news--2020-06-23--Nigel Farage trip to attend Donald Trump rally investigated by homeland security committee

A US congressman has launched an investigation after Nigel Farage apparently flew to America to attend a Donald Trump rally during the coronavirus pandemic .
Bennie G Thompson , chairman of the House of Representatives ' committee on homeland security , said the decision to allow the visit raised `` numerous troubling questions '' at the time of travel restrictions from the UK .
The US has barred entry to arrivals from Britain , with the exception of US citizens , their family members and `` individuals who meet specified exceptions '' .
Brexit Party leader Mr Farage posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caption : `` In the USA , only twenty four hours from Tulsa '' - the destination of the US president 's rally over the weekend .
Mr Thompson said he had sent a letter to Chad Wolf , acting secretary of homeland security , requesting `` all relevant documents '' on the decision to `` waive the travel ban for Mr Farage '' .
He said : `` The decision of the Trump administration to admit Mr Farage to the United States to enable him to attend a campaign rally at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom to the US has been suspended raises numerous troubling questions , as does the claim that such travel was in the national interest . ''
Mr Thompson , a Mississippi Democrat , said a statement provided to his staff by America 's Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) confirmed Mr Farage was initially denied boarding while attempting to fly from the UK to the US , due to the coronavirus travel restrictions .
According to the congressman , the CBP said the Department of Homeland Security conducted a review and determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' as his entry to the US `` would be in the national interest '' and he was allowed to board the flight .
In his letter to Mr Wolf , Mr Thompson has requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide `` all communication '' since 14 March related to Mr Farage 's trip to the US .
He also requests documents on `` the individual who ultimately approved travel to the US by Mr Farage '' and `` the determination and justification '' that the trip `` was a matter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacted the Brexit Party for comment .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Mr Farage previously appeared alongside Mr Trump to give a speech at a rally in Mississippi in August 2016 before the last US presidential election .
At the time , he spoke about his role in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union , but stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump for president .
It was announced earlier this month that Mr Farage will no longer host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented since January 2017 .

A US congressman has launched an investigation after Nigel Farage apparently flew to America to attend a Donald Trump rally during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bennie G Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives' committee on homeland security, said the decision to allow the visit raised "numerous troubling questions" at the time of travel restrictions from the UK.
The US has barred entry to arrivals from Britain, with the exception of US citizens, their family members and "individuals who meet specified exceptions".
Brexit Party leader Mr Farage posted a photograph of himself on Saturday with the caption: "In the USA, only twenty four hours from Tulsa" - the destination of the US president's rally over the weekend.
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Mr Thompson said he had sent a letter to Chad Wolf, acting secretary of homeland security, requesting "all relevant documents" on the decision to "waive the travel ban for Mr Farage".
He said: "The decision of the Trump administration to admit Mr Farage to the United States to enable him to attend a campaign rally at a time when most travel from the United Kingdom to the US has been suspended raises numerous troubling questions, as does the claim that such travel was in the national interest."
Mr Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, said a statement provided to his staff by America's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed Mr Farage was initially denied boarding while attempting to fly from the UK to the US, due to the coronavirus travel restrictions.
Image: Bennie G Thompson has requested information on who approved Mr Farage's visit
According to the congressman, the CBP said the Department of Homeland Security conducted a review and determined Mr Farage's travel was "permissible" as his entry to the US "would be in the national interest" and he was allowed to board the flight.
In his letter to Mr Wolf, Mr Thompson has requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide "all communication" since 14 March related to Mr Farage's trip to the US.
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He also requests documents on "the individual who ultimately approved travel to the US by Mr Farage" and "the determination and justification" that the trip "was a matter of national interest".
Sky News has contacted the Brexit Party for comment.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
Mr Farage previously appeared alongside Mr Trump to give a speech at a rally in Mississippi in August 2016 before the last US presidential election.
At the time, he spoke about his role in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, but stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump for president.
It was announced earlier this month that Mr Farage will no longer host his LBC Radio show which he had presented since January 2017.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: How you can commute to work as lockdown eases

The government has begun announcing a set of measures to ease the coronavirus lockdown , with a number of changes involving modes of travel among them .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps used Saturday 's Downing Street COVID-19 briefing to unveil plans designed to encourage commuters to cycle and walk to work .
While details of the proposals were limited , he said there would be a £250m emergency active travel fund - the first stage of a £2bn investment that was announced in February .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general effort to reduce reliance on trains and buses , which involve a greater risk of people transmitting coronavirus and where capacity could be reduced by up to 90 % due to social-distancing rules .
While drivers are unlikely to see major changes , those flying into the country can expect to face new rules .
As reports emerge of Boris Johnson 's plans to expand guidance around the use of face masks in an address on Sunday , here 's what we know so far about measures being introduced to clear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perhaps the centrepiece of the travel announcement was the £250m scheme for extra cycle lanes .
Given the risks around the transmission of coronavirus on public transport - not to mention the environmental and health benefits of cycling - the government has said it is keen to encourage more people to ride bikes to work .
And Mr Shapps said the investment would pay for `` pop-up '' bike lanes with protected space for cycling , wider pavements , safer junctions , and cycle and bus-only corridors to be created in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan and Andy Burnham , the mayors of London and Manchester respectively , announced plans to close some roads to cars to make way for pedestrian and cycle routes .
According to a statement issued by the government , it will fund and work with local authorities to help improve cycling infrastructure .
It said projects already planned which it could fund included Greater Manchester 's proposal to create 150 miles of protected cycle track , and London 's scheme to construct a `` bike Tube '' network above Underground lines .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective immediately , will tell councils to reallocate roadspace for significantly-increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians , '' the government statement says .
`` In towns and cities , some streets could become bike and bus-only while others remain available for motorists . ''
The law and enforcement of regulations around e-scooters has been a source of confusion as their popularity has increased in recent years .
Mr Shapps announced trials of the vehicles on British roads - where their use is currently banned - would be fast-tracked by government to start in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite having conspicuously refused to do so earlier in the pandemic , the government will reportedly introduce quarantine measures for those entering the UK .
People landing at the country 's airports will have to fill in a digital form and declare an address where they will then be expected to self-isolate for 14 days .
Mr Shapps declined to deny the measure was due to be announced .
A central plank of ministers ' plans to allow people to return to their workplaces will involve face masks , given problems around social-distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having previously described evidence for their effectiveness in reducing the spread of COVID-19 as `` weak '' , Mr Johnson has spoken of their importance of face coverings in increasing `` confidence '' among staff returning to their place of employment .
The prime minister will recommend workers wear masks when they do go back to work and when using public transport , the Telegraph reports .

The government has begun announcing a set of measures to ease the coronavirus lockdown, with a number of changes involving modes of travel among them.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps used Saturday's Downing Street COVID-19 briefing to unveil plans designed to encourage commuters to cycle and walk to work.
While details of the proposals were limited, he said there would be a £250m emergency active travel fund - the first stage of a £2bn investment that was announced in February.
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
It is part of a general effort to reduce reliance on trains and buses, which involve a greater risk of people transmitting coronavirus and where capacity could be reduced by up to 90% due to social-distancing rules.
While drivers are unlikely to see major changes, those flying into the country can expect to face new rules.
As reports emerge of Boris Johnson's plans to expand guidance around the use of face masks in an address on Sunday, here's what we know so far about measures being introduced to clear the way for people to return to work.
Cycling
Perhaps the centrepiece of the travel announcement was the £250m scheme for extra cycle lanes.
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Given the risks around the transmission of coronavirus on public transport - not to mention the environmental and health benefits of cycling - the government has said it is keen to encourage more people to ride bikes to work.
And Mr Shapps said the investment would pay for "pop-up" bike lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors to be created in England within weeks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:32 No dramatic lockdown changes, warns govt
It comes after Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, the mayors of London and Manchester respectively, announced plans to close some roads to cars to make way for pedestrian and cycle routes.
According to a statement issued by the government, it will fund and work with local authorities to help improve cycling infrastructure.
It said projects already planned which it could fund included Greater Manchester's proposal to create 150 miles of protected cycle track, and London's scheme to construct a "bike Tube" network above Underground lines.
"Fast-tracked statutory guidance, published today and effective immediately, will tell councils to reallocate roadspace for significantly-increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians," the government statement says.
"In towns and cities, some streets could become bike and bus-only while others remain available for motorists."
E-scooters
The law and enforcement of regulations around e-scooters has been a source of confusion as their popularity has increased in recent years.
Mr Shapps announced trials of the vehicles on British roads - where their use is currently banned - would be fast-tracked by government to start in June, rather than next year.
Airlines
Despite having conspicuously refused to do so earlier in the pandemic, the government will reportedly introduce quarantine measures for those entering the UK.
People landing at the country's airports will have to fill in a digital form and declare an address where they will then be expected to self-isolate for 14 days.
Mr Shapps declined to deny the measure was due to be announced.
Face masks
A central plank of ministers' plans to allow people to return to their workplaces will involve face masks, given problems around social-distancing guidelines.
Despite Health Secretary Matt Hancock having previously described evidence for their effectiveness in reducing the spread of COVID-19 as "weak", Mr Johnson has spoken of their importance of face coverings in increasing "confidence" among staff returning to their place of employment.
The prime minister will recommend workers wear masks when they do go back to work and when using public transport, the Telegraph reports.


news--2020-05-08--Coronavirus: How the COVID-19 death data gets released in the UK

Each afternoon a seemingly endless stream of figures is published measuring the increase in the number of people with COVID-19 who have died in the UK .
Invariably the totals tick upwards but who is included in them , who compiles them and the period they cover is far from clear .
Add to this the weekly release from the nations ' statistical offices and it can be difficult to know what to make of it all .
So , here is Sky News ' guide to the UK 's COVID-19 death numbers .
There are three main sets of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK .
The first is the totals provided by each of the four nations , the second is the official daily number released by the Department of Health and Social Care , and the third is the weekly registered deaths published by the Office for National Statistics , National Records Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency .
When ?
Officially 2pm daily but the First Minister often announces it at the 12.30pm news briefing Who is included ?
Anyone in hospital , a care home or elsewhere who tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
The death must have been registered with National Records Scotland .
Scotland tends to be the first nation to report each day , with the First Minister announcing the increase and the new total at her daily briefing .
The numbers are reported by Health Boards and compiled by Health Protection Scotland .
The deaths must be registered with National Records Scotland .
This registration check was added at the beginning of April after 40 deaths were discovered that had not been reported by a health board .
The numbers include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a laboratory confirmed report of COVID-19 , so they cover hospitals , care homes and elsewhere .
The daily increase is the total number of new deaths registered in the previous 24-hour reporting period .
Many of the people included in this figure might have died days or weeks earlier because of the time it takes to contact relatives and complete the administration .
The 9am-9am reporting period differs from that used by the Department of Health and Social Care so the daily increase in Scotland is not included in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is included ?
Hospital patients and care home residents who tested positive for COVID-19 and whose doctor believes it was a causative factor in their death .
Other settings are not included .
At 2pm each day Public Health Wales updates its COVID-19 dashboard with the increase in the number of people who have died and the new overall total .
Since the beginning of the outbreak , these figures have included hospital patients and care home residents who tested positive for the virus .
Unlike Scotland , Wales does not include people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere .
Once again , the time it takes to contact relatives and for health boards to report deaths to Public Health Wales means the daily number can include people who died days or weeks before .
Who is included ?
Anyone in hospitals , care homes or elsewhere who has died within 28 days of a positive test result for COVID-19 .
Northern Ireland 's Department of Health updates its figures for COVID-19 deaths on its dashboard each afternoon from 2pm .
The figures are compiled by Health and Social Care Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after testing positive for the virus regardless of where or whether COVID 19 was considered a cause of death .
They receive the information from health trusts and regional and local virus laboratory reports .
As with the other nations , people included in the daily increase might have died days or weeks before .
The 9.30am-9.30am reporting period differs from that used by the Department of Health and Social Care so the daily increase in Scotland is not included in the UK total until the following day .
Who is included ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 or where COVID-19 was mentioned on their death certificate .
Other settings are not included .
There are now two daily figures released for COVID-19 deaths in England .
The first of these , which is compiled and published by NHS England , includes only hospital patients who tested positive for the virus or where COVID 19 was mentioned on the death certificate .
The deaths are reported to NHS England by individual NHS Trusts via a web-based reporting system .
Each daily figure covers the 24-hour period up to 5pm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death notification , death certificates can take several days so the figures include deaths that took place weeks before .
However , NHS England publishes the date of death for all patients , with a regional breakdown , and demographic information about the people who died , including weekly updated breakdowns by ethnicity and underlying health conditions and a daily update on age .
Since 28 April , NHS England has also published the number of patients who died where COVID-19 was suspected but not confirmed .
This is not included in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who died in hospital , a care home or elsewhere who tested positive for COVID-19 : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Since 29 April , Public Health England has published a daily figure for the number of deaths relating to COVID-19 which includes all people who tested positive , regardless of where they died .
It is compiled from three sources , one of which is the NHS England data outlined above .
The others are confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported to PHE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals ) and a central database of laboratory results which is cross-checked with patient records .
An automated system checks for errors and duplication .
As with the NHS England figures , the reporting period covers the 24 hours up to 5pm the previous day and deaths included could have happened many days before .
The addition of this Public Health England data series means there are now two totals released each day for deaths in England .
As the cumulative total from PHE includes all settings , it will be higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the daily increase could sometimes be smaller because some new deaths reported by NHS England could already be included in Public Health England 's total .
Who is included ?
Anyone who died in hospital , a care home or elsewhere ( except Wales ) who tested positive for COVID-19 Each day the Department of Health and Social Care ( DHSC ) publishes an updated total for the number of people to have died with COVID-19 in the UK and gives the most recent increase .
This figure used to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , it has been using the Public Health England data covering all settings .
So , the overall total for UK deaths released each day now includes deaths with a positive test for the virus in all settings , in all nations , except Wales which does n't include deaths outside hospitals and care homes .
As the Department of Health reporting period ends at 5pm on the previous day , the latest figures published by Scotland and Northern Ireland are included the following day .
Once again , the daily increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most recent period and not necessarily people who died in that 24 hours .
Every week the statistical agencies in each UK nation publish a figure for deaths registered where COVID-19 was included on the death certificate .
These include deaths where there was not a positive test but where the doctor suspected that COVID-19 might have been a factor .
There are three sources , one for England and Wales , one for Scotland and another for Northern Ireland .
Who is included ?
Anyone who died in hospital , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentioned on their death certificate The ONS provides a weekly count of all deaths in England and Wales where COVID-19 is recorded on the death certificate , including those where COVID-19 was suspected based on symptoms and/or linked to an outbreak , and not limited to laboratory confirmed cases .
It does this as part of its long-running series recording all weekly registered deaths in the two nations .
However , it is not as up to date as some of the other deaths data as it includes only deaths registered up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also compares that to the number known to have happened at the date of release .
Since 28 April , its headline summary has also displayed the total registered deaths in the whole of the UK .
The ONS bulletin compares deaths reported by NHS England and PHE by date of registration and by date of death to give a clearer picture of the number of deaths that might not be captured by the daily published total .
It is also now working with the Care Quality Commission to publish provisional counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is included ?
Anyone who died in hospital , a care home or elsewhere and had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate Every Wednesday National Records Scotland ( NRS ) publishes an update on all deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the certifying doctor .
This includes cases where infection was a suspected or probable factor .
Using the complete death certificate allows NRS to analyse information such as location of death and what other health conditions contributed .
This release is timelier than that of the ONS for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered up to the end of the previous week .
Who is included ?
Anyone who died in hospital , a care home or elsewhere and had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate This weekly update from Northern Ireland 's Statistics and Research Agency ( NISRA ) is based on death registrations collected by the General Register Office .
It counts all deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the certifying doctor , whether or not COVID-19 was the primary underlying cause of death .
It covers the period ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like the corresponding releases in the other UK nations , this one also gives a breakdown by place of death and calculates the difference from the overall figure published by the Department of Health .
Crucially the weekly registered deaths published by the ONS , NRS and NISRA also include all deaths registered , benchmarked against a five-year average .
The difference between these numbers is what is called `` excess deaths '' or deaths that are above what might be expected at the same time of the year .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the impact of COVID-19 and it includes deaths that might have happened indirectly as a result of the pandemic , for example someone whose cancer treatment was delayed .
Each week to date the number of excess deaths in all nations has been higher than the number of deaths suspected to involve COVID-19 .

Each afternoon a seemingly endless stream of figures is published measuring the increase in the number of people with COVID-19 who have died in the UK.
Invariably the totals tick upwards but who is included in them, who compiles them and the period they cover is far from clear.
Add to this the weekly release from the nations' statistical offices and it can be difficult to know what to make of it all.
So, here is Sky News' guide to the UK's COVID-19 death numbers.
There are three main sets of numbers measuring deaths related to COVID-19 in the UK.
The first is the totals provided by each of the four nations, the second is the official daily number released by the Department of Health and Social Care, and the third is the weekly registered deaths published by the Office for National Statistics, National Records Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
The Nations' Totals
Scotland
When? Officially 2pm daily but the First Minister often announces it at the 12.30pm news briefing
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Source? Health Protection Scotland
Who is included? Anyone in hospital, a care home or elsewhere who tested positive in the 28 days before they died. The death must have been registered with National Records Scotland.
Reporting period? 9am-9am each day
Image: Nicola Sturgeon is usually the first UK leader to release daily stats
Scotland tends to be the first nation to report each day, with the First Minister announcing the increase and the new total at her daily briefing.
The numbers are reported by Health Boards and compiled by Health Protection Scotland. The deaths must be registered with National Records Scotland.
This registration check was added at the beginning of April after 40 deaths were discovered that had not been reported by a health board. The numbers include all people who have died in Scotland with a laboratory confirmed report of COVID-19, so they cover hospitals, care homes and elsewhere.
The daily increase is the total number of new deaths registered in the previous 24-hour reporting period. Many of the people included in this figure might have died days or weeks earlier because of the time it takes to contact relatives and complete the administration.
The 9am-9am reporting period differs from that used by the Department of Health and Social Care so the daily increase in Scotland is not included in the UK total until the following day.
Wales
When? 2pm daily
Source? Public Health Wales
Who is included? Hospital patients and care home residents who tested positive for COVID-19 and whose doctor believes it was a causative factor in their death. Other settings are not included.
Reporting period? 5pm-5pm each day.
At 2pm each day Public Health Wales updates its COVID-19 dashboard with the increase in the number of people who have died and the new overall total.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, these figures have included hospital patients and care home residents who tested positive for the virus.
Unlike Scotland, Wales does not include people with a positive test who have died elsewhere.
Once again, the time it takes to contact relatives and for health boards to report deaths to Public Health Wales means the daily number can include people who died days or weeks before.
Northern Ireland
When? 2pm daily
Source? Department of Health, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland
Who is included? Anyone in hospitals, care homes or elsewhere who has died within 28 days of a positive test result for COVID-19.
Reporting period? 9.30am-9.30am each day
Northern Ireland's Department of Health updates its figures for COVID-19 deaths on its dashboard each afternoon from 2pm.
The figures are compiled by Health and Social Care Northern Ireland and include all people who died after testing positive for the virus regardless of where or whether COVID 19 was considered a cause of death. They receive the information from health trusts and regional and local virus laboratory reports.
As with the other nations, people included in the daily increase might have died days or weeks before. The 9.30am-9.30am reporting period differs from that used by the Department of Health and Social Care so the daily increase in Scotland is not included in the UK total until the following day.
NHS England
When? 2pm daily
Source? NHS England
Who is included? Hospital patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 or where COVID-19 was mentioned on their death certificate. Other settings are not included.
Reporting period? 5pm-5pm each day
There are now two daily figures released for COVID-19 deaths in England.
The first of these, which is compiled and published by NHS England, includes only hospital patients who tested positive for the virus or where COVID 19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The deaths are reported to NHS England by individual NHS Trusts via a web-based reporting system.
Each daily figure covers the 24-hour period up to 5pm the previous day.
Confirmation of diagnosis, death notification, death certificates can take several days so the figures include deaths that took place weeks before.
However, NHS England publishes the date of death for all patients, with a regional breakdown, and demographic information about the people who died, including weekly updated breakdowns by ethnicity and underlying health conditions and a daily update on age.
Since 28 April, NHS England has also published the number of patients who died where COVID-19 was suspected but not confirmed. This is not included in the total.
Public Health England
When? Every afternoon
Source? Public Health England
Who is included? Anyone who died in hospital, a care home or elsewhere who tested positive for COVID-19
Reporting period? 5pm-5pm each day
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Since 29 April, Public Health England has published a daily figure for the number of deaths relating to COVID-19 which includes all people who tested positive, regardless of where they died. It is compiled from three sources, one of which is the NHS England data outlined above.
The others are confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported to PHE Health Protection Teams (mainly from outside hospitals) and a central database of laboratory results which is cross-checked with patient records.
An automated system checks for errors and duplication.
As with the NHS England figures, the reporting period covers the 24 hours up to 5pm the previous day and deaths included could have happened many days before.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:03 Nation applauds NHS heroes for seventh week
The addition of this Public Health England data series means there are now two totals released each day for deaths in England.
As the cumulative total from PHE includes all settings, it will be higher than the one published by NHS England.
However, the daily increase could sometimes be smaller because some new deaths reported by NHS England could already be included in Public Health England's total.
The daily UK total
Department of Health and Social Care
When? Every afternoon
Source? Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland
Who is included? Anyone who died in hospital, a care home or elsewhere (except Wales) who tested positive for COVID-19
Reporting period? 5pm-5pm each day
Each day the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) publishes an updated total for the number of people to have died with COVID-19 in the UK and gives the most recent increase.
This figure used to include hospitals only for England but since 29 April, it has been using the Public Health England data covering all settings.
So, the overall total for UK deaths released each day now includes deaths with a positive test for the virus in all settings, in all nations, except Wales which doesn't include deaths outside hospitals and care homes.
As the Department of Health reporting period ends at 5pm on the previous day, the latest figures published by Scotland and Northern Ireland are included the following day.
Once again, the daily increase is deaths reported to the DHSC in the most recent period and not necessarily people who died in that 24 hours.
The weekly registered deaths
Every week the statistical agencies in each UK nation publish a figure for deaths registered where COVID-19 was included on the death certificate.
These include deaths where there was not a positive test but where the doctor suspected that COVID-19 might have been a factor. There are three sources, one for England and Wales, one for Scotland and another for Northern Ireland.
England and Wales
When? Every Tuesday
Source? Office for National Statistics
Who is included? Anyone who died in hospital, a care home or elsewhere and had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate
The ONS provides a weekly count of all deaths in England and Wales where COVID-19 is recorded on the death certificate, including those where COVID-19 was suspected based on symptoms and/or linked to an outbreak, and not limited to laboratory confirmed cases.
It does this as part of its long-running series recording all weekly registered deaths in the two nations. However, it is not as up to date as some of the other deaths data as it includes only deaths registered up to 11 days before publication.
However, it also compares that to the number known to have happened at the date of release.
Since 28 April, its headline summary has also displayed the total registered deaths in the whole of the UK. The ONS bulletin compares deaths reported by NHS England and PHE by date of registration and by date of death to give a clearer picture of the number of deaths that might not be captured by the daily published total. It is also now working with the Care Quality Commission to publish provisional counts for deaths in care homes.
Scotland
When? Every Wednesday
Source? National Records Scotland
Who is included? Anyone who died in hospital, a care home or elsewhere and had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate
Every Wednesday National Records Scotland (NRS) publishes an update on all deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the certifying doctor.
This includes cases where infection was a suspected or probable factor. Using the complete death certificate allows NRS to analyse information such as location of death and what other health conditions contributed.
This release is timelier than that of the ONS for England and Wales as it includes deaths registered up to the end of the previous week.
Northern Ireland
When? Every Friday
Source? Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Who is included? Anyone who died in hospital, a care home or elsewhere and had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate
This weekly update from Northern Ireland's Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) is based on death registrations collected by the General Register Office.
It counts all deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the certifying doctor, whether or not COVID-19 was the primary underlying cause of death.
It covers the period ending on the Friday of the previous week.
Like the corresponding releases in the other UK nations, this one also gives a breakdown by place of death and calculates the difference from the overall figure published by the Department of Health.
Excess Deaths
Crucially the weekly registered deaths published by the ONS, NRS and NISRA also include all deaths registered, benchmarked against a five-year average.
The difference between these numbers is what is called "excess deaths" or deaths that are above what might be expected at the same time of the year.
This is increasingly recognised as the most revealing measure of the impact of COVID-19 and it includes deaths that might have happened indirectly as a result of the pandemic, for example someone whose cancer treatment was delayed.
Each week to date the number of excess deaths in all nations has been higher than the number of deaths suspected to involve COVID-19.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: UK to bring in two-week quarantine for air passengers

Air passengers arriving in Britain will soon have to quarantine for a fortnight as part of a move to avoid a second peak of the coronavirus .
Airlines UK , the trade body for UK registered airlines , has confirmed to Sky News that the move will be introduced by the government for anyone arriving into the UK other than from Ireland , to ease the spread of COVID-19 .
The announcement on travel is reportedly set to be made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he sets out a road map for easing the coronavirus lockdown in an address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the measures , which are expected to come into force in June , all passengers arriving at airports - including returning UK citizens - will have to provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days .
Ports will also be included , according to The Times .
The report states that authorities will carry out spot checks , and those found breaking the rules face a fine of up to £1,000 or even deportation .
A Home Office spokeswoman said : `` We do not comment on leaks .
The focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NHS and save lives . ''
However , both the aviation and tourism industry have warned such a move would be devastating for business , already hard hit by the impact of the pandemic .
Responding to earlier speculation a mandatory quarantine would be part of the government 's coronavirus measures , Airlines UK said the proposal `` would effectively kill international travel to and from UK and cause immeasurable damage to the aviation industry and wider UK economy '' .
It added : `` Nobody is going to go on holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal life for 14 days , and business travel would be severely restricted .
`` It will also make it all but impossible for aviation to resume any time soon , thereby setting back the UK 's economic recovery still further . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The government has previously faced criticism for allowing passengers to enter the UK without going into quarantine or undergoing temperature checks .
Ministers said at the time it would not have made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the population .
However , once the rate of infection is significantly reduced , this could see the need for tighter border controls .
Travellers from Ireland , the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will be exempt , along with lorry drivers bringing in critical supplies .
The quarantine measures reflect those already introduced by other countries , including Australia , New Zealand and Singapore .

Air passengers arriving in Britain will soon have to quarantine for a fortnight as part of a move to avoid a second peak of the coronavirus.
Airlines UK, the trade body for UK registered airlines, has confirmed to Sky News that the move will be introduced by the government for anyone arriving into the UK other than from Ireland, to ease the spread of COVID-19.
The announcement on travel is reportedly set to be made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he sets out a road map for easing the coronavirus lockdown in an address to the nation on Sunday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:57 Lockdown changes will be 'incremental'
Under the measures, which are expected to come into force in June, all passengers arriving at airports - including returning UK citizens - will have to provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days.
Ports will also be included, according to The Times.
The report states that authorities will carry out spot checks, and those found breaking the rules face a fine of up to £1,000 or even deportation.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on leaks. The focus remains on staying at home to protect the NHS and save lives."
However, both the aviation and tourism industry have warned such a move would be devastating for business, already hard hit by the impact of the pandemic.
Responding to earlier speculation a mandatory quarantine would be part of the government's coronavirus measures, Airlines UK said the proposal "would effectively kill international travel to and from UK and cause immeasurable damage to the aviation industry and wider UK economy".
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It added: "Nobody is going to go on holiday if they're not able to resume normal life for 14 days, and business travel would be severely restricted.
"It will also make it all but impossible for aviation to resume any time soon, thereby setting back the UK's economic recovery still further."
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The government has previously faced criticism for allowing passengers to enter the UK without going into quarantine or undergoing temperature checks.
Ministers said at the time it would not have made a difference because the virus had already spread among the population.
However, once the rate of infection is significantly reduced, this could see the need for tighter border controls.
Travellers from Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will be exempt, along with lorry drivers bringing in critical supplies.
The quarantine measures reflect those already introduced by other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: 346 new COVID-19 deaths in the UK, taking total to 31,587

Another 346 people have died in the UK after testing positive for COVID-19 , bringing the total to 31,587 .
Announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps , the figure is made up of coronavirus-related fatalities in all settings - including hospitals , care homes and the community - as of 5pm on Friday .
In England , there have been 207 new deaths in hospitals , taking the total to 22,972. : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Scotland has suffered a further 36 fatalities , as its total grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wales , taking the overall number of fatalities there to 1,099 .
The minister also revealed the number of daily coronavirus tests fell below Health Secretary Matt Hancock 's 100,000 target for a seventh day in a row .
A total of 96,878 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday , down from 97,029 the day before .
Mr Shapps announced the new figures as he said the government was planning a scheme to `` get Britain moving safely again '' .
He said : `` Preventing overcrowding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spike and more deaths , will be the responsibility of each and every one of us .
`` So please , only travel when you need to , be considerate to others , and help prioritise essential workers .
`` Let 's all play our part in ensuring that we 're able to get Britain moving safely again , when that time comes . ''
Earlier this week , the UK became the first European country to report more than 30,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 .
However , some experts have warned against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in different ways .
The Department of Health 's figures on deaths only include people who have tested positive for coronavirus .
But the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) provide an alternative measure based on all mentions of COVID-19 on a death certificate , including a suspected case .
Officials at the ONS said 29,710 deaths involving COVID-19 were registered in England and Wales up to 2 May .

Another 346 people have died in the UK after testing positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 31,587.
Announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the figure is made up of coronavirus-related fatalities in all settings - including hospitals, care homes and the community - as of 5pm on Friday.
In England, there have been 207 new deaths in hospitals, taking the total to 22,972.
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Scotland has suffered a further 36 fatalities, as its total grew to 1,847.
There were nine deaths in Wales, taking the overall number of fatalities there to 1,099.
The minister also revealed the number of daily coronavirus tests fell below Health Secretary Matt Hancock's 100,000 target for a seventh day in a row.
A total of 96,878 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday, down from 97,029 the day before.
Mr Shapps announced the new figures as he said the government was planning a scheme to "get Britain moving safely again".
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He said: "Preventing overcrowding, which could lead to a second spike and more deaths, will be the responsibility of each and every one of us.
"So please, only travel when you need to, be considerate to others, and help prioritise essential workers.
"Let's all play our part in ensuring that we're able to get Britain moving safely again, when that time comes."
Earlier this week, the UK became the first European country to report more than 30,000 deaths linked to COVID-19.
However, some experts have warned against comparisons, as some countries record fatalities in different ways.
The Department of Health's figures on deaths only include people who have tested positive for coronavirus.
But the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provide an alternative measure based on all mentions of COVID-19 on a death certificate, including a suspected case.
Officials at the ONS said 29,710 deaths involving COVID-19 were registered in England and Wales up to 2 May.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: Police fury as 'hundreds' of people have pizzas, beers and wine in park

Britons have been accused of `` ignoring '' restrictions during the sunny bank holiday weekend , as the police and coastguard criticised those failing to observe guidelines .
HM Coastguard said it had the highest number of call-outs since the lockdown began on Friday , with 97 incidents - a 54 % increase compared with April 's daily average .
Meanwhile in London , police admitted they were struggling to stop people gathering in parks amid the fine weather .
A Hackney Police statement , posted on its official Twitter page alongside an image believed to be of London Fields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting a losing battle in the parks today .
`` Literally hundreds of people sitting having pizza , beers , wines .
As always a big thank you to those that are observing the guidelines . ''
COVID-19 rule-breakers are being warned that they are putting emergency workers at risk , and putting avoidable pressure on the NHS .
Temperatures were set to reach 26C ( 78.8F ) in parts of the UK on Saturday in what was promised to be the hottest day of the year so far .
This weekend of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government 's stay-at-home advice will not be followed , with Britons flocking to parks and beaches for days out .
Watch Sky News at 7pm tonight for the Prime Minister 's pre-recorded address to the nation over ending the lockdown .
HM Coastguard commander Matt Leat said : `` People are ignoring the measures put into place by the government .
`` I completely understand that the weather and the bank holiday coupled with the fact that we 've been in this lockdown situation for just over six weeks has tempted people out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the government said only yesterday , it 's really vital that we all continue to observe the guidance .
`` Every time we get a 999 or distress call , we will always respond but the minute we send in a rescue response , we 're putting our frontline responders at risk as well as putting the NHS under avoidable pressure .
`` Please , please continue to observe the # StayHomeSaveLives message - it 's still in place for a reason .
Exercise locally and stretch your legs , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Twitter account is urging the public to `` keep going for everyone 's sake '' - stressing that their sacrifice is making a difference .
Meanwhile , Scotland 's top police officer has warned that policing will be more challenging if England and Scotland take different paths on lockdown .
Cautioning against any divergence , Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme : `` I think it would make the consistency of public messaging harder , people would be hearing different things when they listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be harder than it 's been but I 'm confident that the police would be able to respond to any differentials that the politicians decide upon . ''
He also said policing the next phase of the coronavirus will be more challenging generally .
Mr Livingstone said : `` Any easement or any change around that that has a level of distinction , whether that 's by locality , whether that 's by sector , whether that 's by criteria , age or occupation , inevitably adds a level of complexity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` four nations approach '' to tackling the crisis , but there have been signs of tensions between Downing Street and the devolved administrations .
Scotland 's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently warned she would not be `` pressured '' into `` prematurely '' easing her country 's COVID-19 restrictions and urged Scots to stick with the current advice .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker It follows concerns over `` mixed messages '' to the public , with reports Boris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be permitted in England from as early as Monday .
Ministers have since downplayed this , insisting there would be no `` dramatic overnight change '' of the lockdown rules .

Britons have been accused of "ignoring" restrictions during the sunny bank holiday weekend, as the police and coastguard criticised those failing to observe guidelines.
HM Coastguard said it had the highest number of call-outs since the lockdown began on Friday, with 97 incidents - a 54% increase compared with April's daily average.
Meanwhile in London, police admitted they were struggling to stop people gathering in parks amid the fine weather.
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A Hackney Police statement, posted on its official Twitter page alongside an image believed to be of London Fields, said: "Sadly we're fighting a losing battle in the parks today.
"Literally hundreds of people sitting having pizza, beers, wines. As always a big thank you to those that are observing the guidelines."
COVID-19 rule-breakers are being warned that they are putting emergency workers at risk, and putting avoidable pressure on the NHS.
Temperatures were set to reach 26C (78.8F) in parts of the UK on Saturday in what was promised to be the hottest day of the year so far.
This weekend of fine weather has fuelled fears that the government's stay-at-home advice will not be followed, with Britons flocking to parks and beaches for days out.
Watch Sky News at 7pm tonight for the Prime Minister's pre-recorded address to the nation over ending the lockdown.
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Image: The coastguard says it is vital the public continue to observe the coronavirus restrictions
HM Coastguard commander Matt Leat said: "People are ignoring the measures put into place by the government.
"I completely understand that the weather and the bank holiday coupled with the fact that we've been in this lockdown situation for just over six weeks has tempted people out to our beautiful coasts.
"However, as the government said only yesterday, it's really vital that we all continue to observe the guidance.
"Every time we get a 999 or distress call, we will always respond but the minute we send in a rescue response, we're putting our frontline responders at risk as well as putting the NHS under avoidable pressure.
Image: Visitors to Southend-on-Sea are being told to continue observing social distancing measures on the beach
"Please, please continue to observe the #StayHomeSaveLives message - it's still in place for a reason. Exercise locally and stretch your legs, not our resources."
The prime minister's Twitter account is urging the public to "keep going for everyone's sake" - stressing that their sacrifice is making a difference.
Meanwhile, Scotland's top police officer has warned that policing will be more challenging if England and Scotland take different paths on lockdown.
Cautioning against any divergence, Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it would make the consistency of public messaging harder, people would be hearing different things when they listen to different forms of media.
"It would be harder than it's been but I'm confident that the police would be able to respond to any differentials that the politicians decide upon."
He also said policing the next phase of the coronavirus will be more challenging generally.
Mr Livingstone said: "Any easement or any change around that that has a level of distinction, whether that's by locality, whether that's by sector, whether that's by criteria, age or occupation, inevitably adds a level of complexity."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:48 No 'dramatic overnight change' planned for lockdown
The Westminster government has spoken of a "four nations approach" to tackling the crisis, but there have been signs of tensions between Downing Street and the devolved administrations.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently warned she would not be "pressured" into "prematurely" easing her country's COVID-19 restrictions and urged Scots to stick with the current advice.
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It follows concerns over "mixed messages" to the public, with reports Boris Johnson could allow sunbathing and picnics to be permitted in England from as early as Monday.
Ministers have since downplayed this, insisting there would be no "dramatic overnight change" of the lockdown rules.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: 2,000 bars shut in Seoul as 17 new COVID-19 cases linked to one man

More than 2,100 nightclubs , hostess bars and discos in South Korea 's capital have been shut after 18 new coronavirus cases - with all but one linked to a 29-year-old man .
He visited three clubs in Seoul 's Itaewon district last Saturday before testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday .
The man did not wear a mask inside the venues , according to Jeong Eun-kyeong , director of the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention .
Visitor lists showed the three premises had more than 1,500 customers combined on Saturday .
Officials have urged people who visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Club , Trunk Club and Club Queen - between 29 April and 6 May to have screening tests and refrain from going outside to prevent additional transmissions .
All nightclubs and hostess bars in the country have been advised to close for a month .
Last weekend , people went back to entertainment venues after the government relaxed some social distancing guidelines .
But the sites were told to still carry out temperature checks , keep customer lists and make sure workers wore masks .
The closures come after 18 fresh infections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours to midnight on Friday .
A few hours later , Seoul mayor Park Won-soon confirmed there were another 16 cases in the city - taking the total linked to clubbers to 40 .
They included 27 in Seoul , 12 in neighbouring Incheon and Gyeonggi province towns , and one in the southern port city of Busan .
Schools were supposed to begin reopening next week , but they may not now amid fears of a resurgence as South Korea has had more than 10 daily cases for the first time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too early to confirm whether school openings will be postponed , but added they will monitor the spread of the virus and review information about the new cases .
South Korea , which has been widely praised for its comprehensive testing regime during the pandemic , has reported more than 10,800 cases overall and 256 deaths from the virus .
Its professional football began its new season on Friday behind closed doors , following baseball 's opening games on Tuesday .

More than 2,100 nightclubs, hostess bars and discos in South Korea's capital have been shut after 18 new coronavirus cases - with all but one linked to a 29-year-old man.
He visited three clubs in Seoul's Itaewon district last Saturday before testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
The man did not wear a mask inside the venues, according to Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image: A comprehensive testing regime in South Korea has been widely praised
Visitor lists showed the three premises had more than 1,500 customers combined on Saturday.
Officials have urged people who visited the Itaewon clubs - reportedly including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen - between 29 April and 6 May to have screening tests and refrain from going outside to prevent additional transmissions.
All nightclubs and hostess bars in the country have been advised to close for a month.
Last weekend, people went back to entertainment venues after the government relaxed some social distancing guidelines.
But the sites were told to still carry out temperature checks, keep customer lists and make sure workers wore masks.
Image: Football has resumed in South Korea behind closed doors
The closures come after 18 fresh infections in the country were confirmed in the 24 hours to midnight on Friday.
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A few hours later, Seoul mayor Park Won-soon confirmed there were another 16 cases in the city - taking the total linked to clubbers to 40.
They included 27 in Seoul, 12 in neighbouring Incheon and Gyeonggi province towns, and one in the southern port city of Busan.
Schools were supposed to begin reopening next week, but they may not now amid fears of a resurgence as South Korea has had more than 10 daily cases for the first time in five days.
Officials say it is too early to confirm whether school openings will be postponed, but added they will monitor the spread of the virus and review information about the new cases.
South Korea, which has been widely praised for its comprehensive testing regime during the pandemic, has reported more than 10,800 cases overall and 256 deaths from the virus.
Its professional football began its new season on Friday behind closed doors, following baseball's opening games on Tuesday.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: No more pupils until track-and-trace goes national, school unions insist

A list of key measures must be met before pupils in England can safely return to their desks , teaching unions have told the government .
It includes extra money for deep cleaning and personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and local powers to close schools if clusters of coronavirus infections break out in a particular area .
Schools must also not reopen until a UK-wide rollout of a track-and-trace scheme that would help pinpoint those who need to be in quarantine is under way .
A contact-tracing phone app is currently in its early stages of being trialled on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement was sent to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson by bodies including the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Education Union .
Published by the Trades Union Congress ( TUC ) , it called for `` clear scientific published evidence that trends in transmission of COVID-19 will not be adversely impacted by the reopening phase and that schools are also safe to reopen '' .
The tests that the school workforce unions said were `` essential '' to have in place before pupils return include : • Safety and welfare of pupils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No increase in pupil numbers until full rollout of a national test-and-trace scheme • A national COVID-19 education taskforce with government , unions and education stakeholders to agree statutory guidance for safe reopening • Consideration of the specific needs of vulnerable students and families facing financial hardship • Local autonomy to close schools where testing indicates clusters of new COVID-19 cases TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said : `` Parents and staff need full confidence that schools will be safe before any pupils return .
`` The government must work closely with unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests we have set out .
`` Those discussions must include unions representing all school workers , not just teachers . ''
The statement is backed by the main teaching unions as well as Unite , GMB and Unison , representing key school staff such as cleaners , administrators and caterers .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Labour 's shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey called on the government to `` take heed of the tests set out today by trade unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have been met '' .
She added : `` Schools should not open until it is safe to do so and the government must commit to work with trade unions and others to agree a set of principles and tests to put safety systems in place in advance of any planned reopening . ''
A Department for Education spokesperson said : `` Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has not set a date for schools reopening .
`` Schools will remain closed , except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right time to re-open and the five tests set out by government to beat this virus have been met .
`` We are also working closely with the sector as we consider how to reopen schools , nurseries and colleges and will ensure everyone has sufficient notice to plan and prepare . ''
Last week at the Downing Street daily news conference , NHS England 's national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said the `` science is still evolving '' on how much children contribute toward virus spread .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupils to return when it was safe to do so .

A list of key measures must be met before pupils in England can safely return to their desks, teaching unions have told the government.
It includes extra money for deep cleaning and personal protective equipment (PPE) and local powers to close schools if clusters of coronavirus infections break out in a particular area.
Schools must also not reopen until a UK-wide rollout of a track-and-trace scheme that would help pinpoint those who need to be in quarantine is under way. A contact-tracing phone app is currently in its early stages of being trialled on the Isle of Wight.
The joint statement was sent to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson by bodies including the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Education Union.
Published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), it called for "clear scientific published evidence that trends in transmission of COVID-19 will not be adversely impacted by the reopening phase and that schools are also safe to reopen".
The tests that the school workforce unions said were "essential" to have in place before pupils return include:
Safety and welfare of pupils and staff as the paramount principle
No increase in pupil numbers until full rollout of a national test-and-trace scheme
A national COVID-19 education taskforce with government, unions and education stakeholders to agree statutory guidance for safe reopening
Consideration of the specific needs of vulnerable students and families facing financial hardship
Additional resources for enhanced school cleaning, PPE and risk assessments
Local autonomy to close schools where testing indicates clusters of new COVID-19 cases
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Parents and staff need full confidence that schools will be safe before any pupils return.
"The government must work closely with unions to agree a plan that meets the tests we have set out.
"Those discussions must include unions representing all school workers, not just teachers."
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The statement is backed by the main teaching unions as well as Unite, GMB and Unison, representing key school staff such as cleaners, administrators and caterers.
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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Labour's shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey called on the government to "take heed of the tests set out today by trade unions and commit to not opening schools unless they have been met".
She added: "Schools should not open until it is safe to do so and the government must commit to work with trade unions and others to agree a set of principles and tests to put safety systems in place in advance of any planned reopening."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has not set a date for schools reopening.
"Schools will remain closed, except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children, until the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to re-open and the five tests set out by government to beat this virus have been met.
"We are also working closely with the sector as we consider how to reopen schools, nurseries and colleges and will ensure everyone has sufficient notice to plan and prepare."
Last week at the Downing Street daily news conference, NHS England's national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said the "science is still evolving" on how much children contribute toward virus spread.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has vowed the government would only allow pupils to return when it was safe to do so.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: One leader looks hell-bent on turning COVID-19 into a catastrophe for his country

If Belarus was already in the grip of a public health crisis , its president looks hell-bent on turning COVID-19 into a catastrophe for the country .
In defiance of the World Health Organisation 's advice , Belarus went ahead with its military parade on Saturday to commemorate the allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 - despite the coronavirus pandemic .
Thousands of soldiers marched past stands filled with onlookers .
Children and military veterans sat side by side in the Minsk sunshine with very little care for social distancing and only a few wearing masks .
Dressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he met , President Alexander Lukashenko told the crowds he had no choice but to hold the parade .
`` There will be people who will condemn us , '' he said .
`` Do not rush to draw conclusions , let alone condemn us , the heirs of the victory , the Belarusians .
We simply could not act differently . ''
Most other nations have acted very differently .
Belarus 's large neighbour to the east , Russia , held a muted version of the 75th anniversary commemoration which President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixture of his 20th year in power .
He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and promised the nation that the parade would take place at a later date , though he gave no indication as to when that might be possible .
`` We are united by common memory and common hopes , our shared aspirations , our responsibility for the present and the future , '' he said .
`` We firmly believe that we are invincible when we are together . ''
Russia 's COVID-19 caseload @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an especially grim marker on a sombre occasion commemorating the huge Soviet death toll in the Second World War .
Even that figure may be an underestimate .
In an unusually frank admission from a Russian politician , Sergei Sobyanin , Moscow 's mayor and head of the country 's COVID-19 task force , said earlier in the week he thought the numbers in Moscow alone were closer to 300,000 .
Belarus has a far lower caseload - a little over 21,000 - but it is higher than its Eastern European neighbours and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made defying COVID-19 's convention a point of principle , refusing to place the country under lockdown and actively encouraging the public to take part in communal events .
Sporting activities have continued and the president has appeared to take pride in dismissing the threat COVID-19 represents , calling other countries ' response a `` psychosis '' and suggesting vodka or saunas are effective counter-measures .
The picture emerging from the country 's hospitals is of a healthcare system under immense strain .
Volunteers from an organisation called ByCovid19 have been supplying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment the government is failing to provide them with .
In a little over a month they have received more than 2,000 requests from almost every healthcare facility in the country .
The volunteers say morale amongst medics is worryingly low .
`` One ca n't say that the state authorities do n't do anything .
They do , '' said Andrei Tkachev who is co-ordinating ByCovid19 's response .
`` Unfortunately , the state is riddled in bureaucracy and is very slow in its actions .
`` Ordinary doctors ' salaries are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to those of doctors in civilised countries .
`` Regretfully , they are quite depressed and many of them are thinking of quitting .
`` Because they put their lives at risk while not having protective means and getting paid pennies for that means many doctors refuse to work . ''
The official COVID-19 death toll in Belarus is low at 126 .
In Russia too , the ratio of deaths to cases is unusually low - 198,676 cases to 1,827 deaths - which begs the question whether the toll in either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are both ex-Soviet bureaucracies where ugly truths tend to be suppressed .
President Putin 's approach though has been one of caution , with the lockdown regime in Moscow set to continue until at least the end of May and with strict controls through other Russian regions too .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker President Lukashenko , by contrast , has taken a more cavalier approach to the health threat COVID-19 presents his people .
He has tried to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of self-isolation regime ahead of presidential elections on 9 August .
Even though he has been in power since 1994 and there is very little expectation he will not continue to do so through August , holding this military parade is an open invitation for the virus to spread .
It may come back to haunt him .

If Belarus was already in the grip of a public health crisis, its president looks hell-bent on turning COVID-19 into a catastrophe for the country.
In defiance of the World Health Organisation's advice, Belarus went ahead with its military parade on Saturday to commemorate the allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 - despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands of soldiers marched past stands filled with onlookers. Children and military veterans sat side by side in the Minsk sunshine with very little care for social distancing and only a few wearing masks.
Image: The Second World War parade went ahead in Belarus, complete with military bands
Dressed in military attire and shaking hands with all he met, President Alexander Lukashenko told the crowds he had no choice but to hold the parade.
"There will be people who will condemn us," he said.
"Do not rush to draw conclusions, let alone condemn us, the heirs of the victory, the Belarusians. We simply could not act differently."
Most other nations have acted very differently.
Belarus's large neighbour to the east, Russia, held a muted version of the 75th anniversary commemoration which President Vladimir Putin had hoped to make a key fixture of his 20th year in power.
He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and promised the nation that the parade would take place at a later date, though he gave no indication as to when that might be possible.
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Image: Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko said he had no choice but to hold the parade
"We are united by common memory and common hopes, our shared aspirations, our responsibility for the present and the future," he said.
"We firmly believe that we are invincible when we are together."
Russia's COVID-19 caseload neared the 200,000 milestone on Saturday - an especially grim marker on a sombre occasion commemorating the huge Soviet death toll in the Second World War.
Even that figure may be an underestimate.
Image: A flyover in Minsk was part of the celebrations
In an unusually frank admission from a Russian politician, Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow's mayor and head of the country's COVID-19 task force, said earlier in the week he thought the numbers in Moscow alone were closer to 300,000.
Belarus has a far lower caseload - a little over 21,000 - but it is higher than its Eastern European neighbours and it is spreading fast.
President Lukashenko has made defying COVID-19's convention a point of principle, refusing to place the country under lockdown and actively encouraging the public to take part in communal events.
Sporting activities have continued and the president has appeared to take pride in dismissing the threat COVID-19 represents, calling other countries' response a "psychosis" and suggesting vodka or saunas are effective counter-measures.
The picture emerging from the country's hospitals is of a healthcare system under immense strain.
Image: Healthcare facilities in Belarus have had to rely on charities for PPE. Pic: BYCOVID19
Volunteers from an organisation called ByCovid19 have been supplying healthcare workers across the country with the equipment the government is failing to provide them with.
In a little over a month they have received more than 2,000 requests from almost every healthcare facility in the country. The volunteers say morale amongst medics is worryingly low.
"One can't say that the state authorities don't do anything. They do," said Andrei Tkachev who is co-ordinating ByCovid19's response.
"Unfortunately, the state is riddled in bureaucracy and is very slow in its actions.
"Ordinary doctors' salaries are very small, they cannot be compared to those of doctors in civilised countries.
"Regretfully, they are quite depressed and many of them are thinking of quitting.
"Because they put their lives at risk while not having protective means and getting paid pennies for that means many doctors refuse to work."
Image: A priest blesses a new grave where a Belarusian COVID-19 victim has been recently buried. Pic: Irina Alekhovskaya/Belsat
The official COVID-19 death toll in Belarus is low at 126.
In Russia too, the ratio of deaths to cases is unusually low - 198,676 cases to 1,827 deaths - which begs the question whether the toll in either country stands up to scrutiny.
These are both ex-Soviet bureaucracies where ugly truths tend to be suppressed.
President Putin's approach though has been one of caution, with the lockdown regime in Moscow set to continue until at least the end of May and with strict controls through other Russian regions too.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
President Lukashenko, by contrast, has taken a more cavalier approach to the health threat COVID-19 presents his people.
He has tried to keep the economy afloat by refusing to implement any kind of self-isolation regime ahead of presidential elections on 9 August.
Even though he has been in power since 1994 and there is very little expectation he will not continue to do so through August, holding this military parade is an open invitation for the virus to spread. It may come back to haunt him.


news--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: PM to hold talks with business leaders over lockdown

Boris Johnson will seek to persuade Britain 's top bosses on Sunday that his strategy for easing the coronavirus lockdown will pave the way for a swift economic fightback .
Sky News understands that executives have been invited to attend a conference call with the prime minister , following a statement in which he is expected to outline a `` road map '' for removing the restrictions which have brought the economy to a near-standstill .
His discussions with the leaders of some of the UK 's biggest companies will come amid signs of growing unrest in the private sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
Some executives say they have not been given enough information by the government about the resumption of public transport services and the reopening of schools to begin proper planning for their employees to return to work .
They are also complaining that there is too little detail about whether workers will be required to use personal protective equipment such as face masks .
Since the government circulated draft proposals last weekend for the reopening of different types of working environment , employers have sought clarity about their legal exposure if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies have followed the new guidance .
There is also disquiet that the Treasury 's plans to curtail the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be inadequate to protect some industries which have seen revenues collapse in the wake of the outbreak .
Executives from across the economy are understood to have been invited to Sunday 's call with Mr Johnson , which is understood to be the first he will have held since the furloughing programme was unveiled in March .
Some are understood to be keen for the PM to commit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the government to set out an accelerated economic stimulus programme .

Boris Johnson will seek to persuade Britain's top bosses on Sunday that his strategy for easing the coronavirus lockdown will pave the way for a swift economic fightback.
Sky News understands that executives have been invited to attend a conference call with the prime minister, following a statement in which he is expected to outline a "road map" for removing the restrictions which have brought the economy to a near-standstill.
His discussions with the leaders of some of the UK's biggest companies will come amid signs of growing unrest in the private sector over the government's plans to kickstart the economy.
Some executives say they have not been given enough information by the government about the resumption of public transport services and the reopening of schools to begin proper planning for their employees to return to work.
They are also complaining that there is too little detail about whether workers will be required to use personal protective equipment such as face masks.
Since the government circulated draft proposals last weekend for the reopening of different types of working environment, employers have sought clarity about their legal exposure if staff fall seriously ill, even if companies have followed the new guidance.
There is also disquiet that the Treasury's plans to curtail the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be inadequate to protect some industries which have seen revenues collapse in the wake of the outbreak.
Executives from across the economy are understood to have been invited to Sunday's call with Mr Johnson, which is understood to be the first he will have held since the furloughing programme was unveiled in March.
Some are understood to be keen for the PM to commit to a major summer fiscal event in order for the government to set out an accelerated economic stimulus programme.
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A Downing Street spokeswoman declined to comment.


news--2020-05-08--Coronavirus: Why do people believe conspiracy theories - and can they ever be convinced not to?

In recent days a new slickly produced video has been circulating on social media , proposing scientifically impossible claims about the coronavirus and how to treat it .
The 26-minute coronavirus conspiracy theory video is shot in the style of a documentary , but with false information about the COVID-19 pandemic - including an allegation that death figures are being fabricated in order to control the population .
And one conspiracy theory that refuses to go away is that deployment of 5G radio antennas is linked to the outbreak .
As conspiracy theories seem to become more prominent in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to experts to explain the psychology underpinning their appeal and the digital communities that share and spread them for political purposes .
Professor Karen Douglas , from the University of Kent , has spent years studying the psychology of conspiracy theories to explain why some of the most outlandish claims appeal to some people more than the truth .
She says people turn to conspiracy theories when important psychological needs are not met .
`` The first of these needs can be classified as epistemic - related to the need people have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas says .
`` The second are existential - related to the need to feel safe and secure in the world .
For example , research shows that people are drawn to conspiracy theories when they feel powerless or are anxious .
`` The third type of motives are social - related to the need to maintain a positive view of the self and the groups we belong to . ''
Narcissistic people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories , Professor Douglas adds .
Unfortunately , her research shows that while these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs are not met in some way , they generally fail to fulfill these needs .
`` Rather than providing people with a sense of certainty , conspiracy theories seem more likely to take it away and make people feel more uncertain , '' she says .
Dr Marc Tuters , who researches radical political subcultures online at the University of Amsterdam , told Sky News his team has seen a large number of conspiracy theories connected to the coronavirus pandemic .
These include `` the idea that it is a bioweapon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese ; that it 's a secret plot by the pharmaceutical industry , and that it 's a conspiracy by the 'deep state ' against 'the general will of the people ' , '' he says .
Crucially , `` all of these theories predate the actual pandemic , and have communities of acolytes and true believers who tend to congregate on various fringe parts of the web '' , Dr Tuters adds .
`` Most conspiracy theories share a core feature that something is being covered up , so the conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear , '' Professor Douglas says .
They involve `` intense mistrust of governments or outside groups '' , she says .
`` The actors and details differ , but both would appear to satisfy the general idea that authorities and outside groups can not be trusted and are hiding the truth from the people . ''
Dr Tuters says the question of whether these people actually believe in the conspiracy theories is less important than the theories being circulated .
`` It takes very little effort to circulate information on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can sometimes do so in an ironic fashion or completely authentically - but keep them in circulation all the same .
`` In this sense , the circulation of conspiracy theories may be metaphorically a little like the coronavirus itself , '' he says .
`` Perhaps many circulate the virus without even realising that they have been infected ? ''
That said , there are a `` host of conspiracy theory entrepreneurs '' tied to a particularly prevalent conspiracy theory in the US called QAnon , who have `` pivoted to promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cashing in with various snake oil remedies '' .
The QAnon conspiracy theory has been tied to the far-right in America , suggesting there is a secret plot against President Donald Trump by the `` deep state '' - a hidden power structure within the elected government .
Dr Tuters says : `` So far , Twitter , for example , has never been willing to delete any of Trump 's conspiratorial tweets , though it did recently take unprecedented action deleting some of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro 's tweets , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani , which contain misleading information about the pandemic . ''
According to Dr Tuters , many of these claims are being amplified by Mr Trump , who he says encourages them by a process of insinuation , using phrases such as , `` a lot of people are saying '' .
`` He did this with the Obama birth certificate , and other far-right conspiracy theories , and now he is doing this with the conspiracy theory that COVID is a manmade virus , '' Dr Tuters says .
This theory remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirety of the novel coronavirus ' genomic sequence and disproving claims that it may have been made in a laboratory or been otherwise engineered .
Can you stop people believing in these harmful ideas ?
Professor Douglas says it is hard .
`` Once people firmly believe in conspiracy theories , it is very difficult to convince them otherwise .
At the moment , we do n't know a great deal about what works .
`` However , we do know that a type of inoculation does work to reduce the impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaviours . ''
She explains something called `` pre-bunking '' - short for pre-debunking - can sometimes prevent conspiracy theories from influencing people 's behaviour , such as choosing not to vaccinate their children .
`` A lot of the time , this is not very practical because the conspiracy theories have already gained some traction , but it is a technique that works , so if it is possible to get in early with the correct information , the conspiracy theories may have less impact . ''

In recent days a new slickly produced video has been circulating on social media, proposing scientifically impossible claims about the coronavirus and how to treat it.
The 26-minute coronavirus conspiracy theory video is shot in the style of a documentary, but with false information about the COVID-19 pandemic - including an allegation that death figures are being fabricated in order to control the population.
And one conspiracy theory that refuses to go away is that deployment of 5G radio antennas is linked to the outbreak.
Image: One popular conspiracy theory suggests the virus was made in a laboratory
As conspiracy theories seem to become more prominent in our digital lives, Sky News has spoken to experts to explain the psychology underpinning their appeal and the digital communities that share and spread them for political purposes.
Professor Karen Douglas, from the University of Kent, has spent years studying the psychology of conspiracy theories to explain why some of the most outlandish claims appeal to some people more than the truth.
She says people turn to conspiracy theories when important psychological needs are not met.
"The first of these needs can be classified as epistemic - related to the need people have to be knowledgeable and accurate," Professor Douglas says.
"The second are existential - related to the need to feel safe and secure in the world. For example, research shows that people are drawn to conspiracy theories when they feel powerless or are anxious.
"The third type of motives are social - related to the need to maintain a positive view of the self and the groups we belong to."
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Narcissistic people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories, Professor Douglas adds.
Unfortunately, her research shows that while these beliefs are appealing to people whose psychological needs are not met in some way, they generally fail to fulfill these needs.
"Rather than providing people with a sense of certainty, conspiracy theories seem more likely to take it away and make people feel more uncertain," she says.
Dr Marc Tuters, who researches radical political subcultures online at the University of Amsterdam, told Sky News his team has seen a large number of conspiracy theories connected to the coronavirus pandemic.
These include "the idea that it is a bioweapon, either made by the US or the Chinese; that it's a secret plot by the pharmaceutical industry, and that it's a conspiracy by the 'deep state' against 'the general will of the people'," he says.
Crucially, "all of these theories predate the actual pandemic, and have communities of acolytes and true believers who tend to congregate on various fringe parts of the web", Dr Tuters adds.
"Most conspiracy theories share a core feature that something is being covered up, so the conspiracy theories are not as different as they would appear," Professor Douglas says.
They involve "intense mistrust of governments or outside groups", she says.
"The actors and details differ, but both would appear to satisfy the general idea that authorities and outside groups cannot be trusted and are hiding the truth from the people."
Dr Tuters says the question of whether these people actually believe in the conspiracy theories is less important than the theories being circulated.
"It takes very little effort to circulate information on social media," he adds, noting people can sometimes do so in an ironic fashion or completely authentically - but keep them in circulation all the same.
"In this sense, the circulation of conspiracy theories may be metaphorically a little like the coronavirus itself," he says. "Perhaps many circulate the virus without even realising that they have been infected?"
That said, there are a "host of conspiracy theory entrepreneurs" tied to a particularly prevalent conspiracy theory in the US called QAnon, who have "pivoted to promoting various COVID-19 conspiracy theories as well as cashing in with various snake oil remedies".
The QAnon conspiracy theory has been tied to the far-right in America, suggesting there is a secret plot against President Donald Trump by the "deep state" - a hidden power structure within the elected government.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 1 May: Trump says he is confident COVID-19 originated in Wuhan lab
Dr Tuters says: "So far, Twitter, for example, has never been willing to delete any of Trump's conspiratorial tweets, though it did recently take unprecedented action deleting some of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro's tweets, as well as those of Trump's adviser Rudy Giuliani, which contain misleading information about the pandemic."
According to Dr Tuters, many of these claims are being amplified by Mr Trump, who he says encourages them by a process of insinuation, using phrases such as, "a lot of people are saying".
"He did this with the Obama birth certificate, and other far-right conspiracy theories, and now he is doing this with the conspiracy theory that COVID is a manmade virus," Dr Tuters says.
This theory remains in circulation, despite scientists analysing the entirety of the novel coronavirus' genomic sequence and disproving claims that it may have been made in a laboratory or been otherwise engineered.
Image: Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed COVID-19 was manmade
Can you stop people believing in these harmful ideas?
Professor Douglas says it is hard.
"Once people firmly believe in conspiracy theories, it is very difficult to convince them otherwise. At the moment, we don't know a great deal about what works.
"However, we do know that a type of inoculation does work to reduce the impact of conspiracy theories on people's attitudes and behaviours."
She explains something called "pre-bunking" - short for pre-debunking - can sometimes prevent conspiracy theories from influencing people's behaviour, such as choosing not to vaccinate their children.
"A lot of the time, this is not very practical because the conspiracy theories have already gained some traction, but it is a technique that works, so if it is possible to get in early with the correct information, the conspiracy theories may have less impact."