news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: Private company rises to 'exceptional challenge' to double antigen testing

The government 's early response to COVID-19 showed the `` frailty '' in our testing capacity , according to a private laboratory working with the NHS .
Source BioScience is one of a small number of private companies processing antigen tests for the government , letting NHS staff and patients know if they have COVID-19 .
The chief operating officer at Source BioScience , Russell Wheatcroft , said he hopes the UK can learn from the pandemic and that there will be more `` significant investments '' in testing .
Mr Wheatcroft said : `` From a personal perspective I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show some frailty , obviously there are businesses like ours that will capitalise to a point on some of that… '' It would be nice to see more significant investments so that , should this happen again , we 're in a better position .
I do believe that we will be and that the blueprint has been written from a test perspective and a government perspective .
If in hindsight we could move more quickly we 'll use these experiences . ''
Source BioScience said scaling up testing at their lab has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff are working 24/7 for the first time .
Since the beginning of May they have doubled their capacity to around 1,000 tests a day and in the next four weeks they hope to be able to process up to 5,000 tests a day .
They said what they have achieved in five weeks would normally take between six months to a year .
The prime minister has pledged to reach 200,000 tests a day by the end of May .
When Mr Wheatcroft was asked if he would put a wager on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would `` probably keep it to a pint , rather than a full barrel '' but went on to say he thought what was an `` insurmountable '' target may now be achievable .
Mr Wheatcroft said : `` From what we started out at here to be in a position where we are now employing 24 people and meeting a target of 1,500 tests a day , five weeks ago that was a complete pipe dream…at the end of the day [ the government target is ] an ambitious target , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to try to deliver on that . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The government has tested more than 1.8 million people for COVID-19 and on 17 May 100,678 tests were taken .
A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said : `` We have set up the largest diagnostic testing industry in British history from scratch in a matter of weeks .
We are working tirelessly to scale up capacity even further through home testing kits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone who needs a test can get one . ''
As well as the number of tests , scientists have argued that the time it takes to get results is vital .
Earlier this month a scientist advising the government warned that people at risk of COVID-19 need to be alerted within 24 hours for contact tracing to work .
Professor Christophe Fraser , a University of Oxford epidemiologist , said the fact that coronavirus spread before people experienced symptoms made speed essential in tracing contacts .
Source BioScience is processing tests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't include the time it takes to get patient swabs to the lab .
The company hopes the process will be sped up by a solution that `` deactivates '' COVID-19 , and makes tests easier to transport .
They believe they are the first in the country to use the 'transport medium ' , which could be `` revolutionary '' for scaling up testing and getting results back faster .
Director of healthcare diagnostics at Source BioScience Neil Ryan said : `` You need to know the result straight away because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 hours your result might be different if you 've come into contact with somebody… the transport medium takes an element of the processing out of the initial set up .
`` Not only can we transport the virus at room temperature , which makes it far easier to get it in a courier up and down the motorway , it also deactivates the virus at the point the sample is put in the transport media that makes it a much safer environment for our staff handling it . ''

The government's early response to COVID-19 showed the "frailty" in our testing capacity, according to a private laboratory working with the NHS.
Source BioScience is one of a small number of private companies processing antigen tests for the government, letting NHS staff and patients know if they have COVID-19.
The chief operating officer at Source BioScience, Russell Wheatcroft, said he hopes the UK can learn from the pandemic and that there will be more "significant investments" in testing.
Image: Source BioScience is processing antigen tests for the government
Mr Wheatcroft said: "From a personal perspective I think [the testing infrastructure] does show some frailty, obviously there are businesses like ours that will capitalise to a point on some of that…
"It would be nice to see more significant investments so that, should this happen again, we're in a better position. I do believe that we will be and that the blueprint has been written from a test perspective and a government perspective. If in hindsight we could move more quickly we'll use these experiences."
Source BioScience said scaling up testing at their lab has been "an exceptional challenge" and staff are working 24/7 for the first time.
Since the beginning of May they have doubled their capacity to around 1,000 tests a day and in the next four weeks they hope to be able to process up to 5,000 tests a day. They said what they have achieved in five weeks would normally take between six months to a year.
The prime minister has pledged to reach 200,000 tests a day by the end of May. When Mr Wheatcroft was asked if he would put a wager on the government target, he said he would "probably keep it to a pint, rather than a full barrel" but went on to say he thought what was an "insurmountable" target may now be achievable.
Mr Wheatcroft said: "From what we started out at here to be in a position where we are now employing 24 people and meeting a target of 1,500 tests a day, five weeks ago that was a complete pipe dream…at the end of the day [the government target is] an ambitious target, of course it is, but everybody is going to try to deliver on that."
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The government has tested more than 1.8 million people for COVID-19 and on 17 May 100,678 tests were taken.
A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said: "We have set up the largest diagnostic testing industry in British history from scratch in a matter of weeks. We are working tirelessly to scale up capacity even further through home testing kits and regional drive-thru sites to make sure everyone who needs a test can get one."
As well as the number of tests, scientists have argued that the time it takes to get results is vital.
Earlier this month a scientist advising the government warned that people at risk of COVID-19 need to be alerted within 24 hours for contact tracing to work. Professor Christophe Fraser, a University of Oxford epidemiologist, said the fact that coronavirus spread before people experienced symptoms made speed essential in tracing contacts.
Source BioScience is processing tests in 14 hours on average, but that doesn't include the time it takes to get patient swabs to the lab. The company hopes the process will be sped up by a solution that "deactivates" COVID-19, and makes tests easier to transport. They believe they are the first in the country to use the 'transport medium', which could be "revolutionary" for scaling up testing and getting results back faster.
Image: Neil Ryan is director of healthcare diagnostics at Source BioScience
Director of healthcare diagnostics at Source BioScience Neil Ryan said: "You need to know the result straight away because once you've taken that test within 12 hours your result might be different if you've come into contact with somebody… the transport medium takes an element of the processing out of the initial set up.
"Not only can we transport the virus at room temperature, which makes it far easier to get it in a courier up and down the motorway, it also deactivates the virus at the point the sample is put in the transport media that makes it a much safer environment for our staff handling it."


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: NHS boss defends medics after PM's suggestion over virus spread to care homes

The medical director of NHS England has defended his staff after Boris Johnson suggested health workers would be to blame for seeding coronavirus into the community .
The prime minister was defending government advice to care homes that told them a negative COVID-19 test was not required for hospital patients being discharged until 15 April .
`` No-one was discharged into a care home this year without the express authorisation of a clinician , '' he told Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in parliament on Wednesday .
Mr Johnson added they `` have the interests of those patients at heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to draw attention to what has happened in our care homes '' .
However , professor Stephen Powis , later stood by his colleagues and said he was `` absolutely sure '' they would have followed official guidance .
`` I was a front line doctor for many , many years , '' he said at the daily Downing Street briefing .
`` I wouldn ’ t discharge a patient from a hospital into whatever setting - home or care home - unless I was absolutely confident their medical treatment was complete and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' I 'm absolutely sure my medical colleagues would not be discharging patients under any circumstances unless they were sure their medical treatment in hospital was complete , they were fit for discharge and it was safe to discharge them . ''
A Labour source said : `` The government claimed it had thrown a protective ring around our care homes , yet a procession of experts have contradicted them . ''
The government has come under fire for issuing advice until 12 March that said it was `` very unlikely '' care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all residents and staff not being eligible for a test until mid-April .
In recent days , three cabinet ministers have spoken candidly about the actions taken early on the crisis after the death toll in the UK rose to at least 40,000 .
Justice secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News on Wednesday `` we needed to make a choice about testing , we did decide to focus upon the NHS '' and that there was `` great regret '' about the `` huge issues '' in social care .
Environment secretary George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing on Tuesday that `` there will have been some instances where people may have been discharged '' from hospitals to care homes with the virus who had no symptoms and were not tested .
And work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey told Sky News on Tuesday : `` If the science was wrong , the advice at the time was wrong , I 'm not surprised if people then think we made a wrong decision . ''
But at the latest briefing led by culture secretary Oliver Dowden , he insisted `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have glossed over '' concerns about care homes .
He confirmed everyone in the UK over the age of five is now eligible for a test , as the number of daily tests hit the highest record yet - 177,000 - in preparation for the track and trace programme to be rolled out nationwide by 1 June .
Mr Dowden added there is now a dedicated hotline for care homes to request personal protective equipment .
And while he admitted the number of deaths are `` still too high '' , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The medical director of NHS England has defended his staff after Boris Johnson suggested health workers would be to blame for seeding coronavirus into the community.
The prime minister was defending government advice to care homes that told them a negative COVID-19 test was not required for hospital patients being discharged until 15 April.
"No-one was discharged into a care home this year without the express authorisation of a clinician," he told Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in parliament on Wednesday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:22 Johnson and Starmer in heated PMQs exchange
Mr Johnson added they "have the interests of those patients at heart" but that it was "right to draw attention to what has happened in our care homes".
However, professor Stephen Powis, later stood by his colleagues and said he was "absolutely sure" they would have followed official guidance.
Image: Hospital patients discharged before 15 April did not need a negative test
"I was a front line doctor for many, many years," he said at the daily Downing Street briefing.
"I wouldn’t discharge a patient from a hospital into whatever setting - home or care home - unless I was absolutely confident their medical treatment was complete and they no longer required hospital treatment...
"I'm absolutely sure my medical colleagues would not be discharging patients under any circumstances unless they were sure their medical treatment in hospital was complete, they were fit for discharge and it was safe to discharge them."
A Labour source said: "The government claimed it had thrown a protective ring around our care homes, yet a procession of experts have contradicted them."
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Image: Prof Powis said NHS staff would only discharge someone if 'it was safe'
The government has come under fire for issuing advice until 12 March that said it was "very unlikely" care homes would experience a coronavirus outbreak and all residents and staff not being eligible for a test until mid-April.
In recent days, three cabinet ministers have spoken candidly about the actions taken early on the crisis after the death toll in the UK rose to at least 40,000.
Justice secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News on Wednesday "we needed to make a choice about testing, we did decide to focus upon the NHS" and that there was "great regret" about the "huge issues" in social care.
Environment secretary George Eustice also said at the Downing Street briefing on Tuesday that "there will have been some instances where people may have been discharged" from hospitals to care homes with the virus who had no symptoms and were not tested.
And work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey told Sky News on Tuesday: "If the science was wrong, the advice at the time was wrong, I'm not surprised if people then think we made a wrong decision."
But at the latest briefing led by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, he insisted "it is categorically not the case we have glossed over" concerns about care homes.
He confirmed everyone in the UK over the age of five is now eligible for a test, as the number of daily tests hit the highest record yet - 177,000 - in preparation for the track and trace programme to be rolled out nationwide by 1 June.
Mr Dowden added there is now a dedicated hotline for care homes to request personal protective equipment.
And while he admitted the number of deaths are "still too high", they are "moving in the right direction".


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: 'World-beating' track and trace system ready for schools to reopen, PM promises

A `` world-beating '' track and trace system to stop a second coronavirus peak and help ease the lockdown has been promised by the end of May by Boris Johnson .
The prime minister said he had `` great confidence '' that the system , which was abandoned in March as the number of COVID-19 cases soared , will be up and running in time for schools in England to reopen on 1 June .
He was under pressure to make the announcement after the government 's deputy chief scientific adviser , Professor Dame Angela McLean , said on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be off the ground for any changes to social distancing to be safe .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged him at Prime Minister 's Questions to commit to a date , as more than 35,000 people have now died in the UK .
Mr Johnson announced 24,000 people have been recruited to staff the track and trace programme .
They will be tasked with finding all those who have come into contact with people with COVID-19 symptoms and tell them to self-isolate .
`` We have growing confidence that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test operation that will be world-beating and yes it will be in place by June 1 , '' he said .
`` There will be 25,000 trackers , they will be able to cope with 10,000 new cases a day . ''
The capacity to trace the contacts of 10,000 people exceeds current levels of confirmed COVID-19 cases .
In a creeping return to the combative nature of PMQs , Sir Keir said the UK has been through a `` critical period '' of nearly 10 weeks with no `` effective tracing '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the government 's action had left `` a huge hole in our defences '' .
Mr Johnson did not hold back in his criticism of the Labour leader , accusing Sir Keir of being `` in ignorance of the facts '' on care homes and offering `` feigned ignorance '' on the lack of tracing since mid-March .
Tempers ran high elsewhere in parliament , as the health secretary Matt Hancock was sternly reprimanded for interrupting Sir Keir .
The House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told him : `` Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're on maximum numbers .
If you want to give way to someone else I 'm more than happy . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Schools in England have been put on notice to reopen from 1 June as part of measures to restart education and help workers who have had to take time off for childcare responsibilities , in a bid to kickstart the economy .
But several councils have said they could open schools much later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so yet .
As part of the track and trace operation , a mobile phone app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight will be rolled out across the UK for people to report their own symptoms .

A "world-beating" track and trace system to stop a second coronavirus peak and help ease the lockdown has been promised by the end of May by Boris Johnson.
The prime minister said he had "great confidence" that the system, which was abandoned in March as the number of COVID-19 cases soared, will be up and running in time for schools in England to reopen on 1 June.
He was under pressure to make the announcement after the government's deputy chief scientific adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, said on Tuesday a highly effective version of the programme needs to be off the ground for any changes to social distancing to be safe.
Image: Mr Johnson said 24,000 people have been hired so far
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged him at Prime Minister's Questions to commit to a date, as more than 35,000 people have now died in the UK.
Mr Johnson announced 24,000 people have been recruited to staff the track and trace programme. They will be tasked with finding all those who have come into contact with people with COVID-19 symptoms and tell them to self-isolate.
"We have growing confidence that we will have a test, track and test operation that will be world-beating and yes it will be in place by June 1," he said.
"There will be 25,000 trackers, they will be able to cope with 10,000 new cases a day."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:22 Johnson and Starmer in heated PMQs exchange
The capacity to trace the contacts of 10,000 people exceeds current levels of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
In a creeping return to the combative nature of PMQs, Sir Keir said the UK has been through a "critical period" of nearly 10 weeks with no "effective tracing" of people spreading the virus.
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He said the government's action had left "a huge hole in our defences".
Mr Johnson did not hold back in his criticism of the Labour leader, accusing Sir Keir of being "in ignorance of the facts" on care homes and offering "feigned ignorance" on the lack of tracing since mid-March.
Tempers ran high elsewhere in parliament, as the health secretary Matt Hancock was sternly reprimanded for interrupting Sir Keir.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:21 Speaker threatens to eject Hancock from Commons
The House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told him: "Do you want to leave the chamber? We're on maximum numbers. If you want to give way to someone else I'm more than happy."
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Schools in England have been put on notice to reopen from 1 June as part of measures to restart education and help workers who have had to take time off for childcare responsibilities, in a bid to kickstart the economy.
But several councils have said they could open schools much later, believing it is not safe to do so yet.
As part of the track and trace operation, a mobile phone app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight will be rolled out across the UK for people to report their own symptoms.


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: Effects of increased alcohol use in lockdown could last a generation, experts warn

The effects of Britons drinking more alcohol during the COVID-19 lockdown could be seen for a generation , experts have warned .
As part of the nation 's recovery from the pandemic , tackling harm caused by alcohol is `` integral '' , said Baroness Ilora Finley , chairwoman of the Commission on Alcohol Harms , and Ian Gilmore , chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance .
Alcohol sales were up by 67 % before the UK went into lockdown , with many drinking at home in isolation , according to their joint editorial published in The BMJ .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control over new cases of COVID-19 , it is increasingly clear that if we do n't prepare for emerging from the pandemic , we will see the toll of increased alcohol harm for a generation , '' they said .
They said the pandemic `` has the potential to be an exemplar of our ambivalent relationship with alcohol and its consequences '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker People who already had problems with alcohol and those on the `` brink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they said .
`` For them , dependence will be triggered by bereavement , job insecurity or troubled relationships , '' they wrote .
`` Before COVID-19 , only one in five harmful and dependent drinkers got the help they need ; the proportion will be even lower now . ''
They predicted that the number of people with alcohol-related liver disease will rise because of the coronavirus crisis - and said it was already increasing before it .
Alcohol treatment services will also see a surge in demand as the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also raised concerns that alcohol consumption is linked to domestic violence , with an increase in calls to domestic violence charities at the start of the lockdown .
`` Tackling alcohol harms is an integral part of the nation 's recovery , '' they concluded .

The effects of Britons drinking more alcohol during the COVID-19 lockdown could be seen for a generation, experts have warned.
As part of the nation's recovery from the pandemic, tackling harm caused by alcohol is "integral", said Baroness Ilora Finley, chairwoman of the Commission on Alcohol Harms, and Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance.
Alcohol sales were up by 67% before the UK went into lockdown, with many drinking at home in isolation, according to their joint editorial published in The BMJ.
"Now, as signs emerge of some control over new cases of COVID-19, it is increasingly clear that if we don't prepare for emerging from the pandemic, we will see the toll of increased alcohol harm for a generation," they said.
They said the pandemic "has the potential to be an exemplar of our ambivalent relationship with alcohol and its consequences".
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People who already had problems with alcohol and those on the "brink" of dependence are at particular risk, they said.
"For them, dependence will be triggered by bereavement, job insecurity or troubled relationships," they wrote.
"Before COVID-19, only one in five harmful and dependent drinkers got the help they need; the proportion will be even lower now."
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They predicted that the number of people with alcohol-related liver disease will rise because of the coronavirus crisis - and said it was already increasing before it.
Alcohol treatment services will also see a surge in demand as the lockdown eases, they said.
The pair also raised concerns that alcohol consumption is linked to domestic violence, with an increase in calls to domestic violence charities at the start of the lockdown.
"Tackling alcohol harms is an integral part of the nation's recovery," they concluded.


news--2020-05-19--Coronavirus: 'Campus experience' on hold as Cambridge moves lectures online for next academic year

Cambridge University has said lectures will only be held online for the academic year beginning in September because of coronavirus .
It follows a similar move by the University of Manchester , which said its lectures would be online-only for the Autumn term .
If more universities follow suit , and with the situation still unclear as to when bars and clubs will be able to open fully , it could mean increasing numbers of students due to begin their courses in September deciding to defer their studies until 2021/22 .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spreaker In a statement , the University of Cambridge said : `` Given that it is likely that social distancing will continue to be required , the university has decided there will be no face-to-face lectures during the next academic year .
`` Lectures will continue to be made available online and it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person , as long as this conforms to social distancing requirements .
`` This decision has been taken now to facilitate planning , but as ever , will be reviewed should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus . ''
The pandemic has already forced university campuses to close this term and all teaching at the site was moved online in March , while exams are being carried out virtually .
Universities can charge full fees even if courses are taught online .
Earlier this week , the university watchdog said students applying for university places in England must be told with `` absolute clarity '' how courses will be taught - before they make choices for the autumn .
But Nicola Dandridge of the Office for Students warned against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' if courses are to be taught online .
Fees for courses at British universities can be as much as £9,250 a year , but that income is topped up by higher costs for overseas students and charges for accommodation .
If prospective students decide that what they get in terms of education and lifestyle for the 2020/21 academic year is not worth the money , it could have serious consequences for university finances , as well as increasing pressure on admissions for the following year .
In April a report by economics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University and College Union , suggested that the increased deferral rate and lack of foreign students caused by the coronavirus crisis could see 232,000 fewer students enrolling in 2020/21 compared with 2018/19 .
That would mean a total decline in tuition fee and teaching grant income of an estimated £2.472bn across the sector .
The report concluded that if university expenditure declines to the same extent as the expected decline in income , this would result in approximately 30,000 job losses in the higher education sector .

Cambridge University has said lectures will only be held online for the academic year beginning in September because of coronavirus.
It follows a similar move by the University of Manchester, which said its lectures would be online-only for the Autumn term.
If more universities follow suit, and with the situation still unclear as to when bars and clubs will be able to open fully, it could mean increasing numbers of students due to begin their courses in September deciding to defer their studies until 2021/22.
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In a statement, the University of Cambridge said: "Given that it is likely that social distancing will continue to be required, the university has decided there will be no face-to-face lectures during the next academic year.
"Lectures will continue to be made available online and it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person, as long as this conforms to social distancing requirements.
"This decision has been taken now to facilitate planning, but as ever, will be reviewed should there be changes to official advice on coronavirus."
The pandemic has already forced university campuses to close this term and all teaching at the site was moved online in March, while exams are being carried out virtually. Universities can charge full fees even if courses are taught online.
Earlier this week, the university watchdog said students applying for university places in England must be told with "absolute clarity" how courses will be taught - before they make choices for the autumn.
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But Nicola Dandridge of the Office for Students warned against misleading promises about a "campus experience" if courses are to be taught online.
Fees for courses at British universities can be as much as £9,250 a year, but that income is topped up by higher costs for overseas students and charges for accommodation.
If prospective students decide that what they get in terms of education and lifestyle for the 2020/21 academic year is not worth the money, it could have serious consequences for university finances, as well as increasing pressure on admissions for the following year.
In April a report by economics consultancy London Economics, commissioned by the University and College Union, suggested that the increased deferral rate and lack of foreign students caused by the coronavirus crisis could see 232,000 fewer students enrolling in 2020/21 compared with 2018/19.
That would mean a total decline in tuition fee and teaching grant income of an estimated £2.472bn across the sector.
The report concluded that if university expenditure declines to the same extent as the expected decline in income, this would result in approximately 30,000 job losses in the higher education sector.


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus lockdown should not be eased until 'track and trace' is a success, say government advise

Coronavirus lockdown should not be eased until 'track and trace' is a success, say government advisers

Boris Johnson should resist calls to ease the lockdown including reopening schools until a new system to trace the spread of coronavirus is a proven success , according to two members of the government 's scientific advisory council .
The prime minister must decide in the next 10 days whether to reopen schools and allow those in non-essential jobs to return to work at the start of June , something he set as an ambition in an address to the nation 10 days ago .
However Sky News understands that the government has been warned by its scientific advisers not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' system is up and running and , importantly , is a proven success .
Speaking at Prime Minister 's Questions on Wednesday , Boris Johnson said a `` world beating '' track and trace system to stop a second coronavirus peak and help ease the lockdown would be ready by 1 June .
Downing Street has said the testing and tracking system will be rolled out before the contact tracing app , with the PM 's spokesman telling journalists that the app `` is only one part of the system '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested '' system for tracing and testing people .
The app would be `` rolled out in the coming weeks '' , he said .
One Whitehall official said that `` lots of work '' is going on to have the system ready as soon as possible , and they hoped to have a start date `` in a few days '' .
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News the government hopes track and trace systems will be up and running by the `` end of the month '' and that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they were not operational by mid-June at the latest .
Asked about the date for reopening schools he said : `` We always said 1 June was conditional , not just on the R rate , but also on the need to make places of work safe .
`` We 've got to accept the fact that some councils are employers and decisions have to be made collectively .
`` There will be other institutions who believe it is safe to open up , but I utterly respect those who want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Association ( BMA ) on Wednesday changed its advice on schools , saying they could reopen on 1 June `` if safe to do so '' , but added that it would involve an `` accepted level of risk '' , as avoiding all threat of the virus would not be possible .
The doctors ' union had previously said the government should not consider reopening schools in England until the case numbers are `` much lower '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dean of the faculty of epidemiology and population health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , and a world authority on mathematical modelling of the spread of infectious diseases .
He said that a `` well functioning track and trace system '' was needed before lifting lockdown further , telling Sky News : `` Without that , we would return to a situation where the epidemic is increasing . ''
He said it was `` a very hard thing to achieve a well functioning '' system , requiring a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology .
Professor Edmunds added that evaluating the system was just as important - something there is little time to do .
`` Then you need to know whether this is actually working or not .
How many cases are being identified who are already in quarantine - what fraction of cases popping up already in quarantine - that would be a good measure of how well contact tracing is occurring , '' he added .
Pushed on whether the system was needed before schools should start to reopen , he said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferable '' .
The SAGE member , who said he was speaking in a personal capacity , added : `` The general approach is we need to relax these restrictions very gradually .
Very incrementally .
And then evaluate how well we 're doing every step of the way , each time we make a step we need to evaluate how we 're doing before we move to the next step .
`` There are certain things I think we need - it would be greatly preferable to have them in place before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trace being one of those . ''
Another member of SAGE , who did not want to be identified , said that before lockdown is significantly eased , they thought that the government would do three things , firstly improve further the quality of the data around the R rate , secondly to reinforce the existing social distancing advice and thirdly a `` capable '' contact tracing system .
They said the contact tracing system was `` a bit of a problem '' , and this was `` pretty close to what SAGE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure a speedy system to find people diagnosed with coronavirus , identify who they have come into contact with , and get them tested - ideally within 24 hours .
`` It 's about speed of tracing and speed of testing that 's really important , '' they said .
The system must be able to trace more than half , perhaps as many as three quarters of contacts to be a success .
Other countries like Singapore have access to real time credit card data and facial recognition CCTV to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Such options are not available in western countries , which is why France and Germany are also struggling with track and trace schemes , the SAGE member said .

Boris Johnson should resist calls to ease the lockdown including reopening schools until a new system to trace the spread of coronavirus is a proven success, according to two members of the government's scientific advisory council.
The prime minister must decide in the next 10 days whether to reopen schools and allow those in non-essential jobs to return to work at the start of June, something he set as an ambition in an address to the nation 10 days ago.
However Sky News understands that the government has been warned by its scientific advisers not to proceed until the "contact tracing" system is up and running and, importantly, is a proven success.
Image: The usually crowded Piccadilly Circus has been almost empty under lockdown
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson said a "world beating" track and trace system to stop a second coronavirus peak and help ease the lockdown would be ready by 1 June.
Downing Street has said the testing and tracking system will be rolled out before the contact tracing app, with the PM's spokesman telling journalists that the app "is only one part of the system" and that there is a "tried and tested" system for tracing and testing people.
The app would be "rolled out in the coming weeks", he said.
One Whitehall official said that "lots of work" is going on to have the system ready as soon as possible, and they hoped to have a start date "in a few days".
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News the government hopes track and trace systems will be up and running by the "end of the month" and that he would be "frustrated and disappointed" if they were not operational by mid-June at the latest.
Asked about the date for reopening schools he said: "We always said 1 June was conditional, not just on the R rate, but also on the need to make places of work safe.
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"We've got to accept the fact that some councils are employers and decisions have to be made collectively.
"There will be other institutions who believe it is safe to open up, but I utterly respect those who want to exercise greater caution."
The British Medical Association (BMA) on Wednesday changed its advice on schools, saying they could reopen on 1 June "if safe to do so", but added that it would involve an "accepted level of risk", as avoiding all threat of the virus would not be possible.
The doctors' union had previously said the government should not consider reopening schools in England until the case numbers are "much lower".
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Professor John Edmunds is dean of the faculty of epidemiology and population health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a world authority on mathematical modelling of the spread of infectious diseases.
He said that a "well functioning track and trace system" was needed before lifting lockdown further, telling Sky News: "Without that, we would return to a situation where the epidemic is increasing."
He said it was "a very hard thing to achieve a well functioning" system, requiring a "huge amount of manpower" and technology.
Professor Edmunds added that evaluating the system was just as important - something there is little time to do.
"Then you need to know whether this is actually working or not. How many cases are being identified who are already in quarantine - what fraction of cases popping up already in quarantine - that would be a good measure of how well contact tracing is occurring," he added.
Pushed on whether the system was needed before schools should start to reopen, he said that "I think it would be greatly preferable".
The SAGE member, who said he was speaking in a personal capacity, added: "The general approach is we need to relax these restrictions very gradually. Very incrementally. And then evaluate how well we're doing every step of the way, each time we make a step we need to evaluate how we're doing before we move to the next step.
"There are certain things I think we need - it would be greatly preferable to have them in place before we start relaxing - the track and trace being one of those."
Another member of SAGE, who did not want to be identified, said that before lockdown is significantly eased, they thought that the government would do three things, firstly improve further the quality of the data around the R rate, secondly to reinforce the existing social distancing advice and thirdly a "capable" contact tracing system.
They said the contact tracing system was "a bit of a problem", and this was "pretty close to what SAGE is saying".
The challenge is to ensure a speedy system to find people diagnosed with coronavirus, identify who they have come into contact with, and get them tested - ideally within 24 hours.
"It's about speed of tracing and speed of testing that's really important," they said. The system must be able to trace more than half, perhaps as many as three quarters of contacts to be a success.
Other countries like Singapore have access to real time credit card data and facial recognition CCTV to help tracers identify contacts of those infected.
Such options are not available in western countries, which is why France and Germany are also struggling with track and trace schemes, the SAGE member said.


news--2020-05-20--BT chiefs to defer annual bonuses in wake of dividend suspension

BT Group 's top executives have offered to waive their cash bonuses for the next two years as it seeks to appease investors in the wake of the decision to suspend one of the most reliable dividends in corporate Britain .
Sky News has learnt that BT wrote to leading investors this week to inform them that Philip Jansen , chief executive , and finance chief Simon Lowth would defer £2.2m in combined bonus payments for the next three years .
In addition , Nick Rose , the non-executive director who chairs BT 's remuneration committee , said the pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full annual bonus for the 2020/21 financial year into shares for a further three years , to the extent that any annual bonus is payable '' .
`` This means that the executive directors will not receive any cash bonuses for two consecutive years , '' Mr Rose wrote in the letter , a copy of which has been seen by Sky News .
The decision to defer the bonuses comes in addition to Mr Jansen 's decision , announced in March , to donate his salary for six months to health charities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation that BT was suspending its dividend for the first time in 36 years was not unexpected , but nevertheless shook investors who have seen a string of companies axe or reduce their payouts because of the coronavirus pandemic .
BT 's decision not to pay a final dividend for last year , or at all in the current financial year , will save it roughly £2.5bn - and has been motivated by the need to fund the rollout of full-fibre broadband to tens of millions of homes .
That multibillion pound investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fibre investment programme in a generation '' - is designed to connect 20 million homes by the mid-to-late part of this decade , and is seen as a critical enabler of Britain 's future economic growth .
While the FTSE-100 telecoms group has not furloughed any of its employees using the government 's emergency wage subsidy scheme , and has said that it will award bonuses to all frontline staff , its dividend decision was a deeply sensitive one for its board .
Jan du Plessis , the company 's chairman , described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` in the best long-term interests of shareholders '' .
In his letter to top investors , Mr Rose also addressed a new restricted stock plan on which BT has been consulting with investors for several months .
This would provide a greater certainty of paying out to participants , including Mr Jansen , but would be at a substantial discount to the previous incentive plan .
If approved by shareholders , the usual award will be 200 % of salary - half the annual grant under the old scheme .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on account of its `` share price performance prior to the COVID-19 crisis and the dividend decision '' .
Mr Rose said the remuneration committee would make a final decision on the first restricted stock award closer to its August grant date , but said it would be no higher than 175 % of salary for Mr Jansen and Mr Lowth .
He added that the committee would `` assess whether any 'windfall gains ' have been realised as a result of any COVID-19 'bounce-back ' '' , reflecting concern among City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sums in several years if their companies ' value soars in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis .
Overall , Mr Jansen 's future maximum pay packet will be slashed by roughly one-third to about £5.5m .
Part of the reduction will stem from a reduction in his pension allowance from 15 % of his £1.1m salary to 10 % , bringing him in line with the average BT employee .
That follows a high-profile campaign led by the Investment Association ( IA ) to force listed companies to bring bosses ' pension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A number of blue-chip businesses saw big pay revolts last year after refusing to heed the IA warning .
Mr Jansen was recruited to BT in 2018 after a successful and lucrative stint at the helm of payments company Worldpay .
BT declined to comment on the letter , which is understood to have been sent ahead of the publication of its annual report later this week .
Last week , Mr Jansen topped up his shareholding in BT , and now owns more than £8m of stock - in excess of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least five times his salary in BT shares .
His purchase of more shares was cited by company insiders as evidence that a Financial Times report of talks to sell a stake in Openreach , its broadband infrastructure arm , was inaccurate .
However , there is an expectation that some form of transaction to crystallise Openreach 's value will take place in the coming years .
The shares have performed poorly over the last year , losing 45 % of their value .
BT , which owns the EE mobile network , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £11bn .

BT Group's top executives have offered to waive their cash bonuses for the next two years as it seeks to appease investors in the wake of the decision to suspend one of the most reliable dividends in corporate Britain.
Sky News has learnt that BT wrote to leading investors this week to inform them that Philip Jansen, chief executive, and finance chief Simon Lowth would defer £2.2m in combined bonus payments for the next three years.
In addition, Nick Rose, the non-executive director who chairs BT's remuneration committee, said the pair had "also agreed to defer their full annual bonus for the 2020/21 financial year into shares for a further three years, to the extent that any annual bonus is payable".
"This means that the executive directors will not receive any cash bonuses for two consecutive years," Mr Rose wrote in the letter, a copy of which has been seen by Sky News.
The decision to defer the bonuses comes in addition to Mr Jansen's decision, announced in March, to donate his salary for six months to health charities and small businesses.
Image: BT is investing billions in full-fibre broadband
Last week's confirmation that BT was suspending its dividend for the first time in 36 years was not unexpected, but nevertheless shook investors who have seen a string of companies axe or reduce their payouts because of the coronavirus pandemic.
BT's decision not to pay a final dividend for last year, or at all in the current financial year, will save it roughly £2.5bn - and has been motivated by the need to fund the rollout of full-fibre broadband to tens of millions of homes.
That multibillion pound investment plan - described as "the biggest fibre investment programme in a generation" - is designed to connect 20 million homes by the mid-to-late part of this decade, and is seen as a critical enabler of Britain's future economic growth.
While the FTSE-100 telecoms group has not furloughed any of its employees using the government's emergency wage subsidy scheme, and has said that it will award bonuses to all frontline staff, its dividend decision was a deeply sensitive one for its board.
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Jan du Plessis, the company's chairman, described it as "exceptionally difficult" but "in the best long-term interests of shareholders".
In his letter to top investors, Mr Rose also addressed a new restricted stock plan on which BT has been consulting with investors for several months.
This would provide a greater certainty of paying out to participants, including Mr Jansen, but would be at a substantial discount to the previous incentive plan.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:48 Rolls-Royce to cut 9,000 jobs
If approved by shareholders, the usual award will be 200% of salary - half the annual grant under the old scheme.
However, BT has decided to reduce that further, on account of its "share price performance prior to the COVID-19 crisis and the dividend decision".
Mr Rose said the remuneration committee would make a final decision on the first restricted stock award closer to its August grant date, but said it would be no higher than 175% of salary for Mr Jansen and Mr Lowth.
He added that the committee would "assess whether any 'windfall gains' have been realised as a result of any COVID-19 'bounce-back'", reflecting concern among City investors that bosses stand to reap huge sums in several years if their companies' value soars in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis.
Overall, Mr Jansen's future maximum pay packet will be slashed by roughly one-third to about £5.5m.
Part of the reduction will stem from a reduction in his pension allowance from 15% of his £1.1m salary to 10%, bringing him in line with the average BT employee.
That follows a high-profile campaign led by the Investment Association (IA) to force listed companies to bring bosses' pension perks in line with their wider workforces.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:01 EasyJet customers' details hacked
A number of blue-chip businesses saw big pay revolts last year after refusing to heed the IA warning.
Mr Jansen was recruited to BT in 2018 after a successful and lucrative stint at the helm of payments company Worldpay.
BT declined to comment on the letter, which is understood to have been sent ahead of the publication of its annual report later this week.
Last week, Mr Jansen topped up his shareholding in BT, and now owns more than £8m of stock - in excess of a new requirement that he holds at least five times his salary in BT shares.
His purchase of more shares was cited by company insiders as evidence that a Financial Times report of talks to sell a stake in Openreach, its broadband infrastructure arm, was inaccurate.
However, there is an expectation that some form of transaction to crystallise Openreach's value will take place in the coming years.
The shares have performed poorly over the last year, losing 45% of their value.
BT, which owns the EE mobile network, now has a market capitalisation of just £11bn.


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: Damien Hirst on art, rainbows and coping with lockdown

No stranger to accusations of plagiarism , Damien Hirst admits all his ideas are `` stolen '' and his latest concept is pinched from children .
But it 's for a good cause .
Like thousands in lockdown , the Turner Prize winner has been painting rainbows - customising them with his famed butterfly wings motif to add meaning and value to the nation 's chosen symbol of hope during coronavirus .
The prints , are priced £300 and £1,000 , are available to buy until 25 May through the art website Heni Editions , with all proceeds going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( a London surplus food distributor ) .
The British artist 's acclaimed butterflies represent death and resurrection , providing a pertinent and opportune way to give the rainbows a makeover .
Hirst told Sky News : `` I saw those kids ' paintings of rainbows , you know in windows , and just remember thinking it 's times like this you want to think about children .
So I thought I just want to make a rainbow as well… '' They 're optimistic , they 're hopeful and they look great… so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help . ''
The 54-year-old added : `` It 's nice to think of art as something that can help you know , raising money and raising awareness and helping people , it 's great that art has that power .
`` Art's… just a hopeful thing , we need it . ''
Famed for using assistants to produce some of his most famous artworks , including his Spot paintings , Hirst said surprisingly , working alone in lockdown `` has n't been so bad '' .
`` It 's amazing how quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've managed to paint every day .
I 've got a bit of a routine going ...
It 's a strange world… I just paint really but the paintings are going really well . ''
However , he admited he has been concerned for his health .
`` I was a little bit confused in the beginning , not touching lift buttons and wearing masks and thinking is this really necessary , but… I think I just took it seriously quite quickly because if I get a chest infection , I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've been worried .
I do n't think I 'd do well with it . ''
He 's famed as the 'bad boy ' of the art world for provocative , conceptual , headline grabbing pieces such as his diamond encrusted platinum skull ( For The Love of God created in 2007 ) , 1991 's preserved tiger shark , and more recently the Treasures from the Wreck , based on a hoax discovery .
And it 's a fame that has reaped monetary rewards .
Hirst was ranked 409 in the Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of £315m .
Speaking from his London studio , as frank as ever , Hirst admited for all its power , art is a luxury .
`` When these sorts of things are happening in the world , any sort of crisis , I think art can quickly go out the window because it 's a leisure activity you know .
It 's not something that puts food on the table in a direct sense . ''
It 's clear , as he says it , that the irony is n't lost on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch his Cherry Blossoms exhibition in June , but like countless shows across the world it has been pushed back to 2021 .
It will make him the first living artist to have a solo museum show in Paris ( at the Fondation Cartier contemporary art museum ) .
As with the Rainbow Editions , Hirst is banking on the idea that people will seek escapism in his new canvas paintings , and still flock to the show when it finally opens in a post-COVID 19 era .
Many films , books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cold light of the pandemic because they feel suddenly , somehow less relevant and outdated .
What does he make of what artists response to the crisis might be ?
`` It 's difficult to say how artists will react to it but I certainly feel more focused and inspired in a time like this .
`` There 's a great painting that I put on my Instagram by Egon Schiele , a portrait of him and his wife and his wife was six months pregnant and she died of the Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child in the picture and then he died .
`` It 's called The Family and you can really feel that… It was a family that never was , that never existed and it 's just a great example of art that came out of that crisis of that time .
`` It makes you think of all families and everybody and this difficulty and about surviving and caring for people . ''
On the galleries that face closure as a result of the pandemic and the uncertain future of the arts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
: : Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' I think it 's the same or for everybody , you ca n't think too far into the future .
Of course , people are worrying about their businesses and they 're worried about their personal survival .
`` People are thinking , am I gon na survive through this ?
One thing 's for certain , the world 's gon na be a very different place afterwards .
`` I 'm having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up things I never even thought about… but it 's too early to tell and too hard to say what things are gon na look like afterwards , but I definitely think that something will change . ''
On the institutions embracing virtual exhibitions and digital alternatives that some suggest could help democratise the arts , does Hirst believe this crisis could trigger any positive changes in the art world ?
`` It 's just about getting people 's attention .
Art is on a lot of levels entertainment , and my love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ History Museum rather than intimidating , posh galleries… '' A great reaction to an artwork for me is 'Wow ! '
I want people to walk into one of my shows and go 'Wow ' and I want them to want to stay there , and virtually people do that in rooms and in the real world they do that in rooms .
`` I guess for an artist , the thing that artists are most afraid of is being ignored so if you create a virtual room or an exhibition and no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's gon na be happy , so I think it 's all about how things will work . ''
The Rainbow Editions are available until midnight on Monday 25 May via art website Heni Editions .

No stranger to accusations of plagiarism, Damien Hirst admits all his ideas are "stolen" and his latest concept is pinched from children. But it's for a good cause.
Like thousands in lockdown, the Turner Prize winner has been painting rainbows - customising them with his famed butterfly wings motif to add meaning and value to the nation's chosen symbol of hope during coronavirus.
Image: Artist Damien Hirst says art is often seen as a luxury during a crisis
The prints, are priced £300 and £1,000, are available to buy until 25 May through the art website Heni Editions, with all proceeds going to NHS Charities Together and The Felix Project (a London surplus food distributor).
The British artist's acclaimed butterflies represent death and resurrection, providing a pertinent and opportune way to give the rainbows a makeover.
Hirst told Sky News: "I saw those kids' paintings of rainbows, you know in windows, and just remember thinking it's times like this you want to think about children. So I thought I just want to make a rainbow as well…
"They're optimistic, they're hopeful and they look great… so I just thought I'd try and help."
The 54-year-old added: "It's nice to think of art as something that can help you know, raising money and raising awareness and helping people, it's great that art has that power.
"Art's… just a hopeful thing, we need it."
Famed for using assistants to produce some of his most famous artworks, including his Spot paintings, Hirst said surprisingly, working alone in lockdown "hasn't been so bad".
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Image: Butterfly Rainbow is one of the two limited editions available
"It's amazing how quickly you get used to it.
"I've managed to paint every day. I've got a bit of a routine going... It's a strange world… I just paint really but the paintings are going really well."
However, he admited he has been concerned for his health.
"I was a little bit confused in the beginning, not touching lift buttons and wearing masks and thinking is this really necessary, but… I think I just took it seriously quite quickly because if I get a chest infection, I can never get rid of it so I've been worried. I don't think I'd do well with it."
Image: The Miraculous Journey by Hirst in Doha
He's famed as the 'bad boy' of the art world for provocative, conceptual, headline grabbing pieces such as his diamond encrusted platinum skull (For The Love of God created in 2007), 1991's preserved tiger shark, and more recently the Treasures from the Wreck, based on a hoax discovery.
And it's a fame that has reaped monetary rewards. Hirst was ranked 409 in the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated worth of £315m.
Speaking from his London studio, as frank as ever, Hirst admited for all its power, art is a luxury.
"When these sorts of things are happening in the world, any sort of crisis, I think art can quickly go out the window because it's a leisure activity you know. It's not something that puts food on the table in a direct sense."
It's clear, as he says it, that the irony isn't lost on him.
Image: The Incomplete Truth by Hirst
Hirst would have been about to launch his Cherry Blossoms exhibition in June, but like countless shows across the world it has been pushed back to 2021.
It will make him the first living artist to have a solo museum show in Paris (at the Fondation Cartier contemporary art museum).
As with the Rainbow Editions, Hirst is banking on the idea that people will seek escapism in his new canvas paintings, and still flock to the show when it finally opens in a post-COVID 19 era.
Many films, books and TV series are being re-written in the cold light of the pandemic because they feel suddenly, somehow less relevant and outdated. What does he make of what artists response to the crisis might be?
Image: Hirst is reportedly the world's richest living artist
"It's difficult to say how artists will react to it but I certainly feel more focused and inspired in a time like this.
"There's a great painting that I put on my Instagram by Egon Schiele, a portrait of him and his wife and his wife was six months pregnant and she died of the Spanish flu… and he ended up putting the child in the picture and then he died.
"It's called The Family and you can really feel that… It was a family that never was, that never existed and it's just a great example of art that came out of that crisis of that time.
"It makes you think of all families and everybody and this difficulty and about surviving and caring for people."
On the galleries that face closure as a result of the pandemic and the uncertain future of the arts, Hirst said he has no crystal ball.
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"I think it's the same or for everybody, you can't think too far into the future. Of course, people are worrying about their businesses and they're worried about their personal survival.
"People are thinking, am I gonna survive through this? One thing's for certain, the world's gonna be a very different place afterwards.
"I'm having to look at my business properly and… set up things I never even thought about… but it's too early to tell and too hard to say what things are gonna look like afterwards, but I definitely think that something will change."
On the institutions embracing virtual exhibitions and digital alternatives that some suggest could help democratise the arts, does Hirst believe this crisis could trigger any positive changes in the art world?
"It's just about getting people's attention. Art is on a lot of levels entertainment, and my love of art came out of the Natural History Museum rather than intimidating, posh galleries…
"A great reaction to an artwork for me is 'Wow!' I want people to walk into one of my shows and go 'Wow' and I want them to want to stay there, and virtually people do that in rooms and in the real world they do that in rooms.
"I guess for an artist, the thing that artists are most afraid of is being ignored so if you create a virtual room or an exhibition and no one goes in it then no one's gonna be happy, so I think it's all about how things will work."
The Rainbow Editions are available until midnight on Monday 25 May via art website Heni Editions.


news--2020-05-20--M&S reveals £1bn action plan as coronavirus drives latest turnaround

Marks and Spencer ( M & S ) has revealed a £1bn plan of action to help it battle coronavirus crisis challenges following a slump in annual profits .
The retailer , which has struggled to revive its fortunes over many years resulting in relegation from the FTSE 100 last year , said it had embraced a new way of working as COVID-19 struck in a world that would `` never be the same again '' .
It outlined a string of actions to manage cash and save costs as its troubled clothing and home division drove a 21 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year to 28 March to £403.1m .
M & S revealed a trading hit of almost £52m in March alone and recorded one-off costs of £335.9m for the year , with £212.8m of that sum blamed on costs and stock write downs related to pandemic disruption .
It left profit before tax at £67.2m .
The company said its £1bn of actions included £500m of planned cost reductions and an acceleration in the `` re-shaping '' of its stores but it did not reveal whether that would include shutting more sites .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin closing dozens of under-performing stores and invest in digital systems to refocus its customer offering while , latterly , it adapted to new ways of working as the lockdown began in March .
Chief executive Steve Rowe told investors the crisis had accelerated the pace of change in how people shopped - and M & S must adjust too as it prepares to begin its crucial online grocery delivery partnership with Ocado in late summer .
He said : `` Last year 's results reflect a year of substantial progress and change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , out-performance in food and some green shoots in clothing in the second half .
`` However , they now seem like ancient history as the trauma of the Covid crisis has galvanised our colleagues to secure the future of the business .
`` Whilst some customer habits will return to normal , others have changed forever , the trend towards digital has been accelerated , and changes to the shape of the high street brought forward .
`` Most importantly working habits have been transformed and we have discovered we can work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective way .
`` I am determined to act now to capture this and deliver a renewed , more agile business in a world that will never be the same again . ''
M & S shares - down 60 % in the year to date leaving its market value at £1.7bn - were 10.8 % up by the close .
But Julie Palmer , partner at restructuring specialists Begbies Traynor , was unimpressed by the update .
She wrote : `` M & S ' fall from grace continues as the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The pandemic will do nothing to ease the retailer 's woes which has suffered from poor trading for the past few years with the firm 's share price plummeting .
`` The retailer has failed to adjust accurately to the changing face of the retail landscape , with major established retailers no longer holding the monopoly over the market that they once did . ''

Marks and Spencer (M&S) has revealed a £1bn plan of action to help it battle coronavirus crisis challenges following a slump in annual profits.
The retailer, which has struggled to revive its fortunes over many years resulting in relegation from the FTSE 100 last year, said it had embraced a new way of working as COVID-19 struck in a world that would "never be the same again".
It outlined a string of actions to manage cash and save costs as its troubled clothing and home division drove a 21% fall in annual trading profits for the year to 28 March to £403.1m.
Image: Marks & Spencer begins grocery deliveries under its deal with Ocado which begins in September
M&S revealed a trading hit of almost £52m in March alone and recorded one-off costs of £335.9m for the year, with £212.8m of that sum blamed on costs and stock write downs related to pandemic disruption.
It left profit before tax at £67.2m.
The company said its £1bn of actions included £500m of planned cost reductions and an acceleration in the "re-shaping" of its stores but it did not reveal whether that would include shutting more sites.
The 2019/20 financial year saw M&S begin closing dozens of under-performing stores and invest in digital systems to refocus its customer offering while, latterly, it adapted to new ways of working as the lockdown began in March.
Chief executive Steve Rowe told investors the crisis had accelerated the pace of change in how people shopped - and M&S must adjust too as it prepares to begin its crucial online grocery delivery partnership with Ocado in late summer.
Image: Sales in the M&S clothing division were more than 6% down on the previous year but improved in the second half
He said: "Last year's results reflect a year of substantial progress and change including the transformative investment in Ocado Retail, out-performance in food and some green shoots in clothing in the second half.
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"However, they now seem like ancient history as the trauma of the Covid crisis has galvanised our colleagues to secure the future of the business.
"Whilst some customer habits will return to normal, others have changed forever, the trend towards digital has been accelerated, and changes to the shape of the high street brought forward.
"Most importantly working habits have been transformed and we have discovered we can work in a faster, leaner, more effective way.
"I am determined to act now to capture this and deliver a renewed, more agile business in a world that will never be the same again."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:42 March 2020: How is the lockdown affecting the high street?
M&S shares - down 60% in the year to date leaving its market value at £1.7bn - were 10.8% up by the close.
But Julie Palmer, partner at restructuring specialists Begbies Traynor, was unimpressed by the update.
She wrote: "M&S' fall from grace continues as the coronavirus causes chaos for an already fragile high-street.
"The pandemic will do nothing to ease the retailer's woes which has suffered from poor trading for the past few years with the firm's share price plummeting.
"The retailer has failed to adjust accurately to the changing face of the retail landscape, with major established retailers no longer holding the monopoly over the market that they once did."


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: Inflation plunges to August 2016 low as lockdown drives price shift

The rate of inflation has plunged to its lowest level since August 2016 as the coronavirus crisis lockdown drove violent shifts in prices for consumers .
The Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) said the Consumer Prices Index ( CPI ) fell to 0.8 % in April - down from 1.5 % in March when efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 began in earnest .
The decline was mainly driven by falling energy and fuel costs , the report said , with the cost of unleaded recording its largest monthly slump on record as global oil prices crashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cap on default household energy tariffs also contributed , the ONS said .
But it charted price increases in its games and hobbies category and for fresh food - especially vegetables - as the public was forced to remain at home .
The decline in the annual rate was more intense than economists had predicted and there are growing expectations it will near zero in the coming months .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The Bank of England 's central target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % but its base rate of interest is hovering just above zero so there is little scope to cut it to boost activity and therefore prices .
Jonathan Athow , deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS , said of the inflation figure : `` While the coronavirus limited the availability of some goods and services , its effect on prices was more muted .
`` Falling petrol and diesel prices , combined with changes to the domestic energy price cap were the main reasons for lower inflation in April .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising prices , perhaps as people occupied their time at home .
`` Food prices grew no more quickly than other goods and services , though fresh vegetables did see stronger rises . ''

The rate of inflation has plunged to its lowest level since August 2016 as the coronavirus crisis lockdown drove violent shifts in prices for consumers.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 0.8% in April - down from 1.5% in March when efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 began in earnest.
The decline was mainly driven by falling energy and fuel costs, the report said, with the cost of unleaded recording its largest monthly slump on record as global oil prices crashed.
Image: Fresh vegetables may have cost more as produce from overseas became harder to secure during lockdowns
A fall of 10.4p a litre was recorded.
The decision to reduce the price cap on default household energy tariffs also contributed, the ONS said.
But it charted price increases in its games and hobbies category and for fresh food - especially vegetables - as the public was forced to remain at home.
The decline in the annual rate was more intense than economists had predicted and there are growing expectations it will near zero in the coming months.
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The Bank of England's central target is to achieve a rate of 2% but its base rate of interest is hovering just above zero so there is little scope to cut it to boost activity and therefore prices.
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Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said of the inflation figure: "While the coronavirus limited the availability of some goods and services, its effect on prices was more muted.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:43 UK unemployment claims hit 2.1 million
"Falling petrol and diesel prices, combined with changes to the domestic energy price cap were the main reasons for lower inflation in April.
"Games, toys and hobbies saw rising prices, perhaps as people occupied their time at home.
"Food prices grew no more quickly than other goods and services, though fresh vegetables did see stronger rises."


news--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: High street antibody tests 'good for satisfying curiosity, but no more'

The first DIY COVID-19 antibody test available on the high street provides a `` partial picture '' and is good for `` satisfying people 's curiosity but no more '' , experts have warned .
The test kit on sale at Superdrug for £69 requires users to take a finger prick blood sample at home and send it off to an accredited laboratory for testing .
Superdrug said the test is accurate 97.5 % of the time at detecting the IgG , the protein that develops after a coronavirus infection , and is 100 % specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 disease .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker If positive , it means that the person tested had the virus at some point .
Commenting on the availability of the test and that offered for the same price by healthcare company Babylon , Dr Simon Clarke , associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading , outlined downsides .
`` These tests are good for satisfying people 's curiosity , but no more .
We just do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone immune to COVID-19 to accurately test people , '' professor Clarke said .
The presence of the antibodies `` does not indicate that someone is immune and it should be remembered that any post-infection immunity may dwindle rapidly '' , he added .
Professor Gino Martini , chief scientific officer at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society , added : `` Any antibody test at present can only provide a partial picture .
`` The real issue is that no one knows the level of immunity that is conferred by having antibodies to coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if you can become re-infected . ''
Martin Hibberd , professor of emerging infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , said that , because the tests have not been evaluated in the format that they are being used , their sensitivity and specificity is unclear .
He welcomed the use of a laboratory and the ease of taking the sample , but said that , while a positive result means the tested person has had the illness , it does not guarantee they are protected from future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will last .
Superdrug said it was `` confident '' in the accuracy and reliability of the test , whose results are available online 24 hours after the sample reaches the lab .
But the company 's doctor ambassador , Dr Zoe Williams , said a positive test result `` does not mean you can be any more relaxed with the required hygiene and social distancing measures as set out by the government '' .
Last week , ministers approved a new antibody test from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche , which Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The first DIY COVID-19 antibody test available on the high street provides a "partial picture" and is good for "satisfying people's curiosity but no more", experts have warned.
The test kit on sale at Superdrug for £69 requires users to take a finger prick blood sample at home and send it off to an accredited laboratory for testing.
Superdrug said the test is accurate 97.5% of the time at detecting the IgG, the protein that develops after a coronavirus infection, and is 100% specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus - the novel coronavirus which causes the COVID-19 disease.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
If positive, it means that the person tested had the virus at some point.
Commenting on the availability of the test and that offered for the same price by healthcare company Babylon, Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, outlined downsides.
"These tests are good for satisfying people's curiosity, but no more. We just don't know enough about what it takes to make someone immune to COVID-19 to accurately test people," professor Clarke said.
The presence of the antibodies "does not indicate that someone is immune and it should be remembered that any post-infection immunity may dwindle rapidly", he added.
Professor Gino Martini, chief scientific officer at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, added: "Any antibody test at present can only provide a partial picture.
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"The real issue is that no one knows the level of immunity that is conferred by having antibodies to coronavirus, how long it might last, and if you can become re-infected."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:32 PM's pledge on contact tracing
Martin Hibberd, professor of emerging infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that, because the tests have not been evaluated in the format that they are being used, their sensitivity and specificity is unclear.
He welcomed the use of a laboratory and the ease of taking the sample, but said that, while a positive result means the tested person has had the illness, it does not guarantee they are protected from future infections, or how long those antibodies will last.
Superdrug said it was "confident" in the accuracy and reliability of the test, whose results are available online 24 hours after the sample reaches the lab.
But the company's doctor ambassador, Dr Zoe Williams, said a positive test result "does not mean you can be any more relaxed with the required hygiene and social distancing measures as set out by the government".
Last week, ministers approved a new antibody test from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, which Public Health England called "100% accurate".


news--2020-05-20--China: Man abducted as a toddler reunited with family after 32 years

A Chinese man snatched from his parents as a toddler has been reunited with them 32 years later .
Mao Yin was kidnapped as he walked home from nursery with his father aged two-and-a-half in 1988 .
After he was taken from the entrance of a hotel in Xi'an , Shaanxi Province , his mother Lin Jingzhi quit her job and launched a decades-long search to find her missing son .
She sent out more than 10,000 flyers and appeared on a number of TV shows .
Lin also joined a group of volunteers dedicated to finding missing children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw 29 abducted children reunited with their families in China , but she still had not found her own son .
In April last year , police in Xi'an got a tip that a man in Sichuan Province , southwest China , adopted a child from Xi'an for the price of 6,000 yuan ( £688 ) .
After a series of investigations , Mao Yin 's DNA was matched to his profile and authorities planned for a reunion .
On Monday , he ran towards his crying parents and hugged them for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The emotional reunion at Xi'an 's municipal public security bureau was watched by well-wishers and journalists all wearing masks due to the coronavirus outbreak .
His mother told the crowds : `` I would like to thank tens of thousands of people who have helped us . ''
She held her son 's face in her hands while his father , Mao Zhenjing , kissed his forehead .
Mao Yin had no idea he had been the subject of a high-profile police search .
He had been renamed Gu Ningning by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mianyang , Sichuan , 370 miles away from where he was born .
He now runs an interior design company and plans to stay with his parents in Xi'an before returning to his home in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu .
The 34-year-old told state media : `` To be honest , I 'm not quite sure about the future yet . ''
Police are still investigating his disappearance after decades of similar child kidnapping cases remain unsolved in China .
Some victims have been forced into a life of crime or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sold illegally and put up for adoption .

A Chinese man snatched from his parents as a toddler has been reunited with them 32 years later.
Mao Yin was kidnapped as he walked home from nursery with his father aged two-and-a-half in 1988.
After he was taken from the entrance of a hotel in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, his mother Lin Jingzhi quit her job and launched a decades-long search to find her missing son.
Image: Mao Yin is pictured with his mother Lin Jingzhi and father Mao Zhenjing in Xi'an, China, after 32 years apart
She sent out more than 10,000 flyers and appeared on a number of TV shows. Lin also joined a group of volunteers dedicated to finding missing children, providing information to police.
Her help saw 29 abducted children reunited with their families in China, but she still had not found her own son.
In April last year, police in Xi'an got a tip that a man in Sichuan Province, southwest China, adopted a child from Xi'an for the price of 6,000 yuan (£688).
After a series of investigations, Mao Yin's DNA was matched to his profile and authorities planned for a reunion.
Image: Mao Yin, 34, is pictured embracing his crying mother at their emotional reunion
On Monday, he ran towards his crying parents and hugged them for the first time in more than three decades.
The emotional reunion at Xi'an's municipal public security bureau was watched by well-wishers and journalists all wearing masks due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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His mother told the crowds: "I would like to thank tens of thousands of people who have helped us."
She held her son's face in her hands while his father, Mao Zhenjing, kissed his forehead.
Mao Yin had no idea he had been the subject of a high-profile police search. He had been renamed Gu Ningning by the family who raised him in the city of Mianyang, Sichuan, 370 miles away from where he was born.
Image: Lin Jingzhi quit her job to dedicate her life to finding her missing son
He now runs an interior design company and plans to stay with his parents in Xi'an before returning to his home in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu.
The 34-year-old told state media: "To be honest, I'm not quite sure about the future yet."
Police are still investigating his disappearance after decades of similar child kidnapping cases remain unsolved in China.
Some victims have been forced into a life of crime or the sex trade, while others have been sold illegally and put up for adoption.


news--2020-05-25--Elon Musk and Grimes change baby X Æ A-12's name due to Californian law

Elon Musk and Grimes have added a classic twist to their son 's very modern name .
The Canadian singer and billionaire entrepreneur welcomed their first child earlier this month , naming him X Æ A-12 .
However , that name has now been tweaked to X Æ A-Xii .
Grimes , whose real name is Claire Boucher , revealed the adjustment on Instagram after a fan asked : `` Did you change the baby name because of Californian laws ?
What is the baby 's new name ? ''
Another follower wrote : `` Nice !
Just removed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The addition of Roman numerals in place of the final digits is understood to be a way of getting around the Californian law , which forbids the inclusion of numbers in a legal name .
Grimes later wrote : `` 'Roman numerals .
Looks better tbh . ''
She later added : `` One dash is allowed '' .
The couple have previously explained the meaning behind the name , breaking it down into its component elements .
`` Æ '' is the `` elven spelling '' of `` Ai '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also an acronym for artificial intelligence .
And the `` A-12 '' is their `` favourite aircraft '' .
Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast several days after the baby 's birth , SpaceX founder Musk explained how to pronounce the name : `` It 's just X , the letter X .
And then , the Æ is , like , pronounced 'Ash ' .
And then , A-12 . ''
However , Grimes has previously told fans the Æ is pronounced like the two letters .
Æ is originally a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` ash '' and others as the letters A and E , which may explain the confusion .
Musk has said the unusual name was Grimes ' idea , but that the A-12 bit was his contribution .
He 's yet to say whether he 's a fan of the Roman numerals .
: : Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The 32-year-old singer and 48-year-old Tesla co-founder have been in a relationship for more than two years and made their public debut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gala .
South African-born Musk , who is one of the world 's richest men , also has five children with his first wife , the Canadian author Justine Wilson .
Away from his fatherhood duties , the Tesla co-founder recently ignored government rules , reopening his California plant despite orders to stay closed during the coronavirus lockdown .

Elon Musk and Grimes have added a classic twist to their son's very modern name.
The Canadian singer and billionaire entrepreneur welcomed their first child earlier this month, naming him X Æ A-12.
However, that name has now been tweaked to X Æ A-Xii.
Image: The father-of-six also shared a more natural shot. Pic: @elonmusk/Twitter
Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, revealed the adjustment on Instagram after a fan asked: "Did you change the baby name because of Californian laws? What is the baby's new name?"
She responded simply: "X Æ A-Xii."
Another follower wrote: "Nice! Just removed the numbers to conform to California law."
The addition of Roman numerals in place of the final digits is understood to be a way of getting around the Californian law, which forbids the inclusion of numbers in a legal name.
Grimes later wrote: "'Roman numerals. Looks better tbh."
She later added: "One dash is allowed".
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Image: Musk and Grimes have been in a relationship for two years
The couple have previously explained the meaning behind the name, breaking it down into its component elements.
Apparently, "X" represents the "unknown variable".
"Æ" is the "elven spelling" of "Ai", which means love in Chinese - and is also an acronym for artificial intelligence.
And the "A-12" is their "favourite aircraft".
Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast several days after the baby's birth, SpaceX founder Musk explained how to pronounce the name: "It's just X, the letter X. And then, the Æ is, like, pronounced 'Ash'. And then, A-12."
However, Grimes has previously told fans the Æ is pronounced like the two letters.
Æ is originally a Latin symbol, with some pronouncing it as "ash" and others as the letters A and E, which may explain the confusion.
Musk has said the unusual name was Grimes' idea, but that the A-12 bit was his contribution. He's yet to say whether he's a fan of the Roman numerals.
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The 32-year-old singer and 48-year-old Tesla co-founder have been in a relationship for more than two years and made their public debut as a couple at the 2018 Met Gala.
South African-born Musk, who is one of the world's richest men, also has five children with his first wife, the Canadian author Justine Wilson.
Away from his fatherhood duties, the Tesla co-founder recently ignored government rules, reopening his California plant despite orders to stay closed during the coronavirus lockdown.


news--2020-05-25--Sir David Attenborough: Pandemic could make nations realise climate issue depends on co-operation

Sir David Attenborough says the coronavirus pandemic has `` swept '' climate change from the front pages - but warned the clock is still ticking to tackle the crisis .
The broadcaster and naturalist , 94 , told the first episode of the So Hot Right Now podcast : `` The trouble is that right now the climate issue is also seen as being rather in the distant future because we 've got the virus to think about .
`` And so what are the papers full of ?
The virus .
Quite right , that 's what I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we have to make sure that this issue , which was coming to the boil with the next COP meeting in Glasgow , has suddenly been swept off the front pages .
`` And we 've got to get it back there . ''
The COP26 international climate talks were due to take place in Glasgow this November but have been postponed due to the pandemic .
Asked whether he saw a solution to the lack of focus on climate change awareness , Sir David said : `` No , if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I 'm not .
`` I do n't know - we , you and me and lots of others like us have got to keep on going on about it but the clock is ticking .
`` The danger of the Arctic and the Antarctic warming is becoming greater day by day . ''
Sir David said he hopes the pandemic makes nations realise they have to work together , but suggested it would be a first .
`` What the result of coronavirus is going to be I do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and film-maker Tom Mustill , who host the podcast .
`` But I 'm beginning to get a feeling that for the first time the nations of the world are beginning to see that survival depends on co-operation .
`` If that happens , that 's going to be a first in human history . ''
: : Listen to Coronavirus : In This Together on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or Spreaker Sir David , a great supporter of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg , said she was `` remarkable '' for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science .
He said : `` I think she 's very remarkable .
And what is more she is , with all that power , she is nonetheless extremely modest .
`` She is extremely well informed .
But she 's also very modest .
And she keeps saying : Look , the only guide has to be the science , we must follow what the science says . ''
The naturalist said Ms Thunberg 's critics were not `` particularly well informed '' which is why they act `` outraged '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way it is .
That 's the way life is , that 's the way society is , '' he said .
`` And in fact if you are n't particularly well informed about the natural world , and the minute you find that you ca n't get to your work to do what you want to do , or what you need to do to earn a living , because somebody has stopped you because they are talking about an issue you do n't know about , it should n't come as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people as a consequence of that who will act in an outraged way . ''
The So Hot Right Now podcast will be available on all podcast platforms from Tuesday .
Singer Ellie Goulding , UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and former president of Ireland Mary Robinson will also feature in the series .

Sir David Attenborough says the coronavirus pandemic has "swept" climate change from the front pages - but warned the clock is still ticking to tackle the crisis.
The broadcaster and naturalist, 94, told the first episode of the So Hot Right Now podcast: "The trouble is that right now the climate issue is also seen as being rather in the distant future because we've got the virus to think about.
"And so what are the papers full of? The virus. Quite right, that's what I want to know about, too.
Image: Sir David said he was disappointed COP26 in Glasgow could not happen
"But we have to make sure that this issue, which was coming to the boil with the next COP meeting in Glasgow, has suddenly been swept off the front pages.
"And we've got to get it back there."
The COP26 international climate talks were due to take place in Glasgow this November but have been postponed due to the pandemic.
Asked whether he saw a solution to the lack of focus on climate change awareness, Sir David said: "No, if I knew that I would be a dictator but I'm not.
"I don't know - we, you and me and lots of others like us have got to keep on going on about it but the clock is ticking.
"The danger of the Arctic and the Antarctic warming is becoming greater day by day."
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:47 Sir David Attenborough: Young people have to show they mean it
Sir David said he hopes the pandemic makes nations realise they have to work together, but suggested it would be a first.
"What the result of coronavirus is going to be I don't know," he told journalist Lucy Siegle and film-maker Tom Mustill, who host the podcast.
"But I'm beginning to get a feeling that for the first time the nations of the world are beginning to see that survival depends on co-operation.
"If that happens, that's going to be a first in human history."
:: Listen to Coronavirus: In This Together on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Spreaker
Sir David, a great supporter of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, said she was "remarkable" for energising young people and for following the science.
He said: "I think she's very remarkable. And what is more she is, with all that power, she is nonetheless extremely modest.
"She is extremely well informed. But she's also very modest. And she keeps saying: Look, the only guide has to be the science, we must follow what the science says."
Image: Sir David said he hopes the pandemic will show people nations need to work together
The naturalist said Ms Thunberg's critics were not "particularly well informed" which is why they act "outraged".
"Yes, well that's the way it is. That's the way life is, that's the way society is," he said.
"And in fact if you aren't particularly well informed about the natural world, and the minute you find that you can't get to your work to do what you want to do, or what you need to do to earn a living, because somebody has stopped you because they are talking about an issue you don't know about, it shouldn't come as a surprise that there will be some people as a consequence of that who will act in an outraged way."
The So Hot Right Now podcast will be available on all podcast platforms from Tuesday.
Singer Ellie Goulding, UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and former president of Ireland Mary Robinson will also feature in the series.