thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-04--Nine Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

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The UK is entering its seventh week of lockdown, with 186,599 officially confirmed cases of Covid-19 so far.
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According to the latest figures:
At least 28,675 people had died in UK hospitals with coronavirus as of 2pm on Monday. In England, 204 more deaths were reported, along with 14 in Wales, six in Northern Ireland and five in Scotland.
As of May 3, more than 180,000 people had tested positive for Covid-19.
Almost 106,000 tests for coronavirus were carried on May 1
Here’s what you need to know about coronavirus today.
Nightingale hospital to be mothballed
The temporary London Nightingale hospital is to be mothballed after demand for intensive care beds in the capital fell.
But it will remain on “standby” in case of a second coronavirus peak.
Prime minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson confirmed the news on Monday.
“It is not likely that, in the coming days, we will need to be admitting patients to NHS Nightingale London while coronavirus in the capital remains under control,” the spokesperson said.
“That is obviously a very positive thing. We are grateful to everyone in London for following the government’s advice.
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“What the Nightingale will be is effectively placed on standby so it is ready to receive patients if it is required, but we are not expecting that will be the case.”
It comes as the UK records its lowest daily increase to the coronavirus hospital death toll since March: 229, with the majority (204) in England.
SAGE membership list made public
A partial list of the membership of the scientific advisory group for emergencies (SAGE) has been published by the government.
Ministers also issued an updated “explainer” on the group that is helping to shape the government response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Two members asked that their names were not released, but among those listed are chief scientists Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance; Dr David Halpern, from the Cabinet Office’s behavioural insights team; Public Health England medical director Yvonne Doyle; and a range of experts from health bodies and universities across the UK.
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The list’s publication follows controversy around the attendance of SAGE by Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings. The PM’s top aide was said to have been an “active participant” in meetings about coronavirus.
But No 10 denied Cummings was ever a member of the committee and insisted he did not influence any of its advice.
Recovery hospital to be named after pioneering nurse
England’s first community hospital to care for people recovering from Covid-19 will be named in honour of the pioneering nurse Mary Seacole, the NHS has announced.
The NHS Seacole Centre will be based at the NHS Headley Court Hospital in Leatherhead, Surrey, and has up to 300 inpatient beds.
It is hoped the hospital will free up capacity in other nearby hospitals for non-Covid patients and the urgent care of people with coronavirus.
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Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse who was refused formal permission by the UK War Office to help alongside Florence Nightingale’s more well-known mercy mission in the Crimea.
She funded her own trip instead and established a hospital to provide support for officers wounded in the Crimean War.
She also visited the battlefield to nurse the wounded and became known as Mother Seacole.
Last month, a petition to name the Birmingham NEC Nightingale hospital after Seacole attracted almost 15,000 signatures.
Activist Patrick Vernon, who launched the petition, said: “It would reflect the diversity of our country and the NHS.”
No new cases in New Zealand for first time
New Zealand reported no new cases of coronavirus on Monday for the first time since the outbreak began in mid-March.
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Ashley Bloomfield, director general of health, said the news, which comes less than a week after New Zealand began to ease lockdown measures, was “symbolic of the effort everyone has put in”.
There are currently 1,487 confirmed cases in the country.
“I’m pleased to say there are no additional deaths to report,” he told a press conference in Wellington.
Video available: No new virus cases reported in New Zealand
Trump ‘confident of vaccine by end of the year’
US President Donald Trump has told a town hall meeting that he thinks a coronavirus vaccine will be developed “by the end of this year”.
Trump also said during the event sponsored by Fox News Channel that his government was putting its “full power and might” behind remdesivir, a drug that has shown early promise as a treatment for the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
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In response to a question from a Nebraska man who has recovered from Covid-19, Trump said: “We think we are going to have a vaccine by the end of this year.”
US health experts have repeatedly said a vaccine is probably a year to 18 months away, though the White House coronavirus task force’s doctor Anthony Fauci said late last month that a vaccine could conceivably be in wide distribution as early as January.
During Monday’s town hall from the Lincoln Memorial, the president also increased his projection for the total US death total to 80,000 or 90,000 — up by more than 20,000 fatalities from what he had suggested just a few weeks ago — and struck a note of urgency over the economy, declaring “we have to reopen our country”.
He said: “We have to get it back open safely but as quickly as possible.”
US President Donald Trump during a commercial break of a Fox News virtual town hall "America Together: Returning to Work," event. JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Possible post-lockdown workplace rules revealed
A draft government plan to ease restrictions and allow people to return to work has been seen by the BBC.
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The report floats reduced hot-desking and alternatives to social distancing where it is not possible – including enhanced hygiene practices and protective screening – among the measures to help employers function again.
It also urges workplaces to minimise numbers of people using equipment, stagger shift times and maximise home-working.
The prime minister will reveal his “roadmap” out of lockdown on Sunday, the broadcaster says.
But Boris Johnson warned that lifting lockdown restrictions too soon would be “the worst thing we could do”.
In a video message on Twitter, the PM said it was important to meet the five tests set by the government before easing the lockdown.
“We will only be able to move onto the second phase of this conflict if our five tests have been met,” he said.
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Defence secretary Ben Wallace said a “range of methods”, including the use of PPE, could allow people to be less than two metres apart for periods.
He told BBC Breakfast: “I think there are lots of ways, there’s PPE, there’s use of time.
“You could be closer than two metres but not for long at all. There are a range of ways to do this.
“And if it’s very vital you work next to each other then potentially things like shields that you see in supermarkets, or indeed PPE, is a way forward.”
Meanwhile, health visitors say they fear the UK will have a much higher rate of “invisible children” when the country finally emerges from lockdown, as they are currently unable to carry out face-to-face checks with families.
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The UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA
‘Accurate’ antibody test developed
A new “fast and accurate” coronavirus antibody test has been developed by scientists in Edinburgh, although the company fears the NHS could miss out amid interest in Europe for the machines.
Researchers for blood-screening company Quotient have developed a new test for whether people are immune to Covid-19 by spotting whether a person has developed antibodies to the disease.
Each serological screening machine has capacity for up to 3,000 tests a day and produces results in 35 minutes with 99.8% accuracy, the firm said.
The company behind the new tests says it has 12 screening machines available, with a further 20 expected to be ready by the end of the year, but it has already had talks with interested parties across Europe.
However, with the new test developed by scientists in Edinburgh, the company is calling for the UK and Scottish governments to begin talks so that the NHS might be able to benefit.
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Tech firms are also in talks with ministers about developing ‘immunity passports’, potentially using facial recognition technology, for those who have had the virus, allowing them to safely return to work.
A medical worker wearing a protective suit seals a bag containing a swab sample SOPA Images via Getty Images
Social distancing ‘would create kilometre-long queues’ at Heathrow
Implementing social distancing at airports would require kilometre-long queues for each jumbo jet, according to the chief executive of Heathrow.
John Holland-Kaye warned the nation’s major international airports do not have enough space for social distancing to be a solution for safe travel post-lockdown.
He wrote in Monday’s Daily Telegraph: “Forget social distancing – it won’t work in aviation or any other form of public transport, and the problem is not the plane, it is the lack of space in the airport.
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“Just one jumbo jet would require a queue a kilometre long.”
Holland-Kaye also called on the prime minister to quickly find a “common international standard” of alternative solutions that could be installed in time for summer.
Mandatory health checks for passengers, increased levels of hygiene and compulsory facemasks are among the options floated by Holland-Kaye in order to open the nation’s airports as soon as possible and avoid “massive job losses in our sector… (and) many other sectors that depend on us”.
“The prime minister has talked about restarting the engines of the British economy. We are ready to play our part, but first we need his help to restart the engines of the British aviation fleet,” he wrote.
People queue outside the departures area at Heathrow on Friday, May 1. Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
More than 300,000 quit smoking
More than 300,000 Britons have quit smoking during the coronavirus crisis as evidence mounts that the habit leaves them more vulnerable to Covid-19, a survey suggests.
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A further 550,000 Britons have tried to quit, while 2.4 million have cut down, according to the joint study by the UK arm of YouGov’s international Covid-19 tracker in conjunction with anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
The survey, of 1,004 people, suggested 2% of smokers had now quit due to Covid-19 concerns.
In addition, 8% of smokers said they were trying to quit, 36% said they had cut down, and 27% said they were now more likely to quit.
A quarter of ex-smokers said they were now less likely to resume smoking, although 4% say the pandemic had made them more likely to relapse.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Olly Murs' Pringles Tube 'Prank' On Girlfriend Amelia Tank Has Not Impressed Everyone

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Olly Murs is one of several celebrities who have turned to TikTok to keep themselves entertained during the lockdown period.
In the last few weeks, the former X Factor star and his girlfriend Amelia Tank have been taking it in turns to prank one another in videos posted on the social media site – but his latest efforts haven’t exactly impressed everyone.
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On Tuesday, Olly began trending on Twitter after posting a video of himself removing the bottom of a Pringles tube to apparently stick his penis in it, for Amelia to unwittingly touch as they sat down to enjoy a snack.
Posting the video on TikTok, he wrote: “Pringles now do a variety pack #prank #funny #shedidntseethatcoming.”
It’s unclear if it was a genuine prank or if Olly and Amelia actually collaborated on the clip, but either way, people have had a lot to say about it...
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i checked why olly murs was trending and... pic.twitter.com/RI8spkhVj3 — georgia (@georgiiamadison) May 5, 2020
Me after watching that Olly Murs video pic.twitter.com/QP3Z68F1PA — Alice (@alice2127) May 5, 2020
Just watched the Olly Murs TikTok. I think that’s enough internet for today pic.twitter.com/BQrEKbezrb — Dale Bennett (@DaleBennett91) May 5, 2020
If you'd have told me last year that 2020 would consist of a global pandemic and Olly Murs would stick his penis in a Pringle's can out of boredom I'd have thought you were insane but here we are — lou (@lou_tredaway) May 5, 2020
Was not mentally prepared for seeing why Olly Murs is trending... pic.twitter.com/xkjIEAOD3b — Kerry Ireland (@ireland_kerry) May 5, 2020
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olly murs is trending because he shoved his knob into a pringles tube and honestly...
pic.twitter.com/AHopbG7a66 — rob o’hara. (@robertastall__) May 5, 2020
Bet Simon Cowell never thought he’d make Olly Murs famous only for him to end up shoving his dick in a Pringles tube for entertainment. Coronavirus is hitting celebs hard. pic.twitter.com/SrvlFkejbz — Joe (@JoeSaunders) May 5, 2020
It’s not even 9am and olly murs has ruined my day. Never checking why a celeb is trending again pic.twitter.com/dC05QCxQQT — Michael Clothier (@MitchLR) May 5, 2020
came on twitter at 6am to see olly murs sticking his knob in a pringles can pic.twitter.com/bXxfn52FoW — abbie (@abbiecops) May 5, 2020
Olly Murs is trending because he shoved his penis into a pringles tube.. pic.twitter.com/DF2kXwRZ2v — Aaron Wyn (@AaronWyn) May 5, 2020
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No I did not just see a Tiktok of. Olly Murs putting his penis in a pringles tube. Not today.... pic.twitter.com/CgMBQdNl6B — Thinking about getting sober while on fire (@s_chij) May 5, 2020
thought Olly Murs was trending because he dropped a song or something. nah, he stuck his knob in a Pringle tube on Tik Tok.. pic.twitter.com/WHNnVcApML — anthony (@anthonyfrost96) May 5, 2020
Olly murs putting his penis in a Pringles tube to prank his girlfriend is one of the strangest things I’ve seen 🤔 — ELLS (@eleanordainton) May 4, 2020
woke up to see olly murs trending because he’s stuck his cock in a pringles can..... i am going back to bed — lily (@lgbtjshaught) May 5, 2020
Olly Murs Tik Tok pic.twitter.com/vhjljLSL6j — Jean Johansson (@JeanJohansson) May 5, 2020
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Olly Murs has just permenantly traumatised me. SAVE YOURSELVES, DO NOT CHECK TRENDING — 𝔫 𝔢 𝔠 𝔯 𝔬 𝔣 𝔢 𝔞 𝔯 (@CxsmicEternity) May 5, 2020
proper didn’t need to see olly murs sticking his cock in a pringles tube today — hannie (@hancrayon) May 5, 2020
Olly and Amelia have been on lockdown together at his Essex pad for the last few weeks, after going public with their relationship earlier this year.
Some of their other pranks have seen her flinging ham at his face as he played Fifa, and her sellotaping his phone to his head.
He’s also chucked her in the swimming pool in his back garden and has repeatedly woken her up with early morning noise-making sessions.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Everything You Need To Know About The NHS Covid-19 App

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A coronavirus contact tracing app has launched on a trial basis in the UK, using people’s mobile phones to detect who they’ve been in close proximity to.
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The NHS app, which has been created as part of the “test, track and trace” programme, will enable the government to take a “more targeted approach” to the lockdown, said Matt Hancock.
It’s hoped the results may enable officials to relax some of the lockdown measures, while still containing the disease. It follows the launch of similar Covid-19 apps elsewhere in Europe.
So, how does it work?
The NHS app is designed to trace how the virus is spreading from person to person – and stop it in its tracks.
It works by using Bluetooth signals to track who an individual comes into contact with on a daily basis. When two phones with Bluetooth enabled come into close contact, this is logged by the app. In some reports, this process is being referred to as a “Bluetooth handshake”.
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If one of those phone users then develops symptoms of Covid-19, they can log this in the app. People who have been in contact with that person then receive a notification, telling them of their potential exposure and instructing them to self-isolate for 14 days.
PA
The NHS said the Covid-19 app is part of a wider approach that includes “manual and web-based contact tracing coupled with virology swab testing”.
But wait, isn’t there already a UK Covid-19 app?
Correct, the new app shouldn’t be confused with the King’s College London Covid-19 Symptom Tracker app, which is still being used by researchers to learn more about the virus.
The King’s College app encourages users to self-report coronavirus symptoms every day and answer a couple of quick health questions – even if they’re feeling well. The app aims to figure out where the high-risk areas are in the UK, who is most at risk, and how fast the virus is spreading in specific areas. Anyone can download the King’s College app.
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So, who can download the new NHS app?
NHS and council staff on the Isle of Wight are being urged to download the NHS Covid-19 smartphone app from Tuesday. The rest of the island’s population will receive a letter from Thursday, inviting them to join the trial. If successful, the app will be rolled out across the UK later this month.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged everyone on the Isle of Wight who’s able to download the app to do so. “I know that the people of the Isle of Wight will embrace this with enthusiasm because by embarking on this project and by embracing test, track and trace, you will be saving lives,” he said.
Malte Mueller via Getty Images
Are there any privacy issues?
Concerns have been raised around the collection and storage of data in relation to the app. Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen believes the government should look at decentralised app models, where contact-tracing data stays on a user’s device.
“We’re extremely concerned the government may be planning to route private data through a central database, opening the door to pervasive state surveillance and privacy infringement, with potentially discriminatory effects,” she said.
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MP Marcus Fysh also highlighted that it’s essential the system remains voluntary for the public.
Addressing these issues, a statement on the NHS website insists the app has been created with privacy in mind. “The app does not collect personally identifiable data from users. Users will always remain anonymous. The anonymous data collected by the NHS Covid-19 app will only ever be used for NHS care, management, evaluation and research,” it says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--One-Metre Distancing Up To ’30 Times’ Riskier Than Two-Metres, Says Chief Scientist

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The risk of catching coronavirus is between 10 and 30 times higher one metre from an infected person than it is at two metres away, the government’s chief scientific adviser has said.
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Sir Patrick Vallance also revealed that a minute at two metres contact carries around the same risk as six seconds at one metre as he underlined the importance of current social distancing rules.
The different transmission rates mean wearing face masks could be beneficial to stop the spread of Covid-19 once the lockdown is eased and there are places where it is not possible to keep two metres away from others, Vallance said.
He said this could include areas where there may be “undue crowding”, suggesting masks could be useful on busy public transport networks like the London Underground.
Valance was speaking at the Commons health committee on Tuesday, as the government prepared to unveil plans to allow people to go back to work.
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Boris Johnson is expected to outline how the lockdown will be eased in an address to the nation on Sunday.
Defence secretary Ben Walllce on Monday suggested that the two metre distancing rule could be relaxed and mitigated by cutting the time people spend close to each other, or by providing workers with personal protective equipment (PPE).
Provisional guidance for businesses has sparked Labour and union concerns that workers will not be protected when returning to their jobs after the lockdown is eased.
Vallance made clear today the risk of transmission is higher at close proximity. “The two metre distancing is based on a probability,” he said.
“The evidence is, as far as you can get very firm evidence on this, that essentially that a minute at two metres contact is about the same risk as six seconds at one metre.
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“So that gives you some idea of why two metres becomes important.
“The risk at one metre is about 10 to 30 times higher than the risk at two metres.”
Government chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance giving evidence to the Commons health committee PA
Vallance said masks may be useful to stop infected people spreading the virus in droplets from their nose or mouth where social distancing is not possible.
He said: “Where therefore masks may have a role is in situations where distancing is not possible.
“So there may be some cases where that simply isn’t possible - where there may be undue crowding, but ideally there shouldn’t be crowding, there may be times when wearing masks can therefore be beneficial to stop the spread.
“It’s important that those coverings are worn properly, so in other words they cover the nose and mouth, and it’s important that people don’t handle their face a lot because there’s a much, much higher risk in terms of transmission from hand to face, from touching things.
“So that the rather boring but rather important thing of washing hands remains absolutely critical in all of this.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Elon Musk And Grimes Welcome Baby Named 'X Æ A-12' – Or So They Say

Jason Kempin via Getty Images
Elon Musk and his partner, the singer Grimes, have welcomed a baby boy – who apparently has a very unusual name.
The Tesla co-founder, 48, shared the news on Twitter, first sharing a photo of him holding his son, plus a tweet saying: “Mom & baby all good.”
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Mom & baby all good — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2020
In response to the news, a fan tweeted: “We need the name we literally need it”, to which Musk replied: “X Æ A-12 Musk”.
X Æ A-12 Musk — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2020
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The couple have been together for two years, having gone public with their relationship in 2018.
Back in February, Grimes tweeted saying she and Musk would let their child discover their own gender identity. The 31-year-old was on social media for a question and answer session, when one asked whether she’s having a ‘girl or boy?’ In response, she wrote: “They may decide their fate and identity.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--I’m Part Of The Land Army 'Picking For Britain' – It's Indentured Labour

Seasonal worker picks fruit on a British farm Associated Press
When my freelance work evaporated as the lockdown loomed, I started looking for opportunities to keep myself safe and busy, and soon began volunteering on a community-supported agriculture project to support the farm’s operations as the saw their veg box orders nearly double in the space of a week.
With millions of people out of work, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people looking for work on farms. In early April, TotalJobs reported an 83% increase in agricultural roles in a month as the UK government confirmed that furloughed workers are able to seek alternative employment in the fields if their contract allows.
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This booming interest in agricultural work has been spurred on by the government’s war-like rhetoric to build a “land army” of seasonal workers to harvest the season’s crops. Earlier this month, the Department for Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched the Pick for Britain campaign to get 70-80,000 seasonal workers onto the fields, 99% of which are usually filled by EU nationals who are less able to take up the roles due to travel restrictions.
With a long period of uncertain income ahead of me, I submitted an application for paid field work through farming recruiter Concordia. After completing a one-way video interview that ends with the question “have you paid any money to or feel pressured by anyone in the process of applying for this role” – I was soon offered work on a farm in rural Linconshire, where the only option was to commit to 4-5 months of six day working weeks, and paying to live on-site in a six-berth caravan with other workers.
Now, I am no stranger to hard work and long physical days – I’ve worked and volunteered on building projects, farms and as a bike mechanic. And even though the offer of 45+ hours of paid work per week is appealing to my currently jobless self, the offer seems like indentured labour. It gives little flexibility for pickers to fit the work into their existing lives and commitments, and not to mention the issues of living in close quarters with other workers during a global pandemic.
“Low-paid labour is propping up the farming industry, and, so far, a global pandemic hasn’t halted this.”
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Offers of work, however, seem to be rare. Speaking to fellow furloughed friends, many complain that the urgency of getting domestic workers onto the fields doesn’t match up with their experiences of being told that all roles have already been filled.
Earlier this month, Concordia reported receiving 36,000 applications for farm work in just ten days. With 6,000 of those completing a video interview, the agency made 900 offers but have seen only 112 people accept the roles. Meanwhile, the company chartered a flight from Romania with 160 seasonal workers onboard to meet recruitment needs.
The industry’s large-scale recruiting system has a clear vested interest in workers who are able to sign away their regular lives to live and work full time on the farm for minimum wage and to cast aside pre-existing commitments. Low-paid labour is propping up the farming industry, and so far, a global pandemic hasn’t halted this, despite the risk to workers and the rural communities they’re going into, and the need to support the two million newly unemployed.
But this is not a short term problem to be fixed during the pandemic, only to return to business as usual later down the line. Coronavirus has only revealed the weaknesses in the system, and farming must undergo a radical shift if it is to survive the future uncertainties brought about Brexit. The UK’s horticultural industry already predicts that without migrant labour, there will be less fruit picked, and that the price of fresh fruit and veg will rise. Already in autumn 2019, tonnes of crop was left to rot in fields due to a shortage of pickers and packers in the face of ongoing Brexit uncertainty. Food sovereignty is now more important than ever.
But how do we break out of this locked-in cycle, whereby the low prices that consumers are prepared to pay for their produce perpetuates a cycle of low pay and exploitation (and in extreme cases, modern slavery) of farm workers?
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For some, Brexit is thought to be an opportunity to progress towards a more sustainable local food system in the UK – this disruption brought on by coronavirus also gives us a moment to reflect. Tim Lang, professor of Food Policy at the Centre for Food Policy at City University wrote in his latest book published in March 2020: “Some analysts privately think only crisis will allow the conditions for suitable scale of change… my judgement is that signs of cracks are apparent already”.
Lending a hand in the fields, I am made to feel like a valuable part of the food system, carefully working on the land so it provides for us and we have food on our plates. A far cry from the conveyor belt approach of seasonal picking on industrial farms, community-supported agriculture schemes bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, bringing more transparency to the food system and showing us how different our relationship to food could be.
And it seems like that relationship is blossoming. As coronavirus continues to expand among the population, so too does the demand for veg boxes and local produce. A recent poll commissioned by the RSA’s Food, Farming and Countryside Commission said that we are seeing “significant changes to our relationship with food, family and the environment” emerging since lockdown, including a 6% increase in people who have tried a veg box or ordered from a local farm for the first time, and 42% saying they value food more.
In this time of increased engagement with local and short-chain food supply, paired with empty supermarket shelves and feelings of food insecurity, this is our opportunity to build foundations for changing the food system for the better.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--The UK Has The Most Coronavirus Deaths In Europe. But Is It A Fair Comparison?

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The UK has now paid the highest price in Europe for coronavirus, overtaking Italy as the European nation with the highest number of fatalities.
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Comparing the death toll in different countries has become a cornerstone of how the public measures the scale of the crisis, and the staggering figures are likely to bolster criticism of the government’s response – particularly because the UK has a younger population than Italy, and had more time to prepare for the outbreak.
Government officials have argued, however, that different countries have tallied official coronavirus cases and deaths in different ways, making statistical comparisons challenging.
On Tuesday, the head of health analysis at the UK’s Office for National Statistics cautioned about making international comparisons, describing it as “incredibly difficult to do”.
In a Twitter thread, Nick Stripe said data on death registrations was the “fastest, most frequent and most in depth” method of reporting fatalities but that different countries report this data at different speeds, with the UK being the quickest.
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He added: “So please exercise extreme caution with international comparisons We can sadly see rising numbers of deaths in the UK. Comparable international data is not yet available.”
Lots of comment about the UK having the highest death toll in Europe. International comparisons are incredibly difficult to do and will be for some time to come.
UK death registrations data is the fastest, most frequent and most in depth than any other stats agency.
1/n — Nick Stripe (@NickStripe_ONS) May 5, 2020
Of course, no nation wants to admit they’re topping an entire continent’s death toll tally.
Still, it’s true that for many European countries, including the UK, the total number of coronavirus-related deaths remains unclear.
The UK now has the highest death toll in Europe. But what does that number actually tell us? Leon Neal via Getty Images
11,600 deaths in Italy unaccounted for
Italy’s daily death figures are announced each day at around 6pm by the nation’s Civil Protection Agency, which normally manages the response to natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
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Crucially, like the UK, these figures only include deaths that were registered after the patient tested positive for Covid-19.
ISTAT – Italy’s statistics agency – reported on excess deaths for the first time since the start of the crisis on Monday, pointing to the fact that thousands of deaths across the nation had never been officially linked to coronavirus.
In its first report of the epidemic’s impact on Italy’s mortality rate, covering 86% of the population, ISTAT said that from February 21, when the first coronavirus deaths occurred, until March 31, nationwide deaths were up 39% compared with the average of the previous five years.
Of the 25,354 “excess deaths”, the coronavirus was registered by the Civil Protection Agency as the official cause for 13,710, leaving around 11,600 deaths unaccounted for. These occurred overwhelmingly in the northern part of Italy most heavily hit by the virus.
The statistics bureau said it was reasonable to assume these people either died of Covid-19 without being tested or that the extra stress on the health system due to the epidemic meant they died of other causes for which they were not treated.
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Up to 9,000 deaths at home still to be accounted for in France
Some doctors estimate that up to 9,000 deaths could be missing from official statistics in France. JOEL SAGET via Getty Images
The death toll in France is announced daily at around 7pm, as it has been since the start of the nation’s epidemic toward the end of February.
Initially the only data being shared came from hospitals, but on April 2 health officials started to include the number of deaths coming from care homes and hospices.
Since March 1, France has reported almost 25,000 deaths, with 15,583 in hospitals and 9,312 in care homes and hospices.
Due to the complexity of gathering the data, deaths at home in France are still not included in official figures. Some doctors estimate that this figure could be as high as 9,000 extra deaths, with lower estimates coming in at around 6,000.
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Health minister Olivier Veran has said the number of deaths should be made public in June, when they will be added to the country’s total as a whole.
France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) also has also published data on excess deaths, in much the same way as the ONS does in the UK.
Current data, running up to April 20, shows that on April 1 – the peak of France’s daily death toll, there were upwards of 1,000 more deaths (2,776) than were recorded in 2019 (1,689).
8,000 excess deaths in Spain not yet linked to Covid-19
As of May 1, 29,034 more deaths had been recorded in Spain than would usually be expected, according to El País – an excess of 50%.
That figure includes 20,938 deaths confirmed to have been caused by Covid-19, but 8,096 are yet to be accounted for.
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The daily death toll includes everyone, no matter where they died and therefore, unlike France, includes deaths at home.
But the fact that people dying at home or in care homes and hospices are less likely to have been tested for the virus means they are not yet being counted in Spain’s official statistics, and the true number of deaths remains to be fully established.
Who is missing from the UK’s death statistics?
The ONS publishes weekly reports summarizing the number of deaths in England and Wales, which show how many more deaths have been recorded in a certain period, against the previous average.
One-third of all deaths were recorded in care homes in the week leading up to April 17. In that week, 22,351 total deaths were registered in England and Wales, according to the ONS, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1993. The average for the comparable week from 2015 to 2019 was 10,497.
In the week ending April 24, more than a fifth of all coronavirus-related deaths in England and Wales happened in care homes.
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These startling figures are thought to be far lower than the true death toll across the entire UK, however. Modelling carried out by the Financial Times suggests that as many as 41,000 people had died by April 21 as either a direct or indirect consequence of Covid-19.
At Sunday’s press conference, medical director of England’s health service, Stephen Powis, said it would be some time before international comparisons of excess deaths could be made.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--One In Five Covid-19 Deaths Take Place In Care Homes, Latest Figures Show

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More than a fifth of all coronavirus-related deaths in England and Wales up to April 24 happened in care homes, new data reveal.
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Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the deaths of 5,890 care home residents after they had contracted Covid-19 had been registered by April 24.
It represents around 21% of the 27,356 coronavirus-related deaths registered up to that date so far this year. (Some 29,710 people had actually died as of April 24, taking into account registrations that took place into May.)
Around seven out of 10 deaths involving Covid-19 happened in hospital, the ONS said, with 19,643 hospital deaths registered.
Meanwhile, there were 1,306 deaths in private homes and 301 in hospices.
In England, the number of deaths involving #COVID19 in care homes that were registered by 24 April was 5,575, while in Wales the number of deaths was 310 https://t.co/DBn5FywVyd pic.twitter.com/1gLKd3wkOY — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) May 5, 2020
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The ONS data revealed there were 21,997 total deaths from all causes in the week ending April 24 – a drop of 354 deaths compared to the previous week. However, it is still 11,539 higher than the five-year average.
Of all the deaths registered that week, “novel coronavirus” was mentioned on 8,237 death certificates, suggesting the virus was involved in 37.4% of all deaths.
It represents a slight decrease from the week before, when Covid-19 was involved in 39.2% of all deaths.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Coronavirus Antibody Tests Could See People 'Deliberately' Infect Themselves

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The government has been warned the roll out of coronavirus antibody tests could see workers be discriminated against on the basis of status, people faking results or even seeking to “deliberately” become infected.
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Scientists advising the UK government on its response to the pandemic also raised concerns people who test positive for antibodies could ditch measures designed to stop the spread of the disease — such as hand washing.
While people who tested negative could take “excessive” actions to avoid social contact leading to “adverse psychological and social outcomes”, the paper produced by the scientific pandemic influenza group on behaviour (SPI-B) added.
The document, published on Tuesday, was presented to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), the group of experts which is helping guide the government’s strategy, on April 14.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said on Monday he was in talks with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche about a “very large-scale roll-out” of coronavirus antibody testing.
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Roche said the test has a specificity greater than 99.8% and sensitivity of 100%, meaning there is a low chance of a misread.
But Hancock admitted that there had been problems with antibody testing, having previously said the UK would order 17.5 million home testing kits only to find they did not work.
The SPI-B paper said antibody testing had the potential to help the country reopen offices and other workplaces in a way that did not increase infection.
But it sought to highlight some “possible negative behavioural responses” in order for them to be pre-empted.
“If a test result is a requirement for a resumption of work, a range of strategies to ‘game’ the system may arise,” the scientists said.
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“These include people deliberately seeking out infection or attempting to purchase a fake test result, commercial organisations selling unapproved tests, or approved tests becoming available through private organisations at prices that make them unavailable to most.”
It added: “Some employers may discriminate on the basis of antibody status.
“This might include not permitting those testing antibody negative to return to work, or only taking on new staff with antibody positive test results.
“Work may also be allocated among employees based on test status with, for example, customer-facing work being allocated to those who have tested antibody positive.
“In some circumstances this may be appropriate, but in others this might constitute adverse discrimination.”
David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a former chair of Public Health England, told HuffPost UK in early April there was “always a concern” people could try to become infected deliberately.
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“There was chickenpox before,” he said. “Many times people try and expose their children to measles to get them sick early on so they would be immune later on.
“It’s not a good idea. This disease is infectious and it affects all people and can cause illness in all people.”
The Guardian reported on Monday that ministers are holding talks with technology firms over the creation of “health passports” which use “coronavirus testing and facial recognition” to prove which workers have had the illness.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics released on Tuesday showed there were 29,710 deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales up to April 24 (and which were registered up to May 2).
It comes as trials are beginning on a new coronavirus contact-tracing app which ministers say will save lives and help lift Britain out of lockdown.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Aer Lingus Conducting Urgent Review After 'No Social Distancing On Packed Flight'

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Aer Lingus is to conduct a review after pictures emerged of an almost full flight with no apparent evidence of coronavirus social distancing measures.
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The airline said any process changes required would be implemented as a “matter of urgency”.
The move came as pictures were shared from inside the cabin of a flight traveling from Belfast to London’s Heathrow airport on Monday morning, showing row after row filled with passengers.
Passenger Sean Mallon told BBC Radio Ulster there was “no social distancing whatsoever”.
Yesterday's packed Aer Lingus flight from Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow.
Passenger Sean Mallon is on Nolan now pic.twitter.com/aQJKJ7oJxJ — Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) May 5, 2020
“I would say there was about 95% of the seats taken on the flight,” he said.
In a statement, Aer Lingus said: “In light of the unexpectedly high loads on the Belfast–London Heathrow service this morning and the level of demand for the route, Aer Lingus is reviewing its processes and procedures applicable to the operation of this service.
“The safety and security of Aer Lingus’s customers and crew is our top priority and any process changes that are identified as being required will be implemented as a matter of urgency.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--The UK Now Has The Highest Number Of Confirmed Coronavirus Deaths In Europe

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The UK now has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in Europe and the second-highest in the world.
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The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a total of 32,375 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered across the UK, surpassing Italy’s total of 29,079.
Only the US with 69,925 has reported more deaths linked with coronavirus.
The latest figures: The ONS reports 29,710 deaths in England and Wales up to May 2
National Records of Scotland reports 2,272 in Scotland up to April 26
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reports 393 in Northern Ireland up to April 29.
In each case, the figures are based on all mentions of Covid-19 on a death certificate, including suspected Covid-19.
On Tuesday, the head of health analysis at the ONS cautioned about making international comparisons, describing it as “incredibly difficult to do”.
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In a Twitter thread, Nick Stripe highlighted that death registrations data is the “fastest, most frequent and most in depth” method of reporting deaths but that different countries report this data at different speeds, with the UK being the quickest.
He added: “So please exercise extreme caution with international comparisons We can sadly see rising numbers of deaths in the UK. Comparable international data is not yet available.”
Lots of comment about the UK having the highest death toll in Europe. International comparisons are incredibly difficult to do and will be for some time to come.
UK death registrations data is the fastest, most frequent and most in depth than any other stats agency.
1/n — Nick Stripe (@NickStripe_ONS) May 5, 2020
Across Europe, including in the UK, official statistics have left out thousands of people who likely died from the coronavirus. It will likely be some time before the true scale of the pandemic is fully known.
The ONS figures reveal 29,710 deaths in England and Wales, 2,272 in Scotland up to April 26 and 393 in Northern Ireland up to April 29.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Security Guard Shot Dead For Refusing Entry To Customer Not Wearing Coronavirus Face Mask

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A woman, her adult son and husband have been charged in the fatal shooting of a security guard who refused to let her daughter enter a shop because she wasn’t wearing a face mask.
Calvin Munerlyn was shot on Friday at a Family Dollar store in Michigan a short time after telling Sharmel Teague’s daughter she had to leave because she didn’t have a mask to protect against the transmission of coronavirus.
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Teague, 45, argued with Munerlyn, 43, and allegedly spat at him before leaving. She later returned with her husband and son.
Calvin Munerlyn was shot dead on Friday in Michigan. GoFundMe
Teague, her husband, Larry Teague, 44, and her son Ramonyea Bishop, 23, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder and gun charges.
Larry Teague is also charged with violating an official order that all customers and employees must wear face coverings inside grocery shops.
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Witnesses identified Bishop as the man who shot Munerlyn in the back of the head.
Sharmel Teague has been arrested and her husband and son are being sought by police. No information has been released about Teague’s daughter, who has not been charged in the shooting.
On Thursday, gun-carrying protesters and other demonstrators rallied inside Michigan’s state Capitol, calling for coronavirus-related restrictions to be lifted. Some protesters with guns — which are allowed in the statehouse — went to the Senate gallery. Some senators wore bulletproof vests.
Police are searching for Larry Edward Teague, 44, and Ramonyea Travon Bishop, 23. GENESEE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
Sharmel Teague is in custody. ASSOCIATED PRESS
As of Monday, Michigan has 43,754 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 4,049 deaths due to complications from the disease.
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About 150 people attended a candlelight vigil for Munerlyn on Sunday night. On Monday, a makeshift memorial was erected outside the Family Dollar.
Munerlyn’s mother, Bernadett, said she wants justice for her son.
“They didn’t have to take my baby and it wasn’t that serious,” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--The 7 Awkward Stages Of Watching Sex Scenes With Your Parents

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No matter how old you are, there’s nothing more awkward than watching a sex scene alongside your parents. This is the hill I’m willing to die on.
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Unfortunately, the UK lockdown – which has seen many adults flock back to their childhood homes for a more comfortable quarantine – has coincided with the release of BBC’s Normal People. Or ‘Naked People’, as my boyfriend has dubbed the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s award-winning novel.
While those who got the memo are binge-watching the show on iPlayer from the comfort of their bedrooms, others have made the schoolboy error of watching it on BBC One on Monday nights.
Needless to say, it’s lead to some pretty toe-curling evenings.
‘Normal People’ has been an interesting watch with the parents. Sex scenes have been underscored by the sound of awkwardly sipped tea, the rustling of a sweet packet and Mum saying ‘We were young once yknow?’ It has been emotional. #NormalPeople — James Botterill (@JimmyBotts) May 3, 2020
Here’s a pic of me watching the first 2 eps of Normal People with my parents. pic.twitter.com/dVAfZwiyMb — Jenny Collier (@Jenjencollier) April 30, 2020
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Still, everyone knows the biggest rule of awkwardness is that you’re never allowed to acknowledge it – meaning there’s no turning back.
If you’ve started watching the series with your parents, buckle up, you’re in for a painfully embarrassing ride. Here are the cringeworthy stages you’ll probably endure in each and every episode.
1. False hope
“This is the BBC”, you tell yourself. “How sexy will things really get?” Then you see the close-up of Connell’s neck chain and you realise you’ve made a grave mistake.
2. Paralysis
It might be Marianne’s longing gaze, or their seriously intense kissing, but something tells you things are about to get Hot In Here. This is your window to escape and make a cup of tea. But you hesitate, glued to your chair. The moment passes.
3. Pure, agonising silence
Eyes forward, no sound. That is the only possible way to deal with what happens next. Don’t even think about reaching for your phone on the side of the sofa because that’ll only draw attention to yourself. And you do not want that.
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4. Awkward jokes
Your mum makes it worse with a few jokes – because of course she does. Popular choices you may recognise include: “Oooh, if I were younger” and the occasional outburst of “Well, I say!”
You wonder why this scene is lasting an actual decade.
5. Just when you think it’s over...
...there’s full-frontal nakedness as our protagonists bask in post-sex glory. You briefly consider saying something cultured about the depiction of unfiltered bodies on screen to prove you are an adult and you are okay with this.
Who are you kidding? You stay silent, instead, with the occasional side-eye to your mum to see her reaction.
6. Denial
It’s over. Nothing happened. Sex? What sex? You refuse to acknowledge anything out of the ordinary and breathe a sigh of relief as clothes are returned to bodies.
7. Escape
So... about that tea? To mask your embarrassment, you exit the room and make a mental note to schedule a Zoom call with friends during the next family viewing. Thank God for iPlayer, eh?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Coronation Street Domestic Violence Scene Sparks Almost 300 Ofcom Complaints

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TV watchdog Ofcom has received almost 300 complaints over a shocking scene in last week’s Coronation Street.
In Friday night’s edition of the ITV soap, Weatherfield resident Yazmeen Nazir finally snapped, after months of mental, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her husband, Geoff.
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Towards the end of the episode, Geoff put Yazmeen down once again in a long speech, describing her as “a shell of a woman” and “a husk”, before pondering whether he should “do the world a favour” and kill her, while brandishing a knife.
At that moment, Yazmeen then smashed a wine bottle and plunged it into Geoff’s neck, after which the credits rolled.
Geoff tears into Yazmeen in Coronation Street ITV
While many fans – and the organisation Women’s Aid – have heaped praise on the gritty and hard-hitting scene, others were left unimpressed, with 278 making official complaints to Ofcom, suggesting the violence broke their TV guidelines.
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As is standard procedure, Ofcom has said they will assess these complaints before deciding whether to take the matter any further and launch an official investigation.
HuffPost UK has contacted ITV for comment.
Watch the scene in question – which contains content that may be upsetting to some viewers – below:
Coronation Street producers worked closely with domestic abuse charities to ensure that the storyline between Yazmeen and Geoff played out both sensitively and accurately.
The soap has repeatedly consulted with real-world organisations while dealing with more sensitive issues, including sexual abuse and suicide in recent years.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo recently claimed the soap was coming close to running out of episodes, having halted production as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with enough currently banked to keep it on the air until next month.
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If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you are not in immediate danger, you can contact:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Dame Judi Dench’s Very Sweary Thoughts On The Cats Movie Are All Kinds Of Iconic

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Dame Judi Dench has finally let us know – like really know – what she thinks of her appearance in the much-derided big screen adaptation of Cats.
And it’s all delightfully sweary.
The 85-year-old acting legend, who played Old Deuteronomy in the box office flop, didn’t hold back when she was quizzed about the film in the latest edition of Vogue.
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The Oscar-winner revealed she has yet to see the film in full, but admitted to being upset at how she looked.
Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy in Cats Universal Pictures
“The cloak I was made to wear!” she told the fashion magazine. “Like five foxes fucking on my back.”
Dame Judi said she hoped she would look elegant but instead resembled “a battered, mangy old cat”.
She added: “A great big orange bruiser. What’s that about?”
Iconic.
Almost every aspect of the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical was savaged by critics, though special attention was paid to the visual effects, with each character turned into a cat-human hybrid through the use of CGI.
Dame Judi has become the oldest cover star in British Vogue’s 104-year history, gracing the front of the magazine’s June issue.
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Dame Judi is Vogue's oldest ever cover star. Vogue
In the accompanying interview, she also discussed the future of the James Bond franchise, having first played spymaster M in 1995’s Goldeneye.
Amid growing calls for a woman to take over as 007 after Daniel Craig, Dame Judi said Bond creator Ian Fleming would not be in favour.
And while she said she is all for female action leads, in the case of a woman as Bond, Dame Judi added: “Call it something else, then?”
The star is isolating at home amid the coronavirus pandemic and said she hopes the crisis will alert the public to the plight of those who are “completely alone”.
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She said: “What is a good thing is that it has made people aware of the predicament of others who are completely alone. If a great deal of kindness comes out of this, then that will be a plus.”
And the actress dismissed any thought of retirement from a stage and screen career that has now entered its eighth decade.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Instead Of Cancelling, This Couple Had A Socially Distant Drive-In Wedding

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Like many engaged couples, Lindsey and Bri Leaverton were set to marry in the spring ― until the coronavirus pandemic entered the picture.
The wedding was to be held on April 10, Good Friday, at the historic Hotel Ella in Austin, Texas, with a guest list that included 96 of the pair’s nearest and dearest.
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At first, they hustled to find a new date, but given the hotel and their vendors’ conflicting schedules, that proved difficult.
As the pandemic worsened ― on April 9, the Leavertons found out that a family member had tested positive for Covid-19 ― the couple decided to let go of the wedding of their Pinterest dreams and pivot to plan B: a quaint, down-home, socially distanced wedding at Doc’s Drive In Theatre in Buda, Texas.
Bri got the idea after seeing an Instagram story from a friend who’d visited the drive-in, which was still operating as an essential business due to its full scratch kitchen and “to-go” menu.
“Doc’s was thrilled with the idea, and it took us 17 days to plan an entirely new wedding,” Bri said.
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Greg Fulks Photography The couple welcome guests to their wedding at Doc’s Drive In Theatre in Buda, Texas.
“Once I let go of the whole idea we had for Hotel Ella and fully embraced our new wedding plan, everything fell into place,” Bri added. “I mean, here we are getting married in the midst of a global pandemic at a drive-in theatre where all our guests are able to come and support us while staying safe in their vehicles.”
Greg Fulks The couple rented an old-school Jeepster for the big occasion.
The couple’s three kids were especially game for the new plan, which also included a movie showing prior to the ceremony. (Bri, a lead surgical dental assistant, has a son from a previous relationship. Lindsey, the director at a wealth management service, has twin daughters.)
Greg Fulks Bri and Lindsey Leaverton and their twin daughters.
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As the evening went on, more than 85 cars rolled in, with guests grabbing popcorn, champagne and sodas from a table set up by the brides. The guests stayed in their cars through the night; those giving speeches ― the couple’s parents and best friends ― had reserved front-row parking spots. The kids, VIPs for the event, sat in chairs on the side of the stage.
Greg Fulks The couple greeted car-bound guests.
Guests were able to tune in to the ceremony through 87.9 FM radio station. The couple stood on a stage to elevate them from the ground for better visuals, but guests could also just look up at the movie screens to see the ceremony.
Greg Fulks The Leavertons wed on a stage, but guests could watch it all play out on large movie screens.
Guests who couldn’t make it in person logged on to Facebook or Instagram and streamed the wedding live.
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Greg Fulks Guests could watch the wedding on Instagram Live.
In the end, the ceremony was considerably less fancy but no less sweet.
“When we said ‘I do,’ everyone ‘applauded’ with car honking, flashing lights, decorated cars, I even think there was a cow bell I heard,” Bri said. “We still had our first dance and our family dance with our kids that we had originally planned for Hotel Ella.”
Greg Fulks The couple dance, and Lindsey plays a song for Bri.
After the ceremony, the family hopped into a 1972 Jeepster Commando and prepared to make their grand exit. That didn’t go exactly as planned, however.
“As we were departing from the venue, Lindsey, who is directionally challenged, turned right instead of left out of the venue which forced us to turn back around and go back into the venue to get my car,” Bri said.
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“We had planned to have my little sister meet us down the road to exchange vehicles,” she explained. “Once we returned to the venue we were actually so pleased to see that we got to say goodbye to almost all of our guests. It was actually one of the best moments of the night.”
The couple shared air hugs, “I love you” hand signs, and blew kisses to friends and relatives who’d shown up to support them, even in the middle of a pandemic.
“When I think back on our wedding day, I think it will be talked about for years to come and then passed down to our grandchildren,” Bri said.
Scroll down for more photos from the big day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Lord Alan Sugar Brands Piers Morgan A 'Hypocrite' Over Coronavirus Test

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Lord Sugar has reignited his long-standing feud with Piers Morgan, branding the Good Morning Britain presenter a “hypocrite” after he underwent a test for coronavirus.
On Sunday night, Piers told his followers that he’d be missing the following day’s edition of GMB, as he was awaiting the results of a coronavirus test, having showed a “mild symptom” of Covid-19 for two days prior.
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He has since revealed that his test came back negative, assuring his followers he was entitled to take one despite numbers being limited, because he is a “government-designated essential worker”.
However, following his negative result, Lord Sugar publicly questioned whether Piers should have been able to take one in the first place.
Lord Sugar appearing on Piers' ITV chat show last year ITV/Shutterstock
“Sincerely pleased to hear you are negative,” Lord Sugar wrote. “However, why are you a govt essential worker? Have I missed something? Like the Govn ‘Masochist bill’ [sic]”
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Lord Sugar continued: “According to @PiersMorgan he is a Govn- designated essential worker. Does he mean the Govn see him essential to slag them off every day. There are other presenters to step in @gmb he is certainly not essential.
“[There are] Nurses, Doctors, Police, Army, train and truck drivers. He deprived a real essential workers from a test.”
Piers Morgan Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
He added: “If this was Hugh Grant, Meghan or other of his enemies like me. He would be howling from the rooftops. HYPOCRITE.”
RT @piersmorgan My COVID-19 test was negative. I was entitled to do so as a Govt-designated essential worker. I'll be back on @GMB as soon as my doctor advises I'm OK to return to work. SINCERELY PLEASED TO HEAR YOU ARE NEGATIVE. HOWEVER WHY ARE YOU A GOVT ESSENTIAL WORKER ? — Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) May 4, 2020
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Have I missed something ? Like the Govn "Masochist bill". According to @piersmorgan he is a Govn- designated essential worker. Does he mean the Govn see him essential to slag them off every day. There are other presenters to step in @gmb he is certainly not essential. — Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) May 4, 2020
.@piersmorgan not an Govn-designated essential worker. There're Nurses, Doctors, Police, Army,train and truck drivers. He deprived a real essential workers from a test.If this was Hugh Grant, Meghan or other of his enemies like me.He would be howling from the rooftops. HYPOCRITE — Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) May 4, 2020
In the early hours of Monday morning, the Apprentice star went on to claim Piers had “shot himself in the foot” by tweeting about having a Covid-19 test, stating: “He would have done better saying nothing and not mention testing.
“He has opened a can of worms for people to have a go at him. However good news he tested negative.”
Frankly @piersmorgan has shot himself in the foot. He would have done better saying nothing and not mention testing. He has opened a can of worms for people to have a go at him. However good news he tested negative. https://t.co/BNYg4Jdreb — Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) May 5, 2020
Although Piers has not responded directly to Lord Sugar, he did write back to one Twitter user, who questioned whether or not as the host of GMB he was an “essential worker”.
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When the woman in question pointed out that her daughter is a nurse, Piers responded: “Your daughter is an infinitely more essential worker than me.
“I was drawing no equivalence, just explaining the Govt’s designated all journalists & broadcasters covering the coronavirus crisis as essential workers too, which is why we can get a test if we show symptoms.”
Your daughter is an infinitely more essential worker than me.
I was drawing no equivalence, just explaining the Govt's designated all journalists & broadcasters covering the coronavirus crisis as essential workers too, which is why we can get a test if we show symptoms. https://t.co/9RPJvqDLgh — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 5, 2020
For the time being, Piers will not be presenting Good Morning Britain, claiming he will return to the show “as soon as my doctor advises I’m OK to return to work”.
Piers’ regular co-host Susanna Reid began this week’s shows with a special message for him, joking it was a “therapeutic Monday” in his absence.
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“We send our very best wishes to you, Piers, and we will be on our best behaviour while you are not here,” she noted.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--La Roux Singer Elly Jackson Claims She Witnessed 'Upsetting' Behaviour From Kanye West

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La Roux singer Elly Jackson has claimed she saw Kanye West engage in “upsetting and unsettling” behaviour when she worked with him a decade ago.
Elly, who collaborated with the rapper on his 2010 hit All Of the Lights, and on a remix of La Roux’s In For The Kill, described him as “fascinating” and “amazing to be around”, but also deeply troubling.
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“I just saw some behaviour that wasn’t directed toward me, but I saw some behaviour that I can’t approve of as a human being ― I can’t approve of,” she said, during an interview on Phil Taggart’s Slacker podcast released earlier this year.
She added that she found Kanye’s conduct “upsetting and unsettling”.
“He’s one of those people that’s not 100% normal,” Elly added. “He’s kind of fascinating. It’s a fascinating world to be in for, you know, like a few days.”
Elly Jackson of La Roux Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Despite her extensive work with Kanye, Elly said she didn’t get to know him properly because “you can’t talk about anything normal”.
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“You can’t just have a normal conversation. I didn’t manage to anyway ― I found it impossible,” she revealed. “He’s on [a] show 24 hours a day, it’s just him.
“It’s also kind of amazing to be around. You know, I’ll never be around anything like that again. It was really strange.”
Elly said she got the feeling Kanye wanted to come off as strange, later speaking about some of his behaviour with a mutual friend.
Kanye West at an Oscars party in February Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
“One of his friends that I knew afterwards asked me, ‘You kind of looked at me like [Kanye’s behaviour] was weird, wasn’t it?’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Yeah it was pretty weird, you know, and I saw a couple of things happen.’ ... I found all of it strange.”
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The friend, Elly continued, told Kanye about the conversation, and he apparently was insulted enough to want an apology. Later, she said she wrote him a “creepy” note.
Elly performing in Berlin earlier this year Frank Hoensch via Getty Images
“I remember writing it. I was sat there on my sofa lol’ing to myself like, ‘Dear Kanye,’” she said, calling the whole thing “ridiculous.”
She “didn’t say anything bad about him,” Elly insisted, adding: “He was absolutely lovely to me.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Nicolas Cage To Play Joe Exotic In TV Dramatisation Of Tiger King Star’s Life

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Nicolas Cage has signed up to play Joe Exotic in a dramatisation of the Tiger King star’s colourful life.
The Leaving Las Vegas actor will portray the eccentric zookeeper made famous by the Netflix documentary in an eight-part series being produced by CBS.
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The scripted TV series will focus on the gun-toting wild animal owner who fights to keep his park.
Nicolas Cage JC Olivera via Getty Images
According to Variety, “the series will live in the lion’s den with Joe, explore how he became Joe Exotic, and how he lost himself to a character of his own creation.”
It is based on the Texas Monthly article Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into The World Of A Man Gone Wild, by Leif Reigstad.
The 56-year-old actor will also be executive producer on what will be the Oscar-winner’s first ever TV series.
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The Netflix doc - Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness - was released in March and is estimated to have reached 34.3 million viewers in its first 10 days, according to Nielsen data.
Joe Exotic ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joe Exotic - real name is Joe Schreibvogel - is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for plotting the murder of animal rights activist Carole Baskin.
Last month, Donald Trump responded to calls for a pardon for Exotic, after the president’s son, joked he should look into the Tiger King star’s prison sentence.
When the president was asked about the case during a press conference, he said: “I know nothing about it. He has 22 years for what – what did he do?”
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Trump, who has shown he is not afraid to wield executive privilege, asked the reporters if they would “recommend a pardon” before jokingly adding: “I’ll take a look.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: Download NHS Tracing App 'To End Lockdown' And Four Other Stories You Need To Know

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A trial on a new contact-tracing app begins on the Isle of Wight today, which could be rolled out nationwide if successful.
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So far 28,734 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, the latest figures show.
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Meanwhile, a top US official has rubbished claims by Donald Trump that Covid-19 originated in a Chinese lab, and Stephen Fry has suggested UK theatres may not re-open until next year.
Here are the main stories you need to know about coronavirus today:
Download virus app to save lives and end lockdown, Hancock urges as trial begins
Trials are beginning on a new coronavirus contact-tracing app which ministers say will save lives and help lift Britain out of lockdown.
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NHS and council staff on the Isle of Wight are being urged to download the Covid-19 smartphone app from Tuesday with the rest of the island’s population invited to follow from Thursday.
If the tests are successful it could be rolled out across the country within weeks as ministers seek to shape a strategy to allow some economic activity to resume, with the long-awaited “roadmap” for easing lockdown being published on Sunday.
The Sun reported that industry has been warned some social distancing measures will be required for between six months to a year, with growing fears among the Government’s medical advisers that the coronavirus is seasonal.
An industry source told the newspaper: “If it survives the winter, these measures will have to be in place longer.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said spending £8bn on the furlough scheme to support workers through the pandemic was not “sustainable” which was why “as soon as the time is right, we want to get people back to work and the economy fired up again”.
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Top Trump advisor dismisses president’s claims that coronavirus was created in Chinese lab
A top US health official has poured cold water on President Trump’s claims that coronavirus was created in a lab in China.
Last week Trump speculated that China could have unleashed Covid-19 on the world due to some kind of horrible “mistake”, and even put forward the idea the release was intentional.
But in an interview with National Geographic, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci, said there was no evidence this was true.
He said: “If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats and what’s out there now, [the scientific evidence] is very, very strongly leaning toward this could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated.
“Everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that [this virus] evolved in nature and then jumped species.”
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Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Earlier this week it emerged the White House had blocked Fauci from testifying to a congressional committee examining the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
France finds first case of coronavirus from December, a month earlier than previously thought
A French hospital which has retested old samples from pneumonia patients discovered that it treated a man who had COVID-19 as early as Dec. 27, nearly a month before the French government confirmed its first cases, Reuters reports.
Yves Cohen, head of resuscitation at the Avicenne and Jean Verdier hospitals in the northern suburbs of Paris, told BFM TV that scientists had retested samples from 24 patients treated in December and January who tested negative for the flu.
“Of the 24, we had one who was positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 27,” he told the news channel on Sunday.
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The samples had all initially been collected to detect flu using PCR tests, the same genetic screening process that can also be used to detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in patients infected at the time the sample is collected.
Each sample was retested several times to ensure there were no errors, he added. Neither Cohen nor his team were immediately available for comment on Monday.
France, which has seen almost 25,000 people die from the virus since March 1, confirmed its first three COVID-19 cases on Jan. 24, including two patients in Paris and another in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
Cohen said it was too early to know if the patient whose Dec. 27 test was COVID-19 positive is France’s “patient zero”. Knowing who was the first is critical to understanding how the virus spread.
Supermarket delivery slots for vulnerable people still ‘like gold dust’
Urgent action is still needed to make it easier for vulnerable people to access supermarket delivery slots and other sources of supplies, according to Which?
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The consumer group argued the current system is not working for those who need it the most, leaving vulnerable people at risk of going hungry.
It said it is continuing to hear from people who are struggling to book supermarket delivery slots, unable to find the help they need locally, and in some cases find themselves forced to risk their health to get supplies.
Some vulnerable customers have told Which? that they are staying up into the early hours of the morning in an attempt to book supermarket delivery slots, while others are relying on the kindness of neighbours.
Which? has gathered over 1,000 reports of people who have struggled to access food and supplies amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection and food policy at Which?, said: “Based on the huge number of reports we’re seeing from vulnerable people struggling to get access to basic food and supplies, it’s clear that the current system is not working for those who need it the most.”
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One vulnerable couple, who are relying on a neighbour, described supermarket delivery slots to Which? as “gold dust”.
And a disabled and housebound woman told Which? she had been “trapped with no deliveries for three of the past four weeks”.
PA Media
Stephen Fry’s fears for performing arts amid ‘dark times’
Stephen Fry has said he cannot foresee any theatres opening to live audiences until 2021, adding that these are “dark times indeed” for the performing arts.
Theatres and concert halls around the country were closed following Government advice against visiting leisure venues in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.
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Writing in the Eastern Daily Press about the impact of Covid-19 on the arts, he said: “I cannot see any theatres opening to live audiences before next year, I’m afraid.
“Perhaps March or April, a full year after the first lockdown.
“The very quality that makes theatre so thrilling and compelling – the united presence of an audience clustered together to experience live performance – is what makes the enterprise so unsuited in a period of social distancing.”
Fry added that people in theatre are, like Winston Churchill, “hoping for the best but preparing for the worst”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Shocking Draft US Report Sees 200,000 COVID-19 Cases, 3,000 Deaths Daily By June

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A startling new projection presented by the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows a possible COVID-19 toll uptick to 200,000 cases and 3,000 deaths daily by June 1 in the US.
The numbers come as dozens of states begin to drop strict social distancing requirements and open businesses to workers and customers at President Donald Trump’s urging.
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A rate of 3,000 deaths a day would be about 90,000 deaths a month. That death toll rate would be a 70% increase from the current average of 1,750 a day. The number of current cases of COVID-19 in the nation is about 25,000 daily.
The projected increase, which was incorporated into a chart prepared by FEMA that appeared to include information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could be linked to both relaxed safety measures across the country and increased testing that will uncover more cases. It wasn’t clear what the figures were based on in the document — or what was affecting or could turn around the numbers.
The report, which was first reported by The New York Times, indicated that cases are on the rise in areas around the Great Lakes, in Southern California and in sections of the South and the Northeast.
“The vast majority of Americans have not been exposed to the virus, there is not immunity, and the initial conditions that allowed this virus to spread really quickly across America haven’t really changed,” Johns Hopkins University infectious disease specialist Dr Larry Chang told the Times.
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The Washington Post reported that the model was created by Justin Lessler, associate professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins. He told the Post that the information was a “work in progress” that included a range of possibilities and was not intended as a completed “forecast.” He told the Post, however, that the numbers indicate how quickly COVID-19 could spin out of control, depending on political actions taken.
“There are reopening scenarios where it could get out of control very quickly,” Lessler warned.
The White House dismissed the report, saying that the projections haven’t been vetted by Trump’s coronavirus task force.
“This data is not reflective of any of the modelling done by the task force or data that the task force has analszed,” deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.
White House statement on @nytimes reporting a CDC doc suggests US could see 3k deaths a day... pic.twitter.com/IpzwkJ7Gi7 — Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) May 4, 2020
Trump just raised his own prediction of 60,000 COVID-19 deaths, made just last month, to up to a total of 100,000. “In terms of death … we’re at the lower level, the lowest level predicted,” he declared Sunday.
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White House coronavirus task force health adviser Dr Deborah Birx said in an interview Sunday that “our projections have always been” between 100,000 and 240,000 American lives lost, and that’s with “full mitigation,” meaning safety measures and social distancing.
Currently, there are more than 1.1 million confirmed cases in the US, with close to 70,000 deaths from COVID-19.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington on Monday increased its projections to 135,000 COVID-19 deaths through July. The number is significantly lower than the FEMA report but nearly double its earlier estimate because of relaxed safety measures in several states.
IHME just updated their model, and showed a sharp increase in the number of projected deaths to 134,475. This is in addition to an earlier CDC model that was reported on by @nytimes that showed cases (and deaths) continuing to increase through May. pic.twitter.com/JvWUO7wSLe — Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) May 4, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--Met Gala: Here's What We Reckon The A-List Guests Would Have Worn To This Year's Time-Themed Event

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This should have been the morning where we woke up to a flurry of photos of some of the most famous people in the world, decked out in their finest as they made their way into this year’s Met Gala.
Regrettably, things didn’t quite work out that way, and the only thing making its way past the Met at the moment is a lot of tumbleweed, with New York – and much of the world – still on lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Because of the crisis, the Met Gala was postponed indefinitely, meaning we’re in for a long wait before we see the photos from the “About Time: Fashion And Duration”-themed bash (if ever).
But while we’re without photos, we’re here to help you paint a mental picture, with our rundown of the time-inspired outfits we think some of the famous guests would have worn...
Rihanna
Rihanna at the 2017 Met Gala Noam Galai via Getty Images
Why not start with the Queen of the event herself? In recent years, Rihanna has become renowned for going all out with her Met Gala outfits, sticking to the themes more strictly than pretty much anyone else in attendance (as evidenced with her papal outfit above).
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With that in mind, we can definitely imagine Rihanna embracing this year’s time theme with some sort of elaborate Salvador-Dalí-melting-clocks-inspired look, putting other stars’ half-arsed approaches to shame.
Either that, or go extremely meta and – because she missed 2019′s red carpet – use the “time” theme to wear what she would have worn 12 months earlier earlier, finally giving us the camp number we were crying out for this time last year.
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik at the 2016 Met Gala Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images
Unlike many of her peers, Gigi Hadid has actually at least attempted to stick to the dress code every year, so on a year where the theme is About Time: Fashion And Duration, we could definitely imagine her and Zayn Malik taking the opportunity to make some class of fashion statement to announce her pregnancy to the world.
And seriously, what better place can you think of than the Met Ball for Gigi to announce she’s expecting?
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Katy Perry
Katy Perry on the red carpet of the 2019 Met Ball Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Although her approach to fashion has come a long way since the days of One Of The Boys, Katy Perry often uses the Met Ball as a way of going back to her roots, and wearing something silly and more on the costume-y side.
With this year’s event having a “time” theme – not to mention she and British fiancé Orlando Bloom have a little one on the way – there’s only one thing we can imagine Katy in on that red carpet: a giant bedazzled Big Ben costume. Potentially complete with scaffolding, to give it that authentic 2020 feel (although we wouldn’t fancy sharing a table with her in that).
Billy Porter
Billy Porter makes a grand entrance at the Met Ball in 2019 Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
The fashion of the 1992 Tilda Swinton film Orlando – which included an elaborate Marie Antoinette-esque gown – was said to be a huge inspiration for the theme of this year’s Met Ball.
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We imagine a few stars would have tried their hand at an over-the-top outfit influenced by the former Queen of Versailles, but none would have served quite as hard as Pose star Billy Porter.
Truly, the thought of him strutting in a towering wig and hoop skirt is the only way he could have topped last year’s entrance...
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga in her various incarnations at the 2019 Met Gala PA
As the co-chair of last year’s bash, Lady Gaga pulled out all the stops with her outfit, slowly transitioning between not two, not three, but four different looks, each fitting the “camp” brief perfectly.
Had she been able to return in 2020, we could easily have seen Gaga revisiting the idea, and schooling us all on her specialist subject – only needing one person out of a room of 100 to believe in you fashion, obv – as she delivered reveal after reveal of iconic looks from across the centuries.
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Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep at the premiere of The Laundromat in 2019 Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
One of the most gutting things about the Met Gala not going ahead as planned in 2020 is the fact that Meryl Streep was supposed to be a co-chair, marking what would have been her first time at the event.
We assume Meryl was never going to have gone with anything too garish or ostentatious on the red carpet, but as a co-chair, she’d have had to stay on message, probably keeping it classy with some sort of tasteful nod to a bygone era.
Either that, or she’d have gone all out and dusted her old Mamma Mia! outfit for the full throwback experience.
Cher
Cher at the MTV VMAs in 2010 Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images
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There is quite simply no question that if Cher were to wind up on the guestlist for a “time”-themed fashion event that she would not get that giant wig and leather jacket out of storage.
Still a staple of Cher’s live shows, the iconic look (as seen above) doubly fits the bill not just because it’s a throwback outfit, but also because If I Could Turn Back Time could not be a more perfect anthem for the 2020 Met Gala... or any event, for that matter.
Madonna
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Even though her Met Gala outfits aren’t always exactly appropriate for the theme, no one can say Madonna doesn’t make an effort when it comes to the annual bash.
That being said, we think “Time” is one theme the Queen of Pop might actually commit to, probably using the opportunity to sport an outfit referencing one of her countless reinventions from over the decades (and quite probably sending off a strongly-worded email to her creative team the following morning when she spotted that Cher had the same idea).
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Jared Leto
Jared Leto at the Met Gala in 2018 Dia Dipasupil via Getty Images
Jared Leto always commits, so this year he’d definitely have done full period dress, possibly carrying a functional stone sundial to really hammer his point home.
He’s known for going fully method too, so we could also imagine him kicking off with photographers on the red carpet when their flashbulbs stop him from telling the time on his sundial (probably to then be caught sneaking looks at a phone he’d stashed somewhere on his person).
Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes at the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination Met Gala in 2018 Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images
We’re thinking... a blue suit, maybe with a small clock pin on the lapel.
Cardi B
Cardi B at the Met Gala in 2019 Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
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In recent years, Cardi B has loved throwing on some high-fashion couture, but wearing it in her own unique way, so when the theme is “time”, we have a very clear vision for what she would bring to the occasion.
We’re thinking an enormous, over-the-top, floor-length number – like the above – but somehow incorporating several alarm clocks, which would go off multiple times over the course of the evening, each time sparking a huge cackle from Cardi, and zero laughs from anyone on the surrounding tables.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian on the red carpet of the Rei Kawakubo/Comme Des Garçons:Art Of The In-Between Met Gala in 2017 Jackson Lee via Getty Images
Let’s be real, Kim Kardashian would probably have done her usual trick of wearing a figure-hugging dress with little to do with the theme of the evening.
When someone on Twitter suggested that her simple outfit’s design was actually a nod to her “hourglass” figure, Kim would quote-tweet them with the message “FINALLY someone got it”, despite this not having not occurred to her for even a second beforehand.
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Kanye West
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West at last year's Camp: Notes On Fashion Met Gala John Shearer via Getty Images
Again, Kanye West would probably do his usual dressed-down thing at this year’s Met Gala, but with the addition of a digital watch, which he would gesture to repeatedly in front of as many photographers as possible, just to get the world’s fashion bloggers off his case.
Karlie Kloss
Karlie Kloss at Heavenly Bodies: Fashion And The Catholic Imagination event in 2018 John Shearer via Getty Images
We reckon Karlie Kloss, true to form, would walk the red carpet in something very, very pretty, but with little-to-no relation to the actual event itself.
When a journalist on the red carpet asked her about the theme, Karlie would misunderstand, and think they were asking her for the actual time.
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Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell at the 2015 Met Gala Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Renowned as one of the best dressed women in the world, Naomi Campbell would unquestionably wear something glamorous, extravagant and quintessentially Naomi.
When questioned why she strayed from the night’s theme, the supermodel would reason that as someone who already defies time by arriving late to almost everything, she’s already the living embodiment of the theme. And honestly, who would argue with her?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-05--How To Act Like A Teacher — So Your Kid Actually Listens To You

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Whatever enthusiasm my 5-year-old had for “remote learning” when his school was first shut has gone. He hates video chatting with classmates. He’s not impressed by my mastery of phonetics. Oh and no, he does not want to work on another art project with me. The only discernible skill he has picked up is the art of crushing his parents’ souls negotiation. He vigorously resists structured activities, we cave and then we do the whole dance again the next day.
I didn’t head into Covid-19 lockdown with any delusions about my ability to be a good teacher. But I also didn’t really consider how long this would go on, so it feels like I should step up my game a bit. I spoke with some experts, who shared six simple ways to channel your inner teacher.
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1. Role-play
Kids (understandably) don’t get how hard it is for parents who are totally new at this remote education thing to suddenly master teaching while trying to get their own work done. One way to foster a bit of understanding — and to work through tense moments — is to momentarily flip roles, said Annie Snyder, a senior learning scientist at McGraw-Hill.
“Role-play is used very often in early childhood, primary and elementary settings to help learners work out their own feelings, understand the perspectives of others and solve problems or conflicts,” said Snyder, who holds a doctorate in educational psychology. “It can be a very effective tool for those moments when everybody is tearing out their hair and cabin fever gets to be a little too much.”
Set a timer for 10 minutes or so, tell your kid that they’re the teacher and you’re the student, then reenact whatever scenario you were just struggling through. Hopefully, they’ll get a taste of how challenging it can be to teach and you might get a sense of the challenges they’re working through. When the timer is up, you can continue role-playing or they might decide they’re ready to get back to the task at hand, Snyder said.
2. Tell them: “Repeat after me”
Teachers will often prompt kids to repeat instructions or “retell their understanding of a learning task,” Snyder said, which is an effective way to get on the same page.
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“It can help kids build up their listening skills,” she added. “It can also help parents understand where there may be misunderstandings.”
I tried it today, and it was a total lightbulb moment for me. I thought my son was resisting a school science activity because he’s an obstinate sass bucket. It turned out, he just did not get it. I only realised that, however, when I asked him to walk me through what he thought his teacher’s instructions were, and he was just totally ... off.
3. Keep your academic blocks really, really short
Even if you’ve got older kids, it’s important to remember that people — adults included! — can only focus on tasks in relatively short bursts. There is no clear consensus on exactly what that means, but high school and college classes tend to last about 50 to 60 minutes max.
“Twenty to 25 minutes is a stretch goal for many kids. Some kids can do two minutes.”
For younger kids (say, 12 and under), activities should be closer to the 20-minute range, Snyder said. Even that might be a reach, though, and that’s OK.
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“Twenty to 25 minutes is a stretch goal for many kids. Some kids can do two minutes,” she said. “Parents can stretch it out a bit at a time. I did 30-second increases for my kids to get to the point of 20 to 25 minutes.”
4. Don’t forsake the idea of a daily schedule
When schools were first shut, social media was filled with aspirational daily schedules, and lots of parents were totally onboard. (Me included.) Now, not so much. But experts said mapping out the day is a good discipline to borrow from teachers, and they suggested sticking with it as much as possible — even if that just means mapping out a rough sequence of events rather than slotting in specific times. I repeat: It does not need to be a colour-coded Insta-worthy masterpiece.
“Now more than ever, we want that predictability in our lives, but ourselves and our children,” said Ellen Birnbaum, director of early childhood programs for the community centre 92Y. “Go through what the day is going to be like.”
Kids like a bit of warning about what’s coming next, she added.
5. Be honest with yourself about who your kid is
Good teachers are adept at meeting individual children where they are, noting their particular interests, strengths and weaknesses without expecting them to be like someone else. That is a more challenging skill to cultivate when you’re suddenly a weird hybrid teacher/parent, but acceptance can go a looooong way in making this less painful for everyone.
“You have to know who your child is and what they can handle,” said Sally Tannen, director of the 92Y’s Parenting Center.
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Take Snyder’s child, for example. The education expert admitted her child isn’t particularly into school in the first place and seems even less interested now that he’s at home. Rather than fighting him every step of the way, Snyder said she is trying to help him get through the work he does need to complete by giving him plenty of opportunities to use his physical energy up throughout the day, literally designating a space for him to run laps.
6. Cut yourself — and your kid — some serious slack
This whole remote learning arrangement isn’t just difficult for parents and kids. It’s difficult for teachers, too.
“This is a really hard task, because learning is all about connection and learning in place with someone,” Birnbaum said. If you’ve managed to just get through the day, “pat yourself on the back,” she and Tannen both urged.
Don’t beat yourself up about rough patches or fret that if your kid is less than enthused with your efforts, they’re somehow “bad” or falling behind.
“Remind yourself that this feels hard because it is hard. Even professional teachers and caregivers who are now overseeing their own kids' daily education are struggling.”
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“Resistance is normal and to be expected,” Snyder said.
It can certainly help to do a bit more digging. Is your kid resisting because the task is super boring? Are they hungry? Do they need to run around? (All three experts I spoke with emphasised repeatedly that kids need to be physically active throughout the day, especially when they’re stuck at home.)
Then, channel your inner teacher and be as unflappable as possible, even if it requires some hardcore acting. Try not to yell. Take deep breaths. Remind yourself that this feels hard because it is hard. Even professional teachers and caregivers who are now overseeing their own kids’ daily education are struggling.