news--2020-02-05--Britons on quarantined coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight'

Britons quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan have said the situation `` changed dramatically overnight '' and they 've been told they can not leave their cabins for any reason .
Around 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess are being kept at the port city of Yokohama , about 25 miles from Tokyo .
They are facing two week of quarantine after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on the ship last month .
It led to the screening of all remaining passengers and crew , with a further 10 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks : : 'Significant breakthrough ' in race for vaccine made by UK scientists Passengers said they were being told to stay in their cabins and that food was being delivered to them .
Earlier , a passenger was transferred from the ship under a blue sheet and handed to ambulance crews in protective suits .
David and Sally Abel , of Woodford Halse in Oxfordshire , are on the cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary .
Mr Abel , 74 , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diabetes , as he needs more insulin which he would need to get from the ship 's medic .
But he added : `` It 's going to be an ordeal , but it 'll be manageable .
We are staying positive - to grumble about the situation would n't be the right thing to do at all .
`` The holiday was fantastic , and the crew are doing the right thing - they 're trying to keep everybody safe .
`` We are very lucky not to be in one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a balcony , we can have the door open , we 've got the warmth of the sunshine and we 've got fresh air . ''
Mr Abel said the situation had `` changed dramatically overnight '' , adding that an intercom announcement at 6.30am had told passengers they could not leave their cabins for any reason .
He added : `` We 've got friends on board who are really struggling though , because they 're smokers .
`` The captain announced everyone was banned from smoking in cabins and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their hair out ! ''
He said most of the passengers are Japanese but , along with a few other Britons , there are also Americans , Canadians and other nationalities .
Alan , from Eastwood in Nottinghamshire , is on board the cruise with his wife and praised the ship 's crew for `` doing their best under very difficult circumstances '' .
He told Sky News : `` If we are confined to a cabin for 14 days , it will drive us mad .
If the virus does n't get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push me overboard after a few days !
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' The upside is it is sunny and I can see the ocean . ''
He added : `` We were rather hoping to be off the ship in the next few days , so we have not contacted the UK government yet .
`` I would like them to send a plane to bring us home like they have done for those in China , because all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the demand and cost for future flights is increasing daily . ''
The UK government is chartering a final flight to bring British nationals back from coronavirus-hit Wuhan .
The plane is expected to leave in the early hours of Sunday morning local time and will land at RAF Brize Norton , the Foreign Office said - adding that they want to ensure that all British nationals in Hubei province contact their team to register if they want to leave on the flight .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is chairing a meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the virus .
And the World Health Organisation says a multinational team will go to China `` very soon '' , with hundreds of researchers and agencies meeting to prioritise coronavirus drugs and vaccines .
There have been more than 24,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus so far , according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .
The centre has also said 493 people have died from the illness and 28 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Europe .
A man in the Philippines is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside China , the centre said .
: : British nationals in China 's Hubei province wanting to register for the flight should register by calling +86 ( 0 ) 10 8529 6600 , or the FCO in London on ( +44 ) ( 0 ) 207 008 1500 .

Britons quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan have said the situation "changed dramatically overnight" and they've been told they cannot leave their cabins for any reason.
Around 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess are being kept at the port city of Yokohama, about 25 miles from Tokyo.
They are facing two week of quarantine after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on the ship last month.
Image: Ambulance workers collected a person from the ship on Wednesday
It led to the screening of all remaining passengers and crew, with a further 10 cases confirmed.
:: Coronavirus crisis: Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks
:: 'Significant breakthrough' in race for vaccine made by UK scientists
Passengers said they were being told to stay in their cabins and that food was being delivered to them.
Earlier, a passenger was transferred from the ship under a blue sheet and handed to ambulance crews in protective suits.
David and Sally Abel, of Woodford Halse in Oxfordshire, are on the cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Mr Abel, 74, told Sky News his main concern is his diabetes, as he needs more insulin which he would need to get from the ship's medic.
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But he added: "It's going to be an ordeal, but it'll be manageable. We are staying positive - to grumble about the situation wouldn't be the right thing to do at all.
"The holiday was fantastic, and the crew are doing the right thing - they're trying to keep everybody safe.
Image: The ship is anchored off Yokohama port
Image: A passenger was transferred from the ship under a blue sheet
"We are very lucky not to be in one of the inside cabins. Here, we have a balcony, we can have the door open, we've got the warmth of the sunshine and we've got fresh air."
Mr Abel said the situation had "changed dramatically overnight", adding that an intercom announcement at 6.30am had told passengers they could not leave their cabins for any reason.
Image: Quarantine officials on the Diamond Princess Pic: David Abel
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:39 Patients are starting their fortnight long quarantine in the hopes of preventing any further infections in the UK.
He added: "We've got friends on board who are really struggling though, because they're smokers.
"The captain announced everyone was banned from smoking in cabins and on balconies, and our friends are tearing their hair out!"
He said most of the passengers are Japanese but, along with a few other Britons, there are also Americans, Canadians and other nationalities.
Image: Passengers wearing face masks listen to the ship's band Pic: David Abel
Alan, from Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, is on board the cruise with his wife and praised the ship's crew for "doing their best under very difficult circumstances".
He told Sky News: "If we are confined to a cabin for 14 days, it will drive us mad. If the virus doesn't get me first, my wife will probably push me overboard after a few days!
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"The upside is it is sunny and I can see the ocean."
He added: "We were rather hoping to be off the ship in the next few days, so we have not contacted the UK government yet.
"I would like them to send a plane to bring us home like they have done for those in China, because all our plans to get back are ruined and the demand and cost for future flights is increasing daily."
The UK government is chartering a final flight to bring British nationals back from coronavirus-hit Wuhan.
The plane is expected to leave in the early hours of Sunday morning local time and will land at RAF Brize Norton, the Foreign Office said - adding that they want to ensure that all British nationals in Hubei province contact their team to register if they want to leave on the flight.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is chairing a meeting of the emergency COBRA committee, focusing on the virus.
And the World Health Organisation says a multinational team will go to China "very soon", with hundreds of researchers and agencies meeting to prioritise coronavirus drugs and vaccines.
There have been more than 24,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus so far, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The centre has also said 493 people have died from the illness and 28 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Europe.
A man in the Philippines is the first person to have died from the coronavirus outside China, the centre said.
:: British nationals in China's Hubei province wanting to register for the flight should register by calling +86 (0) 10 8529 6600, or the FCO in London on (+44) (0)207 008 1500.


news--2020-02-05--Disney+ picks up 29 million subscribers in three months since it launched

Disney 's new streaming service has signed up nearly 29 million paid subscribers in less than three months , the entertainment giant has revealed .
The company launched the Disney+ service in November to compete with the likes of Netflix - which at the end of 2019 had signed up 167 million customers .
Chief executive Bob Iger said it had `` exceeded even our greatest expectations '' .
Disney , which owns US broadcasters such as sports channel ESPN , as well as a film business including the Star Wars franchise , is investing in streaming to drive future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are dropping cable subscriptions .
The latest figures came as Disney published first quarter financial results which also revealed a major impact on its theme park business as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in China .
The company revealed that the number of Disney+ subscribers had risen to 28.6 million this week .
It is targeting 60 million to 90 million subscribers by 2024 .
But the growth is coming at major expense , helping pull Disney 's profits down by 23 % for the first quarter to $ 2.13bn .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time as Apple is also entering the streaming market with Apple TV+ .
Disney+ is being rolled out over the next two years in western Europe , India and Latin America .
The quarterly results also saw Disney reveal some of the potential costs of the coronavirus on its earnings from theme parks .
It said that if the closures of venues in Shanghai and Hong Kong extend for two months , it could face a $ 175m hit .

Disney's new streaming service has signed up nearly 29 million paid subscribers in less than three months, the entertainment giant has revealed.
The company launched the Disney+ service in November to compete with the likes of Netflix - which at the end of 2019 had signed up 167 million customers.
Chief executive Bob Iger said it had "exceeded even our greatest expectations".
Disney, which owns US broadcasters such as sports channel ESPN, as well as a film business including the Star Wars franchise, is investing in streaming to drive future growth at a time when more people are dropping cable subscriptions.
It features original series including Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian.
The latest figures came as Disney published first quarter financial results which also revealed a major impact on its theme park business as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in China.
Image: Shanghai Disney Resort has closed due to the coronavirus outbreak
The company revealed that the number of Disney+ subscribers had risen to 28.6 million this week.
It is targeting 60 million to 90 million subscribers by 2024.
But the growth is coming at major expense, helping pull Disney's profits down by 23% for the first quarter to $2.13bn.
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The launch of Disney+ comes at the same time as Apple is also entering the streaming market with Apple TV+.
Disney+ is being rolled out over the next two years in western Europe, India and Latin America.
The quarterly results also saw Disney reveal some of the potential costs of the coronavirus on its earnings from theme parks.
It said that if the closures of venues in Shanghai and Hong Kong extend for two months, it could face a $175m hit.


news--2020-02-05--Coronavirus crisis: Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has asked its 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave as it struggles to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak .
It comes a day after Cathay announced a 90 % reduction in flight capacity to mainland China - which has cancelled group tours and told businesspeople to put off foreign travel .
Overall , it is cutting 30 % of its global capacity for the next two months .
: : Britons quarantined on coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight' : : Coronavirus : 'Significant breakthrough ' in race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the latest business to reveal that it is taking a hit from the coronavirus outbreak , with companies including Carlsberg , Airbus and Apple also affected .
The company 's plan would see staff take turns to take three weeks off , with the scheme running from 1 March to 30 June .
The airline 's chief executive Augustus Tang said in a video message to staff that the situation was as grave as the 2009 financial crisis .
Cathay had already seen a sharp fall in demand since the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the territory .
The coronavirus has led to a further drop in visitors .
Mr Tang said : `` This has been one of the most difficult Chinese New Year holidays we have ever had .
`` We do n't know how long this will last .
`` With such an uncertain outlook preserving cash is now the key to protecting our business . ''
Cathay used similar `` special leave '' arrangements during the financial crisis in 2009 and during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS ) in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released , Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced any visitors from mainland China would need to undergo a compulsory quarantine for 14 days .
Cathay is just one of many global airlines that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak - including British Airways , which has cancelled all flights to mainland China for a month , and Virgin Atlantic , which has suspended daily operations to Shanghai for two weeks .
Other big multinational companies operating in the country have been hit too - with Nike and Starbucks each closing half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which assembles smartphones for Apple in the country , has shut down its factories though aims to gradually restart production from next week .
Disney has said the closure of its resorts in Shanghai and Hong Kong will dent profits , while companies including Carlsberg and Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors say they will be hit too .
The price of oil has dived to its lowest level for just over a year as the crisis slows global demand - hurting oil companies such as London-listed Royal Dutch Shell and BP @

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has asked its 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave as it struggles to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
It comes a day after Cathay announced a 90% reduction in flight capacity to mainland China - which has cancelled group tours and told businesspeople to put off foreign travel.
Overall, it is cutting 30% of its global capacity for the next two months.
:: Britons quarantined on coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight'
:: Coronavirus: 'Significant breakthrough' in race for vaccine made by UK scientists
Cathay is the latest business to reveal that it is taking a hit from the coronavirus outbreak, with companies including Carlsberg, Airbus and Apple also affected.
The company's plan would see staff take turns to take three weeks off, with the scheme running from 1 March to 30 June.
The airline's chief executive Augustus Tang said in a video message to staff that the situation was as grave as the 2009 financial crisis.
Cathay had already seen a sharp fall in demand since the middle of last year due to major anti-government protests in the territory.
The coronavirus has led to a further drop in visitors.
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Mr Tang said: "This has been one of the most difficult Chinese New Year holidays we have ever had.
"We don't know how long this will last.
"With such an uncertain outlook preserving cash is now the key to protecting our business."
Cathay used similar "special leave" arrangements during the financial crisis in 2009 and during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003.
Hours after the video was released, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced any visitors from mainland China would need to undergo a compulsory quarantine for 14 days.
Cathay is just one of many global airlines that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak - including British Airways, which has cancelled all flights to mainland China for a month, and Virgin Atlantic, which has suspended daily operations to Shanghai for two weeks.
Other big multinational companies operating in the country have been hit too - with Nike and Starbucks each closing half of their stores in China.
Manufacturer Foxconn, which assembles smartphones for Apple in the country, has shut down its factories though aims to gradually restart production from next week.
Disney has said the closure of its resorts in Shanghai and Hong Kong will dent profits, while companies including Carlsberg and Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors say they will be hit too.
The price of oil has dived to its lowest level for just over a year as the crisis slows global demand - hurting oil companies such as London-listed Royal Dutch Shell and BP.


news--2020-02-05--Coronavirus: Hospitals told to create 'emergency pods' for suspected patients

The NHS has told hospitals they have two days to create `` priority assessment pods '' for those suspected of having coronavirus .
The NHS strategic incident director for coronavirus , Professor Keith Willett , said in a letter to hospitals that the plans needed to be put in place to avoid a `` surge in emergency departments due to coronavirus '' .
The letter was seen by Sky News .
Those suspected of having the virus will be kept isolated and apart from other patients at A & E services , so that an assessment can be made about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructions about how to speak to the NHS 111 service on an allocated phone ; if necessary , their location details will be passed to the A & E service via their red phone , so that a collection can be arranged .
Rooms will then need to be decontaminated after every patient .
Hospitals are also being warned to expect an influx of patients because of the virus .
An NHS spokesperson said : `` Anyone returning from Hubei province in the last 14 days should stay indoors , avoid contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not they are showing symptoms .
`` Anyone with a cough , fever , or shortness of breath who attends hospital and has recently returned from China , will be advised to follow signs to NHS 111 pods and call for advice , so they stay isolated from other patients and avoid causing unnecessary pressure in A & E . ''
The updated advice to hospitals comes as British researchers tell Sky News that they have made a `` significant breakthrough '' in the race to develop a vaccine for the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London , said he is now at the stage to start testing the vaccine on animals as early as next week with human studies in the summer if enough funding is secured .
He told Sky News : `` Conventional approaches usually take at least two to three years before you even get to the clinic .
And we 've gone from that sequence to generating a candidate in the laboratory in 14 days .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine will be too late for this current outbreak but it will be crucial if there is another one .
He said : `` It 's not going to be too late if this becomes a pandemic and if it circulates around the world .
We still do n't know much about the epidemic itself so it may wane over the summer months if it is like influenza .
`` We may see a second wave come through on a global basis and if it comes a vaccine will be really important and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Amid the outbreak in Asia , some British holidaymakers have been quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan , and told they can not leave their cabins for any reason .
Around 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess are being kept at the port city of Yokohama , about 25 miles from Tokyo .
They are facing two weeks of quarantine after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on the ship last month .
David and Sally Abel , of Woodford Halse in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary .
Mr Abel , 74 , told Sky News his main concern is his diabetes , as he needs more insulin which he would need to get from the ship 's medic .
But he added : `` It 's going to be an ordeal , but it 'll be manageable .
We are staying positive - to grumble about the situation would n't be the right thing to do at all .
`` The holiday was fantastic , and the crew are doing the right thing - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The UK government is chartering a final flight to bring British nationals back from coronavirus-hit Wuhan .
The plane is expected to leave in the early hours of Sunday morning local time and will land at RAF Brize Norton , the Foreign Office said - adding that they want to ensure that all British nationals in Hubei province contact their team to register if they want to leave on the flight .

The NHS has told hospitals they have two days to create "priority assessment pods" for those suspected of having coronavirus.
The NHS strategic incident director for coronavirus, Professor Keith Willett, said in a letter to hospitals that the plans needed to be put in place to avoid a "surge in emergency departments due to coronavirus".
The letter was seen by Sky News.
Those suspected of having the virus will be kept isolated and apart from other patients at A&E services, so that an assessment can be made about their health.
Image: The letter sent to hospitals on Wednesday
Patients will be given instructions about how to speak to the NHS 111 service on an allocated phone; if necessary, their location details will be passed to the A&E service via their red phone, so that a collection can be arranged.
Rooms will then need to be decontaminated after every patient.
Hospitals are also being warned to expect an influx of patients because of the virus.
An NHS spokesperson said: "Anyone returning from Hubei province in the last 14 days should stay indoors, avoid contact with other people and call NHS 111 whether or not they are showing symptoms.
"Anyone with a cough, fever, or shortness of breath who attends hospital and has recently returned from China, will be advised to follow signs to NHS 111 pods and call for advice, so they stay isolated from other patients and avoid causing unnecessary pressure in A&E."
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The updated advice to hospitals comes as British researchers tell Sky News that they have made a "significant breakthrough" in the race to develop a vaccine for the disease.
Image: Researchers say they have made a significant breakthrough
Image: A vaccine could be ready for another outbreak of coronavirus
Professor Robin Shattock, head of mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London, said he is now at the stage to start testing the vaccine on animals as early as next week with human studies in the summer if enough funding is secured.
He told Sky News: "Conventional approaches usually take at least two to three years before you even get to the clinic. And we've gone from that sequence to generating a candidate in the laboratory in 14 days.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The vaccine will be too late for this current outbreak but it will be crucial if there is another one.
He said: "It's not going to be too late if this becomes a pandemic and if it circulates around the world. We still don't know much about the epidemic itself so it may wane over the summer months if it is like influenza.
"We may see a second wave come through on a global basis and if it comes a vaccine will be really important and would be in place to tackle that."
Amid the outbreak in Asia, some British holidaymakers have been quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan, and told they cannot leave their cabins for any reason.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:02 Coronavirus isolates cruise ships
Around 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess are being kept at the port city of Yokohama, about 25 miles from Tokyo.
They are facing two weeks of quarantine after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on the ship last month.
David and Sally Abel, of Woodford Halse in Oxfordshire, are on the cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Mr Abel, 74, told Sky News his main concern is his diabetes, as he needs more insulin which he would need to get from the ship's medic.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:01 Coronavirus: Hong Kong quarantines visitors from China
But he added: "It's going to be an ordeal, but it'll be manageable. We are staying positive - to grumble about the situation wouldn't be the right thing to do at all.
"The holiday was fantastic, and the crew are doing the right thing - they're trying to keep everybody safe.
The UK government is chartering a final flight to bring British nationals back from coronavirus-hit Wuhan.
The plane is expected to leave in the early hours of Sunday morning local time and will land at RAF Brize Norton, the Foreign Office said - adding that they want to ensure that all British nationals in Hubei province contact their team to register if they want to leave on the flight.


news--2020-02-05--Coronavirus: What Brexit can teach us about the economic threat from the virus

Coronavirus : What Brexit can teach us about the economic threat from the virus Coronavirus : What Brexit can teach us about the economic threat from the virus It might feel odd to try to lump Brexit and the coronavirus together in one piece of analysis .
Yet the two stories have a common thread : both of them are teaching us about the extent to which the global economy is an interconnected web - a mass of financial and physical plumbing where a defect in one part can easily cause malfunctions somewhere else .
Throughout the Brexit saga we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how Britain sits in the middle of a long production line where one part might come from Germany and another from France and both arrive simultaneously to be assembled in a car factory in the North East of England .
A similar lesson is becoming clear as coronavirus spreads : the world is so interconnected that a China-centric crisis can easily cause economic knock-on effects on the other side of the world .
Consider some of the transmission mechanisms .
The most obvious economic impact of coronavirus is through tourism .
Due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cash , China did n't use to be much of a contributor to global tourism spending , yet in recent years the burgeoning Chinese middle class have become major spenders in other countries .
So the restrictions imposed in the wake of coronavirus are likely to have a major impact on countries whose economies have become heavily reliant on Chinese tourism .
Which countries ?
Primarily Asian ones : Hong Kong , Cambodia and Thailand among them .
There will be a European impact too but it is likely to be less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportion of Chinese tourists in the UK were about 2 % of the total .
The second transmission mechanism is through the plumbing of the economic system .
China is still the world 's factory , where most stuff is made - and now many of those factories are being shuttered .
Companies like Foxconn , which make many of Apple 's products , have had to impose temporary shutdowns in their Chinese plants ; they are supposed to be lifted next week but much depends on the spread and nature of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks Does that imply we could soon face shortages of key goods in the UK ?
In the short term , no .
One consequence of the many Brexit deadlines of recent years is that companies ' stockpiles of key goods are relatively high .
And they are mostly confident about being able to source alternative supplies from elsewhere .
Still , in the meantime the business impact is primarily being felt by companies whose supply chains include crucial Chinese links .
And , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of a global crisis , the oil price has also fallen .
It 's now down to the lowest level since 2018 .
From a UK perspective it all comes at an awkward time .
There are hopes that the economy could be bouncing back from weak growth at the end of last year .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker A survey of the services sector , released on Wednesday morning , pointed towards the strongest growth in a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of that bounce-back could be threatened by coronavirus - especially if the outbreaks are not contained and if its spread continues .

Sky's economics editor Ed Conway spells out the risks that the coronavirus outbreak poses to the UK and global economy.
Coronavirus: What Brexit can teach us about the economic threat from the virus
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
It might feel odd to try to lump Brexit and the coronavirus together in one piece of analysis.
Yet the two stories have a common thread: both of them are teaching us about the extent to which the global economy is an interconnected web - a mass of financial and physical plumbing where a defect in one part can easily cause malfunctions somewhere else.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
Throughout the Brexit saga we have learnt much about supply chains - about how Britain sits in the middle of a long production line where one part might come from Germany and another from France and both arrive simultaneously to be assembled in a car factory in the North East of England.
A similar lesson is becoming clear as coronavirus spreads: the world is so interconnected that a China-centric crisis can easily cause economic knock-on effects on the other side of the world.
Consider some of the transmission mechanisms.
The most obvious economic impact of coronavirus is through tourism. Due to travel restrictions and a simple lack of cash, China didn't use to be much of a contributor to global tourism spending, yet in recent years the burgeoning Chinese middle class have become major spenders in other countries.
So the restrictions imposed in the wake of coronavirus are likely to have a major impact on countries whose economies have become heavily reliant on Chinese tourism.
Which countries? Primarily Asian ones: Hong Kong, Cambodia and Thailand among them.
There will be a European impact too but it is likely to be less dramatic: as of last year the proportion of Chinese tourists in the UK were about 2% of the total.
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The second transmission mechanism is through the plumbing of the economic system.
China is still the world's factory, where most stuff is made - and now many of those factories are being shuttered.
Companies like Foxconn, which make many of Apple's products, have had to impose temporary shutdowns in their Chinese plants; they are supposed to be lifted next week but much depends on the spread and nature of the virus.
:: Coronavirus crisis: Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks
Image: iPhone assembly has already faced disruption
Does that imply we could soon face shortages of key goods in the UK?
In the short term, no.
One consequence of the many Brexit deadlines of recent years is that companies' stockpiles of key goods are relatively high. And they are mostly confident about being able to source alternative supplies from elsewhere.
Still, in the meantime the business impact is primarily being felt by companies whose supply chains include crucial Chinese links.
And, as it does whenever there is the risk of a global crisis, the oil price has also fallen.
It's now down to the lowest level since 2018.
From a UK perspective it all comes at an awkward time. There are hopes that the economy could be bouncing back from weak growth at the end of last year.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
A survey of the services sector, released on Wednesday morning, pointed towards the strongest growth in a year and a half.
But economists fear some of that bounce-back could be threatened by coronavirus - especially if the outbreaks are not contained and if its spread continues.


news--2020-02-04--Coronavirus: 'Significant breakthrough' in race for vaccine made by UK scientists

The scientist leading the UK 's research into a coronavirus vaccine says his team have made a significant breakthrough by reducing a part of the normal development time from `` two to three years to just 14 days '' .
Professor Robin Shattock , head of mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London , said he is now at the stage to start testing the vaccine on animals as early as next week with human studies in the summer if enough funding is secured .
He told Sky News : `` Conventional approaches usually take at least two to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clinic .
And we 've gone from that sequence to generating a candidate in the laboratory in 14 days .
`` And we will have it in animal models by the beginning of next week .
We 've short-tracked that part .
The next phase will be to move that from early animal testing into the first human studies .
`` And we think with adequate funding we could do that in a period of a few months . ''
: : Coronavirus crisis : Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight' Professor Shattock is part of a global effort to develop a vaccine that could potentially save hundreds or thousands of lives if this coronavirus outbreak develops into a full blown pandemic .
The vaccine will be too late for this current outbreak but it will be crucial if there is another one .
He said : `` It 's not going to be too late if this becomes a pandemic and if it circulates around the world .
We still do n't know much about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the summer months if it is like influenza .
`` We may see a second wave come through on a global basis and if it comes a vaccine will be really important and would be in place to tackle that . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Scientists from China , the United States , Australia and Europe are all racing to develop a vaccine and are collaborating with each other in an effort to speed up the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations , an international agency set up in 2017 to deal with health crises exactly like this one .
And a further £20m has been earmarked for rapid research into coronavirus here in the UK .
The money is crucial but so too is knowledge .
At the time China was severely criticised for withholding information .
This time it has been praised for sharing crucial data with the international health community .
The lessons learned after the SARS outbreak are proving crucial in helping scientists deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was never fully developed .
When the virus died out the funding dried up .
Dr David Heymann is one of the world 's leading experts on infectious diseases .
He lead the international fight against SARS and told Sky News this time a vaccine must be developed .
He said : `` In the case of SARS there was lots of interest in developing a vaccine but that disappeared rapidly after the outbreak was contained and over .
`` Today we have a new coalition - the CEPI - which is based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of vaccines .
`` And hopefully that will continue to stimulate development of corona vaccines after this outbreak is over .
It may not be effective in getting a vaccine ready for this outbreak , a vaccine may not even be necessary .
`` But it would be nice to have a coronavirus vaccine somewhere on the shelf which could be rolled out during a future epidemic . ''

The scientist leading the UK's research into a coronavirus vaccine says his team have made a significant breakthrough by reducing a part of the normal development time from "two to three years to just 14 days".
Professor Robin Shattock, head of mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London, said he is now at the stage to start testing the vaccine on animals as early as next week with human studies in the summer if enough funding is secured.
He told Sky News: "Conventional approaches usually take at least two to three years before you even get to the clinic. And we've gone from that sequence to generating a candidate in the laboratory in 14 days.
Image: Researchers say they have made a significant breakthrough
"And we will have it in animal models by the beginning of next week. We've short-tracked that part. The next phase will be to move that from early animal testing into the first human studies.
"And we think with adequate funding we could do that in a period of a few months."
:: Coronavirus crisis: Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks
:: Britons quarantined on coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight'
Professor Shattock is part of a global effort to develop a vaccine that could potentially save hundreds or thousands of lives if this coronavirus outbreak develops into a full blown pandemic.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:20 Coronavirus survivor jokes outside hospital
The vaccine will be too late for this current outbreak but it will be crucial if there is another one.
He said: "It's not going to be too late if this becomes a pandemic and if it circulates around the world. We still don't know much about the epidemic itself so it may wane over the summer months if it is like influenza.
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"We may see a second wave come through on a global basis and if it comes a vaccine will be really important and would be in place to tackle that."
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Scientists from China, the United States, Australia and Europe are all racing to develop a vaccine and are collaborating with each other in an effort to speed up the process.
Britain has pledged £20m to CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, an international agency set up in 2017 to deal with health crises exactly like this one.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:07 Hong Kong vigilantes test arrivals from China
And a further £20m has been earmarked for rapid research into coronavirus here in the UK. The money is crucial but so too is knowledge.
The 2003 SARS epidemic killed some 800 people.
At the time China was severely criticised for withholding information. This time it has been praised for sharing crucial data with the international health community.
The lessons learned after the SARS outbreak are proving crucial in helping scientists deal with this epidemic. But a SARS vaccine was never fully developed. When the virus died out the funding dried up.
Dr David Heymann is one of the world's leading experts on infectious diseases. He lead the international fight against SARS and told Sky News this time a vaccine must be developed.
Image: Scientists are racing to find a vaccine for the virus
He said: "In the case of SARS there was lots of interest in developing a vaccine but that disappeared rapidly after the outbreak was contained and over.
"Today we have a new coalition - the CEPI - which is based here in London and which is simulating development of vaccines.
"And hopefully that will continue to stimulate development of corona vaccines after this outbreak is over. It may not be effective in getting a vaccine ready for this outbreak, a vaccine may not even be necessary.
"But it would be nice to have a coronavirus vaccine somewhere on the shelf which could be rolled out during a future epidemic."


news--2020-02-05--Coronavirus: Doctors fear pregnant women can pass on illness after newborn baby is diagnosed

Doctors fear pregnant women with coronavirus may be able to pass it on to their unborn children , after a baby was diagnosed with the illness just 30 hours after its birth .
A mother with the deadly virus gave birth to the child at the Wuhan Children Hospital in Hubei province on 2 February , China 's state broadcaster CCTV reported .
The newborn was given a test 30 hours later and was confirmed to have coronavirus , doctors said .
Wuhan city is the epicentre of the outbreak that has killed 492 people in China and another person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 24,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus , with 28 cases confirmed in Europe , the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has said .
: : Coronavirus crisis : Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks : : Britons quarantined on coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight' : : 'Significant breakthrough ' in race for vaccine made by UK scientists The newborn has stable vital signs and no fever or cough but has been experiencing shortness of breath , doctors said .
Chest X-rays showed signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in liver functions .
Zeng Lingkong , chief physician of Wuhan Children Hospital 's neonatal medicine department , said : `` This reminds us to pay attention to mother-to-child being a possible route of coronavirus transmission . ''
The hospital also disclosed details of a second case involving an infant who was born healthy on 13 January .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The baby 's nanny was later diagnosed with the virus and the mother days later .
Mr Lingkong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby 's nanny who passed to the virus to the mother who passed it to the baby , we can not be sure at the moment .
`` But we can confirm that the baby was in close contact with patients infected with the new coronavirus , which says newborns can also be infected . ''
He added that neither of the infected infants are in a critical condition .
Singapore has confirmed a six-month-old baby is among the 28 cases of the virus confirmed on the island .
Both of the child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ministry said .

Doctors fear pregnant women with coronavirus may be able to pass it on to their unborn children, after a baby was diagnosed with the illness just 30 hours after its birth.
A mother with the deadly virus gave birth to the child at the Wuhan Children Hospital in Hubei province on 2 February, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The newborn was given a test 30 hours later and was confirmed to have coronavirus, doctors said.
Wuhan city is the epicentre of the outbreak that has killed 492 people in China and another person in the Philippines.
There have been more than 24,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus, with 28 cases confirmed in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has said.
:: Coronavirus crisis: Airline asks staff to take unpaid leave for three weeks
:: Britons quarantined on coronavirus ship reveal situation 'changed dramatically overnight'
:: 'Significant breakthrough' in race for vaccine made by UK scientists
The newborn has stable vital signs and no fever or cough but has been experiencing shortness of breath, doctors said.
Chest X-rays showed signs of infection and there were some abnormalities in liver functions.
Zeng Lingkong, chief physician of Wuhan Children Hospital's neonatal medicine department, said: "This reminds us to pay attention to mother-to-child being a possible route of coronavirus transmission."
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The hospital also disclosed details of a second case involving an infant who was born healthy on 13 January.
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The baby's nanny was later diagnosed with the virus and the mother days later.
The baby started showing symptoms on 29 January.
Mr Lingkong added: "Whether it was the baby's nanny who passed to the virus to the mother who passed it to the baby, we cannot be sure at the moment.
"But we can confirm that the baby was in close contact with patients infected with the new coronavirus, which says newborns can also be infected."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
He added that neither of the infected infants are in a critical condition.
Singapore has confirmed a six-month-old baby is among the 28 cases of the virus confirmed on the island.
Both of the child's parents also have the virus, the ministry said.


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Mafia members trying to exploit crisis arrested

Mafia mobsters are trying to cash in on the coronavirus crisis by buying up ailing businesses with laundered money , Italian police claim .
Hundreds of officers swarmed the Sicilian capital of Palermo early on Tuesday morning in a bid to stop the island 's Cosa Nostra from exploiting the economic downturn caused by the pandemic .
They detained 91 suspects in multiple raids across Sicily and parts of northern Italy for a string of offences including money laundering , drug trafficking , extortion and match fixing .
Investigators claim they were trying to use money obtained through these illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pharmacies and other firms so they could exert more power .
One suspect was heard saying `` Look , we pay cash '' in an intercepted phone call , Palermo chief prosecutor Lo Voi claimed .
Officers from the Financial Guard also seized €15m ( £13m ) in suspected ill-gained assets , including 13 race horses .
Ordering the arrests , Palermo magistrate Piergiorgio Morosini said the lockdown `` has caused a liquidity crisis that will be hard to reverse '' for many businesses - a situation that organised crime would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corriere della Sera reported .
Prosecutors , including those investigating Italy 's most dominant crime syndicate , the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta , have warned the mafia could also recruit those left jobless in the lockdown .
Italy was the first European country to be hit hard by coronavirus , with 219,814 confirmed cases nationwide and 30,739 deaths .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mafia bosses have sought to take over businesses across Italy for years - even before COVID-19 hit .
Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on property-buying sprees since the 1990s to try to make `` clean '' money from dirty profits .
The crime clans targeted in Tuesday 's raids had moved some of their leaders to Milan in recent years , where , among other businesses , they have convinced cafes to buy coffee from a company controlled by the Sicilian mafia , investigators said .

Mafia mobsters are trying to cash in on the coronavirus crisis by buying up ailing businesses with laundered money, Italian police claim.
Hundreds of officers swarmed the Sicilian capital of Palermo early on Tuesday morning in a bid to stop the island's Cosa Nostra from exploiting the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
They detained 91 suspects in multiple raids across Sicily and parts of northern Italy for a string of offences including money laundering, drug trafficking, extortion and match fixing.
Image: Palermo chief prosecutor Lo Voi claims one mobster was heard saying 'look, we pay cash'
Investigators claim they were trying to use money obtained through these illegal means to buy up hotels, restaurants, pharmacies and other firms so they could exert more power.
One suspect was heard saying "Look, we pay cash" in an intercepted phone call, Palermo chief prosecutor Lo Voi claimed.
Officers from the Financial Guard also seized €15m (£13m) in suspected ill-gained assets, including 13 race horses.
Ordering the arrests, Palermo magistrate Piergiorgio Morosini said the lockdown "has caused a liquidity crisis that will be hard to reverse" for many businesses - a situation that organised crime would be eager to exploit, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported.
Prosecutors, including those investigating Italy's most dominant crime syndicate, the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta, have warned the mafia could also recruit those left jobless in the lockdown.
Italy was the first European country to be hit hard by coronavirus, with 219,814 confirmed cases nationwide and 30,739 deaths.
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Mafia bosses have sought to take over businesses across Italy for years - even before COVID-19 hit.
Italian crime syndicates have been known to go on property-buying sprees since the 1990s to try to make "clean" money from dirty profits.
The crime clans targeted in Tuesday's raids had moved some of their leaders to Milan in recent years, where, among other businesses, they have convinced cafes to buy coffee from a company controlled by the Sicilian mafia, investigators said.


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Summer solstice gathering at Stonehenge cancelled

The summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge have been cancelled because of concerns around coronavirus .
Thousands of people gather in Wiltshire to watch the sun rise at the neolithic monument on the longest day of the year .
However , the restrictions on large gatherings , brought in to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 , have meant the annual event will not take place this year .
Instead the June event will be streamed on social media .
The decision was taken by English Heritage after talks with the police and the emergency services , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ceremony has special significance .
Stonehenge director Nichola Tasker apologised for the cancellation , saying : `` We are very sorry to be the bearers of this news today .
`` Given the sheer number of major events worldwide which have already been cancelled across the summer , from Glastonbury to the Olympics to Oktoberfest , I doubt this will come as a huge surprise , but we know how much summer solstice at Stonehenge means to so many people .
`` We have consulted widely on whether we could have proceeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to host the event as per usual , but sadly in the end , we feel we have no choice but to cancel . ''
Ms Tasker added that she hoped the livestream would enable people to still enjoy the solstice , which takes place on or around 21 June each year .
She said : `` We hope that our live stream offers an alternative opportunity for people near and far to connect with this spiritual place at such a special time of year and we look forward to welcoming everyone back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong the draw to come is for some people , but I would take this opportunity to say please do not travel to Stonehenge this summer solstice , but watch it online instead . ''
The summer solstice is one of the few times the public are able to approach the stones , which are normally roped off and viewable from a short distance .
It is thought that the stone circle was built to align with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset .
On the longest day of the year the sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been closed since 18 March .

The summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge have been cancelled because of concerns around coronavirus.
Thousands of people gather in Wiltshire to watch the sun rise at the neolithic monument on the longest day of the year.
However, the restrictions on large gatherings, brought in to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, have meant the annual event will not take place this year.
Image: The Neolithic stone circle in Wiltshire is a hugely popular tourist attraction
Instead the June event will be streamed on social media.
The decision was taken by English Heritage after talks with the police and the emergency services, as well as the druid and pagan community for whom the ceremony has special significance.
Stonehenge director Nichola Tasker apologised for the cancellation, saying: "We are very sorry to be the bearers of this news today.
"Given the sheer number of major events worldwide which have already been cancelled across the summer, from Glastonbury to the Olympics to Oktoberfest, I doubt this will come as a huge surprise, but we know how much summer solstice at Stonehenge means to so many people.
"We have consulted widely on whether we could have proceeded safely and we would have dearly liked to host the event as per usual, but sadly in the end, we feel we have no choice but to cancel."
Image: Thousands gather to observe the event
Image: The sun rises during a previous Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
Ms Tasker added that she hoped the livestream would enable people to still enjoy the solstice, which takes place on or around 21 June each year.
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She said: "We hope that our live stream offers an alternative opportunity for people near and far to connect with this spiritual place at such a special time of year and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next year.
"We know how strong the draw to come is for some people, but I would take this opportunity to say please do not travel to Stonehenge this summer solstice, but watch it online instead."
Image: This year's solstice will be streamed online
The summer solstice is one of the few times the public are able to approach the stones, which are normally roped off and viewable from a short distance.
It is thought that the stone circle was built to align with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. On the longest day of the year the sun rises behind the Heel Stone.
Stonehenge has been closed since 18 March.


news--2020-05-12--Man charged after reporter Sima Kotecha allegedly racially abused

A man has been charged after a BBC reporter said she and her team were racially abused before a live @ @ @ @ @ they faced `` racist and abusive behaviour '' as the crew prepared to interview people @ @ @ @ @ Sunday after Boris Johnson 's coronavirus lockdown announcement .
Russell Rawlingson , 50 , of @ @ @ @ @ was charged with using threatening , abusive and insulting words and behaviour to cause harassment @ @ @ @ @ Leicestershire Police said .
He was arrested at his home on Monday night and will @ @ @ @ @ Leicester Magistrates ' Court today .
Ms Kotecha 's guests were sent home after the @ @ @ @ @ the segment and the alleged incident was reported to the police .
: : Listen @ @ @ @ @ Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker A BBC spokesman said : `` @ @ @ @ @ our reporter , her production team and guests were subjected to racist and abusive behaviour @ @ @ @ @ tolerate racism or abuse of our staff . ''

A man has been charged after a BBC reporter said she and her team were racially abused before a live broadcast.
Sima Kotecha said they faced "racist and abusive behaviour" as the crew prepared to interview people in Leicester city centre on Sunday after Boris Johnson's coronavirus lockdown announcement.
Russell Rawlingson, 50, of Glenfield Road, Leicester, was charged with using threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and distress, Leicestershire Police said.
He was arrested at his home on Monday night and will appear via video link at Leicester Magistrates' Court today.
Ms Kotecha's guests were sent home after the team was forced to cancel the segment and the alleged incident was reported to the police.
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A BBC spokesman said: "While preparing to broadcast, our reporter, her production team and guests were subjected to racist and abusive behaviour.
"We will not tolerate racism or abuse of our staff."


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus deaths rise by 627, taking the total in the UK to 32,692

Another 627 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK have died , taking the total to 32,692 .
The latest daily figure released by the Department of Health is for coronavirus-related fatalities in hospitals , care homes and the community , reported in a 24-hour period up to 5pm on Monday .
There have been 350 more deaths in hospitals in England , bringing the total to 23,709 .
In Scotland , there have been 50 further deaths , with the total now 1,912 .
In Wales , 16 more people have died after testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,132 .
In Northern Ireland , nine further coronavirus deaths have been reported , bringing the total number of fatalities to 447. : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The home nations ' daily numbers added together are often not the same as the Department of Health 's statistic as they are collated at different times .
The DoH 's fatality figure only includes people who have tested positive for COVID-19 .
An alternative measure is from the Office for National Statistics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 on a death certificate , including suspected COVID-19 .
The ONS has said 35,044 deaths involving COVID-19 were registered in England and Wales up to 9 May .
Across the UK , the number of deaths involving COVID-19 that have been registered stands at 38,355 .
It comes as the chancellor announced the government scheme which is supporting 7.5 million workers during the coronavirus pandemic will be extended until the end of October .
Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme , which pays 80 % of an employee 's salary up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the end of July as the COVID-19 lockdown continues .
From that point it will continue , but employers will be expected to begin footing some of the multi-billion pound bill .

Another 627 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK have died, taking the total to 32,692.
The latest daily figure released by the Department of Health is for coronavirus-related fatalities in hospitals, care homes and the community, reported in a 24-hour period up to 5pm on Monday.
There have been 350 more deaths in hospitals in England, bringing the total to 23,709.
In Scotland, there have been 50 further deaths, with the total now 1,912.
In Wales, 16 more people have died after testing positive for COVID-19, taking the total number to 1,132.
In Northern Ireland, nine further coronavirus deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of fatalities to 447.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The home nations' daily numbers added together are often not the same as the Department of Health's statistic as they are collated at different times.
The DoH's fatality figure only includes people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
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An alternative measure is from the Office for National Statistics, which is based on all mentions of COVID-19 on a death certificate, including suspected COVID-19.
The ONS has said 35,044 deaths involving COVID-19 were registered in England and Wales up to 9 May.
Across the UK, the number of deaths involving COVID-19 that have been registered stands at 38,355.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:13 Chancellor announces extension to furlough scheme
It comes as the chancellor announced the government scheme which is supporting 7.5 million workers during the coronavirus pandemic will be extended until the end of October.
Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme, which pays 80% of an employee's salary up to £2,500 a month, will remain unchanged until the end of July as the COVID-19 lockdown continues.
From that point it will continue, but employers will be expected to begin footing some of the multi-billion pound bill.


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Estate agents to reopen as England's housing market returns

Restrictions on the property market and construction sector , designed to combat the spread of coronavirus , are being relaxed .
The new guidance for England includes the green light for property viewings in person and visits to agents for both sales and rentals .
The government said show homes can also open while removal companies - along with other essential market components - may also fully resume work .
It is estimated that more than 450,000 buyers and renters have been unable to progress their plans to move home since March .
It stressed the relaxation of the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other measures designed to combat the virus .
An industry agreement also allows a resumption of , and extended working hours on , construction sites - with a 'Safe Working Charter ' launched by the government and the Home Builders Federation to enable more delayed projects to be completed .
Recent research by property website Zoopla said transactions worth £82bn had been put on hold .
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said : `` Our step by step plan is based on the latest guidance to ensure the safety and protection of everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now safely move forward , and those waiting patiently to move can now do so . ''
Stewart Baseley , executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation , hoped the new Charter for construction sites would kick-start a vital sector for the economy .
He said : `` Over the past week or so many house builders have commenced a gradual return to work , in a structured way that ensures the safety of its workforce and the general public .
`` The industry sustains hundreds of thousands of people in numerous roles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country .
`` A resumption of work will play a major part in helping the economy recover as well as delivering the homes the country needs .
`` It should also provide the supply chain with the confidence it needs to accelerate its own restart . ''

Restrictions on the property market and construction sector, designed to combat the spread of coronavirus, are being relaxed.
The new guidance for England includes the green light for property viewings in person and visits to agents for both sales and rentals.
The government said show homes can also open while removal companies - along with other essential market components - may also fully resume work.
It is estimated that more than 450,000 buyers and renters have been unable to progress their plans to move home since March.
Image: The government estimates the plans of more than 450,000 buyers and renters have been frustrated by the lockdown
It stressed the relaxation of the rules could only work under strict social distancing and other measures designed to combat the virus.
An industry agreement also allows a resumption of, and extended working hours on, construction sites - with a 'Safe Working Charter' launched by the government and the Home Builders Federation to enable more delayed projects to be completed.
Image: The construction sector has agreed to stagger work times to ease transport pressures
Plans include staggered working times to ease rush hour demands on public transport.
Recent research by property website Zoopla said transactions worth £82bn had been put on hold.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "Our step by step plan is based on the latest guidance to ensure the safety and protection of everyone involved.
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"This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:04 'Going back to work puts my family at risk'
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, hoped the new Charter for construction sites would kick-start a vital sector for the economy.
He said: "Over the past week or so many house builders have commenced a gradual return to work, in a structured way that ensures the safety of its workforce and the general public.
"The industry sustains hundreds of thousands of people in numerous roles and associated sectors, boosting local economies across the country.
"A resumption of work will play a major part in helping the economy recover as well as delivering the homes the country needs.
"It should also provide the supply chain with the confidence it needs to accelerate its own restart."


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Upper Crust owner SSP seeks City consent to cancel dividend

The catering group behind the Upper Crust brand is in talks with its top shareholders about the cancellation of a £27m dividend as it tries to conserve cash during the global COVID-19 crisis .
Sky News understands that SSP Group is discussing with City investors a mechanism through which it can secure their consent to waive their entitlement to the payout .
The unusual situation has arisen because SSP , which is heavily dependent on footfall at transport locations such as airports and railway stations , declared its final dividend before tapping shareholders for £215m of new equity when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many listed companies have scrap or defer future dividends , only Britain 's biggest banks have been forced to abandon previously declared payouts .
City sources said SSP was trying to agree a way of securing sufficient backing from investors to waive the payment .
One leading investor said it supported the company 's move , having participated in the share placing that took place in March .
`` SSP announced on 25 March when it updated the market on its trading and finance arrangements in light of the impact of COVID-19 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment date of its final dividend to 4 June .
`` We also stated at that time we would enter into discussions with shareholders to request that they waive their final dividend entitlement enabling that cash to be retained in the business .
`` Those discussions are ongoing and we will make further announcements as appropriate . ''
One person close to SSP said the mechanism for securing investor approval was proving to be `` a challenge '' because the company is legally obliged to pay the dividend .
SSP will announce its @ @ @ @ @

The catering group behind the Upper Crust brand is in talks with its top shareholders about the cancellation of a £27m dividend as it tries to conserve cash during the global COVID-19 crisis.
Sky News understands that SSP Group is discussing with City investors a mechanism through which it can secure their consent to waive their entitlement to the payout.
The unusual situation has arisen because SSP, which is heavily dependent on footfall at transport locations such as airports and railway stations, declared its final dividend before tapping shareholders for £215m of new equity when the coronavirus outbreak hit the UK.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:13 Chancellor extends furlough scheme
While many listed companies have scrap or defer future dividends, only Britain's biggest banks have been forced to abandon previously declared payouts.
City sources said SSP was trying to agree a way of securing sufficient backing from investors to waive the payment.
One leading investor said it supported the company's move, having participated in the share placing that took place in March.
"SSP announced on 25 March when it updated the market on its trading and finance arrangements in light of the impact of COVID-19 on the business, it would defer the payment date of its final dividend to 4 June.
"We also stated at that time we would enter into discussions with shareholders to request that they waive their final dividend entitlement enabling that cash to be retained in the business.
"Those discussions are ongoing and we will make further announcements as appropriate."
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:02 TV chef: Tasting food among re-opening challenges
One person close to SSP said the mechanism for securing investor approval was proving to be "a challenge" because the company is legally obliged to pay the dividend.
SSP will announce its interim results next month.


news--2020-05-12--Hamilton to be released on Disney+ in July - 15 months ahead of schedule

Award-winning hip-hop musical Hamilton is set to hit screens on the eve of US independence day - 15 months earlier than the initial plan .
The announcement is a major shift from what was originally planned in February , when the show 's creator , as well as Disney , said that record-breaking production would get a cinema and streaming release in October 2021 .
Hamilton tells the story of America 's independence and the subsequent battle for control through the eyes of founding father Alexander Hamilton , set to a hip-hop and pop soundtrack .
Productions of the ground-breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ End and Broadway , but have temporarily stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak .
In a statement , the show 's creator Lin Manuel-Miranda said : `` I 'm so grateful to Disney and Disney Plus for reimagining and moving up our release to 4 July weekend of this year , in light of the world turning upside down .
`` I 'm so grateful to all the fans who asked for this , and I 'm so glad that we 're able to make it happen .
I 'm so proud of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you to see it . ''
The production , which has an almost exclusively BAME cast , is thought to be the most expensive acquisition of a single film ever made , with Disney buying the rights to the groundbreaking show for $ 75m ( £57.5m ) .
Rather than being a brand-new movie based on the show , the broadcast is an exclusive recording of the Broadway stage production , performed by the original US cast , filmed across three nights at the Richard Rogers theatre .
The change in release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has hit the entertainment industry hard .
Last week , Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek said that the pandemic had cost the firm $ 1.4bn ( £1.1bn ) in lost profits so far , after it shut its theme parks around the world , and held back its film releases .
However , the company 's streaming service , Disney+ , which will be the home to Hamilton in July , has vastly exceeded the company 's expectations , with 54 million people around the world signing up to the site .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Equity , the trade union that represents actors in the UK , wrote an open letter to the chancellor Rishi Sunak on Friday , asking for more support for creative industries , adding that theatres may not open until early 2021 , meaning creatives may be at risk .
Disney executive chairman Bob Iger said : `` We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day , and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to do so more than a year before planned . ''

Award-winning hip-hop musical Hamilton is set to hit screens on the eve of US independence day - 15 months earlier than the initial plan.
The announcement is a major shift from what was originally planned in February, when the show's creator, as well as Disney, said that record-breaking production would get a cinema and streaming release in October 2021.
Hamilton tells the story of America's independence and the subsequent battle for control through the eyes of founding father Alexander Hamilton, set to a hip-hop and pop soundtrack.
Image: The show creator's Lin-Manuel Miranda (C) has also played the lead role
Productions of the ground-breaking show are currently running on the West End and Broadway, but have temporarily stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement, the show's creator Lin Manuel-Miranda said: "I'm so grateful to Disney and Disney Plus for reimagining and moving up our release to 4 July weekend of this year, in light of the world turning upside down.
"I'm so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I'm so glad that we're able to make it happen. I'm so proud of this show. I can't wait for you to see it."
The production, which has an almost exclusively BAME cast, is thought to be the most expensive acquisition of a single film ever made, with Disney buying the rights to the groundbreaking show for $75m (£57.5m).
Rather than being a brand-new movie based on the show, the broadcast is an exclusive recording of the Broadway stage production, performed by the original US cast, filmed across three nights at the Richard Rogers theatre.
The change in release comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the entertainment industry hard.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:58 Hamilton could help 'change narrative' for society
Last week, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek said that the pandemic had cost the firm $1.4bn (£1.1bn) in lost profits so far, after it shut its theme parks around the world, and held back its film releases.
However, the company's streaming service, Disney+, which will be the home to Hamilton in July, has vastly exceeded the company's expectations, with 54 million people around the world signing up to the site.
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Equity, the trade union that represents actors in the UK, wrote an open letter to the chancellor Rishi Sunak on Friday, asking for more support for creative industries, adding that theatres may not open until early 2021, meaning creatives may be at risk.
Disney executive chairman Bob Iger said: "We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind 'Hamilton' to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned."


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Matt Hancock says foreign holidays are 'unlikely' this summer

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has dealt a blow to any remaining hopes of a foreign holiday this summer , saying such trips are `` unlikely '' to be possible because of the continued threat of coronavirus .
Despite Ryanair announcing plans to restore 40 % of its flight schedule from July , albeit with temperature checks and face masks for all passengers and crew , Mr Hancock has warned people not to get their hopes up .
Asked on ITV 's This Morning whether `` summer was cancelled '' , he said : `` I think that 's likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` It 's unlikely that big , lavish international holidays are going to be possible this summer .
`` I just think that 's a reality of life . ''
Britons have been advised against carrying out all but essential international travel since 17 March , and domestic trips have been off the cards since the nationwide lockdown began six days later .
Restrictions on air travel have also been enforced across the European Union , which have also remained in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus .
And with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin easing the lockdown , Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that people flying into the country will soon be required to enter a 14-day quarantine so not to risk reviving the disease within the population .
While a reciprocal agreement struck between Mr Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron makes those moving across the Channel exempt from the new measure , it is not designed to apply to tourists .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News that the arrangement with France was focused on `` common sense measures '' across short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Calais and Dover .
The French embassy in London also outlined various restrictions on travel between the two countries , with people required to provide documents proving that their travel is `` strictly necessary '' .
It remains to be seen how travel restrictions might be lifted in other European countries over the coming months , however the current message from the UK government does not appear to jive with Ryanair 's plan .
The budget airline has said `` effective public health measures '' such as temperature checks would help make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew to travel while COVID-19 remains a threat .
Other measures would include fewer checked bags , online check-in , limited inflight services , no queues for toilets , downloading boarding passes to smartphones and social distancing where possible , the airline added .
Ryanair 's announcement came less than two weeks after it announced it was planning to axe 3,000 jobs , with remaining staff faced unpaid leave and having their pay slashed by up to 20 % .
In April , British Airways said it expected to cut a quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to axe 12,000 jobs .
Britons hoping domestic holidays might be an alternative to going abroad have also been dealt a blow this week , as major tourist destinations in England told prospective visitors to `` stay away '' and `` stay home '' .
Tourism chiefs in Cornwall and Cumbria , which includes the popular destination of the Lake District , have reacted with dismay and trepidation to the changes to the prime minister 's plans to reopen the economy .
Mr Johnson has said he would like to see the hospitality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of business from 4 July , although this is dependent on how the pandemic progresses before then .

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has dealt a blow to any remaining hopes of a foreign holiday this summer, saying such trips are "unlikely" to be possible because of the continued threat of coronavirus.
Despite Ryanair announcing plans to restore 40% of its flight schedule from July, albeit with temperature checks and face masks for all passengers and crew, Mr Hancock has warned people not to get their hopes up.
Asked on ITV's This Morning whether "summer was cancelled", he said: "I think that's likely to be the case."
He added: "It's unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to be possible this summer.
"I just think that's a reality of life."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 PM can't say when coronavirus will end
Britons have been advised against carrying out all but essential international travel since 17 March, and domestic trips have been off the cards since the nationwide lockdown began six days later.
Restrictions on air travel have also been enforced across the European Union, which have also remained in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
And with the UK government working on how to begin easing the lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that people flying into the country will soon be required to enter a 14-day quarantine so not to risk reviving the disease within the population.
While a reciprocal agreement struck between Mr Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron makes those moving across the Channel exempt from the new measure, it is not designed to apply to tourists.
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Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News that the arrangement with France was focused on "common sense measures" across short straits, such as to maintain shipping between Calais and Dover.
The French embassy in London also outlined various restrictions on travel between the two countries, with people required to provide documents proving that their travel is "strictly necessary".
Image: Carras beach in Nice, south France, packed in August 2016
It remains to be seen how travel restrictions might be lifted in other European countries over the coming months, however the current message from the UK government does not appear to jive with Ryanair's plan.
The budget airline has said "effective public health measures" such as temperature checks would help make sure it is safe for passengers and crew to travel while COVID-19 remains a threat.
Other measures would include fewer checked bags, online check-in, limited inflight services, no queues for toilets, downloading boarding passes to smartphones and social distancing where possible, the airline added.
Ryanair's announcement came less than two weeks after it announced it was planning to axe 3,000 jobs, with remaining staff faced unpaid leave and having their pay slashed by up to 20%.
In April, British Airways said it expected to cut a quarter of its pilots as part of wider plans to axe 12,000 jobs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:00 Ryanair boss: We expect our flights to be 50-60% full
Britons hoping domestic holidays might be an alternative to going abroad have also been dealt a blow this week, as major tourist destinations in England told prospective visitors to "stay away" and "stay home".
Tourism chiefs in Cornwall and Cumbria, which includes the popular destination of the Lake District, have reacted with dismay and trepidation to the changes to the prime minister's plans to reopen the economy.
Mr Johnson has said he would like to see the hospitality sector start to get back to some form of business from 4 July, although this is dependent on how the pandemic progresses before then.


news--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Furlough scheme extended - and there will be no cut in support

The government scheme which is supporting 7.5 million workers during the coronavirus pandemic will be extended until the end of October , the chancellor has announced .
Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme , which pays 80 % of an employee 's salary up to £2,500 a month , will remain unchanged until the end of July as the COVID-19 lockdown continues .
From that point it will continue , but employers will be expected to begin footing some of the multi-billion pound bill .
Staff will still receive the current level of support , through a combination of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commons , the chancellor said that from August there would be greater flexibility to allow furloughed staff to start going back to work .
`` Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back part-time , '' Mr Sunak said .
`` And we will ask employers to start sharing with the government the cost of paying people 's salaries . ''
The chancellor said further details would be set out at the end of the month .
`` I 'm extending the scheme because I wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it , '' Mr Sunak told MPs .
`` Our message today is simple : we stood behind Britain 's workers and businesses as we came into this crisis , and we will stand behind them as we come through the other side . ''
The announcement came in response to an urgent question from Labour 's shadow chancellor , Anneliese Dodds .
She said she had only heard about the chancellor 's changes `` in the last few seconds '' and will look at them `` very , very carefully '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attributed to government officials in media reports suggesting that people had to be `` weaned off an addiction '' to the scheme .
Ms Dodds said people do not want to be furloughed , adding : `` It 's critically important they are not penalised for that choice .
`` We welcome the flexibility mentioned , we 've asked for this repeatedly . ''
The chancellor said in response that he had never used the phrase in connection with the furlough scheme and it was `` not one I agree with '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme wants to be on this scheme , '' Mr Sunak continued .
`` People up and down this country believe in the dignity of their work , going to work , providing for their families , it 's not their fault their business has been asked to close or asked to stay at home .
`` That is why I established this scheme to support these people and their livelihoods at this critical time . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SNP , queried whether the furlough scheme could be continued in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland if they keep the lockdown in force longer than England .
Boris Johnson 's government has begun easing some of the lockdown restrictions in England , but the devolved nations are sticking with the original `` stay at home '' advice at the moment .
Mr Sunak responded : `` This is now an extension for four months to the end of October which will provide eight months in total to all regions and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think , a very good and generous runway for businesses and firms to plan . ''
The chancellor also revealed that self-employed people could start receiving cash payments from the government to make up for lost earnings from `` as early as next week '' .
`` The scheme to support them goes live tomorrow ahead of schedule , '' Mr Sunak said in response to Labour MP Meg Hillier .
`` Those who are self-employed whose returns of earnings we are aware of ... are already being contacted , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they will receive cash in their accounts for a three-month grant from as early as next week . ''
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said the furlough extension `` will be a big relief for millions '' .
`` Changing the rules to allow part-time working is key to enabling a gradual and safe return to work , '' she said .
`` And maintaining the rate at 80 % is a win for the pay packets of working families . ''
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn , director-general of the Confederation of British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail .
She also called for ministers to be willing to be flexible if there is a second peak .
`` Introducing much-needed flexibility is extremely welcome , '' Dame Carolyn said .
`` It will prepare the ground for firms that are reawakening , while helping those who remain in hibernation .
`` That 's essential as the UK economy revives step-by-step , while supporting livelihoods . ''
Chancellor may be delaying much of the pain , not preventing it Analysis by Joe Pike , political correspondent As with the lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to introduce the `` Job Retention Scheme '' than withdraw it .
Rishi Sunak 's original intention was to freeze the UK economy , putting it in a temporary cryogenic state until the virus threat had passed , allowing companies to restart from where they left off rather than rebuilding from the ground up .
And crucially the government was desperate to avoid mass redundancies and mass unemployment .
But defrosting is difficult , and business groups have warned that many of the 7.5 million people furloughed will be laid off if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big announcement from Mr Sunak - extending the scheme in full until the end of July , then gradually reducing it until the end of October - has been widely welcomed .
The Trades Union Congress says the government has 'listened ' and the news will be ' a big relief to millions of working families ' .
However that big relief comes with a big price tag .
Some estimates suggest it will cost an extra £13bn just to extend the scheme until the end of July .
And we will only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension will work at the end of this month .
Most importantly we still do not know what decisions firms will make ahead of August : the point they either start shouldering part of the burden or lay off staff .
The chancellor claims today 's announcement provides a `` generous runway to businesses to plan against '' , and it certainly avoids the cliff-edge so many had worried about .
Yet with the world bracing for recession , and UK consumer confidence at a record low , Mr Sunak may just be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventing it .

The government scheme which is supporting 7.5 million workers during the coronavirus pandemic will be extended until the end of October, the chancellor has announced.
Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme, which pays 80% of an employee's salary up to £2,500 a month, will remain unchanged until the end of July as the COVID-19 lockdown continues.
From that point it will continue, but employers will be expected to begin footing some of the multi-billion pound bill.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 13:02 Redundancy worries once furlough scheme ends
Staff will still receive the current level of support, through a combination of state and employer contributions.
Addressing MPs in the Commons, the chancellor said that from August there would be greater flexibility to allow furloughed staff to start going back to work.
"Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back part-time," Mr Sunak said.
"And we will ask employers to start sharing with the government the cost of paying people's salaries."
The chancellor said further details would be set out at the end of the month.
"I'm extending the scheme because I won't give up on the people who rely on it," Mr Sunak told MPs.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:03 PM takes questions from public
"Our message today is simple: we stood behind Britain's workers and businesses as we came into this crisis, and we will stand behind them as we come through the other side."
The announcement came in response to an urgent question from Labour's shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds.
She said she had only heard about the chancellor's changes "in the last few seconds" and will look at them "very, very carefully".
The shadow chancellor also raised comments attributed to government officials in media reports suggesting that people had to be "weaned off an addiction" to the scheme.
Ms Dodds said people do not want to be furloughed, adding: "It's critically important they are not penalised for that choice.
"We welcome the flexibility mentioned, we've asked for this repeatedly."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:27 Do you understand the new rules?
The chancellor said in response that he had never used the phrase in connection with the furlough scheme and it was "not one I agree with".
"Nobody who is on the furlough scheme wants to be on this scheme," Mr Sunak continued.
"People up and down this country believe in the dignity of their work, going to work, providing for their families, it's not their fault their business has been asked to close or asked to stay at home.
"That is why I established this scheme to support these people and their livelihoods at this critical time."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Alison Thewliss, Treasury spokeswoman for the SNP, queried whether the furlough scheme could be continued in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland if they keep the lockdown in force longer than England.
Boris Johnson's government has begun easing some of the lockdown restrictions in England, but the devolved nations are sticking with the original "stay at home" advice at the moment.
Mr Sunak responded: "This is now an extension for four months to the end of October which will provide eight months in total to all regions and all sectors of the United Kingdom and provides, I think, a very good and generous runway for businesses and firms to plan."
The chancellor also revealed that self-employed people could start receiving cash payments from the government to make up for lost earnings from "as early as next week".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:04 Who is most affected by the coronavirus?
"The scheme to support them goes live tomorrow ahead of schedule," Mr Sunak said in response to Labour MP Meg Hillier.
"Those who are self-employed whose returns of earnings we are aware of... are already being contacted, they will be able to apply from tomorrow and they will receive cash in their accounts for a three-month grant from as early as next week."
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said the furlough extension "will be a big relief for millions".
"Changing the rules to allow part-time working is key to enabling a gradual and safe return to work," she said.
"And maintaining the rate at 80% is a win for the pay packets of working families."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:21 Starmer: 'We can't go back to business as usual'
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said businesses will want more detail.
She also called for ministers to be willing to be flexible if there is a second peak.
"Introducing much-needed flexibility is extremely welcome," Dame Carolyn said.
"It will prepare the ground for firms that are reawakening, while helping those who remain in hibernation.
"That's essential as the UK economy revives step-by-step, while supporting livelihoods."
Chancellor may be delaying much of the pain, not preventing it
Analysis by Joe Pike, political correspondent
As with the lockdown, it was always going to be easier to introduce the "Job Retention Scheme" than withdraw it.
Rishi Sunak's original intention was to freeze the UK economy, putting it in a temporary cryogenic state until the virus threat had passed, allowing companies to restart from where they left off rather than rebuilding from the ground up.
And crucially the government was desperate to avoid mass redundancies and mass unemployment.
But defrosting is difficult, and business groups have warned that many of the 7.5 million people furloughed will be laid off if the scheme ends too fast.
Today's big announcement from Mr Sunak - extending the scheme in full until the end of July, then gradually reducing it until the end of October - has been widely welcomed.
Image: The chancellor is hoping to avoid the 'cliff-edge' cut-off of the furlough scheme
The Trades Union Congress says the government has 'listened' and the news will be 'a big relief to millions of working families'.
However that big relief comes with a big price tag. Some estimates suggest it will cost an extra £13bn just to extend the scheme until the end of July.
And we will only get the full details of how that extension will work at the end of this month.
Most importantly we still do not know what decisions firms will make ahead of August: the point they either start shouldering part of the burden or lay off staff.
The chancellor claims today's announcement provides a "generous runway to businesses to plan against", and it certainly avoids the cliff-edge so many had worried about.
Yet with the world bracing for recession, and UK consumer confidence at a record low, Mr Sunak may just be delaying much of the pain, not preventing it.