thursday morning at which ministers will discuss the way forward, but it became clear on Wednesday that they favour a highly cautious approach to lifting the restrictions.

Sky News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a cabinet meeting later and then lead the daily coronavirus briefing for the first time since his return to work. No 10 said the PM, whose fiancee gave birth on Wednesday, will update the UK on the “fight against this disease and the steps we are taking to defeat it”. But political editor Laura Kuenssberg said he was unlikely to give “chapter and verse” on lifting the restrictions. No 10 also faces the deadline for its target of 100,000 daily virus tests. Health Secretary Matt Hancock pledged to reach the goal by the end of April.

Mail
Boris Johnson will warn the public today that even a modest relaxation of the lockdown could risk a deadly second wave of the virus. The Prime Minister is expected to set out his latest thinking on social restrictions this evening when he leads the daily Downing Street press conference for the first time this month. Government sources said he would hail the progress made in bringing the virus under control and preventing the NHS from becoming overwhelmed. But he will also level with the public about the difficulty of easing the crippling lockdown, which is thought to be costing the economy £2 billion a day.

Over 50s

Telegraph
The over-50s should be kept in lockdown for longer than younger groups and fined if they cannot prove their age when out and about, researchers at the University of Warwick have suggested. A new paper suggests the safest way out of the UK’s coronavirus lockdown is social distancing combined with a “rolling age-release strategy” that could allow younger and less vulnerable, people out earlier. The controversial strategy is based on widely-reported data showing older age groups are at much greater risk of death if they contract the virus. Fatalities among 50-year-olds are 20 times greater than those among 20-year-olds, and fatalities among 60-year-olds would be approximately 50 times as great as people in their early 20s, the research says.

Schools

Sun
CHILDREN could be given the chance to go back to school part-time before the summer holidays under plans being drawn up by ministers. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is considering allowing kids of all ages to return on a rota basis. One option would be to let year groups at a crunch moment in their studies back first. This could include 11 year-olds moving from primary school to secondary, or pupils doing GCSEs or A Levels. Another option is opening primary schools first and secondary schools later. A source said: “Ministers are determined to give every child the chance to get back into the classroom in some form before schools break up for summer.”

Times
Reopening schools runs a significant risk of restarting the outbreak, according to a new analysis showing that children were just as likely to get infected with coronavirus as adults. The Chinese and US study came as the education secretary hinted that a phased reopening of schools may be one of the early measures in lifting the lockdown. The research, however, suggests that might be unwise, showing that children are equally susceptible to the virus, even if they do not display symptoms as often. “This is an important paper. It means we should be extremely careful,” said Simon Clarke, professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading.

Mirror
England’s schools will reopen in a “phased” way with some pupils staying at home longer than others, the government confirmed today. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said trying to put all pupils back in classrooms on the same day will not be “practical”. He did not say who would return to school first. But he pointed to countries that have separated pupils by age groups, as well as a region-by-region approach. London is thought to have been a couple of weeks ahead in the peak of the virus.

Mail
Schools across England will reopen in a ‘phased manner’ when the government decides the time is right to allow pupils to return, the Education Secretary said today.  Gavin Williamson would not be drawn on a fixed date for when schools could be able to resume but ruled out the prospect of them opening over the summer holidays.  He told MPs: ‘I do expect schools to be opened in a phased manner. I also intend to be giving schools as much notice as possible.’ Schools, colleges and nurseries across the UK closed their doors to the majority of pupils, apart from the children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters, more than five weeks ago.

Independent
Schools across England will be reopened in a “phased manner” to ensure pupils and teachers are kept safe from coronavirus, the education secretary has confirmed. Gavin Williamson said there was no date yet for lifting school closures, which have been in place since the UK entered lockdown last month. The only exception has been for children of key workers. Amid growing pressure on the government to begin easing restrictions, Mr Williamson said he expected pupils to return to school in stages. “We want to make sure that schools are given proper notice but we do not have a date as to when schools are going to be opening,” Mr Williamson told the Education Select Committee.

Deaths

Mail
The UK’s coronavirus death toll has surged by 3,811 to 26,097 now that the Government has started counting people who died in care homes or their own houses – but its tally still falls thousands short of the reality. Today is the first time the Department of Health has included people dying outside of hospitals in its daily statistics, and the backdated numbers have added thousands to the death toll, which was yesterday 21,678.  But a bigger surge had been expected. The Office for National Statistics reports that more than 4,300 people are known to have died in care homes by April 17, but the Care Quality Commission has recorded more than 4,300 in just a fortnight in England alone.

Reuters
Britain has a similar per capita number of deaths from COVID-19 to other European countries, the medical director of Public Health England Yvonne Doyle said on Wednesday. Doyle had just presented figures showing that the United Kingdom now has Europe’s second-highest official death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic. “The cumulative death number per million population. This shows a very different pattern… we are now tracking much more along our European neighbours,” Yvonne Doyle said, referring to totals for Italy, Spain and France on a graph comparing per capita deaths from COVID-19 in different countries.

Yahoo News
The death toll from coronavirus has risen sharply to more than 26,000 after the government included fatalities from outside hospitals in its daily announcement for the first time. It means a total of 26,097 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community in the UK after contracting COVID-19 – a rise of 4,419 from Tuesday. The sharp increase means the UK’s toll makes it the second worst hit country in Europe, based on each nation’s official reporting of deaths, and globally ranks behind only the US’s total, which is above 50,000, and Italy. Previously, the UK government reported deaths taking place in hospitals, with care home deaths in England and Wales later appearing in Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

Mail
London has been hit by the coronavirus far worse than Berlin – with a mortality rate 15 times higher, statistics show.  The capital of England has recorded 4,781 deaths in hospital since the crisis began, killing 0.053 per cent of its 9million population.  Berlin’s outbreak is just a fraction of the size, with 137 COVID-19 deaths – equivalent to around 0.0036 per cent of its 3.8million population. London has been struck much harder by coronavirus because it is ‘more connected’ to the rest of the world, one expert said today.

Treatment

Times
A drug has been shown to treat coronavirus for the first time, cutting the number of days patients take to leave hospital by almost a third. Remdesivir, an antiviral originally designed to combat ebola, had a “clear-cut significant positive effect in diminishing time to recovery,” Anthony Fauci, a leading member of the US coronavirus task force, said.  Announcing the results of the keenly awaited trial at a press conference with President Trump, Dr Fauci said that the success was “a very important proof of concept”. He added: “What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.”

ITV News
Scientists in the US have announced the first effective treatment against coronavirus – an experimental drug that can speed the recovery of Covid-19 patients. While not a vaccine against Covid-19, the findings mark a major medical advance in the fight against the respiratory disease which has killed more than 220,000 people worldwide and infected more than three million. Early results of an international trial have revealed that the anti-inflammatory, anti-viral drug remdesivir, is a potential breakthrough. It is not a vaccine or a cure, but can aid with patients’ recovery.

Mail
A trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir has produced ‘positive data’ for treating coronavirus patients, its maker, Gilead Sciences, said Wednesday.  Gilead announced the results of a clinical trial testing the drug, which was originally developed to treat Ebola  patients, in people severely ill with coronavirus.  Half of the 397 patients, who were sick enough to need additional oxygen, but not to be placed on ventilators, improved within 10 days of a five-day treatment course and those who were on a 10-day regimen were better by the eleventh day.  More than half of the patients were discharged from the hospital within two weeks, Gilead announced in a press release.

Sun
MILITARY scientists have started testing a household insect repellent which may destroy Covid-19. Citriodiol is known to be effective against the deadly and similar virus Sars. Experts at Porton Down research lab in Wilts are now studying the spray. Supplies have also been issued to troops. If effective against the virus, it could be added to hand gel, soap and masks. Citriodiol uses oil from the leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree. Jacqueline Watson, boss at Citrefine International, said: “If it is tested and found to be effective then we’d be very happy to do what we can to help.”

Crime

Times
The easing of lockdown restrictions could result in a violent crime wave fuelled by young unemployed men and gangs eager to reclaim their turf, police said yesterday. Senior police are braced for a rise in crime because of a “toxic mix” of young men out of work, a resumption of public gatherings and the eventual reopening of licensed venues. In London police are said to be concerned about a surge in drugs and knife crime when gang members try to take back control of their postcodes.

Mail
Police have said they are concerned that an increase in violent crime by younger  unemployed men and gangs looking to reclaim their turf will follow the relaxation of lockdown measures. A ‘toxic mix’ of young men out of work, public gatherings being permitted again and later, the opening of licensed venues such as pubs and clubs, has police taking steps to prepare for the days when the UK starts to lift its lockdown restrictions.  London police are also said to be bracing for a surge of gang related activity, such as drugs and knife crime, as gangs grapple to regain control of their territories after weeks off the streets.

Air travel

Times
Air passengers could face four-hour waits to board planes, inflated ticket prices and a dramatically reduced schedule in the future, analysts have said. The flight experience would be “very uncomfortable” after lockdown, with pre-pandemic levels of service unlikely for up to five years, they predicted. It is widely expected that some form of health screening will be demanded before and after passengers fly to prevent a second wave of the virus.

Star
TUI has cancelled all of its holidays for the next six weeks including all previously scheduled Marella cruises due to the coronavirus. Almost a million Brits have had their dreams of a beach getaway dashed as popular travel firm TUI has scrapped all breaks up to and including June 11. The travel firm had previously axed holidays up to May 14, and there is currently no certainty planes will take off on June 12. TUI said the company’s Marella cruise ship holidays would also be grounded until July 1 at the very earliest.

EU

Guardian
Brussels and UK officials will clash over the increasingly fraught question of whether the European Union can open an office in Belfast. At the inaugural meeting on Thursday of a special committee of officials charged with enforcing a de facto Irish Sea border, the European commission is expected to press the case to open “a technical office” in Belfast, three days after the government rejected an EU “mini-embassy” in the Northern Irish capital. The EU is refusing to drop the issue, amid fears Boris Johnson’s government could renege on the Brexit withdrawal agreement that requires Northern Ireland to follow EU single market and customs rules.

Breitbart
European Commissioner Frans Timmermans has warned that the financial repercussions of the Wuhan coronavirus could be worse than the 2008 financial crisis and could lead to the breakup of the EU. The first executive vice president of the European Commission made his warnings late last month during a closed meeting of top EU officials in Brussels, but Italian media has now published the minutes. Timmermans warned the survival of the European Union monetary union, and therefore the euro currency itself, was under considerable risk due to the divergence in response to the coronavirus crisis by EU member states, news agency Adnkronos reported on Tuesday.

Telegraph
British travellers will be welcome in the EU this summer if coronavirus restrictions are lifted in time, the European Commission said on Wednesday. Brussels is investigating ways to save the summer holidays by encouraging tourism between its member states. More than three quarters of trips made by EU citizens are to other EU countries.  Vera Jourova, a vice-president in the EU executive, called on the bloc’s member states to lift travel bans and border controls thrown up in response to the pandemic “as soon as possible” after it was deemed safe by scientific advice.

Captain Tom

Telegraph
Captain Tom is to become Colonel Tom as the MoD has announced an honorary promotion for his 100th birthday.  The Chief of the General Staff has promoted the veteran fundraiser and given him a new role.  General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, the head of the Army, has appointed Tom Moore as the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, in recognition of his incredible NHS fundraising feat. Two flypasts will take place by Army Air Corps helicopters and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Capt Moore’s 100th birthday on Thursday.

Mail
Captain Tom Moore has been promoted to Honorary Colonel by the Queen to mark his 100th birthday today after the World War II veteran captured the hearts of the nation by raising £29 million for the NHS by doing laps of his garden.  The promotion comes alongside a personal letter from Her Majesty and the new Colonel has also been re-presented with his Second World War Defence Medal ahead of next week’s VE Day celebrations. And, along with the usual cake and champagne, there’ll be two flypasts to mark his big day today – by Army Air Corps helicopters as well as a Spitfire and Hurricane in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Reuters
British World War Two veteran Captain Tom Moore, who has become a national hero after raising almost 30 million pounds for the health service, celebrates his 100th birthday on Thursday with an honorary promotion and two military flypasts. Moore has raised 29.4 million pounds ($36.5 million) for charities that help front-line National Health Service staff by completing laps of his garden with the help of a walking frame, having initially set out to raise just 1,000 pounds.

Boris’ baby

Sky News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of a “healthy baby boy”. The couple are “thrilled” and both mother and baby are “doing very well” following the birth at a London hospital on Wednesday morning, their spokeswoman said. It is understood Mr Johnson was present throughout the birth. A photograph of him beaming on his return to Number 10 following the arrival of his son has been released by Downing Street.

Telegraph
News of a bouncing baby boy being born to a Prime Minister at the age of 55 would have been extraordinary anyway.  But less than a month after Boris Johnson was fighting for his life in intensive care with Covid-19, it marks a remarkable climax to what has been one of the most unusual political courtships in recent memory.  Of course Mr Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds had no idea when they announced their pregnancy and engagement on February 29 that little over three weeks later, the Prime Minister would be forced to declare an unprecedented lockdown of the UK not seen since peacetime.

Times
Boris Johnson will delay taking paternity leave until later this year to deal with the coronavirus pandemic after becoming a father again yesterday at the age of 55. Downing Street announced that the prime minister’s fiancée, Carrie Symonds, 32, had given birth to a son just three days after Mr Johnson returned to work after his recuperation from Covid-19. It is understood that Mr Johnson was present throughout the delivery before returning to work in Downing Street.