news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Top NHS doctor dies after contracting COVID-19

A leading NHS doctor described as a `` living legend '' has died after contracting coronavirus , his family has said .
Dr Alfa Saadu , 68 , died on Tuesday at about 7.30am after contracting COVID-19 two weeks ago .
The former medical director at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow , Essex , was one of 563 people across the UK to die on Tuesday after testing positive for coronavirus .
The doctor had worked for the NHS for decades and retired in 2017 but carried on working part-time at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frontline fighting the coronavirus pandemic when he contracted the virus .
The doctor , who grew up in Nigeria 's Kwara state , moved to the UK when he was 12 years old and worked for most of his career in the UK , with a stint of teaching at a hospital in Nigeria .
His son Dani posted on Facebook : `` He had been fighting the virus for two weeks but he could not fight any more .
`` The NHS were amazing and did everything they could .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for the NHS for 40 years saving people 's lives here and in Africa .
`` Up until he got sick , he was still working part-time saving people .
`` The coronavirus is not a joke , please take it seriously and listen to the government .
`` Please stay safe and protect your loved ones , nothing is more important . ''
Lance McCarthy , chief executive of the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust , said Dr Saadu was `` well known '' at the trust and will be fondly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we learn of the passing of Dr Alfa Saadu , '' he said .
`` Alfa was well-known at the trust for his passion for ensuring our patients received high quality care .
He was a committed member of the team and is remembered fondly by many .
`` His family and friends are in our thoughts at this sad time . ''
Dr Saadu was also chairman of Kwasang UK , an association for the diaspora from his home state of Kwara in Nigeria , and a community leader in Pategi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childhood in .
The former president of the Nigerian senate , Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki , tweeted a tribute to Dr Saadu , saying he was a `` foremost medical practitioner '' who will be `` sorely missed '' .
He tweeted : `` Late Dr Saadu provided leadership for our people in the diaspora as he served for many years as chairman , Kwara State Association of Nigeria ( Kwasang UK ) .
Back at home , he was a community leader and traditional office holder as Galadima of Pategi .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pray that Allah forgive his sins and grant him a place in Aljannah Firdaus .
May Allah also grant his family , the people of Pategi and Kwara State the fortitude to bear the loss . ''

A leading NHS doctor described as a "living legend" has died after contracting coronavirus, his family has said.
Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday at about 7.30am after contracting COVID-19 two weeks ago.
The former medical director at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, was one of 563 people across the UK to die on Tuesday after testing positive for coronavirus.
Image: Dr Alfa Saadu was medical director at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. Pic:
The doctor had worked for the NHS for decades and retired in 2017 but carried on working part-time at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
He was not working on the frontline fighting the coronavirus pandemic when he contracted the virus.
The doctor, who grew up in Nigeria's Kwara state, moved to the UK when he was 12 years old and worked for most of his career in the UK, with a stint of teaching at a hospital in Nigeria.
His son Dani posted on Facebook: "He had been fighting the virus for two weeks but he could not fight any more.
Image: Dr Saadu was one of 563 people to have died on Tuesday after contracting coronavirus
"The NHS were amazing and did everything they could.
"My dad was a living legend, worked for the NHS for 40 years saving people's lives here and in Africa.
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"Up until he got sick, he was still working part-time saving people.
"The coronavirus is not a joke, please take it seriously and listen to the government.
"Please stay safe and protect your loved ones, nothing is more important."
Lance McCarthy, chief executive of the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said Dr Saadu was "well known" at the trust and will be fondly remembered.
"It is with saddest that we learn of the passing of Dr Alfa Saadu," he said.
"Alfa was well-known at the trust for his passion for ensuring our patients received high quality care. He was a committed member of the team and is remembered fondly by many.
"His family and friends are in our thoughts at this sad time."
Image: Dr Alfa Saadu was working part-time at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn, Herfordshire
Dr Saadu was also chairman of Kwasang UK, an association for the diaspora from his home state of Kwara in Nigeria, and a community leader in Pategi, the small town he spent his childhood in.
The former president of the Nigerian senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, tweeted a tribute to Dr Saadu, saying he was a "foremost medical practitioner" who will be "sorely missed".
He tweeted: "Late Dr Saadu provided leadership for our people in the diaspora as he served for many years as chairman, Kwara State Association of Nigeria (Kwasang UK). Back at home, he was a community leader and traditional office holder as Galadima of Pategi. He will be sorely missed.
"We pray that Allah forgive his sins and grant him a place in Aljannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant his family, the people of Pategi and Kwara State the fortitude to bear the loss."


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Aviation giants lobby for Virgin Atlantic bailout

Britain 's biggest airport and some of the aviation industry 's biggest manufacturers are mounting a frantic lobbying campaign to secure taxpayer support for Virgin Atlantic Airways .
Sky News has learnt that Airbus , Rolls-Royce Holdings and Heathrow Airport have this week written separately to Grant Shapps , the transport secretary , to urge the government to `` do all it can to support Virgin in these extremely difficult times '' .
In one letter , John Harrison , general counsel and UK chairman of Airbus , warned that Virgin Atlantic 's `` collapse could have an extremely negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] programme '' .
`` As you will be aware , all wings for these aircraft are designed and manufactured in the UK , and orders from airlines like Virgin are vital for the continuation of our business , '' Mr Harrison wrote .
Similar messages are understood to have been communicated by Heathrow and Rolls-Royce , both of which are also significant customers of Virgin Atlantic .
One industry source said the letters had been written at the instigation of the British airline .
The Airbus executive 's warning represents one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic as an existential threat .
The carrier recently received a capital injection amounting to more than $ 100m from Sir Richard Branson 's Virgin Group .
It is now seeking support from the government in the form of several hundred million pounds of credit facilities and guarantees against payments being held back by credit card companies .
Discussions are continuing between the airline and Whitehall officials this week .
Peter Norris , Virgin Group 's chairman , last month urged Boris Johnson to establish an industry-wide support package that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virgin Atlantic has asked staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave , grounded most of its fleet and announced that its chief executive would take a pay cut for several months .
One challenge for the government in deciding whether to extend special support to the company lies in the fact that its two largest shareholders are Sir Richard and Delta Air Lines , the big American carrier .
Last week , Rishi Sunak , the chancellor , indicated that state aid would be available `` only as a last resort '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schemes and companies ' existing shareholders had been pursued .
He added that help would only be afforded to companies which had demonstrated their value to the wider UK economy and to competition in the aviation sector .
As a privately owned company , Virgin Atlantic may find it difficult to raise equity unless it was prepared to find a new investor at a distressed valuation .
In his letter to Mr Shapps , which was copied to Mr Sunak , Airbus said Virgin Atlantic had played an important role in working towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Harrison added that it was `` important for UK passengers to have access to a market that has choice and competition '' .
`` Virgin has a vital role in ensuring this remains the case , and also contributes to the tourism industry in the UK through Virgin Holidays , '' he wrote .
Sky News revealed this week that ministers had hired a leading accountancy firm to advise them on rescue requests from airlines and airport-owners that could cost taxpayers billions of pounds .
The aviation industry has warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure funding that would keep some of its most prominent players aloft as the coronavirus outbreak creates the biggest crisis in its history .
EasyJet is also regarded as a likely candidate to require taxpayer 's support if the effective shutdown of the aviation industry lasts for longer than three months .
On Monday , easyJet grounded its entire fleet and said it would furlough thousands of staff .
A spokesman for the DfT said : `` The aviation sector is important to the UK economy , and firms can draw upon the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chancellor , including schemes to raise capital , flexibilities with tax bills , and financial support for employees .
`` We are continuing to work closely with the sector and are willing to consider the situation of individual firms , so long as all other government schemes have been explored and all commercial options exhausted , including raising capital from existing investors . ''
Tim Alderslade , the chief executive of lobbying group Airlines UK , described the situation facing airlines as `` grave '' and said the government was `` not doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could be putting in place to prop up the sector in the here and now , and to stimulate demand once we enter the recovery stage '' .
Airlines also want ministers to underwrite hundreds of millions of pounds in regulatory and air traffic control charges as they seek to navigate through the escalating coronavirus crisis .

Britain's biggest airport and some of the aviation industry's biggest manufacturers are mounting a frantic lobbying campaign to secure taxpayer support for Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Sky News has learnt that Airbus, Rolls-Royce Holdings and Heathrow Airport have this week written separately to Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, to urge the government to "do all it can to support Virgin in these extremely difficult times".
In one letter, John Harrison, general counsel and UK chairman of Airbus, warned that Virgin Atlantic's "collapse could have an extremely negative impact on the A330 [aircraft manufacturing] programme".
"As you will be aware, all wings for these aircraft are designed and manufactured in the UK, and orders from airlines like Virgin are vital for the continuation of our business," Mr Harrison wrote.
Similar messages are understood to have been communicated by Heathrow and Rolls-Royce, both of which are also significant customers of Virgin Atlantic.
One industry source said the letters had been written at the instigation of the British airline.
The Airbus executive's warning represents one of the first signs that Virgin Atlantic regards the coronavirus pandemic as an existential threat.
The carrier recently received a capital injection amounting to more than $100m from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group.
It is now seeking support from the government in the form of several hundred million pounds of credit facilities and guarantees against payments being held back by credit card companies.
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Discussions are continuing between the airline and Whitehall officials this week.
Peter Norris, Virgin Group's chairman, last month urged Boris Johnson to establish an industry-wide support package that could cost in the region of £7.5bn.
Virgin Atlantic has asked staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave, grounded most of its fleet and announced that its chief executive would take a pay cut for several months.
One challenge for the government in deciding whether to extend special support to the company lies in the fact that its two largest shareholders are Sir Richard and Delta Air Lines, the big American carrier.
Last week, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, indicated that state aid would be available "only as a last resort" and after the support of broader government schemes and companies' existing shareholders had been pursued.
He added that help would only be afforded to companies which had demonstrated their value to the wider UK economy and to competition in the aviation sector.
As a privately owned company, Virgin Atlantic may find it difficult to raise equity unless it was prepared to find a new investor at a distressed valuation.
In his letter to Mr Shapps, which was copied to Mr Sunak, Airbus said Virgin Atlantic had played an important role in working towards the decarbonisation of Britain's aviation industry.
Mr Harrison added that it was "important for UK passengers to have access to a market that has choice and competition".
"Virgin has a vital role in ensuring this remains the case, and also contributes to the tourism industry in the UK through Virgin Holidays," he wrote.
Sky News revealed this week that ministers had hired a leading accountancy firm to advise them on rescue requests from airlines and airport-owners that could cost taxpayers billions of pounds.
The aviation industry has warned that it is running out of time to secure funding that would keep some of its most prominent players aloft as the coronavirus outbreak creates the biggest crisis in its history.
EasyJet is also regarded as a likely candidate to require taxpayer's support if the effective shutdown of the aviation industry lasts for longer than three months.
On Monday, easyJet grounded its entire fleet and said it would furlough thousands of staff.
A spokesman for the DfT said: "The aviation sector is important to the UK economy, and firms can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the chancellor, including schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees.
"We are continuing to work closely with the sector and are willing to consider the situation of individual firms, so long as all other government schemes have been explored and all commercial options exhausted, including raising capital from existing investors."
Tim Alderslade, the chief executive of lobbying group Airlines UK, described the situation facing airlines as "grave" and said the government was "not doing enough on some of the cross-industry measures they could be putting in place to prop up the sector in the here and now, and to stimulate demand once we enter the recovery stage".
Airlines also want ministers to underwrite hundreds of millions of pounds in regulatory and air traffic control charges as they seek to navigate through the escalating coronavirus crisis.
Virgin Atlantic declined to comment.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: K-pop star Jaejoong admits COVID-19 hospital diagnosis post was April Fool's joke

K-pop star Jaejoong has come under fire after announcing he was being treated in hospital for coronavirus as an April Fool 's joke .
In an Instagram post , the singer said he had caught COVID-19 after `` ignoring '' government warnings and `` living carelessly '' .
A few hours later , the 34-year-old South Korean admitted his prank , saying he wanted to raise awareness about the disease .
The post has since been deleted .
However , fans were not too happy , posting angry comments chastising the star , whose real name is Kim Jae-joong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is not the first time Jaejoong has surprised fans with an April Fool 's joke , previously announcing false marriage plans and pretending to faint during a gig .
For the majority of people infected with the coronavirus , it causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and a cough .
However , it can cause severe illness , and has led to thousands of deaths around the world .
Celebrities and well-known figures who have caught the disease include Hollywood stars Idris Elba and Tom Hanks , Prince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arsenal 's head coach Mikel Arteta .

K-pop star Jaejoong has come under fire after announcing he was being treated in hospital for coronavirus as an April Fool's joke.
In an Instagram post, the singer said he had caught COVID-19 after "ignoring" government warnings and "living carelessly".
A few hours later, the 34-year-old South Korean admitted his prank, saying he wanted to raise awareness about the disease. The post has since been deleted.
However, fans were not too happy, posting angry comments chastising the star, whose real name is Kim Jae-joong, for joking about such a serious issue.
This is not the first time Jaejoong has surprised fans with an April Fool's joke, previously announcing false marriage plans and pretending to faint during a gig.
For the majority of people infected with the coronavirus, it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough.
However, it can cause severe illness, and has led to thousands of deaths around the world.
Celebrities and well-known figures who have caught the disease include Hollywood stars Idris Elba and Tom Hanks, Prince Charles, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Nearly one million apply for Universal Credit since 'stay at home' urge

Nearly one million people have signed on to benefits in the last two weeks since being urged to stay at home because of coronavirus .
Around 950,000 applications have been made for Universal Credit - a huge jump from the usual 100,000 who apply each two-week period .
All of them are not necessarily unemployed , as it is possible to apply while still in work .
But a YouGov survey on 24 March found that 5 % of Britons had already lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
People signing up to the benefits system will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first payment .
The government says it has moved 10,000 staff to process the claims and is recruiting more .
`` With such a huge increase in claims there are pressures on our services , '' said a spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions .
`` But the system is standing up well to these and our dedicated staff are working flat-out to get people the support they need . ''
As businesses , shops , restaurants and bars are closed due to coronavirus , the government has offered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if their company keeps them on - but there is no incentive for an employer to apply for this .
Britain 's five million self-employed people will not hear about whether or not they are eligible for similar aid until June .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker .
The world was shocked last week by one of the most dramatic graphs of the pandemic when the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefit shot up to a record high of over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
That dwarfed the previous peak of 665,000 in a week in 1982 .

Nearly one million people have signed on to benefits in the last two weeks since being urged to stay at home because of coronavirus.
Around 950,000 applications have been made for Universal Credit - a huge jump from the usual 100,000 who apply each two-week period.
All of them are not necessarily unemployed, as it is possible to apply while still in work.
Image: Universal Credit will not be rolled out until September 2024
But a YouGov survey on 24 March found that 5% of Britons had already lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
People signing up to the benefits system will have to wait at least five weeks for their first payment.
The government says it has moved 10,000 staff to process the claims and is recruiting more.
"With such a huge increase in claims there are pressures on our services," said a spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions.
"But the system is standing up well to these and our dedicated staff are working flat-out to get people the support they need."
Image: The DWP says it's recruiting 10,000 more staff to process appliactions
As businesses, shops, restaurants and bars are closed due to coronavirus, the government has offered to pay 80% of employees' wages if their company keeps them on - but there is no incentive for an employer to apply for this.
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Britain's five million self-employed people will not hear about whether or not they are eligible for similar aid until June.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
The world was shocked last week by one of the most dramatic graphs of the pandemic when the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefit shot up to a record high of over three million in the week ending 21 March.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:02 Lockdown: The dos and don'ts
That dwarfed the previous peak of 665,000 in a week in 1982.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Big banks stop shareholder dividends until the end of 2020

Britain 's biggest banks are to halt billions of pounds in dividends to shareholders to free up more cash for the economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis .
The announcement , which followed a request by the Bank of England , prompted shares in the lenders to fall sharply on Wednesday - pulling the wider FTSE 100 into another steep decline .
Barclays shareholders were expected to be paid £1.03bn on Friday , Lloyds shareholders would have pocketed £1.58bn while RBS had expected to pay its shareholders a total of £968m - £600m of which would have gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 62 % stake in RBS .
Standard Chartered , Santander , Nationwide and HSBC have also agreed to cancel dividends and share buybacks .
In total the banks had been expected to pay out more than £8bn in 2019 dividends .
Shares in HSBC fell 8 % in early trading , with Lloyds Banking Group down 6 % , and Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays each off by more than 5 % .
They later dropped further after the market closed , with HSBC dropping to 9 % , Lloyds Banking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Royal Bank of Scotland recovered slightly , with shares falling to 3 % .
In the year to date , RBS was down 55 % , Lloyds was down 55 % , Barclays was down 54 % .
The FTSE 100 , which has just suffered its worst quarter since 1987 - losing a quarter of its value so far this year - fell by a further 4 % on Wednesday morning .
It later closed at 4 % .
Meanwhile the Dow Jones Industrial average plunged by 4 % at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not improve as the day went on , with the Dow Jones sliding down further , with shares sinking more than 4 % .
The cancellation of dividends follows a request from the Bank of England 's Prudential Regulation Authority ( PRA ) that banks suspend all plans to return money to shareholders for the next nine months .
The PRA also said it expects banks not to pay any cash bonuses to their top members of staff .
However , none of the big banks opted to provide details of how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PRA said it `` welcomes '' the decisions of all the UK 's biggest banks to suspend dividends and share buybacks until the end of 2020 , and cancel any outstanding payments .
It added : `` Although the decisions taken today will result in shareholders not receiving dividends , they are a sensible precautionary step given the unique role that banks need to play in supporting the wider economy through a period of economic disruption , alongside the extraordinary measures being taken by the authorities . ''
Following the 2008 financial crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure they retained more capital to mitigate against severe financial shocks .
The PRA said it believes Britain 's banks have enough capital to weather severe recessions caused by the coronavirus pandemic in both the UK and globally .
RBS chief executive Alison Rose said : `` RBS has a robust capital and liquidity position and we are focused on ensuring we support our customers and help them to navigate the immediate and longer-term challenges they are facing as a result of COVID-19 . ''
Barclays chairman Nigel Higgins said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of the immediate impact they will have on shareholders .
`` The bank has a strong capital base , but we think it is right and prudent , for the many businesses and people that we support , to take these steps now , and ensure that Barclays is well placed to continue doing what we can to help through this crisis . ''
Business secretary Alok Sharma also issued a stark warning to banks , saying they should not deny businesses emergency loans during the COVID-19 crisis .
During a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` It would be completely unacceptable if any banks were unfairly refusing funds to good businesses in financial difficulty .
`` Just as the taxpayer stepped in to help the banks back in 2008 , we will work with the banks to do everything they can to repay that favour and support the businesses and people of the United Kingdom in their time of need . ''

Britain's biggest banks are to halt billions of pounds in dividends to shareholders to free up more cash for the economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
The announcement, which followed a request by the Bank of England, prompted shares in the lenders to fall sharply on Wednesday - pulling the wider FTSE 100 into another steep decline.
Barclays shareholders were expected to be paid £1.03bn on Friday, Lloyds shareholders would have pocketed £1.58bn while RBS had expected to pay its shareholders a total of £968m - £600m of which would have gone to the Treasury because of the government's 62% stake in RBS.
Standard Chartered, Santander, Nationwide and HSBC have also agreed to cancel dividends and share buybacks.
In total the banks had been expected to pay out more than £8bn in 2019 dividends.
Shares in HSBC fell 8% in early trading, with Lloyds Banking Group down 6%, and Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays each off by more than 5%.
They later dropped further after the market closed, with HSBC dropping to 9%, Lloyds Banking Group down 7% and Barclays 8%.
Royal Bank of Scotland recovered slightly, with shares falling to 3%.
In the year to date, RBS was down 55%, Lloyds was down 55%, Barclays was down 54%.
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The FTSE 100, which has just suffered its worst quarter since 1987 - losing a quarter of its value so far this year - fell by a further 4% on Wednesday morning. It later closed at 4%.
Meanwhile the Dow Jones Industrial average plunged by 4% at the start of trading.
Things did not improve as the day went on, with the Dow Jones sliding down further, with shares sinking more than 4%.
The cancellation of dividends follows a request from the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) that banks suspend all plans to return money to shareholders for the next nine months.
The PRA also said it expects banks not to pay any cash bonuses to their top members of staff.
However, none of the big banks opted to provide details of how they would comply with that request.
The PRA said it "welcomes" the decisions of all the UK's biggest banks to suspend dividends and share buybacks until the end of 2020, and cancel any outstanding payments.
It added: "Although the decisions taken today will result in shareholders not receiving dividends, they are a sensible precautionary step given the unique role that banks need to play in supporting the wider economy through a period of economic disruption, alongside the extraordinary measures being taken by the authorities."
Following the 2008 financial crisis the rules governing banks were tightened to make sure they retained more capital to mitigate against severe financial shocks.
The PRA said it believes Britain's banks have enough capital to weather severe recessions caused by the coronavirus pandemic in both the UK and globally.
RBS chief executive Alison Rose said: "RBS has a robust capital and liquidity position and we are focused on ensuring we support our customers and help them to navigate the immediate and longer-term challenges they are facing as a result of COVID-19."
Barclays chairman Nigel Higgins said: "These are difficult decisions, not least in terms of the immediate impact they will have on shareholders.
"The bank has a strong capital base, but we think it is right and prudent, for the many businesses and people that we support, to take these steps now, and ensure that Barclays is well placed to continue doing what we can to help through this crisis."
Business secretary Alok Sharma also issued a stark warning to banks, saying they should not deny businesses emergency loans during the COVID-19 crisis.
During a briefing on Wednesday evening, he said: "It would be completely unacceptable if any banks were unfairly refusing funds to good businesses in financial difficulty.
"Just as the taxpayer stepped in to help the banks back in 2008, we will work with the banks to do everything they can to repay that favour and support the businesses and people of the United Kingdom in their time of need."


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Rick Astley to play free gig for NHS and emergency workers at end of pandemic

Rick Astley has announced a free gig for NHS staff and emergency workers once venues are open again at the end of the coronavirus crisis .
The singer , best known for his late-'80s hit Never Gon na Give You Up , posted details of the Manchester Arena show on social media .
In a video message , the 54-year-old said it is the only way he knows how to say thank you to those working on the frontline to fight the outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .
`` Our NHS and emergency services are amazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This concert is a thank you to all those fantastic frontline staff .
`` I promise my band and I will give it everything to give you a great night out . ''
Gigs have been called off around the world and venues forced to close for weeks , possibly longer , due to the pandemic .
Astley 's concert is due to take place on 28 October .
Frontline NHS staff , primary care workers , paramedics , firefighters and police will all be welcome , the singer said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff who will be required to bring valid ID to the show .
A statement about the gig promised a `` celebration '' , mixing old hits with some of the star 's newer songs - and possibly a few surprise covers , too .
Many celebrities have been thanking health and emergency workers on social media as the virus spreads around the world .
Stars including James McAvoy , Angelina Jolie and Roger Federer are among the high-profile figures who have donated to good causes supporting those in need during the crisis @

Rick Astley has announced a free gig for NHS staff and emergency workers once venues are open again at the end of the coronavirus crisis.
The singer, best known for his late-'80s hit Never Gonna Give You Up, posted details of the Manchester Arena show on social media.
In a video message, the 54-year-old said it is the only way he knows how to say thank you to those working on the frontline to fight the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
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"Our NHS and emergency services are amazing," Astley said in a statement. "This concert is a thank you to all those fantastic frontline staff.
"I promise my band and I will give it everything to give you a great night out."
Gigs have been called off around the world and venues forced to close for weeks, possibly longer, due to the pandemic.
Astley's concert is due to take place on 28 October.
Frontline NHS staff, primary care workers, paramedics, firefighters and police will all be welcome, the singer said.
Ticket applications must be made by eligible staff who will be required to bring valid ID to the show.
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A statement about the gig promised a "celebration", mixing old hits with some of the star's newer songs - and possibly a few surprise covers, too.
Many celebrities have been thanking health and emergency workers on social media as the virus spreads around the world.
Stars including James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Roger Federer are among the high-profile figures who have donated to good causes supporting those in need during the crisis.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Flybe administrator dashes hopes of rescue deal

Administrators to Flybe have dashed employees ' hopes that the government 's COVID-19 furloughing scheme could be used to salvage the collapsed regional airline .
Sky News has obtained an email sent by EY , the accountancy firm , to Flybe employees saying that the company `` does not have the financial resources left in the business to fund the costs of implementing and operating the [ Coronavirus ] Job Retention Scheme '' .
Insolvent companies are eligible to use the furloughing programme , with workers at the restaurant chain Carluccio 's enrolled for it following its collapse on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a further blow to thousands of former Flybe employees who implored the chancellor , Rishi Sunak , last week , to help save the company .
Flybe was Europe 's largest regional carrier , carrying nine million passengers annually and accounting for 40 % of all UK domestic flights .
Employees ' hopes had been raised by the Treasury 's decision to allow companies to place companies on government-subsidised leave , with payments being applied retrospectively from March 1 .
Flybe collapsed into insolvency on March 4 , following weeks of talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package .
In their letter to Mr Sunak , the former staff wrote : `` Your government has committed to 'levelling up the country ' and to supporting regional connectivity .
`` In these difficult days , weeks and months this country will need the transport infrastructure that only Flybe can offer , which in turn will stimulate our economy not only through this connectivity but also by protecting jobs for pilots , cabin crew , engineers and support staff through airports and local suppliers . ''
EY 's message to employees emphasised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manage the business in the interests of creditors .
`` Due to severe financial difficulties that had built over many months , Flybe Limited ( `` the Company '' ) was unable to continue to trade and was placed into administration .
`` We understand that this is a difficult time for all Flybe employees and ex-employees and we aim to support as best as possible whilst carrying out our legal duty as administrators . ''
EY also denied a weekend newspaper report that it was in discussions with the government about taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News revealed this week that the big four accountancy firm had also been hired by the Department for Transport to advise on further bailout requests from the aviation industry .

Administrators to Flybe have dashed employees' hopes that the government's COVID-19 furloughing scheme could be used to salvage the collapsed regional airline.
Sky News has obtained an email sent by EY, the accountancy firm, to Flybe employees saying that the company "does not have the financial resources left in the business to fund the costs of implementing and operating the [Coronavirus] Job Retention Scheme".
Insolvent companies are eligible to use the furloughing programme, with workers at the restaurant chain Carluccio's enrolled for it following its collapse on Monday.
The administrators' verdict will come as a further blow to thousands of former Flybe employees who implored the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, last week, to help save the company.
Flybe was Europe's largest regional carrier, carrying nine million passengers annually and accounting for 40% of all UK domestic flights.
Employees' hopes had been raised by the Treasury's decision to allow companies to place companies on government-subsidised leave, with payments being applied retrospectively from March 1.
Flybe collapsed into insolvency on March 4, following weeks of talks with the government about an emergency loan package.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:29 March 2020: Flybe crew in tears over job losses
In their letter to Mr Sunak, the former staff wrote: "Your government has committed to 'levelling up the country' and to supporting regional connectivity.
"In these difficult days, weeks and months this country will need the transport infrastructure that only Flybe can offer, which in turn will stimulate our economy not only through this connectivity but also by protecting jobs for pilots, cabin crew, engineers and support staff through airports and local suppliers."
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EY's message to employees emphasised that it had a legal duty to manage the business in the interests of creditors.
"Due to severe financial difficulties that had built over many months, Flybe Limited ("the Company") was unable to continue to trade and was placed into administration.
"We understand that this is a difficult time for all Flybe employees and ex-employees and we aim to support as best as possible whilst carrying out our legal duty as administrators."
EY also denied a weekend newspaper report that it was in discussions with the government about taking the company out of insolvency.
Sky News revealed this week that the big four accountancy firm had also been hired by the Department for Transport to advise on further bailout requests from the aviation industry.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: A UK nurse says her ICU is 'like a war zone'. This is her story

An NHS critical care nurse who is on the frontline fighting against COVID-19 in London has said it feels like working `` in a war zone '' .
Speaking anonymously to Sky News , she describes her pride as colleagues step in to help and the mental impact it is having on frontline staff .
It takes a long time to become comfortable as a professional in the intensive care setting .
It feels grossly inhumane to do the things we do to maintain a person 's life .
We as a profession avoid Intensive Care Unit ( ICU ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a horrible place .
People lucky enough to survive , leave with a plethora of psychological challenges , such as post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) .
On one of the first days COVID-19 took hold of London , every bed in the ICU I work on was filled in less than 12 hours .
My day shift saw 10 back to back intubations , the insertion of 10 arterial lines , 10 central lines and 10 nasogastric tubes .
Finally 10 X-rays to confirm the placement of these vital lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I stopped to see around 40 experts , in what can only be described as a tornado of humans , doing everything and anything possible to get the job done .
It sent shivers down my spine but made me incredibly proud of my colleagues , volunteers , and our profession .
We stand united .
We currently have a set-up of one intensive care nurse to six ventilated patients .
At any given moment a patient 's monitor can sound harsh alarms , signalling rapid deterioration .
This is happening to patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It takes a team of professionals up to an hour to find and fix the issue .
Nobody feels appropriately safe to ween patients from the ventilators because it requires at least two experts .
Volunteers from the wards come to help , some with no ICU experience .
It 's fantastic with us all coming together but it simply is n't enough .
Just the other day , a man woke up from sedation and pulled his ventilator tubing out .
I worry that many do not understand the severity of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they lose a loved one .
The term `` underlying health conditions '' gives the public an image of previously sick people .
They are n't .
It 's you and me .
It 's your dad with a mild form of type 2 diabetes , your mum with high cholesterol , your sister with mild asthma , or even a brother with no past medical history .
This virus does not discriminate .
It feels like what I 'd imagine it feels like in a war zone - without the sound of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's something only ever seen in Hollywood .
Some of the most experienced and `` hardy '' ICU nurses are collapsing in the corridors crying or crying at the bed space for a split-second before shaking it off to save a life .
The joy from many faces has disappeared .
Everyone is developing facial pressure sores and peeling skin from the personal protection equipment , such as masks .
Hands are cracked and bleeding , sore and sweaty feet , the list goes on .
A mother and I hugged and cried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost her son in his thirties .
It was truly heart-breaking .
The lack of personable contact when consoling a person or saying goodbye to your loved ones will have an impact that will likely never resolve .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Going to work before the pandemic was always tough .
Thousands of people who love their job , not knowing what short staffing they were walking into , the deaths they 'd see , heartbroken families , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , we always have and we always will because we care .
Going to work now simply requires you to ignore what 's going on .
When you get there , every day is different .
You may be allocated to somewhere you 've never worked or even use a ventilator you 've never seen before .
There is one moment that I wo n't forget in a hurry .
At the end of a shift , you 'd usually get your belongings and go home as soon as possible .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we sat for more than half an hour afterwards to crack a bottle of donated prosecco , read cards from the public and cried together .
I 've never seen anything like it .
It 's one of many moments in this pandemic I will never forget .

An NHS critical care nurse who is on the frontline fighting against COVID-19 in London has said it feels like working "in a war zone".
Speaking anonymously to Sky News, she describes her pride as colleagues step in to help and the mental impact it is having on frontline staff.
It takes a long time to become comfortable as a professional in the intensive care setting.
It feels grossly inhumane to do the things we do to maintain a person's life. We as a profession avoid Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions wherever possible. This is because it's a horrible place. People lucky enough to survive, leave with a plethora of psychological challenges, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 8:07 COVID-19: 'Concerning' rise in car journeys
On one of the first days COVID-19 took hold of London, every bed in the ICU I work on was filled in less than 12 hours.
My day shift saw 10 back to back intubations, the insertion of 10 arterial lines, 10 central lines and 10 nasogastric tubes.
Finally 10 X-rays to confirm the placement of these vital lines. There was a moment that day I stopped to see around 40 experts, in what can only be described as a tornado of humans, doing everything and anything possible to get the job done.
It sent shivers down my spine but made me incredibly proud of my colleagues, volunteers, and our profession. We stand united.
We currently have a set-up of one intensive care nurse to six ventilated patients. At any given moment a patient's monitor can sound harsh alarms, signalling rapid deterioration.
Advertisement
This is happening to patient, after patient, after patient.
It takes a team of professionals up to an hour to find and fix the issue. Nobody feels appropriately safe to ween patients from the ventilators because it requires at least two experts.
Volunteers from the wards come to help, some with no ICU experience. It's fantastic with us all coming together but it simply isn't enough.
Just the other day, a man woke up from sedation and pulled his ventilator tubing out.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:07 Meet the cleaners keeping NHS open
I worry that many do not understand the severity of this virus and that many won't until they lose a loved one.
The term "underlying health conditions" gives the public an image of previously sick people. They aren't. It's you and me. It's your dad with a mild form of type 2 diabetes, your mum with high cholesterol, your sister with mild asthma, or even a brother with no past medical history. This virus does not discriminate.
It feels like what I'd imagine it feels like in a war zone - without the sound of bombs and firearms going off. It's something only ever seen in Hollywood.
Some of the most experienced and "hardy" ICU nurses are collapsing in the corridors crying or crying at the bed space for a split-second before shaking it off to save a life. The joy from many faces has disappeared.
Everyone is developing facial pressure sores and peeling skin from the personal protection equipment, such as masks. Hands are cracked and bleeding, sore and sweaty feet, the list goes on.
A mother and I hugged and cried in full PPE. She had just lost her son in his thirties. It was truly heart-breaking. The lack of personable contact when consoling a person or saying goodbye to your loved ones will have an impact that will likely never resolve.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Going to work before the pandemic was always tough. Thousands of people who love their job, not knowing what short staffing they were walking into, the deaths they'd see, heartbroken families, or extremely sick patients. But we love it, we always have and we always will because we care. Going to work now simply requires you to ignore what's going on.
When you get there, every day is different. You may be allocated to somewhere you've never worked or even use a ventilator you've never seen before.
Image: Hospitals are being inundated with patients needing intensive care
There is one moment that I won't forget in a hurry.
At the end of a shift, you'd usually get your belongings and go home as soon as possible.
After one particularly testing and tragic day, we sat for more than half an hour afterwards to crack a bottle of donated prosecco, read cards from the public and cried together. I've never seen anything like it. It's one of many moments in this pandemic I will never forget.


news--2020-04-14--Steelmaker Liberty to install ex-British Steel boss as Europe chief

One of British industry 's most prominent figures is being parachuted into Liberty Steel Group , the manufacturing group owned by tycoon Sanjeev Gupta .
Sky News has learnt that Roland Junck , who chaired British Steel until shortly before its recent takeover by China 's Jingye Group , will be named this week as the head of Liberty 's European operations .
The appointment of Mr Junck , who also ran ArcelorMittal , one of the world 's largest steel companies , is likely to be regarded as a coup for Liberty , which has faced growing scrutiny over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Tuesday that the appointment of a major audit firm would also be announced later this week by GFG .
The developments come as the UK steel industry , like many others , faces searching questions about its future amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Liberty Steel Group is a new entity formed to consolidate Mr Gupta 's steel businesses around the world .
It is part of the GFG Alliance , an umbrella grouping of companies that are owned by Mr Gupta and his family .
The steelmaking arm employs 30,000 employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it includes steelworks in Rotherham , Stocksbridge , Hartlepool , Newport , Clydesbridge and Dalzell .
Last week , it said it would idle liquid steel production at its Rotherham steelworks for a period of three weeks , and place the employees involved in it on furlough , with their wages subsidised by the taxpayer .
`` It remains our goal to keep our steelworks open , given the key role our industry plays in supplying equipment for essential industries - including healthcare , food production and national infrastructure , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Luxembourg , Mr Junck was a key figure at British Steel - the owner of Scunthorpe 's steelworks - during its ownership by the turnaround firm Greybull Capital .
The company collapsed into liquidation nearly a year ago after the government refused to provide emergency funding , and was funded by a taxpayer guarantee until its sale to Jingye earlier this year .
One source said his recruitment by Liberty represented `` a sign of strength and confidence in the business to recruit such a prominent figure in spite of the ongoing @ @ @ @

One of British industry's most prominent figures is being parachuted into Liberty Steel Group, the manufacturing group owned by tycoon Sanjeev Gupta.
Sky News has learnt that Roland Junck, who chaired British Steel until shortly before its recent takeover by China's Jingye Group, will be named this week as the head of Liberty's European operations.
The appointment of Mr Junck, who also ran ArcelorMittal, one of the world's largest steel companies, is likely to be regarded as a coup for Liberty, which has faced growing scrutiny over its financing and corporate governance.
Sources said on Tuesday that the appointment of a major audit firm would also be announced later this week by GFG.
The developments come as the UK steel industry, like many others, faces searching questions about its future amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Liberty Steel Group is a new entity formed to consolidate Mr Gupta's steel businesses around the world.
It is part of the GFG Alliance, an umbrella grouping of companies that are owned by Mr Gupta and his family.
The steelmaking arm employs 30,000 employees on four continents.
In the UK, it includes steelworks in Rotherham, Stocksbridge, Hartlepool, Newport, Clydesbridge and Dalzell.
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Last week, it said it would idle liquid steel production at its Rotherham steelworks for a period of three weeks, and place the employees involved in it on furlough, with their wages subsidised by the taxpayer.
Image: Sanjeev Gupta
"It remains our goal to keep our steelworks open, given the key role our industry plays in supplying equipment for essential industries - including healthcare, food production and national infrastructure," the company said at the time.
Originally from Luxembourg, Mr Junck was a key figure at British Steel - the owner of Scunthorpe's steelworks - during its ownership by the turnaround firm Greybull Capital.
The company collapsed into liquidation nearly a year ago after the government refused to provide emergency funding, and was funded by a taxpayer guarantee until its sale to Jingye earlier this year.
One source said his recruitment by Liberty represented "a sign of strength and confidence in the business to recruit such a prominent figure in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis".
A GFG spokesman declined to comment on Mr Junck's impending appointment.


news--2020-04-14--Next resumes 'limited' online sales after extra safety measures

Next has reopened its online business `` in a very limited way '' after implementing additional safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus .
The clothing retailer said that from Tuesday it would resume the sale of `` categories that our customers most need '' such as childrenswear and some small homeware items .
It said other product ranges may be added at a later date .
Next , like other non-essential retailers , shut all its stores last month as part of the UK-wide restrictions imposed to try to limit the impact of the pandemic .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing its online business - which accounts more than half of its revenues - after pressure from its workforce .
It is now reopening the service in a limited way after implementing `` very extensive additional safety measures '' and having consulted with staff and recognised trade union USDAW .
Next said : `` Operations will start with support from colleagues who are willing and able to safely return to work .
`` The idea is to begin selling in low volumes , so that we only need a small number of colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , helping to ensure rigorous social distancing is complied with . ''
Next said it would limit the number of customer orders to those it believed could be picked safely on any given day , after which the website would convert to `` browse only '' until the next morning .
By 9am on Tuesday the website stopped taking orders , with a message reading : `` No more orders today , we 're open again tomorrow '' .
Trade unions have accused rival retailers including ASOS , Matalan and Marks & Spencer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by forcing them to work too closely together .

Next has reopened its online business "in a very limited way" after implementing additional safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus.
The clothing retailer said that from Tuesday it would resume the sale of "categories that our customers most need" such as childrenswear and some small homeware items.
It said other product ranges may be added at a later date.
Next, like other non-essential retailers, shut all its stores last month as part of the UK-wide restrictions imposed to try to limit the impact of the pandemic.
The company later announced that it was also temporarily closing its online business - which accounts more than half of its revenues - after pressure from its workforce.
It is now reopening the service in a limited way after implementing "very extensive additional safety measures" and having consulted with staff and recognised trade union USDAW.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 No sign of relaxing lockdown measures
Next said: "Operations will start with support from colleagues who are willing and able to safely return to work.
"The idea is to begin selling in low volumes, so that we only need a small number of colleagues in each warehouse at any one time, helping to ensure rigorous social distancing is complied with."
Next said it would limit the number of customer orders to those it believed could be picked safely on any given day, after which the website would convert to "browse only" until the next morning.
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By 9am on Tuesday the website stopped taking orders, with a message reading: "No more orders today, we're open again tomorrow".
Trade unions have accused rival retailers including ASOS, Matalan and Marks & Spencer of putting employees' health at risk by forcing them to work too closely together.


news--2020-04-14--Coronavirus: Warehouse in Glasgow converted into morgue to fit 1,700 bodies

A warehouse outside Glasgow is being converted into a temporary mortuary to store up to 1,700 bodies .
The move , by Glasgow City Council , comes amid a continued increase in deaths from COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .
The building , on the Hillington Industrial Estate , will be used to ease any pressure on funeral directors in the Glasgow area .
A team of workers is transforming the warehouse for its new purpose at what is one of Scotland 's few active construction sites , given the current restrictions on building .
The so-called `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be operational within the coming days .
Similar measures have been taken by local authorities around the country .
Moray Council has been given permission to use an aircraft hangar at Kinloss Barracks , should the need arise .
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council told Sky News : `` Like all local authorities across the UK , Glasgow , alongside key partners including the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde , is looking at various options for dealing with increased deaths as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` We are monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 against our planning models for the pandemic including potential requirements for a temporary body storage facility .
`` As part of this planning , a site has been identified and we are working towards making this facility ready for use should it be needed . ''
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed on Tuesday that the total number of deaths north of the border now stands at 615 , an increase of 40 on the previous day .
Funeral directors have had to accommodate a sharp increase in demand .
Social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed the way funerals are conducted .
One person told Sky News how friends and families are adapting their send-offs in the absence of a large-scale funeral , some lining the streets with applause instead .
Dom Maguire , chairman of Anderson Maguire Funeral Directors , said : `` Our funeral staff are reporting a number of things like families gathering in the garden , but keeping their distance , if the hearse is leaving the house .
Neighbours are coming out to their gardens or to the footpath and applauding or showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family .
`` I have to attempt to balance a number of competing issues .
Firstly the care and protection of my own staff , who are working in very challenging environments .
`` Secondly , to try and help families understand that they can not have the funeral that they would wish for their deceased relative and , indeed , the funeral that they think their deceased relative really should have .
Sometimes they are angry , a bit frustrated , but I think they all now realise that , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to change . ''
He added : `` The overwhelming majority of funerals which we 're handling are now being done online and by email or by telephone .
They can not have limousines because of social distancing between the driver and the client .
`` The funeral party is restricted now to the hearse and a restricted number of mourners attending the funeral , either at the crematorium or the cemetery .
This can vary between two or 20 people , depending on the location .
`` It 's tragic enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering round and supporting each other - which is an important feature of our funerals - that 's not happening because of the restrictions .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' This is causing a lot of frustration .
Going forward , I can see a lot of problems with unresolved grief .
I think lots of families are going to have to find a way in which they can channel this unresolved grief , this anger , in the days @ @ @

A warehouse outside Glasgow is being converted into a temporary mortuary to store up to 1,700 bodies.
The move, by Glasgow City Council, comes amid a continued increase in deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
The building, on the Hillington Industrial Estate, will be used to ease any pressure on funeral directors in the Glasgow area.
Image: The space will have a capacity for 1,700 bodies
A team of workers is transforming the warehouse for its new purpose at what is one of Scotland's few active construction sites, given the current restrictions on building.
The so-called "body storage facility" is due to be operational within the coming days.
Similar measures have been taken by local authorities around the country. Moray Council has been given permission to use an aircraft hangar at Kinloss Barracks, should the need arise.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council told Sky News: "Like all local authorities across the UK, Glasgow, alongside key partners including the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, is looking at various options for dealing with increased deaths as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We are monitoring on a daily basis the impact of COVID-19 against our planning models for the pandemic including potential requirements for a temporary body storage facility.
"As part of this planning, a site has been identified and we are working towards making this facility ready for use should it be needed."
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed on Tuesday that the total number of deaths north of the border now stands at 615, an increase of 40 on the previous day.
Image: Dom Maguire, chairman of Anderson Maguire Funeral Directors, said an 'overwhelming majority of funerals' are now being done online
Funeral directors have had to accommodate a sharp increase in demand. Social distancing and restrictions on the size of gatherings have changed the way funerals are conducted.
One person told Sky News how friends and families are adapting their send-offs in the absence of a large-scale funeral, some lining the streets with applause instead.
Dom Maguire, chairman of Anderson Maguire Funeral Directors, said: "Our funeral staff are reporting a number of things like families gathering in the garden, but keeping their distance, if the hearse is leaving the house. Neighbours are coming out to their gardens or to the footpath and applauding or showing some gesture of goodwill and farewell to the family.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:31 10 coronavirus victims are filmed being buried together
"I have to attempt to balance a number of competing issues. Firstly the care and protection of my own staff, who are working in very challenging environments.
"Secondly, to try and help families understand that they cannot have the funeral that they would wish for their deceased relative and, indeed, the funeral that they think their deceased relative really should have. Sometimes they are angry, a bit frustrated, but I think they all now realise that, because of the current emergency, things have had to change."
Image: Social distancing and restrictions on the size of gatherings have changed the way funerals are conducted
He added: "The overwhelming majority of funerals which we're handling are now being done online and by email or by telephone. They cannot have limousines because of social distancing between the driver and the client.
"The funeral party is restricted now to the hearse and a restricted number of mourners attending the funeral, either at the crematorium or the cemetery. This can vary between two or 20 people, depending on the location.
"It's tragic enough to lose someone and I think the gathering round and supporting each other - which is an important feature of our funerals - that's not happening because of the restrictions.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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"This is causing a lot of frustration. Going forward, I can see a lot of problems with unresolved grief. I think lots of families are going to have to find a way in which they can channel this unresolved grief, this anger, in the days ahead."


news--2020-04-14--Coronavirus: War veteran, 99, wanted to raise £1,000 for NHS - he's currently on £7m

A 99-year-old veteran has raised more than £7m for the NHS by walking around his garden .
Captain Tom Moore had originally hoped to raise £1,000 by walking 100 lengths of his 25-metre garden in Bedfordshire .
More than a quarter of million people have now donated and at one point more than 90,000 were on his page at the same time .
His aim was to complete it before he turns 100 on 30 April - but he is currently on track to finish by Thursday .
Captain Moore 's Twitter account posted just before 3pm on Wednesday : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
The Great British public , your generosity is just incredible !
THANK YOU !
! ''
Previously , when the amount reached £5m , the account posted : `` 5 MILLION !
Huge thank you to .
@ JustGiving who had over 90,000 people on Tom 's page at one time , and had to try ensure that the site did n't crash .
WOW - just speechless . ''
Originally from Keighley in Yorkshire , Mr Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army for the Second World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in India and Burma .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Comments on his fundraising page praised the 99-year-old as an `` inspiration '' and `` a true hero to many '' .
One donor , Mike Davies , wrote : `` Great Job , Capt Tom .
In these times where all news seems depressing , it 's great to hear the story of a true British hero . ''
Donations to NHS Charities Together can be made at : www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomswalkforthenhs

A 99-year-old veteran has raised more than £7m for the NHS by walking around his garden.
Captain Tom Moore had originally hoped to raise £1,000 by walking 100 lengths of his 25-metre garden in Bedfordshire.
More than a quarter of million people have now donated and at one point more than 90,000 were on his page at the same time.
His aim was to complete it before he turns 100 on 30 April - but he is currently on track to finish by Thursday.
Captain Moore's Twitter account posted just before 3pm on Wednesday: "7 MILLION POUNDS!!!! The Great British public, your generosity is just incredible! THANK YOU!!"
Twitter Twitter , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Previously, when the amount reached £5m, the account posted: "5 MILLION! Huge thank you to .@JustGiving who had over 90,000 people on Tom's page at one time, and had to try ensure that the site didn't crash. WOW - just speechless."
Originally from Keighley in Yorkshire, Mr Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army for the Second World War, rising to captain and serving in India and Burma.
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Comments on his fundraising page praised the 99-year-old as an "inspiration" and "a true hero to many".
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One donor, Mike Davies, wrote: "Great Job, Capt Tom. In these times where all news seems depressing, it's great to hear the story of a true British hero."
Donations to NHS Charities Together can be made at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomswalkforthenhs


news--2020-04-14--Coronavirus: GSK-Sanofi vaccine partnership puts competition to one side

Normally , if some of the world 's largest players in their field announced they were collaborating to develop a new product , one would expect competition regulators to be crawling all over every detail .
However , these are not normal times , so news that GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi - respectively the world 's first and third largest players in vaccines - are entering into a collaboration to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 is instead being welcomed .
Shares of both GSK in London and Sanofi in Paris have risen .
The collaboration is without precedent in the normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker And , while there are hundreds of businesses currently trying to come up with vaccines for COVID-19 , this collaboration is being seen as particularly significant because it brings together two of the global pharmaceutical industry 's biggest names .
Crucially , GSK and Sanofi are also big drug manufacturers , which - with hundreds of millions of vaccines likely to be needed - will be critical in mass-producing any vaccine that the pair develop .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of technology .
Emma Walmsley , chief executive of GSK , told Sky News that , while there was an enormous amount of work still to do , there was room for optimism : `` These are two proven technologies in a pandemic scenario . ''
The vaccine on which the pair are working is known as an adjuvant vaccine .
An adjuvant is something that boosts the potency of a vaccine - reducing the amount of vaccine needed in each dose and , as a result , allowing more doses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sanofi is contributing an antigen - a substance that stimulates the immune system in a patient 's body - based on a genetic match to proteins found on the surface of the coronavirus .
GSK , meanwhile , is contributing its pandemic adjuvant technology .
Ms Walmsley said such technology pairings had been proven to work in the past .
She added : `` In the H1N1 [ 'swine flu ' ] crisis [ in 2009 ] , we needed four times less antigen .
That matters because then you can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , obviously , the race is on here - this is one of seven vaccines partnerships we have , because we believe we 're going to need more than one to manufacture at scale .
`` So there 's a lot to do but , if we 're successful , we should be able to target hundreds of millions of vaccines by the end of next year . ''
Ms Walmsley said that GSK had 70 different factories around the world with over 20,000 people going to work there daily .
She stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufactured and that their production would not be disrupted : `` Obviously , it 's also absolutely critical at the moment that we are supplying the world with the medicines that people rely on…and that they need now . ''
But coming up with a vaccine for COVID-19 would , she added , have to take priority over some other clinical trial work .
Global drug-makers all compete , at various times , for government grants to support their work .
Yet Ms Walmsley insisted the usual competition dynamic would not apply here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution .
She added : `` Now is not the moment to be thinking competitively but think about how we can work together to confront this global challenge . ''
Developing drugs is a costly and time-consuming process .
It can take a decade for a medicine to go from the laboratory to being made available for patients .
As an example of the urgency involved here , GSK and Sanofi hope to begin 'phase 1 ' clinical trials on human patients during the second half of this year .
It usually takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 - the first of three phases of clinical trials typically involved before regulators allow a drug to go to market .
Fewer than one in 10 so-called 'candidate ' vaccines go on to make it to market .
At present , around the world , an estimated 70 vaccine 'candidates ' have been identified by different companies but , to date , just three have entered 'phase 1 ' clinical trials .
Ms Walmsley said regulators around the world would also have to move more quickly than they were accustomed to doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all doing this in partnership with regulators in all the key markets around the world to support global solutions here .
`` We do n't expect to make profit from this group of collaborations we 're looking at in vaccines because any short term profits we make we want to invest in long term pandemic preparedness and further COVID research .
`` It 's extremely important that we are ready next time and we want to be a key contributor to that - and an element of that will be partnering with regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch is likely to be manufactured in both the US and Europe .
Ms Walmsley also said that GSK 's plans to separate itself , which were confirmed before COVID-19 struck the West , would not be interrupted .
She went on : `` There 's no change in our long-term goals .
In fact these two new companies , their purpose has never been more relevant - one to be a leader in everyday consumer wellness , the other one a biopharma company focused on the science of immunology , the leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are still very important goals for us but of course my first priority through all this is our people - so we are being flexible and thoughtful about how and when we execute different aspects of that - but there 's no change in our broad timeline or long term goals . ''

Sky's Ian King says the collaboration demonstrates a growing sense of partnership in the fight against coronavirus.
Normally, if some of the world's largest players in their field announced they were collaborating to develop a new product, one would expect competition regulators to be crawling all over every detail.
However, these are not normal times, so news that GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi - respectively the world's first and third largest players in vaccines - are entering into a collaboration to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 is instead being welcomed. Shares of both GSK in London and Sanofi in Paris have risen.
The collaboration is without precedent in the normally fiercely competitive world of global pharmaceuticals.
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And, while there are hundreds of businesses currently trying to come up with vaccines for COVID-19, this collaboration is being seen as particularly significant because it brings together two of the global pharmaceutical industry's biggest names.
Crucially, GSK and Sanofi are also big drug manufacturers, which - with hundreds of millions of vaccines likely to be needed - will be critical in mass-producing any vaccine that the pair develop.
The two are bringing together two specific types of technology.
Emma Walmsley, chief executive of GSK, told Sky News that, while there was an enormous amount of work still to do, there was room for optimism: "These are two proven technologies in a pandemic scenario."
Image: Emma Walmsley became CEO of GSK in April 2017
The vaccine on which the pair are working is known as an adjuvant vaccine. An adjuvant is something that boosts the potency of a vaccine - reducing the amount of vaccine needed in each dose and, as a result, allowing more doses to be produced.
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In this particular instance, Sanofi is contributing an antigen - a substance that stimulates the immune system in a patient's body - based on a genetic match to proteins found on the surface of the coronavirus. GSK, meanwhile, is contributing its pandemic adjuvant technology.
Ms Walmsley said such technology pairings had been proven to work in the past.
She added: "In the H1N1 ['swine flu'] crisis [in 2009], we needed four times less antigen. That matters because then you can get to protecting more people as possible and, obviously, the race is on here - this is one of seven vaccines partnerships we have, because we believe we're going to need more than one to manufacture at scale.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:04 Johnson & Johnson aiming for a billion COVID-19 vaccines
"So there's a lot to do but, if we're successful, we should be able to target hundreds of millions of vaccines by the end of next year."
Ms Walmsley said that GSK had 70 different factories around the world with over 20,000 people going to work there daily.
She stressed that other drugs would continue to be manufactured and that their production would not be disrupted: "Obviously, it's also absolutely critical at the moment that we are supplying the world with the medicines that people rely on…and that they need now."
But coming up with a vaccine for COVID-19 would, she added, have to take priority over some other clinical trial work.
Global drug-makers all compete, at various times, for government grants to support their work.
Yet Ms Walmsley insisted the usual competition dynamic would not apply here because governments would need more than one solution.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 12:06 Medical scientist: It may be a year before we have a vaccine
She added: "Now is not the moment to be thinking competitively but think about how we can work together to confront this global challenge."
Developing drugs is a costly and time-consuming process. It can take a decade for a medicine to go from the laboratory to being made available for patients.
As an example of the urgency involved here, GSK and Sanofi hope to begin 'phase 1' clinical trials on human patients during the second half of this year.
It usually takes at least two years to reach phase 1 - the first of three phases of clinical trials typically involved before regulators allow a drug to go to market. Fewer than one in 10 so-called 'candidate' vaccines go on to make it to market.
At present, around the world, an estimated 70 vaccine 'candidates' have been identified by different companies but, to date, just three have entered 'phase 1' clinical trials.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:32 Johnson pledges £46m in COVID-19 vaccine hunt
Ms Walmsley said regulators around the world would also have to move more quickly than they were accustomed to doing.
She added: "We're all doing this in partnership with regulators in all the key markets around the world to support global solutions here.
"We don't expect to make profit from this group of collaborations we're looking at in vaccines because any short term profits we make we want to invest in long term pandemic preparedness and further COVID research.
"It's extremely important that we are ready next time and we want to be a key contributor to that - and an element of that will be partnering with regulators."
Any vaccine the pair successfully launch is likely to be manufactured in both the US and Europe.
Ms Walmsley also said that GSK's plans to separate itself, which were confirmed before COVID-19 struck the West, would not be interrupted.
She went on: "There's no change in our long-term goals. In fact these two new companies, their purpose has never been more relevant - one to be a leader in everyday consumer wellness, the other one a biopharma company focused on the science of immunology, the leader in vaccines and respiratory.
"So these are still very important goals for us but of course my first priority through all this is our people - so we are being flexible and thoughtful about how and when we execute different aspects of that - but there's no change in our broad timeline or long term goals."


news--2020-04-14--Coronavirus: One in nine mortgage borrowers on payment break

One in nine home loans in the UK are now on a mortgage holiday because of measures to support those affected by the coronavirus pandemic , new figures show .
UK Finance , the trade body for Britain 's banks and building societies , said lenders had agreed to give repayment breaks to more than 1.2 million mortgage borrowers .
The number of payment holidays in place more than tripled in the two weeks between March 25 and April 8 , growing from 392,130 to 1,240,680 , the organisation said .
That meant an average of around 61,000 were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures were disclosed after a series of measures to help people facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic - including mortgage holidays - were announced by lenders a month ago .
For the average mortgage holder , the payment break amounts to £260 a month of suspended interest payments .
UK Finance chief executive Stephen Jones said : `` The industry has pulled out all the stops in recent weeks to give an unprecedented number of customers a payment holiday , and we stand ready to help more over the coming months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is having a significant impact on household finances for people across the country . ''
However , Mr Jones said that payment holidays were not the right solution for everyone and borrowers should check with their lenders about the support available and how to apply .
The mortgage holidays are designed to help people struggling to make their payments , for example if they have had a pay cut or their work has temporarily stopped due to COVID-19 .
They can request a mortgage payment holiday of up to three months .
Payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up-to-date on their mortgage payments .
They will still owe the money and interest will still accrue .
Homeowners applying for a mortgage payment holiday will need to self-certify that their income has been either directly or indirectly impacted by coronavirus .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker UK Finance has said firms will make every effort to ensure payment holidays do not negatively impact on credit files .
It added that telephone lines were extremely busy so customers were advised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first instance .
Borrowers have been urged not to cancel their direct debits before a payment holiday has been agreed , as this will be counted as a missed payment and could impact their credit file .
Banks have been under pressure to act as the coronavirus crisis takes a heavy toll on the economic situation of millions of Britons .
Many have already axed dividends and cut bonuses for top bosses .
But analysis by Sky News last week revealed that banks were raising interest rates on mortgages , defying efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ease the burden on households .

One in nine home loans in the UK are now on a mortgage holiday because of measures to support those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.
UK Finance, the trade body for Britain's banks and building societies, said lenders had agreed to give repayment breaks to more than 1.2 million mortgage borrowers.
The number of payment holidays in place more than tripled in the two weeks between March 25 and April 8, growing from 392,130 to 1,240,680, the organisation said.
That meant an average of around 61,000 were being granted by lenders every day.
The figures were disclosed after a series of measures to help people facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic - including mortgage holidays - were announced by lenders a month ago.
For the average mortgage holder, the payment break amounts to £260 a month of suspended interest payments.
UK Finance chief executive Stephen Jones said: "The industry has pulled out all the stops in recent weeks to give an unprecedented number of customers a payment holiday, and we stand ready to help more over the coming months.
"We understand that the current crisis is having a significant impact on household finances for people across the country."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:10 Banks raise interest on many mortgages
However, Mr Jones said that payment holidays were not the right solution for everyone and borrowers should check with their lenders about the support available and how to apply.
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The mortgage holidays are designed to help people struggling to make their payments, for example if they have had a pay cut or their work has temporarily stopped due to COVID-19.
They can request a mortgage payment holiday of up to three months.
Payment holidays are available to customers who are up-to-date on their mortgage payments. They will still owe the money and interest will still accrue.
Homeowners applying for a mortgage payment holiday will need to self-certify that their income has been either directly or indirectly impacted by coronavirus.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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UK Finance has said firms will make every effort to ensure payment holidays do not negatively impact on credit files.
It added that telephone lines were extremely busy so customers were advised to look at their lender's website in the first instance.
Borrowers have been urged not to cancel their direct debits before a payment holiday has been agreed, as this will be counted as a missed payment and could impact their credit file.
Banks have been under pressure to act as the coronavirus crisis takes a heavy toll on the economic situation of millions of Britons.
Many have already axed dividends and cut bonuses for top bosses.
But analysis by Sky News last week revealed that banks were raising interest rates on mortgages, defying efforts by the Treasury and Bank of England to ease the burden on households.