thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--A Ranked List Of All Our Lockdown Activities – From Dreamy To Dreary

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We’ve had to get creative when finding ways to stay occupied during lockdown. Some people have gone all out – crafting makeshift Wetherspoons pubs in their gardens to feel right at home. Others have opted for simple tasks: finally getting into that book they bought months ago, or getting stuck into nature.
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Either way, we’re always looking for inspiration of new things to fill those endless hours at home – especially on the days we feel pretty... bored.
So if you’re in need of ideas,or simply want to know how the HuffPost team has been spending their time (good and bad), read on. I asked around our virtual office to see what’s been keeping people busy – and what they’d rather not be doing right now. From best to worse, here are our lockdown activities.
1) Admiring nature in all its forms.
Without a doubt, this is the top preoccupation among HuffPosters right now. “I love planting vegetable seeds and watching them sprout,” says one editor, while our senior reporter says he’s been “watching foxes and squirrels and birds turn my garden into a utopia”, while another colleague else has been stalking the woodpecker at the back of their house – “I’d been hearing him pecking away for weeks but can’t see him”. Plus who doesn’t like the blossoms and butterflies.
2) Cycling those big, empty roads.
Meandering through an empty city on your bike is something you rarely get to do in London. What a dream. And if you live in the countryside, even better.
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3) Learning how to make tacos.
I can vouch for this one. I’m not usually a fan of cookery classes, but after coming across it on this bumper list of online activities, I decided to give it a go. An hour and a half later, I had homemade salsa, homemade tacos, and a lovely veggie filling. In fact, they were so good, I made them again the next night.
Did a taco cooking class live from Mexico City with people from all over the world with @auramexcooking. SO good and I now know how to make tacos and salsa from scratch. Would fully recommend if you're looking for stuff to do in lockdown (and it's only 7 quid). 🌮🌮🌮 pic.twitter.com/sXKJuUy0Lq — Amy Packham (@amypackham15) April 27, 2020
4) Doing Yoga.
Specially, yoga with Adriene. Her 30-day ‘Home’ course has captured the hearts of millions during lockdown. But tell us, how do we stay motivated when the month is up and we no longer get to hang out with our BFF and Benji the dog?
5) Playing Animal Crossing.
Our Life reporter says she’s been playing a “disgusting” amount of this on her Nintendo Switch – which arrived just in time for quarantine! “It’s been a great escape from lockdown life and very therapeutic. A lot of my friends and family are on it too, so we’ve been bonding by playing together and staying connected.”
6) Baking Bad.
Yes, we’re all loving the banana bread – and even those who aren’t usual master bakers are having a go. It might not always go right (see: our Life reporter, Tasha Hinde) – but it’s a right laugh in the process. The reason it doesn’t rank higher? Sometimes, just sometimes, baking can cause a lot of unnecessary stress.
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7) Actual cooking.
We’ll let you into a little secret. The HuffPost canteen is the best. But now we’re all working from home and staying indoors rather than going out to eat with our mates, we have both the time to cook and imperative to cook for ourselves. We’ve been drooling over so many delicious recipes but is this a habit we’ll continue in our post-corona life.
8) Online beer festivals.
Drinking a crate of beer on a Friday night while listening to the brewers discuss how it was made? Brilliant. Spending the whole day on the sofa the next day because you just can’t move? Not so brilliant. How are you hanging? Let me count the ways.
9) Bingeing TV.
We have all the time in the world to watch TV and we don’t need any motivation for doing so, but some of us were getting TV-ed out. We’d completed Tiger King, won at Quiz and even Googlebox was following a law of diminishing returns. Then, Normal People dropped on iPlayer and we’ve feasted on the lot, downloaded the Spotify mix, listened to the accompanying podcast and been left browsing Argos for Connell’s sexy chain.
7) Zoom calls with friends.
Catching up with your nearest and dearest is great, especially if you’re having a drink or two. But sadly, the constant scheduled Zoom calls are stressing a few of us out – and we’re suffering from screen fatigue. Sorry, not sorry.
8) DIY.
Yes, it’s great to get all those odd jobs done. But the thought of getting started? It’s tough. Let alone mustering up the motivation to finish the job.
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9) Running.
The park paths might be busier with runners, but for those who were happy joggers before lockdown – it’s just not as fun anymore. “I haven’t been for a single run during lockdown because it feels like a government mandated run and it’s sucked all the enjoyment out of it,” says one HuffPost staffer.
Plus, those who are new to running just hate it. “I get bored, I get the worst cramps, physically and mentally my body just doesn’t want me to run further.”
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10) Sunbathing in the garden.
This is great if you have a garden and it’s sunny. Not so great if you’re in a block of flats, or when the heavens open. A tricky one, thus it’s lower ranking. Though if you fancy sunbathing indoors, here’s our uiltimate cheat’s guide.
11) The endless housework.
Being at home all the time means we are ALWAYS WASHING UP. Or cleaning, or organising, or moving stuff around. And we just don’t want to do it. Okay?
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12) Obsessing over loo roll.
Anyone else stressing about getting down to the last roll and wondering whether there will be any left in the supermarket? Deary me, it’s not March anymore.
13) Sorting out holiday cancellations.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Fixated On The Next Lockdown Review? You're Not Alone. Here's How To Cope

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus lockdown. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
If you’re anything like us, you’re counting down the day until the government’s next lockdown review like your life depends on it.
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What will Boris Johnson say on Sunday? Will we be able to see our families or will we be quarantined for another three weeks? Could easing restriction cause a second peak of the virus?
The constant overthinking is bad for our minds, causing us to feel anxious, overwhelmed or even fear the impending review. So, why is this the case?
“People are in a state of psychological conflict,” says Philip Corr, a professor of psychology at City University. On one hand, there’s the fear of infection which strongly motivates us to stay home, but on the other hand, there’s the desire to return to normal life. “This leads to what is known as ‘goal-conflict’,” he says, “and if it’s not resolved, it can lead to anxiety, rumination and worry.”
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Our brains are wired to think about outcomes. For some, the easing of lockdown, while welcomed, may make their anxiety worse, says Corr, because the guidance is bound to be ambiguous, leading us to think: “I can do this, but not that. What if I’m placing myself at greater chance of being infected, etc.”
Easing measures could also lead to an increased death rate. “This will come as a terrible psychological blow to many people,” he says. “Their hopes dashed and their sense of control and general predictability of the world will be undermined. This is psychologically debilitating.”
Prof Corr recommends not pinning all our hopes, thoughts and dreams on the upcoming review. “A ‘review’ is a summary of the available evidence, and must be couched in terms of different courses of action, along with caveats,” he says – this doesn’t help people’s general anxiety, he adds, because we crave “some degree of certainty”.
So, how can we try to be more open, whatever the outcome of the review? “We need to have purpose in our everyday lives now,” says Prof Corr, “and not just to look forward to some future state of predicted wellbeing.”
We can look ahead to the future easing of restrictions, he says, but more “psychologically meaningful” are the plans we’re making today, or this week.
“For example, instead of hoping for opportunity to be with family again, be with them now via remote means. Acceptance of the current situation is important – sitting back and waiting for it to end is likely only to lead to psychological distress.”
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You could also practice gratitude forecasting. Professor Robert Emmons, known as the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, told HuffPost UK this is the best way to boost positivity right now. “Imagine how grateful you will be when life returns to normal,” he said. “Consider simple pleasures you’re currently deprived of, and then visualise experiencing those once again.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Coronavirus Suicide Concerns As Many Struggle To Access Mental Health Support, Charity Finds

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A quarter of people who have tried to access mental health support during lockdown have been unable to get the help they need, according to mental health charity Mind.
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In an ongoing survey about the toll of coronavirus on mental health, which has reached 8,200 people, people cited difficulty getting in contact with their GP or mental health team (24%) as one of the main reasons for this lack of support. Others felt unable to use, or uncomfortable using, phone or video call technology (22%) or said appointments were cancelled (22%).
One respondent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “My mental health has got worse. I went to A&E suicidal and was told that there was nothing they could do. I contacted the crisis team and they said the same.”
Some people are also actively avoiding seeking support as they worry their problems aren’t important enough, given the coronavirus outbreak.
Paul Farmer, Mind’s chief executive, said the results of the survey are “deeply concerning”. “People with mental health problems have been hit hard by the current situation,” he said.
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The Mad Covid project has been sharing stories from mental health service users throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. After conducting interviews with people using these services across the country, it also found respondents faced difficulties accessing crisis services, some of which appear to be running a scaled-back service, as well as uncertainty regarding crisis provision.
One respondent, called Dylan*, said: “I phoned the crisis team, in line with my care plan, and the worker on the other end of the phone told me she thought I needed something more to be put in place but in the end wasn’t able to provide or arrange anything despite us both agreeing it was necessary.”
Suicide Crisis, a charity offering a safe place for people who are suicidal, witnessed a 40% increase in the number of people contacting its crisis service in the days after the lockdown was extended.
“The positive is that they were seeking help,” Joy Hibbins, the charity’s CEO and founder, tells HuffPost UK. “It’s important we remind everyone there’s a lot of help available from charities all through this lockdown period.”
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A high percentage of people accessing the Suicide Crisis service are also engaged with mental health services, but their usual psychiatric appointments aren’t taking place, which has led to a deterioration in people’s mental health.
“I understand clinicians are checking in with them by phone, but it’s not the same as the regular appointments they used to have,” she says. “And if their mental health deteriorates, it can be very difficult to get hold of their clinician. This is why they are accessing our crisis services instead.”
Mental health experts have warned that governments need to give “urgent consideration” to their public health response to prevent any impact of the pandemic on the number of suicides. Writing in The Lancet Psychiatry, they said an increase in suicides is not inevitable, provided preventive action is taken.
“It’s so important that mental health services are up and running again as quickly as possible,” says Hibbins. “I worry this is going to happen too slowly. It should be a priority that face-to-face appointments can resume as soon as possible. It needs to be done as safely as possible, of course.”
Evidence shows that when people do not get mental health support early enough, they are more likely to reach crisis point and need emergency help.
“The coronavirus pandemic is not just a physical health emergency. People with mental health problems must not be forgotten.”” - Paul Farmer, Mind
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One fifth of people who have sought support for their mental health have turned to charities like Mind and community groups, the survey revealed. Charities are now calling for mental health to be a government priority during the pandemic, particularly as many of them have become go-tos for those in crisis.
Responding to Mind’s survey, Claire Murdoch, NHS national director for mental health, said: “The NHS is pulling out all the stops to respond to the biggest global health threat in a century, while also ensuring people can still safely access the mental health services they need, so our message to anyone experiencing poor mental health is: the NHS is here for you, please help us help you, and come forward for the care you need.
“Frontline teams are offering flexible options to keep people safe from the virus and have led a significant increase in phone and video consultations and online support, which will continue to be the right choice for many in the coming months and years, but face-to-face appointments have been and will continue to be available for anyone who needs them.”
A Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: “We are absolutely committed to supporting everyone’s mental wellbeing, especially during this unprecedented period.
“People can continue to access mental health services, including virtually, and we have released new tailored guidance to help people deal with this outbreak through practical tips and advice.
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“We are already spending record amounts on mental health and we recently provided £5million to mental health charities to fund additional services for people struggling with their mental health as a result of the pandemic.”
Farmer said the charity will “closely follow” the measures the NHS is taking, ensuring that resource is spread appropriately, and strive to support people through their services as best they can.
“The coronavirus pandemic is not just a physical health emergency,” he added. “People with mental health problems must not be forgotten.”
*Name has been changed by the Mad Covid project to maintain anonymity.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--The Best BBQ Food To Buy From Supermarkets In 2020 – Revealed

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The warmer weather has once again coincided with a bank holiday, meaning those lucky people with gardens are likely to be getting out their barbecues for a summery feast. Even if you don’t have any outside space, you could still have an indoor barbecue, by cooking all the food in the oven instead. Hey, you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got.
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If you’re yet to do your weekly food shop, you might want to add some of these items to your list, as The Good Housekeeping Institute has revealed the results of its annual BBQ Taste Test, now in its second year. Or, bookmark this page for future, post-corona times when you can enjoy the feast with family and friends.
The actual testing was undertaken and led by the GHI expert team and a panel of testers before the Covid-19 situation escalated. This year, they tested 182 products across 12 categories.
Aldi was the big winner, taking home first place in three categories. And M&S once again proved that it continues to deliver on taste for hungry shoppers.
Angela Trofymova, head of food testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute said: “Obviously this year, the situation is sadly very different, as we can’t dash between supermarkets as we’re used to – or even get to a supermarket if we’re isolating. Nonetheless, we hope the results give some guidance for those looking to host a BBQ for their household this May Bank Holiday weekend.”
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The winners:
Veggie burger:
Lidl - 2 Plant-Based Burger Patties, £1.99, 227g – 84/100
Sausages:
Co-op - Spicy Sausage Swirls, £2.85 for 230g - 75/100 (This won’t be in store until the 17 June)
Beef burgers:
Edwards of Conwy, sold through Ocado - 4 Welsh Beef Quarter Pounder, £3.49, 454g – 88/100
Quirky burger:
M&S - Hoisin Duck Burger, £4.00, 300g – 87/100
Kebab:
Aldi - Peri Peri Chicken King Kebab, £4.99, 924g – 88/100
Chicken:
Farmison (online butcher) - Fennel & Lemon Spiced Spatchcock Chicken, £14.95, 1.4kg – 86/100
Ribs:
Aldi - Slow Cooked Smoky BBQ Pork Ribs, £2.99, 600g – 83/100
Veggie sausages:
Co-op - Gro Sizzlin’ Sausages, £3.00, 350g – 86/100
Summer dessert:
Aldi - Sicilian Lemon Glazed Cheesecake, £2.49, 550g – 77/100 (This won’t be in store until the 18 May)
M&S - Our Best Ever Trifle, £5.00, 900g - 77/100
Rib eye steak:
Daylesford (online butcher) - Organic Beef Rib Eye Steak, £10.49, 225g – 84/100
Ketchup:
Sainsbury’s - by Sainsbury’s Tomato Ketchup, £0.65, 460g – 83/100
Potato salad:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Starmer’s PMQs Showed Johnson Has No Hiding Place In The Commons Any More

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Harold Macmillan said it made him “physically sick”. Tony Blair said it was like being led every week to the “execution table”. Every PM says they hate PMQs, but the fact is that it’s as much of a struggle for leaders of the Opposition too. Even those who notch up jousting victories (William Hague, Ed Miliband) can end up getting hammered come the real contest of a general election.
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. PA
Yet when you’re a new party leader, miles behind in the polls with a rump of MPs behind you, it still provides an invaluable shop window to grab the public’s attention. Keir Starmer knows he won’t be winning many if any parliamentary votes in the next few years, but he can ‘win’ PMQs and, more importantly, look like a prime minister-in-waiting.
In his first sparring match with Boris Johnson, Starmer didn’t achieve a knockout but he undeniably won on points. That’s because he asked all the right questions about the coronavirus pandemic: continuing worries over testing, care homes, protective equipment and the dominant fact that the UK has now the highest number of recorded deaths in Europe.
Starmer managed to get over his main strategic message that the government had been too ‘slow’ to react to the crisis. But he also used the prop of No.10’s own graph showing how badly the UK was doing internationally, and quoted scientific adviser Angela McLean’s own warning that “we need to get to grips” with why so many old people were dying in care homes.
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For someone sometimes accused of being too nice to Johnson, he showed a ruthlessness too in citing the PM’s ill-advised phrase about our “apparent success” in fighting Covid-19. His barb about four days of sub-100,000 daily tests for the disease - “What does the prime minister think was so special about April 30 that meant that testing that day was so high?” was further proof that he prefers the rapier to the meatcleaver.
And as the PM unveiled a new ‘ambition’ to get to 200,000 tests a day by the end of May, the Labour leader again plugged away at the gap between capacity and reality. New figures put out at the No.10 press conference made the point for him. The PM often talks about ‘flattening the curve’, but the curve for testing looks all too flat right now.
And although the number of deaths and of cases of coronavirus is thankfully falling, it appears the peak is turning into a long plateau. Johnson once boasted he would ‘squash the sombrero’ but the current asymmetric graph now looks more like a misshapen Stetson. That means a long tail that will make his exit from the lockdown all the more precarious, and give Starmer more time to keep looking back at the sheer bulk of the mountain so far.
There’s no question that Johnson is a formidable political operator, not least on the campaign stump. Meanwhile, Starmer has yet to prove he has really changed his party in the voters’ eyes. His handling of his own general secretary’s appointment will be an acid test of how good he is at providing answers of his own, rather than asking questions of others.
By contrast, the PM has that X-factor that cheers his own party and can often cheer up the nation. He currently enjoys huge public support and could even get a feelgood factor going when he partially lifts the lockdown on Monday (meet your friends outdoors, visit a pavement cafe, the overnight briefing suggests).
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His vow today that he has “absolutely no intention of returning to the A-word [austerity]” will have plenty of appeal to the blue collar conservatives in those Red Wall seats he’s made his own. If, as ex-No.10 Labour adviser Gavin Kelly wrote today (see below), Johnson takes up the young Winston Churchill’s attack on the ‘national evil’ of poverty pay and insecure jobs, Labour could be left squeezed more than ever.
Never forget that at the last election Johnson also pulled off the extraordinary sleight of hand of dissociating himself from the Tory governments of the past decade, presenting his administration as almost brand new.
Yet Starmer began today to show that even Johnson can’t outrun the old adage that with power comes responsibility. No one wished it on anyone, but this coronavirus pandemic is on his watch, the Labour leader’s charge sheet says. The PM showed signs of trying some political distancing from the worst aspects of the crisis, saying that the lack of PPE was “enraging”, that the death toll was “appalling”, almost as if he were not the one in charge.
But as the PM looked around the chamber for support for his words, there was no one. Instead of the usual roars of approval he would normally get from his massed ranks of new MPs, there was a strange Zoom-disjointed quiet. And even when the noise returns, Starmer showed there may be no hiding place in the Commons any more, no retreating behind an easy quip and a wall of sound. Forced to rely on facts and argument not bluster, Johnson will have to raise his own game.
PMQs over the next four years will be fascinating. We could see the chamber turn into a bully pulpit for the high priest of populism, or a dock for the defendant. Starmer’s main challenge is to avoid looking like he’s sniping from the sidelines, especially as many voters think the PM is doing an impossible job well. But his approach of quietly damning questions - ‘how on earth did it come to this?’ was clever because it was unanswerably open-ended - could prove very effective if it catches the public mood.
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This week, Matt Hancock suggested he didn’t like Rosena Allin-Khan’s “tone” as she listed government failures to date. Yet you can bet that the tone No.10 is most worried by is Starmer’s, that polite but firm prosecutorial voice that rings in their ear.
Quote Of The Day
“This should be a new golden age for cycling.”
Boris Johnson risks an ‘on your bike’ moment as he floats alternatives to mass transit commuting
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
The UK officially became the country in Europe with the highest death toll from Covid-19, with 30,076 people recorded as dying from the disease.
The actual total figure of direct and indirect deaths could be as high as 54,000, according to a former ONS statistician.
Boris Johnson revealed that the first relaxation in social distancing measures would take place next Monday, the day after his address to the nation.
The PM said it had been easier to build up testing capacity “on the way out than it was as the epidemic took off”, citing “particular difficulties” at the time.
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The PM’s spokesman clarified that when he set a new target of 200,000 tests by the end of May, he was referring to ‘capacity’, not actual tests.
Scotland Yard said that it was not taking any action against Professor Neil Ferguson after he had accepted responsibility for his error of judgment in breaching the lockdown conditions.
What I’m Reading
Churchill, Johnson And The Low Paid - Gavin Kelly
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--MP Who Returned To Work As A Carer 'Sacked' After Speaking Out Over Lack Of PPE

Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome. Ollie Millington via Getty Images
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A Labour MP has been “sacked” from her job as a care worker in a retirement village after she spoke out against a national shortage of protective equipment to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
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Nadia Whittome, who represents Nottingham East, says she was told by care company Extra Care on Tuesday that she should not return to work after she made comments in the local and national media about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) based on her experiences on the frontline.
The MP stressed she had not portrayed Extra Care negatively in the media. Appearing on BBC Newsnight last month, Whittome spoke about care workers using “visors that people have made at home and donated” because they don’t have the correct masks.
“We’re scared and we don’t feel as though our government is keeping us safe because there isn’t enough PPE,” she told the programme.
The 23-year-old, the UK’s youngest MP, returned to her pre-parliament job in March and said she would donate the salary from her part-time role to a local Covid-19 support fund.
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Whittome had been working at Lark Hill retirement village in Nottingham.
The Extra Care Charitable Trust, which runs the site, described reports of a shortage of PPE at Lark Hill as “inaccurate” and said it has had to “invest a significant amount of staff time reassuring our residents as a result”.
Carers, right across our country, are putting their lives on the line for others but they aren't being provided the Personal Protective Equipment they need.
No one should be sacked for speaking out.https://t.co/RcmU60CxJN — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 6, 2020
Whittome said on Wednesday: “It has been an honour to return to work in social care alongside my former colleagues and many of the residents I used to care for.
“It is my duty - not just as an MP but as a front line worker with a voice in the media - to be honest about the lack of PPE and testing as this is putting the lives of care workers and those they care for at risk.
“I am appalled that Extra Care have chosen this course of action, without following any due process and without me ever having portrayed them negatively in the media. I will continue to speak the truth about my frontline experiences and I condemn care companies who try to gag staff for speaking out and raising concerns.
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“I can survive being effectively sacked for speaking out, because I have another income. But for so many people in social care - who work a skilled, exhausting and now dangerous job for poverty pay - speaking out is not an option. This is wrong, and dangerous for care home residents and patients.
“I am now asking care staff up and down the country who have experienced unfair pressure, threats or disciplinary action at work for speaking out about PPE to contact my office. This information will be treated confidentially and will help to bring together a body of evidence on what many of us have known for some time - that care workers are undervalued, underpaid, not properly protected and fear speaking out due to their precarious terms of employment.”
A spokeswoman for the ExtraCare Charitable Trust told the Mirror: “Lark Hill is the largest retirement village in the UK and home to 419 older people with an average age of 82 years. Our charity’s staff are working day and night to ensure the safety and welfare of our residents who are particularly vulnerable during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“As a result of rigorous infection control measures which include a full supply of personal protective equipment, we are relieved to report that no deaths have occurred within the Lark Hill community as a result of Covid-19. Our vigilance, care and concern continue.
“We value our relationship with Nadia as we do with all MPs associated with our retirement communities. Nadia joined us as a casual worker, to help our care team and we welcomed her contribution, providing support on eight care shifts during March and April.
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“Our in-house care team are now fulfilling our needs at this time and Nadia’s help is no longer needed.
“At Lark Hill, we have over three months’ supply of personal protective equipment, including over 25,000 pairs of gloves, 7,700 aprons and nearly 6,000 masks; we have access to further equipment should we need it.
“Reports that we have a PPE shortage are inaccurate and have caused concern amongst our residents; we have had to invest a significant amount of staff time reassuring our residents as a result.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Daniel Radcliffe Reading Harry Potter Is Just The Magic We Needed

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Chapter One: The Boy Who Made The Internet Siriusly Lose Its Mind.
It’s been nearly a decade since the Daniel Radcliffe last starred in a Harry Potter film. And now, after all that time ...
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As part of Harry Potter at Home, an initiative to bring Hogwarts to everyone as coronavirus has us Muggles self-isolating, Daniel is returning to the Wizarding World.
The actor is teaming up with a number of other celebrities, including Stephen Fry, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning and Eddie Redmayne, to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone chapter by chapter.
Here’s a preview:
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All 17 chapters of the book are set to be released in weekly videos on WizardingWorld.com, while an audio version will also be on Spotify.
The video of Daniel reading chapter one is already out, and clips barely hit the internet before Twitter started going riddikulus...
Daniel Radcliffe is reading the first chapter of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone for us all!!!
I'M CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!
This made my quarantine 😭😭🥺❤❤ pic.twitter.com/o1WSMvWFcl — fran Radson Driver (@Harmione4eever) May 5, 2020
daniel radcliffe: "he couldn't know that at this very moment, people meeting up in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: 'to harry potter, the boy who lived'"
me: pic.twitter.com/vOaXQ2e30t — ˢᵗᵉᶠ ⎊🏳🌈 (@uncleofthunder) May 5, 2020
me listening to daniel radcliffe read the first chapter of philosopher’s stone pic.twitter.com/Qh5mYsFZB1 — revenge of the 5th (@staircasebaIlet) May 5, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Lady Gaga Is Here To Help You Escape The Real World With A 'Journey To Chromatica'

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We may not be allowed to leave our houses, but Lady Gaga is about to take us on a journey – to Chromatica.
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The US singer has announced the new release date for her latest album, which was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic last month.
With the world in need of some serious cheering up, Gaga has seemingly had a rethink about unveiling her new music to the world, with Chromatica now set to be released on 29 May.
Announcing the news on Instagram, she wrote: “The journey continues. You can officially join me on #Chromatica on May 29.”
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The album – Gaga’s sixth – was originally set to arrive on 10 April, before the health crisis caused havoc in the entertainment industry.
She said at the time: “This is such a hectic and scary time for all of us, and while I believe art is one of the strongest things we have to provide joy and healing to each other during times like this, it just doesn’t feel right to me to release this album with all that is going on during this global pandemic.
“Instead I prefer that we spend this time focusing on finding solutions.”
Following up 2016′s Joanne, Chromatica has already spawned lead single Stupid Love, which was released in March.
The album will also feature guest spots from Sir Elton John and Ariana Grande, as well as an appearance from K-pop girl group Blackpink.
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Last month, the Gaga helped raise $127m (£102m) for coronavirus relief when she helped organise the One World: Together At Home event.
The live-streamed virtual concert, a collaboration with Global Citizen, saw musicians from around the world performing from inside their homes.
The money raised will support the Covid-19 Response Fund, powered by the UN Foundation, which will globally fund essential PPE, supplies and testing kits.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--UK Coronavirus Testing Stays Below 100,000 For Fourth Day Running

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The UK is slipping further from the target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day that it had set and achieved by the end of April, with fewer than 70,000 carried out in the last 24-hour period.
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Just 69,463 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, housing secretary Robert Jenrick told the daily Downing Street press conference.
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Hancock announced last week that 122,347 tests had been conducted on Thursday, but since Saturday the UK has never subsequently returned to that high. That’s despite Boris Johnson on Wednesday setting the government a new target of having capacity to carry out 200,000 tests a day by the end of May.
Ministers have faced accusations of massaging the figures to meet the target set by Hancock by counting tests delivered to people’s homes that had not yet been returned to labs with a sample.
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The number of tests stood at 84,806 on May 4, 85,126 on May 3, and 76,496 on May 2.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “Far from delivering on the promise of 100,000 completed tests a day, testing numbers have now fallen three days in a row.
“A test, trace and isolate strategy is crucial to tackling this virus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Rosena Allin-Khan Responds To Matt Hancock After 'Tone Policing' Row

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Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan said said she does not “want or need” an apology from Matt Hancock, after the health secretary told her to change her “tone”.
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Hancock triggered a backlash yesterday when he criticised the shadow mental health minister, who is a serving A&E doctor, for the way she asked questions in the Commons.
Allin-Khan had warned the government’s coronavirus testing strategy had “cost lives”.
Writing for HuffPost UK today, Allin-Khan said she “didn’t expect him to try to police my tone of voice”.
“As an MP and as a doctor, I have a duty to ask the government the kind of questions the frontline are asking. If my colleagues feel a lack of testing has cost lives, I will ask about that,” she said.
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“I’m not here to make this personal. I don’t want or need an apology from Matt Hancock for critiquing my tone.
“The only thing I want is the government to fulfil its duty of care to the NHS and healthcare staff and support them through this crisis.”
She added: “Medics who are delivering this tragic news day after day are seeing the startling effects of this virus, and the effects of the government strategy first-hand.”
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Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Allin-Khan told Hancock: “Frontline workers like me have had to watch families break into pieces as we deliver the very worst of news to them, that the ones they love most in this world have died.
“The testing strategy has been non-existent. Community testing was scrapped, mass testing was slow to roll out and testing figures are now being manipulated.”
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The MP for Tooting, who has been working in a hospital in her constituency during the coronavirus outbreak, added: “Many frontline workers feel that the government’s lack of testing has cost lives and is responsible for many families being unnecessarily torn apart in grief.”
Hancock told Allin-Khan she “might do well to take a leaf out of the shadow secretary of state’s book in terms of tone”.
“I’m afraid what she said is not true. There’s been a rapid acceleration in testing over the last few months including getting to 100,000 tests a day,” he added.
The health secretary had earlier welcomed the “responsible and reasonable” manner in which Jon Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, had asked questions.
Boris Johnson today set a new “ambition” for creating the capacity for 200,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Florian Schneider, Kraftwerk Co-Founder, Dies Aged 73

Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider has died at the age of 73.
The band confirmed news of his death in a statement on Wednesday, revealing the musician had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Kraftwerk band member Florian Schneider has died Lynn Goldsmith via Getty Images
Florian was a pioneer of electronic pop, being a member of the German band for nearly 40 years.
Hits like Autobahn and The Model, albums like Trans-Europe Express and The Man Machine, and the band’s groundbreaking tours – which at times them replaced by automata on stage – were hugely influential on synth music during the 1970s and 1980s.
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In a statement, the band said: “Kraftwerk co-founder and electro pioneer Ralf Hütter has sent us the very sad news that his friend and companion over many decades, Florian Schneider, has passed away from a short cancer disease just a few days after his 73rd birthday.”
The Guardian reported that Florian died a week ago and had already had a private burial.
Florian Schneider, second from left, with Kraftwerk Gie Knaeps via Getty Images
Florian first began working with former bandmate Hütter in 1968, founding Kraftwerk together two years later.
He remained a member, both touring and releasing records, until quitting in 2008.
Hütter previously described his bandmate as a “sound perfectionist”, adding: “If the sound isn’t up to a certain standard, he doesn’t want to do it.”
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Kraftwerk’s musical output influenced countless artists including Depeche Mode, New Order and Daft Punk.
David Bowie named the 1977 Heroes album track V-2 Schneider after Florian.
Kraftwerk’s songs Numbers and Trans-Europe Express were heavily sampled in Afrika Bambaataa’s influential 1982 hip-hop single Planet Rock. More recently, Coldplay sampled their 1981 track Computer Love for the song Talk in 2005, while Jay-Z and Dr Dre used elements of Trans-Europe Express on their collaboration Under Pressure.
Ultravox’s Midge Ure was among the first to pay tribute, calling Florian “way ahead of his time”, while Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos said he was a “big inspiration in my life”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Watch Live: Robert Jenrick Holds Daily Coronavirus Update

Watch Live: Robert Jenrick Holds Daily Coronavirus Update
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick leads the coronavirus press briefing alongside Professor Yvonne Doyle. It comes after Boris Johnson indicated that some lockdown measures may be eased from next week.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--I Don't Need Matt Hancock To Apologise – I Want The Government To Support NHS Staff

Rosena Allin-Khan and Matt Hancock pictured in the Commons Screenshot
Frontline workers, including myself, have had to watch families break into pieces as they deliver the very worst of news – that those they love the most have died.
Having been an A&E doctor and a humanitarian doctor working in disaster zones across the world, I have become used to death. I have become used to the painful, universal sound of a person losing a loved one. I have become used to seeing the expression change in someone’s eyes when they realise their relative has gone for good. It does not get any easier, but it is an honour, as a medic, to be able to offer comfort to relatives in their time of greatest need.
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Medics who are delivering this tragic news day after day are seeing the startling effects of this virus, and the effects of the government strategy first-hand.
So when in the House of Commons yesterday, I reflected the concerns of many of my frontline colleagues and asked the health secretary Matthew Hancock about his government’s almost non-existent testing strategy, I didn’t expect him to try to police my tone of voice.
The facts are clear. Community testing was scrapped, mass testing was slow to roll out, and testing figures are now being manipulated.
We all want the government to succeed in tackling this virus and save as many lives as possible, but these are genuine concerns which cannot simply be deflected by ministers.
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In order to get ahead of this virus, mass testing is vital. It is disappointing then, that in the last few days, the government has not been close to meeting its 100,000 tests a day target – this was not supposed to be a one-off, on the last day of April – but a staging post to a much bigger number. Boris Johnson previously stated the aim of hitting 250,000 tests a day.
“I’m not here to make this personal. I don’t want or need an apology from Matthew Hancock for critiquing my tone.”
Testing serves a vital purpose – and among frontline staff, access to tests so they can get back to work once they have the all clear is crucial.
I have had to speak to relatives over the phone to tell them that their loved one is dying. If a hospital has the ability to allow a family member to come and say goodbye, the family has the agonising decision of which family member to choose, as only one visitor is allowed. Behind full PPE, with only my eyes visible, I cannot comfort a relative like I used to; I cannot offer a hug for moral support; I cannot stand within two metres. The sadness and anger after a shift, that some of these deaths could have been completely avoided haunts you.
As an MP and as a doctor, I have a duty to ask the government the kind of questions the frontline are asking. If my colleagues feel a lack of testing has cost lives, I will ask about that.
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I’m not here to make this personal. I don’t want or need an apology from Matthew Hancock for critiquing my tone. The only thing I want is the government to fulfil its duty of care to the NHS and healthcare staff and support them through this crisis.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Restrictions On Gay And Bisexual Men Giving Blood Could Be Eased For Coronavirus Plasma Trials

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Rules that block some gay and bisexual men from donating blood could be eased to allow them to donate to Covid-19 plasma trials, a minister has suggested.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are not automatically prevented from giving blood, but they must have had no sex for three months to be eligible to donate.
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Women and equalities minister Liz Truss told the Commons she would ask health secretary Matt Hancock whether these restrictions could be changed to allow this group to take part in new trials of a Covid-19 treatment that uses donated blood plasma.
One London hospital is trialling a treatment to see the benefit of using the plasma of those who have recovered from coronavirus (file picture) kuarmungadd via Getty Images
London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital last week announced that it is trialling the treatment, known as convalescent plasma, to see if patients whose bodies are not producing sufficient antibodies to fight Covid-19 benefit from a new treatment using the plasma of those who have recovered from the virus.
During women and equalities questions on Wednesday, Tory MP Robert Largan asked: “Can my right honourable friend tell me why a married, monogamous gay male couple living in the High Peak cannot donate blood or plasma including to the ongoing vital Covid-19 trial?”
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Truss responded: “I appreciate that many gay and bisexual men want to contribute to the efforts to fight this virus.
“The rules that specify the conditions for donating blood are set by the Committee on the Safety of Blood Tissues and Organs.
“I am taking up this matter with the health secretary to see what changes could be made.”
The NHS Blood and Transplant agency says the three-month wait for MSM is required to “reduce the risk of any very recently acquired infections not being detected on screening and further tests” as this group is at an “increased risk of acquiring certain infections through sex”.
The Committee on the Safety of Blood Tissues and Organs recommended in 2011 that the lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood be lifted and it was reduced to a one-year abstinence requirement.
In 2017 that was cut to a three-month requirement and in 2019 an NHS steering group was set up to investigate whether a more “individualised risk assessment approach” could be taken to bring restrictions on gay and bisexual men more in line with those on heterosexuals.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--No.10 Claims Coronavirus Deaths In Care Homes Are Now Falling

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The number of people dying of coronavirus in care homes is now falling, Downing Street has claimed.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said the prime minister’s mention of a “palpable improvement” in care homes in recent days was in reference to statistics showing the number of deaths there is now reducing.
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But No.10 could not immediately provide statistics to back up its claims.
The latest figures published on Tuesday showed deaths in care homes rising week on week up to April 24 with only hospital deaths falling, prompting deputy chief scientific adviser Angela McLean to say the UK was yet to “get to grips with” the situation.
Asked about Johnson’s comment at prime minister’s questions in the Commons, the spokesperson said: “Deaths in care homes and hospitals are both falling.
“That is what that was a reference to.”
He added: “Deaths in care homes are now falling as they are in hospitals.
“But I think we’re also clear we’ve got more that we still need to do in dealing with the spread of the virus in care homes and we are working hard on that with Public Health England and others.”
Asked to provide the figures, the spokesperson said: “Let me see whether the figures are published yet but certainly statistics we’ve seen show that deaths in care homes and hospitals are both falling.”
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Deaths in care homes continued to rise as hospital deaths fell up to April 24, figures released on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics showed HuffPost UK
Johnson said earlier: “There is an epidemic going on in care homes, which is something I bitterly regret, and we have been working very hard for weeks to get it down.
“A huge amount of effort has been gone into by literally tens of thousands of people to get the right PPE into care homes, to encourage workers in care homes to understand what is needed.”
At PMQs, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer picked up on McLean’s comments, asking: “Yesterday’s figures that show that whilst happily in hospitals it looks as though deaths are falling, deaths in care homes continue to go up.
“At the press conference last night, the deputy chief scientific adviser said, and I quote: ‘What this shows us is that there’s a real issue that we need to get to grips with in relation to what’s happening in care homes.’
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“I couldn’t agree more, but 12 weeks after the health secretary declared that we’re in a health crisis, I have to ask the prime minister – why hasn’t the government got to grips with this already?”
The PM replied: “I can tell him actually that he’s not right in what he just said about the state of the epidemic in care homes because if he looks at the figures, in the last few days, there has been a palpable improvement.
“We must hope that that continues and we will ensure that it does continue.”
It came as 11 organisations, representing people with learning disabilities, cognitive disabilities, mental health support needs, autism and the elderly say they are at an increased risk of exploitation, violence and abuse due to a lack of care home inspections.
Visits to care homes from families and friends have significantly reduced during the lockdown, while inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have paused for the majority of residences.
The regulator said on March 16 it was suspending routine inspections of care homes and hospitals, except for “in a very small number of cases” where there are “concerns of harm, such as allegations of abuse”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Kirstie Allsopp Denies Accusations Filming Of Her New Show 'Risked Infecting Her Village'

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Kirstie Allsopp has defended the decision to invite a camera crew into her home for her Channel 4 show Keep Crafting And Carry On.
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The property presenter began hosting her new show during lockdown, as a way of keeping families entertained while the restrictions are in place.
However, since it began airing, some have criticised the choice to have an eight-person camera crew in Kirstie’s home, where filming takes place.
This included residents of her village in Devon, who were quoted in The Sun in an article that accused her of “risking infecting her village by bringing TV crew to her house”.
Kirstie Allsopp presents her new series Keep Crafting And Carry On from her home Channel 4
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Kirstie has since had her say on the matter on Twitter, insisting: “What I HATE about this is that makng #KeepCraftingCarryon was only positive, it kept people in work, it provided something new and engaging to watch, so many families saw it and enjoyed making the crafts, why do people have to make bad out of good?!”
After retweeting a number of fans who said the show had brought them comfort, she added: “THANK YOU SO MUCH whatever the Sun prints tomorrow, I now know for certain that many of you felt filming at home as we did, within strict protocols, was the right thing to do. #Craftmatters, Entertaining TV matters, and I’m proud of what we did.”
Newsflash! I’ve been making a craftshow in my home. Remarkably the @TheSun think this is news so sent a reporter to my house. Journalists belief in their key worker status has no limits it seems. Do I have to tell them the show is actually on TV and not a big secret or will you? — Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) May 5, 2020
What I HATE about this is that makng #KeepCraftingCarryon was only positive, it kept people in work, it provided something new and engaging to watch, so many families saw it and enjoyed making the crafts, why do people have to make bad out of good?! — Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) May 5, 2020
Because #craftmatters it matters to so many people for so many reasons and when a national newspaper says it’s not important enough to justify making a show during Lockdown they are saying craft doesn’t matter enough. https://t.co/6cIcHlwIlu — Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) May 5, 2020
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THANK YOU SO MUCH whatever the Sun prints tomorrow, I now know for certain that many of you felt filming at home as we did, within strict protocols, was the right thing to do. #Craftmatters, Entertaining TV matters, and I’m proud of what we did. 🦹🏻♀🐝🐞🌸🦉🥑🧻🗺🧶🧵@RTRPGlasgow — Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) May 5, 2020
She also told the newspaper: “No one who was filming here went anywhere near the village. We are encouraging people to stay at home and be adaptive for their mental health — and for fun.”
A Channel 4 rep added: “All filming was carefully conducted in line with Government guidelines and the minimal crew adhered to strict protocols and followed social distancing throughout.”
Back in March, Kirstie was forced to address claims she’d broken any rules by moving her family to their home in Devon after her husband tested positive for coronavirus.
She tweeted: “During this time of national crisis many families have had difficult choices to make, in a rush, with [minimum] info. But we did what we thought was most sensible, and we did not break any rules or regulations that existed at that time.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--Ministers Were Warned 3,500 Could Die Of Coronavirus In Prisons

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Ministers were warned coronavirus could kill as many as 3,500 people in prisons – but later chose to publish revised guidance that put the figure at just 100.
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Prison charities have put justice secretary Robert Buckland under pressure after making the revelation on Wednesday.
Public Health England had originally sounded the alarm over inmates and prison staff in late March, saying the worst case scenario for the prison system was as many as 3,500 deaths from Covid-19.
But a month later, Buckland published updated guidance from PHE that estimated a dramatically lower 100.
It is not yet clear why the estimate changed, but the documents have been published amid shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline staff and concerns the virus can easily spread indoors.
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The Howard League for Penal Reform and the Prison Reform Trust were sent the documents after they threatened the Ministry of Justice with legal action for failing to release more low-risk prisoners when the virus began to peak.
As of 5pm on Monday, a total of 19 prisoners and six prison staff are known to have died after contracting Covid-19. Data also show 362 prisoners across 74 jails, and 401 workers in 67 prisons, have tested positive.
The MoJ has released a number of pregnant prisoners and some other low-risk prisoners early, meaning the prison population has been reduced by around 3,000. There are thought to be about 81,000 remaining prisoners in England and Wales.
Halting of the majority of court cases has meant few new inmates – which experts viewed as the most likely source of an outbreak.
Justice secretary Robert Buckland ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Prisoners have also remained locked up in self-isolation for long periods to avoid contagion, something charities say is “neither sustainable nor humane”.
As Boris Johnson prepares to begin to ease the lockdown from next week, however, both charities have called from more transparency from ministers.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League, said civil society must hold government to account, adding: “The documents that we are publishing today would never have seen the light of day were it not for our legal intervention. Transparency is essential in a time of crisis.
“We also have a responsibility to keep probing, to hold ministers to their promises, and to call for action. That is what we are doing now.”
Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said containment of the disease in prisons “rests on the most fragile of foundations” and said a “more generous” release scheme was needed.
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He said: “Sticking to the current regime of almost universal bang-up simply isn’t sustainable for the next 12 months. And without government intervention, the prison population is bound to return to previous levels as courts come back into action.”
A statement released by the government last week said modelling by PHE and HM Prison and Probation Service found measures taken by government were successfully limiting deaths and containing the outbreak.
Prisons minister Lucy Frazer thanked prison staff and celebrated “positive signs that our carefully implemented approach is limiting the impact of this initial phase of the pandemic – actual cases and deaths so far are much lower than originally predicted”.
She added: “We will continue to do everything possible to make sure this remains the case.”
HuffPost UK has contacted Public Health England for comment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-06--UK Records 649 More Coronavirus Deaths In 24 Hours

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The number of people who have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus has risen by 649 in 24 hours.
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It nudges the death toll over 30,000 – to 30,076, just 11 days after the UK passed 20,000 fatalities.
The figures were accurate as of 5pm on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the UK’s four devolved health authorities reported increases of 331 hospital deaths in England, 83 in Scotland, 14 in Northern Ireland and 21 in Wales. Those figures only involved confirmed hospital cases.
Of the new deaths announced in England today, 54 occurred on May 5, 121 occurred on May 4 and 28 occurred on May 3. The remainder stretch back as far as March 13.
The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day, with a current total of 874.
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Of the 22,049 confirmed reported deaths so far in hospitals in England of people who tested positive for Covid-19, 11,575 (52%) have been people aged 80 and over while 8,547 (39%) were 60 to 79.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Domestic Abuse Is A Gendered Crime – All Genders Must Pull Together To Fight It

The domestic abuse commissioner must be included in the government's violent crime taskforce. Getty Creative
Domestic abuse is a gendered crime. By that I don’t mean that every victim is a woman, nor that only female survivors need or deserve help and support. Far from it.
But when you consider that in 2019 three out of every four victims of domestic abuse-related crimes recorded by the police were against women, and, each year, an average of 80 women are killed by a current or former partner, it paints a clear picture of a predominantly gendered crime.
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For three years, parliament has been trying to address this problem, which affects over two million people in the UK each year. The need for government action could not be clearer and yet, time and time again, the Domestic Abuse Bill, which former Prime Minister Theresa has herself descried as her legacy, has been delayed. We have had emotional debates relating not only the personal experience of our constituents but in the case of one MP, Rosie Duffield, her own inspirational story.
So you can imagine the relief when the bill finally started to make progress again last week.
Yes, there are aspects that still need addressed. The trauma suffered by children from homes where there is domestic abuse, or the need to protect migrant women who may not feel safe going to the authorities are just two of them. But it was when Conservative MP Philip Davies’ 27 wrecking amendments were brought to my attention that I began to be worried for the integrity of this vital legislation.
Many members of parliament choose to try and make a difference by championing a particular cause – perhaps something close to their heart or something they’re incredibly passionate about. But Davies appears happy to make his political reputation as being an opponent of legislation designed to make the UK a safer place for women and girls.
“With 14 women dead within the first three weeks of lockdown, it angers me beyond belief that Davies has found the time to table 27 wrecking amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill.”
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For those less acquainted with Philip Davies’ parliamentary exploits, he has previously spent his time filibustering legislation that would tackle violence against women: the Istanbul Convention, the Combating Violence Against Women Bill and Caroline Lucas’ bill to make sex education in schools compulsory.
I have no objection to Davies’ efforts to support male victims of violence, or his burning desire to celebrate International Men’s Day. What I do find tiresome at best, and many words not allowed in print at worst, is his determination to disrupt, delay, or derail entirely the work done by other politicians, which would genuinely make a difference to the lives of women and girls right across this country. And in the case of the Domestic Abuse Bill, would help ALL victims of domestic violence.
We do not live in an equal society and therefore support to tackle inequalities will often be focussed on those who suffer the most – we should make no apology for that.
With 14 women dead at the hands of their partners within the first three weeks of lockdown, it angers me beyond belief that Davies has found the time to table 27 wrecking amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill. No, I do not expect that my opinion will change his mind but I am determined to call out this attitude to the bill for what is it: dangerous.
The government response to domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic has been inadequate so far. They have been slow to act, failed to put enough financial support behind their announcements, and refuge staff are still not considered key workers.
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However, this bill – imperfect as it is – is an opportunity for us all to make a difference to the society that emerges from it. Not only will I, and others, work hard at committee stage to make sure this bill passes in the best and strongest state possible, but I also want to remind people of the human cost of not acting. And why it is vital to challenge the attitudes and actions reflected in the 27 amendments presented by Philip Davies.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Passengers At Three UK Airports Must Wear Face Masks And Gloves From Next Week

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Passengers travelling through Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports will be required to cover their faces and wear gloves from Thursday, their owner has announced.
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Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said: “The move by MAG is designed to ensure that the small number of passengers currently making essential journeys through its airports feel safer and more confident about flying, as well as providing a further level of protection to colleagues working at the airport.
“MAG also believes that the new guidelines represent a first step towards demonstrating ways in which air travel can be safe when more passengers start travelling again.”
It is believed these are the first UK airports to impose the measure.
The UK government has yet to make a decision on whether to follow suit.
Face coverings are different from a surgical or other medical grade mask and refer to a facial covering of the mouth and nose that is made of cloth or other textiles and through which you can breathe – for example, a scarf.
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London's Stansted Airport is one of three in the UK to take part (file picture) claudiodivizia via Getty Images
Passengers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and face coverings or masks, but they will be provided in the early stages of the trial.
All airport staff serving passengers will wear gloves and masks.
The airports will also conduct temperature screening trials over the next few weeks, and are considering requiring passengers to make a health declaration before they are allowed to enter.
MAG chief executive Charlie Cornish said: “It’s clear that social distancing will not work on any form of public transport. But we’re confident that when the time is right, people will be able to travel safely.
“MAG has been working with the rest of the airport industry on a new safety framework for travel.
“We now need to work urgently with government to agree how we operate in the future. This has to be a top priority so that people can be confident about flying, and to get tourism and travel going again.
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“At MAG we’ve taken expert medical advice on how people can travel safely, and we’re pleased to be piloting these new measures at our airports for those passengers who do still need to travel.
“We expect to be able to agree a new framework by the end of May that will support a restart of the industry as soon as possible.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Amanda Holden Is Literally In The Money As She Wears This Completely Low-Key Outfit To Work

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Amanda Holden never looks less than a million dollars, but that has never been more true than on Thursday morning.
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The Heart Radio presenter was literally in the money as she wore a dress made of bank notes to work.
Never one to do things half-heartedly, Amanda went to some serious effort as she and her breakfast show co-host Jamie Theakston prepared to give away £1 million.
Heart’s Make Me A Millionaire competition saw one lucky listener scoop the biggest cash prize ever given away on UK radio.
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Amanda’s latest snaps, which she shared on her Instagram and Twitter accounts, are just the latest in a series of fabulous posts she’s been entertaining us with during lockdown.
Speaking to HuffPost UK about keeping everyone entertained with a bit of light-heartedness on her social media, Amanda said: “I just like being silly. But I’m really glad you’ve taken it how it is meant, which is a bit of fun and laughter. I’ve howled with laughter filming it.
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“My poor husband, who is the cameraman throughout, is just there staring, and I’m saying, ‘No, we’ve got to do it again!’. When I came downstairs in that pink gown, he was like, ‘What the bloody hell are you doing now?’. I was like, ‘I’m going to do a slow-mo taking out the bins’.
However, the Britain’s Got Talent judge also revealed there’s one particular video that she’s kept offline for now.
She said: “Let’s just say I’ve washed the car. That will be out when this is all over, I think. Even I’ve gone, ‘Hmmm’. It gets very sudsy, I’ll just say that...”
Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden airs weekdays from 6.30am to 11am.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Piers Morgan Blasts Government's Apparent Ban On Ministers Appearing On Good Morning Britain

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Piers Morgan has hit out at a supposed government ban on any active ministers appearing on Good Morning Britain.
In the last few weeks, the usually-divisive presenter has won praise for his interviews with government officials about the coronavirus pandemic, in particular the way he has held certain ministers to account.
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However, on Thursday morning, Piers fired off a tweet claiming that they would no longer be permitted to appear on the ITV daytime show.
“The UK Govt has banned any ministers from appearing on [Good Morning Britain] after a series of them made complete fools of themselves in the face of basic & important questions,” he wrote.
Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Addressing the official Twitter accounts for Boris Johnson and 10 Downing Street, he continued: “This is a pathetic & cowardly response to THEIR shameful incompetence.”
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The UK Govt has banned any ministers from appearing on @GMB after a series of them made complete fools of themselves in the face of basic & important questions.
This is a pathetic & cowardly response to THEIR shameful incompetence.
cc @BorisJohnson. @10DowningStreet — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 7, 2020
HuffPost UK has contacted Downing Street for comment.
Piers is currently on a break from GMB, and has been since the beginning of this week, after showing “a mild symptom” of coronavirus.
Since then, he has tested negative for Covid-19, and has told viewers he would be back in the studio from Monday onwards.
Relax everyone, I’ll be back Monday. https://t.co/VA3qE5EbuE — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 7, 2020
During lockdown, Piers has increased his workload on the ITV breakfast show, co-hosting four days a week instead of his usual three.
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And while many have been impressed with his interviews with government ministers during the crisis, his approach hasn’t been without controversy.
More than 3,000 complaints were made to the TV watchdog Ofcom following two interviews with Care Minister Helen Whately on GMB last month.
Another 600 viewers also complained about Piers’ interview with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on 16 April.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Lenny Henry's Daughter Billie Given Suspended Prison Sentence After Impersonating Father In 'Manipul

Lenny Henry's Daughter Billie Given Suspended Prison Sentence After Impersonating Father In 'Manipulative' Emails

Sir Lenny Henry’s daughter Billie has been given a suspended prison sentence after impersonating her father over email in a “threatening” and “manipulative” manner.
Over video-link, Truro Crown Court heard that Billie Roman Henry had set up a fake email account pretending to be her father, in an attempt to save her relationship with ex-boyfriend Samuel King.
This included an offer – under the guise of the comedian – to pay £40,000 to help his business get out of debt.
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Sir Lenny Henry Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
It was also heard that the 28-year-old had made a false accusation to her ex that her father had assaulted her, in what was described as an attempt to get “extreme sympathy”.
She sent 185 messages in a five-month period, starting in October 2018 when King tried to end their relationship.
Judge Simon Carr told her: “You were in a relationship with Samuel King and you found forming relationships difficult. When the relationship ended you found it difficult to accept and set up a number of false emails. You sent a barrage of messages, most manipulative and some threatening.
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“Your primary motivation was to try and continue the relationship and the messages were very substantial in number and went on for five months. It had a significant psychological and financial effect on him.”
Billie's parents are Sir Lenny and fellow comedian Dawn French Dave M. Benett via Getty Images
He continued: “You had an at times unique childhood, which must have been very challenging. You never sought any publicity but publicity follows you for reasons beyond your control.
“I hope you receive the help you need and the support to assist you.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Ricky Gervais Claims Dame Judi Dench Joke Was Almost Cut From His Golden Globes Monologue

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Ricky Gervais’ opening speech at the Golden Globes got everyone talking at the start of this year (yes, that was actually this year, if you can believe it), but he’s now revealed one of his jokes almost didn’t get past the network’s lawyers.
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Back in January, the comedian hosted the awards for what was billed as the final time, kicking off the show with the remark: “You’ll be pleased to know this is the last time I’m hosting these awards. So I don’t care anymore.”
In an apparent bid to prove his point, Ricky then lampooned pretty much everyone in the room with his introductory monologue, which took aim at everyone from Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew to Greta Thunberg and yes, even Baby Yoda during this year’s ceremony.
However, in a new interview with US talk show host Seth Meyers, he admitted that CBS lawyers wanted him to cut a joke about Dame Judi Dench from his routine.
Ricky Gervais on stage at the Golden Globes Handout via Getty Images
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“I turn up the day before, with a piece of paper with about 20 jokes,” the After Life creator explained. “I don’t show it to anyone, I don’t rehearse, but I do have to show it to a lawyer, to make sure I don’t break the law or libel anyone or break taste, indecency...
“I’ve always gone into a lawyer about an hour before and they’ve gone, ‘Yeah, that’s fine, that’s fine’. This time, I went into a room, and there was about 15. I don’t know if they’re getting more nervous about me, or times have changed. But obviously networks are very nervous, and this is primetime.”
He then revealed that there was only “one big discussion” about what he’d written, and that was a joke about Judi’s recent performance in the critically-panned Cats, which went: “Dame Judi Dench says it was the role she was born to play… she likes nothing more than plonking herself down on the carpet, lifting her leg and licking her own minge.”
Ricky noted that there were concerns about the word “minge”, which the lawyers suggested he change to “vagina”, as they felt it was too “vulgar”.
“I went, ‘I’m not gonna say vagina! That’s worse! That’s so clinical!’,” Ricky added.
Judi Dench appearing on The Graham Norton Show last year Isabel Infantes - PA Images via Getty Images
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Eventually, Ricky went with the joke as planned, although the word “minge” was cut from the broadcast, leading to some confusion among viewers, many of whom assumed he’d said “ass”.
For what it’s worth, Dame Judi recently made her own rather explicit comment about her stint in Cats, while discussing her disdain for her character’s wardrobe.
“The cloak I was made to wear!” she told Vogue. “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?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Why Reheated Coffee Tastes So Bad, And What To Do Instead

A cup of work-from-home coffee has a predetermined lifecycle: You pour a steamy mug of joe, set it down next to your laptop to refrain from burning your tongue, and before you know it, an hour has passed and your coffee is stone cold. You pop it in the microwave to nuke it for a few seconds, press the cup to your lips and grimace. It’s bitter. Bitter in a way that makes you wonder if someone poured a Romeo and Juliet-style vial of poison into it.
Does this sound familiar? No matter how you’re trying to reheat your coffee ― in the microwave, on the stovetop, whatever ― you’ve no doubt shared this experience. Because however you do it, reheating coffee brings out compounds that make it taste decisively more bitter. We talked to experts who explained how this happens and offer a few realistic solutions to help you avoid falling into this pattern.
Now that you’re working at home more than ever, read up and never drink another bad cup of reheated coffee.
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Piotr Wytrazek via Getty Images Don't even think about putting that mug in the microwave.
Why reheating coffee makes it taste bitter
Emily Rosenberg, director of education and training operations at Stumptown Coffee, explained to HuffPost that before your coffee beans are even roasted, their DNA is made up of acids and compounds that are just waiting to turn bitter when they’re heated up.
Green (unroasted) coffee contains chlorogenic acids, and the roasting process breaks those down into quinic acid (whose flavour you can associate with quinine in tonic water) and caffeic acid. While chlorogenic acid has a bitter taste, quinic acid and caffeic acid both have an even more pronounced bitter, astringent flavour.
“All coffee has some amount of bitterness,” Rosenberg said. “But in freshly brewed coffee, there is also plenty of sweetness and acidity that balance the bitterness and create a complex and delicious-tasting coffee.”
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When you reheat your coffee, you encourage more production of that quinic and caffeic acid, therefore giving your coffee “even more bitter, astringent, gnarly flavour,” Rosenberg said.
Michael Phillips, director of coffee culture at Blue Bottle Coffee, elaborated: “It all comes down to two words: volatile compounds. And coffee is full of them. These are the things that make a properly roasted and prepared cup of coffee both taste and smell great. As you can see right in the name, however, they are volatile and easily fall to pieces. When you reheat coffee, all of the good stuff in the coffee starts to disappear and the resulting cup leans toward the more bitter components of coffee that stick around through the heating process.”
There are also tiny particles floating around in most cups of coffee ― especially if you’ve used a French press ― that continue to brew and get more bitter when you reheat your coffee.
“That coffee is sitting in there and swirling around, and it’ll almost continue to brew, essentially, and you’re extracting flavours that you wouldn’t necessarily want to continue to extract,” Rosenberg said.
Prostock-Studio via Getty Images Brewing smaller amounts of coffee several times throughout the day can help break up your day as you work from home.
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Rosenberg put it into perspective: “You’re cooking an already finished product. You wouldn’t put a cake back in the oven, because it’ll dry it out and totally change the flavour and texture of it. In a similar way, you can think of coffee as a finished product. And if you continue to cook it, essentially, it’s gonna change the flavour of it.”
What about coffee pots that keep your coffee warm all day? Do those make coffee taste bitter, too?
“Yes,” Rosenberg said. “Any kind of brewer or carafe that applies heat to the coffee to keep it warm (rather than just insulating it to maintain temperature) will bring out that bitter, metallic flavour.”
Phillips agreed.
“This process is why those old-school diner coffee pots went out of fashion, because they kept the brewed coffee on hot plates after brewing,” he said. “While the hot plates kept the coffee hot, they also made it taste bad to the point of it becoming a diner signature.”
Rosenberg said brewed coffee will taste best if consumed within an hour or 90 minutes of brewing, no matter what.
Do all roasts of coffee ― dark, medium, light ― turn bitter upon reheating?
Every type of roast will taste more bitter upon reheating it, to a certain degree. But Rosenberg said a dark roast coffee’s bitterness will be even more pronounced.
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It’s for the same reason we just talked about ― because a dark roast has had more heat applied to the beans during the roasting process, it’ll contain more of the bitter-tasting quinic and caffeic acids than lighter roasts in the first place.
What to do instead of reheating your coffee
Expert advice on this topic has ranged from “set your microwave to 80% power” to “heat it slowly on the stovetop.” But Rosenberg has a much easier suggestion, one you’ll be embarrassed you didn’t already think of.
“People who are working from home probably already have a thermal to-go cup or an insulated cup,” Rosenberg said. “When you’re drinking from home, you might not think to use it ― you usually drink out of your mug, which will cool down a lot faster because it allows more surface area to come in contact with the air ― so I’ll just put it in my to-go mug that I’d normally take out to go get coffee at a cafe.”
Mint Images via Getty Images Make the most of your to-go thermoses while you're working from home.
Phillips offered that same suggestion, with the caveat that a thermos won’t last you all day.
“The cup will still start to falter around 30 to 45 minutes in terms of the best flavour, but it will be piping hot the whole time,” he said. “The flavour of good coffee changes as it cools, and most professionals enjoy it most at lower ranges. For me, I like it best when the coffee has cooled to around 125 degrees because the sweetness is more apparent.”
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Rosenberg said you should also make sure to preheat whatever container you’re brewing into, whether you’re doing a manual brew or a Mr. Coffee. Heat up some hot water in a kettle, then pour it into your pot, swirl it around a little and dump it out before you brew into it ― voila, your pot will be warm. The same goes for the mug you’re drinking out of. Take your mug and slosh a little hot water around in it to maintain that temperature even better.
Use coffee as a way to break up your day
While it might feel nice to brew a massive amount of coffee and be set for the day, keep in mind that at home, you’re likely not taking as many breaks as you would at the office. And making smaller amounts of coffee several times throughout the day can help build a break into your new daily routine.
“It can be a treat to have a small amount of coffee in the morning, go back into the kitchen at 11am. and brew a little bit more,” Rosenberg said. “Brewing smaller amounts more frequently will help keep it warm and give you breaks through the day.”
“The process of brewing coffee is something that’s very comforting to me,” she said. “It’s a nice little moment to just set aside whatever else I was doing and just be present for a second. It’s something that I really enjoy and appreciate, especially in times like these.”
Rosenberg pointed out that brewing coffee is a lot less of a time commitment than the at-home sourdough bread-baking that’s been so popular during the coronavirus pandemic, with just as great a reward.
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“Coffee is so simple. It’s just two ingredients, versus baked goods that use 10, or bread that you’re spending hours and hours doing,” she said. “With coffee, the stakes are pretty low.”
So does Rosenberg ever cave and use the microwave herself?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Author Emily Giffin Unleashes On Meghan Markle Over Archie's Birthday Video

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Prince Harry and Meghan recorded the video as part of the charity campaign #SaveWithStories, which seeks to provide food and learning resources to children affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Novelist Emily Giffin (left) is not a fan of Meghan Markle. Getty Images
In the nearly three-minute clip, Archie sits on his mother’s lap while the two read the children’s book Duck! Rabbit!
But the New York Times bestselling author, writer of Something Borrowed and a self-described royal watcher, had nothing but complaints about Meghan’s part in the video.
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In a series of Instagram stories on her page, Giffin introduced the video by writing “Happy birthday, Archie. Go away, Megan,” before linking to the clip.
Throughout the Instagram stories, she misspells the duchess’s first name.
Instagram
Giffin also shared a screenshot in one Instagram story of a comment she’d written.
“Holy ‘me first.’ This is the Megan show. Why didn’t she film and let Harry read? And why didn’t she take the moment at the end to say ‘he said daddy!’ Because that would make it about Harry for a split second, God forbid,” the author said.
“Also, you want privacy for your child so you put out a video (by your authorised biographer) of him .... wearing no pants?! Ooookay ....” Giffin added.
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Instagram
In a separate text conversation posted to her social media account, Giffin appears to call the Duchess of Sussex “so unmaternal” and a “phony” who is “poorly” playing the part of a mother.
Contrast that with Giffin describing other members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton and Prince William, as a “class act” for wishing Archie a happy birthday:
Instagram Instagram
HuffPost US reached out to Giffin, and on Wednesday evening, her representatives sent over a statement that she’d posted on her Instagram account, which she made public once again:
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I enjoy following celebrities and analyzing them with my readers. I post dozens of IG stories a day in a very honest, unfiltered way, as if I’m confiding directly with close friends. Further, I’m very interested in the British monarchy. I always have been. See the link in my bio for an essay I wrote in the days before Meghan and Harry wed. To be clear, I absolutely loved that a biracial, American woman was marrying into the Royal Family. It seemed a wonderful, happy thing for everyone. I celebrated their wedding by hosting a gathering here at my home and posting many, many photos. Further, I was appalled by any signs of racism against her. Over recent months my feelings about BOTH Harry and Meghan changed. But I can say from the bottom of my heart that my criticism of Meghan has never had anything to do with race. Further, I understood why she wanted to leave the monarchy and carve out her own path. I do, however, find fault with the way BOTH she and Harry handled things, and those feelings bled over in later posts, including the ones today. I can see how some of my posts may have felt mean-spirited, and could be construed as having racial undertones. It was not my intent, but I understand that intent and impact are two very different things. And I am truly sorry for that negative impact.
Giffin’s original remarks elicited a strong response on Twitter, to say the very least.
Writer Kaitlin Menza, who was formerly one half of the hit podcast Royally Obsessed, tweeted screenshots from Giffin’s Instagram posts, which were quickly picked up.
Man oh man does “Something Borrowed” author Emily Giffin hate Meghan Markle pic.twitter.com/bjnoDNTY9p — heykmenz (@heykmenz) May 6, 2020
Royals reporter Omid Scobie, who is co-writing the much-anticipated book about Harry and Meghan due out later this summer, tweeted in response to Giffin’s comments: “Imagine being this hateful and pathetic.”
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Elizabeth Holmes, a former Wall Street Journal reporter and author of the upcoming HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, added, “Holy shit.”
As news of Giffin’s Instagram stories blew up on Twitter, she turned her Instagram account from public to private, and later to public again.
Instagram
Giffin had previously said that Meghan “sucks” and that she was no longer a fan of Harry after the two announced their intention to step back as working members of the royal family in January.
“I can’t stand Meghan Markle. There. I said it,” the author declared in screenshots shared on Twitter in January. “And I’m no longer a Harry fan, either. Get over yourselves.”
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@emilygiffin is a nasty person & part of the problem. Whoever Laura Dave is she’s one of the people that blame Meghan & must think Harry is a pushover. Awful people these women are. pic.twitter.com/PUjCtWSpx1 — G Bracke (@gbracke) January 9, 2020
And when Meghan gave birth to Archie last year, Giffin posted a photo of the queen on Instagram along with the caption, “FACT to keep in mind this week: The only reason the world cares about Meghan Markle’s pregnancy is because of this woman. God save the Queen.”
She also described Harry and Meghan as a “footnote” in history books in a March 2019 Associated Press article about the then-upcoming birth of little Archie, adding that she was more excited for William and Kate’s three children.
“That’s the future,” she said. “They’ll be in the history books. Hundreds of years from now, Harry and Meghan will be a footnote.”
Giffin has also discussed Archie’s given name at length. In a video from last year, the author sounds distressed that the baby’s name didn’t carry any royal significance and that Meghan and Harry didn’t let him have a title.
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Screengrabs captured by HuffPost show Giffin talking about how much she hated Archie's name. HuffPost/Instagram
But two years ago, Giffin wrote a column for Glamour titled Emily Giffin On Why She Unabashedly Loves the Royals—And Always Will, that talked about her excitement over Harry and Meghan’s then-upcoming nuptials, and a timeline biography on Giffin’s website still mentions their relationship positively.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Black People Four Times More Likely To Die From Coronavirus Than White People

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Black people are four times more likely to die from a coronavirus-related cause than white people, new analysis suggests.
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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has used data on death registrations up to April 17, combined with 2011 Census records, to model the impact Covid-19 is having on different ethnic groups, finding Black women and girls are 4.3 times more likely to die than their white counterparts, and black men and boys 4.2 times more likely than white men and boys.
Black males are 4.2 times more likely to die of coronavirus-related illnesses than white males (file picture) SIPA USA/PA Images
The figures, which have been adjusted for age, suggest that men and women from all ethnic minority groups – except females with Chinese ethnicity – are at greater risk of dying from Covid-19 compared with those of white ethnicity.
The ONS analysis also suggests that, accounting for age, males of Bangladeshi/Pakistani ethnicity are 3.6 times more likely to die from a Covid-19-related cause than white males, while the equivalent figure for Bangladeshi/Pakistani females is 3.4.
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Males of Indian ethnicity are 2.4 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than white males. The figure for females of Indian ethnicity is slightly higher, at 2.7.
For the Chinese ethnic group, the ONS found a raised risk among males but not females. Males are 1.9 times more likely to die from Covid-19, while the figure for females is 1.2.
After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics – including deprivation – and self-reported health and disability at the 2011 Census, males of Black ethnicity still have a #COVID19 mortality risk that is 1.9 times higher than those of White ethnicity https://t.co/922GvXeCph pic.twitter.com/cKjRrvrcXG — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) May 7, 2020
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Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the figures showing black people and other ethnic minority groups were at greater risk of death from Covid-19 were “appalling”.
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He tweeted: “It is urgent the causes of this disproportionality are investigated. Action must be taken to protect black men and women – as well as people from all backgrounds – from the virus.”
The analysis looked at how coronavirus has affected different ethnic groups from March 2 to April 10, registered by April 17.
As ethnicity is not recorded on death certificates, the ONS linked these to the 2011 Census, which includes self-reported ethnicity.
The ONS said the results suggest that the difference is partly due to socio-economic disadvantage and other circumstances, but some of the reasons remain unexplained.
After taking account of other factors, such as health and disability, Black men and women were still 1.9 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than those of white ethnicity.
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The ONS acknowledged that because its analysis of population characteristics is linked to the 2011 Census, it may not accurately reflect the current circumstances in 2020.
The differences in the risk of dying from Covid-19 could be driven by factors not included in its model, the ONS said.
Some ethnic groups may be over-represented in public-facing occupations and could be more likely to be infected by Covid-19. For example, individuals in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic group are overrepresented in the transport industry.
The ONS said it plans to conduct further work to identify occupations that are particularly at risk.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Any death from this virus is a tragedy and we are working incredibly hard to protect the nation’s public health.
“We’re aware that this virus has sadly appeared to have a disproportionate effect on people from BAME backgrounds. It is critical we find out which groups are most at risk so we can take the right steps to protect them and minimise their risk.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-07--Madonna Clarifies Coronavirus Comments Following Confusion Over Instagram Post

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Madonna has clarified her recent comments about coronavirus, after an Instagram post she shared last week led to a bit of confusion.
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On Friday, the singer posted the latest update in her Quarantine Diary video series, in which she revealed she’d tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.
“So tomorrow I’m just going to go for a long drive in a car, and I’m going to roll down the window, and I’m going to breathe in, I’m going to breathe in the Covid-19 air,” she said. “Yup. I hope the sun is shining.”
While there’s a lot to unpick in that statement, one thing she definitely didn’t say was that she had tested positive for the virus itself, only antibodies, suggesting it was likely she’d had coronavirus at some point recently.
Madonna Fred Duval via Getty Images
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Unfortunately, some media outlets misinterpreted her comments and reported that she’d actually been diagnosed with Covid-19, which she has now insisted is not the case.
In a post shared on Wednesday night, Madonna revealed she had donated $1.1 million (£890,000) to coronavirus research, adding: “Just to clear things up for people who would rather believe sensationalist headlines than do their own research about the nature of this virus, I am not currently sick.”
Madonna added: “When you test positive for anti-bodies it means you HAD the virus which I clearly did as I was sick at the end of my tour in Paris over seven weeks ago along with many other artists in my show but at the time we all thought we had a very bad flu.
“Thank God we are all healthy and well now. Hope that clears things up for the band wagon jumpers!! Knowledge is Power!”
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Earlier this year, the singer was forced to cut her ill-fated Madame X tour short, when government restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the virus in Paris forbade large gatherings.