thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Coronavirus Infects More Than One Million People Worldwide

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More than a million people have tested positive for the coronavirus infection around the world.
According to the tally from Johns Hopkins University, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases reached more than a million just before 9pm UK time on Thursday.
However, the real figures are believed to be much higher because of testing shortages, differences in counting the dead and large numbers of mild cases that have gone unreported.
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The United States accounts for about 236,000 of the confirmed cases – more than any other country, according to the tally.
As hot spots flared around the US in places like New Orleans and southern California, it was New York City, which was hardest hit of all, with bodies loaded on to refrigerated mortuary trucks outside overwhelmed hospitals.
Nearly 51,500 people have died from after testing positive for Covid-19.
The milestone came on the same day that figures showed more than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest indication that the pandemic is ravaging global economies.
The outbreak has left 10 million Americans unemployed in just two weeks.
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European nations are facing extraordinary demand for intensive care beds and are putting up makeshift hospitals, while unsure whether they will find enough healthy medical staff to run them.
Spain reported a record 864 deaths in one day on Wednesday, for a total of more than 9,000, while France registered 509 deaths for more than 4,000 deaths in all.
In Italy, with the most deaths of any country at more than 13,000, mortuaries overflowed with bodies and coffins piled up in churches, although experts drew hope that the spread was already slowing in the country.
Scientists offered more evidence on Wednesday that the virus can be spread by seemingly healthy people who show no clear symptoms, leading the US government to issue new guidance warning that anyone exposed to the disease can be considered a potential carrier.
Many countries are modelling their response in part after China, which in January closed off an entire province, home to tens of millions of people, in what at the time was an unprecedented lockdown. Beijing says the measures have been a success, with nearly all new cases of the virus imported from abroad.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Clap For Carers: Millions Once Again Applaud Key Workers On The Coronavirus Frontline

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The UK has once again broken out in to applause in a national tribute to the NHS staff and other key workers who are on the coronavirus frontline.
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For the second week in a row, millions took to their balconies and doorsteps to clap and cheer, while vehicles sounded their horns at 8pm on Thursday evening.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson emerged from self-isolation to join in. Bagpipers took to the streets in Scotland, while families banged pans and fireworks were let off around the country.
Clapping for our brilliant NHS and social care workers with @JeaneF1MSP outside @scotgov HQ at 8pm. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you are doing ❤ #ClapForCarers #clapforNHS pic.twitter.com/aO5NlJgl2t — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 2, 2020
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
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No, *you’ve* got something in your eye. #clapforkeyworkers — Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) April 2, 2020
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause during Thursday's nationwide 'clap for carers'. PA
Properly heart-warming, that. Highlight of my week #ClapForCarers — Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) April 2, 2020
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Could set my watch 8pm Thursdays from the clapping for carers. Louder from even more people doing it this week in our street with a few pans turned into drums. Feeling teary again — Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) April 2, 2020
Tremendous. After #ClapForCarers someone pointed their stereo out the window full blast and the whole street sang and danced to Sweet Caroline. — Kenny Farquharson (@KennyFarq) April 2, 2020
Thank you to all NHS workers and support staff. You are great 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/jpeucbBeGN — Westbourne Fire Station (@DWFRSWestbourne) April 2, 2020
Johnson appeared briefly on the steps of Number 10 to join in, the first time he has been seen in person since announcing he had been diagnosed with Covid-19 last week.
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He told those gathered outside: “I am not allowed out really, I am just standing here.”
Bagpipers across Scotland also performed a tune to show their appreciation for key workers, while Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish government gathered on the steps of Holyrood.
Finlay MacDonald, 42, of Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, took part in the Pipe Up! For The Key Workers! event.
He said: “It was great, a really special moment – all our neighbours were out in their gardens with a rousing round of applause.
“This is our way of entertaining people and showing our appreciation to key staff who are keeping us safe.”
Finlay MacDonald plays the pipes at his home in Glasgow alongside sons Elliott, ten, and Fionn, eight, to salute local heroes. PA
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Bagpipers were urged by the National Piping Centre to play Scotland The Brave in their own neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, emergency services personnel sounded their sirens to show their appreciation.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Companies Sell Coronavirus Tests To Anyone Who Can Pay While NHS Staff Go Without

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Companies selling coronavirus tests commercially online have been slammed for acting “unethically” at a time when the government is struggling to provide vital testing to frontline NHS workers.
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HuffPost UK has found some private companies have redirected sales of coronavirus tests kits to support the national fight against Covid-19.
But others are continuing to sell kits online to anyone who can afford to pay, with tests retailing for prices between £249 and £299.
It comes as health secretary Matt Hancock vowed Britain would test 100,000 people a day by the end of April during Thursday’s daily news conference.
CityDoc and Better2Know, both large established firms that provide private healthcare testing services, are advertising kits for sale – and say NHS staff are among those buying the tests.
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But the practice has come under fire as “unethical”, with one NHS scientist, speaking anonymously to HuffPost UK, saying: “The kits all should be coming to the NHS now. It should be under government control and then distributed that way.
CityDoc is offering Covid-19 test for sale online for £249
“It is irresponsible and they should be coming straight into the frontline and into the NHS. This shouldn’t be a profit making thing at all.”
MP David Lammy said testing should be prioritised by need.
“We cannot have one rule for the rich and another for everyone else,” he said. “In this pandemic, Covid-19 tests should be prioritised to those who need them the most.
“No NHS worker should be paying a penny for the tests they need to do their jobs.”
But CityDoc, which is selling testing kits online for £249, said far from being irresponsible it was in the public interest that testing is available commercially.
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The company’s CEO Eoghan MacSweeney said: “I think there has to be as much testing done as possible. The NHS is doing everything it can.
“I think what we’re doing is also part of the national effort. What we’re sourcing isn’t necessarily detracting from what the NHS is purchasing. it’s simply just more testing, which is what the World Health Organisation is recommending.”
He said many NHS staff have used CityDoc’s private service and there was high demand from companies looking for testing for their workers.
CityDoc is currently providing antigen testing, which detects the presence of Covid-19, and it is working on an antibody test, which confirms if someone has already had the virus. It hopes to have this service available within two weeks.
The CEO said the company was trying to make antibody testing available on a large scale for a price of £150 or less, saying this was “in everybody’s interest”.
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CityDoc is owned by European Life Group, a Danish multinational providing vaccines to the public sector for 20 years, and the company says it has the capacity to deliver large NHS orders.
Asked whether it had been contacted by government, the CEO said: “I’m waiting for that call and I’ll be delighted when they do.”
The company says a discount code for NHS workers and over-65s would be available on its website on Thursday.
Better2Know is selling Covid-19 tests online for £299
Another long-established firm, Better2Know Ltd, is offering a Covid-19 coronavirus home test kit for £299 with a promised turnaround time of two days.
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The company’s CEO Michael Asher said the firm had contacted health secretary Matt Hancock and the government about working with the public sector but had no response.
“We have offered our services to Matt Hancock and the Department of Health directly and I know that our private laboratory has also been in contact with the Department of Health offering their testing capacity,” he said.
“To date nobody from the Department of Health, Matt Hancock’s office or the NHS has contacted my company asking for assistance and it’s my understanding that none of those organisations has contacted the testing laboratory either.”
He said the firm had been trading in the UK for more than a decade and worked in 20 countries around the world. “We are not some upstart trying to cash in on the Covid crisis,” he said. “That’s not what we’re about.
“We’re a medical diagnostics company and we serve tens of thousands patients around the world. That’s what we do – this is our line of business.”
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The CEO said Better2Know also manufactures the Covid-19 testing kits itself, so was not taking stock or capacity from elsewhere.
“What we are doing is providing testing to people who want it and who cannot access it in any other way,” he said.
“We have already tested free of charge a number of frontline NHS workers because we understand there is a shortage and a need and we’ve done that out of our sense of civic responsibility to help.”
He said demand for the tests had been “significant because people are worried”.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Other companies providing Covid-19 testing have taken a different approach.
The Belfast firm Biopanda Reagents has placed a notice on its website under the section “Covid-19 Rapid Test” saying: “IMPORTANT: Effective immediately, we can no longer accept orders from outside the United Kingdom, or from non-healthcare or clinical organisations within the UK.”
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The company usually develops and manufactures in-vitro test kits for clinical laboratories, veterinary practices, environmental protection and food safety.
Another company, Randox Health, has a message next to its advertising for Covid-19 home testing kits for £120, saying they are “temporarily out of stock”.
“Please also be aware that, as a result of a critical national demand, Randox have volunteered a significant element of our current Covid-19 testing capacity to the UK national testing programme,” the website statement says.
“That programme is focusing on key workers and the maintenance of critical national infrastructure – including that of the NHS.”
How is it that I am being offered #COVID19 tests to buy for my team yet my Paramedic sister hasn't been tested yet? pic.twitter.com/OG4miaBCre — Adam Sopher (@AdamSopher) April 1, 2020
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There has also been wider criticism on social media of the government’s response on providing testing for NHS workers.
One post on Twitter by @AdamSopher said: “How is it I am being offered #COVID19 tests to buy for my team yet my Paramedic sister hasn’t been tested yet?”
Another by @KateKennedy66 said: “Why can you buy covid19 tests privately for £225, but NHS can’t get a ‘reagent’ or swabs. We are being lied to or they are completely incompetent or both.”
Another by @JuliadeCadenet said: “So this place is selling #COVID19 kits for £375. Can someone please buy ALL of them for #NHS workers and those truly in need. The fact that ‘celebs’ can buy them with really mild symptoms is worrying.”
MP David Lammy on Wednesday criticised the government response, saying it was “staggering” that online supermarket Ocado had been able to purchase 100,000 Covid-19 tests for its workers, while the British government had been testing fewer than 10,000 people a day until Thursday.
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Coronavirus Statista
On March 27 the government launched a new drive on coronavirus tests for frontline NHS staff, saying they would be “first in line” for a new Covid-19 testing programme developed in collaboration with industry.
Partnerships were announced with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Amazon, Boots, Royal Mail and Randox, alongside the Wellcome Trust and top UK universities to boost testing capacity for NHS staff.
But the British Medical Association said earlier this week only 2,000 NHS workers had so far been tested.
“Doctors and their colleagues are extremely frustrated about this and paid-for home testing kits will no doubt appear tempting if they are seen to allow them back to work,” said a BMA spokesperson.
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“But healthcare workers should not have to pay for these kits – and reliability, safety standards and follow-up care will likely vary across providers.
“Clearly, the government needs to make good on the promise it’s been making for weeks now to roll out mass testing for healthcare workers urgently so that those who are well can get back to work.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Health Secretary Matt Hancock Sets Target Of 100k Coronavirus Tests A Day

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Health secretary Matt Hancock has said he is “setting the goal” for 100,000 tests a day for coronavirus by the end of April.
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Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street amid rising criticism the UK has been slow to ramp up its testing regime, the minister tried to allay fears by outlining a “five pillar” plan on testing.
The new target is a significant step-up from the current goal of 25,000. According to the latest figures, just 10,215 people were tested over the last day.
Hancock, who himself has recovered from the virus, admitted there would be “bumps in the road” as the UK lacked the large diagnostics industry of countries like Germany and would be starting from a “lower base”.
But he pledged Public Health England and the private sector would “unite” to build lab capacity over the next four weeks and testing would be handed to patients and NHS staff first.
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The government’s “five-pillar” testing strategy is: Swab testing in Public Health England and NHS labs
Working with “commercial partners”, such as universities and private businesses, to build more testing capacity
New antibody blood tests which show whether people have had Covid-19
Surveillance to determine the rate of infection and how it is spreading across the country
Build an “at-scale” diagnostics industry to reach 100,000 tests by end of April.
He said he thought any health secretary would have have set the same priorities.
“I understand why NHS staff want tests, so they can get back to the front line, of course I do,” he said.
“But I took the decision that the first priority has to be the patients for whom the results of a test could be the difference in treatment that is the difference between life and death.
“I believe anybody in my shoes would have taken the same decision.”
Asked about Boris Johnson’s previous ambition for the UK to operate 250,000 tests a day, Hancock said he stood by the number set out by the prime minister.
“The commitment that I’m making today is that our goal is 100,000 by the end of the month,” he said.
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“I want to bring this whole national effort to bear on that and then we will keep going once we have reached that 100,000, and so, absolutely, I stand by the commitment that the prime minister made of 250,000.”
The minister also said that although a country-wide shortage of swabs had been “resolved” there was a “global challenge” around getting enough chemicals.
He added there was a “challenge” in ensuring the public could have “confidence” in the tests being used on NHS staff.
A number of testing methods being analysed had failed to positively diagnose a coronavirus patient, he said.
It comes after health chiefs confirmed that a further 569 people had died in the UK after being diagnosed with the virus, bring the country’s death toll to 2,921.
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Hancock said: “In one case, a test that I’m being urged to buy missed three out of four positive cases for coronavirus.
“That means that, [for] three-quarters of cases, that test would have given the false comfort of sending someone with coronavirus back on the wards.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Health Secretary Writes Off £13.4bn Of NHS Debt To Help Coronavirus Response

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Health secretary Matt Hancock has written off £13.4bn of historic NHS debt to help the health service fight coronavirus.
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The money is intended to help NHS trusts focus on tackling coronavirus rather than servicing loans from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The figure owed ballooned as NHS trusts became reliant on interest-bearing loans to cover deficits in day-to-day budgets, with interest payments alone skyrocketing to £292m last year, Health Service Journal has reported.
Some 107 trusts have an average of £100m revenue debt each. The two trusts with the highest figures reach a combined total of over £1bn.
At the daily Downing Street briefing, Hancock said: “This landmark step will not only put the NHS in a stronger position to be able to respond to this global coronavirus pandemic but it will ensure our NHS has stronger foundations for the future too.”
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HuffPost UK understands the sum written off is both capital debt – from building and infrastructure – and revenue debt, from running services and paying staff and suppliers. Both loans and outstanding interest payments have been cancelled.
The debt will be effectively written off by converting the loans to equity. Adjustments will be made to ensure NHS providers’ day-to-day budgets are not negatively affected by debt write-off.
Other loans entered into as “normal course of business” will not be written off as NHS trusts took them by choice and the government considers them to be affordable.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Dynamo Tests Positive For Coronavirus After Showing 'Quite Severe Symptoms'

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British magician Dynamo has revealed that he has tested positive for coronavirus, after a “rough couple of weeks” of “quite severe symptoms”.
Dynamo – real name Steven Frayne – shared an Instagram post on Thursday morning, in which he revealed he’d taken a test for Covid-19 after experiencing symptoms of the virus.
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“Over the last few weeks I’ve experienced symptoms such as a persistent cough and lots of aches and pains,” he explained.
“I self-isolated for just over two weeks and took any necessary precautions. I was advised to take a private test. Now, I appreciate that this is not a possibility for everyone, the decision was made by me and my team for a number of reasons.
“Firstly, because of my existing health issues, and the fact I’m on immunosuppressive therapy, I’m at high risk. Secondly, although I haven’t had a fever, my symptoms have been quite severe. And finally, so that I was able to inform those that I had been in contact with so they can make their own precautions.”
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Dynamo was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teenager, and had half of his stomach removed at the age of 17. He recently took a two-year break from his career because of health issues.
He continued: “I’ve had my results back now and unfortunately I have tested positive for Covid-19. This illness can affect anyone, it doesn’t discriminate, and it can present itself in many different ways. We’re all genuinely at risk.
“Touch wood, my symptoms have been gradually decreasing day by day, and I’ve been feeling better and better. Hopefully I’m through the worst of it, and I’m staying positive.
“But if you’re watching this, please, please, please, just stay at home, keep away from others, protect yourselves, your loved ones, the NHS and the key workers out there.”
Dynamo pictured at Glastonbury in 2017 Chris J Ratcliffe via Getty Images
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Addressing those who work for “the incredible NHS, support workers, the people keeping food on our shelves, and those people working hard to keep the communities going”, he added: “I think I speak on behalf of everyone out there when I say thank you so much for the incredible work that you’re doing.
“You’re genuine heroes and you’re in all of our hearts right now. Thank you for everything that you’re doing. People, please, stay at home, stay safe, and thanks for taking the time to watch this video.”
In 2018, Dynamo suffered side effects after receiving treatment for food poisoning, including facial swelling, a severe rash and arthritis.
After sharing a candid video of himself describing his side effects, he later said: “It’s good that’s it’s been able to inspire other people with similar conditions to speak out about it and get more attention to it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--UK Is 'Too Late' To Recover Lost Time On Testing, Ex-Cabinet Minister Says

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The UK is now “too late” to recover time lost by failing to roll out mass testing of NHS staff for coronavirus, a former cabinet minister has said.
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Greg Clark, who chairs the Commons science committee, questioned why the government did not adopt a “Dunkirk” strategy of using as many labs as possible to roll out mass testing from the start of the crisis.
That could have allowed NHS workers who are currently self isolating as the UK death toll from the pandemic soars to be working on the frontline if they do not have the virus, he told HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast.
But Clark stressed that it was not too late to ramp up testing and that it was now a matter of urgency.
He has written to Public Health England (PHE) to question why it pursued a centralised strategy of using one big lab in Collindale before progressively spreading testing out across the country, instead of simultaneously involving universities and research institutes.
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“Sir Paul Nurse who runs the Crick Institute has talked about the little boats, the Dunkirk analogy.
“I don’t know why that wasn’t pursued from the outset given that it was being pursued in other countries, famously in South Korea.”
He called on PHE to publish the research which informed its decision, making clear that it had failed to meet chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance’s demand for greater testing capacity.
“We haven’t got that and I think that is an important lesson to be learned - to make sure that at the later stages of the crisis that we get ahead as far as possible of things that we’ll need, whether it’s access to physical goods, whether it’s the organisation of people, that we anticipate future phases.
“It’s obviously too late, there’s a big scramble to get testing capacity up now and we need to resolve that, that’s very urgent.
“But we also need to learn the lesson and make sure that we are ahead of where we need to be in other areas.”
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Greg Clark was business secretary under Theresa May SIPA USA/PA Images
The Tunbridge Wells MP also questioned what had happened to the millions of antibody tests ordered by the government which will allow people to know if they have had the virus and have built up some immunity.
Professor Sharon Peacock, director of the National Infection Service at PHE, told Clark’s committee last week in an “astonishing announcement” that 3.5m tests had been bought and could be available for use as early as this week.
“We are eight days from when she made that statement so we need to know what’s happened to that programme because it’s very important,” Clark said.
The former business secretary also said he was worried that the economic hit from coronavirus could push a heavily-indebted country into even more problems.
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It came as the number of people applying for the universal credit welfare payment surged to 950,000 in the two weeks since Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown.
“One of the things I have worried about and I think a lot of people have worried about in recent years is the degree of personal debt we have in this country, that is not at all an ideal way to go into a crisis in which people are going to have to take on more debt,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Watch Live: Matt Hancock Announces New Testing Measures In Coronavirus Conference

Watch Live: Matt Hancock Announces New Testing Measures In Coronavirus Conference
Health secretary Matt Hancock returns from self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus to lead the daily press briefing. He is expected to announce a five-point plan to ramp up testing for the population aiming to test 100,000 people a day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Official Coronavirus Figures Don’t Reveal The True Scale Of The Pandemic

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At a news conference every evening, Jérôme Salomon, France’s director general of health, solemnly delivers an update on the state of the coronavirus epidemic in the country — just as public health officials around the world have been doing every day for weeks.
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With each new tally of deaths and infections, news organizations and public health institutions like Johns Hopkins University in Maryland update their maps and charts depicting the pandemic’s severity and spread. The latest figures show that more than 13,000 people have died in Italy, the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe, followed by Spain and France. In the United States, the coronavirus has now killed more people than the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Last week, however, Salomon’s terminology changed slightly. Rather than simply relaying the total number of deaths in France, as he had been doing, he specified that the daily tally reflected only deaths that had been recorded in hospitals.
The official figures “represent only a small part of deaths” in France, Salomon admitted. He acknowledged that “the two main places of death are the hospital and nursing homes.” A system for tallying deaths in nursing homes is planned for the coming days, but it is not yet operational.
“The absolute numbers would no doubt be effectively much higher if we aggregated what is happening in retirement homes, as well as the people who die at home or who are not counted,” Frederic Valletoux, president of the French Hospitals Federation, said last week.
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Over the weekend, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe acknowledged that concerns have been growing about the accuracy of the government’s coronavirus data.
“A lot of our fellow citizens are asking themselves questions about these figures, wanting to know how they are calculated, if they are comprehensive, which are fact and which are estimates,” Philippe said, adding that such questions were “warranted.”
The situation is similar in many countries — including the United States, where it has been difficult to obtain a complete picture of the scale of the epidemic. States and counties report their own figures, providing individual snapshots of the virus’s spread, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks cases at the state level. Other organizations, such as Johns Hopkins, have attempted to provide more detailed counts by aggregating information from various sources, including federal, state, and local officials.
Even the most comprehensive tallies likely omit large numbers of people who may be sick but have not been tested for Covid-19, because tests are not available, their symptoms are too mild to qualify for a test, or they do not yet display any symptoms.
In Spain, as in France, deaths in retirement homes are also not included in the official statistics. According to the newspaper El Pais, however, at least 352 people have died from the coronavirus in nursing homes in Spain.
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“It is plausible that deaths are underestimated,” Silvio Brusaferro, the president of Italy’s Higher Institute of Health, said this week. “We report deaths that are signaled with a positive swab. Many pneumonia-related deaths, presumably from Covid — for example in long-term care nursing homes — are not tested with a swab.”
Brusaferro said that public health officials in Italy were working to develop a more precise way to track the number of deaths in the country.
Last week, Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy’s Civil Protection Service, suggested that the number of coronavirus infections also was far higher than the number officially reported. “A ratio of one certified case out of every 10 is credible,” Borrelli told la Repubblica.
Scientists and public health officials interviewed by HuffPost Italy agreed with Borrelli’s assessment, but cautioned against trying to come up with a specific estimate for the total number of cases.
“I mean, numbers are underestimated, but we don’t know the full extent at this time. It’s impossible to establish it with certainty,” Walter Ricciardi, a member of the World Health Organization and a scientific adviser to the Italian government, told HuffPost Italy.
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French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe speaks, flanked by French Director General of Health Jerome Salomon, as he announces new measures to limit the spread of Covid-19, on March 14, 2020, in Paris. THOMAS SAMSON via Getty Images
In the United Kingdom, as well, hospital deaths have been the only coronavirus-related fatalities reflected in the official daily figures. This week, however, the government announced that it would begin publishing a weekly death toll based on registrations rather than just hospital reports. This means anyone who dies outside of a hospital will be included if a doctor or coroner, for example, notes Covid-19 as a factor in their death.
Even with improved reporting, however, the lack of widespread testing in many countries, combined with discrepancies in how infections are tallied, may make it difficult to truly understand the scale of the pandemic.
For example, in the U.K., the daily government figures on the number of infections indicate the results of tests as they come in, rather than the date when someone was tested because they were displaying symptoms of coronavirus.
This has led to large variations in the reported infection rates day to day that don’t reflect how the virus is actually spreading.
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Sheila Bird, a biostatistician who previously worked for the Medical Research Council at the University of Cambridge, told HuffPost UK she believed the government should start reporting infection rates detected in hospital-based tests that reflect when samples were collected, rather than daily test outcomes, as this would give a far more accurate idea of the spread of the virus.
“It’s important that we know the sample week — not the week the test was reported, but the week the sample was taken from the patient,” Bird said. “It’s this date that characterizes the state of the epidemic.”
In the United States, it can take anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days to get the results of the test, depending on the lab and how backed up it is.
Adding to these challenges is the fact that scientists are learning more every day about how the coronavirus spreads. Recent studies in China and the U.S. suggest that a large number of infections are caused by people who display no symptoms of coronavirus.
On Tuesday, Robert Redfield, the director of the U.S. CDC, said in an interview with NPR that as many as one in four cases do not have symptoms.
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“That’s important, because now you have individuals that may not have any symptoms that can contribute to transmission, and we have learned that in fact they do contribute to transmission,” Redfield said.
Additionally, Redfield said, the research suggests that people who do become symptomatic may be able to spread the virus up to 48 hours before they show symptoms.
“This helps explain how rapidly this virus continues to spread across the country,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Testing Times For The Government’s Response To The Coronavirus Pandemic

Testing Times For The Government’s Response To The Coronavirus Pandemic
As the second week of Britain’s lockdown comes to an end, the government’s response to coronavirus is beginning to come under attack. As Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and Chris Whitty self-isolate, a lack of answers over testing and protective equipment is prompting scathing criticism. Where have ministers gone wrong, and can they fix it?Senior Conservative MP and chair of the Commons science committee Greg Clark joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about the government’s handling of the pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Jimmy Fallon's Awkward 'Interview' With Lady Gaga Deserves Applause, Applause, Applause

Jimmy Fallon had Lady Gaga on his show on Wednesday night for an “interview,” which is a very generous word in this case.
Earlier in the day, Jimmy had been a guest on Howard Stern’s radio show, teasing that Gaga would be a guest on The Tonight Show ― but things didn’t really go as planned.
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The whole call was more like a real-life version of Lady Gaga’s song Telephone. Sorry, Jimmy. She’s k-kinda busy.
“I can’t, Jimmy. I can’t talk right now,” Gaga said on the phone when Jimmy asked her about a big announcement she was going to make. His face dropped. He’s got no p-p-p-poker face.
“Hello? Jimmy, I can’t see you,” Gaga said when the presenter briefly flipped the FaceTime call toward the camera. “Am I on TV?”
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After a series of “wait” and “hold on” interruptions, Gaga revealed her big announcement had something to do with Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus ― but that was it. The Tonight Show host asked if he should call back in 10 minutes.
“Can you call me Friday?” Gaga replied.
“Yeah, it’s Wednesday,” he replied.
The pop star called back later and changed the time to Monday.
That’s just how phone calls go nowadays, but the moment still deserves applause, applause, applause.
Jimmy Fallon speaks (briefly) to Lady Gaga NBC
Despite the mayhem of his daughters constantly crashing his jokes and awkward phone calls with Lady Gaga, the Tonight Show host has consistently raised money for charities and put out shows during the coronavirus pandemic. Obviously, some segments are more successful than others.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Government Tells Top Footballers To Take A Pay Cut To Help Clubs Through Coronavirus

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Premier League footballers who are paid tens of thousands of pounds a week should take a pay cut to help their clubs keep on non-playing staff during the coronavirus crisis, the health secretary has said.
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Matt Hancock told top players to “make a contribution” and “play their part” as football clubs struggle to keep workers on the payroll.
At the Downing Street daily coronavirus briefing, Hancock said: “I think that everybody needs to play their part in this national effort and that means Premier League footballers too.
“Given the sacrifices that many people are making including some of my colleagues in the NHS who have made the ultimate sacrifice of going into work and have caught the disease and have sadly died, I think the first thing that Premier League footballers can do is make a contribution, take a pay cut and play their part.”
MPs have called for football clubs who force staff to take a 20% wage cut while shelling out huge sums to pay players to face a windfall tax.
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Premier League giants have been accused of living in a “moral vacuum” after it emerged some swooped on a coronavirus job retention scheme to furlough staff during the lockdown.
The plan, introduced by chancellor Rishi Sunak, sees the government pay 80% of staff wages and was designed to stop firms laying off staff during the pandemic.
But some clubs who have cashed in on the scheme are continuing to pay first-team players – some of whom are millionaires – hundreds of thousands of pounds a week.
Now the Tory chair of a powerful Commons committee, MP Julian Knight, has demanded Sunak impose a windfall tax on clubs with a “two-tier system” who shortchange staff.
Knight says Sunak should give clubs a deadline of April 7, saying bosses should “do the right thing by Tuesday next week or face the consequences”.
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Tottenham, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Norwich have so far opted for the scheme.
Knight has written to Sunak underlining MPs’ “strong dismay” at clubs’ conduct adding: “This two-tier system is morally wrong, especially given the extremely high wages paid to players.
“Non-playing staff keep Premier League clubs in business, ensuring the smooth running of finances, administration, kit, stadiums and player welfare. It is deeply unfair that these staff should take less money home while players retain their full salary.”
Knight, who chairs the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, points out that the coronavirus job retention scheme is “not to support the economics
of Premier League clubs”.
The letter is signed by a number of fellow committee members from across the political spectrum.
“We are facing an obscene situation where top players who aren’t working are continuing to see hundreds of thousands of pounds roll in each week while the staff who keep the clubs going are losing wages,” said Knight, who chairs the digital, culture, media and sport select committee.
“If the Premier League isn’t going to act to resolve this crisis then the government must step in by imposing a significant financial penalty on clubs to reimburse those hit hardest in the pocket.
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“That’s why I have written to chancellor Rishi Sunak today demanding that Premier League clubs do the right thing by Tuesday next week or face the consequences.”
In a joint statement, the Premier League, EFL, PFA and League Managers’ Association said they had a “constructive meeting” on Wednesday “regarding the challenges facing the game”.
“The meeting reiterated that the overriding priority is the health and well-being of the nation – including that of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters – and everyone agreed football must only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so,” the statement said.
“No decisions were taken with discussions set to continue in the next 48 hours with a focus on several high-profile matters, including player wages and the resumption of the 2019/20 season.”
Players at Leeds United, playing in the far less lucrative Championship division, have taken a wage deferral to allow the club to keep on non-playing staff.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Clap For Carers: ITV To Briefly Pause Channel To Allow Viewers To Take Part

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ITV has announced it will pause its usual programming on Thursday night, to allow viewers to participate in the Clap For Carers demonstration.
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It’s since been revealed that the event will take place every Thursday at the same time, with ITV revealing they intend to “switch off the channel” at exactly 8pm.
During this time, ITV’s regular programming will be replaced by idents encouraging viewers to give money to NHS Charities Together.
People in Woodford Green join in a national applause for the NHS from their doorsteps, windows and balconies PA
ITV’s chief executive Carolyn McCall has said: “ITV is joining the rest of the country in thanking everyone in the NHS and carers who are doing such a vital and fantastic role – so we will pause our programming at 8pm to applaud the heroes within the NHS for the remarkable efforts they are making, and raise as much money for NHS charities as we can thanks to our viewers’ generosity.”
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The broadcaster’s decision was praised by Clap For Carers creator Annemarie Plas, who said she was “delighted” by the move.
“I am really delighted that ITV is backing the initiative to clap for all who are out there taking care of us, and helping keep that Thursday 8pm moment alive,” she explained.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Coronavirus 'Immunity Certificates' Being Considered By Government

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Immunity certificates to identify people who have had coronavirus are being considered by the government.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the documents could be issued once the antibody tests are ready for roll out.
People who have had Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, develop antibodies to fight the virus, but it is unclear how long any immunity they develop lasts.
The principle is that it would allow people to leave lockdown earlier than the rest of the population if they test positive for antibodies to the virus.
The minister told the daily Downing Street press conference: “We are looking at an immunity certificate – how people who have had the disease, have got the antibodies and therefore have the immunity can show that and so get back, as much as possible, to normal life.
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“That is an important thing we will be doing and are looking at.
“It is too early in the science of the immunity that comes about from having the disease to be able to put clarity around that.”
The certificates could potentially relax the lockdown KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV via Getty Images
Last month, Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said passengers from 10 countries including India, Turkey and Egypt must produce certificates saying they are coronavirus free.
Thailand has also introduced new measures demanding medical certificates from people entering the country confirming they have been tested and are virus free.
It comes as UK public health officials announced that one million home testing kits for coronavirus could be sent out in a matter of weeks.
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Recently, Public Health England (PHE) appeared to provide hope that the UK lockdown could be scaled back after announcing that testing kits were being assessed for household use.
People are currently having to obey strict rules about remaining indoors in a bid to stall the spread of coronavirus.
But testing kits could allow those who have had the deadly virus to return to their normal routines because health experts believe there is a period of immunity after having contracted the disease.
Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, confirmed plans were in place for “a million tests that people can do themselves”.
Immunity is built up through having had the infection or receiving a vaccine, which is still in development.
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“In other words, members of the public will be able to take a blood test and send it back in the post and get that analysed,” she told the health and social care committee on Thursday.
“That is an antibody test that tells you if you have had the condition.
“That is absolutely critical for two reasons: to understand what is going on but also to allow people to return to work.
“That is well advanced but not ready yet. We need to be absolutely sure it is a valid test.
“We expect that to come within a couple of weeks but I wouldn’t want to over promise on that, and I think the chief medical officer has been absolutely clear on it being right before it is put out.”
Prof Doyle said immunity was thought to be at its “strongest” for 28 days after fighting off the disease, but the period of protection could be longer.
Home testing kits are available in many countries including the US and on Wednesday Beijing announced it was stepping up its oversight of exports of kits after several European countries complained about the accuracy of some Chinese-made tests.
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Chinese exporters of coronavirus tests must now obtain a registration certificate from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in order to be cleared by China’s customs, the NMPA said in a statement late on Tuesday.
Beijing had been encouraging Chinese firms to export test kits and other supplies to help battle the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a surge of companies offering kits to countries desperate to get a handle on the fast-moving and highly contagious disease.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Coronavirus UK Death Toll Rises By 569 To 2,921 – An Increase Of 24%

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A further 569 deaths from coronavirus have been recorded in the UK over 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,921 – an increase of 24%.
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A 25-year-old with no underlying health conditions was among those who died, NHS England said.
Other patients who died in England were aged between 22 and 100. Of these, 44 patients – aged 25 to 100 – did not have a known underlying health condition.
Meanwhile, as of 9am on Thursday, 33,718 people in the UK had tested positive for the virus. Some 10,215 people were tested, the first time that figure has nudged over the 10,000 mark.
Statista
Earlier this week, the Office for National statistics revealed the virus had accounted for 1% of all deaths in England and Wales in the week ending March 20 – 103 cases in total.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--It's Okay If You're Not Being Productive During The Coronavirus Pandemic

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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.
All of a sudden, it seems like everyone’s a baker. Social media feeds are full of people buying sourdough starters, gleefully watching their bread rise, sharing updates as it forms and bakes. They’re fun to watch but can also sometimes fill you with dread: Should I be doing this too? What’s wrong with me?
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Lots of people are using their time at home to develop new skills: They’re cooking up a storm, they’re setting up at-home exercise routines, they’re learning new languages, and re-organising their basements. Those are deeply admirable things to be doing.
But a lot of people aren’t reacting to the coronavirus pandemic, and the social isolation that comes with it, in that same way. For some people, just getting through the day in sweatpants, with dirty hair and lapsed responsibilities, is enough to deal with. For some people, not having a total breakdown is the biggest accomplishment possible.
And that’s OK.
If you're feeling overwhelmed seeing people who seem to be living their best quarantine lives, whipping up an Alison Roman recipe between Zoom yoga and virtual Happy Hour with 15 of their closest friends, let me assure you that some of us can barely even shower or do our dishes. — Emily McCombs (@msemilymccombs) March 25, 2020
“We’re conditioned to believe that being as productive as possible, and structuring our days in this very externally validating way, is what’s right,” said Andrea Sadler, an occupational therapist and psychotherapist working in Toronto.
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“There’s an interesting judgment that the more productive people are doing it right, and the less productive people are doing it wrong,” Sadler told HuffPost Canada. “But there are no rules around that. It’s all just about getting through.”
WIN-Initiative via Getty Images Not everyone is using their quarantine time to get things done. And that's perfectly all right.
Understand that we’re all just muddling through
We all have different coping mechanisms. “For some people that might be making a bookshelf or exercising,” Sadler said. “And for some people it might be sitting in front of the TV and binge-watching a season, and nothing’s wrong with that.”
Being ultra-productive and sleeping a lot are both valid methods of coping, and neither is better than the other. If anything, Sadler said, it can be helpful to remember that the “be-ers” might actually be having an easier time with all of this than the “doers.” People who cope with stress by getting things done may find it difficult that they can’t do enough to stop the global pandemic.
Be compassionate to yourself
This one’s easier said than done, to be sure. But Sadler says this is one of the most significant things she’s been talking to her clients about recently.
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It’s important to be patient and kind to yourself as you adapt to a new and very difficult reality. You’re figuring out how to cope under circumstances you didn’t expect and haven’t experienced before. It’s normal for that to be difficult.
martin-dm via Getty Images Physical distancing can be very isolating.
And there’s no value in adding “a dirty layer of anxiety and judgment and frustration” to an already very difficult situation, she said.
The best way to start the difficult process of self-compassion is to notice your self-judgement when it starts to set in. “By noticing that, there’s this sense of self-compassion, this idea that this is a really difficult time,” she said. Taking note of your tendency to judge your behaviour as “weak” or “not enough” can be the first step to stopping that sort of negative self-talk and becoming kinder to yourself.
Identify your grief
The drive to be productive during the pandemic can also be a way for us to sidestep our own distress. But that won’t serve us in the long term.
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Edmonton-based psychologist and grief counsellor Ashley Mielke told HuffPost Canada that exercising and baking — along with emotionally eating, or drinking a lot, or gambling — are what her clinical community calls short-term energy-relieving behaviours. They can take the edge off during a stressful situation, but the relief they offer doesn’t last for long.
“We’re very quick to minimise our sad and painful feelings,” she said. “There’s a lot of talk of, ‘You have to exercise, you have to be positive,’ but that’s only half of it. What about all these big emotions that everybody’s feeling but nobody knows how to talk about or how to acknowledge them?”
“‘Am I defective because I’m not happy right now? Because I am struggling to get out of bed? Because I feel completely physically and emotionally exhausted?’ That’s grief.” - Grief counsellor Ashley Mielke
A lot of people are experiencing the loss of control and connection that the pandemic has caused as a form of grief, she said. Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end or change in a familiar pattern of behaviour — and that’s something we’re all experiencing right now.
“Think of all of the familiarity that has changed for millions of people,” she said, “for our families, for our communities, for our businesses, for us, in a matter of days.”
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Looking at what we’re going through as grief might make it easier for us to be patient with ourselves. “We cannot minimise the mass of emotion that so many of us are feeling,” she said.
″‘Am I defective because I’m not happy right now? Because I am struggling to get out of bed? Because I feel completely physically and emotionally exhausted?’ That’s grief.”
Recognise that what’s going on can trigger mental health issues in a lot of us
“A lot of what we’re asking people to do by isolating is a lot of what triggers people’s mental health issues, like not leaving the house,” Sadler said.
People who are depressed are often told to get out of the house and to socialise, something none of us can safely do these days. Staying in and avoiding contact with other people can be isolating, which is hard for a lot of people.
It may be an especially difficult time for people with eating disorders, both because of the stress of isolation and the constant messages about quarantine-related weight gain and exercise.
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And people who suffer from addiction are at risk, too. Support groups like AA and NA have moved online, which is an enormous help for some people, but the lack of in-person care can take its toll.
Aleksandar Nakic via Getty Images Staying home can exacerbate mental health issues in a lot of people.
Whether or not you’re a person who suffers from one of these conditions, isolation and disruption of routine is difficult for just about everyone.
Sadler suggests thinking about what it is you need to maintain good mental health. It’s different for everybody, but “usually people kind of know” what it is they need, she said. From there, figure out how to make adjustments to get what you need in this new reality.
If you’re someone who really needs exercise to feel good, seek out one of the many home workout options floating around the internet. If you need social contact, plan phone calls or video chats with your friends. Maybe limiting your time on Instagram will keep you away from the memes that you don’t need to see right now.
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Focus on the here and now
This is another hard one. But try your best not to think too far ahead, Sadler said. Worrying about when kids will go back to school or whether that trip you had planned this fall is still happening is fruitless: No one has the answers, and you’ll just drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out.
“Take it day by day, week by week, moment by moment,” Sadler suggested. For instance: Right here, right now, I still have a job. Right here, right now, I don’t have Covid-19.
Or: Right here, right now, I can apply for employment insurance. Right here, right now, I got Covid-19 but I recovered.
“It’s not because those questions [about the future] aren’t good questions,” she said. “They’re great questions. But they’re not helpful in this given time, because we can’t answer them, and that makes us stressed.”
Remember that this is fully unprecedented
One of the most important parts of Sadler’s therapeutic practice is helping clients cope with day-to-day stressors, with the parts of daily life that are and will continue to be inevitable: irritation at fellow riders of public transit, tension with a co-worker. This isn’t that.
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“This is a one-off,” she said. “This is something that most of us, we’ll have once in our lives.”
That means the focus is less about figuring out a detailed strategy for how to be as happy and productive as possible, and more on just getting through the day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Eddie Large Remembered By Comedy World, Following His Death From Coronavirus

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The comedy world has been paying tribute to Eddie Large, following his death at the age of 78.
Eddie – known as one half of comedy duo Little And Large – died on Thursday morning, after contracting coronavirus while being treated for heart failure in hospital.
Since the news was confirmed by his family and agent, a number of his peers have been paying tribute, including Tommy Cannon, Michael Barrymore and Lenny Henry.
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Eddie Large, pictured in 2017 Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Other key figures from the entertainment world have also been paying their respects, including more contemporary comedians like Jason Manford and Matt Lucas, as well as presenters Ant and Dec...
Devastated to hear that my good friend Eddie Large has passed.. very heavy hearts at home today. Mine and Hazels hearts go out to Patsy and the family. — Tommy Cannon (@TheTommyCannon) April 2, 2020
So sad to hear about the passing of Eddie Large. We had the pleasure of working with him and Sid a few years ago. He just loved making people laugh. He will be missed.
Our thoughts are with his family at this time. X pic.twitter.com/cDpsn6j61N — antanddec (@antanddec) April 2, 2020
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Eddie Large. He was such a funny and talented man. I was his support act for many years and he was nothing but kind caring and supportive to the upstart at the bottom of the Bill. Me. My love and condolences to Patsy, Samantha his daughter and Ryan his son. XXX — Michael Barrymore (@MrBarrymore) April 2, 2020
Eddie Large died. Midnight Matinee Great Yarmouth 1978. They finished part one. I’d never heard laughter like it. Rude, raucous and rollicking.Dunno how they did it, but Eddies energy and electricity and impressions and props and improv were hugely impressive. R.I.P. — Lenny Henry (@LennyHenry) April 2, 2020
Eddie Large (along with his supersonic friend Syd) was really lovely and kind and encouraging to me when I was a nipper on Shooting Stars. So sad to hear of his passing. — realmattlucas (@RealMattLucas) April 2, 2020
So sorry to hear about Eddie Large passing away. Came to every comedy and musical show I did whenever I hit Bristol and was always around for a chat about comedy and Man City afterwards. Such a gentle, funny man. RIP Eddie — Jason Manford (@JasonManford) April 2, 2020
Just heard the sad news that Eddie Large has passed away.He was a lovely man who I did one or two TV shows with a while ago.Thanks for all the laughs Eddie R.I.P. — Tony Blackburn (@tonyblackburn) April 2, 2020
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Sorry to hear the comedian Eddie Large has died. What a great chap he was. A real pro. Rest in peace Eddie ❤ — Kate Robbins (@KateRobbins) April 2, 2020
Dear Eddie Large - thank you for the laughter and joy. Deepest condolences to all your family and friends #RIP — Timmy Mallett (@TimmyMallett) April 2, 2020
Just heard Eddie Large has passed away. Absolutely gutted. Such a lovely man. Love to Pattie and his family. — Iain Lee - www.twitch.tv/iainlee (@iainlee) April 2, 2020
RIP the very talented Eddie Large. Such a funny and lovely man. Love goes out to his family at this time ❤ — Paul Chuckle (@PaulChuckle2) April 2, 2020
With a heavy heart I have just found out, (through his son Ryan), that his father Eddie Large has passed away, I worked many times with him and his partner Sid, they were not only a great act, but such fun to be with! Our thoughts and prayers goes to Patsy and Ryan and family xx pic.twitter.com/pRo2Or29YQ — Jimmy Cricket (@jimmy__cricket) April 2, 2020
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Sad to hear Eddie Large has died. One of the great 80s double-acts, no mean impressionist, and a lovely, funny man too. *steps back in amazement* — Rory Bremner (@rorybremner) April 2, 2020
RIP Eddie Large of Little & Large we spent loads of quality time together including pantomimes and TV appearances
Funny funny man & great to work with pic.twitter.com/rkT7XNUmJO — Frank Bruno MBE 🇬🇧 (@frankbrunoboxer) April 2, 2020
We are devistated at the news that our wonder friend Eddie Large has died from the virus. Our love and best wishes go to his beautiful wife Patsey and his family @samkane1968 😇💋❤ pic.twitter.com/pjTK5BqYY7 — Linda Lusardi (@lusardiofficial) April 2, 2020
BREAKING: Comedian Eddie Large has died from coronavirus, his family confirm. He had underlying heart problems.
What sad news - he & Syd Little were one of Britain's most beloved comedy duos. RIP. pic.twitter.com/7AqpVj2997 — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 2, 2020
R.I.P Eddie Large. Comedy legend! — Boy George (Boomer) (@BoyGeorge) April 2, 2020
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I remember watching this and thinking that the patience Eddie Large displayed in the face of this said a lot of good about the man. #EddieLargehttps://t.co/E3ffmCWamV — Danny Wallace 🇪🇺 (@dannywallace) April 2, 2020
Poor Eddie Large :-( A constant feature on telly in my life. Love to his family. xx — Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) April 2, 2020
In addition, the official Twitter page of Manchester City football club – who Eddie was a lifelong supporter of – posted their own touching tribute.
They wrote: “Everyone at Manchester City is sad to hear that lifelong City fan and celebrity Eddie Large has passed away aged 78.
“Our thoughts are with Eddie’s friends and family at this difficult time.”
Everyone at Manchester City is sad to hear that lifelong City fan and celebrity Eddie Large has passed away aged 78.
Our thoughts are with Eddie’s friends and family at this difficult time 💙 pic.twitter.com/QULhg8qudS — Manchester City (@ManCity) April 2, 2020
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Little And Large began their TV career in the early 1970s, first appearing on the variety talent search Opportunity Knocks, and later landed their own sketch series The Little And Large Show.
Their show ran for 11 series between 1978 and 1991, with the duo also appearing in the ITV impressions show Who Do You Do?, alongside a host of other British stars.
In more recent years, Eddie appeared as himself on TV shows like Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Pointless Celebrities and All Star Mr & Mrs.
His final on-screen role was in 2010, appearing in an episode of the BBC comedy series Dappers.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-02--Nine Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases is nearing one million.
Meanwhile, according to official records, in the UK:
2,921 people in hospital have now died after testing positive for coronavirus.
33,718 people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19
More than 163,000 people have been tested for the virus.
Here’s the latest developments:
UK’s new 100,000 testing target
The UK will carry out 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day by the end of April, Matt Hancock has said, as he set a new target as part of the government’s testing strategy.
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After several days of intense scrutiny over failures in testing, the health secretary said he was setting out a new “five-pillar” strategy on the issue.
He said the UK would hit 100,000 tests per day, which can be made up of antigen tests that tell people whether they currently have Covid-19, as well as antibody tests to see whether people have previously had the infection.
Hancock said his five part strategy was:
– Swab testing in Public Health England (PHE) and NHS labs
– Using commercial partners, including universities and private businesses, to establish more swab testing
– Introducing antibody blood tests to determine whether people have had Covid-19
– Surveillance to determine the rate of infection and how it is spreading across the country
– Build an “at-scale” diagnostics industry to reach 100,000 tests by the end of April.
Hancock said the Government was working with nine potential providers on a new antibody test – which many argue is the key to releasing the lockdown – but that this would only be rolled out when clinicians were confident it was a valid test.
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The secretary of state also announced he has written off £13.4bn of historic NHS debt to help the health service fight coronavirus.
Meanwhile, HuffPost UK has revealed companies are selling coronavirus tests commercially online at a time when the government is struggling to provide vital testing to frontline NHS workers.
Some private companies have redirected sales of coronavirus tests kits to support the national fight against Covid-19.
But others are continuing to sell kits online to anyone who can afford to pay, with tests retailing for prices between £249 and £299.
CityDoc and Better2Know, both large established firms that provide private healthcare testing services, are advertising kits for sale – and say NHS staff are among those buying the tests.
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Boris Johnson still has coronavirus symptoms
Boris Johnson is still showing coronavirus symptoms, Downing Street has confirmed.
The PM’s official spokesperson told a Westminster briefing: “The PM continues to have mild symptoms, but he does still have symptoms.”
Asked if he would be leaving self-isolation on Friday, the spokesperson said: “We’re following the guidelines from Public Health England and from the chief medical officer which state that you need to self-isolate for a period of seven days, so no change in that.”
Johnson will look to find a way to participate in the “clap for our carers” celebration on Thursday evening despite remaining in self-isolation, No.10 said.
His spokesperson said: “The PM definitely wants to find a way of expressing his continued appreciation for the fantastic efforts that NHS staff are making and the PM would urge as many people as possible to take part tonight.”
US jobless claims double
The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits last week shot to a record high for a second week in a row - topping six million.
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The 6.65 million figure is an increase from 3.3 million the previous week, the US Labor Department said on Thursday.
More than 80% of Americans are under some form of lockdown, up from less than 50% a couple of weeks ago, leaving state employment offices overwhelmed by an avalanche of applications.
Economists say the country should brace for jobless claims to continue escalating, partly citing generous provisions of a historic $2.2 trillion fiscal package signed by president Donald Trump last Friday and the federal government’s easing of requirements for workers to seek benefits.
British Airways and National Express scale back operations
British Airways has announced plans to introduce a modified version of the government’s job retention scheme, with workers to be furloughed on 80% of pay, because of the coronavirus crisis, the Unite union confirmed.
Unlike the government scheme, there will be no cap on earnings, said the union.
Workers will be able to divert their pension contributions into their pay for a short period of time and there will be no unpaid temporary lay offs or redundancies, said Unite, adding that a redundancy process that had already begun has been halted.
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Earlier, National Express announced it would temporarily suspend all bus services from midnight on Sunday.
The bus operator said it had kept a limited network of coach services running to help people with essential travel, but it is “no longer viable to continue to do so”.
Transport for London has cut London Underground train services by 50% – to be used only by frontline workers – and many national rail services have been scaled down as households are urged to stay at home to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
Workers feel ‘conned’ by being forced to take holiday during lockdown
Workers across the country are being forced to take days off during the coronavirus lockdown, with little to do except take their daily exercise, “watch Netflix” or even just carrying on working.
Several have contacted HuffPost UK to say they feel “upset”, “conned” and “frustrated”, describing employers’ decisions to enforce annual leave as “a slap in the face” and “unfair”.
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The workers affected all said they were lucky to still be in a job during a crisis which has seen thousands laid off and even more furloughed, and understand employers are in a difficult position.
But few see why they should be forced to take days off when they cannot do anything and the government is advising firms to allow workers to carry over days off into 2021, meaning the impact could be more spread out.
Doctors could be asked to decide which Covid-19 patients should receive life-saving treatment
Coronavirus patients could have their treatment withdrawn and offered to others who are more likely to survive, according to new guidance for doctors.
The British Medical Association’s (BMA) latest ethics advice said medics could be forced to make “grave decisions” should hospitals become overwhelmed with patients.
The document warned that decisions around rationing scarce resources, such as ventilators, could determine whether large numbers of patients will receive life-saving treatment or not.
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“Health professionals may be obliged to withdraw treatment from some patients to enable treatment of other patients with a higher survival probability,” the guidance states.
“This may involve withdrawing treatment from an individual who is stable or even improving but whose objective assessment indicates a worse prognosis than another patient who requires the same resource.”
Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA’s medical ethics committee, said: “Looking ahead to the coming weeks, if hard choices are required, we know they will be contested. There will be anger and pain.
“People who, in normal circumstances, would receive strenuous treatment may instead be given palliation in order to favour those with greater likelihood of benefiting.
“Nobody wants to make these decisions, but if resources are overwhelmed, these decisions must be made.”
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The new guidance came as the UK experienced its biggest day-on-day rise in deaths so far, with the death toll now standing at 2,352 – an increase of 563 in one day.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that a major London hospital almost ran out of oxygen for coronavirus patients on ventilators because it was treating so many patients who needed help breathing.
The paper said the incident – which happened last weekend – prompted a letter from NHS England warning hospital bosses to limit the number of patients who are put on mechanical ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines
NHS England reportedly told trusts that a sudden increase in patients receiving breathing support could risk a hospital’s oxygen supply failing, which could cut supply to all those relying on it.
Universal Credit applications skyrocket to 950,000 during UK lockdown
950,000 people applied for Universal Credit in the last two weeks EMPICS Entertainment
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The number of people applying for Universal Credit has surged in the two weeks since Boris Johnson put the UK into lockdown, with 950,000 attempting to get hold of the benefit.
The total in the aftermath of the drastic move to curb the spread of coronavirus is more than nine times higher the usual 100,000 applicants for a two-week period.
The surge reflects falls in income as well as unemployment as firms go bust or lay off staff because they cannot afford to wait for the governments’s bail-out scheme.
As businesses, shops, restaurants and bars are closed, the government has offered to pay 80% of employees’ wages if their company keeps them on – but there is no incentive for an employer to apply for this.
A YouGov survey on March 24 found that one in 20 people in Britain had already lost their job due to coronavirus.
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A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “With such a huge increase in claims there are pressures on our services, but the system is standing up well to these and our dedicated staff are working flat-out to get people the support they need.”
Global coronavirus cases near one million
A health care worker prepares to collect a sample to test for COVID-19 ASSOCIATED PRESS
The number of coronavirus cases confirmed around the world is nearing one million.
As of 8am on Thursday, almost 938,000 incidents of Covid-19 had been recorded globally, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.
Data shows that the USA has had by far the most recorded cases of any country in the world, with almost 217,000 cases – nearly double Italy, which has the next highest number of incidents (110,574).
According to the records, China – where Covid-19 is believed to have originated – has had the fourth highest number of coronavirus cases, with around 82,000.
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The UK comes in eighth in the rankings, with almost 30,000 cases. However, the centre only records confirmed cases of coronavirus – meaning people who have been infected but not tested are not counted.
The UK government has been criticised for the number of coronavirus tests it has carried out, especially among NHS frontline staff.
On Wednesday, Downing Street said that only around 2,000 staff had been tested for the virus.
Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public Health England (PHE), told the Number 10 daily press briefing that 10,000 tests per day were now being carried out around the UK and the aim was to get to 25,000 tests by mid-April.
Bus drivers on front line slam lack of coronavirus precautions
Bus drivers risking coronavirus to get vital key workers to hospitals and schools say they have been cast aside, with no protective kit and poor cleanliness in their cabs.
One driver who is now off sick and self-isolating with Covid-19 symptoms including persistent coughing, a sore throat and fatigue, told HuffPost UK her colleagues are not being provided with protective gear such as face masks and gloves, and says redundant “alcohol free” hand sanitisers were being used.
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She also alleges that a shortage of managerial staff and cleaners mean drivers are forced to work in potentially contaminated environments at a time when hygiene is paramount.
On numerous occasions, she had to deep clean her own compartment between shifts.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-03--Prince Charles Opens London NHS Nightingale Hospital

Prince Charles Opens London NHS Nightingale Hospital
Less than two weeks after work began, the Nightingale Hospital in London has opened to treat patients suffering from coronavirus. The 4000 bed care unit is the largest critical care unit in the world and was opened by Prince Charles and the health secretary Matt Hancock.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-03--Pose Is The Life-Affirming Boxset That's Nothing Short Of 'Legendary'

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With the majority of us confined to our houses for the foreseeable future, the need for brilliant TV has never been greater, especially at the weekends.
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That’s why HuffPost UK has launched Something For The Weekend – a weekly feature recommending one series for you to devour when you haven’t even got work to occupy your mind.
First up, here’s our entertainment editor Ash Percival on the US series, Pose...
Getty Images/FX/HuffPost
What is Pose about?
Written and created by Ryan Murphy – the man behind American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Glee – Pose explores ball culture in 1980s New York, at a time when the AIDS crisis was hitting the LGBTQ community hard.
Now, if you’ve watched RuPaul’s Drag Race before, you may already be familiar with balls, houses, categories and phrases like “legendary”, “serving face” and “butch queen realness”, but Pose takes us back to their origins, which were previously explored on screen in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning.
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For the uninitiated, ballroom is a subculture of the LGBTQ community, referring to gatherings known as “balls” which see people “walk” for trophies or glory in a number of “categories”, mixing in performance, dance, lip-syncing, and modelling.
It originated in New York in the 1920s but grew in popularity in the 80s, with balls still happening to this day. Participants have always been mainly gay, genderqueer and transgender people of colour, who have sought solace in ball culture having lived on the fringes of society. They perform – and often live – in what are called “houses”, made up of chosen family headed up by a “mother” – a role taken on by Pose’s lead character Blanca Evangelista.
Blanca (right) with her children, Angel and Damon BBC
Blanca is a Black trans woman who decides to start her own house to give back to the community when she discovers she is HIV+, with the series following her and her “children” and the struggles they face, and usually overcome.
“Pose itself is about family, it’s about all kinds of families, and how they bring themselves together, and how they uplift each other, and how they fight even harder to move forward,” Mj Rodriguez, who plays Blanca, told HuffPost UK in 2018.
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With the show amplifying the voices and experiences of the trans community, Mj added: “I think that’s one of the reasons why Pose has been such a success, because a lot of people didn’t know about our lives. For a very long time, those stories have been closed off.
“But now, people are opening their minds and understanding, and they’re seeing that we’re human, which is what we always wanted.”
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Trust me when I say that there is no other show on TV that can make your heart swell to capacity, as well as breaking it into a million pieces – often both in one episode.
Expect to be in streams of happy tears during the season one finale, which features the Mother Of The Year ball. Then, be prepared to really ugly cry at the fourth episode of the second series. I won’t spoil it, but you’ll definitely thank me for the warning when you’ve got through a family box of Kleenex in the space of 45 minutes.
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But as well as being an important lesson in queer history, Pose is also hugely entertaining – get ready for some brilliant one-liners (usually in the form of throwing shade).
Here’s just one of my favourites:
“You’re nothing but bags of rancid, rotting meat. Take a long, last look at this fillet mignon – I doubt we’ll be conversing ever again unless I take a sudden interest in dying of boredom.”
Who’s in it?
Pose boasts the largest ever group of trans actors on a scripted drama series, with the cast headed up by the aforementioned Off-Broadway star Mj Rodriguez as Blanca Evangelista.
Other cast members in the House Of Evangelista include Indya Moore as Angel, a trans sex worker; Ryan Jamaal Swain as Damon, a dancer made homeless when he comes out to his family; and Angel Bismark Curiel as “Lil Papi”.
Indya Moore as Angel BBC
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Billy Porter – who you might already know from his show-stopping red carpet appearances at the Oscars, Met Gala and Grammys – stars as the ballroom’s emcee, Praytell.
And then there’s Dominique Jackson as deliciously brilliant Elektra Abundance, mother of the House of Abundance, Blanca’s former mother and her biggest ballroom rival.
Dominique Jackson as the fabulous Elektra BBC
The first series also stars American Horror Story actor Evan Peters as Stan, a wealthy office worker who starts a relationship with Angel, with fellow AHS co-star Kate Mara as his wife Patty. Dawson’s Creek’s James Van Der Beek also plays Stan’s corrupt boss, Matt.
The trio receive top billing during the first series, which irked some as they are absolutely not the main draw here.
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Oh, and did I mention the soundtrack?
Honestly, the soundtrack to Pose is nearly as amazing as the show itself, and I’ve had the Spotify playlist on loop since the series first debuted.
Just some of the songs featured on the show include:
Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody
Donna Summer – On The Radio
Diana Ross – Love Hangover
The Pointer Sisters – Automatic
Inner City – Good Life
Gwen Guthrie – Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent
Bananarama – I Heard A Rumour
Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
George Benson – Give Me The Night
Wilson Phillips – Just Hold On
Cathy Denis – Touch Me (All Night Long)
A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie
MSFB’s Love Is The Message is also the backdrop to the sixth episode, honouring the popular ballroom track that featured heavily in Paris Is Burning.
There are also some tear-jerking original songs, like Home and For All That We Know, which will send tingles up the spine every time you listen.
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The release of Madonna’s Vogue in 1990 and the effect it has on ballroom is central to the second series, as the track was highly divisive among the community at the time.
Given it’s about a dance style that was created in ballrooms, many felt it was not appropriate for Madonna to profit something she had no hand in perfecting.
Others believed she was opening the door for ballroom to become more mainstream, and we see this row explored in various aspects of the characters’ lives on the show.
What have the critics said about it?
If you don’t want to take just my word for it, the critics absolutely LOVE Pose.
Vanity Fair said that “pain and perseverance are sewn together to create something humble yet fabulous”, while the Guardian gave it five stars and said it was “a show to fall head-over-heels in love with”.
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The New York Times said it “defines its own category”, while Vulture said it is so “relatable” because it is “so optimistic about people’s ability to manage deep trauma”.
Billy Porter as Praytell FX
As a result, Pose is one of those very few shows that have a near-perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The first season has a rating of 96% based on 76 reviews, with the second coming out at 97% based on 31 reviews.
Billy Porter also won an Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Praytell, making him the first gay Black man to win the accolade, while the series has also picked up Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations.
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You’ll love Pose if you already like...
Paris Is Burning, RuPaul’s Drag Race and American Horror Story. Oh, and brilliant 80s and early 90s pop.
So, where can I watch it?
The first two series are all on BBC iPlayer, with the first also available on Netflix. With only 18 episodes between the two series, it’s also completely bingeable in just one weekend – although it’s so life-affirming, you may also find yourself wanting to ration it to spread the out the joy.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-03--Jeremy Corbyn Says His Ideas Are Now 'Mainstream' In Final Message To Labour Members As Leader

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Jeremy Corbyn has said his ideas are now the “political mainstream” in a final message to party members before he steps down as Labour leader, a job he said was “the honour of my life”.
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In an email sent on Friday morning, Corbyn said he was “sorry” that the party failed to make it into power during his almost five years in charge.
But he defended Labour under his leadership as having “changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run”.
Corbyn also repeated the promise, made during his final prime minister’s questions last month, not to step back from politics once he is replaced as leader on Saturday.
“I’ll be out there campaigning for socialism,” he said. “I can assure you my voice will not be stilled.”
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Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, is widely expected to win the race to replace Corbyn.
Left-wing allies of the outgoing leader had urged members to vote for Rebecca Long-Bailey, but the shadow business secretary’s campaign had a slow start.
The coronavirus pandemic also effectively froze the leadership campaigns of Starmer, Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy.
The announcement of Corbyn’s successor will be made on Saturday morning by email.
Plans to hold a special conference in central London to reveal the result were shelved as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
In his message, Corbyn said: “Over the past five years we have changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run.
“In 2015, opposing austerity was seen as radical; today it is the political mainstream.
“A majority of the public supports Labour on issues such as public ownership and higher taxes on the richest.
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“We now look forward as a party of economic inclusion, climate justice, peace and human rights.”
He added: “Of course, we could have achieved so much in government, and I am sorry that under my leadership we did not get there.
“In 2017 we came close, winning the biggest increase in the popular vote since 1945.
“Sadly, the 2019 election was a Brexit election and our attempt to bridge the gap between Leave and Remain voters was unsuccessful.”
Corbyn told members: “Together we have the ideas, policies, energy and organisation to win a Labour government next time.”
“I will continue to campaign on the issues and principles that have motivated me as leader, as an MP, as a councillor and as a party member for more than 50 years,” he said.
“I can assure you my voice will not be stilled. I’ll be out there campaigning for socialism, peace and justice, and I feel sure we’ll be doing that together.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-04-03--Gavin Williamson Under Fire Over Cuts To Free School Meals During Covid-19 Outbreak

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Families hit by lost income from the coronavirus outbreak are facing a “double whammy” after the government quietly axed universal free school meals for primary school infants, children’s charities and trade unions have warned.
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The Children’s Commissioner for England, the Children’s Society, the Labour party and union chiefs have now urged education secretary Gavin Williamson to rethink a new scheme which provides free lunch vouchers only for the most disadvantaged, HuffPost UK can reveal.
While the voucher system was widely welcomed, many families on low or middle incomes won’t qualify even though free meals are meant to apply to all school pupils aged between five and seven.
The new scheme unveiled on Wednesday will allow schools to issue electronic gift cards or vouchers worth £15 a week per child, to spend at supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose and M&S.
But the small print of Williamson’s guidance makes clear that the policy of universal free meals for all under-8s – those in reception class, Year 1 and Year 2 – will not apply during the Covid-19 outbreak.
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And with nearly a million more people applying for Universal Credit because of lost income during the crisis, many of their children are set to miss out if they earn more than £7,400 a year after tax.
PA
Williamson is also coming under pressure to fund free school meal vouchers during the Easter holiday period, to help parents facing an unprecedented financial squeeze.
Even the most deprived families will not get government-funded vouchers over the coming fortnight, although some schools and councils will pay out of their own pocket.
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, told HuffPost UK that it was time for Williamson to reconsider.
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“With nearly a million people now signing up to receive Universal Credit, it’s extremely worrying that the gift card scheme for families on free school meals will not be extended to all infants and won’t cover the Easter holidays,” she said.
“I’ve written to the education minister to raise my very serious concerns about those families who are just above the threshold for free meals, and all the other vulnerable families, who are really struggling to feed their kids.
“Now is not the time to be cautious – we need a bold and generous scheme that makes sure no child goes hungry because of the coronavirus emergency.”
Anne Longfield, the children's commissioner for England, said there must be a ' bold and generous scheme'. HuffPost UK
A pledge to keep universal free school meals for infant-aged school children was in the Tory manifesto at the election.
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Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings was a sharp critic of the policy when the Liberal Democrats introduced it under the Cameron-Clegg Coalition government.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said that while she wants to work constructively with the government during the pandemic “it is utterly wrong for ministers to sneak out a policy like this under cover of a national crisis”.
“A million people signed up for Universal Credit in the last fortnight alone, and millions more face redundancy or pay cuts as they fall through the gaps in the government’s economic support scheme.
“The last thing they need is a double whammy of losing healthy meals for their children as well. We should be ensuring that no child goes hungry, not re-imposing means testing through the back door.
“Our hard-working head teachers and school staff have more than enough to deal with right now, without the government expecting them to act as an arm of the DWP. It is completely wrong to suggest that infant schools, which have previously fed every child, would be put in a position of deciding who eats and who goes hungry.”
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Eligibility criteria for free school meals reveal that they go to families with a parent on Universal Credit, but only if the household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax.
Many families struggling during the Covid-19 crisis will have income higher than that but still be facing a real cash squeeze.
Director of Policy at The Children’s Society, Sam Royston said that free school meals a family around £400 per year per child and are sometimes provide the only healthy, nutritious and filling meal a child gets each day.
“We are deeply concerned to hear that this offer will not be extended to the many low income families who receive Free School Meals through the Universal Infant Free School Meal offer, but would not otherwise be entitled,” he said.
“In particular, many children in low income working families would not normally be entitled to Free School Meals, but can receive help as a result of the Universal Infant Free School Meals offer.
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“Parents in these families may be at risk of experiencing a significant fall in hours and earnings, as well as seeing expenses going up, and they will struggle to cover the additional costs of their child being at home.”
The Children’s Society is also calling for the government to introduce an additional temporary uplift in child benefit payments for all parents of £10 per child per week.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT head teachers union, said: “Everyone was most concerned with getting the voucher system up and running for children on the pupil premium register. Something that is very much on our minds though, is that as the crisis deepens, the number of families who are struggling will increase, and we’ll need to be able to reach them somehow too.”
Tim Roche, general secretary of the GMB union, said: “The coronavirus crisis shouldn’t be used to effectively end universal free school meals. I can’t imagine a situation where taking food out of kids’ mouths is a good idea, let alone the middle of a crisis where people are struggling.
“We cannot be in a situation where people in schools are having to decide who eats and who doesn’t.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Our focus is on making sure that the 1.3 million disadvantaged children who would normally have a free school meal do not go hungry as a result of staying home to protect the NHS and save lives.
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“Any child still attending school – those of critical workers or who are classed as vulnerable – should still be provided with meals if requested.
“Schools and local authorities will know who their eligible pupils are. They should continue to accept free school meal applications from families that may become eligible for this support due to a change in circumstances.”