skynewspolitics--2020-07-15--PM promises inquiry into government's pandemic handling - but not yet

Boris Johnson has promised to set up an independent inquiry into the government 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
The prime minister resisted calls for it to be formed now , given the warnings of how deadly a second COVID-19 spike could be this winter .
He was challenged to commit to it by Sir Ed Davey , acting leader of the Liberal Democrats .
`` Under this prime minister , we 've suffered one of the worst death rates in the world and Europe 's worst death rate for health and care workers , '' the former cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in parliament .
`` Previously , he 's refused my demand for an immediate independent inquiry saying it 's too soon - even though back in 2003 he voted for an independent inquiry into the Iraq war just months after that conflict started .
`` If he still rejects an immediate inquiry , will he instead commit in principal to a future public inquiry - yes or no ? ''
Mr Johnson has been asked the question several times and insisted the government is constantly learning lessons , but went slightly further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said : `` I do not believe now , in the middle of combating the pandemic , is the right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry .
`` But of course we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future and certainly we will have an independent inquiry into what happened . ''
His spokesman did not give any further details in a briefing to journalists after , simply saying : `` I have n't got any more detail for you on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set that out in due course . ''
Some have questioned whether Mr Johnson is already preparing for an inevitable inquiry , after his comments that `` too many care homes did n't really follow the procedures in the way that they could have '' .
Ministers have been put under new pressure for the probe to be set up given a warning from top scientists and academics this week that 120,000 people could die in hospitals in the `` reasonable worst-case scenario '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spreaker The report , commissioned by the government 's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance , urged the government to put measures in place to prepare for the R rate - the average number someone with the virus infects - rising to up to 1.7 .
It is currently thought to be below 1 - and ministers have warned if it rises above that threshold lockdown measures could be reintroduced .
Fears over local flare ups have also arisen in Blackburn and Darwen , where residents face new restrictions to avoid going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Boris Johnson has promised to set up an independent inquiry into the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The prime minister resisted calls for it to be formed now, given the warnings of how deadly a second COVID-19 spike could be this winter.
He was challenged to commit to it by Sir Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Image: Mr Johnson was accused of overseeing Europe's worst death rate for health and care workers
"Under this prime minister, we've suffered one of the worst death rates in the world and Europe's worst death rate for health and care workers," the former cabinet minister under the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government said in parliament.
"Previously, he's refused my demand for an immediate independent inquiry saying it's too soon - even though back in 2003 he voted for an independent inquiry into the Iraq war just months after that conflict started.
"If he still rejects an immediate inquiry, will he instead commit in principal to a future public inquiry - yes or no?"
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:51 'You're kidding no one on test and trace'
Mr Johnson has been asked the question several times and insisted the government is constantly learning lessons, but went slightly further at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
He said: "I do not believe now, in the middle of combating the pandemic, is the right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry.
"But of course we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future and certainly we will have an independent inquiry into what happened."
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His spokesman did not give any further details in a briefing to journalists after, simply saying: "I haven't got any more detail for you on how it would work. We will set that out in due course."
Image: Lockdown measures could be reintroduced if the R rate rises above 1
Some have questioned whether Mr Johnson is already preparing for an inevitable inquiry, after his comments that "too many care homes didn't really follow the procedures in the way that they could have".
Ministers have been put under new pressure for the probe to be set up given a warning from top scientists and academics this week that 120,000 people could die in hospitals in the "reasonable worst-case scenario".
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The report, commissioned by the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, urged the government to put measures in place to prepare for the R rate - the average number someone with the virus infects - rising to up to 1.7.
It is currently thought to be below 1 - and ministers have warned if it rises above that threshold lockdown measures could be reintroduced.
Fears over local flare ups have also arisen in Blackburn and Darwen, where residents face new restrictions to avoid going into a full-scale local lockdown like Leicester.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-16--PM pledges extra £3bn for NHS amid key adviser warning over 'work guidance change'

Boris Johnson will pledge another £3bn for the NHS as he lays out the next stage of the coronavirus recovery roadmap , amid reports he wants staff to return to work .
The prime minister will make the funding pledge to prepare the health service for a second wave of COVID-19 infections as the country heads towards winter .
He is due to explain more about how Britons can live with the virus , after one of his most senior scientists warned further infections are likely if social distancing is eased .
Nightingale hospitals - set up to help the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have largely not been needed - will be kept open until the end of March 2021 , Mr Johnson will pledge in a news conference on Friday .
He is also expected to confirm plans to increase testing capacity to half a million antigen tests a day by the end of October to bolster the NHS test and trace programme .
And several newspapers report Mr Johnson will change guidance to tell staff to return to work if they can .
Currently , employees are only told to go into work if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His chief scientific adviser , Sir Patrick Vallance , cautioned against the move on Thursday .
`` Of the various distancing measures , working from home for many companies remains a perfectly good option because it 's easy to do , '' he told MPs at the Commons science and technology committee .
`` I think a number of companies think it 's actually not detrimental to productivity .
`` And in that situation , there 's absolutely no reason I can see to change it . ''
It follows warnings about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commuting in or on their lunch breaks , following significant job losses at some high street chains .
A Number 10 spokesperson said : `` Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people , the virus is under control and we have eased restrictions in a cautious , phased way .
`` But the prime minister is clear that now is not the time for complacency , and we must make sure our NHS is battle-ready for winter .
`` He will set out a broad package of measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to ease winter pressures and keep the public safe . ''
: : Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker As part of the government 's next stage , there will also be a marketing campaign to highlight testing centres to boost the number of people checking to see if they have the virus .
It follows an announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock about a new flu vaccine programme designed to cut down on people needing medical help for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sir Patrick released earlier this week also warned there could be 120,000 more deaths under a `` reasonable worst-case scenario '' this winter .

Boris Johnson will pledge another £3bn for the NHS to prepare for a possible second wave of the coronavirus as he lays out the next stage of the recovery roadmap.
It comes amid reports he wants to change government guidance so more people can return to work.
Mr Johnson will make the funding promise later today, with the prospect of a second COVID-19 wave a concern as the country heads towards winter.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:21 Second coronavirus wave 'not inevitable'
The PM is also due to explain more about how Britons can live with the virus, after one of his most senior scientists warned further infections are likely if social distancing is eased.
Several newspapers have reported that Mr Johnson will change guidance to tell staff across the country to return to work if they can.
Currently, employees are only told to go into work if they cannot do their job from home.
His chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, cautioned against the move on Thursday.
Image: Boris Johnson is due to hold a news conference on Friday
"Of the various distancing measures, working from home for many companies remains a perfectly good option because it's easy to do," he told MPs at the Commons science and technology committee.
"I think a number of companies think it's actually not detrimental to productivity.
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"And in that situation, there's absolutely no reason I can see to change it."
Image: Sir Patrick Vallance said working from home is 'a perfectly good option'
It follows warnings about the future of businesses which serve workers on their lunch breaks or on their commute, following significant job losses at some high street chains.
A Number 10 spokesperson said: "Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people, the virus is under control and we have eased restrictions in a cautious, phased way.
"But the prime minister is clear that now is not the time for complacency, and we must make sure our NHS is battle-ready for winter.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:09 Sky correspondent Thomas Moore looks at the science behind face masks.
"He will set out a broad package of measures to protect against both a possible second wave, and to ease winter pressures and keep the public safe."
Mr Johnson will also say that Nightingale hospitals - set up to help the NHS if it was overwhelmed, but which have largely not been needed - will be kept open until the end of March 2021.
He is also expected to confirm plans to increase testing capacity to half a million antigen tests a day by the end of October to bolster the test and trace programme.
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As part of the government's next stage, there will be a marketing campaign to highlight testing centres to boost the number of people checking to see if they have the virus.
It follows an announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock about a new flu vaccine programme designed to cut down on people needing medical help for the winter flu.
A report commissioned by Sir Patrick released earlier this week also warned there could be 120,000 more deaths under a "reasonable worst-case scenario" this winter.
But security minister James Brokenshire noted that study did not take into account any extra interventions by the government, as he told Sky News a second wave of COVID-19 infections was "absolutely not inevitable".


skynewspolitics--2020-07-16--Labour frontbencher quits after JK Rowling abuse comments

A Labour frontbencher who was under pressure to step down for his comments about JK Rowling 's domestic abuse revelation has resigned .
Lloyd Russell-Moyle relinquished his role as a shadow environment minister , blaming a `` campaign by the right-wing media '' that had left his position `` untenable '' .
He faced calls to make the move weeks ago , when he was forced to apologise for claiming the Harry Potter author was `` using her own sexual assault as justification '' to raise concerns over rights for people who are transgender .
`` I want to apologise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said after they were published in a left-wing magazine and then picked up by a national newspaper .
`` JK Rowling 's first disclosures of domestic abuse and sexual assault in her recent article on trans issues were heartfelt and must have been hard to say .
`` Whilst I may disagree with some of her analysis on trans rights , it was wrong of me to suggest that she used her own dreadful experience in anything other than good faith . ''
At the time , no further action was taken .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ since has `` unleashed a torrent of online hate and daily calls of harassment to my office '' .
He added : `` It is my job to get political flack , but it is not the job of caseworkers , researchers and assistants to be attacked .
`` It has also led to hounding and stress , from which I need a few weeks to support my team and myself to collectively recover . ''
A Labour spokesman said leader Sir Keir Starmer `` thanked Lloyd for his hard work on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his plans for the coming months to focus on housing and youth services '' .
This week Mr Russell-Moyle has also been criticised by the Jewish Labour Movement for having attracted `` constant controversy in relation to antisemitism '' .
The group listed numerous criticisms including `` his very public defence '' of Chris Williamson , the former MP suspended from Labour for claiming the party was `` too apologetic '' on antisemitism .
Mr Russell-Moyle previously made history by being the second MP to ever announce he has HIV , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Commons .

A Labour frontbencher who was under pressure to step down for his comments about JK Rowling's domestic abuse revelation has resigned.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle relinquished his role as a shadow environment minister, blaming a "campaign by the right-wing media" that had left his position "untenable".
He faced calls to make the move weeks ago, when he was forced to apologise for claiming the Harry Potter author was "using her own sexual assault as justification" to raise concerns over rights for people who are transgender.
"I want to apologise unreservedly about the comments," he said after they were published in a left-wing magazine and then picked up by a national newspaper.
"JK Rowling's first disclosures of domestic abuse and sexual assault in her recent article on trans issues were heartfelt and must have been hard to say.
"Whilst I may disagree with some of her analysis on trans rights, it was wrong of me to suggest that she used her own dreadful experience in anything other than good faith."
At the time, no further action was taken.
Image: JK Rowling recently revealed she had survived domestic abuse
But now Mr Russell-Moyle said the backlash since has "unleashed a torrent of online hate and daily calls of harassment to my office".
He added: "It is my job to get political flack, but it is not the job of caseworkers, researchers and assistants to be attacked.
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"It has also led to hounding and stress, from which I need a few weeks to support my team and myself to collectively recover."
A Labour spokesman said leader Sir Keir Starmer "thanked Lloyd for his hard work on the front bench and wished him well in his plans for the coming months to focus on housing and youth services".
This week Mr Russell-Moyle has also been criticised by the Jewish Labour Movement for having attracted "constant controversy in relation to antisemitism".
The group listed numerous criticisms including "his very public defence" of Chris Williamson, the former MP suspended from Labour for claiming the party was "too apologetic" on antisemitism.
Mr Russell-Moyle previously made history by being the second MP to ever announce he has HIV, but the first to make the revelation while speaking in the Commons.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-16--Care homes and public told to immediately stop using brand of coronavirus test kit

The government has told care homes and the public to immediately stop using coronavirus testing kits produced by a healthcare firm after safety problems were discovered .
The government said all labs must pause the use of COVID-19 test kits produced by Randox laboratories `` with immediate effect until further notice '' .
It said the tests , which were used as part of the NHS system , failed to meet safety standards .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there had been a problem with the swabs but there was no suggestion that test results were affected .
He told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've identified some swabs that are not up to the usual high standard that we expect , and we 'll be carrying out further testing of this batch as a precautionary measure .
`` And while we investigate further , we 're requesting that the use of these Randox swab test kits are paused in all settings until further notice . ''
He added : `` Clinical advice is that there is no evidence of any harm , the test results are not affected .
`` There is no evidence of issues with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there is no impact on access to testing . ''
Meanwhile , the government is set to publish town and village data on how many people have tested positive for coronavirus .
The public will be able to look at figures for their area with interactive apps .
Homes of individuals with coronavirus will not be identifiable .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The figures for England will be published weekly , with the aim of updating them daily .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 155,889 close contacts of people who have tested positive for coronavirus have been asked to self-isolate after being reached through the tracing system .
This is 84.1 % out of a total of 186,401 people identified as close contacts .

The government has told care homes and the public to immediately stop using coronavirus testing kits produced by a healthcare firm after safety problems were discovered.
The government said all labs must pause the use of COVID-19 test kits produced by Randox laboratories "with immediate effect until further notice".
It said the tests, which were used as part of the NHS system, failed to meet safety standards.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there had been a problem with the swabs but there was no suggestion that test results were affected.
He told the Commons on Thursday: "We've identified some swabs that are not up to the usual high standard that we expect, and we'll be carrying out further testing of this batch as a precautionary measure.
"And while we investigate further, we're requesting that the use of these Randox swab test kits are paused in all settings until further notice."
He added: "Clinical advice is that there is no evidence of any harm, the test results are not affected.
"There is no evidence of issues with any of our other test swabs, and there is no impact on access to testing."
Meanwhile, the government is set to publish town and village data on how many people have tested positive for coronavirus.
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The public will be able to look at figures for their area with interactive apps. Homes of individuals with coronavirus will not be identifiable.
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The figures for England will be published weekly, with the aim of updating them daily.
Since the launch of Test and Trace, 155,889 close contacts of people who have tested positive for coronavirus have been asked to self-isolate after being reached through the tracing system.
This is 84.1% out of a total of 186,401 people identified as close contacts.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-16--World's poorest 'likely to pay greatest price' for aid department merger

The world 's poorest are `` likely to pay the greatest price '' for Boris Johnson deciding to scrap a standalone Department for International Development ( DFID ) , senior MPs have warned .
They called the move `` impulsive '' , following the prime minister 's pledge to merge the Whitehall department into the Foreign Office .
Doing so may also reduce the UK 's standing in the world , the members of the Commons international development committee warned in a new report .
DFID will be closed in September - 23 years after it was created - with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK 's aid budget having to be slashed by more than £2bn due to the resulting economic downturn .
Mr Johnson last month said it would be of `` huge benefit '' to Britain 's overseas aid mission and stop it being a `` giant cashpoint in the sky '' .
MPs on the committee called the timing behind the creation of the new Foreign , Commonwealth and Development Office ( FCDO ) `` perplexing '' , adding : `` Now is not the time for a major government restructure . ''
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minister responsible for aid attend cabinet , along with a committee to scrutinise overseas spending .
`` The decision puts the international response to COVID-19 in jeopardy at a time when global co-operation is needed , '' they said in an assessment of the effectiveness of UK aid .
`` It is the world 's poorest and most vulnerable who are likely to pay the greatest price . ''
Sarah Champion , a Labour MP who chairs the committee , said : `` DFID gives the UK considerable international standing and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is deeply disappointing that the government failed to recognise these strengths as it made its impulsive move to have the FCO swallow up DFID .
`` Now we are on the brink of this expertise being lost and our international reputation being damaged beyond repair .
`` The fact that there was no consultation , seemingly no evidence as to why this is a good idea , really lets down the communities that UK aid is there to support . ''
Aid chiefs echoed the concerns raised and said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been politically motivated .
Oxfam GB chief executive Danny Sriskandarajah said : `` The committee is right - the demise of DFID is likely to do real damage to the world 's poorest people and to Britain 's international standing .
`` British people expect our aid to be used for the benefit of those without clean water , medicines or food .
`` But the timing and presentation of this merger clearly indicate that it was primarily about politics rather than becoming more effective in helping people to escape poverty . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the UK network of organisations working in international development , said : `` Today 's damning report calls into question not only the timing but the entire rationale of the government 's decision to merge DFID and the FCO .
`` We support the IDC 's call for the government to urgently present a statement to parliament setting out an evidence-led rationale for this costly decision , and to begin meaningful consultation with the aid and development sector . ''
A government spokesman said : `` The new Foreign , Commonwealth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programmes at the heart of our foreign policy .
`` Combining the development expertise of DFID with the diplomatic reach of the Foreign Office will maximise the impact of our aid budget in helping the very poorest , while making sure we get the very best value for UK taxpayers ' money in a world-leading department . ''

The world's poorest are "likely to pay the greatest price" for Boris Johnson deciding to scrap a standalone Department for International Development (DFID), senior MPs have warned.
They called the move "impulsive", following the prime minister's pledge to merge the Whitehall department into the Foreign Office.
Doing so may also reduce the UK's standing in the world, the members of the Commons international development committee warned in a new report.
Image: Boris Johnson decided to close DFID
DFID will be closed in September - 23 years after it was created - with the world gripped by COVID-19 and the UK's aid budget having to be slashed by more than £2bn due to the resulting economic downturn.
Mr Johnson last month said it would be of "huge benefit" to Britain's overseas aid mission and stop it being a "giant cashpoint in the sky".
MPs on the committee called the timing behind the creation of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) "perplexing", adding: "Now is not the time for a major government restructure."
They urged Mr Johnson to continue to have a minister responsible for aid attend cabinet, along with a committee to scrutinise overseas spending.
"The decision puts the international response to COVID-19 in jeopardy at a time when global co-operation is needed," they said in an assessment of the effectiveness of UK aid.
"It is the world's poorest and most vulnerable who are likely to pay the greatest price."
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Image: An MP warned of the UK's 'international reputation being damaged beyond repair'
Sarah Champion, a Labour MP who chairs the committee, said: "DFID gives the UK considerable international standing and is something we should all be proud of.
"It is deeply disappointing that the government failed to recognise these strengths as it made its impulsive move to have the FCO swallow up DFID.
"Now we are on the brink of this expertise being lost and our international reputation being damaged beyond repair.
"The fact that there was no consultation, seemingly no evidence as to why this is a good idea, really lets down the communities that UK aid is there to support."
Aid chiefs echoed the concerns raised and said the timing suggested the folding of DFID had been politically motivated.
Image: A new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be created
Oxfam GB chief executive Danny Sriskandarajah said: "The committee is right - the demise of DFID is likely to do real damage to the world's poorest people and to Britain's international standing.
"British people expect our aid to be used for the benefit of those without clean water, medicines or food.
"But the timing and presentation of this merger clearly indicate that it was primarily about politics rather than becoming more effective in helping people to escape poverty."
Stephanie Draper, chief executive of Bond, the UK network of organisations working in international development, said: "Today's damning report calls into question not only the timing but the entire rationale of the government's decision to merge DFID and the FCO.
"We support the IDC's call for the government to urgently present a statement to parliament setting out an evidence-led rationale for this costly decision, and to begin meaningful consultation with the aid and development sector."
A government spokesman said: "The new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will place our world-class development programmes at the heart of our foreign policy.
"Combining the development expertise of DFID with the diplomatic reach of the Foreign Office will maximise the impact of our aid budget in helping the very poorest, while making sure we get the very best value for UK taxpayers' money in a world-leading department."


skynewspolitics--2020-07-16--Leicester must stay in local lockdown as top 10 coronavirus hotspots in England revealed

Leicester will remain in a local lockdown for at least two more weeks but with some measures relaxed , the health secretary has announced .
Matt Hancock said that from 24 July , restrictions will be lifted for schools and some shops .
There will be a `` local power '' to close non-essential retail where necessary , he added .
But restrictions on travel and only having socially distanced gatherings of up to six people introduced on 29 June will remain in force .
And more freedoms already enjoyed by other parts of England such as pubs reopening will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lockdown - which had included large parts of the county - have also been shrunk on the advice of Leicestershire county council , so that it now only applies to Oadby and Wigston and the city of Leicester itself .
`` Some say the local lockdown is unnecessary - I wish this were true but sadly it remains vital , '' Mr Hancock told parliament on Thursday .
He explained the emergency measures were taken because the seven-day infection rate in Leicester was 135 cases per 100,000 people - three times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The infection rate has now fallen to 119 per 100,000 , he continued , with `` positive indicators '' it will carry on falling .
But the level of COVID-19 in the area `` still remains well above the national average '' , meaning the local lockdown will continue until it is reviewed again in 14 days .
Mr Hancock insisted the government was taking a `` more targeted approach '' to keeping restrictions in place .
Jon Ashworth , Labour 's shadow health secretary and a Leicester MP , said `` if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrifice to keep people safe and hunt this virus down with the lockdown then so be it '' .
But he said there will be `` dismay '' amongst residents - particularly business owners who have been unable to open and left in the dark about if they will get any extra financial support .
Sir Peter Soulsby , the mayor of Leicester , told Sky News he was `` angry , frustrated and disappointed but frankly not surprised '' at the news .
He claimed Mr Hancock had chosen to `` release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas around the city '' and `` keep locked down many parts of the city that have no greater prevalence of the virus than those he has released '' .
`` It has very little to do with focusing , as we ought to be , on where that virus really is , '' he added .
Top 10 areas by new coronavirus cases per hundred thousand people ( data is for the week up to 13 July , with previous seven day average in brackets ) :

Leicester will remain in a local lockdown for at least two more weeks but with some measures relaxed, the health secretary has announced.
Matt Hancock said that from 24 July, restrictions will be lifted for schools and some shops.
There will be a "local power" to close non-essential retail where necessary, he added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:29 Partial lifting of Leicester lockdown
But restrictions on travel and only having socially distanced gatherings of up to six people introduced on 29 June will remain in force.
And more freedoms already enjoyed by other parts of England such as pubs reopening will still not apply there.
The boundaries of the lockdown - which had included large parts of the county - have also been shrunk on the advice of Leicestershire county council, so that it now only applies to Oadby and Wigston and the city of Leicester itself.
"Some say the local lockdown is unnecessary - I wish this were true but sadly it remains vital," Mr Hancock told parliament on Thursday.
He explained the emergency measures were taken because the seven-day infection rate in Leicester was 135 cases per 100,000 people - three times higher than the next highest city.
The infection rate has now fallen to 119 per 100,000, he continued, with "positive indicators" it will carry on falling.
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Image: Restrictions will be relaxed on some non-essential shops
But the level of COVID-19 in the area "still remains well above the national average", meaning the local lockdown will continue until it is reviewed again in 14 days.
Mr Hancock insisted the government was taking a "more targeted approach" to keeping restrictions in place.
Jon Ashworth, Labour's shadow health secretary and a Leicester MP, said "if we still have to make further personal sacrifice to keep people safe and hunt this virus down with the lockdown then so be it".
But he said there will be "dismay" amongst residents - particularly business owners who have been unable to open and left in the dark about if they will get any extra financial support.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:20 COVID-19: How effective are local lockdowns?
Sir Peter Soulsby, the mayor of Leicester, told Sky News he was "angry, frustrated and disappointed but frankly not surprised" at the news.
He claimed Mr Hancock had chosen to "release from the lockdown all of the Tory-voting areas around the city" and "keep locked down many parts of the city that have no greater prevalence of the virus than those he has released".
"It has very little to do with focusing, as we ought to be, on where that virus really is," he added.
Top 10 areas by new coronavirus cases per hundred thousand people (data is for the week up to 13 July, with previous seven day average in brackets):


skynewspolitics--2020-07-16--Bercow accuses government of 'juvenile bed-wetting'

John Bercow has accused the government of `` juvenile bed-wetting '' for punishing a Tory MP who usurped Downing Street 's pick to chair the prestigious Intelligence and Security Committee ( ISC ) .
The former House of Commons speaker launched a strong attack on Boris Johnson in defence of his friend Dr Julian Lewis , who successfully challenged Chris Grayling for the top job of scrutinising Britain 's spy agencies .
He said it was down to the nine ISC committee members to elect the chair themselves - and the law forbids outside interference .
`` If the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2013 Justice and Security Act , that is itself frankly disturbing , '' Mr Bercow told Sky News .
`` If he did… but chose nevertheless to interfere in this albeit clumsy and ham-fisted but rather Etonian fashion , that is truly disgraceful .
`` The government has made a complete exhibition of itself . ''
Mr Bercow , who is also a former Tory MP , unleashed particular anger at the idea Number 10 's choice of chair was a better fit for the role .
`` Chris Grayling manifestly was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he knows nothing particularly about intelligence and security , '' he said .
`` And nice chap though he is , his whole track record shows anything he touches turns to disaster .
`` He is congenitally incapable of seeing a problem without making it very considerably worse .
`` Frankly the government and the prime minister ought to know when they are beaten and back off . ''
Mr Grayling has been contacted to offer a response .
Mr Bercow finished by accusing the Tory whips , who kicked Dr Lewis out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , of `` throwing their toys out of the pram '' and `` juvenile bed-wetting '' .
`` They 've picked on the wrong man here - they 're not going to outdo him , '' he claimed .
`` He 's quicker , he 's sharper , he 's brighter and he 's a person of unimpeachable integrity who will serve the committee and the House of Commons with distinction . ''
A senior government source explained Dr Lewis had lost the whip for `` working with Labour and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Number 10 had been counting on packing the committee with a majority of Tory members on seeing their candidate win .
But at the last moment , Dr Lewis nominated himself - and with the contest split - he won with the remaining votes from Labour and the Scottish National Party , 5-4 .
The role is a highly controversial one as the ISC 's first job will be to publish the Russia report into alleged election interference , which critics have accused the government of sitting on for nine months .

John Bercow has accused the government of "juvenile bed-wetting" for punishing a Tory MP who usurped Downing Street's pick to chair the prestigious Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
The former House of Commons speaker launched a strong attack on Boris Johnson in defence of his friend Dr Julian Lewis, who successfully challenged Chris Grayling for the top job of scrutinising Britain's spy agencies.
He said it was down to the nine ISC committee members to elect the chair themselves - and the law forbids outside interference.
Image: Dr Julian Lewis is the new ISC chair charged with releasing the Russia report
"If the prime minister didn't know the provisions of the 2013 Justice and Security Act, that is itself frankly disturbing," Mr Bercow told Sky News.
"If he did… but chose nevertheless to interfere in this albeit clumsy and ham-fisted but rather Etonian fashion, that is truly disgraceful.
"The government has made a complete exhibition of itself."
Mr Bercow, who is also a former Tory MP, unleashed particular anger at the idea Number 10's choice of chair was a better fit for the role.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:18 Ex-ISC chair 'never understood' Russia report delay
"Chris Grayling manifestly was not qualified to discharge the responsibilities - he knows nothing particularly about intelligence and security," he said.
"And nice chap though he is, his whole track record shows anything he touches turns to disaster.
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"He is congenitally incapable of seeing a problem without making it very considerably worse.
"Frankly the government and the prime minister ought to know when they are beaten and back off."
Mr Grayling has been contacted to offer a response.
Image: Chris Grayling failed to win the contest on Wednesday
Mr Bercow finished by accusing the Tory whips, who kicked Dr Lewis out of the parliamentary party for his actions on Wednesday, of "throwing their toys out of the pram" and "juvenile bed-wetting".
"They've picked on the wrong man here - they're not going to outdo him," he claimed.
"He's quicker, he's sharper, he's brighter and he's a person of unimpeachable integrity who will serve the committee and the House of Commons with distinction."
A senior government source explained Dr Lewis had lost the whip for "working with Labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage".
Number 10 had been counting on packing the committee with a majority of Tory members on seeing their candidate win.
But at the last moment, Dr Lewis nominated himself - and with the contest split - he won with the remaining votes from Labour and the Scottish National Party, 5-4.
The role is a highly controversial one as the ISC's first job will be to publish the Russia report into alleged election interference, which critics have accused the government of sitting on for nine months.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-17--PM hopes for Christmas 'normality' - but reveals details of swift lockdowns

Swift local lockdowns - including the shutting down of businesses , cancellation of events and restrictions on travel to certain areas - will aim to control future COVID-19 outbreaks .
Boris Johnson outlined the plan to contain localised flare-ups in COVID-19 infections as he expressed his hope of a `` more significant return to normality '' by Christmas .
As well as handing new powers to local councils and government ministers to act on future coronavirus outbreaks , the prime minister also set out an updated roadmap for lifting remaining national restrictions in England .
• the reopening of bowling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and close contact beauty treatments from 1 August • the restarting of indoor performances , subject to the success of trials • the piloting of larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums , with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn • and the permitting of wedding receptions for up to 30 people .
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference , the prime minister also announced that from 1 August there would be updated government advice on people going to work .
`` Instead of government telling people to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give employers more discretion , and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely , '' he said .
`` That could mean of course continuing to work from home , which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees .
`` Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following COVID-secure guidelines . ''
This is despite Sir Patrick Vallance , the government 's chief scientific adviser , telling MPs on Thursday he saw `` absolutely no reason '' why official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed .
On public transport , Mr Johnson added : `` From today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport , while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available . ''
The prime minister expressed his hope that the government would be able to review outstanding restrictions and `` allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest , possibly in time for Christmas '' .
However , Mr Johnson warned he would `` not hesitate at any stage to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown easing and stressed his plans remain `` conditional '' on rates of infection .
`` If we continue to pull together as we have done so far , I know we can beat this virus , '' he said .
`` Hoping for the best , but planning for the worst - and it 's in that spirit that we must carry on waging this long , hard fight against coronavirus . ''
The prime minister said the R number - a measure of how fast coronavirus is spreading - remains between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also said the government 's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ) had assessed the number of infections to be shrinking by between 5 % and 1 % every day .
If R is below 1 then the virus is n't being spread to enough people to sustain an outbreak , so it gradually peters out .
The closer it is to zero , the faster cases drop .
The latest R number in the UK means less than one person is contracting COVID-19 from an infected person , something the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep infections down .
Last month , Leicester witnessed the UK 's first full local coronavirus lockdown following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Midlands city .
Mr Johnson described how action had also been taken to contain outbreaks in Weston-Super-Mare , Bradford and Blackburn .
Outlining a framework for containing and controlling future outbreaks in England to allow the government and councils to work closely together , the prime minister detailed the new powers being given to local authorities from Saturday .
`` They will be able to close specific premises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , '' he said .
`` These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount .
`` Action by local councils will not always be sufficient , so next week we 'll publish draft regulations which clearly set out how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level .
`` Where justified by the evidence , ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area , introduce local 'stay at home ' orders , prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond national rules , or restrict transport systems serving local areas . ''
Mr Johnson admitted that local lockdowns will be `` hard going '' for those affected and `` may seem unjust '' , but he added : `` There is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country . ''
The prime minister also confirmed plans to boost the NHS ahead of the winter , when some fear there could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time when hospitals are traditionally under greater pressure .
`` It is possible that the virus will be more virulent in the winter months - and it is certain that the NHS will face the usual , annual winter pressures , '' the prime minister said .
: : Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Johnson said action would include an increase in coronavirus testing to at least 500,000 tests a day by the end of October , the rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme in the history of the UK '' , and an extra £3bn of funding for the NHS in England , as well additional health funds for other parts of the UK .
This will allow the NHS to continue to use extra beds in private hospitals and maintain the temporary Nightingale hospitals - set up during the pandemic - until the end of March next year .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said : `` We all want society to reopen , we all want our economy to start growing again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this plan , but the key now is confidence .
`` Do the public have confidence in the measures the government has put in place ?
Do businesses have confidence in the advice that 's been given ?
`` And can we have confidence that the government 's scientific advisers support these measures ?
`` This ca n't be done on a wing and a prayer , it requires a credible plan and national leadership . ''
Analysis : Summer holidays might be beginning but PM 's focus is on the winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corner , but the prime minister 's focus was almost entirely on winter .
He acknowledged the ominous risk of a `` more virulent '' second wave of coronavirus colliding with the annual pressures caused by seasonal flu .
Local lockdowns , he said , would be likely for the foreseeable future .
As for social distancing , Mr Johnson made clear the regulations will be in place until November at the earliest - with only a hesitant suggestion they would be lifted this year , `` possibly in time for Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister might use the moment to scrap the government 's `` work from home if you can '' message , to encourage a wider return of commuters to urban centres .
Instead , he fudged the existing advice - saying simply that employers would be given more discretion .
While Mr Johnson did set out how far the virus has receded since the peak , it all felt rather a long way from his claim in March that the UK would `` turn the tide '' on the virus within 12 weeks @

Swift local lockdowns - including the shutting down of businesses, cancellation of events and restrictions on travel to certain areas - will aim to control future COVID-19 outbreaks.
Boris Johnson outlined the plan to contain localised flare-ups in COVID-19 infections as he expressed his hope of a "more significant return to normality" by Christmas.
As well as handing new powers to local councils and government ministers to act on future coronavirus outbreaks, the prime minister also set out an updated roadmap for lifting remaining national restrictions in England.
This includes:
the reopening of bowling alleys, ice skating rinks, casinos and close contact beauty treatments from 1 August
the restarting of indoor performances, subject to the success of trials
the piloting of larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums, with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn
and the permitting of wedding receptions for up to 30 people.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:30 PM taking SAGE lockdown advice 'very seriously'
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, the prime minister also announced that from 1 August there would be updated government advice on people going to work.
"Instead of government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion, and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely," he said.
"That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.
"Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following COVID-secure guidelines."
This is despite Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, telling MPs on Thursday he saw "absolutely no reason" why official guidance to work from home should be changed.
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On public transport, Mr Johnson added: "From today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport, while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available."
Image: Leicester was subject to the UK's first full local lockdown
The prime minister expressed his hope that the government would be able to review outstanding restrictions and "allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest, possibly in time for Christmas".
However, Mr Johnson warned he would "not hesitate at any stage to put on the brakes" on the lockdown easing and stressed his plans remain "conditional" on rates of infection.
"If we continue to pull together as we have done so far, I know we can beat this virus," he said.
"Hoping for the best, but planning for the worst - and it's in that spirit that we must carry on waging this long, hard fight against coronavirus."
The prime minister said the R number - a measure of how fast coronavirus is spreading - remains between 0.7 and 0.9 across the UK.
He also said the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) had assessed the number of infections to be shrinking by between 5% and 1% every day.
If R is below 1 then the virus isn't being spread to enough people to sustain an outbreak, so it gradually peters out. The closer it is to zero, the faster cases drop.
The latest R number in the UK means less than one person is contracting COVID-19 from an infected person, something the government has been keen to maintain to keep infections down.
Last month, Leicester witnessed the UK's first full local coronavirus lockdown following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Midlands city.
Mr Johnson described how action had also been taken to contain outbreaks in Weston-Super-Mare, Bradford and Blackburn.
Outlining a framework for containing and controlling future outbreaks in England to allow the government and councils to work closely together, the prime minister detailed the new powers being given to local authorities from Saturday.
"They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events," he said.
"These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount.
"Action by local councils will not always be sufficient, so next week we'll publish draft regulations which clearly set out how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level.
"Where justified by the evidence, ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local 'stay at home' orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond national rules, or restrict transport systems serving local areas."
Mr Johnson admitted that local lockdowns will be "hard going" for those affected and "may seem unjust", but he added: "There is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country."
The prime minister also confirmed plans to boost the NHS ahead of the winter, when some fear there could be a second wave of coronavirus infections at a time when hospitals are traditionally under greater pressure.
"It is possible that the virus will be more virulent in the winter months - and it is certain that the NHS will face the usual, annual winter pressures," the prime minister said.
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:: Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Johnson said action would include an increase in coronavirus testing to at least 500,000 tests a day by the end of October, the rolling out of the "biggest-ever flu vaccination programme in the history of the UK", and an extra £3bn of funding for the NHS in England, as well additional health funds for other parts of the UK.
This will allow the NHS to continue to use extra beds in private hospitals and maintain the temporary Nightingale hospitals - set up during the pandemic - until the end of March next year.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "We all want society to reopen, we all want our economy to start growing again.
"We'll look at the details of this plan, but the key now is confidence.
"Do the public have confidence in the measures the government has put in place? Do businesses have confidence in the advice that's been given?
"And can we have confidence that the government's scientific advisers support these measures?
"This can't be done on a wing and a prayer, it requires a credible plan and national leadership."
Image: The prime minister said COVID-19 could become more virulent in the winter
Analysis: Summer holidays might be beginning but PM's focus is on the winter
By Tom Rayner, political correspondent
The summer holidays may be right around the corner, but the prime minister's focus was almost entirely on winter.
He acknowledged the ominous risk of a "more virulent" second wave of coronavirus colliding with the annual pressures caused by seasonal flu.
Local lockdowns, he said, would be likely for the foreseeable future.
As for social distancing, Mr Johnson made clear the regulations will be in place until November at the earliest - with only a hesitant suggestion they would be lifted this year, "possibly in time for Christmas".
It had been suggested the prime minister might use the moment to scrap the government's "work from home if you can" message, to encourage a wider return of commuters to urban centres.
Instead, he fudged the existing advice - saying simply that employers would be given more discretion.
While Mr Johnson did set out how far the virus has receded since the peak, it all felt rather a long way from his claim in March that the UK would "turn the tide" on the virus within 12 weeks.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-17--Urgent review ordered into anomaly in COVID-19 death data

An urgent review has been ordered into how the daily coronavirus death figures are calculated after it was claimed the current method does not take into account the fact that some people may have recovered from COVID-19 and died of a different cause .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has asked for the examination of Public Health England 's ( PHE ) data - said by researchers to include a `` statistical anomaly '' by which `` no one can ever recover from COVID-19 in England '' .
The government 's own figures show there have been 45,119 COVID-19 associated deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is feared to be inaccurate due to the way coronavirus deaths are recorded in England .
Explaining the `` strange anomaly '' , Sky News ' Rowland Manthorpe said : `` Essentially , there is no way to recover , statistically .
So , if I tested positive for COVID-19 today and then I got hit by a bus tomorrow , then COVID-19 would be listed as my cause of death . ''
A government source confirmed that PHE 's current method of calculation means if a person was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their death would still be counted as part of PHE 's daily coronavirus death tally .
In Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , you are assumed to have recovered 28 days after a positive test .
The review ordered by Mr Hancock aims to sort out the issue and establish the impact on the UK 's overall death tally .
A recent article published by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine ( CEBM ) , based at Oxford University , described the `` statistical anomaly '' which means that `` no one can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It seems that PHE regularly looks for people on the NHS database who have ever tested positive , and simply checks to see if they are still alive or not , '' said the article 's authors Professor Yoon Loke , from the University of East Anglia , and Professor Carl Heneghan , from Oxford University .
`` PHE does not appear to consider how long ago the COVID test result was , nor whether the person has been successfully treated in hospital and discharged to the community .
`` Anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died at a later date of any cause will be included on the PHE COVID death figures .
`` By this PHE definition , no one with COVID in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness .
`` A patient who has tested positive , but successfully treated and discharged from hospital , will still be counted as a COVID death even if they had a heart attack or were run over by a bus three months later . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this would explain why daily death figures vary substantially from day to day , with 16 new deaths reported in the UK on 6 July but then 155 reported the next day .
With more than 250,000 people having so far tested positive for coronavirus in England , CEBM suggested PHE 's definition of daily death figures means `` that everyone who has ever had COVID at any time must die with COVID too '' .
CEBM called for PHE to instead define COVID-related deaths as those that occur within three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's time to fix this statistical flaw that leads to an over-exaggeration of COVID-associated deaths , '' the authors of the article added .

An urgent review has been ordered into how the daily coronavirus death figures are calculated after it was claimed the current method does not take into account the fact that some people may have recovered from COVID-19 and died of a different cause.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has asked for the examination of Public Health England's (PHE) data - said by researchers to include a "statistical anomaly" by which "no one can ever recover from COVID-19 in England".
Image: Health Secretary Matt Hancock has ordered an urgent review
The government's own figures show there have been 45,119 COVID-19 associated deaths across the UK.
But that tally is feared to be inaccurate due to the way coronavirus deaths are recorded in England.
Explaining the "strange anomaly", Sky News' Rowland Manthorpe said: "Essentially, there is no way to recover, statistically. So, if I tested positive for COVID-19 today and then I got hit by a bus tomorrow, then COVID-19 would be listed as my cause of death."
A government source confirmed that PHE's current method of calculation means if a person was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 but subsequently died of unrelated causes, their death would still be counted as part of PHE's daily coronavirus death tally.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you are assumed to have recovered 28 days after a positive test.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:09 The science behind face masks
The review ordered by Mr Hancock aims to sort out the issue and establish the impact on the UK's overall death tally.
A recent article published by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM), based at Oxford University, described the "statistical anomaly" which means that "no one can ever recover from COVID-19 in England".
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"It seems that PHE regularly looks for people on the NHS database who have ever tested positive, and simply checks to see if they are still alive or not," said the article's authors Professor Yoon Loke, from the University of East Anglia, and Professor Carl Heneghan, from Oxford University.
"PHE does not appear to consider how long ago the COVID test result was, nor whether the person has been successfully treated in hospital and discharged to the community.
"Anyone who has tested COVID positive but subsequently died at a later date of any cause will be included on the PHE COVID death figures.
"By this PHE definition, no one with COVID in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness.
"A patient who has tested positive, but successfully treated and discharged from hospital, will still be counted as a COVID death even if they had a heart attack or were run over by a bus three months later."
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CEBM said this would explain why daily death figures vary substantially from day to day, with 16 new deaths reported in the UK on 6 July but then 155 reported the next day.
With more than 250,000 people having so far tested positive for coronavirus in England, CEBM suggested PHE's definition of daily death figures means "that everyone who has ever had COVID at any time must die with COVID too".
CEBM called for PHE to instead define COVID-related deaths as those that occur within three weeks of a positive test result for coronavirus.
"It's time to fix this statistical flaw that leads to an over-exaggeration of COVID-associated deaths," the authors of the article added.
The claimed anomaly in the PHE daily death figures would not affect the "excess" deaths figure provided by the Office for National Statistics.
Up to 3 July this year, the ONS has said there were almost 54,000 more deaths in England and Wales than the five-year average.
Dr Susan Hopkins, Public Health England's incident director, said: "Although it may seem straightforward, there is no WHO agreed method of counting deaths from COVID-19.
"In England, we count all those that have died who had a positive COVID-19 test at any point, to ensure our data is as complete as possible.
"We must remember that this is a new and emerging infection and there is increasing evidence of long term health problems for some of those affected.
"Whilst this knowledge is growing, now is the right time to review how deaths are calculated."


skynewspolitics--2020-07-17--Social distancing must stay for a 'long time', Whitty says

Social distancing will need to continue for a `` long period of time '' and eliminating COVID-19 in the UK is unlikely , England 's chief medical officer has said .
Professor Chris Whitty told the Lords science and technology committee that certain hygiene measures would remain for the foreseeable future and that people would also need to continue keeping a safe distance from others .
He went on to say that aiming to eliminate the virus from the UK was `` quite optimistic '' .
`` There are some things which we started right at the beginning , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period of time , washing hands , isolation , household isolation , '' Prof Whitty said .
`` And then we 've added to that things like contact tracing , most recently face coverings .
`` And these are issues of , and issues around distancing , which have been varied but the reality is distancing remains an important part of this mix and how it 's interpreted in different governments has evolved .
`` But it has not gone away .
So , all of those need to continue for a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference it `` may conceivably be possible '' to depart from social distancing measures `` by November at the earliest '' .
England 's chief medical officer suggested it would be very difficult to eliminate COVID-19 in a `` highly connected '' country like the UK .
Prof Whitty said : `` Elimination means zero cases onward transmitted and for this disease this is going to be very difficult .
`` We 've tried to eliminate or eradicate a very large number of diseases over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far in humans eradicated one , smallpox , and we 've tried on a lot of other occasions , this is not an easy thing to do . ''
Sir Patrick Vallance , the government 's chief scientific adviser , told the committee that it would be `` incredibly important '' to keep coronavirus cases low in the winter .
He said the winter was `` going to be a very complex time , where the vast majority of people of course who end up with the symptoms may not have COVID , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so there are going to be people potentially being isolated for reasons that are non-COVID . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Both Sir Patrick and Prof Whitty stressed the importance of having a widely-used coronavirus contact tracing app ready during the winter or if there is a surge in the number of cases .
Prof Whitty added : `` But of course there are operational issues and there are privacy issues that need to be completely sorted out before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that . ''
It comes after Sir Patrick said the scientific advisory group for emergencies ( SAGE ) - of which he and Prof Whitty are key members - urged the government to impose full lockdown measures around a week earlier than they were introduced .

Social distancing will need to continue for a "long period of time" and eliminating COVID-19 in the UK is unlikely, England's chief medical officer has said.
Professor Chris Whitty told the Lords science and technology committee that certain hygiene measures would remain for the foreseeable future and that people would also need to continue keeping a safe distance from others.
He went on to say that aiming to eliminate the virus from the UK was "quite optimistic".
"There are some things which we started right at the beginning, which absolutely have to continue for a prolonged period of time, washing hands, isolation, household isolation," Prof Whitty said.
"And then we've added to that things like contact tracing, most recently face coverings.
"And these are issues of, and issues around distancing, which have been varied but the reality is distancing remains an important part of this mix and how it's interpreted in different governments has evolved.
"But it has not gone away. So, all of those need to continue for a long period of time."
It came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference it "may conceivably be possible" to depart from social distancing measures "by November at the earliest".
England's chief medical officer suggested it would be very difficult to eliminate COVID-19 in a "highly connected" country like the UK.
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Image: Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance
Prof Whitty said: "Elimination means zero cases onward transmitted and for this disease this is going to be very difficult.
"We've tried to eliminate or eradicate a very large number of diseases over the years.
"We have so far in humans eradicated one, smallpox, and we've tried on a lot of other occasions, this is not an easy thing to do."
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, told the committee that it would be "incredibly important" to keep coronavirus cases low in the winter.
He said the winter was "going to be a very complex time, where the vast majority of people of course who end up with the symptoms may not have COVID, they may have something else.
"And so there are going to be people potentially being isolated for reasons that are non-COVID."
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Both Sir Patrick and Prof Whitty stressed the importance of having a widely-used coronavirus contact tracing app ready during the winter or if there is a surge in the number of cases.
Prof Whitty added: "But of course there are operational issues and there are privacy issues that need to be completely sorted out before we could be confident we could use that."
It comes after Sir Patrick said the scientific advisory group for emergencies (SAGE) - of which he and Prof Whitty are key members - urged the government to impose full lockdown measures around a week earlier than they were introduced.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-17--Johnson's tension with government advisers laid bare

Boris Johnson is a prime minister who likes to trade in optimism and hope - and there was plenty of that on display on Friday as he dangled the prospect of our lives going back to normal - or thereabouts - in time for Christmas .
But as he set out his next phase on Britain 's road to recovery , it was inevitable that this would be an address filled not just with light , but with shade , too .
Between now and Christmas comes the beginning of winter and the prospects of resurgence of the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the worst ) , the prime minister announced £3bn of extra funding for the NHS to help it prepare for a possible second wave .
He also laid out a commitment to ramp up testing to 500,000 a day by the end of October to boost the test and trace programme .
New powers for councils to impose local lockdowns were announced as well - an acknowledgement that the battle with this virus is far from over .
But even as the prime minister said all this , he pressed on with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bid to kickstart the economy .
Mr Johnson changed the guidance on working from home to encourage employers to send workers back into offices .
There were also plans to open bowling alleys , casinos , and skating rinks from August , and sports stadiums and conference centres from October .
Social distancing could perhaps be scrapped from November .
Warning of a possible second wave while simultaneously releasing some measures , this encapsulated the difficult balancing act he faces in trying to manage a public health crisis while rescuing the economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his plan was `` too optimistic '' and the `` risks too great '' as he sought to reassure the public he 'd put on the brakes if necessary .
It was perhaps no coincidence that Sir Patrick Vallance , the chief scientific adviser ( CSA ) , and Professor Chris Whitty , the chief medical officer ( CMO ) , did not flank the prime minister for this particular set of announcements .
Could they have really endorsed a road map out of lockdown that goes against some of the public recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working from home ( Sir Patrick ) and social distancing rules ( Professor Whitty ) .
I understand at the cabinet meeting convened on Friday morning to sign off the announcement , Professor Whitty stressed the high level of risk that came with this plan , and that ministers needed to go into it with eyes wide open .
But he also accepted this was a decision for ministers to make .
This was a message echoed by the prime minister on Friday .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spreaker When I asked the PM whether his advisers had made themselves scarce from the news conference because they believed his plan 'too optimistic ' and the 'risks too high ' , Mr Johnson said `` no '' .
But he also signalled the growing divergence between the scientific advice and policy decisions .
`` I must stress that the CSA and CMO give us advice which we of course take very , very seriously , but in the end decisions are taken by the elected politicians .
`` We have to weigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't think our wonderful scientific and medical advisers would want to take those decisions for us ; those are decisions for us to take . ''
This is the tension laid bare .
His scientific advisers are squarely focused on trying to control the virus and prevent a second spike .
The prime minister wants to avoid that too , but he also has to balance that risk with the other very pressing problem - the prospect of a deep and prolonged recession .
If he can give consumers confidence that the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into shops , bars and the office , he might be able to give the economy a desperately needed short-term boost .
At the peak of the crisis , the prime minister liked to say his government was `` led by the science '' .
In more recent weeks , he 's said he was `` guided by it '' .
Now , he is considering it in the round as the acute public health crisis gives way to an economic one .
When it comes to this new chapter in the PM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisers are clearly not on the same page .
But Mr Johnson is determined to make hay while the sun is shining and boost the economy now before the long winter comes .

Boris Johnson is a prime minister who likes to trade in optimism and hope - and there was plenty of that on display on Friday as he dangled the prospect of our lives going back to normal - or thereabouts - in time for Christmas.
But as he set out his next phase on Britain's road to recovery, it was inevitable that this would be an address filled not just with light, but with shade, too.
Between now and Christmas comes the beginning of winter and the prospects of resurgence of the coronavirus.
Hoping for the best (but planning for the worst), the prime minister announced £3bn of extra funding for the NHS to help it prepare for a possible second wave.
Image: Boris Johnson stressed that he must 'weigh the advice' he is given
He also laid out a commitment to ramp up testing to 500,000 a day by the end of October to boost the test and trace programme.
New powers for councils to impose local lockdowns were announced as well - an acknowledgement that the battle with this virus is far from over.
But even as the prime minister said all this, he pressed on with a further easing of restrictions in a bid to kickstart the economy.
Mr Johnson changed the guidance on working from home to encourage employers to send workers back into offices.
There were also plans to open bowling alleys, casinos, and skating rinks from August, and sports stadiums and conference centres from October.
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Social distancing could perhaps be scrapped from November.
Warning of a possible second wave while simultaneously releasing some measures, this encapsulated the difficult balancing act he faces in trying to manage a public health crisis while rescuing the economy.
Mr Johnson acknowledged that some would think his plan was "too optimistic" and the "risks too great" as he sought to reassure the public he'd put on the brakes if necessary.
It was perhaps no coincidence that Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser (CSA), and Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer (CMO), did not flank the prime minister for this particular set of announcements.
Could they have really endorsed a road map out of lockdown that goes against some of the public recommendations they, themselves, have made around working from home (Sir Patrick) and social distancing rules (Professor Whitty).
I understand at the cabinet meeting convened on Friday morning to sign off the announcement, Professor Whitty stressed the high level of risk that came with this plan, and that ministers needed to go into it with eyes wide open.
But he also accepted this was a decision for ministers to make.
This was a message echoed by the prime minister on Friday.
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When I asked the PM whether his advisers had made themselves scarce from the news conference because they believed his plan 'too optimistic' and the 'risks too high', Mr Johnson said "no".
But he also signalled the growing divergence between the scientific advice and policy decisions.
"I must stress that the CSA and CMO give us advice which we of course take very, very seriously, but in the end decisions are taken by the elected politicians.
"We have to weigh the advice we get and I don't think our wonderful scientific and medical advisers would want to take those decisions for us; those are decisions for us to take."
This is the tension laid bare. His scientific advisers are squarely focused on trying to control the virus and prevent a second spike.
The prime minister wants to avoid that too, but he also has to balance that risk with the other very pressing problem - the prospect of a deep and prolonged recession.
If he can give consumers confidence that the situation is improving and they should get back into shops, bars and the office, he might be able to give the economy a desperately needed short-term boost.
At the peak of the crisis, the prime minister liked to say his government was "led by the science".
In more recent weeks, he's said he was "guided by it".
Now, he is considering it in the round as the acute public health crisis gives way to an economic one.
When it comes to this new chapter in the PM's recovery plan, ministers and scientific advisers are clearly not on the same page.
But Mr Johnson is determined to make hay while the sun is shining and boost the economy now before the long winter comes.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-18--Councils across England can impose local lockdowns from today

Councils across England have been given fresh powers to shut down shops and cancel events in a move aimed at preventing local lockdowns .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that local authorities would be given stronger controls in time for the weekend , as he set out new details for returning the country to normality following the coronavirus outbreak .
James Jamieson , chairman of the Local Government Association ( LGA ) which represents council leaders , said he was hopeful the new measures would prevent local lockdowns , like that seen in Leicester , being required in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Downing Street press briefing on Friday : `` From tomorrow , local authorities will have new powers in their areas .
`` They will be able to close specific premises , shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events .
`` These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount . ''
Ministers will also be given extra powers , to be laid out in more detail next week , enabling them to close factories and sectors of the economy in certain regions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bespoke stay-at-home orders .
Mr Jamieson said : `` Locally-led responses have proven to be the best way to tackle significant outbreaks , which this framework rightly emphasises .
`` Councils know their local communities best and know how to address each unique outbreak .
`` Greater powers for councils to take swift and effective action to address local outbreaks will hopefully help avoid the need for more stringent measures to be imposed locally . ''
He added that the use of enforcement powers `` should be an option of last resort '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to be made available to councils to allow them to be `` better able to act in real time to increases in infection rates '' .
The move comes amid a row about the way ministers have imposed a lockdown on Leicester and parts of the surrounding region .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a partial easing of the prolonged lockdown measures in the city on Thursday , but said COVID-19 rates remained too high there to allow pubs and restaurants to reopen .
Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has since accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a city that predominantly votes Labour .
Areas outside of Leicester City and the borough of Oadby and Wigston will align with national lockdown rules in England from Saturday .
It means non-essential shops , bars , restaurants and hairdressers not in the continuing protected zone will be permitted to open from 18 July .
Schools and childcare settings outside the protected area will also be able to open from the same date , in line with national restrictions .
Non-essential shops and schools in Leicester City and the borough of Oadby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 24 July , but bars , restaurants and hairdressers will stay closed , with a review due to take place by 1 August .
Leicester 's rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population dropped from 126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days to 14 July , according to data published on Friday .
It was 132.3 in the seven days to 30 June .
Mr Johnson also signalled a significant easing of coronavirus restrictions in England at the briefing on Friday , relaxing work-from-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sports stadiums to reopen .
Leading scientists warned the prime minister may struggle to deliver his vision of a `` significant return to normality '' in time for Christmas .
Sir Mark Walport , a former chief scientific adviser , said that it could prove difficult to achieve with respiratory illnesses tending to flourish in the colder weather .
He told BBC Two 's Newsnight : `` It is going to be difficult .
We know that winter is when respiratory viruses thrive so it is going to be tough . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitty , the chief medical officer for England , who told the Lords Science and Technology Committee measures such as hand-washing , isolation and household quarantine would be needed for a `` prolonged period '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The government 's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance , who had previously warned against easing the work-from-home guidance , told the committee that the winter would be a `` very complex time '' with people going down with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister said during the briefing it will be up to employers in England to discuss with workers whether it is safe to return from 1 August .
Most remaining leisure centres will reopen from that date and indoor performances with live audiences can resume if pilots are successful , while trials will begin for sports stadiums to reopen from October .
Mr Johnson , who also immediately scrapped the advice to avoid public transport , said Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty had taken part in a Cabinet discussion before the relaxation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` decisions are taken by the elected politicians '' .

Councils across England have been given fresh powers to shut down shops and cancel events in a move aimed at preventing local lockdowns.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that local authorities would be given stronger controls in time for the weekend, as he set out new details for returning the country to normality following the coronavirus outbreak.
James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) which represents council leaders, said he was hopeful the new measures would prevent local lockdowns, like that seen in Leicester, being required in future.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:30 PM taking SAGE lockdown advice 'very seriously'
The prime minister said at a Downing Street press briefing on Friday: "From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas.
"They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events.
"These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount."
Ministers will also be given extra powers, to be laid out in more detail next week, enabling them to close factories and sectors of the economy in certain regions.
It will also enable them to reintroduce bespoke stay-at-home orders.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:28 PM announces easing of lockdown restrictions
Mr Jamieson said: "Locally-led responses have proven to be the best way to tackle significant outbreaks, which this framework rightly emphasises.
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"Councils know their local communities best and know how to address each unique outbreak.
"Greater powers for councils to take swift and effective action to address local outbreaks will hopefully help avoid the need for more stringent measures to be imposed locally."
He added that the use of enforcement powers "should be an option of last resort" and called for more "granular-level data" to be made available to councils to allow them to be "better able to act in real time to increases in infection rates".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:29 Partial lifting of Leicester lockdown
The move comes amid a row about the way ministers have imposed a lockdown on Leicester and parts of the surrounding region.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a partial easing of the prolonged lockdown measures in the city on Thursday, but said COVID-19 rates remained too high there to allow pubs and restaurants to reopen.
Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has since accused the government of penalising businesses and residents in a city that predominantly votes Labour.
Areas outside of Leicester City and the borough of Oadby and Wigston will align with national lockdown rules in England from Saturday.
It means non-essential shops, bars, restaurants and hairdressers not in the continuing protected zone will be permitted to open from 18 July.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:20 COVID-19: How effective are local lockdowns?
Schools and childcare settings outside the protected area will also be able to open from the same date, in line with national restrictions.
Non-essential shops and schools in Leicester City and the borough of Oadby and Wigston will be allowed to open from 24 July, but bars, restaurants and hairdressers will stay closed, with a review due to take place by 1 August.
Leicester's rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population dropped from 126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days to 14 July, according to data published on Friday.
It was 132.3 in the seven days to 30 June.
Mr Johnson also signalled a significant easing of coronavirus restrictions in England at the briefing on Friday, relaxing work-from-home guidance and paving the way for theatres and sports stadiums to reopen.
Leading scientists warned the prime minister may struggle to deliver his vision of a "significant return to normality" in time for Christmas.
Sir Mark Walport, a former chief scientific adviser, said that it could prove difficult to achieve with respiratory illnesses tending to flourish in the colder weather.
He told BBC Two's Newsnight: "It is going to be difficult. We know that winter is when respiratory viruses thrive so it is going to be tough."
His comments echoed those of Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, who told the Lords Science and Technology Committee measures such as hand-washing, isolation and household quarantine would be needed for a "prolonged period".
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The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who had previously warned against easing the work-from-home guidance, told the committee that the winter would be a "very complex time" with people going down with other illnesses which were not COVID-19.
The prime minister said during the briefing it will be up to employers in England to discuss with workers whether it is safe to return from 1 August.
Most remaining leisure centres will reopen from that date and indoor performances with live audiences can resume if pilots are successful, while trials will begin for sports stadiums to reopen from October.
Mr Johnson, who also immediately scrapped the advice to avoid public transport, said Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty had taken part in a Cabinet discussion before the relaxation was announced.
However he said that ultimately "decisions are taken by the elected politicians".


skynewspolitics--2020-07-18--The blame game has started - and Public Health England is first in the firing line

The inquiry into the UK 's response to coronavirus will be brutal and it will be dirty .
Scrapping for survival , the cast of characters thrust into the spotlight during the pandemic will be desperate to avoid being cast as the villain - and that may mean looking for an alternative candidate .
Boris Johnson has already committed to a future independent inquiry into the government 's handling of the pandemic .
The prime minister says it is not the `` right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry '' , but you can already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game taking shape .
First in the firing line is Public Health England - and this week PHE has provided the ammunition itself .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has asked for an `` urgent review '' over fears PHE 's data on coronavirus deaths is inaccurate .
Researchers claim a `` statistical anomaly '' means if someone was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 but subsequently died of unrelated causes , their death would still be counted as part of PHE 's daily coronavirus death tally ( unlike in Scotland and Wales ) .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down by a bus after testing positive for coronavirus , COVID-19 would be listed as the cause of death .
This will only add to the growing criticism of PHE - and speculation it will be scrapped .
In an interview to be played on tomorrow 's Sophy Ridge on Sunday , former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley mounts a defence of the beleaguered body which he set up as part of his reorganisation of the health service .
`` Nobody is going to scrap PHE , '' he said .
`` Where this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had the Health Protection Agency .
All of the relevant powers and resources and people were transferred en bloc from the Health Protection Agency into Public Health England .
`` So anybody who says the response of Public Health England was somehow changed by the 2012/13 reforms , I 'm afraid , is simply wrong . ''
Responding to Iain Duncan Smith 's call to `` abolish PHE tomorrow '' , he said : `` This is a criticism born of ignorance .
`` Public Health England is an agency of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law provides for direct control by the government , by the secretary of state of the activities of Public Health England .
`` So not only does the secretary of state have all the required powers , he also has all the required control .
`` And actually in a public health emergency that also applies to the NHS .
In an emergency the law provides that the secretary of state has power of direction to the NHS not only at the centre but also to individual NHS trusts .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tries to say we did n't have enough power is frankly either deluding themselves or trying to mislead other people… insofar as people are suggesting there 's some distinction between the government and Public Health England I 'm afraid that is utterly misplaced . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Who is right ?
Health care sources have told me that although there is some legitimate criticism , PHE is also being scapegoated .
Number 10 , however , is thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PHE for the initially chaotic coronavirus testing regime as well as the decision made early in the crisis to abandon widespread tracking of the virus .
When the prime minister criticised `` the parts of government that seemed to respond so sluggishly that sometimes it seemed like that recurring bad dream when you are telling your feet to run and your feet wo n't move '' in a speech in July , he is widely understood to have been referring to PHE .
Whatever the rights and wrongs , blaming an easily replaceable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the inquiry comes .
If I was Andrew Lansley , I would n't be so convinced of its survival .

The inquiry into the UK's response to coronavirus will be brutal and it will be dirty.
Scrapping for survival, the cast of characters thrust into the spotlight during the pandemic will be desperate to avoid being cast as the villain - and that may mean looking for an alternative candidate.
Boris Johnson has already committed to a future independent inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic.
The prime minister says it is not the "right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry", but you can already see the outline of the inevitable blame game taking shape.
First in the firing line is Public Health England - and this week PHE has provided the ammunition itself.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has asked for an "urgent review" over fears PHE's data on coronavirus deaths is inaccurate.
Researchers claim a "statistical anomaly" means if someone was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 but subsequently died of unrelated causes, their death would still be counted as part of PHE's daily coronavirus death tally (unlike in Scotland and Wales).
In other words, if someone was run down by a bus after testing positive for coronavirus, COVID-19 would be listed as the cause of death.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:26 PM promises pandemic inquiry at the right time
This will only add to the growing criticism of PHE - and speculation it will be scrapped.
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In an interview to be played on tomorrow's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley mounts a defence of the beleaguered body which he set up as part of his reorganisation of the health service.
"Nobody is going to scrap PHE," he said.
"Where this particular responsibility is concerned, before 2013 we had the Health Protection Agency. All of the relevant powers and resources and people were transferred en bloc from the Health Protection Agency into Public Health England.
"So anybody who says the response of Public Health England was somehow changed by the 2012/13 reforms, I'm afraid, is simply wrong."
Responding to Iain Duncan Smith's call to "abolish PHE tomorrow", he said: "This is a criticism born of ignorance.
"Public Health England is an agency of the Department of Health. The legislation, the law provides for direct control by the government, by the secretary of state of the activities of Public Health England.
"So not only does the secretary of state have all the required powers, he also has all the required control.
"And actually in a public health emergency that also applies to the NHS. In an emergency the law provides that the secretary of state has power of direction to the NHS not only at the centre but also to individual NHS trusts.
"So I'm afraid anyone in government who tries to say we didn't have enough power is frankly either deluding themselves or trying to mislead other people… insofar as people are suggesting there's some distinction between the government and Public Health England I'm afraid that is utterly misplaced."
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Who is right?
Health care sources have told me that although there is some legitimate criticism, PHE is also being scapegoated.
Number 10, however, is thought to have a different view, blaming PHE for the initially chaotic coronavirus testing regime as well as the decision made early in the crisis to abandon widespread tracking of the virus.
When the prime minister criticised "the parts of government that seemed to respond so sluggishly that sometimes it seemed like that recurring bad dream when you are telling your feet to run and your feet won't move" in a speech in July, he is widely understood to have been referring to PHE.
Whatever the rights and wrongs, blaming an easily replaceable administrative system may be the easiest solution when the inquiry comes.
If I was Andrew Lansley, I wouldn't be so convinced of its survival.