news--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Govt reveals five things that need to happen before lockdown is lifted

The UK 's coronavirus lockdown will remain in place for at least another three weeks , with the government outlining the conditions for easing restrictions .
Although Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said there is light at the end of the tunnel , he warned the country remains `` at a delicate and dangerous stage of this pandemic '' .
Amid growing pressure to reveal details of an exit plan , Mr Raab revealed there are five factors that the government `` must be satisfied of '' before measures can be relaxed .
They are : • Confidence that the NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist treatment across the UK • The need to see a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate to be confident we are beyond the peak • Reliable data from SAGE that the infection rate has decreased to manageable levels • Testing capacity and PPE is in hand to meet supply for future demand • Not risk a second peak of infection that overwhelms the NHS Standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street 's daily coronavirus news briefing , Mr Raab said that experts had warned relaxing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both public health and the economy '' - and undo the progress made so far .
The extension takes the lockdown to at least 7 May , and Mr Raab hinted it would likely go further .
He added : `` We 've come too far , lost too many loved ones and sacrificed too much to let up now - especially when we are now beginning to see that our efforts are paying off . ''
On Thursday , the total number of COVID-19 patients who have died in UK hospitals exceeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There have now been 103,093 positive tests for the illness nationwide .
The UK remains a few weeks behind other European countries badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic , with Italy and Spain beginning to slightly ease some restrictions following consistent daily falls in their infection and death rates .
Over in the US , Donald Trump has unveiled a three-phase plan to help the US return to normal , with one in seven American workers now unemployed .
While the lockdown has seen the rate of infection drop significantly in Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` issues with the virus spreading in some hospitals and care homes '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Later today , Health Secretary Matt Hancock will face questions from MPs over the government 's coronavirus response .
He is expected to face scrutiny over the provision of personal protective equipment and the UK 's exit strategy , with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming that Mr Raab has been `` reluctant '' to set out a timeline without Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sadiq Khan has said wearing face masks on public transport should be made compulsory in the capital .
In a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps , Mr Khan expressed fears that the UK is `` lagging behind the international community on this issue '' .
He wrote : `` The latest scientific evidence shows that they can reduce the chances of an individual unknowingly infecting other people with COVID-19 and can therefore help to slow the spread of the virus .
`` This is consistent with the advice from the World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other cities and countries around the world , many of whom have made wearing a face covering , especially when it is not possible to socially distance , a requirement before lifting lockdown . ''

The UK's coronavirus lockdown will remain in place for at least another three weeks, with the government outlining the conditions for easing restrictions.
Although Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said there is light at the end of the tunnel, he warned the country remains "at a delicate and dangerous stage of this pandemic".
Image: The extension takes the lockdown to at least 7 May, and Mr Raab hinted it would likely go further
Amid growing pressure to reveal details of an exit plan, Mr Raab revealed there are five factors that the government "must be satisfied of" before measures can be relaxed. They are:
Confidence that the NHS can still provide sufficient critical care and specialist treatment across the UK
The need to see a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate to be confident we are beyond the peak
Reliable data from SAGE that the infection rate has decreased to manageable levels
Testing capacity and PPE is in hand to meet supply for future demand
Not risk a second peak of infection that overwhelms the NHS
Standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street's daily coronavirus news briefing, Mr Raab said that experts had warned relaxing the lockdown now would "risk damage to both public health and the economy" - and undo the progress made so far.
The extension takes the lockdown to at least 7 May, and Mr Raab hinted it would likely go further.
He added: "We've come too far, lost too many loved ones and sacrificed too much to let up now - especially when we are now beginning to see that our efforts are paying off."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:42 UK lockdown: Could public patience run out?
On Thursday, the total number of COVID-19 patients who have died in UK hospitals exceeded 13,000 after another 861 deaths were confirmed.
There have now been 103,093 positive tests for the illness nationwide.
The UK remains a few weeks behind other European countries badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with Italy and Spain beginning to slightly ease some restrictions following consistent daily falls in their infection and death rates.
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:01 Britain applauds its NHS heroes
Over in the US, Donald Trump has unveiled a three-phase plan to help the US return to normal, with one in seven American workers now unemployed.
While the lockdown has seen the rate of infection drop significantly in Britain, Mr Raab warned there were still "issues with the virus spreading in some hospitals and care homes".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Later today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock will face questions from MPs over the government's coronavirus response.
He is expected to face scrutiny over the provision of personal protective equipment and the UK's exit strategy, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming that Mr Raab has been "reluctant" to set out a timeline without Boris Johnson's approval.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said wearing face masks on public transport should be made compulsory in the capital.
In a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Mr Khan expressed fears that the UK is "lagging behind the international community on this issue".
He wrote: "The latest scientific evidence shows that they can reduce the chances of an individual unknowingly infecting other people with COVID-19 and can therefore help to slow the spread of the virus.
"This is consistent with the advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and with actions in other cities and countries around the world, many of whom have made wearing a face covering, especially when it is not possible to socially distance, a requirement before lifting lockdown."


news--2020-04-14--Coronavirus: Care home outbreaks 'almost unavoidable' but tests 'ramping up' - minister

Coronavirus outbreaks in care homes were `` almost unavoidable '' , a minster has said as she promised to `` ramp up '' testing for residents and staff .
Opposition parties have warned of a `` growing crisis '' in care homes , with elderly residents particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
And there are growing demands for care home deaths to be included in the daily updates for deaths in hospitals to stop `` potentially thousands '' of fatalities going `` under the radar '' .
In response to these concerns , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff who need a test for COVID-19 will be able to access one , as testing capacity continues to increase .
Social care minister Helen Whately defended the delay , saying it was `` almost unavoidable '' there are virus outbreaks in care homes , which are `` used to '' infection control because of seasonal flu .
She told Sky News ' Kay Burley @ Breakfast 1,000 care workers have been tested and a further 2,000 have been referred for tests .
Pressed on whether the government has acted too slow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and night '' to make sure we 're `` as prepared as we can '' .
Ministers have pledged to reach 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month , a target Downing Street insists the UK is on course to meet .
The latest figures show that 14,982 tests were carried out in the 24 hours up to 9am on Tuesday .
So far , just 505 social care workers have been tested for the coronavirus .
The Care Quality Commission will coordinate the tests for people and staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have contacted all 30,000 care providers by the end of the week .
Care providers will be asked to identify workers eligible for testing and then refer them to their local testing centre .
In addition , all residents of a care home with symptoms of the disease will be tested , rather than the first five who are symptomatic , as is currently the case .
And for those who are discharged from hospital , they will be tested before returning to their care home as a matter of course .
Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential to tackling what was an `` emerging crisis '' .
Liz Kendall , the party 's shadow minister for social care , said : `` We look forward to seeing details of how this latest commitment will be delivered .
`` The government has rightly said the NHS will get whatever resources it needs to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic .
This must also apply to social care , which needs a much greater priority and focus than it has had so far .
`` Alongside this , ministers must act to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff get the PPE ( personal protective equipment ) they need and publish daily figures on deaths outside hospitals , including in care homes , so we know the full scale of the challenge we face . ''
The head of Public Health England said on Tuesday that health bodies are `` working towards '' including coronavirus-related deaths in care homes in the government 's daily figures .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Professor Yvonne Doyle told the daily COVID-19 news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for National Statistics to get faster data on deaths in care homes , hospices , private homes and elsewhere .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the same briefing that care home residents and workers `` have absolutely not been forgotten '' about by the government .
He stressed the need for data that is `` consistent and accurate and timely '' .
Asked whether it would be more `` respectful '' to publish care home deaths along with the hospital deaths , he replied : `` There is absolutely no desire not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to provide that data . ''
The latest weekly data from the ONS showed around 10 % of deaths registered up to 3 April in England and Wales were outside hospitals .
On Wednesday the Liverpool Echo reported eight residents out of 44 have dies at a car home in Crosby after an outbreak of COVID-19 there .
A quarter of all registered deaths involving COVID-19 in Scotland occurred in care homes , according to the National Records of Scotland ( NRS ) .
NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely gone under the radar because the figures are not released in the same way as the daily statistics for deaths in hospitals .
`` If we are to understand the true scale of the spread , the number of deaths in care homes should be released daily in the same way as they are for hospital deaths . ''
Sally Copley , director of policy , campaigns and partnerships at the Alzheimer 's Society , said : `` If the government is n't counting these deaths , how can it be taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them ?
`` It strikes us that these deaths from coronavirus are the iceberg , and the hospital figures are just the tip .
`` The evidence from Europe shows more than 40 % of all deaths relating to coronavirus occur in care homes , so our fear is that potentially thousands of UK deaths are being missed from official figures . ''

Coronavirus outbreaks in care homes were "almost unavoidable", a minster has said as she promised to "ramp up" testing for residents and staff.
Opposition parties have warned of a "growing crisis" in care homes, with elderly residents particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
And there are growing demands for care home deaths to be included in the daily updates for deaths in hospitals to stop "potentially thousands" of fatalities going "under the radar".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:48 Care home staff too scared to work
In response to these concerns, the government has pledged that all social care staff who need a test for COVID-19 will be able to access one, as testing capacity continues to increase.
Social care minister Helen Whately defended the delay, saying it was "almost unavoidable" there are virus outbreaks in care homes, which are "used to" infection control because of seasonal flu.
She told Sky News' Kay Burley@Breakfast 1,000 care workers have been tested and a further 2,000 have been referred for tests.
Pressed on whether the government has acted too slow, she said she had been working "day and night" to make sure we're "as prepared as we can".
Ministers have pledged to reach 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, a target Downing Street insists the UK is on course to meet.
The latest figures show that 14,982 tests were carried out in the 24 hours up to 9am on Tuesday. So far, just 505 social care workers have been tested for the coronavirus.
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:34 Outbreak figures in UK care homes confirmed
The Care Quality Commission will coordinate the tests for people and staff working in care - and aims to have contacted all 30,000 care providers by the end of the week.
Care providers will be asked to identify workers eligible for testing and then refer them to their local testing centre.
In addition, all residents of a care home with symptoms of the disease will be tested, rather than the first five who are symptomatic, as is currently the case.
And for those who are discharged from hospital, they will be tested before returning to their care home as a matter of course.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:31 10% of coronavirus deaths away from hospitals
Labour said increased testing in the sector was essential to tackling what was an "emerging crisis".
Liz Kendall, the party's shadow minister for social care, said: "We look forward to seeing details of how this latest commitment will be delivered.
"The government has rightly said the NHS will get whatever resources it needs to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. This must also apply to social care, which needs a much greater priority and focus than it has had so far.
"Alongside this, ministers must act to ensure all care home and home care staff get the PPE (personal protective equipment) they need and publish daily figures on deaths outside hospitals, including in care homes, so we know the full scale of the challenge we face."
The head of Public Health England said on Tuesday that health bodies are "working towards" including coronavirus-related deaths in care homes in the government's daily figures.
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
Professor Yvonne Doyle told the daily COVID-19 news conference that PHE was working with the Office for National Statistics to get faster data on deaths in care homes, hospices, private homes and elsewhere.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the same briefing that care home residents and workers "have absolutely not been forgotten" about by the government.
He stressed the need for data that is "consistent and accurate and timely".
Asked whether it would be more "respectful" to publish care home deaths along with the hospital deaths, he replied: "There is absolutely no desire not to respect what's happening in care homes and to provide that data."
The latest weekly data from the ONS showed around 10% of deaths registered up to 3 April in England and Wales were outside hospitals.
On Wednesday the Liverpool Echo reported eight residents out of 44 have dies at a car home in Crosby after an outbreak of COVID-19 there.
A quarter of all registered deaths involving COVID-19 in Scotland occurred in care homes, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS).
NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson said: "The spread in care homes has largely gone under the radar because the figures are not released in the same way as the daily statistics for deaths in hospitals.
"If we are to understand the true scale of the spread, the number of deaths in care homes should be released daily in the same way as they are for hospital deaths."
Sally Copley, director of policy, campaigns and partnerships at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "If the government isn't counting these deaths, how can it be taking the urgent and necessary action to address them?
"It strikes us that these deaths from coronavirus are the iceberg, and the hospital figures are just the tip.
"The evidence from Europe shows more than 40% of all deaths relating to coronavirus occur in care homes, so our fear is that potentially thousands of UK deaths are being missed from official figures."


news--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: 'Don't take it lightly' - The family that caught coronavirus - and recovered

A woman from Wales , who was among the first in the country to test positive for coronavirus alongside her husband and mother , has warned others not to take the disease lightly .
Laura Jacobs and her husband Matthew from Neath both began displaying coronavirus symptoms in February , after Laura 's parents came back from a trip to a then-unaffected part of Italy .
They visited her mother , Melissa , when she returned from the trip and was not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms .
Speaking to Sky News , Laura , who works in her local NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptomatic around three days later , with her and Matthew showing symptoms later that week .
`` We had a temperature , fever , shivers and aching , and within a few days we had a sore throat , tight chest and shortness of breath , '' she said .
`` We had not heard of any other cases so far in Wales , and as my mother had just got back from Italy , Public Health Wales agreed to test my family .
`` The nurse came to my house in full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for me , but it was for my husband and children .
The nurse was lovely , really nice .
`` Three throat swabs each were sent away for testing and me and my husband both tested positive within 24 hours . ''
Laura 's children , five-year-old Ava and 10-month-old Miles , both tested negative - something she said was a `` relief '' .
The family then went into isolation , as per government advice .
: : Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part was the first week when I did n't know I had it .
At the time I put it down to contracting flu as I had n't had my flu jab due to being pregnant - but it felt worse than flu .
`` By the time I was tested , I felt like I was through the worst part of the symptoms .
`` After that , the fever and chills and had gone and travelled down , giving me a sore throat and shortness of breath .
Laura said despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , it took another two to fully recover , meaning she spent a month away from work .
`` I was up on my feet and able to go on walks , but my immune system was run down and fatigued . ''
However , Laura 's husband , 35-year-old Matt , suffered worse symptoms than her , and ended up being admitted to hospital .
`` He 's asthmatic and was struggling to breathe , so our consultant recommended he go to hospital , where he was diagnosed with viral pneumonia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hospital , but just had COVID-19 .
The recovery process took its toll on their children .
Laura said that although her youngest did n't really notice the difference , Ava found it difficult .
`` We were both unwell at the same time and the advice was to isolate away from other family members that did n't test positive - but we could n't do that .
`` My daughter found it really unsettling as she was taken out of school and was unable to see anyone else - those first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : : Listen to Coronavirus : In This Together on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or Spreaker Laura is now back at work and her family is fully recovered , but she said : `` It is a serious virus .
`` Follow the government guidelines to keep yourself and others safe - do n't take it lightly .
`` But also , do n't let it take over your life , and balance it out - look for the light at the end of the tunnel .
`` There were no other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had fear of the unknown .
It was a scary situation but we had such a good standard of care , and maybe I 'm biased - but the NHS were brilliant , brave and supportive . ''

A woman from Wales, who was among the first in the country to test positive for coronavirus alongside her husband and mother, has warned others not to take the disease lightly.
Laura Jacobs and her husband Matthew from Neath both began displaying coronavirus symptoms in February, after Laura's parents came back from a trip to a then-unaffected part of Italy.
They visited her mother, Melissa, when she returned from the trip and was not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms.
Speaking to Sky News, Laura, who works in her local NHS hospital, said that her mother became symptomatic around three days later, with her and Matthew showing symptoms later that week.
Image: Laura (L) and her mother, Melissa, both showed symptoms within days of each other. Pic: Jacobs family
"We had a temperature, fever, shivers and aching, and within a few days we had a sore throat, tight chest and shortness of breath," she said.
"We had not heard of any other cases so far in Wales, and as my mother had just got back from Italy, Public Health Wales agreed to test my family.
"The nurse came to my house in full PPE, which wasn't too strange for me, but it was for my husband and children. The nurse was lovely, really nice.
"Three throat swabs each were sent away for testing and me and my husband both tested positive within 24 hours."
Laura's children, five-year-old Ava and 10-month-old Miles, both tested negative - something she said was a "relief".
Advertisement
The family then went into isolation, as per government advice.
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 All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"The worst part was the first week when I didn't know I had it. At the time I put it down to contracting flu as I hadn't had my flu jab due to being pregnant - but it felt worse than flu.
"By the time I was tested, I felt like I was through the worst part of the symptoms.
"After that, the fever and chills and had gone and travelled down, giving me a sore throat and shortness of breath.
Laura said despite the symptoms all but going after two weeks, it took another two to fully recover, meaning she spent a month away from work.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 11:53 The Lockdown Diaries
"I was up on my feet and able to go on walks, but my immune system was run down and fatigued."
However, Laura's husband, 35-year-old Matt, suffered worse symptoms than her, and ended up being admitted to hospital.
"He's asthmatic and was struggling to breathe, so our consultant recommended he go to hospital, where he was diagnosed with viral pneumonia.
"My mum was also taken to hospital, but just had COVID-19.
The recovery process took its toll on their children. Laura said that although her youngest didn't really notice the difference, Ava found it difficult.
"We were both unwell at the same time and the advice was to isolate away from other family members that didn't test positive - but we couldn't do that.
"My daughter found it really unsettling as she was taken out of school and was unable to see anyone else - those first two weeks weren't pleasant."
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 Coronavirus: In This Together on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Spreaker
Laura is now back at work and her family is fully recovered, but she said: "It is a serious virus.
"Follow the government guidelines to keep yourself and others safe - don't take it lightly.
"But also, don't let it take over your life, and balance it out - look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
"There were no other cases that we knew of so we had fear of the unknown. It was a scary situation but we had such a good standard of care, and maybe I'm biased - but the NHS were brilliant, brave and supportive."


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: More than 1,600 COVID-19 linked deaths outside of hospitals in England and Wales in Mar

Coronavirus: More than 1,600 COVID-19 linked deaths outside of hospitals in England and Wales in March

There were more than 1,600 coronavirus-linked deaths outside of hospitals in England and Wales in March , new Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) figures suggest .
In new figures published on Thursday , the ONS said there were 3,912 deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales last month .
Of those , 3,372 ( 86 % ) had COVID-19 assigned as the underlying cause of death .
Previously , hospitals in England and Wales had reported 2,226 deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus , as of 5pm on 31 March .
This suggests there were around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two countries in March than previously reported .
The ONS figures count every death in March for which coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate .
There were a total 47,358 deaths of all causes in England and Wales in March - and which were registered by 6 April - meaning that those involving coronavirus accounted for 8 % of that total .
Dementia and Alzheimer 's disease ( 6,401 deaths ) , and coronary heart disease ( 4,042 deaths ) were the two biggest killers in March .
COVID-19 was the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths occurring in March .
The ONS figures also show that , of the deaths involving COVID-19 that occurred in March , there was at least one pre-existing condition in 91 % of cases .
Coronary heart disease was the most common main pre-existing condition found among deaths involving COVID-19 and was involved in 541 deaths ( 14 % of all deaths involving COVID-19 ) .
Pneumonia , dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) were also among the most common pre-existing conditions .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spotify , Spreaker One in five deaths from COVID-19 in March were of those aged between 80 to 84 .
The rate of death due to COVID-19 increased significantly in each age group , starting from age 55 to 59 years in males and age 65 to 69 years in females The ONS also found that males had a significantly higher rate of death due to COVID-19 - double that of females .

There were more than 1,600 coronavirus-linked deaths outside of hospitals in England and Wales in March, new Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest.
In new figures published on Thursday, the ONS said there were 3,912 deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales last month.
Of those, 3,372 (86%) had COVID-19 assigned as the underlying cause of death.
Previously, hospitals in England and Wales had reported 2,226 deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus, as of 5pm on 31 March.
This suggests there were around 75% more coronavirus-linked deaths in the two countries in March than previously reported.
The ONS figures count every death in March for which coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.
There were a total 47,358 deaths of all causes in England and Wales in March - and which were registered by 6 April - meaning that those involving coronavirus accounted for 8% of that total.
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease (6,401 deaths), and coronary heart disease (4,042 deaths) were the two biggest killers in March.
COVID-19 was the third most frequent underlying cause of death for deaths occurring in March.
Advertisement
The ONS figures also show that, of the deaths involving COVID-19 that occurred in March, there was at least one pre-existing condition in 91% of cases.
Coronary heart disease was the most common main pre-existing condition found among deaths involving COVID-19 and was involved in 541 deaths (14% of all deaths involving COVID-19).
Pneumonia, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were also among the most common pre-existing conditions.
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
One in five deaths from COVID-19 in March were of those aged between 80 to 84.
The rate of death due to COVID-19 increased significantly in each age group, starting from age 55 to 59 years in males and age 65 to 69 years in females
The ONS also found that males had a significantly higher rate of death due to COVID-19 - double that of females.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Which towns and cities are most at risk from job cuts?

Crawley has been named in a study as the place most at risk of big job losses as a result of the coronavirus crisis .
More than half of jobs in the West Sussex town near Gatwick Airport are now likely to be `` vulnerable '' or `` very vulnerable '' , research from the Centre for Cities has found .
The study assessed the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis on 62 large cities and towns , finding that those most dependent on the aviation industry faced the greatest threat .
Crawley was found to have the highest share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft manufacturing industries .
The study concluded that 53,000 out of 94,000 jobs in the town were vulnerable or very vulnerable to being furloughed or lost completely .
Luton and Derby were the places next most at risk according to the study .
Apart from aviation , the list of most vulnerable areas is also influenced by their reliance for jobs in other battered sectors such as restaurants or retail .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker In Scotland , Aberdeen - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gas sector - is classed as the most vulnerable .
Oxford , Worthing and Bradford see the most limited jobs hit , though even there more than a fifth of jobs are on the vulnerable or very vulnerable scale .
Here are lists of the top 10 towns and cities expected to face the most and least jobs impacts from the crisis : Likely to be most affected Likely to be least affected

Crawley has been named in a study as the place most at risk of big job losses as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
More than half of jobs in the West Sussex town near Gatwick Airport are now likely to be "vulnerable" or "very vulnerable", research from the Centre for Cities has found.
The study assessed the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis on 62 large cities and towns, finding that those most dependent on the aviation industry faced the greatest threat.
Crawley was found to have the highest share of employees working in the aviation and aircraft manufacturing industries.
The study concluded that 53,000 out of 94,000 jobs in the town were vulnerable or very vulnerable to being furloughed or lost completely.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 Tourism has been hit hard in the seaside town of Western-Super-Mare following the coronavirus outbreak.
Luton and Derby were the places next most at risk according to the study.
Apart from aviation, the list of most vulnerable areas is also influenced by their reliance for jobs in other battered sectors such as restaurants or retail.
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
In Scotland, Aberdeen - a city dominated by the hard-hit oil and gas sector - is classed as the most vulnerable.
Advertisement
Oxford, Worthing and Bradford see the most limited jobs hit, though even there more than a fifth of jobs are on the vulnerable or very vulnerable scale.
Here are lists of the top 10 towns and cities expected to face the most and least jobs impacts from the crisis:
Likely to be most affected
1. Crawley
2. Luton
3. Derby
4. Aberdeen
5. Blackpool
6. Peterborough
7. Plymouth
8. Telford
9. Norwich
10. Burnley
Likely to be least affected
1. Oxford
2. Worthing
3. Bradford
4. Cambridge
5. Leicester
6. Reading
7. Swansea
8. Birkenhead
9. Preston
10. Leeds


news--2020-04-16--AstraZeneca faces humiliating revolt over chief Soriot's pay package

AstraZeneca , the FTSE-100 drugs giant , is facing a humiliating shareholder revolt over its chief executive 's pay package at a time of heightened tension over multimillion pound boardroom pay awards .
Sky News can reveal that the company has been warned by City institutions that they plan to vote against its remuneration report and policy at its annual meeting on 29 April .
Investors ' anger against AstraZeneca , which has faced a string of pay revolts in previous years , has been ignited by its refusal to reduce chief executive Pascal Soriot 's pension contribution to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pharmaceutical group intends to cut Mr Soriot 's pension award from 30 % of his £1.288m salary to 20 % - still well above the average payment to employees .
Sources said that the Investment Association 's ( IA ) influential IVIS voting advisory service had applied a red-top alert to AstraZeneca 's pay policy , the strongest possible warning about a company 's behaviour , because of the pension award .
The IA signalled last year that it would take a hard line against companies which refused to align executives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workforces .
AstraZeneca , however , has also sparked fury among shareholders on two other pay-related issues : its directors ' use of discretion to award Mr Soriot 's annual bonus and the decision to increase the maximum award under his long-term incentive plan from 500 % of salary to 550 % .
The latter point is expected to prove especially incendiary because of institutional investors ' vocal calls for public companies to demonstrate pay restraint during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Many companies , ranging from Balfour Beatty to Whitbread , have announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to charity .
AstraZeneca is not among the companies to have announced such a move .
One person close to the pharmaceutical giant pointed out that it had not sought government support to supplement employees ' salaries , cut its dividend or applied for emergency loans .
They added that AstraZeneca had also demonstrated its corporate responsibility by donating 9m face-masks to health authorities around the world , while it is collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline and the University of Cambridge to test tens of thousands of people for COVID-19 .
Mr Soriot earned £14.3m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best-paid bosses of a FTSE-100 company .
The year before , he was paid £12.9m - a figure which prompted an extraordinary outburst in an interview with The Sunday Times , in which Mr Soriot said : '' The truth is I 'm the lowest-paid CEO in the whole industry , '' he said .
`` It is annoying to some extent .
`` But at the end of the day it is what it is . ''
AstraZeneca is no stranger to shareholder revolts on pay .
In 2017 , almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report , while the figure the following year the figure was only marginally lower , at just under 35 % .
A repeat of earlier rows is likely to increase pressure from City investors for a boardroom shake-up .
While AstraZeneca 's financial performance has improved during Mr Soriot 's seven-and-a-half-year tenure , and its total shareholder return is industry-leading , some investors believe it pays scant regard to effective corporate governance .
In 2014 , US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer abandoned a near-£70bn takeover bid for AstraZeneca amid pressure from the UK government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by refusing to link executive pay to targets set out as part of its takeover defence .
AstraZeneca recorded more than $ 24bn in revenue last year , and employs more than 70,000 people around the world - over 3000 of whom have a PhD .
The intensity of any pay revolt against AstraZeneca this month may be diminished by the fact that investors are being barred from attending forthcoming company meetings in person because of the coronavirus pandemic .
In the company 's annual report , Graham Chipchase , the non-executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I met 16 of AstraZeneca 's top shareholders over the course of three months to discuss our proposals and was pleased with the level of engagement , feedback and support received . ''
Leif Johansson , AstraZeneca 's chairman for almost eight years , is expected to step down within the next 18 months .
AstraZeneca and the IA declined to comment on Thursday .

AstraZeneca, the FTSE-100 drugs giant, is facing a humiliating shareholder revolt over its chief executive's pay package at a time of heightened tension over multimillion pound boardroom pay awards.
Sky News can reveal that the company has been warned by City institutions that they plan to vote against its remuneration report and policy at its annual meeting on 29 April.
Investors' anger against AstraZeneca, which has faced a string of pay revolts in previous years, has been ignited by its refusal to reduce chief executive Pascal Soriot's pension contribution to the average applied to its vast UK workforce.
The pharmaceutical group intends to cut Mr Soriot's pension award from 30% of his £1.288m salary to 20% - still well above the average payment to employees.
Sources said that the Investment Association's (IA) influential IVIS voting advisory service had applied a red-top alert to AstraZeneca's pay policy, the strongest possible warning about a company's behaviour, because of the pension award.
The IA signalled last year that it would take a hard line against companies which refused to align executives' retirement contributions with those of their workforces.
AstraZeneca, however, has also sparked fury among shareholders on two other pay-related issues: its directors' use of discretion to award Mr Soriot's annual bonus and the decision to increase the maximum award under his long-term incentive plan from 500% of salary to 550%.
The latter point is expected to prove especially incendiary because of institutional investors' vocal calls for public companies to demonstrate pay restraint during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image: AstraZeneca is based in Cambridge
Many companies, ranging from Balfour Beatty to Whitbread, have announced voluntary reductions in boardroom pay or contributions to charity.
Advertisement
AstraZeneca is not among the companies to have announced such a move.
One person close to the pharmaceutical giant pointed out that it had not sought government support to supplement employees' salaries, cut its dividend or applied for emergency loans.
They added that AstraZeneca had also demonstrated its corporate responsibility by donating 9m face-masks to health authorities around the world, while it is collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline and the University of Cambridge to test tens of thousands of people for COVID-19.
Mr Soriot earned £14.3m last year, making him one of the best-paid bosses of a FTSE-100 company.
The year before, he was paid £12.9m - a figure which prompted an extraordinary outburst in an interview with The Sunday Times, in which Mr Soriot said:" The truth is I'm the lowest-paid CEO in the whole industry," he said.
"It is annoying to some extent.
"But at the end of the day it is what it is."
AstraZeneca is no stranger to shareholder revolts on pay.
In 2017, almost 39% of investors opposed its remuneration report, while the figure the following year the figure was only marginally lower, at just under 35%.
A repeat of earlier rows is likely to increase pressure from City investors for a boardroom shake-up.
While AstraZeneca's financial performance has improved during Mr Soriot's seven-and-a-half-year tenure, and its total shareholder return is industry-leading, some investors believe it pays scant regard to effective corporate governance.
In 2014, US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer abandoned a near-£70bn takeover bid for AstraZeneca amid pressure from the UK government.
The Anglo-Swedish company subsequently annoyed investors by refusing to link executive pay to targets set out as part of its takeover defence.
AstraZeneca recorded more than $24bn in revenue last year, and employs more than 70,000 people around the world - over 3000 of whom have a PhD.
The intensity of any pay revolt against AstraZeneca this month may be diminished by the fact that investors are being barred from attending forthcoming company meetings in person because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the company's annual report, Graham Chipchase, the non-executive director who chairs its remuneration committee, wrote: "I met 16 of AstraZeneca's top shareholders over the course of three months to discuss our proposals and was pleased with the level of engagement, feedback and support received."
Leif Johansson, AstraZeneca's chairman for almost eight years, is expected to step down within the next 18 months.
AstraZeneca and the IA declined to comment on Thursday.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Anger at care home as 16 residents die and more are sick

The manager of a care home among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic has told Sky News they feel `` let down by the government '' .
Andrea Lyon , manager of Oak Springs Care Home in Liverpool , where 16 residents have died and another eight still have symptoms of COVID-19 , said a promise to ramp up testing was `` three weeks too late '' .
`` Their plans should have been ready to be actioned immediately , not three weeks down the line , '' she added .
`` Three weeks down the line to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take care of my residents with less than 50 % of my staff because the government did n't have their action plan ready to be actioned straight away .
`` It makes me very angry . ''
Amid the outbreak affecting Oak Springs , a straw poll by Sky News researchers has found few care homes in the country have been able to test their residents or their staff for COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .
And a group of more than 30 Labour MPs has suggested Health Secretary Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes have been tested from the start of the pandemic is `` not substantiated by evidence on the ground '' .
One of the care assistants at Oak Springs , Michelle Fay , told Sky News that lives had been needlessly lost .
`` People knew this was coming before it came , people higher than us , and I think it could have been prevented and lives could have been saved - that 's my opinion , '' she said .
At one stage , more than 50 % of staff at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absences put even more strain on a home that thought it was highly prepared but was still taken aback by the ferocity and swiftness with which the virus spread .
Manager Ms Lyon told Sky News : `` It was horrendous .
Coronavirus was upon us within no time at all .
`` As fast as our first resident displayed symptoms of COVID-19 , as fast as we were addressing it , then other residents were becoming symptomatic through the day .
`` On one occasion , there were 19 staff members that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Ms Lyon spoke emotionally about the challenges of ensuring no dying resident was left to die alone .
`` We took it in 20 minute shifts , so not one of our residents who died was left to pass away on their own , '' she said .
`` Someone was with each and every one of them until the end . ''
But she said it had taken a huge toll on the staff , who said it was like `` losing 16 grandparents '' .
Ms Lyon said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result , but added she was now `` very , very angry '' at the lack of preparation by the government .
She said : `` I feel that they let us down .
They had the information from other countries , the information on how it had affected their care homes , but failed to prepare our care homes and get them ready .
`` What we were not prepared for was that a GP was not going to come out , that residents are not going to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be delivered should that resident become breathless . ''
Ms Lyon said she struggled to get anyone to even certify the deaths because everyone seemed at a loss about how to deal with a highly contagious deadly virus .
As a result , government assertions about testing in care homes have been met with scepticism and doubt .
Paula Barker , Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree , said she and her team had rung every care home in her constituency - about 20 - and found that none had received testing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the chief medical officer [ Professor Chris Whitty ] is not substantiated by the evidence that me and my team have collected , '' she said .
`` We 've phoned all the care homes in my constituency , even those which have had signs of COVID-19 . ''
Mr Hancock has said that `` 85 % of care homes do not have outbreaks of COVID-19 '' - another claim which is being rigorously challenged by several opposition MPs .
Ms Barker said : `` I 'm just astounded really that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tracking has not been carried out - so I am incredulous really .
`` And I 'm wondering where he 's plucked that figure from ...
I think he 's plucked it from the air . ''
Figures from the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) have indicated that the UK 's true COVID-19 death toll is far higher than daily hospital figures - now totalling more than 13,000 deaths - would suggest .
ONS numbers suggest there were around 75 % more coronavirus-related fatalities in England and Wales last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than half of those occurring in care homes .

The manager of a care home among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic has told Sky News they feel "let down by the government".
Andrea Lyon, manager of Oak Springs Care Home in Liverpool, where 16 residents have died and another eight still have symptoms of COVID-19, said a promise to ramp up testing was "three weeks too late".
"Their plans should have been ready to be actioned immediately, not three weeks down the line," she added.
"Three weeks down the line to me now is no good. I had to take care of my residents with less than 50% of my staff because the government didn't have their action plan ready to be actioned straight away.
"It makes me very angry."
Image: Many staff have been off sick since the outbreak began
Amid the outbreak affecting Oak Springs, a straw poll by Sky News researchers has found few care homes in the country have been able to test their residents or their staff for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
And a group of more than 30 Labour MPs has suggested Health Secretary Matt Hancock's claims that people in care homes have been tested from the start of the pandemic is "not substantiated by evidence on the ground".
One of the care assistants at Oak Springs, Michelle Fay, told Sky News that lives had been needlessly lost.
"People knew this was coming before it came, people higher than us, and I think it could have been prevented and lives could have been saved - that's my opinion," she said.
Advertisement
At one stage, more than 50% of staff at Oak Springs were off work.
The absences put even more strain on a home that thought it was highly prepared but was still taken aback by the ferocity and swiftness with which the virus spread.
Image: Care home staff said the recent spate of deaths was like 'losing 16 grandparents'
Manager Ms Lyon told Sky News: "It was horrendous. Coronavirus was upon us within no time at all.
"As fast as our first resident displayed symptoms of COVID-19, as fast as we were addressing it, then other residents were becoming symptomatic through the day.
"On one occasion, there were 19 staff members that had phoned in sick through the night."
Ms Lyon spoke emotionally about the challenges of ensuring no dying resident was left to die alone.
"We took it in 20 minute shifts, so not one of our residents who died was left to pass away on their own," she said.
"Someone was with each and every one of them until the end."
Image: Eight residents are still showing symptoms of the disease
But she said it had taken a huge toll on the staff, who said it was like "losing 16 grandparents".
Ms Lyon said she had learned "an awful lot" as a result, but added she was now "very, very angry" at the lack of preparation by the government.
She said: "I feel that they let us down. They had the information from other countries, the information on how it had affected their care homes, but failed to prepare our care homes and get them ready.
"What we were not prepared for was that a GP was not going to come out, that residents are not going to go to hospital, that no oxygen is going to be delivered should that resident become breathless."
Image: At one stage, more than 50% of staff at Oak Springs were off work
Ms Lyon said she struggled to get anyone to even certify the deaths because everyone seemed at a loss about how to deal with a highly contagious deadly virus.
As a result, government assertions about testing in care homes have been met with scepticism and doubt.
Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said she and her team had rung every care home in her constituency - about 20 - and found that none had received testing.
"The assertion made by Matt Hancock and the chief medical officer [Professor Chris Whitty] is not substantiated by the evidence that me and my team have collected," she said.
"We've phoned all the care homes in my constituency, even those which have had signs of COVID-19."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:27 Health Secretary tackled over lack of care home testing
Mr Hancock has said that "85% of care homes do not have outbreaks of COVID-19" - another claim which is being rigorously challenged by several opposition MPs.
Ms Barker said: "I'm just astounded really that he can quote that figure because the testing and tracking has not been carried out - so I am incredulous really.
"And I'm wondering where he's plucked that figure from... I think he's plucked it from the air."
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have indicated that the UK's true COVID-19 death toll is far higher than daily hospital figures - now totalling more than 13,000 deaths - would suggest.
ONS numbers suggest there were around 75% more coronavirus-related fatalities in England and Wales last month than reported by the government, with more than half of those occurring in care homes.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: More than 20 million claim US unemployment benefit in past month

The US recorded 5.2 million unemployment claims last week , taking the total over the past month to more than 20 million .
It is the worst stretch of American job losses on record , with much of the world 's biggest economy at a standstill due to lockdown measures put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus .
It comes as Donald Trump insists that the number of new cases in the US has passed its peak and stressed his keenness to re-start economic activity , claiming the country will be the `` comeback kid '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of labour adds to the 6.6 million claims seen the week before , a record 6.9 million the week before that , and 3.3 million in the prior seven days .
That means roughly 22 million people have sought jobless benefits in the last four weeks - and experts think there will be more big numbers to come .
Joseph Briggs , an economist at Goldman Sachs , said : `` We expect that claims will remain very elevated in coming weeks as states struggle to clear backlogs and more companies lay off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Including this week , we currently project an additional 20 million in initial jobless claims through the end of May , after which we expect new claims to fall to levels consistent with prior recessions . ''
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker It come as all businesses seen as non-essential have been closed in nearly every state with deep job losses inflicted on every industry .
Some economists think the unemployment rate will rise as high as 20 % , soaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis just over a decade ago to a level unmatched since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
Lay-offs are spreading beyond the likes of hotels , bars and restaurants , which absorbed the initial job cuts , to encompass white-collar occupations including software programmers and sales people .
The latest figures underscore the likelihood that the US , like other major economies , is being tipped into a severe recession by the impact of the coronavirus crisis .
Earlier this week the IMF forecast that the American economy would shrink by 5.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the damage caused will be even worse - before an expected rebound when the lockdown ends .
Notable US job announcements in recent days have come from electronics chain Best Buy - which said it will furlough 51,000 employees - and Toast - a software company that works with restaurants and has cut 1,300 jobs , half its workforce .
The latest jobs figures come a day after dismal data showing a record drop in US retail sales in March and the biggest decline in factory output since 1946 .

The US recorded 5.2 million unemployment claims last week, taking the total over the past month to more than 20 million.
It is the worst stretch of American job losses on record, with much of the world's biggest economy at a standstill due to lockdown measures put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
It comes as Donald Trump insists that the number of new cases in the US has passed its peak and stressed his keenness to re-start economic activity, claiming the country will be the "comeback kid".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:46 'I don't know if I'll make it': US workers lose jobs
The latest weekly tally from Washington's department of labour adds to the 6.6 million claims seen the week before, a record 6.9 million the week before that, and 3.3 million in the prior seven days.
That means roughly 22 million people have sought jobless benefits in the last four weeks - and experts think there will be more big numbers to come.
Joseph Briggs, an economist at Goldman Sachs, said: "We expect that claims will remain very elevated in coming weeks as states struggle to clear backlogs and more companies lay off workers in response to the shutdown
"Including this week, we currently project an additional 20 million in initial jobless claims through the end of May, after which we expect new claims to fall to levels consistent with prior recessions."
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 Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
It come as all businesses seen as non-essential have been closed in nearly every state with deep job losses inflicted on every industry.
Advertisement
Some economists think the unemployment rate will rise as high as 20%, soaring past the damage inflicted during the financial crisis just over a decade ago to a level unmatched since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Lay-offs are spreading beyond the likes of hotels, bars and restaurants, which absorbed the initial job cuts, to encompass white-collar occupations including software programmers and sales people.
The latest figures underscore the likelihood that the US, like other major economies, is being tipped into a severe recession by the impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Earlier this week the IMF forecast that the American economy would shrink by 5.9% in 2020 while some experts think the damage caused will be even worse - before an expected rebound when the lockdown ends.
Notable US job announcements in recent days have come from electronics chain Best Buy - which said it will furlough 51,000 employees - and Toast - a software company that works with restaurants and has cut 1,300 jobs, half its workforce.
The latest jobs figures come a day after dismal data showing a record drop in US retail sales in March and the biggest decline in factory output since 1946.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: New Jersey police find 18 bodies at care home's 'makeshift morgue'

The bodies of 18 people have been found at a care home in New Jersey .
Police discovered five bodies on Sunday and a further 13 the following day after receiving an anonymous tip that the home was storing a body outside , according to Andover Township Police chief Eric Danielson .
The 13 bodies were found in a building used to house deceased residents until they can be collected by a funeral home , according to the New Jersey Herald .
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was `` outraged '' that bodies of the dead were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morgue '' at the facility .
`` New Jerseyans living in our long-term care facilities deserve to be cared for with respect , compassion and dignity , '' he added .
Chaim Scheinbaum , who co-owns the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Centre , said in an email to the state 's governor that the `` more than average deaths '' had meant that more bodies needed to be stored in the facility , which usually has a capacity of four .
Mr Scheinbaum added that staffing at the facility is `` solid '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one more than normal , and 39 nursing assistants , one fewer than normal .
The centre has been severely impacted by COVID-19 , with more than 100 staff and residents testing positive for the disease , according to the New York Times .
Two nurses and 66 residents from the home have died so far during the pandemic , with 26 of those deaths confirmed as being linked to coronavirus , the newspaper added .
Representative Josh Gottheimer , a Democrat whose district covers Andover Township , said he was told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in desperate need of body bags , and received calls and emails from concerned relatives .
`` One of my concerns is that these facilities are not communicating in real time , '' he said .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker '' That 's what I 've been hearing from families .
That 's outrageous , it 's completely unacceptable that they have to call me for updates . ''
New Jersey health officials say that 471 care home residents have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 358 out of the state 's 375 centres have reported positive cases of coronavirus .

The bodies of 18 people have been found at a care home in New Jersey.
Police discovered five bodies on Sunday and a further 13 the following day after receiving an anonymous tip that the home was storing a body outside, according to Andover Township Police chief Eric Danielson.
The 13 bodies were found in a building used to house deceased residents until they can be collected by a funeral home, according to the New Jersey Herald.
Image: The care home said it was 'overwhelmed' with deaths at the weekend
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was "outraged" that bodies of the dead were "allowed to pile up in a makeshift morgue" at the facility.
"New Jerseyans living in our long-term care facilities deserve to be cared for with respect, compassion and dignity," he added.
Chaim Scheinbaum, who co-owns the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Centre, said in an email to the state's governor that the "more than average deaths" had meant that more bodies needed to be stored in the facility, which usually has a capacity of four.
Mr Scheinbaum added that staffing at the facility is "solid", and is operating with 12 nurses, one more than normal, and 39 nursing assistants, one fewer than normal.
Image: Staff removed 18 bodies from the care home
The centre has been severely impacted by COVID-19, with more than 100 staff and residents testing positive for the disease, according to the New York Times.
Two nurses and 66 residents from the home have died so far during the pandemic, with 26 of those deaths confirmed as being linked to coronavirus, the newspaper added.
Advertisement
Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat whose district covers Andover Township, said he was told at the weekend that the home was in desperate need of body bags, and received calls and emails from concerned relatives.
"One of my concerns is that these facilities are not communicating in real time," he said.
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 Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
"That's what I've been hearing from families. That's outrageous, it's completely unacceptable that they have to call me for updates."
New Jersey health officials say that 471 care home residents have passed away with suspect COVID-19, while 358 out of the state's 375 centres have reported positive cases of coronavirus.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Another 861 COVID-19 deaths in UK hospitals takes total past 13,000

The number of coronavirus patients who have died in UK hospitals has gone past 13,000 after another 861 deaths .
The Department of Health announced the increase , which takes the total to 13,729 .
It comes after chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned of a spike in deaths today due to a probable lag in reporting over Easter weekend , following four consecutive days of sub-800 increases .
The number of tests for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , has also risen by 18,665 to 417,649 , although this includes some people being tested more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 103,093 positive tests for the illness in the UK .
Once again , figures were also provided by health authorities in each of the home nations , which collate their stats at different times throughout the day and so may not tally up to the government 's overall total .
NHS England said another 740 coronavirus patients had died in hospitals in England , taking its total to 12,396 .
Of those , 151 occurred on 15 April , 314 were on 14 April , and 122 were on 13 April , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 1 April and 12 April .
The remaining 10 happened last month , going back as far as 9 March .
: : Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also announced another 80 deaths in Scotland .
Wales has recorded 32 more deaths , and Northern Ireland recorded another 18 .
In each country , the number of deaths now stands at : However , it has now been well established that the UK 's true COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily hospital figures would suggest .
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggested there were around 75 % more coronavirus-related fatalities in England and Wales last month than previously reported by the government .
More than half of those happened in care homes , while others took place in people 's homes and in hospices .
On Wednesday , the National Records of Scotland revealed that - as of 12 April - almost 25 % of 962 registered deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned in the death certificate in Scotland had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitty having warned that the number of deaths may keep rising , the UK is braced for an extension to its lockdown .
The lockdown has surpassed the original three-week timescale laid out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told Sky News it will take time for the measures to be phased out .
He told Kay Burley @ Breakfast : `` It is too early to say now that we should remove the measures .
`` People can see that while we may be reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down yet . ''
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab , who is deputising for Mr Johnson , and fellow ministers are expected to sign off the extension later today after receiving advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ) .

The number of coronavirus patients who have died in UK hospitals has gone past 13,000 after another 861 deaths.
The Department of Health announced the increase, which takes the total to 13,729.
It comes after chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned of a spike in deaths today due to a probable lag in reporting over Easter weekend, following four consecutive days of sub-800 increases.
The number of tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has also risen by 18,665 to 417,649, although this includes some people being tested more than once.
There have now been 103,093 positive tests for the illness in the UK.
Image: Professor Chris Whitty and Health Secretary Matt Hancock say it's too early to lift the lockdown
Once again, figures were also provided by health authorities in each of the home nations, which collate their stats at different times throughout the day and so may not tally up to the government's overall total.
NHS England said another 740 coronavirus patients had died in hospitals in England, taking its total to 12,396.
Of those, 151 occurred on 15 April, 314 were on 14 April, and 122 were on 13 April, with 143 of the fatalities having taken place between 1 April and 12 April.
The remaining 10 happened last month, going back as far as 9 March.
Advertisement
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 All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also announced another 80 deaths in Scotland.
Wales has recorded 32 more deaths, and Northern Ireland recorded another 18.
In each country, the number of deaths now stands at:
England - 12,396
Scotland - 779
Wales - 495
Northern Ireland - 158
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:02 Lockdown: The dos and don'ts
However, it has now been well established that the UK's true COVID-19 death toll is far higher than the daily hospital figures would suggest.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggested there were around 75% more coronavirus-related fatalities in England and Wales last month than previously reported by the government.
More than half of those happened in care homes, while others took place in people's homes and in hospices.
On Wednesday, the National Records of Scotland revealed that - as of 12 April - almost 25% of 962 registered deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned in the death certificate in Scotland had occurred in care homes.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:31 Care worker: 'We lose someone every shift'
With Professor Whitty having warned that the number of deaths may keep rising, the UK is braced for an extension to its lockdown.
The lockdown has surpassed the original three-week timescale laid out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told Sky News it will take time for the measures to be phased out.
He told Kay Burley@Breakfast: "It is too early to say now that we should remove the measures.
"People can see that while we may be reaching a peak the numbers aren't coming down yet."
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Mr Johnson, and fellow ministers are expected to sign off the extension later today after receiving advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: 13,000 military personnel off work or work from home due to COVID-19

Almost one in 10 of the Armed Forces are off work or having to work from home due to coronavirus .
It was revealed on Thursday that 13,000 military personnel - 9.1 % of the Armed Forces - are off work or having to work from home because they have COVID-19 symptoms themselves , a family member has symptoms , or they need to care for someone who is vulnerable .
The number of servicemen and women who have actually tested positive for coronavirus is understood to be less than 100 .
The ratio of 9.1 % is well below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public that was expected to be affected by the disease at the peak of the pandemic .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker At least 11 individuals are known to have tested positive for coronavirus at Britain 's sprawling military base in the Falkland Islands .
There have also been at least two confirmed cases at a British military base in Cyprus .
The Ministry of Defence has said it is not giving a running commentary on the number of Armed Forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forces have been involved in the UK 's coronavirus response through actions such as helping to deliver protective equipment to hospitals , assisting in the construction of temporary NHS hospitals , and staffing drive-through testing sites .

Almost one in 10 of the Armed Forces are off work or having to work from home due to coronavirus.
It was revealed on Thursday that 13,000 military personnel - 9.1% of the Armed Forces - are off work or having to work from home because they have COVID-19 symptoms themselves, a family member has symptoms, or they need to care for someone who is vulnerable.
The number of servicemen and women who have actually tested positive for coronavirus is understood to be less than 100.
The ratio of 9.1% is well below a figure of 20% of the public that was expected to be affected by the disease at the peak of the pandemic.
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
At least 11 individuals are known to have tested positive for coronavirus at Britain's sprawling military base in the Falkland Islands.
There have also been at least two confirmed cases at a British military base in Cyprus.
The Ministry of Defence has said it is not giving a running commentary on the number of Armed Forces personnel who have coronavirus.
The Armed Forces have been involved in the UK's coronavirus response through actions such as helping to deliver protective equipment to hospitals, assisting in the construction of temporary NHS hospitals, and staffing drive-through testing sites.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Trump claims peak in new cases is over as he looks to reopen economy

The US has come through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic , according to the country 's president Donald Trump .
Mr Trump said : `` The data suggests that nationwide , we have passed the peak of new cases .
Hopefully that will continue , and we will continue to make great progress . ''
He did not say what data he was relying on in making such an assessment .
But Dr Deborah Birx , coronavirus response coordinator on the White House task force , said there were nine states with fewer than 1,000 cases each and fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 638,000 people in the US have been confirmed as having COVID-19 , the illness caused by the new coronavirus .
It has killed almost 140,000 people worldwide and almost 31,000 in the US .
Mr Trump has made clear he is keen to reopen the US economy , as measures taken to limit the spread of the virus have taken a significant toll on employment and business activity .
He said on Wednesday that the unspecified data had `` put us in a strong position to finalise guidelines for states reopening '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state governors , Mr Trump said : `` They 'll be safe , they 'll be strong , but we want to get our country back .
`` We 'll be the comeback kid , all of us . ''
Government data this week has shown that retail sales dropped by 8.7 % in March - the biggest decline since records began in 1992 , and that factory output showed the biggest decline since 1946. : : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what post-virus life could look like , including that wearing face masks in public could become the new normal .
The governors of Connecticut , Maryland , New York and Pennsylvania issued orders or advice that residents wear face masks as their isolation ends in the coming weeks .
New Jersey , Los Angeles and Kansas had already issued similar orders or recommendations .
In Washington state , governor Jay Inslee has called for more testing to bridge the gap between lockdown and normal life .
He said : `` We simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they simply do not exist anywhere in the United States right now . ''
Mr Trump has said the US had `` the most expansive testing system anywhere in the world '' but that testing is an issue for states and not federal government .

The US has come through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the country's president Donald Trump.
Mr Trump said: "The data suggests that nationwide, we have passed the peak of new cases. Hopefully that will continue, and we will continue to make great progress."
He did not say what data he was relying on in making such an assessment.
But Dr Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator on the White House task force, said there were nine states with fewer than 1,000 cases each and fewer than 30 new cases daily.
More than 638,000 people in the US have been confirmed as having COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
It has killed almost 140,000 people worldwide and almost 31,000 in the US.
Mr Trump has made clear he is keen to reopen the US economy, as measures taken to limit the spread of the virus have taken a significant toll on employment and business activity.
He said on Wednesday that the unspecified data had "put us in a strong position to finalise guidelines for states reopening".
Adding that he would consult with state governors, Mr Trump said: "They'll be safe, they'll be strong, but we want to get our country back.
Advertisement
"We'll be the comeback kid, all of us."
Government data this week has shown that retail sales dropped by 8.7% in March - the biggest decline since records began in 1992, and that factory output showed the biggest decline since 1946.
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 Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
Meanwhile, state governors have started to talk about what post-virus life could look like, including that wearing face masks in public could become the new normal.
The governors of Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania issued orders or advice that residents wear face masks as their isolation ends in the coming weeks.
New Jersey, Los Angeles and Kansas had already issued similar orders or recommendations.
In Washington state, governor Jay Inslee has called for more testing to bridge the gap between lockdown and normal life.
He said: "We simply haven't had enough test kits - they simply do not exist anywhere in the United States right now."
Mr Trump has said the US had "the most expansive testing system anywhere in the world" but that testing is an issue for states and not federal government.


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Georgia suspends anti-mask law targeting Ku Klux Klan during pandemic

A 70-year-old law aimed at exposing the Ku Klux Klan has been suspended to allow people to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic .
Hiding one 's identity in public has been illegal in the US state of Georgia under a 1951 law targeting the white supremacist hate group .
But state governor Brian Kemp has temporarily suspended the legislation so people are free to cover their faces during the pandemic .
Mr Kemp said on Twitter : `` I signed an order to allow Georgians to wear masks in public to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 - in accordance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecution . ''
The new order allows `` wearing ' a mask , hood , or device by which any portion of the face is so hidden , concealed , or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer ' if that person is wearing such device for the purpose of complying with the guidance of any healthcare agency or to prevent the spread of COVID-19 '' .
The proposal had cross-party support in the state 's legislature .
Georgia has documented more than 14,900 confirmed coronavirus cases along with more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker In the US as a whole , more than 639,000 cases of the disease have been recorded and more than 30,000 people have died , according to data published by Johns Hopkins University which is tracking the outbreak .
State senator Nikema Williams , who this month tested positive for COVID-19 , said : `` People are using whatever they have at home , bandannas , scarves , to put across their faces .
I do n't want that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want anyone to put their health and safety on the line from wearing a mask because they do n't want to be profiled in a grocery store or they 're picking up medicine at a pharmacy . ''

A 70-year-old law aimed at exposing the Ku Klux Klan has been suspended to allow people to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hiding one's identity in public has been illegal in the US state of Georgia under a 1951 law targeting the white supremacist hate group.
But state governor Brian Kemp has temporarily suspended the legislation so people are free to cover their faces during the pandemic.
Mr Kemp said on Twitter: "I signed an order to allow Georgians to wear masks in public to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 - in accordance with CDC guidance - without fear of prosecution."
The new order allows "wearing 'a mask, hood, or device by which any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer' if that person is wearing such device for the purpose of complying with the guidance of any healthcare agency or to prevent the spread of COVID-19".
The proposal had cross-party support in the state's legislature.
Georgia has documented more than 14,900 confirmed coronavirus cases along with more than 550 deaths.
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
In the US as a whole, more than 639,000 cases of the disease have been recorded and more than 30,000 people have died, according to data published by Johns Hopkins University which is tracking the outbreak.
Advertisement
State senator Nikema Williams, who this month tested positive for COVID-19, said: "People are using whatever they have at home, bandannas, scarves, to put across their faces. I don't want that to be misconstrued.
"I don't want anyone to put their health and safety on the line from wearing a mask because they don't want to be profiled in a grocery store or they're picking up medicine at a pharmacy."


news--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: UK launches review into why ethnic minorities worst-hit by COVID-19

A government review is to be launched into why people from a black and minority ethnic background appear to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 , Sky News understands .
It follows calls for the government to investigate the number of deaths of people from the BAME community and those working for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic .
Sky News analysis has found that of the 54 front line health and social care workers in England and Wales that have died because of COVID-19 , 70 % of them were black or from an ethnic minority .
: : Listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Our analysis also found that four of the five health trusts in England that have recorded the most deaths so far cover areas with some of the highest combined South Asian and black populations .
Many of these are in London and the West Midlands which together account for almost half of all deaths in England .
Despite only accounting for 13 % of the population in England and Wales , 44 % of all NHS doctors and 24 % of nurses are from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre ( ICNARC ) found that last week 34 % of critically ill coronavirus patients in England , Wales and Northern Ireland were from black or minority ethnic backgrounds .
According to the 2011 census , just 14 % of the population is from those backgrounds .
The research was based on 3,300 patients from intensive care units .
Nadir Nur , a 48-year-old bus driver from London , is one of the key workers to have died after contracting coronavirus .
One of his nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was a `` hardworking , strong '' man .
`` It 's incredibly heart-breaking to have my dad taken away at such a young age because he wo n't ever get to see his grandchildren or ever see any of us getting married , '' said Yusuf .
`` We wo n't be able to have any other memories like go on holidays again or gather for Eid .
There 's a big hole that 's been left for any of these things . ''
He added : `` It 's horrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , none of it really does feel real .
I could n't even go to the funeral , or see his face for one last time . ''
Yusuf said his father was n't given any PPE and the family thinks he contracted the virus on his busy route which took people to the hospital .
`` I knew that he was definitely worried about it all and I knew that , despite that , he would still carry on doing his job because it 's his job .
He was always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would never run away and hide from it all . ''
Downing Street has confirmed the review will get under way .
It will be led by the NHS and Public Health England along with other organisations , including the British Medical Association .
Asked about the Sky News data during the daily Downing Street news conference , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said : `` Absolutely we 're on the side of anyone .
This virus does n't discriminate but we want to follow analysis of the data that you 've described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's chief medical officer , added : `` It 's critical that we find out which groups are most at risk so we can help to protect them .
Three things are clear and ethnicity is less clear .
The three things that are clear are age , people who 've got more than one other disease and male sex is a clear risk factor .
`` Being a member of an ethnic minority group is less clear .
I 've had discussions with scientists about this in terms of trying to tease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking very specifically at healthcare workers with leaders of the NHS .
This is something we 're very keen to get extremely clear .
We 've asked PHE to look at this in some detail and then what we really want , if we see any signal at all , we want to then know what next to do about it to minimise risk .
`` This is not yet clear in terms of ethnic minorities . ''
In reaction to the government 's decision to carry out a review , the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Chaand Nagpaul , said : `` BAME deaths do n't just happen in hospitals , they are prevalent in the community too .
It 's incredibly important that the government looks at the data and understands why this is happening .
`` In the meantime , they need to put in place specific measures to address this disproportionate number of deaths which is incredibly shocking and sad to see . ''
On the other side of the Atlantic , there has also been alarm over the growing number of coronavirus deaths among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data suggested that people who are black or hispanic in the US are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 .
There are fears that pre-existing health inequalities are making people from minority communities more likely to lose their lives .
Aggressive public health campaigns have been launched in cities including Chicago , where black people accounted for 72 % of deaths from COVID-19 complications and 52 % of positive tests , despite making up only 30 % of the population .

A government review is to be launched into why people from a black and minority ethnic background appear to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19, Sky News understands.
It follows calls for the government to investigate the number of deaths of people from the BAME community and those working for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
Sky News analysis has found that of the 54 front line health and social care workers in England and Wales that have died because of COVID-19, 70% of them were black or from an ethnic minority.
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 All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Our analysis also found that four of the five health trusts in England that have recorded the most deaths so far cover areas with some of the highest combined South Asian and black populations.
Many of these are in London and the West Midlands which together account for almost half of all deaths in England.
Despite only accounting for 13% of the population in England and Wales, 44% of all NHS doctors and 24% of nurses are from a BAME background.
Early research from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) found that last week 34% of critically ill coronavirus patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were from black or minority ethnic backgrounds.
According to the 2011 census, just 14% of the population is from those backgrounds.
Advertisement
The research was based on 3,300 patients from intensive care units.
Nadir Nur, a 48-year-old bus driver from London, is one of the key workers to have died after contracting coronavirus.
One of his nine children, Yusuf, told Sky News he was a "hardworking, strong" man.
Image: Nadir Nur, a 48-year-old bus driver from London, is one of the key workers to have died after contracting coronavirus
"It's incredibly heart-breaking to have my dad taken away at such a young age because he won't ever get to see his grandchildren or ever see any of us getting married," said Yusuf.
"We won't be able to have any other memories like go on holidays again or gather for Eid. There's a big hole that's been left for any of these things."
He added: "It's horrible to think that he's buried right now, none of it really does feel real. I couldn't even go to the funeral, or see his face for one last time."
Yusuf said his father wasn't given any PPE and the family thinks he contracted the virus on his busy route which took people to the hospital.
"I knew that he was definitely worried about it all and I knew that, despite that, he would still carry on doing his job because it's his job. He was always hardworking and he was strong, and he would never run away and hide from it all."
Downing Street has confirmed the review will get under way.
It will be led by the NHS and Public Health England along with other organisations, including the British Medical Association.
Asked about the Sky News data during the daily Downing Street news conference, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Absolutely we're on the side of anyone. This virus doesn't discriminate but we want to follow analysis of the data that you've described."
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, added: "It's critical that we find out which groups are most at risk so we can help to protect them. Three things are clear and ethnicity is less clear. The three things that are clear are age, people who've got more than one other disease and male sex is a clear risk factor.
"Being a member of an ethnic minority group is less clear. I've had discussions with scientists about this in terms of trying to tease this apart today.
"Also, looking very specifically at healthcare workers with leaders of the NHS. This is something we're very keen to get extremely clear. We've asked PHE to look at this in some detail and then what we really want, if we see any signal at all, we want to then know what next to do about it to minimise risk.
"This is not yet clear in terms of ethnic minorities."
In reaction to the government's decision to carry out a review, the council chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said: "BAME deaths don't just happen in hospitals, they are prevalent in the community too. It's incredibly important that the government looks at the data and understands why this is happening.
"In the meantime, they need to put in place specific measures to address this disproportionate number of deaths which is incredibly shocking and sad to see."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:51 Racial disparities in US COVID-19 deaths
On the other side of the Atlantic, there has also been alarm over the growing number of coronavirus deaths among African-American communities across the US.
Fresh data suggested that people who are black or hispanic in the US are twice as likely to die from COVID-19.
There are fears that pre-existing health inequalities are making people from minority communities more likely to lose their lives.
Aggressive public health campaigns have been launched in cities including Chicago, where black people accounted for 72% of deaths from COVID-19 complications and 52% of positive tests, despite making up only 30% of the population.