thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--How To Break Away From This Emotional Rollercoaster Of A Week

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Confused, anxious, exhausted – these are just some of the emotions Britain has endured as a collective, as last week’s front page promises of “freedom” quickly turned into the drip feeding of information about the updated lockdown guidance.
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Mass confusion first reared its head when the UK government announced its new ‘Stay Alert’ slogan for England – while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland stuck firmly to the ‘Stay Home’ message. Then came prime minister’s Sunday evening address to the nation, which has since been described as “divisive, confusing and vague”.
Things ramped in the 24 hours after Boris Johnson’s speech, when foreign secretary Dominic Raab gave incorrect advice on meeting parents in the park. The government then unveiled its 51-page lockdown recovery strategy, which happened to contradict some of what had been said the night before.
The past few days have been mentally exhausting. And therapists have told HuffPost UK the confusion caused by this mixed messaging – plus the lack of clarity – has lead to people feeling even more anxious during what is already a troubling time.
Jennie Cummings-Knight, a psychotherapeutic counsellor and BACP member, also believes the prolonged uncertainty, where none of us know when life will go back to normal – or if, indeed, it will go back to how it was before – is weighing on people’s minds. “I think that’s really hard,” she adds.
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So, how can you keep these feelings of anxiety at bay?
1. Accept this is how you feel
Feeling confused, agitated or frustrated this week? You’re not alone – remind yourself of that. It’s good to acknowledge how you’re feeling and actually sit with it for a bit – don’t try to push it down or hide it.
“I think a lot of people are perhaps trying to be falsely jolly about the whole thing, and I don’t think that’s helpful,” says Cummings-Knight.
“We need to acknowledge that it’s difficult for us all and it does bring up very primitive emotions of fear and anxiety. No certainty is in place at the moment.”
2. Limit your news updates
It might seem obvious but if you’re finding the confusion – and subsequent information overload – to be a bit much, step away from the news and social media. “Limit exposure to updates online,” advises Cummings-Knight. “Perhaps do a quick update daily, if you must, maybe not as often as that.”
One reason we might be unable to prise ourselves away from social media and the news, she adds, is that we’re looking for a way out of the current situation. “We’re so keen to [do this] that we’re trawling through the information, [asking] what can I find to make things a bit easier?”
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But it’s unlikely you’re going to find it. Instead, turn to self care on days when your emotions feel up in the air.
3. Remind yourself of the basics
Updating yourself on the new lockdown guidance, including details from the 51-page report on the UK’s recovery strategy, is pretty exhausting. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take it back to basics.
What do we absolutely need to be doing right now? We need to remember the basic hygiene messages and social distancing rules that have been present throughout the outbreak. “They’ve been consistent,” says Cummings-Knight. “So you’ve got your attention to personal hygiene, the risk of transmission through touch, social distancing, and the essential guidance of limiting contact with other people.”
Try to keep these fundamental rules in mind when you go to the supermarket, consider returning to work, or meet a mate in the park. “People feel better when they feel they’ve got some control,” she adds. “It’s that feeling that you’re doing something and you’re playing your part.”
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4. Pay attention to your mental health
Throughout this pandemic, Cummings-Knight urges everyone to keep a close eye on their mental health, and treat it as importantly as physical health.
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If you’re able to, prioritise a daily walk to get fresh air and a change of scenery, she advises – and don’t be afraid to get creative while following the guidelines. There have been instances of people considered clinically vulnerable going on an early morning walk, for example, to reduce contact with others. Remember, if we don’t exercise in some way, we’re likely to have other health problems.
Human interaction can be really important for mental health, especially for those who live alone. As of Wednesday, the new advice is that you can only meet one person from outside your household in the park or a public space – remember to stay two metres away from each other if you do meet.
For those struggling to get by, have a browse through HuffPost UK’s How I Cope series, where we share the self-care tips that are helping us get through – and adjust to – the coronavirus pandemic.
5. Create your own certainty
People are emotionally torn at the moment, says Lucy Fuller, a UKCP psychotherapist and Counselling Directory member. “There’s the fear of the virus which has been drummed into us for quite some time and there’s this real need to get back to normal – along with the anxiety of what the new normal is,” she says.
She acknowledges that this emotional state can cause anxiety, so urges people to make their own certainty for what happens next. “Think carefully about how you want things to be,” she suggests.
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People should make their own plan, while adhering to the government guidelines, and then adopt that plan with certainty, she says, knowing that they’ve weighed up everything and decided: that’s best for me.
“Break it into manageable chunks and allow yourself to change your mind,” she advises. “So if you go to work and social distancing isn’t happening, you have already said to yourself: if it doesn’t look safe, I’m going to come away again.”
You might decide you still want to stay at home as much as possible and continue with your one daily walk – or perhaps meet up with one friend in the park once a week. Whatever you decide, make it clear in your own mind.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--The Tragic Death Of Belly Mujinga And The Psychology Of Spitting In The Coronavirus Era

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In an unprecedented age where the world struggles in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic, a minority of individuals are choosing to weaponise their own bodies – by claiming to have the virus and infecting others by spitting or coughing on them.
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A highly contagious virus, Covid-19 has changed the way we live, limiting our contact with others and killing nearly 300,000 people around the globe.
While spitting itself has long been known as a hostile act, capable of spreading disease, the threat of spreading this particular virus is becoming increasingly common, with results that could well be fatal.
Victoria station ticket collector Belly Mujinga, 47, died of coronavirus after being spat at while on duty by a man who claimed to have Covid-19 PA
This has been illustrated most starkly by the case of railway ticket officer worker Belly Mujinga, who was on duty on the concourse at London’s Victoria Train Station on March 21 when a member of the public approached her and a colleague and assaulted them by coughing and spitting in their faces.
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The male informed the women he had coronavirus before fleeing the scene. A week after the assault, both women fell ill and were found to have contracted coronavirus. Mujinga, who had underlying health issues, was admitted to hospital in Barnet on April 2 and died three days later. Her colleague is still recovering.
The attack on Mujinga, who leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter and husband is now being investigated by police – though it was only reported a full seven weeks later. Questions remain as to whether evidence that could have helped catch the perpetrator has been lost, as well as how to protect public-facing workers.
Tragically, Mujinga, who had been signed off work in the past with respiratory problems, was sent back out onto the concourse after the attack on her, despite pleading to be allowed to finish her shift inside the ticket office where a pane of glass would have separated her from the public.
Though it cannot be proved that Mujinga contracted the virus through the attack, more and more incidents like it are being reported. Last month, three men were jailed for coughing, spitting or threatening to infect people – including police officers – with coronavirus.
They included Bevan Burke, 22, who was arrested after spitting at a shopkeeper who had banned him from a Birmingham store for shoplifting, and shouting: “I have corona... you’re going to die.”
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As Burke was later being transported to police custody, he began coughing and blowing towards officers and again said: “I’ve got confirmed coronavirus and now you’ve got it. I hope you and your family die.”
Bevan Burke was jailed for 42 weeks at Birmingham Crown Court having admitted assaulting emergency workers and the shopkeeper, as well as shoplifting at the convenience store on January 10 .
Craig Jackson, professor of occupational health psychology at Birmingham City University, terms the act of spitting at another human being a biological and psychological assault.
He said: “One of the problems of spitting is that as an offence it’s unpredictable, you can’t defend against it, and it violates social norms. We were taught as children: don’t spit. We’re taught that spitting is bad, that is spreads diseases. It violates everything we are taught about decent human behaviour in public and that’s why it shocks people.”
While Jackson concedes that spitting at members of the uniformed forces is not a new trend, he says the options to protect such workers as Mujinga are severely limited in the current climate.
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Without PPE, he said, there is little else that can be done. “For bus drivers you can have screens and we do that anyway, shop workers can have screens,” he said. “But where you’ve got mobile workers on their feet such as concourses or in hospitality where they’re not behind a counter and they’re not protected, that’s the real weak point, that’s the interface.”
Sadly, attacks on staff like Mujinga are commonplace. Linda Freitas, who has worked at Victoria station for 13 years, told the Press Association: “I don’t think people realise how much abuse we get.”
She said: “We have occasions where people become aggressive, it’s very bad, it’s scary.”
Of Mujinga’s death, she said: “I was so shocked. You never think it’s going to happen to someone that you work with.”
Freitas added she was “anxious and a bit scared” about the prospect of more commuters travelling back to work after the relaxation of lockdown on Wednesday.
Another railway worker at the station, who gave her name as Gabby, said that Wednesday was the first day staff had been given masks to wear.
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She said: “There’s not much being done to check all the staff. Today is the first day we have had masks.”
And a security worker who asked to remain anonymous said: “I think they’re trying to cover themselves. This should have been done right at the beginning.”
Professor Craig Jackson terms the act of spitting at another human being a biological and psychological assault Birmingham City University
Professor Jackson believes the act of spitting at uniformed workers is borne out of their representation of authority in moments of conflict, rendering the victim in the spitter’s mind as “fair game”.
He said: “They represent authority and they unfortunately are seen by individuals as being the manifestation of elements of that authority that members of the public don’t like or disagree with.
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“So for that moment, where there is an aggressive conflict between the person and uniform, it’s fair game – you can take your frustration out on that person. Either traditionally, by calling them a pig or verbally abusing them or saying something about their parentage or heritage. But now spitting is for some seen as a powerful embodiment and weaponisation of their own physical presence.
“It’s both biological and psychological because of the uncertainty. I couldn’t think of a more hateful act. Being spat at is just synonymous with hatred and disgust.
“Another reason why I think some elements of society see spitting as a great weapon is because it’s only one spit but the potential for cross infection and cross contamination amongst several people could be quite huge. It’s a very effective weapon in some cases. It’s also a psychological weapon – it’s a form of terror. It’s the fear of not knowing if this person is telling the truth, or if they are just bluffing.
“Years ago you used to have to spend months down the gym or abuse anabolic androgens [steroids]. Now you can have the abilities of a superhero without having to put hours in at the gym and getting muscular and built. Your body can be a very effective – and potentially, in some cases – lethal weapon. And for some people who don’t value uniformed services, maybe feel marginalised and see themselves as part of an underclass, they see this as evening the game a little bit.
“I don’t know if there could have been a racial element in there as well in Belly’s case, that’s a possibility, but the spitter may just have been spitting at the uniform, not at the person, not at the individual. They’re spitting at this representation of whatever train company it was that everybody is fed up with or feels doesn’t give good service.”
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Spitting at uniformed workers has long been a problem, with the police in particular regularly requesting protective equipment – namely spit hoods – to deal with the hazard. The hoods are used in custody suites but they are not permitted to be carried on the beat, with human rights groups including Amnesty International calling them a “cruel and dangerous” form of restraint.
In a 2018 Metropolitan Police Federation survey, one officer said he was forced to take a two-week course of preventative drugs after he was spat at in a custody suite, and as a result of the side effects was not allowed to hold his newborn daughter.
In Mujinga’s case, the use of a spit hood would not have been possible and it is debatable whether an eye wash station would have made any difference. While face masks are now being issued at the station, Professor Jackson believes the government needs to do more to educate the public about the dangers of spitting and make it as anti-social as offences such as drink driving.
He said: “We shun drink drivers now, we look down on them but, years ago, we didn’t. There has been a very successful campaign in Scotland and England for making people look down on drink drivers. You could do the same with spitting.”
He said: “When you finish your work at 5pm, your health, both psychological and physical, should be no worse than it was at 9am. And if it is, there is something legally, morally and ethically wrong with that job.
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“We shouldn’t let the employers off the hook here. Although this is an unpredictable violent act, they still do have a duty of care to their workers that things like this when they do happen are dealt with quickly.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Back To Work With No Childcare? There's A Woman-Shaped Hole In The Government's Plan

Woman juggling work and childcare Getty
Go back to work, they said. Get the economy going, they said. As for what to do with the children while you do, they said... nothing.
The phrase “children should be seen but not heard” dates back to the 15th Century, but it seems the sentiment is still current. Except with the additional caveat that children can only be seen if they’re not distracting us from getting back to work. The idea that we can collectively return to productive employment while schools and nurseries are still shut, points to a large female shaped gap in this government’s thinking, reflecting the lack of diversity among the ‘squad’ of ministers making the decisions.
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I’m in the privileged position of having a three year-old son who I love, and interesting valuable work that I also love. I cannot focus on both at once. Any time that I forget multi-tasking is a myth and I try to just.send.that.one.email whilst also constructing a tower out of blocks and cuddly toys, both the tower and my morale falls flat.
My son understands that I have to work. Indeed he helps me to prepare for calls by crayoning streaks of yellow across my chest to “show your clients”. Or delivering me random objects like sticks and drill-bits that he invites me to discuss with them. He is beautiful, creative, and a blocker to meaningful work.
“In straight couples it is almost always the man who earns the most and therefore permitted to focus on his career while women pick up the slack for everything else.”
And what of dad? I describe myself as “lucky” because my husband splits the childcare responsibilities with me, which shows how far we are from expecting parenting to be shared equally. We’ve seen evidence that during lockdown women are doing 50% more childcare than men where both are at home. And that’s before we add in the inequality around housework and remote caring for relatives.
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The time that women take out of work for childcare is already the single biggest driver of the gender pay gap at 40%. Families overwhelmingly use income as the deciding factor for how to split childcare responsibilities. In straight couples, it is almost always the man who earns the most and therefore permitted to focus on his career while women pick up the slack for everything else. This dropping out and dropping back contributes to the pay gap problem and the cycle continues.
“This must be the point that things change. We need to take the infrastructure of childcare as seriously as we do roads, buildings and power supplies.”
For parents to be able to get back to paid work in a meaningful way, the government needs to provide a proper plan for childcare and schools. The childcare system is already vulnerable with estimates of up to 250k children’s places being lost due to potential nursery closures. We have one of the most expensive childcare systems in the world, and yet those who work in the system (overwhelmingly women) don’t receive the benefit of this.
This must be the point that things change. We need to take the infrastructure of childcare as seriously as we do roads, buildings and power supplies. We need to stop seeing children as a logistical problem to be solved in service of our work productivity, and look for solutions that put their development, education and rights at the centre. We need to value the workers in this industry properly.
“We need a government that grasps that back to work without childcare is not going to work.”
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In the interim, while the sector struggles and the childcare providers and schools are shut, it is likely to be the men who go back to work while the women are left behind to carry the domestic load. The Women’s Equality Party is calling for parents to have a legal right to be furloughed part-time so that parenting can be shared, and for single parents to nominate a second adult to share furlough with – echoing our shared parental leave policy.
Along with lamenting the lack of hours to do all that lockdown reading and banana bread eating, it’s a common cry amongst parents that homeschooling is so tough, we should give teachers a raise. Or taking care of an infant all day is exhausting – childcare workers deserve a bonus. Or having more time as a family has been special – we should be together more. As lockdown memories fade, let’s not forget these things. We need a government that grasps that back to work without childcare is not going to work. We need diverse voices in the decision making rooms. And, right now, we need a few minutes of silence and solitude just for ourselves. Please?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Naga Munchetty Says 'Lessons Have Been Learned' From BBC Breakfast Trump Row

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Naga Munchetty has said that “lessons have been learned” following a controversy over on-air comments she made about US president Donald Trump.
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The BBC ruled she had breached their guidelines around impartiality when, last July on BBC Breakfast, she criticised racist remarks made by the US president, after he tweeted telling female Democrats to “go back” to their own countries.
The broadcaster’s decision was eventually overturned by BBC Director General Tony Hall following a backlash to the original ruling.
Naga Munchetty made the comment about Trump on BBC Breakfast last July BBC
In a new interview with the Guardian, Naga has now said things are improving at the corporation, after she had some “very robust” conversations with senior BBC figures.
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She added: “I think there was a process that needed to be gone through. I think lessons have been learned and things are improving.
“We’re learning all the time – the BBC learns, I learn, move on.”
Naga, who insisted she is not “a victim in any shape or form”, added: “Tony Hall and I have had conversations since, very robust conversations, as I’ve had with other members of management.”
Naga was supported by many other BBC stars and other broadcasters after the corporation's initial ruling PA Wire/PA Images
The presenter also noted that while “as journalists, you are taught to bring balance to everything we do”, she also feels “a responsibility to show that certain things are not acceptable”.
“And some things are not nuanced,” Naga said. “You have to have some faith in your journalists being smart, educated, curious, intelligent people.
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“I’m not there to give an opinion, but I’m equally not there to ignore a damaging opinion and to absorb that into our coverage,” she added.
In the broadcast last July, Naga had said that “every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism”, adding: “I’m not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean.”
Trump’s tweets in question had been written about US politicians Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. All four are US citizens, and three of them were born in America.
In a letter Lord Hall sent to BBC staff after he reversed the ruling that Naga had breached editorial guidelines, he said that “racism is racism and the BBC is not impartial on the topic”.
However, Naga’s BBC Breakfast co-host Dan Walker criticised the BBC for not giving “a more robust defence of their presenters”.
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“We do think it could have been dealt with very differently,” he told Radio Times.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Boris Johnson's Decision For England To Go It Alone Is Disrespectful And Damaging

Boris Johnson PA
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The clear intention of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, up to now, has been to move in a coordinated way out of this crisis. The benefits of pulling in the same direction are clear in a country with four nations, hundreds of miles of shared border, and tangled legal, political and media environments.
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Clearly, a coordinated approach need not mean a totally uniform one, and some flexibility has been necessary and desirable throughout. For that to work though, it requires crystal clarity from the prime minister on the justification for changes, and clear communication between the nations and regions well in advance, so decisions don’t cause confusion. This, after all, is a virus that thrives on ambiguity.
That’s why the approach from Number 10 over the change to public health messaging over the weekend was not only disrespectful but damaging and, frankly, deeply concerning.
Leaders in the devolved nations found out about the UK government’s new message, an essential accessory to maintaining public compliance, via a Sunday paper. This unilateral change made, astonishingly, without consultation with the leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, was preceded by days of ill-disciplined briefing.
This is the exact opposite of the kind of approach that should accompany a significant shift in public health strategy, in the middle of a lethal pandemic. There will, of course, be those that argue the message isn’t what matters; but it is precisely because the message matters that the UK government has decided to change it.
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That’s why this shift hasn’t just sown confusion, but doubt too.
Many wonder, if the “stay-at-home” approach is right for Belfast, then why not Bristol? If the Welsh Government are certain “staying at home is the best way to protect yourself and others”, why not Downing Street?
The mortality rate remains significantly higher in England than elsewhere in the UK; and the devolved nations share an expert evidence base with the UK government through SAGE, so the decision by the prime minister to go it alone raises serious questions.
“We want the government to get this right, but the prime minister needs to act quickly to rectify these mistakes.”
Clarity on this matters, because the risks of a ragged divergence between the UK should be foremost in the prime minister’s mind, and the failure in communication and coordination from Number 10 with the devolved nations makes pulling in the same direction out of this crisis much harder to achieve.
This is already having real, practical consequences. His silence in the address to the nation on the fact many of the measures he was announcing applied only to England was damaging. The Welsh Counsel General had to spend Monday morning clearing up after the prime minister, reminding those driving from England that they will be liable for fines if they break the restrictions that remain in force in Wales.
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Given their presence at COBR and the participation in the SAGE structure, there really is little excuse for the failure to inform and engage the nations and regions and communicate effectively with them. They will have seen what the rest of the public have since Sunday; a clear message that has given way to a muddled strategy from Number 10.
We want the government to get this right, but the prime minister needs to act quickly to rectify these mistakes. In future, they must provide absolute clarity on the territorial scope of decisions being announced by the U.K. Government, stating explicitly whether decision apply to England only in all communications, verbal and written.
He must share the details of any change in approach and message with the devolved nations and regions, well in advance. Where divergence occurs, he must work with the devolved nations and regions to clearly communicate the divergence and the steps people should take to avoid falling foul of the different rules.
And he needs to work harder to make sure the decisions made in Westminster work for the devolved nations. There has been virtually zero detail, for instance, on how the testing app will work in the border counties of Northern Ireland, where villages straddle the border and two different apps may be in use; and applications for the government’s self-employment support schemes online haven’t recognised Irish passports, overlooking that under the Good Friday Agreement citizens in Northern Ireland are entitled to carry only an Irish passport.
This week has shone a bright light on the government’s apparent inability to communicate and coordinate, so the whole UK can pull in the same direction. This confusion cannot go on and if the government does not change its approach soon, the whole of the UK will suffer.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Guardian Soulmates Is Closing – And These People Are Crushed

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Guardian Soulmates is closing down – and former daters who met their match on the platform are pretty forlorn about it.
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After 15 years, the premium dating site announced it will close at the end of June as it’s unable to keep up with fierce competition from free dating apps and sites.
“We’ve come a long way and are very proud of all the thousands of people we’ve helped introduce, the good dates people have been on (ok, we know not all were good, but we tried), the weddings that took place and the families that have been created,” a statement from the team read.
“To every single person who has used our service, thank you. You have been part of a wonderful community of like-minded people, open to finding love and meeting people. But like all good things, we must now come to an end and we’ll be shutting up shop.”
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The platform has now been opened up for everyone to use for free. So, in the words of the Soulmates crew: “If you were waiting for the right moment to make your move – it’s now!”
Those who already pay for the dating site will be able to get refunds on existing subscriptions, Guardian Soulmates has said. They’ll be refunded for days paid beyond and including 14 May, and “this will be done proactively, without subscribers needing to take any action”.
On Twitter, people are already paying tribute to the dating site that introduced them to the people they fell in love with.
Prepare for a reminisce fest.
RIP Guardian Soulmates - and thanks for giving me a family https://t.co/qkZpWyxION — Simon Usborne (@susborne) May 14, 2020
I met my wife through Guardian Soulmates. Through somebody else's Guardian Soulmates. It's quite a good story so I'll try to tell it. A few details will be a bit misremembered or accidentally made up, probably, but I'll do my best. — Fred Connelly (@brendonconnelly) May 14, 2020
Gutted to hear this. I met @northernmunki1 on Soulmates 11 years ago- best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thank you @guardian_SM 🙏🏽 Old school dating is the best. https://t.co/CHaJ4Luhpu — Saskia Nelson (@saskia_nelson) May 14, 2020
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Sad to see that Guardian Soulmates is coming to an end: one girlfriend, two memorable (for the right reasons) first dates, and two amazing and much-loved friends, Paula and Ali. https://t.co/25jFeHUoXL — Andrew Wilson (@AndrewJWilson76) May 14, 2020
One lovely boyfriend, one amazing fiancé, some complete horrorshows and a lot of laughs. RIP Guardian Soulmates, you did me well. (Also snorting at my friends forwarding me their email at the exact moment I was reading it out to Ed). https://t.co/3oyy5F7FQp — Sarah Handyside (@shandyside) May 14, 2020
As part of my speech on our wedding day I read out some of the messages I’d sent Catherine on Guardian Soulmates. It’s a miracle she agreed to meet me let alone marry me. Thank you Guardian Soulmates. https://t.co/R0AKKEI981 — Christian Ward (@cjwardart) May 14, 2020
Wrote this email at, er, 10:17am the day after date one. Three years later, we named the tables at our wedding after dating sites (the top table being Guardian Soulmates. Granny got Grindr, I seem to remember). pic.twitter.com/gVS3POipba — Simon Usborne (@susborne) May 14, 2020
Among people paying tribute to the platform have been those who didn’t exactly find love – but did find some great anecdotes to tell mates as a result.
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RIP Guardian Soulmates, thanks for all the messages from fifty year old + men who thought I was ‘deeply charming, etc.’ because I was a living female who liked books, and for two of the weirdest dates I’ve ever been on. I’ll remember your unnecessarily complex profiles fondly. — Natalie D Kane (@nd_kane) May 14, 2020
I was once the 'featured soulmate' photo during my brief foray into online dating, and I've never had so many strange messages in my life — No.1 Millennial Curator Account (@Danielle_J_Thom) May 14, 2020
Well, that’s the end of an era. An era mainly characterised by the kind of dates that make good anecdotes now (Not so much at the time). Tara Guardian Soulmates! pic.twitter.com/uPRoGzVYsf — Sara Robinson (@sararobinson81) May 14, 2020
I met some of the oddest men I've ever met on Guardian soulmates. — Felicity Hall (@Thingyness) May 14, 2020
It’s safe to say this guy is devastated by the loss.
This site is how I met my Mrs and the reason I’m no longer dating and why I’m not alone during lockdown so THANKS FOR RUINING MY LIFE GUARDIAN SOULMATES. https://t.co/lKkiOKarnO — Chris Tilly (@TillyTweets) May 14, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--A Moment Of Kindness: Hotel Opens Rooms To Rough Sleepers In Shrewsbury

A Minute Of Kindness: Hotel Opens Rooms To Rough Sleepers In Shrewsbury
When lockdown began, The Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury was asked to open their doors and their rooms to the rough sleepers of the town, to stop the spread of coronavirus. The owner tells us of how it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Superdrug Ditches Plastic Tampon Applicators

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Superdrug has removed all plastic applicators from its own-brand tampons, which will save around 418kg of plastic waste each year.
The move is the result of tireless campaigning by environmental activist Ella Daish, who started the #EndPeriodPlastic movement. Daish has joined forces with the retail giant, whose own-brand tampons will now use cardboard, or be applicator-free.
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“It is crucial that retailers make changes like this to stop unnecessary plastic at source,” said Daish. “I’m thrilled Superdrug have taken these progressive steps and hope to see other manufacturers move forward in this way.”
The move from Superdrug follows similar announcements from Sainsbury’s and Aldi regarding own-brand applicator tampons. However, Superdrug is the first big health and beauty retailer in the UK to make the move.
Superdrug Environmental activist Ella Daish
Globally, around 45 billion menstrual products are disposed of yearly and sanitary products are the fifth most common plastic to be found on Europe’s beaches.
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Research from consumer trends researcher Mintel suggests brands should be doing more to respond to “growing environmental concerns” customers have around sanitary products. The report found customers are increasingly looking for reusable options – such as Mooncups, period swimwear and period pants – “highlighting a behavioural shift in the category”.
Superdrug will continue to stock other brands that use plastic applicators for now, but told HuffPost UK it will “be offering more eco-friendly alternatives where possible in the future”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Blaming Covid-19 On 'Bat Eating' And Wet Markets Is Racist. Here's Why

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Warning: Graphic language.
In a strange social media rant Bryan Adams chose to post to both Twitter and Instagram on Monday night (boomers!), he railed against “some fucking bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards” for the spread of Covid-19.
It’s possible Adams doesn’t see anything racist in what he said. And judging by many of the social media responses Adams received, a lot of people agree with his stance. But many Canadians, Chinese and of all backgrounds, were frustrated, hurt and angered.
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“It’s another one with this kind of high-profile status,” Amy Go, president of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice, told City News. “This is going to trigger even more vile and more rampant racist acts against Chinese-Canadians and Asian-Canadians.”
Adams’s original post contained references to a lot of inaccurate information that’s worth looking at closely. Why do people feel his statements were racist? Let’s unpack that, too.
Claim: The Covid-19 pandemic started at a “wet market” in Wuhan, China Fact: We don’t yet know where the virus originated
The first 41 identified cases of Covid-19 in China included a group of 27 patients who were found to have exposure to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of China’s outbreak.
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For that reason, several early news reports suggested the novel coronavirus originated in the market, where live animals and seafood are sold alongside other meat and poultry.
But, 13 of the patients in that first batch of cases were not connected at all to the market, according to a study on those 41 patients in the Lancet Journal.
In fact, the very first case was reported on December 1, 2019, and that patient had no exposure to the seafood market, Science magazine explains from the Lancet study.
“The virus came into that marketplace before it came out of that marketplace,” Daniel Lucey, an infectious disease specialist at Georgetown University, told Science.
And, none of the animal samples tested from the market had the virus, scientists from the University of Hong Kong found. Their research suggested “the possibility of an alternative source.”
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AFP via Getty Images Vendors wear face masks as they offer prawns for sale at the Wuhan Baishazhou Market in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province.
Claim: Covid-19 spread from animals to humans by people eating bats Fact: Stories about bat-eating have been debunked
Yes, the SARS CoV-2 virus shares 96 per cent of its genome with a coronavirus found in bats. But, scientists still don’t understand how it made the jump to humans, and the claims that it came from people eating bats were disproven.
In the early days of the virus, a widely-circulated video appeared to show a woman eating “bat soup.” But, it turned out that video was from 2016, long before the outbreak, and it wasn’t even from China — it was actually filmed on Palau, a small island country in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines.
No one yet knows how the coronavirus spread from animals to humans — that’s one of the big mysteries of the virus at this point.
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Claim: It’s gross and unsanitary to eat wild animals Fact: People in countries all over the world — including Canada — eat wildlife
Adams is vegan, so he’s against all animal consumption, something he made very clear in his post. But, focusing specifically on “bats” is where racism comes into play, and where some common ideas about how people in China eat can go wrong.
Hunting, slaughtering and selling wild animal meat is something we do here in Canada, too. It’s regulated by province, and not super-common, but chefs and culinary experts are arguing for expanded access.
Eating wild moose, for instance, tastes better — and is arguably more ethical — than eating factory farm meat, chef Todd Perrin of St. John’s, Nfld. told the Globe and Mail.
“You’re talking about an animal that’s not farm-raised, not fed any medication or wacky feed,” he said. “It’s eating naturally, in a natural environment. It lives a free life until the moment the hunter takes it.”
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The conversation about health and ethics that Adams wants to have about wet markets in China is one that we could also have about our own food habits. There are nearly 200,000 commercial farms in Canada, and while those numbers are going down, farms are continuing to get larger.
The details of the animals are mistreated at many factory farms are easy to find online and very disturbing. Factory farms also produce a huge amount of waste and contribute to carbon emissions in a significant way. And they also feed and employ Canadians. The issues are complex and complicated, and it can be tempting to pass judgement on others without looking at our own habits.
Tara Walton via Getty Images Peameal bacon sandwiches are served during a food tour in Toronto.
The divide between animals that are acceptable to eat and those considered gross or unacceptable is subjective and influenced by cultural and social norms.
Yes, for many people living in Canada, eating pigs’ feet is unfamiliar, although we do eat pigs’ jowls, loin, belly, legs, and rib meat. But the way many of us think about pigs’ feet is the way many people in most parts of China would feel about eating lamb, or uncooked vegetables. None of these foods are objectively bad or weird, but we’ll feel differently about them given where we grew up.
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And foodborne illness is definitely not reserved to foods eaten in East Asia. Poultry, milk, eggs, and contaminated fruits and vegetables are all common causes of food poisoning in Canada, according to the Canadian Public Health Association.
Claim: Wet markets should be banned Fact: Wet markets and wildlife markets aren’t the same thing
Wet markets — which have been criticised by other celebrities, including Paul McCartney — are sometimes misunderstood. There’s been some conflation in a lot of North American media of wet markets with wildlife markets, which just sell wild animals.
For the most part, wet markets are similar to what we call farmer’s markets, and include open-air stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood, and sometimes live animals. They’re still open, as they’re a significant source of affordable food for many Chinese people, according to National Geographic.
Wet markets sometimes involve the slaughter of live animals for sale, but they rarely sell wild animals. The Wuhan market did, and it’s true that the trade of wild animals can, in some cases, cause animal-borne diseases to transfer to humans. But China temporarily banned the sale of wild animals in January, shutting down wildlife markets and taking that aspect away from wet markets. The Wuhan market was reportedly found not to have sold bats (although again, the stories of people eating bats have been debunked).
AFP via Getty Images People shopping at a wet market as residents in Mei Foo in Hong Kong.
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Claim: Chinese people and immigrants are “dirty” Fact: False statements like this drive Anti-Asian racism
One of the pervasive stereotypes many North Americans have about immigrants is that they’re “dirty.” Despite that kind of rhetoric, studies show that immigrants have not in fact been responsible for importing disease.
People from East Asian countries, in particular, have been subject to this kind of racist language for centuries. A Foreign Policy article unearthed quotes from the New York Daily Tribune in 1854, which called Chinese people “uncivilised, unclean, filthy beyond all conception.”
President Donald Trump has fought to call Covid-19 the “Chinese virus,” despite the 2015 World Health Organization guidelines on naming infectious diseases, which warn against naming them after people, animal-types or geographic regions, because it can cause people to think the person, place or animal is the cause of the disease, and have severe negative impacts.
Andrew Harnik, AP via Getty
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Texas senator John Cornyn defended Trump’s statements with false claims of his own: “China is to blame because the culture where people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that,” he said. “These viruses are transmitted from the animal to the people, and that’s why China has been the source of a lot of these viruses like SARS, like MERS, the swine flu, and now the coronavirus.”
Cornyn is incorrect. As NBC News pointed out, MERS originated in Saudi Arabia, and the H1N1 was first detected in the U.S.
The anti-Chinese sentiment expressed by the US president and others has had horrible real-life implications. Hate crimes against Asian people rising quickly in the US, with cases piling up in Canada, too.
Claim: Chinese people are to blame for this pandemic Fact: We all want someone to blame
It’s a human instinct, when something horrible happens, to blame someone. It can provide a sense of comfort to direct our fear and anger at a specific target. But the truth about the transmission of the coronavirus is that there isn’t any one particular guilty party.
The millions of people living, working and raising families in Wuhan didn’t ask for the virus. Like people in Italy and Iran and Canada — all over the world — they’ve suffered a lot.
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“Recent times have been marked by natural disasters,” Debbie Lu, a brand strategist who splits her time between Toronto and her hometown of Wuhan, told HuffPost Canada earlier this year.
“The fires in Australia, the earthquake in Turkey. The world has responded by sending help and showing unequivocal support. Yet Wuhan doesn’t receive the same compassion. The people dying here are innocent. We deserve the same support as those suffering in natural disasters.”
“Unfairly assigning blame to someone else distracts us from our negative feelings, which are replaced by "a crude but consoling sense of affirmation and self-righteous indignation.”” - Psychology Today
The way governments, including the Chinese government, have reacted can and should be criticised. People deliberately ignoring social distancing guidelines should face consequences. But the virus itself, as horrific and destructive as it is, is frustrating in that isn’t anyone’s fault.
But, we still want to blame someone. It helps us feel in control of a situation that is largely out of our control.
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Unfairly assigning blame to a person or group allows people to discharge or distract from negative feelings, according to Psychology Today, “which are replaced or overtaken by a crude but consoling sense of affirmation and self-righteous indignation.”
Consolation is something a lot of people need right now. It’s more satisfying to blame someone else than to accept how little control we have over what’s happening.
The way Black people are being treated in China shows how pervasive the urge to scapegoat can be
While anti-Asian sentiment has been on the rise in North America and elsewhere, China has also taken part in the scapegoating of a minority racial group.
Within the country, blame for the coronavirus has unfairly been placed on African immigrants. Last month a McDonald’s in Guangzhou was forced to apologise after banning Black people from entering. As Covid-19 cases increased, Guangzhou — which hosts a lot of immigrants from African countries — saw more and more anti-foreigner sentiment, culminating incidents of anti-Black racism.
Again, for those who still doubt that Black people and particularly #AfricansinChina are being targeted we feel it is our duty to share this. A sign at a @McDonalds restaurant seems to make this perfectly clear pic.twitter.com/FaveKrdQHi — Black Livity China (@BlackLivityCN) April 11, 2020
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CNN reported that dozens of Africans living in the city had been evicted and subsequently turned away from hotels. Others were forced to quarantine for two weeks, even if they had no symptoms and hadn’t been in contact with anyone who was sick.
Scapegoating is so powerful, and can escalate so quickly, because the group that’s victimised is always an easy group to target that can’t effectively fight back.
As French theorist René Girard explained it, the victim is hardly ever chosen because they’re actually responsible for any wrongdoing — and if they are, that’s an accident.
Their most important traits are that they’re easy victims who won’t retaliate.
Bryan Adams made ignorant statements. He’s not alone. Very many of us, probably almost everyone, has inadvertently been insensitive because we just didn’t know better. Maybe that’s the case for him, maybe not.
If he wants to learn about some of his blind spots, this is a great opportunity, for him and for a lot of us.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--David Blunkett Lambasts Teaching Unions Over Opposition To Schools Reopening

David Blunkett headshot, as British Work and Pensions Minister, photo on black ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Former Labour education secretary David Blunkett has launched a savage attack on teaching unions, accusing them of “working against” the interests of the poorest pupils hit hardest by the Covid-19 lockdown.
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Blunkett declared that children are a low risk category and suggested that teachers ought to follow the example of supermarket workers and care workers who carried on with their jobs.
The peer hit out after the National Education Union (NEU) and others representing staff in schools warned ministers that safety fears should force them to “step back” from their plans to reopen primaries from June 1.
Unions seized on remarks by the department for education’s chief scientific adviser in which he said he had not assessed the impact of the reopening and there was a “low confidence” in studies suggesting children did not transmit the virus as much as adults.
NEU chief Mary Bousted highlighted Osama Rahman’s admission that the latest guidance for schools was in “draft” form, as well as his comment that children could “possibly” become vectors for coronavirus.
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With just 12 working days to the June 1 reopening, she said clearer scientific evidence was needed and praised the Scottish and Welsh governments for being more cautious in not setting any such date.
“Listen, if we could say that children can go back into class and there is a low or a reasonable risk that they will not go into school, will not infect each other, will not infect the staff in school and will not go home and infect their parents and their relatives then it would be wonderful, wouldn’t it, if schools could reopen because that is what we all want to happen,” Bousted said.
But Blunkett told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning that teaching unions appeared to overestimate the risks and should instead work constructively to get children into the classroom from next month.
“I’m really surprised at Mary and her colleagues’ attitude on this. I’m being deeply critical of the attitude,” he said.
“It’s about how can we work together to make it work as safely as possible. Anyone who works against that in my view is working against the interests of children.”
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In his most provocative remarks, he even appeared to ridicule teachers who take part in the clap for key workers every Thursday evening.
“Tens of thousands of really good teachers, they’ve been shopping and thanking the people on the counters in supermarkets and shops, or they’ve got parents who are being cared for by those carers in those homes. They thank them and they know they are taking a risk,” he said.
“I know that in asking teachers from June 1 very carefully, with the best possible advice, with risk assessment, with cleaning, with testing, to go back and start teaching those children, that has to be in the best interests of the most disadvantaged in our country.
“[Children] who will not have tutors to be able to recover, who will not have parents in higher education, who will rely entirely on us getting back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The government plans a phased return of primary school pupils from next month, plus some teacher time for the crucial pre-GCSE and pre-A-level years before the summer break.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson hit out on Wednesday at “scaremongering” over his proposals, and stressed the need for the poorest youngsters to catch up on education missed during the lockdown.
DfE insiders point out that safe distancing and protective masks will be less necessary once primary schools operate safe bubbles of 15-strong groups of children and teachers who don’t interact with others. More cleaning, and the promise of swift testing, are part of the new plans.
Conservative MPs point to the experience of Denmark, where teaching unions have signed up to gradual return of pupils with safeguards in place.
I am very unhappy about the teaching unions reluctance to cooperate on the reopening of schools great damage is being caused particularly to children from lower income families by this extended closure & there are safe ways to reopen! — Barry Sheerman MP (@BarrySheerman) May 13, 2020
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Some Labour MPs such as Barry Sheerman have also criticised unions for their stance in recent days, and Blunkett let rip at shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey.
“It’s about an attitude of mind... about whether we can work together to do it or whether we can work against it. I advise both teachers and their representatives and my front bench to work together to actually find a way of gradually from June 1 getting children back into school,” he said.
“Why? Because the children of the highly educated, of the well-off, of the better-informed, have been getting some form of education over the last few weeks.
“In the end this is a matter of risk…. we know that children transmit the disease less than adults, they are less likely to get it and therefore they are less likely to be a risk.”
“We’ve got a vast swath of youngsters with varying degrees of online teaching...with some children actually getting nothing, some teachers really pulling this out to make this work and to be there for the children, and other schools which are not.”
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Blunkett faced a swift backlash from teachers and others on Twitter, who accused him of misrepresenting the current uncertain science and of long having an anti-union agenda.
#Blunkett the authentic voice of #Newlabour criticising the teaching #unions on #bbcr4today and using the cover of inequality to send teachers back to schools which the Welsh and Scottish governments regard as unsafe to open. Plus ca change #CoronaUK @Another_Europe @NEUnion 😷 — Joseph Healy (@Verde1957) May 14, 2020
But he won the backing of former No.10 aide and schools campaigner Fiona Millar.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Paul Simon Praises 'Extraordinary' Cover Of Bridge Over Troubled Water By NHS Staff Members

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Paul Simon has heaped praise on a new version of his song Bridge Over Troubled Water, recorded by Welsh NHS staff members.
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The legendary musician posted the “extraordinary” video on his Twitter page earlier this week, explaining its touching purpose.
“Here is an extraordinary performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water by the brave men and women from NHS in honor of the Llandudno’s Venue Cymru, which has been turned into a temporary hospital,” he explained.
“The facility has been renamed to Ysbyty Enfys, which means Rainbow Hospital in Welsh.”
Here is an extraordinary performance of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by the brave men and women from NHS in honor of the Llandudno's Venue Cymru, which has been turned into a temporary hospital. The facility has been renamed to Ysbyty Enfys, which means Rainbow Hospital in Welsh. pic.twitter.com/B31djscBlg — Paul Simon (@PaulSimonMusic) May 13, 2020
Jools Holland leads the performance on the piano, with vocal contributions from staff members and a choir from Conwy, in Wales, who recorded each of their parts from home individually, but come together on the track.
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Introducing the video are Welsh stars including actors Matthew Rhys and Rhys Ifans, who have shared their thanks with the NHS staff for their tireless work in the current crisis.
Watch the video in full below:
This isn’t the first time that music has brought people together for a good cause during lockdown.
A star-studded cover of the Foo Fighters’ Times Like These reached number one in the UK at the beginning of this month, with proceeds being split between Children In Need and Comic Relief, to help those affected by the coronavirus crisis.
As well as Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, Mabel and Rita Ora all contributed to the track.
Times Like These replaced Captain Tom Moore and Michael Ball’s version of You’ll Never Walk Alone at the top of the UK singles chart, proceeds from which also went to charity.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Piers Morgan Challenges Tory MP To £10k Bet After He Said Presenter Would Be Fired By Christmas

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Piers Morgan has challenged MP Andrew Bridgen to a £10,000 bet after he said the presenter would be out of a job before Christmas.
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Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, clashed with Piers during an appearance on Good Morning Britain earlier this week.
He later appeared on TalkRadio where he talked about his treatment, saying: “I’ll have a little bet he won’t be fronting that programme by Christmas.”
Piers Morgan and Andrew Bridgen ITV/Shutterstock
Piers has now responded by asking Bridgen to put his money where his mouth is.
Speaking on Thursday’s GMB, the host said: “As for the bet, I think I’ll still be here until Christmas, I’m contracted until the end of next year so I think it’s quite likely.
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“So why don’t we have a bet for charity, £10,000 put your money where your mouth is. We can put it to a charity of your choice or mine whoever pays up so if you’re prepared to match your billy big balls talk on TalkRadio with hard cash then I’m here. If not – pipe down.”
During his earlier interview with Bridgen, Piers lambasted the MP after he suggested it would be OK for the presenter to visit his three sons as long as he stuck to social distancing guidelines.
Bridgen was interviewed on Good Morning Britain earlier this week ITV
Piers noted how the advice went “completely against the new rules” from the government, saying: “You are a Conservative member of parliament, who thinks you know exactly what Boris Johnson has been saying, and you just told me to do something I’m not allowed to do.
“So this is the problem isn’t it? There is no clarity. It’s a load of flannel, talking about controlling the virus.
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“You as a leading, high-profile Conservative politician haven’t got a clue about what these rules actually mean, and you’re an MP. You’re part of this.”
He added: “We’ve had no PPE, the NHS frontline workers - account workers, that’s why 200 of them have died. It’s an absolute national disgrace.
“And when you come up and say: ‘I heard your diatribe against Boris Johnson.’ The diatribe is because so many people have died, and so many people are continuing to die”.
Piers and co-host Susanna Reid have won praise for their interviews with government officials about the coronavirus crisis, with many singling out the way they have held powerful people to account during the pandemic.
However, Piers’ direct approach hasn’t been without controversy.
More than 3,000 complaints were made to the TV watchdog Ofcom following two interviews with care minister Helen Whately on GMB last month.
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Another 600 viewers also complained about Piers’ interview with health secretary Matt Hancock on 16 April.
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 this week.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Massive Horde Of Goats Escapes, Runs Amok In California Neighbourhood

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Well, they did an exceptionally baaaad job.
About 200 goats that were supposed to be clearing dead weeds and brush from a hill in California goat loose from their enclosure Tuesday and ran wild in an east San Jose neighbourhood, NBC Bay Area reported.
“This is the craziest thing to happen all quarantine,” Zach Roelands, a 23-year-old who captured footage of the colossal tribe roaming free in his neighbourhood, wrote on Twitter.
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According to his tweet, Roelands had left home to run an errand and returned to a sea of goat.
"This is the craziest thing to happen all quarantine." Well this is something you don't see every day. A tribe of goats went wild Tuesday evening in a neighborhood in east San Jose. https://t.co/2HHjVxiXl9
[🎥: Terry Roelands] pic.twitter.com/mGfWqxH0Cp — NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) May 13, 2020
About 15 years ago, the hill behind the Roelands’ family home caught fire and, he told USA Today, since then, the goats visit for a few days every year “to clear out the dead grass” in the area to prevent another fire.
Roelands’ father, Terry, told NBC that on Tuesday evening, one of the goats was trying to eat flowers over the electrical fence that kept them contained and somehow managed to break it. When the goats realised they had a clear route to freedom, chaos quickly ensued.
“Eventually they escaped into the street and started eating all the plants in ... everyone’s front yard,” Zach Roelands told USA Today.
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Apparently they also left some scatological calling cards on people’s lawns.
When his footage hit Twitter, many thought the video was the G.O.A.T. — and naturally, people made jokes.
The earth is healing. We are the virus. — DAVID T (@El_Batman_) May 13, 2020
Damn, even the goats are tired of staying home. — Sarhay (@srhyln) May 13, 2020
Wait, they’re not wearing masks. They are crowding together. — Elizabeth Vargas (@EVargasTV) May 13, 2020
But, black, brown, white united in their cause. We should take lessons. — American (@DylanGroupie) May 13, 2020
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Maybe they misunderstood the meaning of herd immunity. — Fredtimbo (@Fredtimbo) May 13, 2020
The Kids are alright. — Bated 😷 Beth 🧼🙌 (@IHearyoubawling) May 13, 2020
Despite the bonkers footage, Terry Roelands told NBC that a rancher wrangled all the goats in about five minutes and put them back in their enclosure. And although they defiled a few lawns, no humans were injured by the Great Goat Stampede of 2020.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: 'Months' Before NHS Can Restart Services, And Four Other Stories You Need To Know

It will be months before the NHS is able to fully restart services in the face of Covid-19, health leaders have warned.
Experts from the Health Foundation, the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust are set to tell MPs on Thursday of the significant challenges facing the health service as it tries to create a “new normal”.
It is expected that the number of people waiting for treatment will have risen sharply as a result of the pandemic, with NHS waiting list data due to be published soon.
The waiting list for planned treatment stood at around 4.4m before the coronavirus outbreak but is now expected to be much higher.
A separate report from NHS Providers, which represents NHS organisations, warns there are challenges to ramping up care for people with non-Covid conditions while still caring for Covid patients.
In a joint submission to the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, the Health Foundation, the King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust said the government and health and care leaders should not underestimate the pandemic’s impact on already exhausted staff.
They warned that an information campaign will be needed to urge the public to overcome their fears and start using the NHS again, while preparations must also be made for a possible second peak of Covid-19 alongside the usual winter pressures such as seasonal flu.
The organisations also said more personal protective equipment (PPE) will be needed as non-Covid services resume, more space must be allocated so patients and staff can socially distance, and there is a need for greater levels of testing.
As well as a shortage of PPE and testing, the NHS also faces a new demand for mental health services and a lack of key drugs and equipment including anaesthetic drugs and kidney dialysis machines.
These factors, together with the extra time needed for cleaning equipment and facilities, will “severely limit capacity for many months until the infection has been brought under control in the community,” the organisations said in a joint statement.
The groups warned that the pandemic has exposed “pre-existing weaknesses”, most obviously a long-term under-investment in health and care services and a “precarious” social care system.
“These issues will still need to be tackled alongside the backlog of demand,” they said.
New antibody test ‘100% accurate’


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--‘Heartbroken’ Melissa Etheridge Announces Death Of 21-Year-Old Son

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Melissa Etheridge said her “heart is broken” after her 21-year-old son died following a battle with drug addiction.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter said Beckett Cypher, one of her two children with former partner Julie Cypher, had struggled with opioid abuse and died on Wednesday.
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Following his death, the American musician released a statement, in which she said she knew her son “is out of pain now”.
Melissa Etheridge (C) posing with her son Beckett (R) and her daughter Bailey during her Walk of Fame ceremony held at the Hard Rock cafe in Hollywood in 2011. CHRIS DELMAS via Getty Images
She said: “Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction.
“My son Beckett, who was just 21, struggled to overcome his addiction and finally succumbed to it today. He will be missed by those who loved him, his family and friends.
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“My heart is broken. I am grateful for those who have reached out with condolences and I feel their love and sincere grief.
“We struggle with what else we could have done to save him, and in the end we know he is out of the pain now.”
The singer added: “I will sing again, soon. It has always healed me.”
The 58-year-old is best-known for the songs Black Velvet, Ain’t It Heavy and Come To My Window.
She and her former partner, who she split with in 2000, also have a daughter, Bailey.
Both children were conceived using artificial insemination and the sperm donor was later revealed to be singer David Crosby.
Melissa Etheridge (L) split from Beckett's other mum, Julie Cypher in 2000. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Melissa discussed bringing up her two children during a 2000 TV interview.
“I do not believe that my children will be wanting in any way because they didn’t have a father in the home every single day,” she said.
“What they have in the home is two loving parents. I think that puts them ahead of the game.”
Need friendly, confidential advice on drugs?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--10 Photos Show How Restaurants Around The World Are Social Distancing

Places around the world are trying to reopen after months of being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and restaurants are looking at different ways to preserve social distancing as they obey local laws and try to keep customers and employees safe.
Photos from the past few months show some of the creative ideas that restaurants have devised in their attempts to reopen. You can see a few of the images below.
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REUTERS
Customers wait on social distancing markers at a prototype McDonald’s location in Arnhem, Netherlands. The markers put patrons at least 1 1/2 meters (5 feet) apart.
Linda Karlsson/Handout
A Swedish couple is opening a “COVID-19-safe” pop-up restaurant — with one chair and one table —in a meadow in Ransater, Sweden. There are no waiters: Food is brought to the table in a basket via a pulley system from a window in the restaurant.
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The Inn at Little Washington — a restaurant in Washington, Virginia — puts mannequins dressed in theatrical clothing at unoccupied tables between those used by patrons as a way to preserve social distancing. The Inn at Little Washington is on track to be the first restaurant with three Michelin stars to reopen in the US.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Waitresses wear protective masks, face shields and gloves as they perform for a similarly attired customer at the cheerleader-themed restaurant Cheers One in Tokyo.
Sakchai Lalit/AP
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Customers of the Maison Saigon restaurant in Bangkok sit next to stuffed panda dolls deployed as seat fillers to preserve social distancing.
Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Workers place plastic-and-steel dining tables outside a canteen at a university in Zhengzhou, China, as it prepared to reopen. The canteen will also deliver meals to students’ dorms.
AGF via Getty Images
A Milan restaurant demonstrates plexiglass dividers between tables, with employees acting as customers.
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MLADEN ANTONOV via Getty Images
A Bangkok street restaurant placed plastic dividers on its tables after the Thai government relaxed lockdown measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Callaghan O'Hare / Reuters


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--7 Essential Pieces Of Relationship Advice For Couples In Quarantine

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The stress of living through a pandemic is putting relationships to the test.
“There’s not a single one of us who isn’t dealing with a tremendous amount of stress right now,” marriage and family therapist Winifred M. Reilly told HuffPost. “Work issues, tight living quarters, financial uncertainty, fears about the health of our loved ones, fears of getting sick ourselves. And as we all know, stress does not bring out the best in us.”
So how can you keep your relationship from crumbling under the weight of these challenges? We turned to couples therapists for their best advice on how to stay steady during a turbulent time.
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1. Bring back date night.
Social distancing guidelines may have foiled your go-to date night plans. You can’t hire a babysitter, eat at a restaurant or catch a movie in theatres. But you can still carve out some time to connect at home. Psychologist Kelifern Pomeranz recommends setting aside at least an hour per week for just the two of you.
“Meet up in the backyard or on the balcony. Dress in your finest if you wish, have a drink together (non-alcoholic is fine), slow dance, and play charades or a board game,” she said. “Try and keep the conversation light, humorous and optimistic. This should be a time to step away from the stress of Covid-19 and reconnect with your partner.”
2. Cut each other some slack — more than you usually would.
We’re living through a highly stressful, unsettling, anxiety-inducing time. Under these conditions, it’s difficult to present the best versions of ourselves. So be gentle on each other when tensions inevitably arise.
“Find compassion for yourself and your partner when arguments come up and realise that it’s likely a normal reaction to an abnormal situation,” said marriage and family therapist Jon-Paul Bird. “Don’t rush to judge the quality of your relationship right now, and continue to find ways to communicate and be vulnerable about difficult feelings. Have compassion around the fact that this is hard.”
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That’s not to say everyone should get a pass for all bad behaviour right now. You can gently call out your partner for their snippy remark or harsh tone without escalating the incident into a bigger fight.
“If one or both of you are short-tempered or impatient, don’t turn it into a federal case,” Reilly said. “Keep in mind that when we’re under pressure, most of us need some TLC far more than we need a lecture about not being nice.”
PeopleImages via Getty Images
3. Prioritise alone time.
Stay-at-home orders have led to a whole lot of forced togetherness, for better and worse.
“It turns out that the time you used to spend on your daily commute or at the gym was actually really important for your mental health and relationship,” Pomeranz said.
Finding those pockets of “me” time may be a challenge these days so you need to be intentional about giving each other space.
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“Be understanding if your partner needs some time with a book, video game, Zoom call or wants to put in some earbuds to listen to music,” Bird said. “Also, if you are fortunate enough to be working from home right now, try to give each other their own dedicated space to work and organise themselves.”
4. Practise self-care together.
PeopleImages via Getty Images Find a few self-care rituals that you can do together.
You may have self-care rituals that you prefer to practice solo, but also try to find some nourishing activities that you can do as a couple: meditating together in the morning, walking outside after lunch, or sipping tea and sharing a few things you’re grateful for before bed.
“Being able to do these things together helps to build your connection to each other, while also engaging in healthy ways to cope with the stress that comes while in quarantine,” Bird said. “Keeping a healthy headspace will be good for you and your relationship.”
5. Create a quarantine routine that works for you.
When the world around us is chaotic, maintaining a consistent daily routine can make you feel more grounded.
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“Set some structure around your day-to-day activities,” said marriage and family therapist Marni Feuerman. “Decide mealtimes, leisure times, time as a couple or family, and time alone. This will help reduce anxiety, especially if you have kids at home.”
6. Stop keeping score on who’s doing more around the house.
Couples’ systems for divvying up household duties like cooking, cleaning, washing, walking the dog and taking care of the kids have been turned upside down during the pandemic.
“Though this division of labor may have had its frustrations and imbalances back then, it was at least predictable,” Reilly said. “Now, for many of us, the rules have changed. I’m seeing couples with one partner now working 18-hour hospital shifts and keeping a distance from the family. Or one partner with flexible work hours doing most of the child care and home schooling.”
“A good rule of thumb: Do as much as you can, express gratitude for your partner’s contribution and accept that there’s likely too much to do.” - Winifred M. Reilly, marriage and family therapist
Given the mounting responsibilities, don’t get hung up on making sure everything’s divided evenly. Remember that your partner is probably doing their best — there’s just a lot on both of your plates right now.
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“A good rule of thumb: Do as much as you can, express gratitude for your partner’s contribution and accept that there’s likely too much to do,” Reilly said.
7. Don’t try to resolve long-standing conflicts right now.
This probably isn’t the best time to hash out major relationship problems that existed prior to the quarantine, Feuerman said.
“For some couples, things have gotten better and for others, much worse,” she said. “If it’s gotten really contentious between you both, online therapy is readily available to help you better navigate your relationship. Don’t hesitate to get professional help.”
If there are smaller, specific grievances you need to air, bring them up but stay focused on the issue at hand. Avoid resorting to criticism or making sweeping generalisations that attack your partner’s character.
“For example, don’t criticise or try to control a partner who wishes to return to work,” Feuerman said. “Instead, state how you feel and make the small request for change. Saying something like, ‘I get scared at the idea of you going back to the office so soon. Can we decide together around the timing for that?’ is much more likely to get a positive response.’”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--I Just Flew Home In The Middle Of The Pandemic. This Is What It’s Like

Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
From school trips to holidays in far-flung corners of Asia, I have always enjoyed the feeling of coming home.
Now, at graduate school in the US, I still look forward to the moments I get to return to London. Despite the grey skies and glistening wet roads that welcome me, I am enveloped by the feeling of home and familiar memories as I disembark and make my way through the bustling capital.
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But the journey home I made just days ago was harder than I’d ever imagined.
I had spent the last nine months living in Boston, and studying at Harvard Business School. After it quickly became clear I wouldn’t be able to find a summer internship, I decided I would rather spend my summer – and see out coronavirus – at home in London.
“There were no hugs and no kisses at security; people were instead nervously patting each other goodbye.”
I booked a trip home, which required stopovers in Atlanta and New York City. Any other time, I would have been thrilled at the prospect of spending time in NYC, but this time I was uneasy. New York has been one of the hardest hit places in the US, and the chances of me passing through unscathed felt slim. But this was the only route home which showed promise.
Arriving at the airport the day after finishing my last exam, there were less than ten people at check-in, all in masks. There were no hugs and no kisses at security; people were instead nervously patting each other goodbye. Only then did it hit me just how much this pandemic has changed the way we interact as humans.
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Making my way through security in the fastest time I can remember, I carefully considered every part of the airport I made contact with, from surfaces to elevator buttons, in a way I never had before. At my departure gate stood about twenty passengers, each two metres apart, anxious to board. A flight attendant informed us we would be boarding in twos (again, two metres apart) and that it was now compulsory in the US to wear a face mask for protection. Fortunately my aunt and uncle, both doctors, had armed me with masks and plenty of disinfectant wipes for the journey.
Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
The plane itself was surprisingly full. Every other seat was occupied by passengers in an assortment of protective gear from self-made cloth masks to full face masks and hazmat suits.
As well as avoiding physical contact, everyone was avoiding eye contact too. Usually I start a conversation with whoever I was sitting next to, but it felt wrong now. I made sure my mask was tightly secured and my TV screen and remote were wiped down, then stared silently out of the window – the empty runway and departure gates made it feel like we would be the only ones in the air. I tried to nap to pass the time but breathing through a mask on an airplane is acutely uncomfortable and claustrophobic, with the tight fabric and elastic cutting into my face.
After my first stopover in Atlanta – delays meant I had to sprint through the airport, which was surprisingly easy with barely anyone around – I landed in New York. I had travelled through JFK several times in the past few years and grown used to the airport being abuzz with travellers from every corner of the world. But this day, it felt different.
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“The constant vigilance was exhausting, and yet I knew the dangers of letting my guard down”
After dragging my two 20kg suitcases up two flights of stairs and a conversation with a kindly airport staffer in her seventies who couldn’t possibly feel safe working in dangerous conditions, I sat down to occupy myself for the seven hours before my flight (Michelle Obama’s Netflix documentary is amazing, by the way).
Each time anyone walked past, I nervously looked up to ensure they were also wearing a mask and didn’t touch the table I sat on. The constant vigilance was exhausting, and yet I knew the dangers of letting my guard down. We hear of more and more otherwise healthy young people succumbing to coronavirus, and I was intent on ensuring I was being as careful as possible.
Seventeen hours after I had left my bed that morning, I made it to the departure gate for my flight home. This flight had few passengers, but a cabin crew member curtly informed us that there would not be any upgrades. I made do, stretching across the three empty seats to sleep.
JFK airport, abandoned on the author's return Courtesy of the author
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As I landed in London, the sun was shining and I felt an overwhelming feeling of relief, despite knowing I was not yet out of danger. As I disembarked and made my way to baggage reclaim, it became apparent Heathrow was abandoned. It felt eerie and disheartening – only weeks ago these terminals would have been full of families excited to explore the world. Now they sat despondent, with no guarantee things would ever return to normal.
As for me, after an arduous, anxious journey home I should have been excited to be home and desperate to see my family, but I decided to self-quarantine for the next two weeks. My parents are in their late 50s, and I wanted to make sure I did not pose a risk to them, nor to any of my friends, some of whom suffer from respiratory illnesses. I wanted to do my best to play my part in keeping others safe.
The journey home has made me realise how much I had taken my trouble-free travels and holidays for granted, when I could focus on enjoying the journey without worrying about touching airport surfaces or making contact with other travellers. But despite it all, I am glad to be home and looking forward to making the most of my time with family in lockdown.
Asha Tanwar is a freelance writer, aspiring entrepreneur and a student at Harvard Business School. Connect with her on Medium, LinkedIn or Instagram
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--I’m A Teacher. Reopening Schools In June Feels Like Throwing Us To The Wolves

Getty Editorial HuffPost UK
In the same broadcast Boris Johnson declared 31,000 deaths from coronavirus tantamount to success, the prime minister also announced the likelihood of schools reopening in June for the last half-term of the school year. As a teacher, I can tell you we have neither the plans in place nor the infrastructure necessary to do this safely. Instead, it feels like we are being thrown to the wolves.
Why are we about to put a nation of school staff back at risk? We’re going back under a guise of being ‘for the children’, but the truth is we’re going back so the Conservatives can continue to prioritise saving the economy, by alleviating working parents of childcare.
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I remember, in the long wait for schools to close, watching the death toll skyrocket as I tried to reassure the children that everything was fine so long as they sang happy birthday when they washed their hands. Then I contracted the virus.
For weeks I struggled to breathe, had a fever so high I hallucinated, and couldn’t see. I’m 27, an age where they told me I would be ‘okay’. I recovered, but the fear of reinfection and fear for my colleagues and children supersede that. Having had the virus, I know first-hand how bad it is. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. I’m scared for my colleagues. I was one of the lucky ones, who didn’t require hospital ventilation, or pass away from the deadly virus. I know exactly what there is to be scared of, and what the government will be putting school staff, children and their families at risk of, if we reopen schools before it is safe to do so.
“How can we possibly be expected to practice social distancing in the classroom? Every teacher up and down the country will tell you this will not happen.”
For Year 6, the second summer half-term is mostly a time to finally relax after the pressures of SATs the government (unnecessarily) thrust upon them. I don’t want them to miss their school play and their one opportunity for art lessons in the whole academic year, but why are they being sent back?
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And when they do return, how will school for only reception, Year 1 and Year 6 work? How can we possibly be expected to practice social distancing in the classroom? Every teacher up and down the country will tell you this will not happen. Our school currently looks after just five children of key workers and it’s already impossible. I can only assume no one involved in this policy has ever spent any time in school with children.
There is the suggestion that classes should be split into groups of no more than fifteen. But has our government even done the maths? In my school, four of our eight teachers are unable to come in due to medical reasons. Will they be forced into action, or will the other four of us be forced to teach key stages we have no experience in, before spending our evenings catching up on the cyber classrooms of our own classes?
Even worse, the guidance states PPE still isn’t necessary in schools. Instead, they state that we should ensure that they regularly wash their hands, and remove soft furnishings and toys. You should stay with your small group of 15, and stagger break and lunch times. Presumably, this means that teachers will effectively lose their lunch breaks, and stay with the children instead. Teachers are already working through our lunches, resourcing and planning lessons. How are we to juggle it all?
“Do we teachers need to somehow be in school to cover children who are in, and at the same time at home continue to work with other class virtually?”
All this isn’t even to speak of the children who don’t have to return to school. Do we teachers need to somehow be in school to cover children who are in, and at the same time at home continue to work with other class virtually? What about the children of workers who are now being sent back to work, but don’t fall into the allocated year groups allowed to return? What about the children of the teachers themselves? It’s as if the government are choosing to loosen restrictions based not on evidence or an adequate drop in deaths, but to fit neat, obedient time frames.
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Of course I don’t want children to be out of school, missing their vital education. A safe move to this stage could have been possible – if the government had acted quicker, with a speedy lockdown, adequate PPE, quarantine at airport borders and prioritisation of human beings over the economy. Perhaps we had emulated the likes of New Zealand’s lockdown plan or South Korea’s track and trace, maybe it would be safe for us to go back to school. But it isn’t.
Within two hours of Boris Johnson’s broadcast, the NEU had emailed to confirm that Boris Johnson has given no scientific evidence to show that reopening schools is safe, and reiterated that their five safety tests have not been met. They asked for the opinions of teachers and school staff, apparently overlooked in the government’s (lack of?) consultation process. They stated that “without the evidence, the science and safety measures in place, this announcement is nothing short of reckless.”
That’s leadership. If only we had it from the Prime Minister.
Bella Fields is a primary school teacher in London, writing under a pseudonym


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--What The New Coronavirus Quarantine Rule Means For Your Summer Holiday

We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
As part of the government’s easing of lockdown measures, a mandatory 14-day quarantine period is to be introduced for almost all travellers arriving to the UK starting from June 8, to avoid a second peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The UK government has confirmed that most arrivals by air, ferry and train will be required to self-isolate for a fortnight, leaving many holidaymakers with questions about what this means for their summer breaks – and beyond.
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Health minister Matt Hancock said prolonged social-distancing measures mean the holiday season, as we know it, won’t look the same this year. “It is unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer,” he said on ITV’s This Morning.
This means staycations and local getaways closer to home could be the future.
But with the travel industry desperate to get back to business and airlines such as Ryanair announcing an increased schedule of flights from July and European officials restarting international travel, you might be considering booking that holiday you’ve missed out on already – or simply hankering after a break.
So, how will quarantine work and should you even be flying at all? As with other areas covered by the new 51-page government guidance, people have been left with more questions than answers – many have already lost holiday bookings and are keen to know when, safely, they can travel again and what it will involve.
Here’s what we know so far about how the new measures may impact travel.
What are the new travel quarantine rules?
The Covid-19 Recovery Strategy document states all international arrivals will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. As well as self-isolation upon arrival, travellers will need to supply their contact and accommodation information via a digital form, and are strongly advised to download the NHS contact-tracing app.
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If you cannot demonstrate where you will self-isolate, you could be placed into government quarantine accommodation.
In England, there will be random spot checks. If you don’t comply or flout the rules, you could face fines of up to £1,000 and potential prosecution. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will have their own penalty enforcements.
Nataniil via Getty Images Summer, sun, waves, and cozy beach chairs under umbrella
A spokesperson for ABTA, the travel trade association, said the measures should be “proportionate, targeted and limited only to what is necessary to protect public health and as circumstances change, measures need to be adjusted.”
Who do the quarantine measures apply to?
Passengers on flights arriving from Spain and every other country in the world, with the exception of Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and France will be subject to quarantine. This also includes UK holidaymakers returning from other destinations, as well as visitors and tourists. The measures also apply to those arriving by other modes of transport such as ferry, train and bus.
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There’s an exemptions list for certain professions, including lorry drivers, police officers, pilots, and healthcare professionals travelling to the UK to provide essential healthcare.
Are there alternatives to quarantine?
There have been calls from the travel industry and politicians for “air bridges” to be introduced by the end of this month. This could allow people in the UK to travel to countries with low Covid-19 infection rates without the need to quarantine when they return. However, this proposal overlooks the reciprocal agreement of the destination country, which is a flaw in the plan.
The proposal, put forward by senior Tory MP Huw Merriman, is currently being discussed by ministers and officials, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.
sommersby via Getty Images
What are the rules while under quarantine?
The same rules apply to the people who are self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms. However, individuals quarantining will be permitted to shop and stock up for food essentials and medicines. They’ll be able to take public transport to their designated accommodation.
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The quarantine plan is an ongoing process and will be reviewed every three weeks, with the first review due at the end of June.
What about face masks, gloves and temperature checks when travelling?
Although not mandatory, people are advised to wear face masks or face coverings on public transport and in enclosed spaces where they come into contact with strangers and where social distancing is not always possible.
Airports and airlines operating in the UK say they will follow whatever guidance the government gives.
Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports have told travellers and airport staff to cover their faces and wear gloves. Temperature screening trials are already rolling out at Stansted while the UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow, is already trialling large-scale temperature checks.
Rory Boland, Which? travel editor, says there hasn’t been enough direction. “Messaging needs to be consistent because if travellers are going to feel secure that they want those rules to be designed by health experts, not by airport airlines,” he said.
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Should people even be flying?
The government guidance recommends only essential travel and travelling when absolutely necessary. Passengers displaying any symptoms of coronavirus should not travel.
Almost all of the largest UK airlines are still flying, but their schedules have been reduced down to a handful of flights. Some routes are still open for UK residents stranded abroad and essential key workers who may need them.
“Unfortunately, it’s not the time to be booking foreign holidays and I know we were all really keen to get back to travelling,” says Boland. “There’s a high chance of those holidays being cancelled, or worse you could face disruptions and be out of pocket is significantly high. We need to wait until the picture is clear before we start booking holidays again.”
Can you book extra holiday or work the quarantine period from home?
Worried you’ll need to book an extra fortnight’s leave to cover the quarantine period? Given the majority of Brits are still house-bound, it’s a bit up in the air when we’ll be taking time off to travel again.
But talk to your employer about your company’s rules around annual leave and your rights to work any period quarantine from home. All employees, including key workers, will be entitled to carry annual leave over to 2021.
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What about cancellations, refunds and rescheduling?
Airlines including British Airways, Easyjet or Ryanair are grounding their fleets, which means travellers can get their airfare back, offered vouchers or rebook online for a later date – though claiming processes can be fiddly and time-consuming.
Mike Cooper, chief executive officer for Eurostar, confirmed to HuffPost UK in a statement: “We’ve also reduced our timetable over the coming weeks due to lower demand and will be in touch with anybody who is affected.”
You won’t be entitled to a refund for any flight that does go ahead and when airlines, train and bus operators do increase their schedules and capacity again, be aware that many flights may still be cancelled or rescheduled, given the changing circumstances around the Covid-19 situation.
Thinking of a staycation instead? “Despite government guidance against UK holidays, we’ve found some of the biggest holiday cottage rental sites using unfair and unclear terms and conditions to refuse customers refunds for cancelled trips,” Rory Boland warns.
“The CMA has already announced an investigation into this sector and it must be ready to take firm action against any company acting unfairly, so holidaymakers are not left out of pocket for cancelled holidays.”
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What about travel insurance?
In light of the new guidance and ongoing crisis, the major insurers don’t include coronavirus cover in their policies, meaning holidaymakers with cancelled trips will struggle to claim losses on their insurance or will only be offered vouchers or credits from airlines and tour operators.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-14--Where To Buy Face Covers If You Don't Fancy Making Your Own

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There are many online tutorials showing how to make face covers – but some people would still prefer to buy one, rather than get crafty at home.
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Face coverings can be a scarf, piece of cloth or mask. The good news is multiple brands are now selling them in various styles and prints online. These are different to the surgical masks or respirators that healthcare workers wear.
The aim of face covers is to achieve “source control” – you’re stopping your germs spreading to other people, and if other people wear them, they’re preventing their germs from spreading to you. There is also some evidence emerging to suggest they can help protect the wearer.
Now it’s been announced that face coverings will be mandatory in shops in England from July 24, you might be thinking about buying your own. Especially as those deemed to be breaking the rules could face a fine of up to £100.
Here are a handful of online retailers manufacturing and selling face covers in the UK.
Plumo
Plumo’s offering of handmade face covers are made from four layers of organic linen and come with elasticated ear loops – this is good, as experts agree that multiple layers of material is best. They’re washable at 90 degrees, reusable, and £10 each. For every sale, Plumo will donate to the ‘Masks 4 Heroes’ crowdfunding campaign providing PPE to NHS frontline staff.
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Plumo Linen face cover
Boohoo
The online fashion brand is selling different styles of face cover for women – for £5 each, but these are currently in the sale – and other styles for men. A percentage of all sales will be donated to charity.
Boohoo Boohoo face cover
Florence Bridge
The designer is making a range of face covers in different colours, as well as different prints, such as gingham, marble and floral. Masks are £12 each and come with elastic ties to secure them around the back of your head. They are machine washable.
Florence Bridge Florence Bridge face cover
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Hype
The brand has manufactured a huge range of face covers in a variety of colours and designs – expect speckle fade, camo and tie-dye prints. There are larger face covers for adults and smaller-sized masks for kids. Prices start from £11.99, and you can also buy packs of three.
Hype Green knit face cover
Brora
Not the cheapest of the bunch, but Brora is selling a liberty print face cover for £19. A tenner from every mask will go to NHS Charities Together.
Brora Brora face mask
Etsy
Plenty of independent designers on Etsy have turned their hand to mask-making during lockdown. Try CharleyLouDesigns, who has a range of designs to choose from, or double-layered cotton face covers from KayleighBakkerDesign.
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KayleighBakkerDesign Face covers on Etsy
Ally x Heroes
Protect yourself, others and the NHS with a limited edition ‘Protect The NHS’ face covering. Designed exclusively in collaboration with NHS workers charity HEROES, 100% of profits go directly to support the charity’s mission and protect frontline workers. Face covers are made from a nanofiber material with high filtration and come with a bag to store them in. They cost £15 each.