news--2020-04-27--Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says the UK is 'turning the tide' but now is not the time to ease lockdow

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says the UK is 'turning the tide' but now is not the time to ease lockdown

The UK is `` beginning to turn the tide '' in the fight against the coronavirus but this is not the time to relax the nationwide lockdown , Boris Johnson has said .
Speaking in Downing Street as he returned to lead the government 's fight against COVID-19 , the prime minister said easing off would be to `` throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak '' of the coronavirus .
He added : `` I ask you to contain your impatience , because I believe we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first phase of this conflict and in spite of all the suffering we have so nearly succeeded .
`` If you can keep going in the way you have , if you can help protect the NHS , then I have no doubt we will together beat this . ''
Mr Johnson said the UK was `` passing through the peak '' and , comparing COVID-19 to a mugger , continued : `` This is the moment when we have begun , together , to wrestle it to the floor . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of maximum risk because of the possibility that people would see Britain 's `` apparent success '' and `` go easy '' on social distancing measures .
Mr Johnson said easing off could lead to a `` second spike '' in the outbreak , which would mean a `` new wave of death and disease '' and an `` economic disaster '' .
More than 20,000 people have died with COVID-19 in hospitals , but the true death toll is much higher as this total does not include deaths in care homes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus as the `` biggest single challenge this country has faced since the war '' and added that `` every day I know that this virus brings new sadness and mourning to households across the land '' .
He hailed the government 's handling of the crisis , claiming the UK had `` defied so many predictions '' .
`` We did not run out of ventilators or ICU beds , '' Mr Johnson said .
`` We did not allow our NHS to collapse , and on the contrary we have so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our incredible doctors and nurses and healthcare staff have been able to shield all of us from an outbreak that would have been far worse and we collectively flattened the peak . ''
But there has been criticism of the government 's response to COVID-19 , with the PM accused of ordering a nationwide lockdown too late and being too slow to act in the early stages of the outbreak .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker In addition , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of personal protective equipment for frontline staff and disquiet over attempts to increase testing for the disease .
Number 10 has insisted the UK remains on track to carry out 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month , despite time running out to meet the much-publicised target .
Responding to Mr Johnson 's Downing Street address , Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted : `` The NHS has done tremendously but the govt did n't lockdown early enough , did n't provide the PPE & did n't test & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we have one of the worst death rates worldwide .
It 's vital our government does n't make anymore mistakes & is transparent with the public . ''
The PM spent a week in hospital with persistent symptoms of the virus , including a number of days in intensive care , earlier this month .
Mr Johnson has previously said there is `` no question '' that the NHS saved his life and admitted that at one stage `` things could have gone either way '' .
After being discharged from St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , the PM spent two weeks recovering at Chequers , his country retreat .
On his first day back the PM chaired the daily COVID-19 `` war cabinet '' of senior ministers .
He was also expected to hold one-to-one talks with cabinet colleagues on the progress of their departments in his absence .
The lockdown will dominate Mr Johnson 's in-tray , with demands growing in some quarters for it to be relaxed .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been calling for an `` exit strategy '' from Number 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business leaders are `` clamouring '' to know when the restrictions will be eased as fears grow about the longer term outlook for the economy .
While Mr Johnson made clear that now was not the time to relax the lockdown , he spoke briefly about how the government would approach doing so in the future .
The restrictions designed to halt the spread of the virus have been in place for more than a month , with the next review of the measures due to be held by 7 May .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK 's response would see the government `` begin gradually to refine the economic and social restrictions and one-by-one to fire up the engines of this vast UK economy '' .
He added that this would involve `` difficult judgements '' , saying : `` We simply can not spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made , though clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days . ''
Mr Johnson said such decisions would be taken with the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I want to share all our working and our thinking , my thinking , with you , the British people . ''
The PM added that he would try to strike a consensus about how to ease the lockdown in the days and weeks to come , by `` reaching out to build the biggest possible consensus across business , across industry , across all parts of our United Kingdom , across party lines , bringing in opposition parties as far as we possibly can '' .
He added : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the British people would expect . ''

The UK is "beginning to turn the tide" in the fight against the coronavirus but this is not the time to relax the nationwide lockdown, Boris Johnson has said.
Speaking in Downing Street as he returned to lead the government's fight against COVID-19, the prime minister said easing off would be to "throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak" of the coronavirus.
He added: "I ask you to contain your impatience, because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict and in spite of all the suffering we have so nearly succeeded.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:22 Johnson faces difficult decisions as he returns to work
"If you can keep going in the way you have, if you can help protect the NHS, then I have no doubt we will together beat this."
Mr Johnson said the UK was "passing through the peak" and, comparing COVID-19 to a mugger, continued: "This is the moment when we have begun, together, to wrestle it to the floor."
But the PM said now was the moment of maximum risk because of the possibility that people would see Britain's "apparent success" and "go easy" on social distancing measures.
Mr Johnson said easing off could lead to a "second spike" in the outbreak, which would mean a "new wave of death and disease" and an "economic disaster".
More than 20,000 people have died with COVID-19 in hospitals, but the true death toll is much higher as this total does not include deaths in care homes and the community.
The PM described the virus as the "biggest single challenge this country has faced since the war" and added that "every day I know that this virus brings new sadness and mourning to households across the land".
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:23 Boris Johnson returns to Downing Street
He hailed the government's handling of the crisis, claiming the UK had "defied so many predictions".
"We did not run out of ventilators or ICU beds," Mr Johnson said.
"We did not allow our NHS to collapse, and on the contrary we have so far collectively shielded our NHS so that our incredible doctors and nurses and healthcare staff have been able to shield all of us from an outbreak that would have been far worse and we collectively flattened the peak."
But there has been criticism of the government's response to COVID-19, with the PM accused of ordering a nationwide lockdown too late and being too slow to act in the early stages of the outbreak.
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:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
In addition, there has been anger and criticism over a lack of personal protective equipment for frontline staff and disquiet over attempts to increase testing for the disease.
Number 10 has insisted the UK remains on track to carry out 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month, despite time running out to meet the much-publicised target.
Responding to Mr Johnson's Downing Street address, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted: "The NHS has done tremendously but the govt didn't lockdown early enough, didn't provide the PPE & didn't test & trace.
"This cost us lives as we have one of the worst death rates worldwide. It's vital our government doesn't make anymore mistakes & is transparent with the public."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:10 Is lockdown frustration setting in?
The PM spent a week in hospital with persistent symptoms of the virus, including a number of days in intensive care, earlier this month.
Mr Johnson has previously said there is "no question" that the NHS saved his life and admitted that at one stage "things could have gone either way".
After being discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in London on Easter Sunday, the PM spent two weeks recovering at Chequers, his country retreat.
On his first day back the PM chaired the daily COVID-19 "war cabinet" of senior ministers.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 17:21 Raab tight-lipped on lifting lockdown
He was also expected to hold one-to-one talks with cabinet colleagues on the progress of their departments in his absence.
The lockdown will dominate Mr Johnson's in-tray, with demands growing in some quarters for it to be relaxed.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been calling for an "exit strategy" from Number 10, while it has been claimed that business leaders are "clamouring" to know when the restrictions will be eased as fears grow about the longer term outlook for the economy.
While Mr Johnson made clear that now was not the time to relax the lockdown, he spoke briefly about how the government would approach doing so in the future.
The restrictions designed to halt the spread of the virus have been in place for more than a month, with the next review of the measures due to be held by 7 May.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 10:39 Labour: Government acted too slowly
The PM said the second phase of the UK's response would see the government "begin gradually to refine the economic and social restrictions and one-by-one to fire up the engines of this vast UK economy".
He added that this would involve "difficult judgements", saying: "We simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made, though clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days."
Mr Johnson said such decisions would be taken with the "maximum possible transparency", telling Britons: "I want to share all our working and our thinking, my thinking, with you, the British people."
The PM added that he would try to strike a consensus about how to ease the lockdown in the days and weeks to come, by "reaching out to build the biggest possible consensus across business, across industry, across all parts of our United Kingdom, across party lines, bringing in opposition parties as far as we possibly can".
He added: "I think that's no less than what the British people would expect."


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: The reasons some family members are allowed to visit COVID-19 patients

The families of many coronavirus patients who have died in hospital have faced the added heartache of being unable to say goodbye to their loved ones .
Stringent measures to restrict social contact have been enforced across the UK in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 , including limits on visiting hospitals .
The latest NHS England guidance states that hospital visiting is `` suspended with immediate effect and until further notice '' , but it lists several exceptions .
It says in certain circumstances one visitor - who must be an immediate family member or carer - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
: : If the patient is receiving end-of-life care : : If the visitor is the birthing partner of a woman in labour : : If the visitor is a parent or `` appropriate adult '' visiting a child patient : : If the visitor is supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia , a learning disability or autism , where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed The guidance applies to all inpatient , diagnostic and outpatient areas , NHS England said .
This includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be determined on a case-by-case basis .
NHS England said those eligible to see hospital patients should contact the ward or department they are on beforehand to discuss visiting arrangements .
It has also encouraged families of patients to keep in touch with their loved ones in hospital by phone or video call .
The Scottish government told Sky News that the same rules and exceptions outlined by NHS England apply to hospital visits in Scotland .
Similar guidance has been issued in Wales and Northern Ireland .
In a letter to NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing officer Professor Jean White said permission to visit COVID-19 patients `` should only be given in extreme circumstances in line with pandemic guidance and with advice from the infection prevention control team '' .
`` No visitor who is pregnant , under the age of 12 years , or is deemed to fall in to a high risk group should be permitted , '' she added .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Earlier this month , a top intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients would die alone in hospitals .
Dr Alison Pittard , the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine , told Kay Burley @ Breakfast : `` There have been reports that patients have been dying alone and I would like to reassure the public that no person will die in hospital alone .
`` They may not have their loved ones next to them , but they will have healthcare workers - both doctors and nurses - and other members of staff by their side holding their hands and making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die . ''

The families of many coronavirus patients who have died in hospital have faced the added heartache of being unable to say goodbye to their loved ones.
Stringent measures to restrict social contact have been enforced across the UK in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, including limits on visiting hospitals.
The latest NHS England guidance states that hospital visiting is "suspended with immediate effect and until further notice", but it lists several exceptions.
It says in certain circumstances one visitor - who must be an immediate family member or carer - is allowed to visit a hospital patient.
The circumstances include:
:: If the patient is receiving end-of-life care
:: If the visitor is the birthing partner of a woman in labour
:: If the visitor is a parent or "appropriate adult" visiting a child patient
:: If the visitor is supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed
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The guidance applies to all inpatient, diagnostic and outpatient areas, NHS England said.
This includes visits to coronavirus patients but they would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
NHS England said those eligible to see hospital patients should contact the ward or department they are on beforehand to discuss visiting arrangements.
It has also encouraged families of patients to keep in touch with their loved ones in hospital by phone or video call.
The Scottish government told Sky News that the same rules and exceptions outlined by NHS England apply to hospital visits in Scotland. Similar guidance has been issued in Wales and Northern Ireland.
In a letter to NHS chiefs in Wales last month, chief nursing officer Professor Jean White said permission to visit COVID-19 patients "should only be given in extreme circumstances in line with pandemic guidance and with advice from the infection prevention control team".
"No visitor who is pregnant, under the age of 12 years, or is deemed to fall in to a high risk group should be permitted," she added.
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Earlier this month, a top intensive care doctor told Sky News that no coronavirus patients would die alone in hospitals.
Dr Alison Pittard, the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, told Kay Burley@Breakfast: "There have been reports that patients have been dying alone and I would like to reassure the public that no person will die in hospital alone.
"They may not have their loved ones next to them, but they will have healthcare workers - both doctors and nurses - and other members of staff by their side holding their hands and making sure that they are not alone when they die."


news--2020-04-13--PM's near-death experience could change his attitudes to NHS

PM 's near-death experience could change his attitudes to NHS PM 's near-death experience could change his attitudes to NHS The prime minister applauded the NHS while he was in isolation with virus symptoms It 's hard to overstate the significance of a near-death experience .
And that 's clearly what Boris Johnson believes he 's just been through .
In the five-minute video recorded after he left St Thomas ' Hospital , the prime minister said the NHS had saved his life .
It is , he argued , `` this country 's greatest national asset '' , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The message was passionate and personal , packed with praise for those who treated him , including two intensive care nurses Jenny and Luis , both immigrants .
His week in hospital , and in particular three days in ICU seem to have changed Mr Johnson .
And perhaps it will change how he leads the government 's COVID-19 response .
Discussions on testing for frontline workers or the availability of personal protective equipment will now take on a far more potent significance .
: : Listen to the All Out Politics podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spotify , Spreaker The Conservative Party 's attitude towards the health service has developed over the decades .
Margaret Thatcher claimed `` the NHS is safe with us '' , although she had secretly explored privatising it - a plan later shelved .
David Cameron knew first-hand its strengths .
He spent many nights in hospital with his disabled son Ivan , who died at the age of six .
After December 's general election , Mr Johnson pledged the NHS would be his top priority in government .
His recent experience now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facts , figures and budgetary limitations of Whitehall .
The doctors and nurses and St Thomas ' may not have just saved the PM 's life , they may have changed his attitudes towards it .
And on every day in office , he will know he 's only there because of them .

The doctors and nurses and St Thomas' may not have just saved the PM's life, they may have changed his attitudes towards it.
The prime minister applauded the NHS while he was in isolation with virus symptoms
It's hard to overstate the significance of a near-death experience. And that's clearly what Boris Johnson believes he's just been through.
In the five-minute video recorded after he left St Thomas' Hospital, the prime minister said the NHS had saved his life.
It is, he argued, "this country's greatest national asset", an organisation "powered by love".
The message was passionate and personal, packed with praise for those who treated him, including two intensive care nurses Jenny and Luis, both immigrants.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:13 'The NHS saved my life, no question'
His week in hospital, and in particular three days in ICU seem to have changed Mr Johnson. And perhaps it will change how he leads the government's COVID-19 response.
Discussions on testing for frontline workers or the availability of personal protective equipment will now take on a far more potent significance.
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The Conservative Party's attitude towards the health service has developed over the decades.
Margaret Thatcher claimed "the NHS is safe with us", although she had secretly explored privatising it - a plan later shelved.
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David Cameron knew first-hand its strengths. He spent many nights in hospital with his disabled son Ivan, who died at the age of six.
After December's general election, Mr Johnson pledged the NHS would be his top priority in government.
His recent experience now brings even greater meaning and emotion to the facts, figures and budgetary limitations of Whitehall.
The doctors and nurses and St Thomas' may not have just saved the PM's life, they may have changed his attitudes towards it.
And on every day in office, he will know he's only there because of them.


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: Government has hit only 13% of ventilator target

The government has fallen well short of the number of ventilators it planned to immediately add to the UK 's stocks to treat coronavirus patients .
An additional 200 machines - which provide oxygen for people suffering lung failure in severe COVID-19 cases - have been sent out to the NHS in the past week , Downing Street said on Monday .
But Health Secretary Matt Hancock had vowed that around 1,500 ventilators would be acquired in that time frame .
Ministers have come under pressure to explain how they intend to `` ramp up '' key measures to battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and daily tests .
So far , more than 11,000 people in the UK have died with COVID-19 .
And a member of the government 's scientific advice committee has warned the UK could end up being the `` worst affected country in Europe '' .
On Sunday 5 April , Mr Hancock said the UK had between 9,000 and 10,000 ventilators - with an extra 2,000 spare attached to critical care beds - but he had set a target of 18,000 .
Challenged on the BBC ’ s Andrew Marr Show to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rolled out in the following week , he said `` there should be another 1,500 '' .
Just over a week later , the prime minister ’ s spokesman confirmed only 200 extra machines have been added to the total stocks - around 13 % of Mr Hancock 's target .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Lots of countries are trying to source the machines , making it difficult for governments to buy them up .
Ministers have also set a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests for COVID-19 to 100,000 by the end of April .
In the latest update on Monday the UK department of health said there were 10,745 tests - taking the total to 290,720 since the outbreak began .
Mr Johnson ’ s spokesman said there had been `` significant progress '' in the attempt to improve testing of frontline NHS workers , with nearly 43,000 staff and their families tested so far .
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove announced at the start of April there would be thousands of new ventilators produced in @ @

The government has fallen well short of the number of ventilators it planned to immediately add to the UK's stocks to treat coronavirus patients.
An additional 200 machines - which provide oxygen for people suffering lung failure in severe COVID-19 cases - have been sent out to the NHS in the past week, Downing Street said on Monday.
But Health Secretary Matt Hancock had vowed that around 1,500 ventilators would be acquired in that time frame.
Image: Matt Hancock said the number of machines should increase by 1,500 in a week
Ministers have come under pressure to explain how they intend to "ramp up" key measures to battle coronavirus - including the number of ventilators and daily tests.
So far, more than 11,000 people in the UK have died with COVID-19.
And a member of the government's scientific advice committee has warned the UK could end up being the "worst affected country in Europe".
On Sunday 5 April, Mr Hancock said the UK had between 9,000 and 10,000 ventilators - with an extra 2,000 spare attached to critical care beds - but he had set a target of 18,000.
Image: At least 11,000 coronavirus patients have died
Challenged on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show to say how many more ventilators would be rolled out in the following week, he said "there should be another 1,500".
Just over a week later, the prime minister’s spokesman confirmed only 200 extra machines have been added to the total stocks - around 13% of Mr Hancock's target.
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Lots of countries are trying to source the machines, making it difficult for governments to buy them up.
Ministers have also set a target of raising the daily number of tests for COVID-19 to 100,000 by the end of April.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:30 PPE: 'It's up to government to fix this'
In the latest update on Monday the UK department of health said there were 10,745 tests - taking the total to 290,720 since the outbreak began.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman said there had been "significant progress" in the attempt to improve testing of frontline NHS workers, with nearly 43,000 staff and their families tested so far.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove announced at the start of April there would be thousands of new ventilators produced in Britain.


news--2020-04-11--Coronavirus: Spain loosens COVID-19 lockdown as number of cases keeps falling

Some non-essential workers in Spain are returning to their jobs as lockdown restrictions are beginning to relax .
However , the wider lockdown will still be in place across the country .
It comes after the country reported its lowest daily growth in confirmed coronavirus infections in three weeks .
Health officials said there were 517 new deaths recorded on Monday , falling from 619 on Sunday .
Overall cases in the country rose to 169,496 from 166,019 .
In the UK , at least 11,329 people with coronavirus have already died , amid a warning by a member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could end up being the `` worst affected country in Europe '' .
For now Italy still has the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe , with another 566 deaths recorded on Monday taking the total there to 20,465 .
That made it only the second country worldwide to reach 20,000 deaths , after the US .
The number of confirmed cases in Italy stands at 159,516 , the third highest global tally behind the US and Spain .
Spain 's total number of COVID-19 deaths is 17,489 and its number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US .
More than 60,000 people have recovered from the disease .
Workers in industry and construction will be able to return to work after a two-week shutdown closed all sectors apart from healthcare and food .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Shops will remain closed , apart from supermarkets , fruit stands , bakeries , butchers , news-stands and pharmacies .
Those who can work from home will be asked to continue this .
These rules are expected to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watched closely by other countries , amid fears that lifting restrictions too soon could allow a second wave of the virus .
Those who do return to work should maintain social distancing , said Maria Jose Sierra , deputy head of health emergencies .
She added that `` if there is a person who shows the slightest symptom , they should contact the health system and remain in self-isolation '' .
Meanwhile , China reported 108 new cases of coronavirus on Monday , bringing its total to 82,160 .
The first cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , around five months after that , the worst-affected region of Wuhan lifted its final travel restrictions last week .
However , this has brought the problem of cases being brought in from abroad .
Of the 108 cases confirmed on Monday , 98 were imported .
And seven of the new domestic cases were recorded in a province bordering Russia .
China still has social distancing rules , temperature checks and other measures while businesses reopen and people start to resume normal life .

Some non-essential workers in Spain are returning to their jobs as lockdown restrictions are beginning to relax.
However, the wider lockdown will still be in place across the country.
It comes after the country reported its lowest daily growth in confirmed coronavirus infections in three weeks.
Image: A police officer gives out free protective face masks at a metro station
Image: Spain will keep social distancing measures despite some other restrictions being lifted
Health officials said there were 517 new deaths recorded on Monday, falling from 619 on Sunday.
Overall cases in the country rose to 169,496 from 166,019.
In the UK, at least 11,329 people with coronavirus have already died, amid a warning by a member of the government's scientific advice committee that it could end up being the "worst affected country in Europe".
For now Italy still has the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe, with another 566 deaths recorded on Monday taking the total there to 20,465.
That made it only the second country worldwide to reach 20,000 deaths, after the US.
The number of confirmed cases in Italy stands at 159,516, the third highest global tally behind the US and Spain.
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Image: Italy is still dealing with large numbers of coronavirus patients
Spain's total number of COVID-19 deaths is 17,489 and its number of confirmed cases puts it behind only the US.
More than 60,000 people have recovered from the disease.
Workers in industry and construction will be able to return to work after a two-week shutdown closed all sectors apart from healthcare and food.
Image: More than 20,000 coronavirus patients have died in Italy
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Shops will remain closed, apart from supermarkets, fruit stands, bakeries, butchers, news-stands and pharmacies.
Those who can work from home will be asked to continue this.
These rules are expected to remain into May.
The move will be watched closely by other countries, amid fears that lifting restrictions too soon could allow a second wave of the virus.
Those who do return to work should maintain social distancing, said Maria Jose Sierra, deputy head of health emergencies.
She added that "if there is a person who shows the slightest symptom, they should contact the health system and remain in self-isolation".
Meanwhile, China reported 108 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, bringing its total to 82,160.
The first cases of the virus were seen in China and, around five months after that, the worst-affected region of Wuhan lifted its final travel restrictions last week.
However, this has brought the problem of cases being brought in from abroad.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 Light show as Wuhan opens up after lockdown
Of the 108 cases confirmed on Monday, 98 were imported. And seven of the new domestic cases were recorded in a province bordering Russia.
China still has social distancing rules, temperature checks and other measures while businesses reopen and people start to resume normal life.


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: 'Growing crisis' as 92 care homes report COVID-19 outbreaks

A total of 92 care homes have reported outbreaks of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours , England 's chief medical officer has said .
Speaking at the daily COVID-19 news conference , Professor Chris Whitty said 13.5 % of care homes have been affected by the virus .
`` If an outbreak is suspected , public health authorities will go in to do testing to assess if an outbreak has taken place , '' he said .
It comes as it was confirmed that the 13 people have now died at Stanley Park Care Home in Stanley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , Wren Hall Nursing Home in Nottinghamshire has confirmed that nine residents have died after testing positive for the coronavirus .
Professor Whitty said he would like to see testing increased at care homes .
Asked if deaths were recorded properly in such homes , he said : `` Everybody who sadly dies , the doctor will make an assessment based on her or his view about what the cause of death is , that 's what the death certificate says in all cases . ''
He added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to make sure that they get as much information to give accurate data .
`` One of the things we want to do is to extend the amount of testing of people in care homes as the ability to test ramps up over the next few weeks .
`` Because clearly care homes are one of the areas where there are large numbers of vulnerable people and that is an area of risk and therefore we would very much ... like to have much more extensive testing . ''
Caroline Abrahams , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of personal protective equipment and testing means COVID-19 is `` running wild '' in care homes .
Along with leaders from Marie Curie , Care England , Independent Age and the Alzheimer 's Society , she has written a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock demanding a measures to support the social care sector .
`` The current figures are airbrushing older people out like they do n't matter , '' she said .
Labour 's Liz Kendall said there was a `` growing crisis '' in care homes .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Ministers must publish daily figures of deaths in care homes so we know the true scale of the problem and how fast it is spreading .
`` They must also ensure social care has the resources it needs and that vital PPE and testing get to care workers on the frontline . ''
Munira Wilson , health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats , said the latest figures were `` incredibly worrying '' .
She added : `` The Liberal Democrats have long been calling for the staff at care homes , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to be provided with adequate personal protective equipment as well as tests to diagnose if they have the virus .
`` These frontline workers are caring for the most vulnerable in our society .
It 's vital the government acts quickly before we see even more care homes fall into crisis . ''
A spokeswoman for Care UK , the group that runs the County Durham home , said the latest resident to die had symptoms that could indicate the virus , though no test had been done .
Karen Morrison , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff were doing everything they could to keep residents safe .
The first case at the home occurred at the end of March , when a resident died in hospital .
Ms Morrison said : `` My heart goes out to the families and friends of residents who have passed away over the past few days .
`` We are all thinking of them at this difficult time and send our condolences and best wishes .
`` The manager and her team at the home continue to be absolutely amazing and I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' Despite all that has happened , they continue to deliver the very best care in a kind and professional way .
`` Their determination and commitment to support every resident , and each other , through these very challenging times is incredible . ''
She added : `` I 'd like to reassure everyone , including relatives of those in the home , that we are doing everything in our power to keep people safe and comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE and we continue to use it meticulously , as we have since the first case was seen at the end of last month . ''
Among care homes that have been seriously affected have been Burlington Court Care Home , in Glasgow , where 16 people died , and Palms Row Healthcare in Sheffield where eight people died in under two weeks .

A total of 92 care homes have reported outbreaks of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, England's chief medical officer has said.
Speaking at the daily COVID-19 news conference, Professor Chris Whitty said 13.5% of care homes have been affected by the virus.
"If an outbreak is suspected, public health authorities will go in to do testing to assess if an outbreak has taken place," he said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:49 Care home life under lockdown
It comes as it was confirmed that the 13 people have now died at Stanley Park Care Home in Stanley, County Durham after suffering symptoms related to the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Wren Hall Nursing Home in Nottinghamshire has confirmed that nine residents have died after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Professor Whitty said he would like to see testing increased at care homes.
Asked if deaths were recorded properly in such homes, he said: "Everybody who sadly dies, the doctor will make an assessment based on her or his view about what the cause of death is, that's what the death certificate says in all cases."
He added: "Doctors take it very seriously and try to make sure that they get as much information to give accurate data.
"One of the things we want to do is to extend the amount of testing of people in care homes as the ability to test ramps up over the next few weeks.
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"Because clearly care homes are one of the areas where there are large numbers of vulnerable people and that is an area of risk and therefore we would very much... like to have much more extensive testing."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:24 Hancock pressed over care home PPE
Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said the lack of personal protective equipment and testing means COVID-19 is "running wild" in care homes.
Along with leaders from Marie Curie, Care England, Independent Age and the Alzheimer's Society, she has written a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock demanding a measures to support the social care sector.
"The current figures are airbrushing older people out like they don't matter," she said.
Labour's Liz Kendall said there was a "growing crisis" in care homes.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:50 'We’ve still got a long way to go'
The shadow minister for social care continued: "Ministers must publish daily figures of deaths in care homes so we know the true scale of the problem and how fast it is spreading.
"They must also ensure social care has the resources it needs and that vital PPE and testing get to care workers on the frontline."
Munira Wilson, health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said the latest figures were "incredibly worrying".
She added: "The Liberal Democrats have long been calling for the staff at care homes, along with NHS staff and social care workers, to be provided with adequate personal protective equipment as well as tests to diagnose if they have the virus.
"These frontline workers are caring for the most vulnerable in our society. It's vital the government acts quickly before we see even more care homes fall into crisis."
A spokeswoman for Care UK, the group that runs the County Durham home, said the latest resident to die had symptoms that could indicate the virus, though no test had been done.
Karen Morrison, regional director of Care UK, said staff were doing everything they could to keep residents safe.
The first case at the home occurred at the end of March, when a resident died in hospital.
Ms Morrison said: "My heart goes out to the families and friends of residents who have passed away over the past few days.
"We are all thinking of them at this difficult time and send our condolences and best wishes.
"The manager and her team at the home continue to be absolutely amazing and I cannot thank them enough.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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"Despite all that has happened, they continue to deliver the very best care in a kind and professional way.
"Their determination and commitment to support every resident, and each other, through these very challenging times is incredible."
She added: "I'd like to reassure everyone, including relatives of those in the home, that we are doing everything in our power to keep people safe and comfortable.
"We have all the necessary PPE and we continue to use it meticulously, as we have since the first case was seen at the end of last month."
Among care homes that have been seriously affected have been Burlington Court Care Home, in Glasgow , where 16 people died, and Palms Row Healthcare in Sheffield where eight people died in under two weeks.


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: Fintech Ebury targets SMEs denied government-backed loans

A European fintech company majority-owned by Santander will this week begin channeling tens of millions of pounds to small businesses which have found themselves frozen out of the government 's emergency loan schemes .
Sky News has learnt that Ebury will announce on Tuesday the immediate availability of £40m from its balance sheet for UK-based companies which can not access funds under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) .
The move will underline the determination of non-bank lenders to tap into schemes such as CBILS , which has been at the centre of criticism over the pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ releasing capital to troubled SMEs .
Sources said that Ebury 's initial £40m , which may grow substantially both in the UK and other European countries as the pandemic continues , would specifically be aimed at businesses frozen out of CBILS and other government programmes .
Ebury is , however , said to be in discussions with the British Business Bank about becoming an accredited CBILS lender .
Santander bought a 50.1 % stake in Ebury last year for £350m , reflecting the enormous interest among traditional banks in tapping into financial innovators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests entirely digitally .
The £40m to be announced on Tuesday is only likely to help a few dozen companies , given Ebury 's typical SME loans comprise sums of up to £1.25m .
Ebury specialises in the speedy provision of working capital to its customers - a particularly acute problem during the coronavirus crisis because of the suddenness with which it brought parts of the economy to a grinding halt .
Juan Lobato , Ebury co-founder , said : `` Getting finance to UK companies is essential in helping manage the cashflow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebury is delighted to be offering this financing initiative .
`` Ebury was founded to fill a gap left by the 2008 financial crisis and in this latest crisis it is ideally placed to help the Government 's distribution of its financial aid packages to large and small businesses . ''
The Treasury , the BBB and the high street lenders will all face scrutiny this week with the release of the latest figures for lending under the CBILS scheme .
Sources expect the data to show `` robust '' growth in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the overall amount lent .
A large number of SMEs have complained that banks have rejected applications for reasons including their partial ownership by private equity funds , which has artificially resulted in them being ruled ineligible on the basis of their turnover being too large .
Others have complained that their early-stage nature has meant that they were denied access because they are loss-making .
Speaking to Sky News ' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme , Alok Sharma , business secretary , said that £800m had been lent so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have spent the last couple of days talking directly to some of the largest lenders who are part of this scheme and I have been very clear to say to them that we need to get money out of the door as quickly as possible , '' he said .
`` They understand that… we have set this up at pace and everyone is literally working around the clock . ''
CBILS is aimed at companies with sales of up to £45m , although an equivalent mechanism for larger companies is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday that the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme - targeted at businesses with turnover of more than £45m - would be adjusted to remove the provisional upper sales threshold of £500m , and would double the amount that applicants could borrow to £50m .
The proposals are set to be signed off by Rishi Sunak , the chancellor , in the coming days .

A European fintech company majority-owned by Santander will this week begin channeling tens of millions of pounds to small businesses which have found themselves frozen out of the government's emergency loan schemes.
Sky News has learnt that Ebury will announce on Tuesday the immediate availability of £40m from its balance sheet for UK-based companies which cannot access funds under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).
The move will underline the determination of non-bank lenders to tap into schemes such as CBILS, which has been at the centre of criticism over the pace and scale at which mainstream banks are releasing capital to troubled SMEs.
Sources said that Ebury's initial £40m, which may grow substantially both in the UK and other European countries as the pandemic continues, would specifically be aimed at businesses frozen out of CBILS and other government programmes.
Ebury is, however, said to be in discussions with the British Business Bank about becoming an accredited CBILS lender.
Santander bought a 50.1% stake in Ebury last year for £350m, reflecting the enormous interest among traditional banks in tapping into financial innovators which can process large volumes of loan requests entirely digitally.
The £40m to be announced on Tuesday is only likely to help a few dozen companies, given Ebury's typical SME loans comprise sums of up to £1.25m.
Ebury specialises in the speedy provision of working capital to its customers - a particularly acute problem during the coronavirus crisis because of the suddenness with which it brought parts of the economy to a grinding halt.
Juan Lobato, Ebury co-founder, said: "Getting finance to UK companies is essential in helping manage the cashflow pressures they are currently experiencing, and Ebury is delighted to be offering this financing initiative.
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"Ebury was founded to fill a gap left by the 2008 financial crisis and in this latest crisis it is ideally placed to help the Government's distribution of its financial aid packages to large and small businesses."
The Treasury, the BBB and the high street lenders will all face scrutiny this week with the release of the latest figures for lending under the CBILS scheme.
Sources expect the data to show "robust" growth in both the number of loan applications being approved, and the overall amount lent.
A large number of SMEs have complained that banks have rejected applications for reasons including their partial ownership by private equity funds, which has artificially resulted in them being ruled ineligible on the basis of their turnover being too large.
Others have complained that their early-stage nature has meant that they were denied access because they are loss-making.
Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, Alok Sharma, business secretary, said that £800m had been lent so far under CBILS to 4200 companies.
"I have spent the last couple of days talking directly to some of the largest lenders who are part of this scheme and I have been very clear to say to them that we need to get money out of the door as quickly as possible," he said.
"They understand that… we have set this up at pace and everyone is literally working around the clock."
CBILS is aimed at companies with sales of up to £45m, although an equivalent mechanism for larger companies is also being established.
Sky News revealed on Sunday that the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme - targeted at businesses with turnover of more than £45m - would be adjusted to remove the provisional upper sales threshold of £500m, and would double the amount that applicants could borrow to £50m.
The proposals are set to be signed off by Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, in the coming days.


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: Government 'doesn't expect' to relax COVID-19 lockdown this week

The government does not expect to relax or lift the coronavirus lockdown later this week , Dominic Raab has said .
The foreign secretary , who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recovers from the coronavirus , said there are some `` positive signs '' from the data that show `` we are starting to win this struggle '' .
But he warned : `` We are still not past the peak . ''
He was speaking at the government 's daily COVID-19 press conference on Monday , which came ahead of the first review of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The stringent restrictions , imposed last month in order to try to halt the spread of the virus , are widely expected to be extended .
Ministers have said they want to be certain the UK is past the peak of the epidemic before they ease the conditions of the lockdown .
Mr Raab said the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ) would review evidence of the effectiveness of social distancing measures when it meets on Tuesday , two days before the government makes its decision .
`` We do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures currently in place at that point and we wo n't until we 're confident , as confident as we realistically can be , that any such changes can be safely made , '' he said .
Mr Raab also paid tribute to members of the public who have followed government advice and remained indoors over the course of the Easter weekend .
The foreign secretary said the `` overwhelming majority '' of Britons had followed the lockdown rules and added : `` By staying home this weekend , you 've saved lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making all the difference .
And please keep them up - we 've come too far , we 've lost too many loved ones and we 've sacrificed too much to ease up now . ''
The confirmed UK death toll passed 10,000 at the weekend , with a government adviser and infectious diseases expert warning the country could end up being the `` worst affected '' in Europe .
In its latest figures released on Monday , the Department of Health said a further 717 coronavirus patients had died , taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is the lowest increase recorded over the Bank Holiday weekend , after 980 on Friday - which surpassed the worst confirmed daily totals in Italy and Spain - 917 on Saturday and 737 on Sunday .
But the true number of deaths will be higher , as these figures do not include all deaths in the community .
Professor Chris Whitty , England 's chief medical officer , told Monday 's news conference that he would like to see testing increased at care homes .
He said 13.5 % of care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks reported in 92 of them in the last 24 hours .
Sir Patrick Vallance , the government 's chief scientific adviser , said he expects the overall death toll to increase this week before `` plateauing '' .
He said the UK was tracking behind Italy and `` following the same sort of path '' when it comes to hospital deaths , although the number of people in hospital beds with COVID-19 is starting to `` flatten off '' in many parts of the country .
With Boris Johnson now out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested negative for the virus before being discharged and is now focused on his recovery at his country mansion .
Mr Johnson will not be doing any government work and will only return to his office on the advice of his medical team , Number 10 added .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker .
The government , meanwhile , has insisted that its testing regime is `` heading in the right direction '' .
Downing Street has pledged to carry out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the month , a target which the PM 's spokesman has said the UK is on course to meet .
A spokesman said 18,000 had been conducted in the 24 hours to Sunday morning and `` good progress '' on getting to 100,000 tests was being made .
On the subject of testing frontline NHS workers , he said there had been `` significant progress '' , with nearly 43,000 staff and their families tested so far .
But the government has fallen well short of the number of ventilators it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stocks to treat coronavirus patients .
An additional 200 machines - which provide oxygen for people suffering lung failure in severe cases - have been sent out to the NHS in the past week , Downing Street said on Monday .
But Health Secretary Matt Hancock had vowed that around 1,500 ventilators would be acquired in that timeframe .
As well as concerns around ventilators and testing , there have been reports of shortages of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
The situation has prompted the Royal College of Nursing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resort they should refuse to treat patients with COVID-19 if they are not given the right PPE .
Mr Raab said the government understood the `` importance of getting PPE to the front line , whether it 's in care homes or the NHS '' .
The foreign secretary said more than 16 million items of PPE were delivered over the Bank Holiday weekend , adding : `` We are straining every sinew to roll them out even further and even faster . ''

The government does not expect to relax or lift the coronavirus lockdown later this week, Dominic Raab has said.
The foreign secretary, who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recovers from the coronavirus, said there are some "positive signs" from the data that show "we are starting to win this struggle".
But he warned: "We are still not past the peak."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:50 'We've still got a long way to go'
He was speaking at the government's daily COVID-19 press conference on Monday, which came ahead of the first review of the UK's lockdown measures on Thursday.
The stringent restrictions, imposed last month in order to try to halt the spread of the virus, are widely expected to be extended.
Ministers have said they want to be certain the UK is past the peak of the epidemic before they ease the conditions of the lockdown.
Mr Raab said the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) would review evidence of the effectiveness of social distancing measures when it meets on Tuesday, two days before the government makes its decision.
"We don't expect to make any changes to the measures currently in place at that point and we won't until we're confident, as confident as we realistically can be, that any such changes can be safely made," he said.
Mr Raab also paid tribute to members of the public who have followed government advice and remained indoors over the course of the Easter weekend.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:56 People defy lockdown rules on Good Friday
The foreign secretary said the "overwhelming majority" of Britons had followed the lockdown rules and added: "By staying home this weekend, you've saved lives.
"Thank you, your efforts are making all the difference. And please keep them up - we've come too far, we've lost too many loved ones and we've sacrificed too much to ease up now."
The confirmed UK death toll passed 10,000 at the weekend, with a government adviser and infectious diseases expert warning the country could end up being the "worst affected" in Europe.
In its latest figures released on Monday, the Department of Health said a further 717 coronavirus patients had died, taking the UK's total to 11,329.
It is the lowest increase recorded over the Bank Holiday weekend, after 980 on Friday - which surpassed the worst confirmed daily totals in Italy and Spain - 917 on Saturday and 737 on Sunday.
But the true number of deaths will be higher, as these figures do not include all deaths in the community.
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, told Monday's news conference that he would like to see testing increased at care homes.
He said 13.5% of care homes have been affected so far, with outbreaks reported in 92 of them in the last 24 hours.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:09 PM: 'It could have gone either way'
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, said he expects the overall death toll to increase this week before "plateauing".
He said the UK was tracking behind Italy and "following the same sort of path" when it comes to hospital deaths, although the number of people in hospital beds with COVID-19 is starting to "flatten off" in many parts of the country.
With Boris Johnson now out of hospital, Downing Street has said he tested negative for the virus before being discharged and is now focused on his recovery at his country mansion.
Mr Johnson will not be doing any government work and will only return to his office on the advice of his medical team, Number 10 added.
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
The government, meanwhile, has insisted that its testing regime is "heading in the right direction".
Downing Street has pledged to carry out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month, a target which the PM's spokesman has said the UK is on course to meet.
A spokesman said 18,000 had been conducted in the 24 hours to Sunday morning and "good progress" on getting to 100,000 tests was being made.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:27 Health Secretary tackled over lack of care home testing
On the subject of testing frontline NHS workers, he said there had been "significant progress", with nearly 43,000 staff and their families tested so far.
But the government has fallen well short of the number of ventilators it planned to immediately add to the UK's stocks to treat coronavirus patients.
An additional 200 machines - which provide oxygen for people suffering lung failure in severe cases - have been sent out to the NHS in the past week, Downing Street said on Monday.
But Health Secretary Matt Hancock had vowed that around 1,500 ventilators would be acquired in that timeframe.
As well as concerns around ventilators and testing, there have been reports of shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The situation has prompted the Royal College of Nursing to tell its members that as a last resort they should refuse to treat patients with COVID-19 if they are not given the right PPE.
Mr Raab said the government understood the "importance of getting PPE to the front line, whether it's in care homes or the NHS".
The foreign secretary said more than 16 million items of PPE were delivered over the Bank Holiday weekend, adding: "We are straining every sinew to roll them out even further and even faster."


news--2020-04-07--Coronavirus: Hope for Spain as plateau in deaths and cases appears to take hold

The number of people dying and testing positive for coronavirus in Spain appears to begin to plateau .
With around 13,800 deaths and more than 140,000 confirmed cases , Spain is one of the two hardest hit countries in the world alongside Italy .
The deaths and confirmed cases in Spain have risen steadily since the outbreak hit the country , with the 50th death recorded on 11 March .
However , the country appears to be turning a corner , with both the number of cases and deaths beginning to level out - something many refer to as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the data is plotted on a chart .
On Monday , coronavirus deaths in Spain slowed for the fourth day in a row , with emergency rooms in Madrid returning almost to normal a week after being stretched to breaking point .
That day Spain reported 637 deaths over the previous 24 hours , a further drop from the 674 on Sunday , 809 on Saturday , 932 on Friday and 950 on Thursday .
It is the lowest number of deaths in 13 days , with the 950 people whose deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the highest daily death toll since the outbreak .
However , on Tuesday the number of people dying jumped again .
Some 743 people 's deaths were recorded - which appeared to disrupt the steady decline - but the true picture is not as simple .
The way deaths and cases are recorded over the weekends in Spain means that some of the number of people who died on Saturday and Sunday are collected on Monday and then published the following day , according to the country 's Ministry of Health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see many Tuesdays , with data from Monday afternoon , we believe that in principle it does not have much importance , '' said Maria Jose Sierra , an official with the Ministry 's Coordination Centre for Alerts and Health Emergencies .
She added : `` We must continue to see what happens in the next days .
We believe that it may be due to a certain delay in the notification of these days . ''
Even with this increase , the number announced on Tuesday was below 800 - which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consecutive days with more than 800 people being reported as dying each day ( from 28 March to 4 April ) .
Cases are also going down , with the highest daily number of confirmed cases on 31 March with 9,222 recorded on that day .
There has been a steady daily decline since 2 April until Tuesday , when 5,478 cases were recorded and took into account the infections noted over the weekend .
It is important to note these figures only account for confirmed cases and therefore it is likely there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus who have not been tested and so do not show up in the official figures .
Spain has not tested as rigorously as countries such as Germany .
The positive signs can also be seen in the country 's intensive care units , with Spanish newspaper El Pais saying this week : `` Intensive care units are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel . ''
Similarly , doctors at what is now Spain 's largest hospital in Madrid told Sky News on Tuesday they are winning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little '' .
With around 12 % of patients in hospitals requiring intensive care , medical director Antonio Zapatero said when the disease hit it was like a healthcare `` tsunami '' .
More than 40,000 people in Spain have recovered from the virus , all of whom will now be immune to the virus , at least for some time .
Between this and the number of recoveries steadily increasing , Spain can begin to examine how it could deescalate the tough lockdown measures currently imposed across the country .
As part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlined plans to test 30,000 households to draw the national map of the outbreak .
Other European countries have tentatively announced measures to partially lift their quarantine measures - something leaders across the continent will be monitoring , not least after attempts by Singapore and Japan stand as cautionary examples .

The number of people dying and testing positive for coronavirus in Spain appears to begin to plateau.
With around 13,800 deaths and more than 140,000 confirmed cases, Spain is one of the two hardest hit countries in the world alongside Italy.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:57 Inside Madrid's makeshift 1,500-bed hospital
The deaths and confirmed cases in Spain have risen steadily since the outbreak hit the country, with the 50th death recorded on 11 March.
However, the country appears to be turning a corner, with both the number of cases and deaths beginning to level out - something many refer to as "flattening the curve" in reference to when the data is plotted on a chart.
On Monday, coronavirus deaths in Spain slowed for the fourth day in a row, with emergency rooms in Madrid returning almost to normal a week after being stretched to breaking point.
That day Spain reported 637 deaths over the previous 24 hours, a further drop from the 674 on Sunday, 809 on Saturday, 932 on Friday and 950 on Thursday.
It is the lowest number of deaths in 13 days, with the 950 people whose deaths were recorded on Thursday 2 April making up the highest daily death toll since the outbreak.
However, on Tuesday the number of people dying jumped again. Some 743 people's deaths were recorded - which appeared to disrupt the steady decline - but the true picture is not as simple.
The way deaths and cases are recorded over the weekends in Spain means that some of the number of people who died on Saturday and Sunday are collected on Monday and then published the following day, according to the country's Ministry of Health.
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"The small upturn that we usually see many Tuesdays, with data from Monday afternoon, we believe that in principle it does not have much importance," said Maria Jose Sierra, an official with the Ministry's Coordination Centre for Alerts and Health Emergencies.
She added: "We must continue to see what happens in the next days. We believe that it may be due to a certain delay in the notification of these days."
Even with this increase, the number announced on Tuesday was below 800 - which is significant because before Sunday there were eight consecutive days with more than 800 people being reported as dying each day (from 28 March to 4 April).
Cases are also going down, with the highest daily number of confirmed cases on 31 March with 9,222 recorded on that day.
There has been a steady daily decline since 2 April until Tuesday, when 5,478 cases were recorded and took into account the infections noted over the weekend.
It is important to note these figures only account for confirmed cases and therefore it is likely there is a number of people with the virus who have not been tested and so do not show up in the official figures.
Spain has not tested as rigorously as countries such as Germany.
The positive signs can also be seen in the country's intensive care units, with Spanish newspaper El Pais saying this week: "Intensive care units are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Similarly, doctors at what is now Spain's largest hospital in Madrid told Sky News on Tuesday they are winning the battle against the coronavirus "little by little".
With around 12% of patients in hospitals requiring intensive care, medical director Antonio Zapatero said when the disease hit it was like a healthcare "tsunami".
More than 40,000 people in Spain have recovered from the virus, all of whom will now be immune to the virus, at least for some time.
Between this and the number of recoveries steadily increasing, Spain can begin to examine how it could deescalate the tough lockdown measures currently imposed across the country.
As part of that process, the government has outlined plans to test 30,000 households to draw the national map of the outbreak.
Other European countries have tentatively announced measures to partially lift their quarantine measures - something leaders across the continent will be monitoring, not least after attempts by Singapore and Japan stand as cautionary examples.


news--2020-04-12--Coronavirus: Italy's daily number of deaths is lowest for more than three weeks

Italy , the worst-hit country in Europe , has recorded its lowest number of new coronavirus-related deaths in more than three weeks .
Authorities say 431 people died with COVID-19 in the past day - the lowest in a 24-hour period since 19 March - bringing the total to 19,899 .
For the ninth consecutive day , the number of patients admitted into intensive care with the virus was down , and the number taken to hospital overall also fell .
As Italy began its fifth week under lockdown , more than 4,000 people were diagnosed , continuing a general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have noted the nation has also increased the number of people being tested in recent days , with more positive cases , but allowing for more effective quarantine measures for those once they know they are infected .
On Sunday , the country passed the one million mark in testing , doubling the number since the end of March .
Overall , 156,363 people have been confirmed to have the virus , although it is claimed the true number could be as much as 10 times that , particularly in the hard-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil protection agency has arranged for rescued migrants to be placed in quarantine to check for coronavirus infections on ships or on land .
More than 1.8 million people worldwide have now been infected , and over 113,000 have died , according to the Johns Hopkins University , which is tracking the pandemic .
Spain has now overtaken Italy in terms of cases , with more than 166,000 - second only to the United States - and almost 17,000 people in Spain have died with the virus .
The country 's latest fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three days on Sunday , to 619 , bringing the total to 16,972 .
More than 60,000 patients have recovered .
Spain also recorded its lowest daily growth in confirmed infections in three weeks , as it prepares to loosen its strict lockdown measures and allow some workers to return to their jobs .
: : Listen to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Those who can work from home are strongly being encouraged by authorities to continue doing so .
Retail shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fruit stands , bakeries , butchers , newsstands and pharmacies .
In the UK , another 737 people with COVID-19 died in hospitals , taking the total passed the 10,000 mark - to 10,612 .
The total number of infections in Britain now stands at 84,279 .
In the Republic of Ireland , the number of deaths has risen by 14 to 334 .
There are 9,655 infections .
The US now has 542,023 cases , according to the Johns Hopkins University , and 21,489 people have died - more than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of deaths - which includes figures from hospitals and nursing homes - rose by 561 to 14,393 as of Sunday .
But for the fourth day in a row , slightly fewer people were admitted into intensive care .
However , the country 's health authority said it was important to remain vigilant because hospitals were still taking in a very large number of patients .
Russia reported its largest daily increase of cases on Sunday - 2,186 - since the outbreak began .
Moscow and many other regions have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the number of cases reached 15,770 - while the number of deaths rose to 130 .
Authorities in the capital have clamped down on those venturing outside without a reason , such as to buy food or medicine , get medical treatment , walk the dog , or take out the rubbish .
Around 3.5 million people there , in a city of 12.5 million , reportedly left their homes for more than six hours on Friday , according to a track analysis of their mobile phones - and more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Moscow is preparing to introduce digital permits next week to control movement to help enforce the lockdown .
In Japan , two workers ' groups have issued a joint statement warning about a `` collapse of emergency medicine , '' which may lead to the collapse of medicine overall .
The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine , and the Japanese Society for Emergency Medicine have said healthcare facilities are being stretched amid a surge in coronavirus patients .
The statement said many hospitals were turning people away who were brought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , heart attacks and external injuries .
It said that some who were not accepted , later turned out to have the virus .
Japan - which has declared a state of emergency and is asking people to stay at home - has nearly 7,000 cases , and 108 deaths , but the numbers are growing .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker However there is better news for Australia , with its chief medical officer saying the country is `` in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the disease , as deaths rose by just three , to 59 .
It now has 6,289 confirmed cases .
Brendan Murphy has said there is `` no place in the world I would rather be than Australia at the moment '' .

Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, has recorded its lowest number of new coronavirus-related deaths in more than three weeks.
Authorities say 431 people died with COVID-19 in the past day - the lowest in a 24-hour period since 19 March - bringing the total to 19,899.
For the ninth consecutive day, the number of patients admitted into intensive care with the virus was down, and the number taken to hospital overall also fell.
Image: Italy has recorded its lowest daily number of deaths for three weeks
As Italy began its fifth week under lockdown, more than 4,000 people were diagnosed, continuing a general flattening of the so-called curve.
But officials have noted the nation has also increased the number of people being tested in recent days, with more positive cases, but allowing for more effective quarantine measures for those once they know they are infected.
On Sunday, the country passed the one million mark in testing, doubling the number since the end of March.
Overall, 156,363 people have been confirmed to have the virus, although it is claimed the true number could be as much as 10 times that, particularly in the hard-hit Lombardy area.
Image: For the ninth consecutive day, the number of patients in Italy admitted into intensive care was down
Meanwhile, Italy's civil protection agency has arranged for rescued migrants to be placed in quarantine to check for coronavirus infections on ships or on land.
More than 1.8 million people worldwide have now been infected, and over 113,000 have died, according to the Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the pandemic.
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Spain has now overtaken Italy in terms of cases, with more than 166,000 - second only to the United States - and almost 17,000 people in Spain have died with the virus.
The country's latest fatality figure rose for the first time in three days on Sunday, to 619, bringing the total to 16,972.
More than 60,000 patients have recovered.
Spain also recorded its lowest daily growth in confirmed infections in three weeks, as it prepares to loosen its strict lockdown measures and allow some workers to return to their jobs.
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:: Listen to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Those who can work from home are strongly being encouraged by authorities to continue doing so.
Retail shops will remain closed, other than supermarkets, fruit stands, bakeries, butchers, newsstands and pharmacies.
In the UK, another 737 people with COVID-19 died in hospitals, taking the total passed the 10,000 mark - to 10,612.
The total number of infections in Britain now stands at 84,279.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:13 'The NHS saved my life, no question'
In the Republic of Ireland, the number of deaths has risen by 14 to 334. There are 9,655 infections.
The US now has 542,023 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University, and 21,489 people have died - more than in any other country worldwide.
In France, the number of deaths - which includes figures from hospitals and nursing homes - rose by 561 to 14,393 as of Sunday.
But for the fourth day in a row, slightly fewer people were admitted into intensive care.
However, the country's health authority said it was important to remain vigilant because hospitals were still taking in a very large number of patients.
Russia reported its largest daily increase of cases on Sunday - 2,186 - since the outbreak began.
Moscow and many other regions have been in lockdown for almost two weeks, but the number of cases reached 15,770 - while the number of deaths rose to 130.
Authorities in the capital have clamped down on those venturing outside without a reason, such as to buy food or medicine, get medical treatment, walk the dog, or take out the rubbish.
Around 3.5 million people there, in a city of 12.5 million, reportedly left their homes for more than six hours on Friday, according to a track analysis of their mobile phones - and more than 1,300 fines have been issued for breaking rules.
Moscow is preparing to introduce digital permits next week to control movement to help enforce the lockdown.
Image: Vehicles spray disinfectant while sanitising a road in Moscow
In Japan, two workers' groups have issued a joint statement warning about a "collapse of emergency medicine," which may lead to the collapse of medicine overall.
The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, and the Japanese Society for Emergency Medicine have said healthcare facilities are being stretched amid a surge in coronavirus patients.
The statement said many hospitals were turning people away who were brought in by ambulance, including those suffering strokes, heart attacks and external injuries.
It said that some who were not accepted, later turned out to have the virus.
Japan - which has declared a state of emergency and is asking people to stay at home - has nearly 7,000 cases, and 108 deaths, but the numbers are growing.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
However there is better news for Australia, with its chief medical officer saying the country is "in a good place" in its fight against the disease, as deaths rose by just three, to 59.
It now has 6,289 confirmed cases.
Brendan Murphy has said there is "no place in the world I would rather be than Australia at the moment".


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: Another 717 coronavirus patients die in UK hospitals - taking total to 11,329

Another 717 coronavirus patients have died in UK hospitals , taking the nationwide total to 11,329 .
It is the lowest increase recorded over the Bank Holiday weekend , after 980 on Friday , which surpassed the worst confirmed daily totals in Italy and Spain , 917 on Saturday and 737 on Sunday .
The number of people who have been tested for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , rose to 290,720 following another 15,506 tests on Monday - with 88,821 having now tested positive in the UK .
The figures were announced by the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities in each home nation .
NHS England announced another 667 coronavirus patients had died in hospitals in England , taking the total in the country to 10,261. : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Of those latest deaths , 118 occurred on 12 April while 537 took place between 1 April and 11 April .
The remaining 12 deaths happened last month , going back as far as 26 March .
Patients were aged between 17 and 101 - and 40 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no underlying health conditions .
Another nine deaths were also recorded in Scotland , 15 in Wales , and six in Northern Ireland .
The different nations in the UK collate their figures at different times throughout the day , so there are sometimes discrepancies between the government 's total and when each nation 's numbers are added together .
According to the regional statistics , the number of deaths now stands at : Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that figures are always expected to be lower after the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anticipates higher increases in the coming days .
The SNP leader also told her daily news briefing that the UK lockdown was likely to be extended this week , taking it beyond the original three-week time frame set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is still deputising for Mr Johnson while he recovers from coronavirus , after being discharged from hospital on Easter Sunday .
Mr Raab has been chairing meetings focused on the outbreak .
An official confirmation of an extension to the lockdown is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures have repeatedly insisted that no decision will be made until evidence on the impact of social distancing measures has been analysed by the the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ) .
SAGE is due to meet this week and present its findings to the government .
Measures are starting to be relaxed in one of Europe 's most badly hit countries , Spain , where some non-essential workers are returning to their jobs .
It comes after Spain reported its lowest daily growth in confirmed coronavirus infections in three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - down from 619 on Sunday .
Spain 's total death count is 17,489 and its number of confirmed cases - 169,496 - puts it behind only the US globally , according to official figures being tracked by Johns Hopkins University .
However , French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced an extension of France 's lockdown until 11 May .
He said there were `` hopeful signs '' the spread of the virus in the country was stabilising , but added : `` It is not over yet . ''

Another 717 coronavirus patients have died in UK hospitals, taking the nationwide total to 11,329.
It is the lowest increase recorded over the Bank Holiday weekend, after 980 on Friday, which surpassed the worst confirmed daily totals in Italy and Spain, 917 on Saturday and 737 on Sunday.
The number of people who have been tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, rose to 290,720 following another 15,506 tests on Monday - with 88,821 having now tested positive in the UK.
The figures were announced by the Department of Health.
Image: The UK remains in lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus
Updates were provided earlier by authorities in each home nation.
NHS England announced another 667 coronavirus patients had died in hospitals in England, taking the total in the country to 10,261.
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Of those latest deaths, 118 occurred on 12 April while 537 took place between 1 April and 11 April.
The remaining 12 deaths happened last month, going back as far as 26 March.
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Patients were aged between 17 and 101 - and 40 of those (aged 37 to 98) had no underlying health conditions.
Another nine deaths were also recorded in Scotland, 15 in Wales, and six in Northern Ireland.
The different nations in the UK collate their figures at different times throughout the day, so there are sometimes discrepancies between the government's total and when each nation's numbers are added together.
According to the regional statistics, the number of deaths now stands at:
England - 10,261
Scotland - 575
Wales - 384
Northern Ireland - 124
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that figures are always expected to be lower after the weekend because of how they are reported, and anticipates higher increases in the coming days.
The SNP leader also told her daily news briefing that the UK lockdown was likely to be extended this week, taking it beyond the original three-week time frame set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:15 Johnson praises NHS staff
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is still deputising for Mr Johnson while he recovers from coronavirus, after being discharged from hospital on Easter Sunday.
Mr Raab has been chairing meetings focused on the outbreak. An official confirmation of an extension to the lockdown is not expected until later this week.
Government figures have repeatedly insisted that no decision will be made until evidence on the impact of social distancing measures has been analysed by the the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
SAGE is due to meet this week and present its findings to the government.
Measures are starting to be relaxed in one of Europe's most badly hit countries, Spain, where some non-essential workers are returning to their jobs.
It comes after Spain reported its lowest daily growth in confirmed coronavirus infections in three weeks, with 517 fatalities recorded on Monday - down from 619 on Sunday.
Spain's total death count is 17,489 and its number of confirmed cases - 169,496 - puts it behind only the US globally, according to official figures being tracked by Johns Hopkins University.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced an extension of France's lockdown until 11 May.
He said there were "hopeful signs" the spread of the virus in the country was stabilising, but added: "It is not over yet."


news--2020-04-13--Coronavirus: Carrie Symonds thanks NHS staff as she joins Boris Johnson at Chequers

Carrie Symonds , the fiancee of Boris Johnson , has thanked NHS staff who looked after the prime minister while he was in intensive care with coronavirus .
Ms Symonds said on Twitter that life got `` very dark '' at times while her husband-to-be was in hospital .
Mr Johnson spent a week in St Thomas ' Hospital , including three nights in intensive care .
He was discharged on Easter Sunday .
`` The staff at St Thomas ' Hospital have been incredible , '' she wrote , `` I will never , ever be able to repay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you . ''
The couple , who are expecting their first child together in the summer , have now retreated to the prime minister 's country home of Chequers while he recovers from the coronavirus .
`` There were times last week that were very dark indeed .
My heart goes out to all those in similar situations , worried sick about their loved ones , '' Ms Symonds tweeted .
`` Thank you also to everyone who sent such kind messages of support .
Today I 'm feeling incredibly lucky . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , sent letters daily to her fiance while he was in hospital .
The 32-year-old previously experienced symptoms of COVID-19 , but was not tested .
She advised on Twitter that expectant parents should follow guidance from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists .
: : Listen to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' Being pregnant with COVID-19 is obviously worrying .
To other pregnant women , please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassuring , '' she said .
The holiday home given to each prime minister , Chequers is a 16th-century Buckinghamshire mansion which has 1,000 acres attached to it .
It is as yet unclear when Mr Johnson will return to his full duties as PM , but Number 10 have so far said he will `` not be returning to work immediately '' .
This leaves Dominic Raab in charge of Downing Street 's day-to-day operations .

Carrie Symonds, the fiancee of Boris Johnson, has thanked NHS staff who looked after the prime minister while he was in intensive care with coronavirus.
Ms Symonds said on Twitter that life got "very dark" at times while her husband-to-be was in hospital.
Mr Johnson spent a week in St Thomas' Hospital, including three nights in intensive care. He was discharged on Easter Sunday.
"The staff at St Thomas' Hospital have been incredible," she wrote, "I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you."
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The couple, who are expecting their first child together in the summer, have now retreated to the prime minister's country home of Chequers while he recovers from the coronavirus.
"There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones," Ms Symonds tweeted.
"Thank you also to everyone who sent such kind messages of support. Today I'm feeling incredibly lucky."
Image: The couple are engaged to be married
Ms Symonds, a former party communications head, sent letters daily to her fiance while he was in hospital.
The 32-year-old previously experienced symptoms of COVID-19, but was not tested.
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She advised on Twitter that expectant parents should follow guidance from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
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"Being pregnant with COVID-19 is obviously worrying. To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I found to be v [sic] reassuring," she said.
The holiday home given to each prime minister, Chequers is a 16th-century Buckinghamshire mansion which has 1,000 acres attached to it.
Image: Ms Symonds is a former communications chief for the Conservative party
It is as yet unclear when Mr Johnson will return to his full duties as PM, but Number 10 have so far said he will "not be returning to work immediately".
This leaves Dominic Raab in charge of Downing Street's day-to-day operations.