thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Coronavirus Will Not 'Just Go Away' And May Be Here For 'Years', Top Medic Warns

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The world may have to live with coronavirus “for several years”, the deputy chief medical officer has warned.
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Jonathan Van-Tam echoed previous warnings that a vaccine may never be developed for Covid-19.
That is despite the fact the government on Sunday said the UK would be first in line for 30m doses of Oxford University’s coronavirus vaccine by September if it passes trials.
Van-Tam told the Downing Street daily briefing: “Maybe people are just hoping and praying that this virus will just go away, as indeed I hope and pray it will.
“But the reality is that, certainly until we get a vaccine, and only if we get a vaccine that is really capable of suppressing disease levels, will we ever be what you could call ‘out of this’.
“And so from that perspective we may have to live and learn to live with this virus in the long term, and certainly for many months to come, if not several years.
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“A vaccine may change that but we can’t be sure we will get a vaccine.”
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus. PA
Van-Tam spoke as Dominic Raab said it was “not sustainable” to keep the lockdown in place “permanently” but that the government was monitoring the impact of the easing of restrictions.
The foreign secretary said: “It is true to say that making any changes inherently comes with some risk of spreading the virus compared with simply staying at home.
“But it is also true that staying in permanent lockdown is itself not sustainable on health grounds or economic grounds.
“That is why we have only eased measures where it can be done with the lowest risk possible.
“That’s also why we are watching the impact of every change we make very closely.”
Van-Tam said the country had to prepare in case Covid-19 came back in the autumn and winter.
“One of the things that’s very clear with flu viruses is that they come in our cold winters and the levels of transmission and circulation decline over the summer months,” he said.
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“The data we have on other coronaviruses we have looked at very carefully, and it’s not clear that these coronaviruses are as seasonal as influenza.
“But there may be an element of seasonality and it may well be that the autumn and winter conditions provide a better environment for the virus to then do its work again.”
Meanwhile, Van-Tam played down the importance the NHS track and trace app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight and looks like it will be delayed.
He suggested that human contact tracers may play a more important role on the test, trace and isolate strategy the government wants to introduce to combat the spread of Covid-19.
“The app is one part of the test and trace system, the rest is much more of the tried and tested methodology used by Public Health England for this and many other diseases,” he said.
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Van-Tam also stressed that the the current testing programme needs to be “bigger and faster”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Penguins Take A Trip To An Art Museum During Lockdown

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Penguins Take A Trip To An Art Museum During Lockdown
These penguins from Kansas City Zoo in the US took a trip to an art museum during its closure.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Exclusive: Younger Leave Voters Want To Keep Or Boost EU Regulation After Brexit, Poll Suggests

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Most younger Leave voters think the UK should keep or boost EU regulations and standards after Brexit, a poll has suggested.
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Overturning some commonly-held assumptions about Brexit voters, two thirds of Leavers aged between 22 and 48 said they want to keep or increase regulation in areas like consumer protection, food safety and the environment.
This holds true for Leavers who voted for both the Conservatives and Labour in the December election, according to the Ipsos MORI poll for Unchecked UK.
The vast majority of respondents (78%) also agreed that regulation was necessary to ensure there is fair behaviour by people and businesses.
It raises questions for Boris Johnson’s Brexit negotiating strategy, with hopes for a deal beginning to fade as the talks remain deadlock over EU demands for the UK to sign up to minimum standards in areas like workers’ rights and the environment.
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The prime minister has made clear he will not accept that kind of “level playing field”, arguing the EU is treating the UK unfairly as it did not make similar demands when striking free trade deals with countries like Canada.
A protester seen holding a placard at a Leave Means Leave rally in London. SIPA USA/PA Images
Emma Rose, director of Unchecked UK said: “As the UK deals with the economic fallout from Covid-19, and embarks on the negotiation of trade agreements with countries around the world, the question of whether the government will pursue social and economic deregulation is becoming increasingly critical.
“For the first time, this polling brings the views of younger Leave voters to the table.
“It suggests that – contrary to common assumptions – a significant majority are in favour of maintaining, increasing and strengthening existing standards.
“These voters see strong rules not as an inconvenience to be removed where possible, but as a valued public good. Covid-19 is likely to have strengthened these sentiments, as people experience first-hand the benefits of strong protections.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Killing Eve: 7 Crucial Questions We Have After Series 3's End Of Game

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After Killing Eve pressed pause on episode four’s forking big cliffhanger to explore Villanelle’s backstory last week, it was back to business in End Of Games, as things got even more complicated.
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It was revealed that, against all odds, Niko had survived Dasha’s skewering, and sure enough, it wasn’t long before Eve deduced there was more to his attack than first met the eye.
Elsewhere, there were some shocking revelations for Carolyn as she searched for answers about Kenny’s death, while the life of an assassin was becoming to much for an increasingly disenfranchised Villanelle, as walls also appeared to be closing in on Konstantin.
Here’s the questions we were left asking this week...
Just how much more is poor Niko going to have to endure?
BBC
He’s witnessed Villanelle kill his colleague before then being held hostage with her corpse, had a stay in a mental health facility after suffering with PTSD, and now survived Dasha’s pitchforking. Oh, and now it’s looking like he’ll never speak again.
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Just what else can the makers of this show possibly have in store for poor, old Niko? And surely this is the final nail in the coffin of his and Eve’s relationship?
Why does Villanelle really want out of The Twelve?
Sid Gentle/BBC
Sure, she’s aggravated by her disappointing “promotion”, but is there a more emotional reason why Villanelle wants to leave the only life she’s ever known behind?
Her hopes of absconding with Konstantin and Irina appear like she’s desperately trying to form her own family unit – but then we suppose that finding out your birth mother was a psychopath who abandoned you, before then murdering her in a house fire, is bound to mess you up a little bit.
Does Carolyn believe it wasn’t The Twelve who killed Kenny?
BBC
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When Eve visited Carolyn for her assistance in finding who attacked Niko, there was an exchange between the two women that suggested Carolyn believes that someone other than The Twelve could be responsible for Kenny’s death. But if it wasn’t them, who was it?
We’ve been suspicious of Geraldine and her constant longing for her mother’s attention for weeks now – could jealousy have motivated her to bump off her brother? Perhaps The Twelve also knew this and emotionally manipulated her into joining their organisation? After all, we do know that her and Konstantin have history...
Is Carolyn’s boss working for The Twelve?
Likewise, we’ve also been distrusting of Carolyn’s boss Paul, who basically admitted he was a shady character during a scene in which she accused him of being a member of The Twelve.
While the answer to that was left deliberately ambiguous, why did he intercept information Mike had left Carolyn about Kenny’s call log if he is legit?
Is Konstantin Kenny’s father?
BBC
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When Carolyn confronted Konstantin about why Kenny had been calling him in the days before his death, he claimed Kenny had asked him if he was his real father. While clearly angered, Carolyn didn’t seem to be completely surprised by the suggestion, which indicates it’s possible.
However, was Konstantin even telling the truth about the subject of his and Kenny’s conversations in the first place?
Did Konstantin take the money from the Swiss bank account?
While we still don’t know about Paul’s real allegiances, we know that he has a connection with The Twelve from his visit to Konstantin.
Paul revealed they are looking at who ordered the hit on Kruger’s wife, believing she knew who had been stealing money from The Twelve’s Swiss account. This left Konstantin unnerved, as it was him who was gave Villanelle the instruction.
So, could this also suggest it was him who stole the money, and that’s why he’d been planning to abscond from The Twelve? Perhaps Kenny uncovered this and confronted him on the phone, before Konstantin then ordered a hit on him?
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Will Irina become Villanelle’s protégé?
BBC
After failing to mentor Felix effectively earlier in the series, it seems Villanelle has finally rubbed off on someone – we saw Irina run over her mother’s boyfriend after Villanelle had encouraged her to do so.
Until now, the relations between them had been strained to say the least, but could this development be the start of an understanding between them – or perhaps even a new working relationship?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Watch Live: Dominic Raab Leads Daily Downing Street Briefing

Watch Live: Dominic Raab Leads Daily Downing Street Briefing
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab hosts the daily press briefing following the announcement that loss of smell and taste are added to the official list of Covid-19 signs and anyone over five with coronavirus symptoms can now get a test.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Grant Shapps Hints At ‘Air Bridges’ Between UK And Low-Risk Covid-19 Countries

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Families hoping for an overseas summer holiday have been given a glimmer of hope after Grant Shapps floated the idea of “air bridges” between the UK and countries with a low incidence of Covid-19.
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The transport secretary told MPs on Monday the government “should consider” proposals to allow exemptions to its plans to impose a 14-day quarantine on all incoming travellers through ports and airports.
The quarantine for all travellers, apart from Ireland, is set to come into force from “early next month”, Shapps said.
Backers of the proposals - which will not affect most freight lorry drivers - insist they are needed to prevent the import of further infection from overseas.
But the plan has faced opposition from business, from the aviation and travel industry and from those who hoped they could get a European break later this summer.
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In the Commons, Shapps revealed the scale of the economic impact, stating that there are 43,500 furloughed airline staff, with a further 2,600 at airports.
He was pushed by Tory transport select committee chairman Huw Merriman to consider the idea of “air bridges”, so that those arriving from countries with a Covid-19 reproduction number (R) of less than 1 could avoid quarantine.
“This would boost confidence in the aviation and travel industry and target safety where it is most needed,” Merriman said.
Some European countries such as Greece have had a relatively small number of Covid-19 cases but are desperate for foreign tourism.
Shapps, who said that final details of the quarantine scheme will be released “soon” and “come in early next month”, signalled that some nations could be over time exempted from the 14-day quarantine.
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“It is the case that we should indeed consider further improvements for example things like air bridges enabling people from other areas, other countries who have themselves achieved lower levels of coronavirus infection to come to the country.
“Those are active discussions that will go beyond what will initially be a blanket situation.”
PA
Hopes of easier travel to and from France rose earlier this month when No.10 said that a reciprocal deal was being worked on with President Macron. However there has since been a big push within the government and the Tory party to impose the quarantine on France too.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said last week that ‘big, lavish international holidays’ were not going to be possible this summer, but some had hoped that European trips would be possible given the rapidly lowering coronavirus case numbers across the continent.
Airline boss Willie Walsh has warned that the plan would “seriously set back recovery plans for our industry”, while Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said on Monday that the quarantine was “idiotic” and “unimplementable”.
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Ryanair announced last week that it will operate nearly 1,000 flights per day from July 1 subject to European countries lifting flight restrictions and “effective public health measures” being put in place at airports.
In answer to Labour’s transport shadow minister Mike Kane, Shapps said that the government “absolutely will bring forward enormous amounts of support to aviation businesses”, adding he was “acutely aware of the job losses”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--'Wide Variety' Of Symptoms Linked To Positive Coronavirus Tests – So What Are They?

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A continuous cough, a high temperature – since the Covid-19 outbreak, we’ve been told to look out for these two key symptoms of coronavirus. Now, the government has added another one to the mix: anosmia, or loss of smell.
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But the lead researcher behind the Covid-19 Symptom Tracker app, which more than 1.8 million individuals have used to self-report symptoms, believes the UK isn’t testing for enough signs of the virus.
Dr Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, tells HuffPost UK the latest announcement is “very welcome” but “too little, too late”, as other major countries around the world have “had [anosmia] on their lists for about four weeks now”.
The news comes after it was revealed coronavirus may be going undetected in one in four people with symptoms, because they have signs of the virus other than a persistent cough or high temperature.
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Prof Spector appeared on Radio 4′s Today programme on Monday morning to say the UK could be missing up to 70,000 people who are infected because they aren’t being tested for a broad range of symptoms.
The danger, he suggested, is that people are being sent back to work and may spread the virus around because they have symptoms of coronavirus that aren’t – as of yet – listed in official UK health guidance.
“At the moment, people are being told to go back to work,” he said. “If they’re a care worker and they’ve got severe muscle pain, or fatigue – things that we know, we’ve shown, are related to being swab positive – this country is missing them all and not only underestimating cases, but putting people at risk.”
Shortly after Prof Spector’s remarks on the Today programme, the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland announced that a loss of sense of smell was recognised as an official symptom of coronavirus.
“From today, all individuals should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or anosmia,” they said in a statement. “Anosmia is the loss or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked.”
There are other symptoms, however, that have been associated with positive coronavirus test results, said Professor Spector.
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Some of these include:
Loss of taste or smell
Severe fatigue
Fever and cough
Shortness of breath
Muscle pain
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Confusion
Sore throat
Skin rashes.
In addition to the symptoms listed above, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also states that headaches, conjunctivitis and discolouration of the fingers or toes are symptoms of the virus.
Ponomariova_Maria via Getty Images
Prof Spector’s work on the Covid-19 symptom tracker app has thrown up some interesting findings so far, he adds: “When we first saw the loss of smell and taste, that was surprise. I think it’s the wide variety of symptoms that’s the biggest shock and the fact they can come and go over a two-week period.
“Many people never have the classic symptoms but can be very unwell. Also that it can last six or seven weeks in one in 20 people.”
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HuffPost UK contacted the Department of Health and Social Care about the “wide variety” of coronavirus symptoms. They directed us to Professor Jonathan Van-Tam’s comments in a briefing on Monday.
The deputy chief medical officer for England acknowledged there were a wide list of symptoms. “Are we sure that other symptoms exist? Yes, absolutely,” he said.
“There are quite a wide range of symptoms, including things that you wouldn’t usually associate with a respiratory virus such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea, albeit in small proportions. I want to be clear on that, lots of symptoms exist.”
It’s important to know which symptoms make the interception of cases better or worse, he said, and that “we look for things that are not so common and not specific, that they could cause more confusion than clarity”.
“Fatigue for example, any number of people can report fatigue for any number of reasons,” he said. “It is a genuine symptom of Covid, but it doesn’t serve a purpose in helping us pick out cases.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Anyone Over 5 With Coronavirus Symptoms Will Be Offered A Test

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Everyone in the UK with symptoms of Covid-19 can get a test if they are five or over, Matt Hancock has announced.
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The health secretary unveiled the expansion of the government’s testing programme in the Commons on Monday amid growing concern over plans to reopen schools to some children on June 1.
Hancock also said that more than 21,000 contact tracers had been recruited, as ministers try to build an effective “test, track and trace” strategy as lockdown measures begin to ease.
Health chiefs earlier announced that a loss of smell or taste is officially a symptom of the disease.
“We are expanding eligibility for testing further than ever before,” Hancock told MPs.
It was not yet clear, however, where or when people would be able to access the promised additional tests.
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Hancock added: “Yesterday we conducted 100,678 tests. Every day we are creating more capacity and that means more people can be tested, and the virus has fewer places to hide.
“Today, I can announce to the House that everyone aged five and over with symptoms is now eligible for a test.
“That applies right across the UK in all four nations from now.
“Anyone with a new continuous cough, a high temperature or the loss or change of sense of taste or smell can book a test by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus.”
Revealing new figures for contact tracers, Hancock said: “Today I can confirm that we have recruited over 21,000 contact tracers in England. This includes 7,500 health care professionals who will provide our call handlers with expert clinical advice.
“They will help manually trace the contacts of anyone who’s had a positive test and advise them on whether they need to isolate. They have rigorous training with detailed procedures designed by our experts at Public Health England.”
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It is a rapid recruitment after Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said last week that just 1,500 had then been hired.
Hancock said people who are experiencing a loss or change in their sense of smell, even without any other coronavirus symptom, should self-isolate for seven days or until they are better.
“From today we are including anosmia, which means that if you have lost your sense of smell or are experiencing a change in your normal sense of smell or taste, that can be a symptom of coronavirus, even where the other symptoms are not present,” he said.
“So, from today, if you develop a continuous cough, or fever or anosmia you should immediately self-isolate for at least seven days in line with the guidelines. Members of your household should self-isolate for 14 days.”
The health secretary was unable to confirm when the government’s full “test, track and trace” system would be fully operational, however.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Donald Trump Has A Surprising Response To Golfer Rory McIlroy's Criticism

The president then boasted about the country’s economy before the coronavirus outbreak, offered condolences for those who have died and emphasised how much he wants to see the resumption of sports.
“I know so many of the tour players and they’re really fantastic people,” he said of pro golfers. “I can’t think of anyone I don’t like. I can’t say that necessarily in life, but when you meet these tour players, they’re just great people. It’s something very special.”
The top-ranked McIlroy, in an interview last week promoting a match for Covid-19 relief, expressed regret that he had played golf with Trump in 2017, which many fans assumed meant he agreed with the president’s views. He said Trump acted graciously, but said he likely wouldn’t hit the links with him again. He also blasted the president’s response to the pandemic.
“We’re in the midst of something that’s pretty serious right now and the fact that he’s trying to politicise it and make it a campaign rally and say they we administer the most tests in world like it is a contest — there’s some stuff that’s just terrible,’’ McIlroy said. “It’s not the way a leader should act. And there is a sort of diplomacy that you need to show, and I just don’t think he’s showing that — especially in these times.’’
Trump’s interaction with Tirico also was noteworthy because Trump reportedly cheated when they played together.
“Thank you very much, Mike and it was great playing golf with you guys — I remember that very well and we had a good time,” Trump said Sunday, in the clip below.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--'Ultra-Rare' Blue Bee Rediscovered By Researchers In Florida

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An exceptionally rare blue bee that scientists thought might be extinct was rediscovered in Florida in March.
Florida Museum of Natural History postdoctoral researcher Chase Kimmel found the metallic insect ― a blue calamintha bee ― this spring, marking the first time the insect had been observed since 2016, the museum said in a media release.
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Kimmel’s discovery is a major step toward the conservation of the little-known species, which is listed by Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan as a species of greatest conservation need.
The blue calamintha bee was rediscovered in central Florida in March 2020. Before that, it was last observed in 2016. Florida Museum Photo by Chase Kimmel
“I was open to the possibility that we may not find the bee at all so that first moment when we spotted it in the field was really exciting,” Kimmel said.
“We observed a shiny little blue bee grabbing (an Ashe’s calamint flower) and rubbing its head on the top portion of the flower 2-3 times,” he told USA Today. “We were pretty shocked to see it.”
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Kimmel has since found the bee in three of the four locations it had previously been identified and six additional places ― a positive sign for the species.
The blue calamintha is thought to live only in the Lake Wales Ridge region of central Florida. This biodiversity hotspot is one of the country’s fastest-disappearing ecosystems, and is home to a blooming plant known as Ashe’s calamint ― another threatened species, which the bees depend on for food.
After capturing a bee, researchers place it in a plastic bag with a hole to photograph its head before releasing it. Pollen left in the bag is analyzed to determine which flowers the bee visited. Florida Museum Photo by Chase Kimmel
The species uses its unusual facial hairs to collect pollen from flowers on these plants, the museum release said. As a solitary bee, it works alone, creating individual nests instead of hives. Researchers have yet to find a nest, but they hope to reveal how these insects do so as part of their research.
Kimmel and his adviser, Jaret Daniels, are part of a two-year research project studying the bees.
This research, funded by a grant administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, could help determine whether the bee qualifies for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
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However, the museum said, the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into the works. While Kimmel has been living in the region since March, suspension of museum volunteer operations and travel has left the project with limited resources and scaled back the extensive fieldwork.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--For Children With Special Needs, Michael Gove’s Plan To Reopen Schools Is Immensely Damaging

Pupils with special educational needs will pay the price. Getty
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Speaking to Andrew Marr yesterday, Michael Gove confidently announced that, if we “really care about [our] children, [we] will want them to be in school”. He also acknowledged that, whilst no environment can be completely safe, schools will apparently be fine so long as children and staff follow adequate social distancing measures.
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Given that the majority of adults are finding it hard to cope without seeing their friends and family, I would love to know how Gove thinks we are going to stop our young children from immediately leaping on their friends, dragging each another around a filthy playground and indulging in all the other normal childhood behaviours they’ve been denied the past two months.
Perhaps we should take a leaf from the Big Book of Policing and instigate a policy of instant detention for all those five-year-olds ignoring Social Distancing rules. Or photograph wrongdoers and post them on a board labelled “Covidiots”.
Flippancy aside, there is a serious issue here. For all the difficulties which staff in mainstream education will face, there are a hundred more for those in alternative/ special education.
Prior to the lockdown I was working in a school for children with SEMH (Social, Emotional & Mental Health) issues. Many of our children are on the autism spectrum and, for them. a month without their usual routine will make any return to school potentially traumatic. Such returns will have to be carefully managed and Gove’s idea of simply shoving them back into the classroom at a 2m distance and leaving the teachers to get on with it, is both unworkable and unfair.
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“The Conservatives already have our factory workers, care workers and delivery drivers working as usual, now it’s our children who they are happily planning to send back down the pit with the promise that they "are less vulnerable to Covid-19” to keep them safe.”
A large number of our children can also exhibit behaviours which require therapeutic physical intervention; it is used as a last resort, but for children in Year One and Six (for whom self-control is still a challenge) it can be a daily occurrence. Under the current guidelines there is no way to safely interact with a child who requires this sort of intervention.
So what options does this leave us with?
The simplest solution is to say that special schools cannot safely go back on 1 June.
For our students (who come from some of the most deprived backgrounds in the city) school is more than a chance to see friends and ignore the teachers. It can be a safe-haven from violent households or the only hot meal they get each day. For others it is their opportunity to get one to one attention which is otherwise unavailable.
Naturally, teaching staff have been working tirelessly to provide home-learning opportunities, free school meal vouchers and regular activities for our pupils throughout the lockdown. Our school Facebook group has been a great source of motivation and recognition for both teachers and parents who are able to assist. We all want to see them back in the classroom, but not until it is safe (for both staff and pupils) to do so.
It is incredibly telling that schools such as Eton and our other monuments to The Great Class Divide are remaining closed until September. Their pupils, who will be able to access the internet, libraries of books and the educational benefits of parents who are themselves highly educated, can cope with a few months “off school”. For children whose parents cannot provide them with a bespoke teaching service, or who are not capable of focusing on school-work due to mental health or learning issues, the damage to their education is potentially immense.
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In education, as with the workplace, it would seem that the Conservatives are more than happy to let the working classes bear the brunt of the risk during this pandemic. Our factory workers, care workers and delivery drivers have been working as usual, now it’s our children who they are happily planning to send back down the pit with just the promise that “children are less vulnerable to Covid-19” to keep them safe. Just two months ago, Good Old Boris and chums were advocating DNR instructions for learning-disabled adults who contracted the virus. In two weeks’ time, they will be watching from the safety of their Zoom cabinet meeting as our teachers are struggling to maintain social distancing whilst simultaneously providing an adequate education and caring for our most vulnerable children. But what more can we expect of a man, whose time as education secretary inspired the book “Everything I Know About Teaching”, featuring 90 blank pages.
If we are sending our children back to school then it needs to be properly discussed and education providers consulted. We cannot use our private schools and high-performers as the norm and we need to ensure that our most vulnerable kids are catered for first and foremost.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--UK Records 160 More Coronavirus Deaths In 24 Hours As Latest Care Home Data Released

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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 34,796 – an increase of 160 over 24 hours.
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Since the end of April, the government’s daily announcement has included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Sunday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals across the UK, as well as care homes in Wales, after contracting the virus rose by 134 in 24 hours.
The increase consists of 122 hospital patients in England, two people in Scotland, six in Northern Ireland, and four hospital patients and care home residents in Wales.
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Meanwhile, as of 9am on Monday, 1,887,051 people have been tested for coronavirus, with 246,406 coming back positive.
According to data published by NHS England, the people whose deaths were most recently registered were aged 47 and 100. Seven patients, aged between 50 and 85, had no known underlying health conditions.
A spokesperson for NHS England cautioned that the Covid Patient Notification System – used to register the deaths – did not operate “for a period of time” on Saturday, which could reflect in the lower number of deaths reported on Sunday and Monday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--NHS Coronavirus Track And Trace App Could Be Delayed Beyond Mid-May, No.10 Admits

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The NHS coronavirus contact tracing app appears to be delayed after Downing Street said it would be rolled out across the country “in the coming weeks”.
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Health secretary Matt Hancock had previously said he expected the app to be available across England from “mid-May”.
The apparent slipping of the timetable comes after HuffPost UK revealed that applicants for government contact tracing jobs were told their recruitment was being put “on hold” due to a “delay in the launch of the track and trace app”.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said on Monday he was “absolutely confident” that 18,000 contact tracers would be hired by the end of this week - more than 17,000 have already been recruited.
But they suggested the timescale for introducing the app, which was developed by NHSX and is being trialled in the Isle of Wight, had slipped, telling reporters: “It remains our aim to roll out the app across the country in the coming weeks.”
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Asked whether the app had been delayed or Hancock had incorrectly stated government policy, the spokesman said: “We set out that we would have 18,000 tracers in place and I am confident that will happen.”
The government can still introduce tracking and tracing of people with coronavirus without the app, the spokesperson said.
“When it comes to track and trace you will have to look a little bit longer for us to set out the full detail but it’s certainly possible for that to happen,” they said.
“It is possible to do track and trace work separately to the app.”
The introduction of a track and trace scheme is set to play an important role in any further lifting of the lockdown, with June 1 pencilled in for more potential easing of restrictions.
There have now been more than 60,000 downloads of the app on the Isle of Wight.
Steve Parsons - PA Images via Getty Images
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The government has however faced criticism for adopting a “centralised” app model which has sparked concerns about privacy.
There has been speculation that it may be forced to ditch the approach in favour of the “decentralised” model supported by Apple and Google, which stores data about people’s movements on their phone rather than centrally with the government.
Eight days ago, communities secretary Robert Jenrick said the government was “learning lessons from other apps”, adding: “If we need to change our app we will do”.
But he denied that the government was developing a second app, insisting it was simply “paying attention to the other apps that exist elsewhere in the world”.
“If we need to adapt our app or move to a different model, obviously we will do,” he told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Scotland To Begin Easing Coronavirus Lockdown On May 28, Nicola Sturgeon Confirms

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Scotland will begin to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions from May 28, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
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Speaking in Edinburgh, the first minister said she would publish a “route-map” out of lockdown on Thursday, with “phased” changes to the guidelines to take place “carefully and gradually” later in the year.
It comes after Sturgeon clashed with Boris Johnson over Covid-19 guidelines.
Stressing the “stay at home” advice in Scotland had not yet changed, Sturgeon said: “Within two weeks, my hope is that we will be taking some concrete steps on the journey back to normality.
“As I’ve said before, it won’t be normality as we knew it because the virus will not have gone away, but it will be a journey to a better balance – I hope – than the one we have today.
“As we take each step, we must make sure that the ground beneath us is as solid as possible.
“That’s why sticking with the lockdown restrictions a bit longer to suppress the virus more is so important, because that will mean we can start to take these steps with the confidence that we have alternative means of effectively keeping it under control.”
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The FM said the reproduction rate – the “R” – of the virus will be outlined in Thursday’s report, along with taking into account the findings of the weekly National Records of Scotland (NRS).
Sturgeon said changes could include some sporting events being allowed, the opening of garden centres and letting people meet those from other households, provided social distancing is followed.
More will also be said about when schools might reopen.
Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Pool via Getty Images
Johnson switched the government’s advice in England from “stay home” to “stay alert” and encouraged people who could not work from home to return to the workplace.
The FM also said there would now be an expansion in testing, saying that anyone over the age of five with any of the symptoms would be able to have a test booked.
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These would be available at the drive-in centres across the country, or through any of the mobile testing centres, with the scheme being a collaboration between the Scottish and UK governments, she said.
While key workers will be prioritised, Sturgeon said the tests can be booked online.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--The Long-Term Effects Social Distancing May Have On Mental Health

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There’s one question that New York City psychologist and anxiety specialist Amelia Aldao has heard almost every day from her clients since the coronavirus pandemic began: “When is this all going to end?”
“That question creates a lot of anxiety,” Aldao told HuffPost. “This uncertainty we’re all experiencing makes us seek more reassurance and certainty. Because that’s not possible, it just makes us feel more anxious.”
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We’re all feeling it. In fact, New York City psychologist Andy Schwehm said some of his clients who have not experienced a lot of trauma or hardships in the past have been the most rocked by the public health crisis. Meanwhile, many of his clients with previous trauma are doing “remarkably well.”
“One of them even said, ‘Now everyone sees what it’s like to be me every day,’” he told HuffPost.
Regardless of your mental and emotional well-being prior to the pandemic, Aldao and Schwehm worry that the pandemic and quarantine will have long-reaching effects on people’s mental health.
“Right now of course, everyone is going through his or her own way of coping with this,” Schwehm said. “Although it’s important to remember that we can only control what we can control, there are going to be a lot of unknowns for a long time.”
Below, Schwehm and other experts shared five ways the Covid-19 crisis and social distancing in particular might affect our collective mental well-being.
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1. Some people may develop post-traumatic stress disorder
Many people hear the acronym “PTSD” and their thoughts immediately turn to veterans. But PTSD can be triggered by nearly any distressing event: sexual assault, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, a bad car accident, mass shootings, a global pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic is a particularly traumatic experience for a number of reasons, Aldao said, including fear of catching the virus and the economic impact on people. She also said social distancing measures can alter people’s mental health in a profound way.
“There’s an inherent grief that comes with social distancing and how our social lives have changed drastically and will continue to change over time,” Aldao said. “Plus, again, there’s that additional element that makes this crisis particularly traumatic: We don’t know when it’s going to end. We ask ourselves, ‘When is my city reopening?’ ‘When can my kids go back to school?’ ‘When will I be able to travel again?’ and so on. There’s great uncertainty, which in turn fuels our anxiety and increases our stress level. That can easily cause trauma.”
Elyssa Barbash, a psychologist in Tampa, Florida, said she is also concerned about PTSD-like symptoms among her clients who have been stuck at home.
“When we talk about the future, many clients are saying they’re hesitant to come into the office even though we are able to maintain the 6-foot social distancing guidelines,” Barbash told HuffPost. “There is noticeably increased awareness and anxiety about germs, contamination, fear over the unknown, sadness and grief over the significant changes in lifestyle, particularly not being able to do things as easily and carelessly as we previously have.”
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Justin Paget/Getty Images A lack of social connections may cause depression for some people, experts said.
2. Anxiety over going out — and potentially, agoraphobia — may become a lot more common
We’ll likely see increased rates of anxiety, with more and more of us worried about our health and safety going back out in public again. (“If coronavirus gets worse ― or if we face another novel virus in the future — will I get sick? Will my family get sick?”)
For some people, the anxiety may develop into a mental health condition: Agoraphobia. People with this particular anxiety disorder feel a deep fear over leaving their homes ― or any other safe place ― and finding themselves in an area that may cause panic or make them feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
Because we have been at home for so long during this pandemic ― especially under the “safer at home” guidelines many states have established ― there is a high likelihood that some people will go on to develop agoraphobic symptoms, if not outright agoraphobia, Barbash said.
“People may adjust to the behaviour of being home often and the innate comfort this brings, particularly with the belief in mind that they are definitely safe in their home where the environment is controlled, which to a large extent is true,” she added. “In the long run, of course, that’s not a realistic or satisfying way of living your life.”
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3. Some people may develop depression from lack of social connections
Social distancing can result in a decline in both perceived social support (how much support we believe we’re getting from close friends and family) and received social support (how much quantifiable social support we’re actually getting), according to Sarah Lowe, an assistant professor of social and behavioural sciences at Yale’s School of Public Health.
“A lack of social support can increase the risk for a variety of mental health problems, including depression,” Lowe told HuffPost. “Although people are connecting virtually, that’s not always equivalent to the types of support that people get from a large variety of social network members — neighbours, colleagues, etc. — on a regular basis.”
Seeing your friends and family on Zoom can be a balm in stressful times, but it lacks the physical aspect of connection — seeing someone on your iPhone screen is just not the same as seeing them in person.
Poor social support has been linked to depression, and loneliness has been shown to increase the risk of depression, suicide, alcohol use and cardiovascular disease.
“I hear a lot about people getting screen fatigue, decreasing their motivation to connect virtually,” Lowe said. “That’s troubling.”
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Westend61 via Getty Images Connecting through your smartphone is great, but not quite a substitute for in-person socializing.
4. Risk of suicide may increase
Some mental health experts believe the coronavirus pandemic has created a “perfect storm” for a possible increase in overall suicide risk. Rory O’Connor, a professor of health psychology and director of the Suicidal Behavior Research Laboratory at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, is among those who are worried.
“My concern is that we may experience the mental health and social consequences of the coronavirus crisis for months and years to come,” O’Connor told HuffPost. “With regards to suicide, although a rise in suicide is not inevitable, experience from previous epidemics and economic recessions suggests that suicide rates could increase, especially in vulnerable groups.”
All of the factors at play in the Covid-19 pandemic ― increased stress and anxiety, financial uncertainty coupled with loneliness and social isolation ― could play a role in suicide risk, he said. In combination, they are especially concerning.
To address these concerns, O’Connor and his research team at the lab are conducting a longitudinal study of 3,000 adults from across the United Kingdom about their mental health during this time.
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Like the pandemic, their research is ongoing. At six different points in time, the researchers are asking people a wide range of questions to assess levels of depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness and suicidal thoughts and attempts, as well questions about what is helping them through this crisis, including social support and coping methods.
“That is why we need to act now — to identify who is most vulnerable and then to ensure that the appropriate mental health and social supports are put in place to mitigate this risk,” O’Connor said.
5. Kids may experience long-term mental health effects, too
When considering the long-term fallout of the outbreak, Schwehm said he is most concerned about the impact it will have on children.
“With the pandemic, you have a lack of proper schooling, social isolation and, for some, exposure to issues like increased domestic violence and lack of proper nutrition, amongst others,” he said.
To understand how the virus may affect children during these formative years, Schwehm said we might be able to look at the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for answers.
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“We’ve seen the effects something like 9/11 had on children, with increased rates of behavioural problems and depression in children in New York City,” he said. “This might be especially true for children whose parents are serving as essential workers: medical staff, grocery store workers.”
skynesher via Getty Images Kids may experience trauma in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, too.
Some ways to cope:
The potential mental health effects of Covid-19 will last much longer than the pandemic itself.
“That’s why each national government needs to put in place economic, social and mental health safety nets to protect the most vulnerable,” O’Connor said.
On a personal level, you can take action to address some of your concerns before they balloon into something worse. In moments when you’re worrying about what the coming months might look like, Aldao suggests keeping your focus on two things: the immediate future ― your plans for the week or weekend, for example ― and the very distant post-social distancing future.
“I’ve been telling my clients to focus on very long-term goals,” she said. “For instance, what they want to do with their career in three years or what type of long-term relationship are they interested in having.”
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By taking the focus away from this immediate, uncertain future, you can steadily lower your general uncertainty about things.
“Also, I’d say building habits and routines is a great way of adding predictability to our lives and thus feel less uncertainty, which in turn makes us feel less anxious,” Aldao added.
While social distancing, lean into your support system. Sure, sometimes joining another Zoom call feels like just another item on your to-do list (and obviously, it can’t compete with in-person gatherings), but you’ll likely feel a lot better about the state of things after talking to your loved ones.
“It’s going to be incredibly important for people to find and lean into support to help them adjust to what will undoubtedly be a new way of living,” Schwehm said.
In other words, the pandemic is certain to change the way we function ― but it doesn’t have to change the lasting bonds you have with the people you love if you harness all the technology that’s available.
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If your stress worsens, consider talking to a professional. Since traditional in-person therapy isn’t possible right now, many are turning to online therapy ― videoconferencing with a mental health expert ― to get help.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Naomi Campbell Boosts Flight Hygiene With New Addition To Hazmat Suit

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Naomi Campbell is kicking her protective flight attire up another notch as she travels during the coronavirus pandemic.
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The supermodel made headlines in 2019 when she shared her meticulous pre-flight sanitisation ritual of “anything that you could possibly touch” in a plane seat last year.
In March, she also shared images of herself wearing a hazmat suit, goggles and mask as she boarded a flight from Los Angeles to her home in New York. She captioned the post “Safety First NEXT LEVEL.”
At the time, more than 110,000 people globally had been infected with the virus.
Over the weekend, with a case count topping 4.5 million around the world, Naomi upped her game again, as seen in an image shot onboard an aircraft.
This time, she added a protective face shield to her kit:
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Naomi previously explained her reasoning in a video on her YouTube channel.
“In all honesty, this is not a funny time. It’s not a humorous time. I’m not doing this for laughs,” she said. “This is how I feel comfortable traveling. If I have to travel. I’m trying to keep it at a minimum. If I do have to go, I’m going like this.”
Naomi’s hyper-vigilant flight routine, which she’s been doing for the better part of 20 years, has received flak in the past.
“Now, I’m not ridiculous,” Naomi said in the footage.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Line Of Duty Series 6 May Have To Be Rewritten Due To Coronavirus

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The sixth series of Line Of Duty may have to be rewritten due to coronavirus, writer and creator Jed Mercurio has revealed.
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Production of the latest season of the hit BBC drama was halted back in March amid the pandemic, with conversations now on-going about how filming might resume.
One option being considered means that four week’s-worth of footage they’ve already shot in Belfast could be binned.
The cast of Line Of Duty PA Entertainment
Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, Jed said: “We’re all considering [a re-write]. We shot for four weeks in a pre-lockdown world, and all that material would have to be re-shot if we were going to change things.
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“That would have huge cost implications, but we are considering it.”
However, Jed admitted he thinks it is unlikely work would restart again this year, unless a better public health infrastructure was in place.
He said: “The problem was when [testing] was abandoned by the government, we were looking at a situation where we couldn’t apply that.
“Nobody knows how this is going to unfold and we’ve just got to make sure everybody’s safe. I feel for a lot of the crew, it’s a difficult time when you’re out of work.
“I want to get back as soon as we can, but that’s got to be when it’s safe. We’re not a show that is similar to the soaps where there’s a possibility of bringing the actual subject of corona into the storyline, where that could make it slightly easier for them to adapt to it, whereas it’s currently not in Line Of Duty’s world.”
Jed Mercurio Empics Entertainment
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He continued: “To be honest with you there’s a lot we can do within the industry, but until wider society has the public health infrastructure of test, trace and isolate in place it’s going to be very hard for anyone...
“I just don’t think, unless wider society has got the process right, we’ll be able to work in isolation.”
The sixth series of Line Of Duty was set to see Kelly Macdonald join the cast, playing a brand new Detective Chief Inspector who had been dubbed the “most enigmatic adversary AC-12 have ever faced”.
Vicky McClure, who plays DI Kate Fleming on the show, added that she is keen to get back to work, “even if it means re-shooting what we’ve already shot”.
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On Monday, a host of major UK broadcasters joined forces to introduce broad guidelines which aim to help the TV industry work through the pandemic.
They include reducing the number of people involved in production and incorporating social distancing into scripts, as well as a heightening of precautions on set and special measures for people at higher risk of harm.
Last week the BBC’s director of content, Charlotte Moore, said in The Telegraph that the BBC plans “to begin filming again on both EastEnders and Top Gear by the end of June”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Past Week

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Kids may say the darndest things, but parents tweet about them in the funniest ways. So each week we round up the most hilarious 280-character quips from mums and dads to spread the joy.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Coronavirus: People Losing Sense Of Smell Will Now Be Asked To Self-Isolate

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People who lose or detect a change in their normal sense of smell will now be asked to self-isolate with suspected coronavirus as the government expands the list of officially recognised symptoms.
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Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said the government is adding anosmia to the existing list of a new continuous cough or a fever.
Anosmia is defined as a “loss of, or a change in, your normal sense of smell”.
But the government will also explain that a loss of taste could be indicative of anosmia, he told reporters.
Van-Tam said: “In terms of public messaging we do understand that smell and taste are very closely linked in a neurological sense and that patients who experience loss of sense and smell can also experience loss of sense of taste, these two being very linked.
“Therefore from that perspective, the messaging will explain that to the public.”
People will now be asked to self isolate if they have a “new continuous cough or fever or anosmia”.
Lots of other symptoms exist, including diarrhoea and abdominal pain, but Van Tam said the government was attempting to identify specific symptoms that “make the interception of cases better”.
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“We are looking for things that are not so common, [not] so non-specific that they would actually cause more confusion than clarity.”
Van Tam acknowledged that anosmia has been a suspected Covid-19 symptom for “a while now”,
But the government believes it is introducing the new official symptom “at the right time, when we think it’s going to make a difference moving forwards to how we pick up cases”.
Deputy officer Jonathan Van-Tam during a media briefing in Downing Street. PA
He stressed that working out whether anosmia is a symptom has been a “difficult piece of science”.
But the government’s new and emerging respiratory virus threats advisory group (Nervtag) has been monitoring the situation for a while and has now come to this conclusion as it gathered more data on early cases.
It is hoped that adding the symptom will help the government better monitor and control the spread of coronavirus as the infection rate and number of cases decreases, and a test and trace system is introduced.
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“At a time when disease activities are going to be lower in the UK for, we hope, the foreseeable few months, it’s going to be even more important to keep it that way by picking up all the cases we can,” Van-Tam said.
“Nervtag have arrived at a position where they feel that the addition of anosmia to the case definition actually materially improves things by a small amount.”
Van-Tam said new case pickup would grow by 3% – from picking up 91% of cases by counting just a cough or fever to picking up 94% of cases.
Anosmia can continue for days and weeks after someone recovers from Covid-19, but that is not a reason for them to stay at home as they are unlikely to be passing on the virus at this point, he said.
It differs from the guidance on self-isolating if you have a fever, which states that you should stay at home until symptoms have gone.
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Van-Tam said there are “really quite variable” reports about the percentage of people who get anosmia, from the teens to more than 50%.
It is not clear whether anosmia affects certain groups of people more or less.
Van-Tam said there are signals that it is more frequent in women and girls but these are “minority reports” and the government is not in a position to be clear on that “at all”.
Editor’s note: The deputy chief medical officer originally stated that new case pickup would grow by 2% from picking up 91% of cases by counting just a cough or fever to picking up 93% of cases.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Katy Perry Uses 'Brand New Technology' To Give The Most Impressive Performance You'll See In Lockdow

Katy Perry Uses 'Brand New Technology' To Give The Most Impressive Performance You'll See In Lockdown

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With music artists unable to play for their fans in the traditional way at the moment, many have been getting creative with at-home performances in lockdown.
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But Katy Perry has just taken that creativity to new heights with a performance of her latest single Daisies.
The star, who is pregnant with her first child, is currently in quarantine in the US but didn’t let that get in the way of her putting on a show during the American Idol final on Sunday night.
Katy used some “brand new technology” to transport her from a virtual Idol stage into various living room set-ups.
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She tweeted: “Start on the #AmericanIdol stage, end up in a whole new world, thanks to brand new technology that’s never been seen before on TV.
“Hope it transported you out of your living room as much as it transported me into this one.”
Start on the #AmericanIdol stage, end up in a whole new 🌎, thanks to brand new technology that’s never been seen before on TV 🤯❗Tune in NOW for the grand finale AND my first television performance of #Daisies! 🌼 pic.twitter.com/XgIUvqj7Uw — KATY PERRY (@katyperry) May 18, 2020
ICYMI 👀: My first TV performance of #Daisies🌼 on the #AmericanIdol finale is now on YouTube! Hope it transported you out of your living room as much as it transported me into this one 🤗 Watch it at https://t.co/brLed7cNKm pic.twitter.com/equoSlrXH7 — KATY PERRY (@katyperry) May 18, 2020
American Idol has been filming its “live” shows remotely over the last month, with Katy and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, presenter Ryan Seacrest and the contestants all appearing from home.
Sunday night saw Just Sam triumph over Arthur Gunn in the show’s remote finale.
The singer confirmed the news in the music video for her latest single, Never Worn White back in March, which finished with a side-on shot of her cradling a baby bump.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Fresh Questions Over Testing Capacity As UK Sends At Least 100,000 Coronavirus Swabs To Germany

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Questions are being asked over whether the UK’s coronavirus testing capacity is truly being “ramped up” after it emerged at least 100,000 swabs will be sent to labs in Germany.
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The tests are being sent to the EU country as part of a home test kits programme announced on April 29 – the day before the UK reportedly hit its 100,000 tests a day target on April 30.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has also admitted a number of individual trusts have private sector contracts with international labs, including those in Germany.
The government publicised sending 50,000 tests to the US after issues with British labs, but did not admit until pressed that many more were also being sent to Europe.
Ministers now face fresh demands to be more transparent with the public.
Boris Johnson and numerous other cabinet members have attempted to reassure the public that the UK’s testing capacity is growing.
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It comes as the prime minister aims to ease the Covid-19 lockdown in the coming weeks, and after Hancock pledged to offer tests to everyone in care homes.
Individual trusts, such as Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, are thought to be sending tests to Germany as results reportedly arrive much faster than waiting for the UK to process them.
Germany has not been so hard-hit by the pandemic as other countries, with 8,049 deaths and around 177,000 confirmed cases.
Health secretary Matt Hancock arrives in Downing Street ASSOCIATED PRESS
Munira Wilson, health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said the UK is “woefully behind the curve” on testing.
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She also accused the government of “playing with politics” by not being upfront about testing sent to EU countries.
She said: “At every step of the way, the government have been slow to ensure our health service is properly equipped to tackle coronavirus – from ventilators and protective equipment, to tests. Of course, when we are in need it is absolutely necessary to seek help and source provisions from other countries, but it is testament to how woefully behind the curve UK ministers have been.
“The government must make clear what exactly the testing capacity is within the UK, and be frank with the public about how much we are relying on our international partners. It also goes without saying that publicising some whilst ignoring the aid of others, particularly those countries within the EU, shows that the government are playing with politics rather than focusing on the crisis at hand.”
Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, meanwhile told HuffPost UK: “Ministers must explain if tests sent to Germany for processing are counted in the UK ‘capacity’ figures they refer to at press conferences or if this is additional.”
It is unclear whether the 100,000 is included in the testing capacity figures, but a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This is part of our planned national surveillance study. Understanding more about the current spread of coronavirus and the prevalence of antibodies is a vital part of our ongoing response to this pandemic.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Coronavirus Is Robbing Mothers Of Their Chance To Bond With Their Babies

mothers and babies Getty
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I recently had the honour of talking at the House of Commons about a petition signed by over 200,000 parents calling for maternity leave to be extended by three months during Covid-19.
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The views regarding extending maternity leave vary widely. Some are adamant this is the answer to enabling them to “get back” lost time with their baby; bonding with wider family, building peer support networks, and attending baby classes to help their child develop. Not to mention to avoid the almost impossible task most parents currently find themselves in, juggling full-time jobs alongside full-time homeschooling or childcare whilst nurseries are closed.
But others see this an economic cost society can ill afford at this time – that new parents need to “suck up” the situation they find themselves in, as others do likewise.
For me, the key questions to ask are: how is Covid affecting children’s development; what impact is it having on the mental health of parents, and hence their children; and what can we be doing at this unprecedented time to help.
This Covid-19 outbreak is having a detrimental impact on children’s development – that much is clear.
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A lack of bonding and learning opportunities are the main developmental issue facing babies and pre-schoolers at the moment. They are not doing normal life – going to the shops, meeting family and friends, or if they have siblings, they don’t even have mum’s undivided attention while older siblings are at school. Babies learn so much from faces and the environment, and right now there is no variation.
We also know lockdown is having a hugely negative impact on maternal mental health, and in turn, childrens’ mental health.
78% of the parents we surveyed felt lockdown had significant negative effects on their mental health.
There are currently two main reasons for this. Firstly parents are lacking any support systems – from wider family, friends and peers. And secondly many parents are finding themselves in the impossible situation of working full-time whilst homeschooling or caring full-time.
And this is affecting children’s mental health as they are anxious due to their parents being highly stressed, often passing them back and forth between meetings. Parents have no time for a break, no time to even talk to one-another, all the while possibly facing huge financial strains. Poor interactions are known to negatively effect children throughout their lifetime. So something needs to be done, and now.
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The government needs to support mental health of parents, and the development of babies.
Whilst it is imperative the government works out how to support parents –whether they are coming off maternity leave, or beyond that point – who are trying to work and look after their children at this tricky time, I feel we need to do something now that both helps parent’s mental wellbeing, and replicates the bonding, developmental and learning experiences that babies are missing, being unable to explore the world outside their four walls.
While many normal life experiences can’t be had now, adults have become adept at replicating interactions through zoom chats and phone calls. We need to replicate this for our children. We don’t just sit watching TV all day to feel like we have interacted, so can we expect children to develop social skills watching youtube?
Attending baby classes was the top thing parents felt that they needed right now to help maintain their mental wellness, and they are fundamental in helping children to develop. Additionally they will help (as best as we can right now), to socialise children if they do need to head to an unfamiliar nursery for their parent to start working.
Interactive classes are available, and an overwhelming majority find them to be hugely beneficial and of much more valuable than the free options they are currently being promoted. But until they try them they don’t understand the difference of a truly interactive class, or don’t understand the benefits for their family’s mental health.
These solutions will support parents’ mental health and support the development of babies and children. This will reduce the need for huge amounts of mental support now and for years, if not decades to come. The cost of perinatal mental health is estimated to be £8.1bn per year per cohort. The figure for this cohort of babies is going to be significantly higher. And with 70% of this cost attributed not to the mother’s recovering, but to supporting their child throughout their life, this is something we need to investigate financially if not morally.
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Mothers and children might seem a luxury to invest in given the challenges our economy and services face. But enabling this major section of society to function effectively will have a large effect on society, the economy, and services more widely than just the narrow experience of mums and babies in the short term.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Piers Morgan Vows Petitions And Death Threats Will Only Encourage Him To Challenge Government 'Harde

Piers Morgan Vows Petitions And Death Threats Will Only Encourage Him To Challenge Government 'Harder'

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Piers Morgan has dismissed death threats from trolls and petitions to have him fired from Good Morning Britain, saying they will only encourage him to challenge the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis “louder and harder”.
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In an update on Twitter, the presenter revealed he’d received threats on his life over the way he has been holding power to account.
Piers has been a vocal critic of the way the government has responded to the pandemic both online and on Good Morning Britain, where he has grilled government ministers.
Piers Morgan Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
After it was reported a petition to have him fired from the ITV breakfast show had hit 50,000, Piers tweeted: “Memo to trolls: the more you try to silence me with foul-mouthed abuse, death threats and petitions for me to be fired, the louder and harder I will challenge the Govt over its handling of this crisis.
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“Lives depend on it.”
Memo to trolls: the more you try to silence me with foul-mouthed abuse, death threats & petitions for me to be fired, the louder & harder I will challenge the Govt over its handling of this crisis.
Lives depend on it. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 17, 2020
While Piers and co-host Susanna Reid have won praise from many viewers for their interviews with government officials about the coronavirus crisis, his direct approach has not always proved popular.
More than 3,000 complaints were made to the TV watchdog Ofcom following two interviews with care minister Helen Whately on GMB last month.
Another 600 viewers also complained about Piers’ interview with health secretary Matt Hancock on 16 April.
However, both matters were cleared by Ofcom, who ruled that Piers is “well-known for his combative interviewing style” and viewers would expect him to challenge senior politicians.
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Piers later claimed the government had imposed a “pathetic and cowardly” ban on ministers appearing on the ITV breakfast show, and has publicly criticised Hancock, foreign secretary Dominic Raab and chancellor Rishi Sunak for dodging interviews on GMB last week.
On Sunday night, the presenter said the apparent ban was continuing, writing: “UPDATE: The Govt has refused to put any minister up for interview on @GMB tomorrow. This will be the 20th day of its boycott of our show during the worst national crisis since WW2. All because we asked them tough questions.
“We’ll keep asking them. cc @BorisJohnson.”
UPDATE: The Govt has refused to put any minister up for interview on @GMB tomorrow.
This will be the 20th day of its boycott of our show during the worst national crisis since WW2.
All because we asked them tough questions.
We’ll keep asking them.
cc @BorisJohnson — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 17, 2020
HuffPost UK contacted 10 Downing Street for comment last week, but did not receive a response.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Virginia Tech Therapy Dog Gets Honorary Degree After Years Of Helping Students

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He’s got a PhD in being a very good boy.
Well, technically it’s an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine, but either way, Moose is a very accomplished dog.
The 8-year-old Labrador retriever has worked as a therapy dog at Virginia Tech’s Cook Counseling Center since 2014. Now, his years of service to students are being celebrated with an honorary degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, which is operated by Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland at College Park. Moose was granted the degree at a virtual commencement ceremony on Friday.
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Moose, looking very distinguished in a graduation cap. Virginia Tech
Moose has helped out in counselling sessions with thousands of students, his owner, Trent Davis ― himself a licensed counsellor ― told ABC News. Davis explained that therapy dogs chiefly aid in sessions by providing extra comfort and a sense of security.
“[Dogs] provide a source of comfort and grounding,” he said. For a lot of humans, unfortunately, other humans haven’t always been the best to them in their lives, so dogs can be a little bit safer.”
In February, Moose was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has been undergoing treatment managed by the College of Veterinary Medicine, according to a Virginia Tech press release. However, he is doing well and has since returned to work with fellow therapy dogs Derek, Carson and Wagner.
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Moose, pictured with colleagues Derek and Wagner Virginia Tech
According to his online bio, Moose was raised at New York’s Guiding Eyes for the Blind, but a minor medical condition prevented him from becoming a guide dog. He was then adopted by Davis and ultimately became a therapy dog.
Outside of this therapy career, Moose loves swimming, playing tug-of-war, and eating. He was also honoured as the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s “animal hero” of 2019.
And yes, Moose even got a real diploma.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--'Hang Fauci' Sign Brandished Amid Lockdown Protesters Trump Hailed As 'Great People'

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A disturbing sign with the words “hang Fauci” appeared in a news report about Covid-19 lockdown protesters whom President Donald Trump hailed on Saturday as “great people.”
The sign was part of a threatening rhyme reading: “Hang Fauci Hang Gates, Open Up All Our States.” It appeared in a local TV report Thursday on News 12 Long Island about the “Re-Open New York” protest that day in Commack.
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Protester holds threatening sign at Long Island protest against COVID-19 safety precautions. Screen Shot/News 12 Long Island
The sign referred to philanthropist Bill Gates, who has sounded the alarm on pandemics, and Dr Anthony Fauci, the popular science expert on Trump’s original coronavirus task force and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci has warned of serious health consequences if the nation reopens the economy too quickly and drops safety precautions during the COVID-19 crisis.
The chilling message was part of a filmed report on the protest by TV journalist Kevin Vesey, who has become a target of Trump on Twitter.
Vesey initially attracted Trump’s attention when he tweeted about his ugly experience at the protest, where demonstrators berated and harassed him. Vesey called the anger directed at him “alarming.” One maskless protester in a Trump T-shirt and MAGA hat deliberately invaded his social distancing space as Vesey (who was wearing a mask) pleaded with him to back away. Vesey recently recovered from Covid-19.
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“I was insulted. I was berated. I was practically chased by people who refused to wear masks in the middle of a pandemic,” Vesey tweeted.
I'll probably never forget what happened today.
I was insulted. I was berated. I was practically chased by people who refused to wear masks in the middle of a pandemic.
All the while, I was there to tell THEIR story. Here's the finished product. pic.twitter.com/HV2Hrcs7gi — Kevin Vesey (@KevinVesey) May 14, 2020
Trump on Thursday tweeted in response to one of Vesey’s posts: “FAKE NEWS IS NOT ESSENTIAL.”
On Saturday, the president again tweeted about Vesey’s posted video, declaring of the protesters: “Great people!” Trump added: “People can’t get enough of this.”
People can’t get enough of this. Great people! https://t.co/b4HM0C298h — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020
The Commack protest was organised by the Setauket Patriots, a group of Trump supporters — and backed by the Long Island branch of the radical right-wing organisation The Oath Keepers.
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Suffolk County, the scene of the protest, has a Covid-19 mortality rate more than four times the national average, with nearly 38,000 cases of Covid-19 and 1,733 deaths as of Saturday.
Trump’s comment about the “great people” at the protest evoked his controversial comment about swastika-waving “Unite the Right” marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. He said then there were “very fine people on both sides” amid marchers and counter-protesters.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Coronavirus: Crowd Control At Train Stations, And Four Other Things You Need To Know

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With more people expected to return to work this week, railway stations across the country are ramping up their safety measures, as unions have warned of the “high risk strategy”.
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Meanwhile, fresh questions have emerged over the government’s plans for a track and trace app, after applicants for contact tracing jobs were wrongly told it was being delayed.
According to the latest figures, as of 5pm on May 16, 34,636 have died with coronavirus.
Statista
Here’s what you need to know today:
Crowd control at stations as rail services ramp up
Security guards with crowd control training and British Transport Police will be deployed at some railway stations from today, as staff prepare for more people to start using public transport again.
Operators were increasing their capacity to around 70% as of Monday morning, moving from a Sunday-style timetable to something similar to a normal Saturday service.
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But rail bosses have expressed fears it will not be possible to maintain social distancing on platforms and on trains and passengers will reportedly be told they cannot travel if services are too busy.
Today we have officers at key locations across the rail network to ensure those travelling have a safe journey.
If you have the option to work from home, please do! If you have to travel, please try to maintain a social distance wherever possible! pic.twitter.com/AS5EV2pW2W — C/Supt Martin Fry (@BTPFry) May 18, 2020
Unions have also expressed concerns, with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union saying resuming services was a “high-risk strategy”.
It said it had concerns that “rushed political considerations could well override the safety issues for staff and passengers,” Sky News reported.
The RMT has called for new compulsory protections for passengers and rail workers, including the enforcement of two-metre social distancing on trains.
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Passengers are being asked to wear a face covering and keep a two metre distance from other people where possible.
People using London North Eastern Railway are only allowed to board trains if they hold a reservation as well as a ticket.
The operator is asking passengers to sit in a window seat, with one person per row of four seats, and two empty rows between each passenger.
People travelling as a household will be allowed to sit together but must maintain “a safe distance” from other passengers.
Avanti West Coast warned its customers that anyone without a reservation may not be able to travel on their choice of train due to capacities being limited to around a quarter of normal levels.
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Train operator Northern said there will be “significantly reduced capacity on each and every one of our trains”.
Government ministers are still urging people to work from home if they are able to and to avoid public transport in favour of walking, cycling or driving.
Up to 20% of patients ‘contracted Covid-19 in hospital’
According to the Guardian, up to a fifth of patients with Covid-19 in several hospitals contracted the disease while being treated for another illness.
The paper reports: “Some of the infections were passed on by hospital staff who were unaware they had the virus and were displaying no symptoms, while patients with coronavirus were responsible for the others.”
Senior figures at several NHS trusts confirmed to the Guardian that a senior official at NHS England said in a briefing, held over the phone last month, that the rate of hospital-acquired infections was running at 10% to 20%.
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Medical staff are expecting a second potential spike in infections as lockdown measures are eased, with deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries warning last week that the rate of infection could already have reached levels where it could spread quickly.
Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries. PA Video - PA Images via Getty Images
Aspiring contact tracers face delay
A number of applicants for coronavirus contact tracing jobs have been told their recruitment is “on hold” because of an alleged delay in the roll out of the NHS track and trace app.
In an automated email, seen by HuffPost UK, hopeful applicants were told by a recruitment company helping to manage applications for jobs listed on the government’s website that the delay was due to an “alternative” app being considered.
The firm, HR GO Recruitment, told HuffPost UK the information was a “miscommunication and false”, blaming the email on “one individual in the business”, while the government said the email was “inaccurate” and “wrong”.
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Michael Gove said on Sunday that more than 17,000 contact tracers had already been recruited and promised a test, trace and isolate programme, which is likely to involve the use of an app, would be in place by the end of the month.
But the email, sent to people who have applied for contact tracing jobs through the Department for Work and Pensions’ “find a job” portal, raises questions about the progress of the NHSX app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight, which alerts people if they have come into contact with someone with Covid-19 symptoms by using Bluetooth technology.
The original email from HR GO Recruitment said on Friday: “Thank you for your online application for this role.
“Unfortunately earlier today the roles were put on hold.
“This is due to a delay in the launch of the ‘Track and Trace’ App itself while the government considers an alternative App.
“As and when the App (or an alternative) goes live, we will re-consider those applications already received, however please be aware that we have received an unprecedented number of applications for this role and therefore not all suitable candidates will be able to be put forward for the limited number of roles.”
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PA
30m vaccines if trial is successful
The UK will be first in line for 30m doses of Oxford University’s coronavirus vaccine if it passes trials in September, according to the business secretary.
Alok Sharma said that a deal struck between the university and AstraZeneca means the pharmaceutical giant will work to make 30m doses available by September for the UK, as part of an agreement to deliver 100m doses in total, if ongoing trials succeed.
“The UK will be first to get access,” Sharma told the Downing Street daily Covid-19 briefing on Sunday.
Sharma said Oxford was one of the world’s “frontrunners” in the race for a vaccine, with clinical trials “progressing well” and all phase one participants receiving their vaccine dose on schedule earlier this week.
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The participants will now be monitored closely by Oxford’s team.
Business secretary Alok Sharma. TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
One dead after air show to boost morale amid coronavirus ends in crash
At least one person has died and another was injured after an aerobatic Canadian air force jet crashed into a house.
The Snowbirds, similar to the Red Arrows in the UK, had been on a tour “to salute Canadians doing their part to fight the spread of Covid-19” when the crash happened in the city of Kamloops, British Columbia, on Sunday.
The force tweeted it was “deeply saddened” and would “grieve alongside” family and friends of the crew member who died.
The RCAF has suffered another tragic loss of a dedicated member of the RCAF team. We are deeply saddened and grieve alongside Jenn’s family and friends. Our thoughts are also with the loved ones of Captain MacDougall. We hope for a swift recovery from his injuries. - Comd RCAF pic.twitter.com/8U41bdVqcU — Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 18, 2020
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Witness Annette Schonewille told CBC News: “The one plane continued and the other one, there was two puffs, it looked like puffs of smoke and one... was a ball of fire,” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Olly Murs Transforms Into Mrs. Doubtfire In Hilarious Video Tribute

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But the Troublemaker singer has replaced the savoury snack packaging with something a little sweeter for his latest clip.
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In his latest post, Olly has dressed up as Mrs. Doubtfire to put his own spin on one of the movie’s most memorable scenes – and it’s fair to say, he really does commit to the role.
Recreating the tea-making scene from the classic 1993 film, the singer dons a wig and a creamy face mask as he perfectly lip-syncs to Robin Williams’ dialogue.
Oscar-worthy, we think you’ll agree.
Earlier this month, Olly apologised after receiving a backlash to a prank he played on girlfriend Amelia Tank.
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The singer was criticised over a now deleted video he shared on TikTok.
It showed him removing the bottom of a Pringles tube to apparently stick his penis in it, only for an unsuspecting Amelia to unwittingly touch it as she reached into the packaging.
Addressing the subsequent backlash on Twitter and his Instagram Stories, Olly wrote: “So I’ve had a few days to think about this, and wanted to apologise to anyone who has been offended by my social videos.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Trump Blasts Obama As 'Incompetent' After Apparent Commencement Speech Jab

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President Donald Trump on Sunday tore into former President Barack Obama, calling him “an incompetent president” after Obama appeared to criticise his response to the coronavirus crisis during two commencement speeches a day earlier.
Asked about Obama’s remarks, Trump told reporters on the White House lawn that he “didn’t hear it” before proceeding to bash his predecessor as “grossly incompetent.”
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“Look, he was an incompetent president,” Trump said. “That’s all I can say. Grossly incompetent.”
President Trump: "[President Obama] was an incompetent president. That's all I can say. Grossly incompetent." pic.twitter.com/Cw6CwgxUrT — The Hill (@thehill) May 17, 2020
It’s unclear if Trump was referring to a specific incident in his accusation. The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Obama delivered two virtual commencement addresses Saturday, the first for graduates of historically black colleges and universities, followed hours later by a prime time special for high school seniors.
“This pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said during his first speech. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”
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In his second address, he took aim at “so-called grown-ups” with “fancy titles” who have “screwed up” the country by acting irresponsibly.
“Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy — that’s how little kids think,” Obama said. “Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way — which is why things are so screwed up. I hope that instead, you decide to ground yourself in values that last, like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others.”
Many viewers interpreted the comments as a thinly veiled attack on Trump’s leadership.
Congrats to the high school Class of 2020, as well as to the teachers, coaches, and most of all, parents and family who’ve guided you along the way. Thanks for letting me be part of your big day! pic.twitter.com/RjYvHs2BhC — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 17, 2020
Until recently, Obama has largely refrained from publicly taking shots at Trump. But earlier this month, Obama reportedly bashed the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic as “an absolute chaotic disaster” during a phone call with some of his former White House aides.
Trump, however, repeatedly attacked Obama throughout his eight years in office and has continued to do so since winning the 2016 election. Most recently, Trump has been obsessed with pushing the “Obamagate” conspiracy theory, claiming — without evidence — that Obama led a “coup” to sabotage his presidency.
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When a Washington Post reporter last week asked Trump to explain “Obamagate,” the president refused.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--Eric Trump Claims Covid-19 Will 'Magically' Vanish After Election Day

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Taking a page from his dad’s playbook, Eric Trump insisted in an interview Saturday that Covid-19 will “magically” disappear — after Election Day.
He claimed that the coronavirus that has killed 312,000 people around the globe — including nearly 90,000 Americans — is a ploy cooked-up by the Democrats to stop Donald Trump from rallying his supporters at campaign events.
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Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden “loves this,” Trump’s middle son told Jeanine Pirro on Fox News.
“They think they’re taking away Donald Trump’s greatest tool, which is to go into an arena and fill it with 50,000 people every time.” (Trump has rarely if ever, attracted a crowd of 50,000, despite repeated claims that he has.)
“You watch,” Eric added. “They will milk it every single day between now and November 3rd.”
“And guess what – after November 3rd, coronavirus will magically, all of the sudden, go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen.”
He called it a “very cognizant strategy.”
In late February the president insisted that Covid-19 would “disappear” one day “like a miracle.”
In fact, there will likely be a second wave of coronavirus infections in the fall and winter, one that might be even worse than the outbreak over the past few months.
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CORRECTION: This article initially misquoted Trump as saying “cognizant tragedy,” rather than “strategy.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--17 Creative Homemade Coronavirus Face Masks

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There are myriad ways to fashion a face cover ― out of T-shirts and bandanas, for example ― but for some folks, that word “fashion” is key.
All over social media, people are sharing their innovative and creative handmade face masks. Some are wild pieces of artwork, some have themes (ahem, Harry Potter fans) and some are just beautiful.
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Not all of the masks featured are for sale (though plenty are), but either way, we salute these artistic folks. As things like masks become the new normal, we’re grateful to people who find beauty in what has been a stressful and trying time for the country and the world.
Check out 17 beautiful, wild and seriously creative handmade face masks below.
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