news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: What is the K number and how could it help end lockdown?

As the UK lockdown begins to ease R will not be the only metric being closely monitored by scientists , the K number will also be important .
The R number is the average number of people each person infected with a disease will go on to infect .
But not every person with coronavirus passes it on to the same number of people .
Someone who self isolates soon after they catch COVID-19 might not infect anyone else at all .
Whereas someone who attends an event where they interact with lots of people could spread it to several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number is scientists ' way of measuring the variation in the number of people infected .
It allows them to see how uniformly the disease is spreading from person to person .
If K is high , for example around 5 , then it means there is n't much variation in the number of people infected by each contagious person .
But if K is less than one , it means there is a lot of variation in how many people are being infected .
For example if one person with a disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person infected ten , the disease would have a low K number .
If a disease has a low K value then it suggests that so-called `` super spreaders '' could be behind a large proportion of cases .
Different diseases have different K values , says Dr Rosalind Eggo from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM ) .
`` The estimated K value for SARS1 is 0.16 , which is a 'low ' value and means a lot of variation between people , '' she says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 2 , in that there is some but not a huge amount of difference in the number of infections by each person . ''
Research from the LSHTM suggests coronavirus has a K value of 0.1 when social distancing measures are not in place .
This means that 80 % of transmissions of COVID-19 are being caused by fewer than 10 % of infected individuals .
In other words , the K value tells us that , outside of lockdown , the majority of coronavirus cases are caused by `` super spreaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think R could be `` drastically reduced by preventing relatively rare super-spreading events '' .
This could prove helpful to the government as they look to further ease lockdown measures .
As it means that as long as events where super-spreading might take place are prevented , other areas of life could begin to return to normal .
A low K value could also aid track and trace efforts , as it suggest the majority of new cases will be caused by just a small number of individuals , which could help make @ @ @ @ @ @

As the UK lockdown begins to ease R will not be the only metric being closely monitored by scientists, the K number will also be important.
The R number is the average number of people each person infected with a disease will go on to infect.
But not every person with coronavirus passes it on to the same number of people.
Someone who self isolates soon after they catch COVID-19 might not infect anyone else at all.
Image: There are concerns the Cheltenham Festival in mid March may have accelerated the spread of the virus.
Whereas someone who attends an event where they interact with lots of people could spread it to several of them without knowing.
The K number is scientists' way of measuring the variation in the number of people infected.
It allows them to see how uniformly the disease is spreading from person to person.
If K is high, for example around 5, then it means there isn't much variation in the number of people infected by each contagious person.
But if K is less than one, it means there is a lot of variation in how many people are being infected.
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For example if one person with a disease infects one other person, while another person infected ten, the disease would have a low K number.
If a disease has a low K value then it suggests that so-called "super spreaders" could be behind a large proportion of cases.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:43 Lockdown is being eased cautiously, says Hancock
Different diseases have different K values, says Dr Rosalind Eggo from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
"The estimated K value for SARS1 is 0.16, which is a 'low' value and means a lot of variation between people," she says.
"But for flu, it is maybe around 2, in that there is some but not a huge amount of difference in the number of infections by each person."
Research from the LSHTM suggests coronavirus has a K value of 0.1 when social distancing measures are not in place.
Image: Some people with COVID-19 will not infect anyone else with the virus.
This means that 80% of transmissions of COVID-19 are being caused by fewer than 10% of infected individuals.
In other words, the K value tells us that, outside of lockdown, the majority of coronavirus cases are caused by "super spreaders".
Researchers from the LSHTM therefore think R could be "drastically reduced by preventing relatively rare super-spreading events".
This could prove helpful to the government as they look to further ease lockdown measures.
As it means that as long as events where super-spreading might take place are prevented, other areas of life could begin to return to normal.
A low K value could also aid track and trace efforts, as it suggest the majority of new cases will be caused by just a small number of individuals, which could help make new infections easier to identify.


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Ibuprofen tested as treatment to reduce COVID-19 symptoms

Ibuprofen is being tested to assess whether it can prevent severe breathing problems in coronavirus patients and reduce the number of people needing treatment in intensive care units .
Researchers at Guy 's and St Thomas ' Hospital and King 's College London are looking at whether `` a specific form '' of the cheap anti-inflammatory drug can help cut serious side effects from COVID-19 , potentially leading to shorter hospital stays .
Ibuprofen has previously been said by politicians in France to worsen the symptoms of coronavirus .
Professor Mitul Mehta has stressed that only hospitalised patients would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the drug will `` reduce the respiratory problems they have '' , and not those who are so ill that they need to be in intensive care .
If successful , there would be a `` number of benefits '' .
He said : `` We could reduce the amount of time that someone spends in hospital - they might recover quicker and go home , that 's obviously a fantastic outcome .
`` We also might be reducing the degree of respiratory distress so that it can be managed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ICU , and that is a fantastic outcome as well .
`` Theoretically , this treatment , given at this time , should be beneficial . ''
Professor Mehta , however , said this was based on `` animal studies '' .
`` It 's based on case reports , we need to do a trial to show that the evidence actually matches what we expect to happen . ''
He said that animal studies into acute respiratory distress syndrome - a symptom of COVID-19 - suggests that around 80 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are given this special formulation of ibuprofen , this drops to 20 % .
`` This is very promising , '' he said .
`` But of course it is an animal study , so we want to translate that really compelling result into humans . ''
Half of the patients involved in the trial will receive standard care , and the other half will receive standard care as well as the special ibuprofen formulation .
It is hoped that the way the drug has been formulated will reduce potential gastric side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hotopf , director of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre , said : `` This highly innovative therapeutic approach seeks to rapidly advance a potentially important new treatment .
`` If successful , the global public health value of this trial result would be immense given the low cost and availability of this medicine . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Scientists in the UK launched a review to assess links to ibuprofen and coronavirus , after controversy over its use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French health minister advised against the use of it .
The Commission on Human Medicines ' expert working group concluded : `` There is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between use of ibuprofen and susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 or the worsening of its symptoms . ''
Tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm , Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After The Pandemic : Our New World - a special live programme about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over .
Thursday 's programme will include an exclusive interview @ @ @ @

Ibuprofen is being tested to assess whether it can prevent severe breathing problems in coronavirus patients and reduce the number of people needing treatment in intensive care units.
Researchers at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital and King's College London are looking at whether "a specific form" of the cheap anti-inflammatory drug can help cut serious side effects from COVID-19, potentially leading to shorter hospital stays.
Ibuprofen has previously been said by politicians in France to worsen the symptoms of coronavirus.
Professor Mitul Mehta has stressed that only hospitalised patients would be involved in the trial - to see if the drug will "reduce the respiratory problems they have", and not those who are so ill that they need to be in intensive care.
If successful, there would be a "number of benefits".
He said: "We could reduce the amount of time that someone spends in hospital - they might recover quicker and go home, that's obviously a fantastic outcome.
"We also might be reducing the degree of respiratory distress so that it can be managed in the hospital setting, without needing to go to ICU, and that is a fantastic outcome as well.
"Theoretically, this treatment, given at this time, should be beneficial."
Professor Mehta, however, said this was based on "animal studies".
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"It's based on case reports, we need to do a trial to show that the evidence actually matches what we expect to happen."
He said that animal studies into acute respiratory distress syndrome - a symptom of COVID-19 - suggests that around 80% of animals die with it.
But when they are given this special formulation of ibuprofen, this drops to 20%.
"This is very promising," he said. "But of course it is an animal study, so we want to translate that really compelling result into humans."
Half of the patients involved in the trial will receive standard care, and the other half will receive standard care as well as the special ibuprofen formulation.
It is hoped that the way the drug has been formulated will reduce potential gastric side effects linked to ibuprofen.
Professor Matthew Hotopf, director of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, said: "This highly innovative therapeutic approach seeks to rapidly advance a potentially important new treatment.
"If successful, the global public health value of this trial result would be immense given the low cost and availability of this medicine."
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Scientists in the UK launched a review to assess links to ibuprofen and coronavirus, after controversy over its use early on in the pandemic when a French health minister advised against the use of it.
The Commission on Human Medicines' expert working group concluded: "There is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between use of ibuprofen and susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 or the worsening of its symptoms."
Tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm, Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After The Pandemic: Our New World - a special live programme about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over.
Thursday's programme will include an exclusive interview with Prince Charles.


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Prince Charles says we're paying the price for loss of biodiversity

The Prince of Wales fears we could see further pandemics if we do n't put our relationship with the planet at the centre of the post-COVID recovery .
In an exclusive interview via video call from Scotland , Prince Charles said he sympathised with the `` bewilderment and anxiety '' felt by many in the UK as a result of the COVID-19 crisis but also shared his fears that we could see more global pandemics if we do n't tackle climate change and the loss of biodiversity .
He also spoke about his own experience of contracting the virus saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and `` got away with it quite lightly '' but it has motivated him to `` find a way out of this '' .
The prince was speaking as part of the series After The Pandemic : Our New World being aired this week .
Due to the current social distancing restrictions the interview was carried out via video call , with the prince dialling in from Birkhall , his home in Scotland , where he 's been living with the Duchess of Cornwall since lockdown began .
Despite a couple of computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which we 've all experienced as more of us work from home , the prince passionately talked about his genuine concern that we could see further pandemics if we do n't stop neglecting the planet .
He said : `` The more we erode the natural world , the more we destroy what 's called biodiversity , which is the immense diversity of life , plant life , tree life , everything else .
Marine life .
The more we expose ourselves to this kind of danger .
We 've had these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goodness knows what else , all of these things are related to the loss of biodiversity . ''
He added : `` It 's one of the reasons that I tried to get the point across that we should have been treating the planet as if it was a patient long ago .
`` So no self-respecting doctor would ever have let the situation , if the planet is a patient , reach this stage before making an intervention .
`` I think we 're slightly paying the price as a result .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Usually , talking to members of the royal family about their health is deemed to be off limits , but the prince spoke openly about contracting the virus and admitted it has motivated him even further to push on with his environmental agenda .
`` It makes me even more determined to push and shout and prod if you see what I mean .
Whatever I can do behind the scenes sometimes .
I suppose it did partly , I mean I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away with it quite lightly .
`` But I 've had it , and I can so understand what other people have gone through .
And I feel particularly for those for instance , who have lost their loved ones and have been unable to be with them at the time .
That to me is the most ghastly thing .
`` But in order to prevent this happening to so many more people , this is why I 'm so determined to find a way out of this .
In order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the centre , back to understanding what we have to do in relationship to the natural world . ''
The call had started off just like any other online meeting we 've all had to get used to recently .
A bit of `` can you hear me ok ? ''
and `` can you see me alright ? ''
as both of us acknowledged how strange it was to be speaking to each other in that way .
It soon became clear that even the future king has had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to be enjoying the challenge of doing things differently .
But this was n't a casual chat , it was his most wide ranging interview about the post-COVID world - a rare chance to get his views on the pandemic and significantly his thoughts on what should be our priorities as the world aims to recover .
The prince believes that a `` green recovery '' should be at the centre of global efforts to rebuild economies and could be integral for getting people back to work in the post-pandemic world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council at the World Economic Forum in Davos , an initiative aimed at showing that economic growth and protecting the environment can go hand-in-hand .
This week he launched a new phase of the initiative under the banner of The Great Reset .
He told Sky News he 's been talking to world leaders during lockdown about the challenges they face and the benefits of putting sustainability at the centre of any recovery .
He said : `` I have n't exactly been wasting my time during this lockdown if you know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection with a lot of people during this pandemic , so I have been able to do a lot , using this technology .
`` I have been in communication with a lot of people around the world on the issues .
For instance , I 've been speaking to leaders in the Caribbean which is chiefly commonwealth countries and they are facing immense challenges .
`` I was talking to the prime minister of St Lucia recently because he wanted to talk about the horrors facing the islands where the tourism sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most appalling economic pressure .
`` They 've also got the risks and dangers of every year of hurricanes . ''
But he expressed some frustration that it has taken a global pandemic to make some wake up to the threats .
He said : `` It 's only catastrophes which concentrate the mind , which means , that for once , there might be some real real impetus to tackle all these things that have been pushed to one side because everyone said , 'oh it 's irrelevant ' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the G20 to concentrate very much on agriculture , forestry or fishery because it was n't considered very sexy .
But these are crucial things . ''
During the pandemic the royal family have had to adjust the way that they work .
Usually at times of national crisis they would be meeting those on the front line , carrying out engagements to show sympathy .
Instead they have sent virtual messages of encouragement and support , with the Queen rallying the country with unprecedented messages to the nation , reassuring us that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contrast between the style of monarch and heir , and that is again apparent in this interview , as Prince Charles laid out what he believes is the best environmental and economic strategy for a post-COVID recovery .
He does however acknowledge that this has been a human tragedy as well as an economic one , and like his mother was keen to praise the `` remarkable '' way that people have supported each other .
He said : `` I ca n't tell you how much I sympathise with the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this unbelievably testing and challenging time .
`` I know that so many people have had the agony of losing their loved ones and the bewilderment and anxiety that surrounds everything and so it is the most awful aspect of a pandemic like this , and yet we 've seen at the same time people being quite remarkable and wonderful people in the national health service and all the other key workers who kept everything going .
`` And that is the remarkable thing about all this it always produces the best of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I think is something which is so special about the reaction .
But at the same time we have to make sure we try to do better in the future . ''
This week , Dermot Murnaghan is hosting After the Pandemic : Our New World - a series of special live programmes about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over .
We are being joined by some of the biggest names from the worlds of culture , politics , economics , science and technology .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charles in full at 8pm on Thursday .

The Prince of Wales fears we could see further pandemics if we don't put our relationship with the planet at the centre of the post-COVID recovery.
In an exclusive interview via video call from Scotland, Prince Charles said he sympathised with the "bewilderment and anxiety" felt by many in the UK as a result of the COVID-19 crisis but also shared his fears that we could see more global pandemics if we don't tackle climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
He also spoke about his own experience of contracting the virus saying he believes he was "lucky" and "got away with it quite lightly" but it has motivated him to "find a way out of this".
Image: We spoke to the prince on a video call
The prince was speaking as part of the series After The Pandemic: Our New World being aired this week.
Due to the current social distancing restrictions the interview was carried out via video call, with the prince dialling in from Birkhall, his home in Scotland, where he's been living with the Duchess of Cornwall since lockdown began.
Despite a couple of computer glitches, and the odd frozen screen, which we've all experienced as more of us work from home, the prince passionately talked about his genuine concern that we could see further pandemics if we don't stop neglecting the planet.
He said: "The more we erode the natural world, the more we destroy what's called biodiversity, which is the immense diversity of life, plant life, tree life, everything else. Marine life. The more we expose ourselves to this kind of danger. We've had these other disasters with SARS and Ebola and goodness knows what else, all of these things are related to the loss of biodiversity."
He added: "It's one of the reasons that I tried to get the point across that we should have been treating the planet as if it was a patient long ago.
"So no self-respecting doctor would ever have let the situation, if the planet is a patient, reach this stage before making an intervention.
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"I think we're slightly paying the price as a result."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Usually, talking to members of the royal family about their health is deemed to be off limits, but the prince spoke openly about contracting the virus and admitted it has motivated him even further to push on with his environmental agenda.
"It makes me even more determined to push and shout and prod if you see what I mean. Whatever I can do behind the scenes sometimes. I suppose it did partly, I mean I was lucky in my case and got away with it quite lightly.
"But I've had it, and I can so understand what other people have gone through. And I feel particularly for those for instance, who have lost their loved ones and have been unable to be with them at the time. That to me is the most ghastly thing.
"But in order to prevent this happening to so many more people, this is why I'm so determined to find a way out of this. In order to bring the world and all of us back to the centre, back to understanding what we have to do in relationship to the natural world."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:37 Nurse reunited with family after nine weeks
The call had started off just like any other online meeting we've all had to get used to recently. A bit of "can you hear me ok?" and "can you see me alright?" as both of us acknowledged how strange it was to be speaking to each other in that way.
It soon became clear that even the future king has had to adjust to working in new ways and seems to be enjoying the challenge of doing things differently.
But this wasn't a casual chat, it was his most wide ranging interview about the post-COVID world - a rare chance to get his views on the pandemic and significantly his thoughts on what should be our priorities as the world aims to recover.
The prince believes that a "green recovery" should be at the centre of global efforts to rebuild economies and could be integral for getting people back to work in the post-pandemic world.
In January he launched the Sustainable Markets Council at the World Economic Forum in Davos, an initiative aimed at showing that economic growth and protecting the environment can go hand-in-hand.
This week he launched a new phase of the initiative under the banner of The Great Reset. He told Sky News he's been talking to world leaders during lockdown about the challenges they face and the benefits of putting sustainability at the centre of any recovery.
He said: "I haven't exactly been wasting my time during this lockdown if you know what I mean. I've been in connection with a lot of people during this pandemic, so I have been able to do a lot, using this technology.
"I have been in communication with a lot of people around the world on the issues. For instance, I've been speaking to leaders in the Caribbean which is chiefly commonwealth countries and they are facing immense challenges.
"I was talking to the prime minister of St Lucia recently because he wanted to talk about the horrors facing the islands where the tourism sector has disintegrated completely, they're under the most appalling economic pressure.
"They've also got the risks and dangers of every year of hurricanes."
But he expressed some frustration that it has taken a global pandemic to make some wake up to the threats.
He said: "It's only catastrophes which concentrate the mind, which means, that for once, there might be some real real impetus to tackle all these things that have been pushed to one side because everyone said, 'oh it's irrelevant'.
"For instance, you could never get the G20 to concentrate very much on agriculture, forestry or fishery because it wasn't considered very sexy. But these are crucial things."
During the pandemic the royal family have had to adjust the way that they work. Usually at times of national crisis they would be meeting those on the front line, carrying out engagements to show sympathy.
Instead they have sent virtual messages of encouragement and support, with the Queen rallying the country with unprecedented messages to the nation, reassuring us that life will get better.
There is a contrast between the style of monarch and heir, and that is again apparent in this interview, as Prince Charles laid out what he believes is the best environmental and economic strategy for a post-COVID recovery.
He does however acknowledge that this has been a human tragedy as well as an economic one, and like his mother was keen to praise the "remarkable" way that people have supported each other.
He said: "I can't tell you how much I sympathise with the way that everyone has had to endure with this unbelievably testing and challenging time.
"I know that so many people have had the agony of losing their loved ones and the bewilderment and anxiety that surrounds everything and so it is the most awful aspect of a pandemic like this, and yet we've seen at the same time people being quite remarkable and wonderful people in the national health service and all the other key workers who kept everything going.
"And that is the remarkable thing about all this it always produces the best of everybody in so many ways, and that I think is something which is so special about the reaction. But at the same time we have to make sure we try to do better in the future."
This week, Dermot Murnaghan is hosting After the Pandemic: Our New World - a series of special live programmes about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over.
We are being joined by some of the biggest names from the worlds of culture, politics, economics, science and technology.
You can watch the exclusive interview with the Prince Charles in full at 8pm on Thursday.


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Dodgy data and double counting - the UK's testing data is a mess

Drive-through testing has hovered around the 30,000 mark - but the overall figure for all people tested is unclear How many people have been tested in the UK for COVID-19 ?
It 's a pretty simple question , which most countries are capable of answering .
And it 's a pretty important one , since until you know how many people have been tested it 's very difficult to get a real early handle on the spread of the disease .
Will there be a second spike ?
Is it safe to loosen the restrictions on our lives ?
Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how do we ensure those coming to the country do not bring the disease with them ?
Testing - doing it well , accounting for it well and using the results sensibly - is clearly a crucial part of the solution .
Yet here in Britain we do n't know how many people have been tested for the disease .
Indeed , while the government was up until recently producing numbers on people tested , it recently admitted those figures are suspect and will have to be revised .
This is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has with the government , as covered in a highly critical letter from its head , Sir David Norgrove , to Health Secretary Matt Hancock .
One of Sir David 's other criticisms is one you 'll probably have picked up on in the past weeks : that the government is obsessed with getting the number of tests up as high as possible , but is lumping all sorts of very different kinds of things in under the headline of `` tests '' .
His other is that the data is enormously complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to try to explain it .
I can testify to this myself , having spent a good day going through a recently published spreadsheet provided by the Department for Health and Social Care ( DHSC ) of its testing programme .
Some bits are relatively straightforward : there is what the government calls `` pillar 1 '' tests .
These are the main `` gold standard '' clinical tests carried out on those in hospitals and health workers .
And the number of these tests being carried out is much the same as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up from the early stages of the crisis - roughly 33,000 on average a day .
Then there are the next pillars : pillar 2 which is other clinical tests , mostly on those with symptoms .
These include the drive-in tests that are becoming increasingly commonplace around the country .
These tests - at least the in-person tests - have hovered around the 30,000 mark in recent weeks .
I say in person because actually a lot of the pillar 2 tests are test kits which have been sent out to households @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of testing - an average of 47,000 a day in recent weeks .
There are two other pillars : pillar 3 is the serology antibody tests that are now starting .
These are an important test of immunity , though it 's worth emphasising they are rather different from the pillar 1 and 2 tests designed to show whether someone has the disease at that given moment rather than having had it in the past .
The distinction is very important when it comes to the epidemiology here .
And finally there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out by the Office for National Statistics and others to try to get a sense of the prevalence of the disease .
Again , these are a category difference from the rest , since they are not really a clinical test but more of an academic exercise - important though such things are .
Oh and just to complicate things even further there is a fifth pillar - a government initiative to get mass testing done bigger and better in the future - though as far as anyone can tell this is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspirational pillar .
Not the kind of pillar you could lean on or build anything on , anyway .
As you can see , among this maze of pillars there are some solid reliable kinds of tests and some less reliable tests and some tests that might not have happened at all .
It 's a bit of a mess .
While it 's clear the government 's capacity to test has improved enormously from the early stages of the pandemic ( and presumably that 's why it 's always going on about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public understanding of what those tests are telling us has , if anything , taken a step backwards .
The government has a decent handle on the results from the pillar 1 tests ; they even have comprehensive daily numbers about how many people have been tested , which is an important distinction .
Since the tests are not 100 % accurate , often people will need to be tested more than once , therefore the number of people tested is well below the number of tests .
For instance , while there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average in the past fortnight , the average number of people tested under pillar 1 is just under 21,000 .
But here 's where things get murky .
We know anecdotally that there have been some problems with the pillar 2 tests .
In particular , while the government counted tests mailed out to people in their grand total , many of these tests were never carried out or completed , some are n't entirely reliable and some people may have been tested under a variety of the schemes .
The upshot is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( or in this case performed/sent ) does n't tell you much of anything at all .
So back to the question at the beginning : how many people have been tested ?
While we know the answer for that gold standard pillar 1 category , we do n't know for the other constellation of tests .
A few weeks ago we thought we did : the government was producing numbers each day for how many people had been tested .
Yet a couple of weeks ago it abruptly stopped publishing those numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website .
It has since admitted that there was some double counting going on in a `` small percentage of cases '' .
Now , mistakes happen , but a glance back at the data we were getting at the time provides some evidence of really dodgy data keeping .
Consider the five-day period from 16 April 16 to 21 April .
During that period there were , according to the government 's data , 21,730 tests carried out under pillars 2 , 3 and 4 .
Yet according to the data the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of people tested under those pillars ( eg subtracting those tested under pillar 1 ) was 22,231 .
Hmm .
So the number of people being tested is more than the number of actual tests carried out ?
Odd and odder .
In the DHSC 's defence it has recognised the problems here and is trying to improve the data .
However the sheer messiness of the numbers is desperately depressing , and it is no wonder the Statistics Authority has sent as sternly-worded a letter as I can remember to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker These data matter .
It is no coincidence that many of the countries which have done very well in tracking and tracing and combating the disease are also the most open with their data .
In Hong Kong you can look through a spreadsheet at every case in the city , anonymised details of where people caught the disease , the seriousness of their symptoms and what happened to them next .
In the UK we have nothing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the grand scheme of things , this is not the most important aspect of Britain 's strategy with the virus .
But knowing the scale of infection entails understanding the data .
Understanding the data entails trusting the data .
And right now Britain 's data on testing can not be trusted .
Tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm , Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After The Pandemic : Our New World - a special live programme about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over .
Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Prince Charles .

The public's understanding of what the tests are telling us has taken a step backwards due to the sheer messiness of the numbers.
Drive-through testing has hovered around the 30,000 mark - but the overall figure for all people tested is unclear
How many people have been tested in the UK for COVID-19? It's a pretty simple question, which most countries are capable of answering.
And it's a pretty important one, since until you know how many people have been tested it's very difficult to get a real early handle on the spread of the disease.
Will there be a second spike? Is it safe to loosen the restrictions on our lives? Are quarantines justified or not? If not, how do we ensure those coming to the country do not bring the disease with them?
Testing - doing it well, accounting for it well and using the results sensibly - is clearly a crucial part of the solution.
Yet here in Britain we don't know how many people have been tested for the disease.
Indeed, while the government was up until recently producing numbers on people tested, it recently admitted those figures are suspect and will have to be revised.
This is only one of the issues the Statistics Authority has with the government, as covered in a highly critical letter from its head, Sir David Norgrove, to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
One of Sir David's other criticisms is one you'll probably have picked up on in the past weeks: that the government is obsessed with getting the number of tests up as high as possible, but is lumping all sorts of very different kinds of things in under the headline of "tests".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 10:01 Ed Conway takes a deep dive into the testing data
His other is that the data is enormously complicated and the government makes very little effort to try to explain it.
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I can testify to this myself, having spent a good day going through a recently published spreadsheet provided by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) of its testing programme.
Some bits are relatively straightforward: there is what the government calls "pillar 1" tests.
These are the main "gold standard" clinical tests carried out on those in hospitals and health workers. And the number of these tests being carried out is much the same as it was in early May - albeit up from the early stages of the crisis - roughly 33,000 on average a day.
Then there are the next pillars: pillar 2 which is other clinical tests, mostly on those with symptoms.
These include the drive-in tests that are becoming increasingly commonplace around the country. These tests - at least the in-person tests - have hovered around the 30,000 mark in recent weeks. I say in person because actually a lot of the pillar 2 tests are test kits which have been sent out to households.
These account for the biggest chunk of testing - an average of 47,000 a day in recent weeks.
There are two other pillars: pillar 3 is the serology antibody tests that are now starting.
These are an important test of immunity, though it's worth emphasising they are rather different from the pillar 1 and 2 tests designed to show whether someone has the disease at that given moment rather than having had it in the past. The distinction is very important when it comes to the epidemiology here.
And finally there is pillar 4, which is tests carried out by the Office for National Statistics and others to try to get a sense of the prevalence of the disease.
Again, these are a category difference from the rest, since they are not really a clinical test but more of an academic exercise - important though such things are.
Oh and just to complicate things even further there is a fifth pillar - a government initiative to get mass testing done bigger and better in the future - though as far as anyone can tell this isn't a solid pillar but a kind of aspirational pillar. Not the kind of pillar you could lean on or build anything on, anyway.
As you can see, among this maze of pillars there are some solid reliable kinds of tests and some less reliable tests and some tests that might not have happened at all. It's a bit of a mess.
While it's clear the government's capacity to test has improved enormously from the early stages of the pandemic (and presumably that's why it's always going on about the big headline numbers), the public understanding of what those tests are telling us has, if anything, taken a step backwards.
The government has a decent handle on the results from the pillar 1 tests; they even have comprehensive daily numbers about how many people have been tested, which is an important distinction.
Since the tests are not 100% accurate, often people will need to be tested more than once, therefore the number of people tested is well below the number of tests.
For instance, while there have been 33,000 tests a day on average in the past fortnight, the average number of people tested under pillar 1 is just under 21,000.
But here's where things get murky. We know anecdotally that there have been some problems with the pillar 2 tests.
In particular, while the government counted tests mailed out to people in their grand total, many of these tests were never carried out or completed, some aren't entirely reliable and some people may have been tested under a variety of the schemes.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:21 New test could give result in less than an hour
The upshot is that the bald number of tests performed (or in this case performed/sent) doesn't tell you much of anything at all. So back to the question at the beginning: how many people have been tested?
While we know the answer for that gold standard pillar 1 category, we don't know for the other constellation of tests.
A few weeks ago we thought we did: the government was producing numbers each day for how many people had been tested. Yet a couple of weeks ago it abruptly stopped publishing those numbers and withdrew any relevant data from its website.
It has since admitted that there was some double counting going on in a "small percentage of cases".
Now, mistakes happen, but a glance back at the data we were getting at the time provides some evidence of really dodgy data keeping.
Consider the five-day period from 16 April 16 to 21 April. During that period there were, according to the government's data, 21,730 tests carried out under pillars 2, 3 and 4. Yet according to the data the department was producing at the time, the number of people tested under those pillars (eg subtracting those tested under pillar 1) was 22,231.
Hmm. So the number of people being tested is more than the number of actual tests carried out? Odd and odder.
In the DHSC's defence it has recognised the problems here and is trying to improve the data.
However the sheer messiness of the numbers is desperately depressing, and it is no wonder the Statistics Authority has sent as sternly-worded a letter as I can remember to a minister.
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These data matter. It is no coincidence that many of the countries which have done very well in tracking and tracing and combating the disease are also the most open with their data.
In Hong Kong you can look through a spreadsheet at every case in the city, anonymised details of where people caught the disease, the seriousness of their symptoms and what happened to them next.
In the UK we have nothing of the sort - at least not publicly available.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not the most important aspect of Britain's strategy with the virus. But knowing the scale of infection entails understanding the data. Understanding the data entails trusting the data. And right now Britain's data on testing cannot be trusted.
Tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm, Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After The Pandemic: Our New World - a special live programme about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over.
Thursday's programme will include an exclusive interview with Prince Charles.


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Man behind Sweden's controversial strategy admits mistakes

Sweden should have done more to combat coronavirus to prevent it having a much higher national death rate than neighbouring countries , the man behind the country 's pandemic strategy has said .
The Swedish government 's decision not to impose lockdown measures as strictly as elsewhere in Europe is facing growing criticism , after nearly 4,500 people died in the country 's outbreak of the disease .
Sweden has a lower COVID-19 mortality rate than European countries such as Britain , Spain and Italy which enforced stringent lockdowns .
But , with 443 deaths per million people , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths per capita in the world , and had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in Europe for parts of May , according to research group Ourworldindata.org .
Sweden has a higher mortality rate than in Denmark , Norway and Finland , where schools , shops and businesses were closed .
The country relied on voluntary measures , social distancing and common-sense hygiene advice to stem the outbreak of coronavirus .
Anders Tegnell , the chief epidemiologist at Sweden 's Public Health agency , said that in hindsight the country should have done more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` If we were to run into the same disease , knowing exactly what we know about it today , I think we would end up doing something in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done .
`` Yes , I think we could have done better in what we did in Sweden , clearly . ''
Sweden shut care homes to visitors in late March , but around half of the deaths in the country have been among elderly people in care facilities .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which measures taken elsewhere might have been the most effective in Sweden .
He said : `` Maybe we will find this out now that people have started removing measures , one at a time .
`` And then maybe we will get some kind of information on what , in addition to what we did , we could do without adopting a total lockdown . ''
After his comments made headlines across the world , Mr Tegnell sought to clarify the remarks , insisting they had been overinterpreted .
`` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I and the health agency think that the strategy we had to fight coronavirus was wrong and that we had to change it drastically , '' he told Radio Sweden .
`` But that 's not the case at all .
We still think the strategy 's good in general , but there 's always things that you can improve , especially with hindsight .
`` I think it would be strange to answer the question in any other way .
You can always be better in this line of work . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week that the government would launch an inquiry into the handling of the pandemic .
Sweden 's Health and Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren has defended the government 's handling and said : `` The government has been , at all times , prepared to introduce wider , further measures recommended by the expert authority . ''
He also told the Aftonbladet daily that the overall strategy of limiting the disease while also protecting workers and companies had been the right one .
Mr Hallengren said : `` At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to elderly care and the spread of infection , that has not worked .
That is obvious . ''
He said .
`` Too many old people have died here . ''
Mr Hallengren also said the no government or public health agency has results yet of what the best strategy would have been during the pandemic .
The government has received criticism for failing to reach the target of 100,000 tests per week , hitting only a third of that last week .
Bjorn Olsen , professor of Infectious Medicine at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been catastrophic .
He said : `` This is one of Sweden 's biggest embarrassments and most tragic events , ( in ) all categories . ''
Mr Olsen also called for a change of course to start testing and do more contact tracing .
He added : `` As long as people are dying , we must try to change . ''

Sweden should have done more to combat coronavirus to prevent it having a much higher national death rate than neighbouring countries, the man behind the country's pandemic strategy has said.
The Swedish government's decision not to impose lockdown measures as strictly as elsewhere in Europe is facing growing criticism, after nearly 4,500 people died in the country's outbreak of the disease.
Sweden has a lower COVID-19 mortality rate than European countries such as Britain, Spain and Italy which enforced stringent lockdowns.
But, with 443 deaths per million people, it has the eighth highest number of coronavirus-related deaths per capita in the world, and had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in Europe for parts of May, according to research group Ourworldindata.org.
Sweden has a higher mortality rate than in Denmark, Norway and Finland, where schools, shops and businesses were closed.
The country relied on voluntary measures, social distancing and common-sense hygiene advice to stem the outbreak of coronavirus.
Anders Tegnell, the chief epidemiologist at Sweden's Public Health agency, said that in hindsight the country should have done more.
He told Swedish radio on Wednesday: "If we were to run into the same disease, knowing exactly what we know about it today, I think we would end up doing something in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done.
"Yes, I think we could have done better in what we did in Sweden, clearly."
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Image: Anders Tegnell said the country 'could have done better' in tackling coronavirus
Sweden shut care homes to visitors in late March, but around half of the deaths in the country have been among elderly people in care facilities.
Mr Tegnell said it was hard to know which measures taken elsewhere might have been the most effective in Sweden.
He said: "Maybe we will find this out now that people have started removing measures, one at a time.
"And then maybe we will get some kind of information on what, in addition to what we did, we could do without adopting a total lockdown."
After his comments made headlines across the world, Mr Tegnell sought to clarify the remarks, insisting they had been overinterpreted.
"There's a news story going around today that I and the health agency think that the strategy we had to fight coronavirus was wrong and that we had to change it drastically," he told Radio Sweden.
"But that's not the case at all. We still think the strategy's good in general, but there's always things that you can improve, especially with hindsight.
"I think it would be strange to answer the question in any other way. You can always be better in this line of work."
Prime Minister Stefan Lovfen said earlier this week that the government would launch an inquiry into the handling of the pandemic.
Sweden's Health and Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren has defended the government's handling and said: "The government has been, at all times, prepared to introduce wider, further measures recommended by the expert authority."
He also told the Aftonbladet daily that the overall strategy of limiting the disease while also protecting workers and companies had been the right one.
Mr Hallengren said: "At the same time, we have to admit that when it comes to elderly care and the spread of infection, that has not worked. That is obvious."
He said. "Too many old people have died here."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:37 Chicken manure spread in Swedish park to stop gatherings
Mr Hallengren also said the no government or public health agency has results yet of what the best strategy would have been during the pandemic.
The government has received criticism for failing to reach the target of 100,000 tests per week, hitting only a third of that last week.
Bjorn Olsen, professor of Infectious Medicine at Uppsala University, said Sweden's strategy had been catastrophic.
He said: "This is one of Sweden's biggest embarrassments and most tragic events, (in) all categories."
Mr Olsen also called for a change of course to start testing and do more contact tracing.
He added: "As long as people are dying, we must try to change."


news--2020-06-03--George Floyd death: Thousands protest in London in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

At least one police officer has been punched in clashes with protesters near Downing Street as thousands of people gathered in central London over the death of George Floyd .
Sky 's Mark White , who is at the scene , tweeted that it was `` unclear what started the scuffles , but at least one officer punched , numerous objects , mainly plastic bottles thrown over .
Situation now understandably tense here '' .
He later reported that `` for a good minute there were punches being thrown towards police officers and police officers pushing back '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face .
My colleague saw another police officer being hit by a crutch that someone was wielding '' .
He added that the situation had `` calmed down '' since .
In an earlier post , he had described the scene as `` all very peaceful '' , but shortly afterwards reported `` numerous '' objects being thrown at police .
The protest in central London started at 1pm in solidarity with protests in the US , with people flocking to the park in crowds and chanting , `` no justice , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One London protester told Mark White she wanted people to stand up for friends , family and colleagues .
Speaking about the events in the US , she said : `` It 's heartbreaking to watch . ''
Protesters were initially asked to sit two metres apart unless they were in the same household and were told to keep their arms stretched out to ensure social distancing when moving around the park .
However , as the number of protesters grew , many stood closer together as organisers tried to maintain spacing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves and also chanted `` black lives matter '' and `` we will not be silent '' .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker George Floyd , a 46-year-old black American , died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis , Minnesota , on 25 May , reigniting the explosive issue of police brutality against African Americans .
It sparked nationwide protests in the US and across the world including Britain , Germany , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wars actor John Boyega was at the Hyde Park protest and gave an emotional speech where he referenced two other black Americans who controversially died in the US , as well as the racist UK murder of Stephen Lawrence .
He told demonstrators : `` We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd .
We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland .
We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin .
We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking to you from my heart .
Look , I do n't know if I 'm going to have a career after this , but f*** that .
`` Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process , we do n't know what George Floyd could have achieved , we do n't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved , but today we 're going to make sure that wo n't be an alien thought to our young ones . ''
Boris Johnson said the death of Mr Floyd was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think what happened in the United States was appalling , it was inexcusable , we all saw it on our screens and I perfectly understand people 's right to protest what took place . ''
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the prime minister to speak to US President Donald Trump and `` convey to him the UK 's abhorrence about his response to the events '' .
`` Though obviously I also believe that protest should take place in a lawful and reasonable way , '' he added .
The mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the quarterly race equality policing report into the use of policing powers across different communities in Greater Manchester will be published .
He said it was one of three new commitments by the region 's political leaders following the `` shock waves '' from Mr Floyd 's death which have been `` felt powerfully and painfully here in Greater Manchester '' .
British rapper Tinie Tempah , who shared a rap on his Instagram account about Floyd , told Sky News he was `` hurt and disgusted '' by his death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unfortunately for me , this is not the first video I 've seen like this .
`` There have been dozens and dozens of videos that have come out of America over the recent years ; Philando Castile , Eric Garner included .
`` This is a systemic problem and racism is n't only going on in America '' .
Earlier , chief constables from forces across the UK released a joint statement saying : `` We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted the `` long-established tradition of policing by consent '' in the UK and added : `` We will tackle bias , racism or discrimination wherever we find it . ''
Police acknowledged the right to lawful protest being a `` key part of any democracy , which UK police uphold and facilitate '' , but said restrictions are still in place to curb the spread of coronavirus , meaning no more than six people in a group can gather outside .
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she recognised that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wanted to reassure the public that officers will `` continue with our tradition of policing using minimum force necessary '' .
She said police would be listening and responding to concerns `` fairly and with courage and compassion '' .
`` Our job is to prevent violence and keep people safe , '' Commissioner Dick added .
An anti-racism campaign group is now urging Britons to `` take the knee '' on their doorsteps for a socially distanced protest in solidarity with US protesters .
Stand Up to Racism ( SUTR ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday as part of a day of action against discrimination in response to Mr Floyd 's death .
It said the campaign was inspired by the kneeling protest staged by Colin Kaepernick in 2016 , which has since become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement .
As well as the protest in London 's Hyde Park , a protest in South Park in Oxford is happening at the same time .
A further demonstration is planned for 1pm on Saturday in Parliament Square , London .
Hundreds of people gathered outside St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of a separate Black Lives Matter protest .
Thousands of people in Dublin protested outside the US embassy on Monday .
And on Sunday , thousands of demonstrators flouted social distancing regulations to gather in Trafalgar Square , central London , for a Kneel for Floyd protest , while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton in south London on Monday .
Sunday 's protests lead to 23 arrests in London , at least three of which were for breach of COVID-19 measures .
It 's not the largest , but one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnessed .
There were no mass-produced placards just a multitude of messages on cardboard .
Protesters were peaceful but angry .
Angry about , that video , general police brutality , racism , Trump , inequality , and that America 's woes resonated in their own lives .
Angry too that police chiefs here had dared to express solidarity with those `` appalled and horrified '' by the death of George Floyd in America .
Names were listed on protesters ' T-shirts of black people who died at the hands of the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK .
`` They need to get their own house in order , '' said one campaigner .
Authorities told them they needed to social distance but they felt the need to come together to send their message loud and clear - `` black lives matter . ''
And just as police could n't control the gathering under the rules of the pandemic - nor did they properly cordon it as it sprawled down to Hyde Park Corner bringing traffic to a standstill - taking its message to Downing Street .

At least one police officer has been punched in clashes with protesters near Downing Street as thousands of people gathered in central London over the death of George Floyd.
Sky's Mark White, who is at the scene, tweeted that it was "unclear what started the scuffles, but at least one officer punched, numerous objects, mainly plastic bottles thrown over. Situation now understandably tense here".
He later reported that "for a good minute there were punches being thrown towards police officers and police officers pushing back".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:13 Scuffles break out at London protest
"One police officer was punched in the face. My colleague saw another police officer being hit by a crutch that someone was wielding".
He added that the situation had "calmed down" since.
In an earlier post, he had described the scene as "all very peaceful", but shortly afterwards reported "numerous" objects being thrown at police.
The protest in central London started at 1pm in solidarity with protests in the US, with people flocking to the park in crowds and chanting, "no justice, no peace" while holding up signs.
One London protester told Mark White she wanted people to stand up for friends, family and colleagues.
Speaking about the events in the US, she said: "It's heartbreaking to watch."
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Protesters were initially asked to sit two metres apart unless they were in the same household and were told to keep their arms stretched out to ensure social distancing when moving around the park.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:54 Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he was
However, as the number of protesters grew, many stood closer together as organisers tried to maintain spacing.
Most of the protesters wore masks or gloves and also chanted "black lives matter" and "we will not be silent".
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black American, died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May, reigniting the explosive issue of police brutality against African Americans.
It sparked nationwide protests in the US and across the world including Britain, Germany, New Zealand, France and Denmark.
Star Wars actor John Boyega was at the Hyde Park protest and gave an emotional speech where he referenced two other black Americans who controversially died in the US, as well as the racist UK murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Image: Star Wars actor John Boyega gave an emotional speech at the protest. Pic: David Parry/Shutterstock
He told demonstrators: "We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:00 Crowd gathers in Hyde Park to protest
He added: "I'm speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this, but f*** that.
"Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don't know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we're going to make sure that won't be an alien thought to our young ones."
Image: Crowds gathered despite social distancing rules still in place
Boris Johnson said the death of Mr Floyd was "inexcusable", adding: "I think what happened in the United States was appalling, it was inexcusable, we all saw it on our screens and I perfectly understand people's right to protest what took place."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the prime minister to speak to US President Donald Trump and "convey to him the UK's abhorrence about his response to the events".
"Though obviously I also believe that protest should take place in a lawful and reasonable way," he added.
The mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, said that the quarterly race equality policing report into the use of policing powers across different communities in Greater Manchester will be published.
He said it was one of three new commitments by the region's political leaders following the "shock waves" from Mr Floyd's death which have been "felt powerfully and painfully here in Greater Manchester".
Image: Protestors wearing face masks as a precautionary measure against COVID-19
Image: The protest is part of a day of action against discrimination. Pic: Guy Bell/Shutterstock
British rapper Tinie Tempah, who shared a rap on his Instagram account about Floyd, told Sky News he was "hurt and disgusted" by his death.
He said: "I was outraged and unfortunately for me, this is not the first video I've seen like this.
"There have been dozens and dozens of videos that have come out of America over the recent years; Philando Castile, Eric Garner included.
"This is a systemic problem and racism isn't only going on in America".
Earlier, chief constables from forces across the UK released a joint statement saying: "We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.
Image: Protesters respond to the the death of George Floyd in Hyde Park
"Justice and accountability should follow."
They highlighted the "long-established tradition of policing by consent" in the UK and added: "We will tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it."
Image: A protester wearing a face mask holds a sign saying 'I can't breathe'
Police acknowledged the right to lawful protest being a "key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate", but said restrictions are still in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, meaning no more than six people in a group can gather outside.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:08 Met chief 'appalled' by George Floyd death
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she recognised that "feelings are running higher in London" and wanted to reassure the public that officers will "continue with our tradition of policing using minimum force necessary".
She said police would be listening and responding to concerns "fairly and with courage and compassion".
"Our job is to prevent violence and keep people safe," Commissioner Dick added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:41 Protests continue past curfew in LA
An anti-racism campaign group is now urging Britons to "take the knee" on their doorsteps for a socially distanced protest in solidarity with US protesters.
Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) has organised the protest for 6pm on Wednesday as part of a day of action against discrimination in response to Mr Floyd's death.
It said the campaign was inspired by the kneeling protest staged by Colin Kaepernick in 2016, which has since become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Image: Thousands protested in Trafalgar Square over the weekend
Image: A woman is led away by police during a Black Lives Matter protest outside the US Embassy in London
As well as the protest in London's Hyde Park, a protest in South Park in Oxford is happening at the same time.
A further demonstration is planned for 1pm on Saturday in Parliament Square, London.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:08 London: Hundreds gather at George Floyd protest
Hundreds of people gathered outside St George's Hall in Liverpool on Tuesday as part of a separate Black Lives Matter protest.
Thousands of people in Dublin protested outside the US embassy on Monday.
And on Sunday, thousands of demonstrators flouted social distancing regulations to gather in Trafalgar Square, central London, for a Kneel for Floyd protest, while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton in south London on Monday.
Sunday's protests lead to 23 arrests in London, at least three of which were for breach of COVID-19 measures.
Eyewitness, by Jason Farrell, home editor
It's not the largest, but one of the most passionate marches I've witnessed. There were no mass-produced placards just a multitude of messages on cardboard.
Protesters were peaceful but angry. Angry about, that video, general police brutality, racism, Trump, inequality, and that America's woes resonated in their own lives.
Image: Protesters were peaceful but angry
Angry too that police chiefs here had dared to express solidarity with those "appalled and horrified" by the death of George Floyd in America. Names were listed on protesters' T-shirts of black people who died at the hands of the police or in police custody here in the UK. "They need to get their own house in order," said one campaigner.
Authorities told them they needed to social distance but they felt the need to come together to send their message loud and clear - "black lives matter."
And just as police couldn't control the gathering under the rules of the pandemic - nor did they properly cordon it as it sprawled down to Hyde Park Corner bringing traffic to a standstill - taking its message to Downing Street.


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Birmingham man arrested over sales of fake COVID-19 testing kits

A 38-year-old man in Birmingham has been arrested in connection with the sale of fake COVID-19 testing kits which were sold online .
The man , who has not been named , is suspected of selling the tests on the dark web as well as the open web .
He was caught by the UK 's National Crime Agency ( NCA ) which is targeting criminals attempting to exploit the coronavirus pandemic .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Sky News reported in March that cyber criminals were selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ web marketplaces in a rush to take advantage of COVID-19 .
People in the UK and the US are believed to have purchased fake testing kits , which were found alongside small quantities of heroin and cocaine in two properties in Birmingham .
Matt Horne , the deputy director of investigations at the NCA , said : `` Anyone thinking of trying to profit from the public 's fears about the pandemic should take note of this arrest .
`` Bringing offenders to justice and ceasing their activities is a key priority across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminals who pose a risk to our collective effort to tackle the pandemic .
`` We are investigating a number of reports on the sale of counterfeit products relating to COVID-19 , and will continue to work with partners to protect the public . ''
Andy Morling , the head of enforcement at the healthcare products regulatory agency , warned consumers to beware of scammers advertising false fake medical kits relating to the outbreak .
`` No COVID-19 antibody self-testing kits have received CE mark status and there are no such testing kits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Mr Morling said .
The only legitimate tests available in the UK must be acquired through the NHS .

A 38-year-old man in Birmingham has been arrested in connection with the sale of fake COVID-19 testing kits which were sold online.
The man, who has not been named, is suspected of selling the tests on the dark web as well as the open web.
He was caught by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) which is targeting criminals attempting to exploit the coronavirus pandemic.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Sky News reported in March that cyber criminals were selling potentially counterfeit surgical face masks on dark web marketplaces in a rush to take advantage of COVID-19.
People in the UK and the US are believed to have purchased fake testing kits, which were found alongside small quantities of heroin and cocaine in two properties in Birmingham.
Matt Horne, the deputy director of investigations at the NCA, said: "Anyone thinking of trying to profit from the public's fears about the pandemic should take note of this arrest.
"Bringing offenders to justice and ceasing their activities is a key priority across law enforcement, the NCA will target criminals who pose a risk to our collective effort to tackle the pandemic.
"We are investigating a number of reports on the sale of counterfeit products relating to COVID-19, and will continue to work with partners to protect the public."
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Image: A man has been arrested over the fake COVID-19 testing kits. Pic: NCA
Andy Morling, the head of enforcement at the healthcare products regulatory agency, warned consumers to beware of scammers advertising false fake medical kits relating to the outbreak.
"No COVID-19 antibody self-testing kits have received CE mark status and there are no such testing kits available in the UK for home use," Mr Morling said.
The only legitimate tests available in the UK must be acquired through the NHS.


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Wizz Air chief warns quarantine could see flight demand fall by up to 80%

Demand for flights to and from the UK could be hit by up to 80 % , according to the chief executive of Wizz Air .
Jozsef Varadi is among a number of airline executives who have warned that the government 's quarantine plans will cause further anguish for an industry already in crisis and cutting thousands of jobs .
Mr Varadi told Sky 's Ian King Live programme that he expected demand `` coming down substantially , probably in the magnitude of 60-80 % '' and that the airline was `` adjusting our own capacity according '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air travel is going to be down to and from the UK , which is possibly going to affect quite a number of jobs and certainly will affect the broader economy as a result . ''
He described the quarantine as a `` hard measure '' adding that it is `` quite doubtful how enforceable it is and how much it is going to achieve '' .
It comes at a time when many countries in Europe are easing restrictions that were brought in during March to limit the spread of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide .
Hungarian airline Wizz Air resumed some of its flights from its Luton base in May , becoming one of the first airlines in Europe to start flying again .
Mr Varadi said the airline is flying around 60 % of its routes with a load factor of 70-75 % which `` suggests the demand is there and people want to go , should the restrictions be removed '' .
Ryanair 's chief executive Michael O'Leary has previously criticised plans for a quarantine on arriving passengers .
He claims that many new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - will then get on public transport to reach their final destination , potentially spreading the illness before reaching their `` quarantine address '' .
On Wednesday evening he said : `` This quarantine is a joke .
There is no quarantine .
There are no controls , and the form which they expect visitors to fill in , in just four days ' time , has n't even been published yet .
This looks like yet another quarantine designed for Dominic Cummings , who we all know , does n't obey any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will resume some flights from July .
Commenting on the idea of `` air bridges '' - allowing citizens from low risk countries - Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said : `` We need to see much more clarity on air bridges over the coming days .
`` The key thing is that they are established as soon as possible alongside the FCO travel advice being changed , and ideally before the review on 29 June .
`` Airlines ca n't start up operations overnight and any announcement is n't going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
`` If government leave it too late we run the risk of the summer season being over and losing out to other countries who are starting to open up their borders now . ''
Marco Corradino , chief executive of travel website lastminute.com , said : `` It 's really the duty of local governments and authorities to make sure this happens by following the science and taking the precautions they deem necessary to protect people .
`` What I will say is that the desire to go abroad is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen a huge uptick in traffic to our site in recent weeks .
So airlines need to look ahead and get their act together by processing long-overdue refunds so that people are in a position to re-book trips for later in the year . ''
Sean Tipton , from ABTA - the trade association for tour operators and travel agents - told Sky News that a quarantine will make little difference to the travel industry in the short-term , as Foreign Office advice is against all non-essential travel anyway .
He said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't been sending anybody on holiday for quite some time .
If anybody is travelling it 's going to be very , very small numbers - certainly not holidaymakers . ''
He called for bilateral agreements with other countries as a way to gradually bring the industry back to normal , adding : `` It 's important that whatever moves we take are proportionate to the risks , are done in a sensible way and done in conjunction with other countries . ''
In announcing the measures , Home Secretary Priti Patel promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business sector to `` form a long term plan for the industry '' .
She said the government understands how `` tough '' the quarantine would be for airlines and travel companies but added : `` We are asking them to work with us on these measures . ''
This week from Monday to Thursday , Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After the Pandemic : Our New World - a series of special live programmes about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over .
We 'll be joined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worlds of culture , politics , economics , science and technology .
If you 'd like to be in our virtual audience - from your own home - and put questions to the experts , email afterthepandemic @ sky.uk

Demand for flights to and from the UK could be hit by up to 80%, according to the chief executive of Wizz Air.
Jozsef Varadi is among a number of airline executives who have warned that the government's quarantine plans will cause further anguish for an industry already in crisis and cutting thousands of jobs.
Mr Varadi told Sky's Ian King Live programme that he expected demand "coming down substantially, probably in the magnitude of 60-80%" and that the airline was "adjusting our own capacity according".
"Unfortunately, what it really means is air travel is going to be down to and from the UK, which is possibly going to affect quite a number of jobs and certainly will affect the broader economy as a result."
He described the quarantine as a "hard measure" adding that it is "quite doubtful how enforceable it is and how much it is going to achieve".
It comes at a time when many countries in Europe are easing restrictions that were brought in during March to limit the spread of the coronavirus which has killed more than 380,000 people worldwide.
Hungarian airline Wizz Air resumed some of its flights from its Luton base in May, becoming one of the first airlines in Europe to start flying again.
Mr Varadi said the airline is flying around 60% of its routes with a load factor of 70-75% which "suggests the demand is there and people want to go, should the restrictions be removed".
Image: Chief executive of Wizz Air Jozsef Varadi says demand for air travel to the UK will fall
Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary has previously criticised plans for a quarantine on arriving passengers.
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He claims that many new arrivals - especially those coming into London - will then get on public transport to reach their final destination, potentially spreading the illness before reaching their "quarantine address".
On Wednesday evening he said: "This quarantine is a joke. There is no quarantine. There are no controls, and the form which they expect visitors to fill in, in just four days' time, hasn't even been published yet. This looks like yet another quarantine designed for Dominic Cummings, who we all know, doesn't obey any quarantines anyway."
Ryanair has announced it will resume some flights from July.
Image: Airlines around the world have grounded planes due to the pandemic
Commenting on the idea of "air bridges" - allowing citizens from low risk countries - Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said: "We need to see much more clarity on air bridges over the coming days.
"The key thing is that they are established as soon as possible alongside the FCO travel advice being changed, and ideally before the review on 29 June.
"Airlines can't start up operations overnight and any announcement isn't going to trigger bookings and flights for several weeks.
"If government leave it too late we run the risk of the summer season being over and losing out to other countries who are starting to open up their borders now."
Marco Corradino, chief executive of travel website lastminute.com, said: "It's really the duty of local governments and authorities to make sure this happens by following the science and taking the precautions they deem necessary to protect people.
"What I will say is that the desire to go abroad is still very much there, as we've seen a huge uptick in traffic to our site in recent weeks. So airlines need to look ahead and get their act together by processing long-overdue refunds so that people are in a position to re-book trips for later in the year."
Sean Tipton, from ABTA - the trade association for tour operators and travel agents - told Sky News that a quarantine will make little difference to the travel industry in the short-term, as Foreign Office advice is against all non-essential travel anyway.
He said: "Because of that, we haven't been sending anybody on holiday for quite some time. If anybody is travelling it's going to be very, very small numbers - certainly not holidaymakers."
He called for bilateral agreements with other countries as a way to gradually bring the industry back to normal, adding: "It's important that whatever moves we take are proportionate to the risks, are done in a sensible way and done in conjunction with other countries."
In announcing the measures, Home Secretary Priti Patel promised to work with the travel industry and business sector to "form a long term plan for the industry".
She said the government understands how "tough" the quarantine would be for airlines and travel companies but added: "We are asking them to work with us on these measures."
This week from Monday to Thursday, Dermot Murnaghan will be hosting After the Pandemic: Our New World - a series of special live programmes about what our world will be like once the pandemic is over.
We'll be joined by some of the biggest names from the worlds of culture, politics, economics, science and technology. If you'd like to be in our virtual audience - from your own home - and put questions to the experts, email afterthepandemic@sky.uk


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Controversial border plans are 'essential' to save lives, Patel says

Ordering people arriving in the UK to quarantine for 14 days is `` essential '' to save lives , Home Secretary Priti Patel has said as she set out details of the government 's controversial border plan .
From Monday , all those travelling to the UK - apart from a short list of exemptions including road hauliers - will have to self-isolate for two weeks .
They will also be required to complete an online locator form to supply contact details , travel details and the address of where they will self-isolate .
UK border officials will perform `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed the forms , and those who fail to do so could be fined £100 .
Those who breach the 14-day self-isolation requirements could also be punished with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England , or potential prosecution and an unlimited fine .
The government has pushed ahead with the imposition of quarantine measures at the UK border despite criticism of the plans from senior Conservative MPs , who fear the impact on the already struggling aviation and tourism sectors .
Critics have also questioned why quarantine measures are being introduced now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
Defending the policy in the House of Commons on Wednesday , Ms Patel said the UK was `` now more vulnerable '' to new coronavirus infections being brought in from abroad as international travel picks up from its record low .
The home secretary added : `` These measures are backed by the science , supported by the public , and essential to save lives .
`` We know they will present difficulties for the tourism industry , but that 's why we have an unprecedented package of support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for both employees and businesses .
`` But we will all suffer if we get this wrong .
That 's why it 's crucial that we introduce these measures now . ''
Ms Patel confirmed the first review of the quarantine measures would take place in the week beginning 28 June , with the government considering `` international travel corridors '' to allow future quarantine-free travel from destinations deemed safe .
She said : `` Across government and with the sector we continue to explore all options for future safe travel .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed with the other countries concerned .
`` We need to ensure that those countries are deemed to be safe .
`` We are not alone in our fight against this disease , or in the measures we have taken to stop it . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Labour 's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds called for the cabinet minister 's assurance that scientific advice showed a `` genuine public health benefit now that , according to the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months '' .
Ms Patel said the quarantine measures were being introduced at the `` right time '' as domestic transmission of COVID-19 reduces .
Former Conservative cabinet minister Theresa Villiers urged the home secretary to suspend the implementation of `` blanket '' quarantine measures for a few more weeks .
This would be in order to `` get those safe air corridors in place so we can save jobs in aviation and let families go on their summer breaks in the sun '' , she added .
Her fellow Conservative MP and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I simply can not get my head around the public health mental gymnastics of this policy .
`` If such a barrier was required , why was it not introduced earlier in the outbreak and if it is a contingency measure against a so-called second wave , why apply it to countries with a lower infection rate than we already have ?
`` Surely the answer lies in the government 's test and trace system rather than unnecessary economic isolation . ''

Ordering people arriving in the UK to quarantine for 14 days is "essential" to save lives, Home Secretary Priti Patel has said as she set out details of the government's controversial border plan.
From Monday, all those travelling to the UK - apart from a short list of exemptions including road hauliers - will have to self-isolate for two weeks.
They will also be required to complete an online locator form to supply contact details, travel details and the address of where they will self-isolate.
Image: A passenger wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus arrives at Heathrow airport
UK border officials will perform "spot checks" to ensure travellers have completed the forms, and those who fail to do so could be fined £100.
Those who breach the 14-day self-isolation requirements could also be punished with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England, or potential prosecution and an unlimited fine.
The government has pushed ahead with the imposition of quarantine measures at the UK border despite criticism of the plans from senior Conservative MPs, who fear the impact on the already struggling aviation and tourism sectors.
Critics have also questioned why quarantine measures are being introduced now and not at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Defending the policy in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Ms Patel said the UK was "now more vulnerable" to new coronavirus infections being brought in from abroad as international travel picks up from its record low.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:54 Wizz Air chief: Quarantine 'quite a costly exercise' for UK economy
The home secretary added: "These measures are backed by the science, supported by the public, and essential to save lives.
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"We know they will present difficulties for the tourism industry, but that's why we have an unprecedented package of support, the most comprehensive in the world, for both employees and businesses.
"But we will all suffer if we get this wrong. That's why it's crucial that we introduce these measures now."
Ms Patel confirmed the first review of the quarantine measures would take place in the week beginning 28 June, with the government considering "international travel corridors" to allow future quarantine-free travel from destinations deemed safe.
She said: "Across government and with the sector we continue to explore all options for future safe travel.
"Any international approaches will be bilateral and agreed with the other countries concerned.
"We need to ensure that those countries are deemed to be safe.
"We are not alone in our fight against this disease, or in the measures we have taken to stop it."
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Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds called for the cabinet minister's assurance that scientific advice showed a "genuine public health benefit now that, according to the government, it did not have in past months".
Ms Patel said the quarantine measures were being introduced at the "right time" as domestic transmission of COVID-19 reduces.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Theresa Villiers urged the home secretary to suspend the implementation of "blanket" quarantine measures for a few more weeks.
This would be in order to "get those safe air corridors in place so we can save jobs in aviation and let families go on their summer breaks in the sun", she added.
Her fellow Conservative MP and former cabinet minister Liam Fox said: "I simply cannot get my head around the public health mental gymnastics of this policy.
"If such a barrier was required, why was it not introduced earlier in the outbreak and if it is a contingency measure against a so-called second wave, why apply it to countries with a lower infection rate than we already have?
"Surely the answer lies in the government's test and trace system rather than unnecessary economic isolation."


news--2020-06-03--Coronavirus: Alok Sharma tested for COVID-19 after being visibly unwell in Commons

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has been tested for coronavirus after becoming visibly unwell in the House of Commons chamber .
He was travelling home to self-isolate after he struggled during a speech at the despatch box during the second reading of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill .
It comes a day after MPs approved the government 's plan to end virtual voting in the Commons .
A spokeswoman for Mr Sharma said : `` In line with guidance he has been tested for coronavirus and is returning home to self-isolate . ''
During the debate , he was seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times and his opposite number in Labour 's shadow cabinet , Ed Miliband , passed him a glass of water at one point .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker A House of Commons spokesperson said : `` The House 's priority is to ensure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated .
`` We have closely followed guidance from PHE on action to take following a suspected case of COVID on site , including additional cleaning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have already put in place to reduce the risk of transmission in parliament . ''
Labour shadow minister Toby Perkins had raised concerns over Mr Sharma 's appearance in the Commons earlier in the day .
`` This is not okay .
If he has symptoms that could be COVID-19 , it 's not up to him to soldier on , he is jeopardising the health of everyone who he comes across and everyone else who touches that despatch box and every door handle he touches etc , '' Mr Perkins tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test and knows it 's not that , but if so he should confirm that to people watching , otherwise the message again goes out that what the government says and means about what to do if you have symptoms are two different things . ''
Digital voting in the Commons was ended on Tuesday when MPs approved a government motion introduced by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg despite widespread objections .

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has been tested for coronavirus after becoming visibly unwell in the House of Commons chamber.
He was travelling home to self-isolate after he struggled during a speech at the despatch box during the second reading of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill.
It comes a day after MPs approved the government's plan to end virtual voting in the Commons.
A spokeswoman for Mr Sharma said: "In line with guidance he has been tested for coronavirus and is returning home to self-isolate."
During the debate, he was seen wiping his face with a handkerchief several times and his opposite number in Labour's shadow cabinet, Ed Miliband, passed him a glass of water at one point.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
A House of Commons spokesperson said: "The House's priority is to ensure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated.
"We have closely followed guidance from PHE on action to take following a suspected case of COVID on site, including additional cleaning.
"Our risk assessment outlines the measures we have already put in place to reduce the risk of transmission in parliament."
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Labour shadow minister Toby Perkins had raised concerns over Mr Sharma's appearance in the Commons earlier in the day.
"This is not okay. If he has symptoms that could be COVID-19, it's not up to him to soldier on, he is jeopardising the health of everyone who he comes across and everyone else who touches that despatch box and every door handle he touches etc," Mr Perkins tweeted.
"Maybe he's had a test and knows it's not that, but if so he should confirm that to people watching, otherwise the message again goes out that what the government says and means about what to do if you have symptoms are two different things."
Digital voting in the Commons was ended on Tuesday when MPs approved a government motion introduced by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg despite widespread objections.