thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Idris Elba Says Tom Hanks 'Motivated' Him To Go Public With Coronavirus Diagnosis

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Idris Elba has credited Tom Hanks for inspiring him to speak publicly about his coronavirus diagnosis.
The Luther actor gave fans an update on how he’s feeling after he announced earlier this week that he had tested positive for the virus.
Advertisement
“I’m really proud of Tom Hanks, who is also someone in the public eye, who came out and said they have it and been public about it,” Idris said in a live-stream Q&A on Twitter.
“I was definitely motivated by Tom’s move there.”
When asked by a Twitter user whether he was worried about it, Idris responded, “Yes, of course I’m worried.”
“I’m worried about having the virus, I’m worried about having asthma and how that could make things really complicated for me very quickly,” he said. “I’m really worried about what’s going on in the world, if I’m honest, I’m really worried about how we’re dealing with it.”
Advertisement
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson tested positive for coronavirus Instagram
He later noted the importance of “transparency,” saying he’s “worried people aren’t talking to each other about it.”
“I’m worried that people are going to stigmatise other people, I’m worried that we’re going to panic and send the whole world into a spin,” he added.
Elsewhere in his live-stream, Idris noted that he’s been working on making music during his self-quarantine.
The actor, who is also a DJ and music producer, said he’s been learning to play the guitar and is writing songs.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

HuffPost is part of Verizon Media .
Click ' I agree ' to allow Verizon Media and our partners to @ @ @ @ @ to access your device and use your data ( including location ) to understand your @ @ @ @ @ measure personalised ads .
We will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products @ @ @ @ @ we use your data in our Privacy Centre .
Once you confirm your privacy choices @ @ @ @ @ changes at any time by visiting your Privacy dashboard .
Click 'Learn more ' to @ @ @ @ @ Media and our partners collect and use data .

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus - 19 March
China has reported no new domestic transmissions of coronavirus for the first time since the outbreak started, while in the UK, the government has announced the closure of schools, colleges and nurseries from Friday. The death toll in Italy increased by 475 – the highest in a single day – as more than 40,000 people are charged for violating the enforced lockdown in the country.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--How To Apply For A Season Ticket Refund If You're Working From Home

LOADING ERROR LOADING
With the government advising Brits to work from home where possible and dozens of tube stations expected to close, thousands of commuters will no longer need their season tickets for the foreseeable future.
The government has announced it is taking emergency measures to sustain necessary rail services as operators face significant drops in income – this will ensure key workers who depend on railways can carry on using them.
Advertisement
The railways have already seen up to a 70% drop in passenger numbers, figures show, with total ticket sales down by two-thirds from the equivalent date in 2019. So, is the coronavirus pandemic grounds for getting a rail refund?
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, told HuffPost UK: “Train companies understand that at the moment people may not wish to travel in the way they had originally planned.
“Season tickets can be refunded, depending on how long is left unused on them, and people should get in touch with their train company or the website from which they bought their ticket to see what they might be entitled to.”
Richard Baker via Getty Images
Advertisement
You can request a refund from a ticket office managed by your train operator, or online if that’s where you bought the ticket. Some operators may charge an admin fee of up to £10.
“Any refund is calculated from the date after the season ticket was returned to the retailer, and will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have actually used the ticket up to and including the date a refund is requested,” National Rail explains.
To be eligible for a refund, you must have:
At least seven days remaining on a monthly or longer season ticket
At least three days remaining on a pre-paid weekly ticket
Some rail companies also require three months remaining on annual season tickets. Check with your individual operator for details.
If you bought your ticket using a loan from your employer, it’s best to check in with your HR department or manager before cancelling – even if you plan to re-buy your ticket when you’re back in the office. They’ll be best placed to advise you on individual company T&Cs, plus any measures that have been taken out by the company to assist commuters during this period.
London-based commuters can also apply for Oyster card season ticket refunds, whether you usually use the bus or the Tube. You can apply for a refund if you’ve stopped using the ticket, and there is at least:
Advertisement
Six weeks remaining on an annual ticket
Seven days remaining on a monthly ticket
Three days remaining on a seven-day ticket.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Worried About Your Dog Or Cat And Coronavirus? Here's What To Know

First, for some background: The dog, a 17-year-old Pomeranian, was put in quarantine in late February after his owner contracted Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The owner has since recovered. The Pom never showed symptoms, even as it was repeatedly tested during its quarantine.
A total of five tests from its nasal and oral samples reportedly returned “weak positive” results for the virus ― but the dog was eventually allowed to go home after samples came back negative.
“Although the dog from Hong Kong had multiple weak positive test results for the virus, antibodies were not detected in the dog’s blood, suggesting the dog may not have been infected,” Jane Sykes, a professor of small animal medicine at the University of California-Davis school of veterinary medicine, told HuffPost.
“The tests used to detect the virus have the potential to detect both viable (‘alive’) and nonviable (‘dead’) virus, and any virus detected may be just virus that happens to be contaminating a dog’s nose or haircoat,” she explained.
The dog died on Monday, after being released over the weekend. (The owner won’t allow an autopsy report, so the exact cause of death is unknown, but hey, the little guy was 17 years old.)
The World Health Organisation and other experts still say there is no meaningful evidence that pets can spread the infection.
Things could rapidly change, of course, but experts we spoke to stressed the same thing: Your pet isn’t likely to get the coronavirus or give it to you.
“I think we are far enough into this pandemic that if animals were, in fact, able to be infected, we would have already heard of a report on an ill dog and/or cats presenting to various veterinary hospitals throughout the world,” said Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Gal Gadot Enlists Famous Names For Cover Of John Lennon's Imagine To Spread Hope Amid Coronavirus Ou

Gal Gadot Enlists Famous Names For Cover Of John Lennon's Imagine To Spread Hope Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Hollywood actor Gal Gadot enlisted a host of famous faces to try and help spread a bit of joy in these coronavirus times with a cover of John Lennon’s Imagine.
Stars including Natalie Portman and Jamie Dornan attempted to lift spirits with a sing-a-long of the 1971 classic on Instagram.
Advertisement
In a video that has now been viewed more than 2 million times, Wonder Woman star Gal explains she has been in isolation for six days and the global pandemic has left her feeling “philosophical”.
Gal explained that she had been inspired by a viral video from Italy – which is in lockdown amid the outbreak of the virus – of a man playing Imagine on his trumpet while quarantined neighbours join in from their homes.
She then sang the opening lines to Imagine, before a host of other celebrities then took it in turns to sing portions of the song.
Advertisement
As well as Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman and 50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan, they include singer Sia, model Cara Delevingne, actor Will Ferrell, US chat show host Jimmy Fallon, singer Labrinth and Bridesmaids stars Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd.
Gal also managed to enlist her Wonder Woman predecessor, Lynda Carter.
Other names included Pedro Pascal, Zoe Kravitz, Leslie Odom Jr, Eddie Benjamin, Ashley Benson, Norah Jones, Kaia Gerber and Annie Mumolo.
Gal captioned the post: “We are in this together, we will get through it together.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--How Long Coronavirus Lives On Clothes, And How To Wash Them

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As we grow more and more aware of precautions we should take in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re bombarded with questions on how we should wash and disinfect household items, including clothing.
Social media is saturated with a lot of misleading information at the moment, so we asked a handful of experts (doctors and epidemiologists included) to answer all your questions concerning clothing and the coronavirus.
Advertisement
Keep in mind, specific research has yet to be done on how this new coronavirus interacts with clothes. But whether you’re wondering about hand-washing, how to approach the laundrette or what temperature you should really be washing your clothes at, we’ve got some guidance.
How long can the coronavirus live on clothing?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus is usually transmitted through respiratory droplets (from an infected person sneezing or coughing) rather than through fomites, objects and materials that when contaminated can transfer disease. However, the CDC notes that evidence suggests that the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials, which includes clothing.
Articles of clothing, according to public health specialist Carol Winner, can hold respiratory droplets, as we use them every single day. These particles can dry out over time and inactivate the virus. But this doesn’t mean that it will happen quickly, and she said scientists are still learning more and more about this virus each day.
“We know that the droplet can dry out under some conditions, which may be faster with natural fibres,” Winner told HuffPost. “We’re hearing that heat and humidity can affect viral survival on surfaces, but remember, it’s 80 degrees (Fahrenheit) in Australia, and Tom Hanks still got it.”
Advertisement
Are certain types of fabrics more susceptible to the virus than others?
Robert Amler, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College and former CDC chief medical officer, told HuffPost that the duration of the virus depends on the fabric, as some materials are more porous than others.
“Some researchers believe the fibres in porous material catch the virus particles, dry them out and break them apart,” Amler said. “Smooth surfaces like leather and vinyl can be wiped clean.”
Family and emergency Dr. Janette Nesheiwat suggested that polyester, spandex-like material may retain germs longer than breathable cotton-based fabrics, making it important to wash leggings, underwear and dresses carefully (more on how to do that later!).
Muriel de Seze via Getty Images
“Polyester spandex-like material may retain germs longer than cotton-based fabrics, but all types of fabrics can be contaminated,” Nesheiwat said.
Advertisement
As information and research pertaining to Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, continues to evolve, Winner stressed that so far studies focused on it tells us about the virus’ ability to remain on surfaces such as cardboard, steel, copper and plastic-door knobs and high-traffic areas.
“The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease has told us that some viruses can remain active after two or three days on plastic and stainless steel, 24 hours on cardboard and four hours on copper,” she said. Be aware that some of your buttons, zippers and other clothing hardware could be made of those materials.
Is it safe to go to the laundrette right now?
For individuals who don’t have access to a washing machine and dryer in their home or flat, laundrette are a crucial way to clean clothes.
And while current guidelines encourage social distancing (personal distancing of six feet) to prevent Covid-19 from spreading, Winner said laundrettes are generally safe to go to ― if the right precautions are taken, of course.
These typically include protective measures such as wearing gloves, washing your hands, not touching your face and disinfecting all surfaces of the machines you use.
Advertisement
“The only way the viral particles become active is to get into your mouth, nose and eyes, so if you wear gloves, don’t touch your face and remove them properly following CDC’s guidelines, you should be fine,” she explained.
However, if you do not have access to gloves, she added that sanitising your hands while at, and before leaving, the laundrette, can help. Additionally, you’ll also want to wash your hands for up to 20 to 30 seconds once arriving at home.
If you’re concerned about whether your clothes will come out of a shared washing machine safely, Dr. Georgine Nanos said not to worry.
“Yes, it is safe to use [a shared washing machine] right now because the virus is killed by washing your clothes over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, from what we currently understand,” she said. “The more challenging issue is going to be the social distancing and contact with potentially contaminated surfaces and people in the laundrette. Not the washing itself.”
What temperature should I wash my clothes at?
When it comes time to wash clothes, Winner said there are specific guidelines you’ll want to follow in order to help kill the virus. This includes using the hot water setting on your washing machine and giving your clothes some extra time and heat in the dyer.
Advertisement
“Whenever possible, use the hot water setting, as it helps to kill the virus,” she said. “Extra heat, and time in the dryer, do make sense, as the droplets should dry out, which would likely inactivate the virus.”
However, while Nanos agreed about washing clothes in hot water, she warned against boiling them in high temperatures.
“If you can wash your clothes in the hottest water possible recommended for that material, that would be ideal,” Nanos said. “However, please don’t ruin all your clothes by boiling everything, as that will add more stress and anxiety that none of us need right now.”
What kind of detergent should I use?
Rodney E. Rohde, chair and professor of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, reiterated the importance of washing clothes in warm or hot water, but also advised paying attention to the detergent you are using.
“I would recommend that you wash clothes in detergents that contain a bleach compound,” Rohde told HuffPost. “Viruses do not do well at all in this type of harsh environment.”
Advertisement
If you don’t have access to a machine, is hand-washing effective?
If you don’t have access to washing facilities, Nanos said that “you can hand wash your clothes at home as long as you can get the temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.” She added that it remains “easier and faster if you can wash your clothes in a regular washing machine, which is still totally safe and will kill the virus even if you were washing your clothes with sick people‘s clothes.”
How often should you wash your clothing?
While some people may wait to do their washing until they’re faced with big piles of it, Winner recommended regularly washing your clothes, especially if you are still required to report to work or have been in crowded areas.
“It’s best, as always, to regularly wash your clothes,” she said. “If you have been in a crowded area, you might want to remove your clothing when you come into the house and put it in the washing container or washer to be prudent.”
This also extends to outwear; Nanos suggested it’s wise to wash coats often.
“You should wash your coat if you are using your elbows or your sleeves to touch frequently used items and potentially contaminated surfaces such as elevator buttons, handrails and door handles,” she said.
“Do not treat your clothing with Lysol,” Nesheiwat said. “However, there are anti-germal clothing sprays that can be used.”
Advertisement
Should I remove my clothing when returning home from work each day?
Since the goal is block exposure to the coronavirus, Amler advised changing your clothes if you are still reporting to work daily or are commuting in large crowd environments.
“You should change your clothes and wash them any time others have touched them or you have been in large group gatherings,” he said.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to change in the garage to avoid contact with clean clothing, according to Nanos; she advised getting in the habit in keeping these clothes stored in a separate bag.
“Being in health care for most of my life, I’ve always done this anyway, as I am exposed to more infectious diseases than most people,” she said. “So I agree it’s good practice ― maybe not necessarily stripping down in the garage, but at least getting in the habit of putting on other clothes and shoes once getting home.”
Should a sick person wash their clothing separately?
This question has probably crossed everyone’s mind, especially in households with more than two people.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Act Like You Already Have Coronavirus

Act Like You Already Have Coronavirus

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Early in the novel coronavirus pandemic, health experts suggested symptomatic people were driving most of the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. But a new study questions whether people who didn’t show any signs of the disease are spreading it more than originally thought.
According to a model from researchers out of China, “stealth transmission” contributed to the rapid rise in cases.
Advertisement
“Stealth transmission refers to the fact that people who have mild, non-discrete symptoms or are asymptomatic are contributing greatly to the spread of the virus,” said Kirsten Hokeness, professor and chair of the Department of Science and Technology at Bryant University and an expert in immunology, virology, microbiology, and human health and disease.
“The new study suggests that two-thirds of the cases may be transmitted in this way, according to their mathematical modelling,” she said.
Many cases are mild enough that you may never realise you are infected, said Nasia Safdar, medical director of Infection Control and Prevention at the University of Wisconsin Health in Madison.
“A mild case would be something like low-grade fever, which you might not know you have,” she said. “It might be a runny nose, and, amidst allergy season, you might not see it as important.”
Advertisement
nadia_bormotova via Getty Images
“These are the people who can infect others where others actually get sick enough to reach hospitals.” - Jagdish Khubchandani, associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University
This is part of what makes Covid-19 so “distressing,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, an associate chair and professor of health science at Ball State University.
“These people can be labelled as infected, but asymptomatic,” he said. “These are the people who can infect others where others actually get sick enough to reach hospitals.”
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the disease, but we do know it can be fatal for certain groups, like those over age 60 and those with underlying conditions. It’s also possible that Covid-19 patients remain infected ― and have the potential to spread the virus to others ― for a while.
Advertisement
Hokeness said the incubation period for the virus, or the length of time between contracting it and the onset of symptoms, is about five days on average.
She pointed to a new study out of Germany, which found that individuals can spread the virus very soon after they’ve been infected ― and long before they may even show symptoms. The virus can also potentially spread for a prolonged period of time after the initial infection.
In that study, researchers were able to cultivate live virus between Day One and Day Five after the onset of symptoms. This was when the virus was most infectious, Hokeness said. It remained infectious, but less so, up until the eighth day of symptoms.
“On Day One, which could be really mild to you, you are producing a lot of active virus which gets transmitted by the respiratory droplets, and either directly acquired by susceptible individuals or picked up from surfaces,” Hokeness said.
In other words: If you haven’t yet, start acting like you already have Covid-19.
“If [the virus] can’t find its next host, we stop it dead in its tracks.” - Kirsten Hokeness, professor and chair of the Department of Science and Technology at Bryant University
Advertisement
This is a critical reason we have to practise social distancing.
“This is phenomenally important for a disease like Covid-19, in which there is no natural immunity in the population and for which no vaccine exists,” Hokeness said. “This means that the only way for the virus to leave the population, in a sense, is to either infect everyone or limit the ability of the virus to spread from person to person.”
Social distancing, she said, “creates a barrier” and protects vulnerable people in the community.
At this point, it’s hard to say exactly how many people have Covid-19, though the numbers at the time of publication stand at almost 168,000 cases worldwide with more than 6,600 deaths. In the United States, there are 5,700 recorded cases and 100 deaths. Hokeness said the lack of test availability early in the pandemic could mean “far more people are infected or have been infected in the US than we have been able to confirm.” On top of that, she said, many people with asymptomatic or mild cases may not choose to be tested and instead simply self-isolate.
Khubchandani said the stealth transmission study suggests there may be five or 10 undetected cases for each one we know about. “I think it could be more, but certainly not less,” he said.
“Everyone should be suspected of infection,” he said.
So, what should you do right now? Hokeness said hygiene is still important: Wash your hands, and sanitise when you don’t have soap and water. Many bars and restaurants have been shuttered, as well as large gatherings; the government has suggested gatherings of more than 10 should be eliminated.
But really, keep as isolated as you can.
“Don’t make this for naught by continuing to get together and host play dates or socialise,” Hokeness said. “The faster we can isolate ourselves and limit contact, the faster we can get this virus to fizzle out so to speak. ... If [the virus] can’t find its next host, we stop it dead in its tracks.”
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Yes, Viruses Used To Be Named After Places. Here's Why They Aren't Anymore

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Despite repeated advice from the medical community that naming diseases after their place of origin has no benefit and actually causes harm, President Donald Trump and some conservative media figures continue to use the phrase “Chinese Virus” to describe the new coronavirus.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation issued new guidelines for naming new infectious diseases in humans. The guidelines are meant to “minimise unnecessary negative effects on nations, economies and people.”
Advertisement
The best practice for naming diseases, WHO states, should consist of generic terms that describe the disease’s symptoms, or, if the pathogen that causes the disease is known, it should be part of the disease name.
Nonetheless, Trump – spurred on by Fox News hosts including Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham, who have been attacking China’s role in the outbreak for weeks – adopted the harmful terminology in a tweet.
On Wednesday, following a huge backlash, the White House tweeted a defence:
Spanish Flu. West Nile Virus. Zika. Ebola. All named for places.
Before the media’s fake outrage, even CNN called it “Chinese Coronavirus.”
Those trying to divide us must stop rooting for America to fail and give Americans real info they need to get through the crisis. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 18, 2020
But historians, the medical community and advocacy organizations have since found that these names have adverse effects, and in some cases, are also inaccurate.
Advertisement
The Spanish flu, for instance, did not originate in Spain. Major countries involved in World War I sought to avoid panic and suppressed reports of the outbreak. However, Spain, which remained neutral and was not subject to wartime censorship, reported the pandemic early, creating a false impression that the nation bore the brunt of the outbreak.
Medical community experts have abandoned other naming conventions for similar reasons. WHO says disease names should avoid geographic locations, people’s names, species of animal or food, and other references that could incite fear or place blame.
John Yang, the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, explained to HuffPost that rhetoric like the president’s needlessly stigmatises entire communities. Asian Americans, for example, are already facing greater violence and hate linked to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Citing data recorded from AAAJ’s reporting tool for hate incidents, Yang noted a “definite significant increase” in incidents “directly attributable to Covid-19.”
While naming a virus based on the location of its first reported case or original epicentre might have been the norm in the past, Yang said, the practice now goes against clear guidelines designed to minimise harm.
Advertisement
“We all know that language evolves,” Yang said. “What may have been an appropriate term in the past doesn’t make it appropriate now.”
As an example, Yang cited old naming conventions for hurricanes, which received exclusively female names until the practice was dropped in 1978 when the meteorological community caved to pressure.
“We all recognised at a certain point that that was sexist and silly, so we don’t do it now,” Yang said.
Asked about Trump’s use of the term “Chinese Virus,” Dr. Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO’s emergency program, said at a press conference on Wednesday that it was something everyone should avoid.
“It’s been very clear since the beginning that the viruses know no borders, and they don’t care about your ethnicity or the colour of your skin,” he said.
Advertisement
He noted that the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic (referred to as “swine flu” early on) originated in North America.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Clueless Spring Breakers Vow To Party On Despite Coronavirus Warnings

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Some young spring breakers insist the party’s on and they’re planning to keep at it despite pleas from health authorities to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
“If I get corona, I get corona,” Brady Sluder, an Ohio resident on spring break in Florida, told Reuters. “At the end of the day, I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying.”
Advertisement
He was hardly alone.
Footage from Florida over the weekend showed packed beaches even though last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others issued warnings to avoid crowds and keep in small groups as “social distancing” measures meant to hinder the virus.
Clearwater Beach, Florida is PACKED today despite "social distancing" recommendations.
We Americans sure can be a dumb lot...pic.twitter.com/LRU06h2d03 — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) March 16, 2020
Early reports suggested that younger people may be less susceptible to Covid-19. However, new data from the CDC showed that nearly 40 percent of those who required hospitalisation for the infection were between the ages of 20 and 54. Even if they don’t get sick, people in this age group could pass the virus on to more vulnerable populations, especially older people.
“You have a responsibility – a societal responsibility – to protect the vulnerable,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN on Wednesday. “You do that, interestingly, by not letting yourself get infected.”
Advertisement
As of Wednesday, more than 9,400 Americans have been infected and 150 have died.
Interviews with some of the spring breakers showed that they didn’t seem too concerned.
“This virus ain’t that serious,” Atlantis Walker of Indiana told Reuters. “There’s more serious things out there, like hunger and poverty. We need to address that.”
Others also told reporters they just wanted to party:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Former Loose Women Star Linda Lusardi ‘Extremely Ill’ With Coronavirus

Linda Lusardi has revealed she’s “extremely ill” with coronavirus.
The former model and Loose Women star told a fan she had been struck down with the virus in a tweet on Wednesday.
The fan had contacted the 61-year-old star asking if she could send a message to her granddad.
But Linda replied: “Sorry Kerry. I am extremely ill with Corona at the moment.”
Twitter Twitter
Linda appeared on Dancing On Ice in 2008, finishing in sixth place with her professional dancer Daniel Whiston.
Advertisement
She shot to fame in the seventies and eighties as a page 3 girl in The Sun, and in 2005 was voted the UK’s most popular ever.
Linda Lusardi S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock
Linda isn’t the only star to test positive for the virus.
Other famous names currently self-isolating include Idris Elba, Tom Hanks, Game Of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju and Bond actress Olga Kurylenko.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Nine Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

Concerns over the coronavirus pandemic have led to major changes around the globe as the rate of infection grows.
Some 137 people in the UK have died after testing positive for the virus, including six in Scotland, two in Wales and one in Northern Ireland, according to the latest Department of Health and Social Care figures.
Advertisement
The number of people to test positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday is 2,626, up 676 from 1,950 at the same time on Tuesday, according to the gov.uk website.
Here are the latest developments.
Coronavirus deaths in Italy have now overtaken China
Italy has overtaken China as the country with the most coronavirus-related deaths, registering 3,405 dead.
Chinese officials have confirmed that 3,245 people have died in that country so far after contracting Covid-19.
The number of deaths in Italy rose by a record 475 in just 24 hours, it was revealed earlier on Thursday.
Advertisement
Lombardy, the worst-hit region, recorded 319 deaths in one day.
There are a total of 35,713 confirmed cases in Italy, the BBC reported, with more than 4,000 having successfully recovered.
Queen breaks silence and shares message at time of ‘great concern and uncertainty’
The Queen has issued a message to the nation which notes that the UK is “entering a period of great concern and uncertainty”, adding that “our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one”.
Hours after departing Buckingham Palace for Windsor, where she was joined by Prince Philip, the monarch shared the message online expressing the royal family’s gratitude “for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public service”.
She added: “Now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals – today and in the coming days, weeks and months.”
Advertisement
Church weddings to be limited to five people
The number of people attending church weddings during the coronavirus crisis should be limited to the legal minimum of five – the priest, the bride and groom and two witnesses – the Church of England has said.
Both weddings and baptisms may now face severe number restrictions, as coronavirus changes the face of huge personal moments such as funerals and moving house.
We have issued guidance on weddings and baptisms during the current period of restrictions on public gatherings.
Read more: https://t.co/P2hl8zVe89 — The Church of England (@churchofengland) March 19, 2020
The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, said: “Couples and parents, friends and families will have been planning for months, even years for their special moment, whether a wedding or a christening.
“Now it can go ahead – but with only the minimum required in attendance. You may need to cancel or postpone.
Advertisement
“Whatever decision is made, God’s love and blessing will still surround all those who would have been there that day. Prayers will still be offered, and there will be a special day to look forward to in the future.
“We encourage those who would have been there to hold couples and families in their prayers, and pray that everyone will know God’s love is holding them at this time.”
Bank of England cuts interest rates to 0.1%
Interest rates have fallen to 0.1%. RyanKing999 via Getty Images
The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 0.1%, the second cut in little more than a week, amid coronavirus uncertainty.
The outbreak is set to cause an “economic shock that could be sharp and large, but should be temporary”, the bank warned.
Advertisement
Interest rates are now at their lowest ever level, as the bank tries to support the UK economy.
Low interest rates are bad news for savers, as it means you’ll earn less on your savings than you would if interest rates were high.
However, the drop is good for those with mortgages, as it means their repayments will fall.
The rates were first cut on March 11, from 0.75% to 0.25%, as the Covid-19 outbreak worsened.
All professional football suspended until April 30
All professional football in the UK has been suspended until April 30, several weeks beyond the initial suspension of April 4.
All games in England’s Premier League, EFL, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, and all fixtures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have been suspended.
Our board has agreed to extend the 2019-20 professional football season indefinitely, with leagues and competitions now suspended until at least 30 April.https://t.co/tVh1EadOta — The FA (@FA) March 19, 2020
Dozens of London Underground stations to close
A person wearing a full face mask in King's Cross underground station in London after NHS England announced that the coronavirus death toll had reached 104 in the UK. PA
Advertisement
Michel Barnier has tested positive for coronavirus. picture alliance via Getty Images
Michel Barnier, the EU's Brexit negotiator, has tested positive for coronavirus.
Barnier confirmed the news in a tweet, writing that he was "doing well and in good spirits."
He added: "I am following all the necessary instructions as is my team.
"For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together."
I would like to inform you that I have tested positive for #COVID19. I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team.
For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together. — Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 19, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--How Long Do We Have To Wait For A Coronavirus Vaccine – And How Will It Work?

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As scientists the world over scramble to develop a vaccine that will help protect millions against Covid-19, it’s a good time to think about how this would actually work – and realistically, how long it could take.
Business secretary Alok Sharma announced on 17 April that a new Vaccine Taskforce has been set up in the UK to accelerate the search for a coronavirus vaccine and ensure the industry is prepared to manufacture at scale once it’s ready.
Advertisement
Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at Oxford University who is leading the team, said in the best-case scenario, a vaccine could be available for use by the general public by the autumn. However, she said there is always an unknown and scientists can never be sure vaccines are going to work.
Around the world, there are multiple potential vaccines under various stages of development for Covid-19. Some are further ahead than others. In the US for example, human trials began last month, with four patients receiving a version of the jab in Seattle, Washington.
But the road from here to a widely-distributed vaccine could be a long one. Some experts reckon we won’t be seeing a circulating vaccine for at least 12-18 months. And even if a vaccine was created and mass-produced, the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it would need to be distributed to the most vulnerable people first, and then the rest of the population.
Historically, the average vaccine took 10-15 years to create, Professor Robin May, an expert in infectious diseases based at University of Birmingham, tells HuffPost UK. “So if we can get this down to 12-18 months – I mean that’s cold comfort at the moment, but it’s still an extraordinary acceleration of pace.
Advertisement
“The current trials are obviously underway, that’s an exceptional research effort, it’s gone really, really fast so far. But even if we get a clear answer in the coming weeks, there is still this huge problem of manufacturing and scaling-up to address.”
How would a coronavirus vaccine actually work?
Firstly, we need to talk about what’s going on in our body when we are exposed to an illness. Take the common cold as an example. If the cold virus enters the body, the body sees it as foreign and issues a response. “Part of that response is these cells called T cells and P cells which are incredibly specific,” explains Prof May. The cells recognise a tiny bit of the cold virus protein and launch an immune response against it. After the infection’s gone, some of those cells remain as memory cells – essentially for most of your life.
If those cells encounter the same virus again in the future, there’s a much faster, much more aggressive reaction, which is why if you get one strain of the common cold, for example, you won’t get reinfected with it next time (and come down with all of the annoying symptoms). Your immune system has seen it before and knows what it’s looking for. It builds up a defence.
A vaccine works by triggering this immune response. It exposes your body to a snippet of the virus so your body immediately recognises it in the future and knows to fight against it straight away.
Traditionally, vaccines would be made from a weakened or killed virus, but more recently, there’s been a focus on using one or two molecules off the surface of a virus, rather than injecting a person with a whole virus, says Prof May.
Advertisement
The advantage of this is that people shouldn’t get sick from the virus or have nasty side effects, because they’re only being exposed to the tiniest fragment of it – but still enough for your body to recognise it in the future.
One of the approaches currently being used with Covid-19 is to identify proteins on the surface of the virus itself and see if those proteins can be recreated. “The idea would be you’d inject those proteins into people, the people would launch an immune response against the protein and then that would act as a vaccine,” explains Prof May.
The vaccine currently in human trials in America, known as mRNA-1273, is not actually made from the virus that causes Covid-19. Instead, it’s made up of a short segment of genetic code copied from the virus which scientists have made in a laboratory.
That code is known as RNA – and scientists consider it safer than putting the actual virus into someone’s body. “It’s basically like giving someone the recipe to bake their own cake, rather than giving them a cake which might have been left on a shelf for a long time and is a bit dodgy,” says Prof May.
It’s also a lot speedier to use in a vaccine because you can produce RNA molecules very fast and at a “very high purity” – so there are fewer risks of side effects and it’s easier to scale up and therefore mass produce. “But it’s relatively new, relatively untested technology,” he says. “Hence, watch this space.”
Advertisement
One of the biggest challenges scientists face is to ensure the vaccine is safe. Gary Kobinger, a virologist at Laval University in Canada, told New Scientist: “We could have a vaccine in three weeks, but we can’t guarantee its safety or efficacy.” With so much at stake, it’s not something you want to rush.
Putting RNA in a vaccine has been tested before and has “seemed promising”, says Prof May. “What you want to avoid is if that protein you express happens to bare some similarity to a human protein, there is a risk – a small risk – that the body might react to that and then react to itself, and you might get autoimmunity.” This is where the immune system attacks itself. “There are lots of ways to minimise the risk but you don’t know that until you start testing it [in humans],” he adds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Forced To Finally Take Coronavirus Seriously, Trump Turns To Racism

LOADING ERROR LOADING
At President Donald Trump’s coronavirus press briefing on Wednesday, a reporter confronted him about how he has begun referring to it as the “Chinese virus.”
The question came from ABC News White House correspondent Cecilia Vega, who challenged Trump to explain why he’d just used that term instead of “coronavirus” or “Covid-19,” which is the disease caused by the virus.
Advertisement
“There are reports of dozens of incidents of bias against Chinese Americans in this country,” she stated. “Your own aides have said, ‘He does not use this term ... that ethnicity does not cause the virus.’ Why do you keep using this? A lot of people say it’s racist.”
Trump dismissed the nuances she posed in her question.
“Because it comes from China. It’s not racist at all,” he replied. “No, not at all. It comes from China, that’s why.”
Later, he insisted that Asian Americans would agree “100%” with using the phrase.
What Trump didn’t explain is why, after nearly two months of properly referring to it as “coronavirus,” he suddenly started using a term this week that lays blame on Chinese people and ― whether intentionally or not ― encourages prejudice and violence against people of Chinese or Asian descent.
Trump called it the Chinese virus on Twitter for the first time Monday, the same day his tone about the outbreak suddenly shifted: He began to talk about it seriously, rather than calling it a “hoax” and claiming that conditions were already improving across the US.
Advertisement
Since then, he’s tweeted the phrase “Chinese Virus,” as he styles it, four more times and denied that he ever downplayed the outbreak’s seriousness.
I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China - against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
As Trump has leaned into scientists’ warnings that Covid-19 poses a major threat to the US, he’s also leaned into the hateful rhetoric that’s been circulating among xenophobes and right-wing pundits for weeks.
For weeks, Fox News’ Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham and others have repeated the narrative that China is at fault for the coronavirus outbreak.
“Identity politics trumped public health and not for the first time,” Carlson said in late February while discussing concerns others had for the safety of Asian Americans. “Wokeness is a cult. They would let you die before they admitted that diversity is not our strength.” (The latter is a common white nationalist phrase.)
Advertisement
Senator Tom Cotton, meanwhile, has pushed the conspiracy theory that a Chinese “super laboratory that works with the world’s most deadly pathogens” intentionally created the virus.
The buck may not stop at “Chinese virus.” During his Wednesday press conference, a separate reporter pressed Trump to react to another racist term for the virus: “kung flu,” which a White House official reportedly used when speaking to an Asian American reporter.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--How To Survive A Pandemic, According To These Fictional Characters

LOADING ERROR LOADING
With all your spring plans officially cancelled over the global coronavirus pandemic, maybe it’s time for you to cuddle up with a good book — as the introverts do, united in spirit but in your own home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say as many as 214 million people could become infected with the novel coronavirus if we don’t change our behaviour; more than one million could die during a pandemic that could last anywhere from a few months to a year.
Advertisement
So that’s the bad news. The good news is that there are actions we can take to keep ourselves healthy, including social distancing and working from home.
Amazon/Scholastic/Penguin Random House "Love in the Time of Cholera," "Parable of the Sower," "Love is the Drug."
When you start to feel the stir-crazy pangs of oncoming loneliness, it might be helpful to get some tips from the fictional characters whose creators were nice enough to conjure up our worst-case scenarios and nightmares a while ago. What you’ll find in the list below is a resounding theme: Most people stay calm and maintain connection instead of perishing alone.
Reaching out is an act of self-preservation. Maybe don’t physically touch anybody, unless it’s a fist bump with gloved hands. Texting and emailing is cool. Phone calls are also a good look. Here are some other lessons to be learned from a few fictional characters:
Advertisement
“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler (1993)
Amazon
Lauren Oya Olamina, a 15-year-old hyperempathic girl in the year 2024, leaves her Los Angeles-area home during a post-apocalyptic event. To survive, she practices her shooting aim. She learns to control whose emotions she takes on so the pain of other people’s feelings doesn’t kill her. She also shaves her head to appear more gender-nonconforming when she travels with an ad-hoc group to a designated safe space in the Pacific Northwest.
“Speech Sounds” by Octavia Butler (1983)
This Hugo Award-winning short story features Valerie Rye, a middle-aged writer and history professor traveling alone in Los Angeles after a pandemic referred to as “the illness” has killed her whole family. The illness takes away what people love most — it took Valerie’s ability to read and write. Like many of Butler’s heroines, Rye is armed for protection, carrying a backpack with antiseptic and bandages. She maintains her compassion and empathy even as she is confronted with the harsh realities of her new world.
“Love Is The Drug” by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2014)
Scholastic
In this heralded novel with shades of the FX series “The Americans,” Emily Bird slowly comes to realise that her scientist parents are likely connected to a global pandemic — and possibly worse — that puts Washington, D.C., under quarantine. Like all Black girls facing the crises of everyday life, she also changes her hair by way of a home relaxer and ends up with a TWA (teeny weeny afro). She’s pretty cerebral but also kind of a rebellious introvert, so she pops melatonin to help with her anxiety-induced insomnia and breaks up with her obnoxious boyfriend so she can flirt with two mysterious classmates and get to the bottom of a US government conspiracy.
Advertisement
“Love In The Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Marcia Marquez (1985)
Penguin Random House
This novel focuses on several characters during a time of cholera that was brought on by poor sanitary conditions in the Caribbean. Like his father Dr. Marco Aurelio Urbino, who died in quarantine to protect his loved ones, Dr. Juvenal Urbino is fascinated with studying all he can to stop the spread of a cholera epidemic. One of the major themes of the novel is the way that love and nature persist even in times of distress and unease.
“Severance” by Ling Ma (2018)
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Candace Chen, a disaffected millennial and Bible production employee, first thinks she can stress-eat her way out of the Shen Fever pandemic that paralyses New York City. In the end, she finds herself traveling west with a kind of post-apocalyptic cult that “stalks” the empty homes and buildings where the fever has decimated families. She survives by continuing some of her behaviours from before the pandemic — moving frequently, albeit now with others. She is highly adaptable, even as she remains a kind of sarcastic, lost loner. She seems to both discover and lose herself in the work of becoming a survivalist.
“All The Time in The World” by Charlotte Nicole Davis (2020)
Penguin Random House "All The Time in the World" is a short story "A Phoenix Must Burn" anthology.
Advertisement
In one of a number of standout stories in the recently released anthology “A Phoenix First Must Burn, Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance and Hope,” Jordan Carter is a high school student who realises that the Contaminant in the city’s water — inspired by the ongoing public health emergency that is the Flint, Michigan, water crisis — has damaged a lot of other people. But instead of weakening her, she discovers that this epidemic has given her an extraordinary power. She double-checks the surreal nature of how crises show us where we are stronger and more magnificent than we could have dreamed with her crush.
“Blindness” by Jose Saramoga (1995)
Amazon
Almost everyone has been struck by “white blindness” in this novel except for the doctor’s wife. (None of the characters have names — a reminder of the way that catastrophe and disaster can strip us of our identities in the social order when things were normal.) Like many women in fictional pandemic circumstances, the doctor’s wife goes hard on the maternal side when she becomes a de facto leader of a group gone wild, one of 300 quarantined in a warehouse. She kills to protect them and she also cares for the newly vulnerable. Even in a pandemic ― maybe especially during a pandemic ― shoring up your karma for being a kind human is a good idea.
“Zone One” by Colson Whitehead (2011)
Penguin Random House
Mark Spitz is a self-described “middling talent,” one of three survivalist members of a Zone One unit sent to clear an area in Manhattan after a pandemic has devastated the world. Spitz struggles with hallucination brought on by a condition called Post Apocalyptic Stress Disorder. His main coping mechanism appears to be learning to adapt to the world as it is now, even if he does have to eat a stand-in for breakfast called “morning paste.” He’s got a gun and a survival pack to deal with the undead who pop up as they search buildings to resettle New York City.
Advertisement
BONUS: “Blood Quantum,” a film by Jeff Barnaby


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--The 12 Best Books To Read If You’re Looking For Escape

LOADING ERROR LOADING
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
HuffPost UK Louise/HuffPost UK
Advertisement
We could all do with escaping reality for a while, and what better way of doing that then getting stuck into a good book?
We’ve all got a growing list of books we want to get through that work, social plans and general life always seemed to get in the way of, but now with ample time on our hands, it’s time to get comfortable and dive into a new story.
It doesn’t necessarily have be a solo activity either, why not create a virtual book club over Facetime with friends and family, with a regular chat to discuss books you’ve been reading? It’s inevitable that you will go off on a tangent and end up chatting about other things, but it’s a lovely way to build a small community around you at a trying time.
To help you get started, we asked HuffPost readers to recommend books to get stuck into.
HuffPost UK Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Advertisement
Recommended by Lucille Whiting
"It’s a wonderful book to read if you need inspiration or clarity. Great for anyone creative, but especially writers or those who work in a creative field who are feeling stuck. It gives you a much-needed kick up the backside when you’ve got a creative block (in a good way).”
HuffPost UK A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen
Recommended by Kirsty Hall
″I’ve just finished reading A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen - turned into a movie last year but the book is so lovely! Well worth a read! It’s based on James’ memoirs about living on the streets, and it’s just very honest and full of hope.”
HuffPost UK Where the Magic Happens by Caspar Craven
Recommended by Corinne Card
“For adventure and escapism, I love Where the Magic Happens by Caspar Craven - it’s all about how he sailed around the world for two years with his young family.” As for what a reader can expect from the real life story, Corinne says, “It’s realising you can dream up a different way of life for your family and make that dream a reality. The stories of life at sea, visiting quirky islands, being caught in a storm far from home. The joys of complete freedom and boundless adventure, all with loved ones in tow.”
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, Amazon, £6.20
Recommended by Francesca Baker
In uncertain times such as these, Franscesca recommends Mrs Dalloway, which captures the delicate balancing act between our interior narrative and the outside world. In it, London “fizzes off the page”, she says, adding: “it’s a reminder that we will go out and have fun at parties again!”
HuffPost UK The Book of Eating by Adam Platt
Recommended by Lee Chambers
“I’d recommend The Book of Eating by Adam Platt, it makes you fall into a world where you actually feel like a food critic and what the reality of that is like. It’s a book about journey highlighting an unpublished side of the industry, and looks at culture, travel and psychology wrapped in a story.”
HuffPost UK Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Advertisement
Recommended by Jean Hatchet
“A few years old now, but wow. Just wow,” says Jean. If you haven’t come across Madeline Miller’s best-selling book already, now’s the time. A refreshing take on the Trojan War, it’s a must-read for any Greek mythology fans.
HuffPost UK The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Recommended by Jo Smith
“This is truly beautiful. It’s uplifting, funny and heartbreaking all at the same time. A story about knowing too much about everyone else and holding their secrets close to you. One of my rereads every year!”
HuffPost UK No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Recommended by Mars El Brogy
“Alexander McCall Smith’s No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series offers a nice bit of escapism. Set in Botswana, the main character Mma Ramotswe is lovable and the book really puts you in the heart of Botswana.”
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Recommended by Mollie Mollington
Seeing as we don’t know when we’ll be heading to the cinema again, pick up the book instead. Mollie credits Little Women for the practical skills it’s encouraged her to learn. “It has inspired me to learn to darn socks, cook from scratch, enjoy outdoors etc” she tells HuffPost.
HuffPost UK Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
Recommended by Pippa Jones
“Memoirs Of A Geisha is a beautiful read!” says Pippa. It’s a historical fiction novel that unravels the story of a geisha working in Kyoto, Japan, and her life before, during and after the second World War.
HuffPost UK Philip Pullman
Advertisement
Recommended by Sara Spary
Philip Pullman details the coming of age of characters Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry as they wander through a series of parallel universes. Sara described the series as “pure escapism and beautifully written”.
HuffPost UK Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Recommended by Tom Bourlet
“The greatest book I’ve ever read,” says Bourlet. “It was inspirational, I’ve always loved travel but this one made me want to get on a plane immediately. Some you wonder how true it can be, as it’s based on a real person’s life, but if all true it’s remarkable.”
HuffPost UK Circe by Madeline Miller
Recommended by Kate Leaver -
Appearing for the second time in our list, Kate tells HuffPost why Madeline Miller’s Circe is top of her list. ”Just truly epic scope, good old fashioned storytelling, beautiful prose, rethinking myths we think we know, couldn’t put them down.”
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Educated by Tara Westover
Recommended by Jasmin Gray
Growing up in a mormon family, Tara Westover shares her experience growing up in an isolated childhood. “Some dark moments, but is one of the most incredible pieces of autobiography I’ve ever read. Read it in about a day!”
HuffPost UK Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
Recommend by Tony Onodi


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--3 Creme Egg Recipes To Make At Home This Easter

Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
Creme Egg season is upon us – and nothing, and we mean nothing, is going to stop us from indulging in such gooey chocolatey goodness this year. Let’s face it, the start of 2020 has been stressful.
Cadbury unveiled its Creme Egg Cookbook back in March, with 60 delicious recipes. There’s Creme Egg sourdough toast, pavlovas, biscuits, cakes and brownies – it’s a serious sugar crash waiting to happen.
Advertisement
The chocolate brand has teamed up with Great British Bake Off quarter finalist Martha Collinson and cake designer Georgia Green to create the treats.
Here are three dishes to sink your teeth into.
Creme Egg Dodgers
Makes: 10 | Prep time: 30 mins | Cooking time: 15 mins
Cadbury Creme Egg Dodgers
Ingredients:
For the biscuits:
150g self raising flour
50g plain flour
125g caster sugar
125g butter
50g cocoa
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence
For the buttercream:
75g butter, softened
150g icing sugar
1 tsp milk
1 crème egg.
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Put the self-raising flour, plain flour and sugar in a food processor and whizz briefly to combine.
Advertisement
2. Add the diced butter and mix again until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the cocoa powder, egg and vanilla essence and pulse until the mix starts to come together. Tip the mix onto a lightly-floured surface and gently knead together to form a smooth dough.
3. Roll out to the thickness of a £1 coin then cut out eggs using an egg-shaped cookie cutter (9cm x 7cm) and place on the baking sheets. Using a small cutter cut out an egg shape from the centre of half the cookies. Re-roll the scraps of dough and continue to cut shapes until you have 20 cookies.
4. Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes until crisp and have darkened slightly. Remove the cookies from the baking sheets and leave to cool on wire racks.
5. For the buttercream, beat the butter with a handheld electric whisk to soften, then gradually add the icing sugar, beating well between each addition until soft and smooth. Add the milk with the last of the sugar. Chop the Creme Egg into small pieces and fold into the buttercream.
6. Spread the buttercream onto the whole egg cookies then top each one with the cookies with the holes in the centre.
Advertisement
They will keep for about one week if stored in an airtight container.
Creme Egg & Raspberry Tart
Serves: 8 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cooking time: 20 mins
Cadbury Creme Egg & Raspberry Tart
Ingredients:
320g pack ready rolled puff pastry
1 egg, lightly beaten
250g mascarpone cheese
250ml double cream
50g icing sugar
225g raspberries
3 or 4 Creme Eggs (to suit you)
10g milk chocolate.
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas mark 6 and line a large baking sheet with baking parchment.
2. Unroll the pastry and place on the baking sheet. With a small sharp knife score a 1.5cm border around the edge of the pastry and with a fork prick the pastry inside the border. This ensures the edge of the tart puffs up during cooking, but the centre keeps flat. Brush the border with the beaten egg and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden.
3. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack – if the middle of the tart does puff up during cooking press it down gently to flatten before it cools completely.
Advertisement
4. Meanwhile beat together the mascarpone, double cream and icing sugar until smooth and once the pastry case is completely cold spread over the centre in an even layer.
5. Dot the raspberries over the cream filling, then cut the crème eggs into quarters and place in between the raspberries. Finely grate the milk chocolate over the top and serve.
Creme Egg Profiteroles
Makes: 18 | Prep time: 45 mins | Cooking time: 25 mins
Cadbury Creme Egg Profiteroles
Ingredients:
For the profiteroles:
75g butter
1 tsp caster sugar
50g plain flour
50g strong white flour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
For the filling:
300ml double cream
2 Creme Eggs
100g mascarpone
For the Creme Egg sauce
150ml double cream
4 Creme Eggs.
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment.
2. For the profiteroles put the butter and sugar in a saucepan with 175ml water and heat gently until the butter has melted. Bring to a rolling boil then remove from the heat and add both flours to the pan and beat until smooth.
3. Return to the heat and cook for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly until the paste starts to come away from the sides of the pan. Spoon into a large bowl and leave to cool for a few minutes.
Advertisement
4. Add the eggs to the paste a little at a time, beating well between each addition. The dough should be glossy and smooth with a soft dropping consistency – you might not need to add all of the egg.
5. Spoon the dough into a large piping bag fitted with a 1cm plain nozzle and pipe walnut sized rounds on the baking sheets, leaving a 2cm gap between each one.
6. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly on the baking sheets. Then cut a small slit in the side of each one and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Meanwhile make the filling. Heat 50ml of the double cream in a small pan, add the chopped Creme Eggs and heat until melted and bubbling. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth and pour into a bowl to cool. Once cool, beat in the mascarpone and leave in the fridge to thicken slightly.
8. Whip the remaining double cream until soft peaks start to form then whisk in the cooled mascarpone mix until fully incorporated. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm plain nozzle then fill each profiterole by piping the cream in through the slit.
Advertisement
9. For the Creme Egg sauce heat the cream in a small pan, add the chopped eggs and heat until melted and bubbling. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth and pour into a jug to cool and thicken slightly. Serve the profiteroles in bowls with the sauce poured over.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--Students Like Me Are Demanding Refunds And No Exams — Not Just Due to Coronavirus

Students across the country are demanding that universities reimburse them for all teaching time missed Getty Images/iStockphoto
Students in the UK have been completely sidelined by universities.
University and College Union strikes and coronavirus have meant that some students, like me, have had just two full weeks of teaching since 27 January. Is it any wonder that students are demanding their money back and begging Vice Chancellors to cancel university exams?
Students across the country, sick to death of being treated as an afterthought, have started demanding that universities reimburse them for all teaching time missed. A petition requiring universities to reimburse student tuition fees during strike action has received over 115,000 signatures from frustrated students who — shockingly — don’t want to pay for a service they have barely received.
Advertisement
Speaking from personal experience, my second term at university has been filled with uncertainty. I have missed just over 20 hours of contact time because of strikes and am set to miss another 20 hours of contact time because of coronavirus. That means I have been forced to miss more than double the amount of university time I have been able to attend.
Using very rudimentary mathematics and lots of generalisations (I’m doing a degree in literature, after all) I have lost about £1,500 worth of teaching. This figure excludes a week’s worth of strikes from last term and the two weeks I’m expecting to miss when term fails to restart again after Easter, so this is a generous estimation.
“If I ordered something online, and it never turned up on my doorstep, I wouldn’t be expected to pay for it”
Now, I know the money I pay for university isn’t just for teaching hours, but strikes and Covid-19 have made all aspects of student life challenging. During strike week, picket lines prevented me from using university facilities, communicating with tutors over email or going to office hours, whilst during the coronavirus outbreak, self-isolation has stopped me leaving the house.
Advertisement
Ultimately whilst it’s hard to put a hard figure on something as complicated as this, I do know that if I ordered something online, and it never turned up on my doorstep, I wouldn’t be expected to pay for it. I would, of course, demand my money back and get a full refund. Why then, are university students expected to pay — and go into huge amounts of debt — for a service we never received?
At the University of Bristol, this sentiment of dissatisfaction and confusion is rife. Bristol students have written an open letter to the University Vice Chancellor, demanding that all final year exams and assessments be made optional. The popularity of this policy is evident by the fact that it has racked in well over 1,000 signatures and has popped up on my Facebook feed more times than I can count.
The desperation of an already anxiety-ridden student body is palpable in this open letter. I was quick to add my name alongside the hundreds of others because, though it’s true that students and young people are not the worst hit by coronavirus, the combined impact of Covid-19 and UCU strikes has robbed many students of a fair shot at getting a good result.
I have already been forced to write an essay about a book I haven’t received teaching for, and I haven’t had any teaching for four weeks. If universities expect students to do just as well without teaching as with, then they are essentially acknowledging their own redundancy. So, why are we paying £9,250 a year?
Yet our degrees matter. The results we achieve will affect us for the rest of our lives. I am not at all confident that employers will be sympathetic to these rather bizarre set of circumstances. On my cover letters, can I beg to be given the benefit of the doubt because I did my exams in the midst of a global pandemic? Employers will look at my CV, sat in a pile of hundreds of other similar looking CVs, see a bad result and promptly throw my application in the bin. I think many students who graduated during and after the financial crash might have similar thoughts on this lack of leniency or understanding.
Advertisement
This potentially bleak future is plaguing every single one of my friends. Overnight, coronavirus has turned from a meme and a throwaway sarcastic comment into something very real and very scary. It has robbed final year students of their last term at university, goodbyes with friends, post-exam celebrations and a chance to graduate. It has turned campus into a ghost town.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-19--How Covid-19 Is Driving Sex Workers Like Me Into Crisis

Getty Images HuffPost UK
As soon as my alarm clock rings, I roll over to check the notifications on my phone. Two new emails. Amazing. I open the mail app, hoping for a new client inquiry. It’s been too slow ― the dead space of tax season has extended into March and I’m down to my last $200, needing a client to come in fast. I open the first email.
Hi, my name is Jeff and I’m an experienced web developer looking to help you with –
Delete delete delete.
I open the second email.
hey :)
A huge sigh. This has been the theme for going on three months now, with no foreseeable end in sight. Every day the Dow drops more and for workers in New York, that’s a pretty big fucking deal. Coupled with the growing concerns of contracting covid-19, the client base for workers like myself is shrinking to almost nothing. I text my dancer friends only to hear the same ― the clubs are empty.
Advertisement
I already know this email won’t lead to anything but I respond to it anyway, unable to turn down even the slightest possible chance of work. Unless you’re lucky enough to have some healthy and generous regulars, the types of clients coming in now are the kind you wished you didn’t have to take.
For eight years I’ve been in the industry as a full-service sex worker, and you get used to the ebbs and flows of the business. There are always times when work is scarce and you have to scrimp until the busy season returns. With the rise of covid-19, however, we’re being pushed into a state of scarcity that goes far beyond the usual slow season ― and for disease epicentres like Seattle and New York, it could potentially rival the post Sesta/Fosta work losses.
Covid-19 and its surrounding panic are a real and present danger for sex workers in New York. Workers and clients are both at risk for contraction, and knowing this has driven down the demand for our services an astronomical amount. The failure of our city to provide us access to social services, and our government’s unwillingness to recognise sex work as a non-criminal venue of employment means that many workers are quickly being pushed into a state of financial desperation.
In an ideal world, both clients and workers could take time off and pre-emptively self-quarantine until the threat of contracting coronavirus is under control. We could all put our health first, and seek out health care if we need it.
Advertisement
The reality is that most sex workers have little to no savings to fall back on and little access to services that would at best only partially relieve the stress of not having work.
For sex workers who work outside, are queer and trans people of colour or are unhoused or undocumented, the threat of destitution looms even closer. For workers who are disabled or immuno-compromised, choosing to see clients could mean they risk death... but not seeing clients means risking all financial security.
Drops in demand brought on by covid-19 don’t just mean less work – it means less safe work. Often when workers have fewer clients and no savings to rely on, we get pushed into situations that compromise our boundaries. We are forced to book with clients who do not have our safety or our best interests in mind. Clients will try to haggle with us, push down the price of our services, and sometimes we can’t refuse.
Workers will feel pressure to screen less or not at all, to accept clients they know aren’t safe and risk an assault or rape because they need to feed themselves or their children or keep the electricity on.
We are being pushed into desperate financial situations and to ignore symptoms because we don’t have the financial means to afford health care. Some of us will be forced to return to abusive partners rather than risk homelessness.
Advertisement
The precarious situations of sex workers in the time of covid-19 underscore the failings of our systems and our government’s inability to care for its most marginalised citizens.
In times such as these, we rely hugely on mutual aid and grassroots organising to act as a stopgap between us and financial ruin, but even these groups are rarely funded enough to be more than a Band-Aid for people who are affected.
I and the others of SWOP Brooklyn (Sex Worker’s Outreach Project) recognised an immediate and increasing need for a crisis relief fund, so we launched a GoFundMe to supplement the donations we had raised at a previous fundraiser. In just 24 hours, we’ve crowdsourced over $20,000 in individual donations – an amazing amount, but still just a drop in the bucket given the people reaching out and asking for assistance with rent, bills, childcare, food and medication.
So, what of love in the time of covid-19? What of sex?
Limiting direct contact with as many people as possible is the surest way to avoid contracting the coronavirus. It’s a time to stay at home, take time off, self-isolate and pump up on vitamin C and supportive herbs. We all know this. Still, many of us will continue to gamble with our lungs and lives on the line as we try to pay our rent and make connections with our fellow human beings.
We often say that our work is a luxury service. Sex is a luxury service, but intimacy is not. The most impactful parts of our work – empathy, intimacy, connection – are also at risk as we begin to fear the touch of another human being. Intimacy is still a basic human need. People will still seek the services of professional sex workers, even now amid a viral outbreak when we all have that much more to lose.
Advertisement
Love in the time of COVID-19 means redefining how we can be intimate with and support one another. Whether this involves donating to crowdfunds, buying digital content or doing sexy quarantine play – there are ways to engage with and lift up sex workers in a time of crisis, while benefiting from our services. The only way for all of us to survive is if we continue to rely on one another and foster meaningful connections, regardless of whether it’s in person or not.
I am grateful for the community that has stepped up so far, and I know that our solidarity efforts will only continue to grow as we weather this pandemic together.
How long will we be able to keep up such efforts? We’ve already been doing it for generations, in times of both abundance and scarcity, and I have no doubt we’ll be doing it for years to come.
Molly Simmons is a full-service sex worker and sex-worker activist in Brooklyn. This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal.
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--2020-03-19--I’m The Dad Of A Disabled Child. We’re Just Waiting For Coronavirus To Hit Our Home

HuffPost UK Press Association
With our other children, the small terrors of early parenthood passed quickly – but with our youngest, Sam, they have never gone. I often wake in the night and wait to hear him breathe. Often, I wake to hear him coughing and spluttering, and have to quickly jump up to gently tap out his chest to help him work it clear. This is because Sam has a range of disabilities which mean he’s susceptible to chest infections and other bugs. At just over a year old he’s been through more than most will ever have to face.
Waiting for your child to breathe is a terrifying but fleeting thing. The stress of waiting for coronavirus feels slower, more unique, less solvable.
Advertisement
It’s a small, repeated dread of what’s under your fingernails. It’s a frustration that you can’t really be sure you’ve dealt with it. It’s the subdued anger you feel at people around you who flippantly say they don’t mind as ‘they’ll probably be okay’, not understanding how much their disregard could harm your child. It’s the ‘keep calm and carry on’ message from the government that appears to have gambled your family’s wellbeing against the economics of more stringent measures. It’s your powerlessness in the face of all these things and the inevitability of the wait.
Waiting is a theme when caring for a young child with disabilities. Waiting for appointments, or in A&E, or for operations or to be discharged from hospital or from intensive care. And the waiting is painful, but you must deal with it, or you will go mad.
“School, work, friends, family and other groups all represent a different way one of us could catch coronavirus and bring it home. It’s a horrible way to think...”
I’m very aware that our wait is less stressful than many others. A lot of children with disabilities spend most of the winter in and out of A&E dealing with chest and other infections, and their wait must be truly terrifying. Meanwhile, people with suppressed immune systems because of cancer treatment or other illness must have watched the progress of coronavirus with growing dread.
Advertisement
That growing dread is changing the way we live. The wiping down of surfaces and washing of hands have dramatically increased, and we’ve started a kind of compulsive temperature taking of everyone in our house. Visitors to our house are commanded to wash their hands and while in public over the past few days I’ve taken to covering my face as much as is possible and avoiding shops at busy times.
But the deeper impact is that for the past few weeks I’ve had an imaginary spider’s web in my head representing all the different networks and groups we’re a part of. School, work, friends, family and other groups all represent a different hub and a way one of us could catch coronavirus and bring it into the home. It’s a horrible way to think. But over the past couple of weeks we’ve been reducing the networks we’re exposed to, slowly folding our lives in on themselves until this week, when we made the decision to lock up shop. We’ll see how it goes over the next few weeks and months, but we’ve taken our other children out of school and decided to isolate our family in the hope it will protect our son.
This would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Until recently we lived overseas doing aid work in far flung parts of the world. We tried to live more adventurously; we were your annoying, smug friends on Instagram doing amazing things in strange places with pretty sunsets. Now we find ourselves shrinking slowly in on ourselves, fearful, more vulnerable and smaller.
“The hypocrisy for those of us who saw how they, our neighbours, acted in our time of real need will be sharp”
In an ideal world, with a dangerous new virus out there in the population, my family and others like us would have spent the past few weeks trying to exercise the type of hand hygiene and other precautions you see in hospitals. The thing is, we haven’t been able to because, as much as we’ve tried, we can’t buy sanitiser or many other products anywhere.
Advertisement
Talking to families like ours or seeing their pleas online I know it is the same story across the country. As soon as sanitiser, masks or health products come into shops they are gone, stockpiled by a few panicked people despite the fact that others need it more.
I understand the instinct, but I’m finding it increasingly hard to forgive it. Last week I shouted at a small shop owner who tried to justify selling a bottle of sanitiser at about four times its pre-crisis value. I know I won’t forget that when all this is over. I suspect that as soon as this is over people will start to tell the kind of rose-tinted ‘blitz’ stories about the stacks of toilet roll or boxes of hand sanitisers they had in their garage. Those same people will probably do sponsored fun runs for children’s hospitals or fundraisers for cancer charities. The hypocrisy for those of us who saw how they, our neighbours, acted in our time of real need will be sharp.
So far the Government seems to have done little to nothing of actual substance to protect vulnerable groups like us, or to ensure we are able to get hold of the kinds of things we need to protect themselves.
So all we have left to do now is to close ourselves off from the world and to wait. Wait as I often wait to hear Sam breathe, because the reality is we have no other choice.
Matt Patterson is a former civil servant and political adviser. Follow him on Twitter at @MattPattv1
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--2020-03-20--Please Don't Be Guilted Into Being More Productive During The Coronavirus

LOADING ERROR LOADING
If you have been scrolling through the bad and worse news about the coronavirus pandemic on Twitter, you may have seen the viral tweets about how famous artists innovated during quarantines, like when Shakespeare wrote “King Lear” while theatres were shuttered for plague or when Isaac Newton created calculus while social distancing.
These facts are intended to reassure and motivate, but they carry an inherent judgment: You could be making the most of this time; are you rising to the challenge?
Advertisement
During a pandemic, Isaac Newton had to work from home, too. He used the time wisely. https://t.co/yHTBuFhQi1 — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 13, 2020
Just a reminder that when Shakespeare was quarantined because of the plague, he wrote King Lear. — rosanne cash (@rosannecash) March 14, 2020
Maybe you have felt some version of this judgement from friends and family who are using their time indoors social distancing to exercise more, expand their cooking repertoire or come out of this global pandemic with a new skill like a language or sleek and sanitised arms. Hustle culture never stops, quarantine or not.
I feel pressured to keep hustling despite knowing better. My concentration is shot with each coronavirus update, which is entirely understandable. I will be typing diligently away on my laptop, then suddenly overtaken with worry for my parents who are doctors seeing sick patients and over 60 years old. And despite these normal concerns, I still feel twinges of guilt for falling behind on deadlines and promises to pick up a hobby. “Why aren’t I working more quickly, doing more?” thinks the capitalist part of my brain.
Advertisement
“There is a tendency in this country and in Western society and within capitalism to be self-critical, as opposed to being self-compassionate,” said Cynthia Pong, founder of Embrace Change, a coaching business that focuses on helping women of colour to transition in their careers. “We have crafted a lot of our feelings of self-worth on achievement, accomplishment and being prolific in stuff that we do. If you take that away, there’s a void. And voids are so hard to deal with.”
When I talked with career experts about the self-imposed productivity guilt I feel, they offered me helpful, more compassionate ways of reframing the pressure to stay focused and produce.
“The fact that your attention is all over the place is you being empathetic and responding to what’s happening,” Pong said. “If you weren’t, I might be a little bit concerned ... ‘Are you not affected by what’s happening right now?’”
Some people thrive under this stress. Others don’t.
“Best” is a relative term, Pong told me. Doing your best in this time is different from doing your best during non-pandemic times. Recognise that it can look different for each person, and don’t compare and despair over how others are managing hobbies and activities during this crisis.
“If you’re just producing what you need to produce to get through the day, that’s OK,” said Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist who focuses on helping professionals manage their careers. “You want to get to some place where you feel like, ‘This is baseline to me. This feels like how I want to be using the time.’”
Advertisement
“I no longer expect to innovate, and that is one less weight on my shoulders”
If you are feeling unmoored and overwhelmed by this moment, Orbé-Austin recommended meditation and the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, in which you ground yourself by acknowledging five things you see around you, four things you can touch, three things you hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.
“Before starting this exercise, pay attention to your breathing,” Orbé-Austin said. “Slow, deep, long breaths can help you maintain a sense of calm or help you return to a calmer state.”
Don’t become your own punishing boss.
Recognising when to push through and when to let go and call off the workday is essential to knowing what is a reasonable new pace of productivity for you. Here’s a passage from advice columnist and work-from-home expert Heather Havrilesky’s guide to working remotely that resonated with me:
Until I learned to be a less punishing boss to myself, I was (ironically) far less productive. Try to keep sticking your schedule overall, but be realistic and merciful towards yourself when you’re struggling emotionally or you just need to mix it up one day. And don’t carry the guilt from one day to the next. Start with a clean slate and congratulate yourself whenever you accomplish something.
It helped me realise that I was becoming my own strict enforcer when I shamed myself for getting distracted by emails and for not adjusting quickly enough to my new normal of being suddenly apart from my friends and family.
It is normal for this emergency to take up your focus. Support yourself so you can support others. Pong told me that we can dedicate days to coming to terms with our situation, citing last Friday when she learned that her own speaking engagements were canceled.
“I just had to scrap that day. Granted, I have the privilege to do that. I don’t have to answer to an external boss,” she said. “Sometimes you’ve got to cut your losses. If I had just forged ahead, I probably would’ve turned out mediocre work for the next three days.”
If you do have a boss and are in need of a break, try advocating for a mental health day with your manager, so that you can return to the work with fresher eyes, Pong said.
You get to decide what’s an accomplishment worth celebrating right now.
It also helps to talk to others about your feelings, too. For people feeling pressured to be more creative or productive, Pong recommended seeking support from your friends. “I bet if they talked to other people in their circle, and if people were really honest, they would not be the only person experiencing this ... That alone can help this feeling of ‘Oh, what’s wrong with me,’” she said.
Advertisement
As for me, I have come to the freeing realisation that my best work under pandemic stress should not be centered around external achievements others may notice. I may be the only one who congratulates me for calling my family more and remembering to stretch. I have the privilege of a job I can do from home, and I am grateful for it, but I still need frequent rest from it. Good days for me are when I sleep a little more and worry a little less. Pandemic emergencies are not a good creative restraint for me.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-20--Shutting Pubs 'Over The Top' Despite Scientific Advice, Claims Wetherspoon's Boss

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has said it would be “over the top” to shut pubs in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic, despite scientific advice that people should stop going to them.
“There’s hardly been any transmission of the virus within pubs,” Martin claimed.
Boris Johnson has urged people to “avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” in order to try and slow the spread of the virus.
Advertisement
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s scientific adviser, yesterday said “the mixing in pubs and restaurants and so on that is part of allowing the disease to spread needs to stop”.
“It needs to stop among young people as well as older people,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, this morning urged people to “stay at home to stay lives”.
“How quickly we get through this will be determined by the actions of every single person in this country,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
But Martin told Sky News on Friday morning: “Our aim is pubs open for the duration. This could go on for along time. I think that once you shut them down it’s very difficult.
Advertisement
“Supermarkets are very, very crowded. Pubs are much less crowded. There’s hardly been any transmission of the virus within pubs and I think it’s over the top to shut them.”
He added: “That’s a commercial view but also a common sense view.”
The prime minister has so far resisted calls for the government to order pubs to close.
HENRY NICHOLLS via Getty Images
But he told his daily press conference yesterday that “nothing is ruled out”, suggesting tougher restrictions on movement could be introduced if people failed to comply with advice.
It comes as the chancellor is to unveil an emergency package aimed at protecting workers’ jobs and wages as they face hardship in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Rishi Sunak has been under pressure from Labour, unions and even senior Tory MPs to do more to help workers and the stalling economy weather the crisis.
Advertisement
Some 137 people in the UK have died after testing positive for the virus, including six in Scotland, two in Wales and one in Northern Ireland, according to the latest Department of Health and Social Care figures.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-20--Zoe Ball 'Reduced To Tears' As She Joins DJs Around Europe Playing Same Song As A Show Of Solidarity

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Zoe Ball had a tearful moment during Friday’s Radio 2 Breakfast show as she joined fellow DJs around Europe in playing the same song as a show of solidarity, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
At 7.45am, the presenter introduced Gerry And The Pacemakers’ version of You’ll Never Walk Alone, explaining that she was “joining in with something very special and beautiful that is happening all across Europe”.
Advertisement
“In an act of support and solidarity in the face of adversity and anxiety, loads and loads of breakfast shows are going to play exactly the same song at exactly the same time,” she told listeners.
“[I want] everyone to know that whatever they are going through right now, they are not alone.”
Zoe Ball Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Zoe joined fellow BBC presenters Mollie King and Matt Edmondson on Radio 1, while Lauren Laverne also played the same song on BBC Radio 6 Music.
“I’ve got tears in my eyes, I don’t know about you,” Zoe told listeners when the song was over. “I think it’s the solidarity... It’s reduced us all to tears.
Advertisement
“From something that can be quite scary and worrying for all of us on so many different levels … We are all in it together and we will look after each and that’s something beautiful.”
At times like this, it’s important we look out for each other.
Listen on Friday morning at 7.45 on @bbcsounds as we join forces with radio stations across Europe to play Gerry and the Pacemakers’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.@zoetheball | @gregjames | @laurenlaverne pic.twitter.com/gYaMpvZ3pn — BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) March 19, 2020
Hundreds of radio DJs from around Europe joined in by playing You’ll Never Walk Alone at the same time, an idea of Sander Hoogendoorn, who hosts a show on the Dutch station 3FM.
“This crisis shows that it brings people together,” Sander previously said. “We all have to put our shoulders to the wheel to get out of this.”
Listen to You’ll Never Walk Alone below:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-20--Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus - 20 March
The death toll in Italy from Covid-19 has risen to more than any other county at this point, while the county remains in lockdown. California residents are being advised to do the same by their governor. Concerns rise in India, with nearly two hundred confirmed cases and at least four recorded deaths. Twitter has vowed to try its best to quash fake news on their platform about coronavirus, the Bank Of England has cut interest rates for a second time and NASA is preparing to send three astronauts into space for six months.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-20--What To Do If You Live With Someone Who May Have Coronavirus

LOADING ERROR LOADING
If you live with someone, your immediate concerns about coronavirus double: You worry that you may get the virus, but you also worry about your partner, kids or roommate. What should you do if they’re exhibiting signs of Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus?
For starters, if they’re exhibiting mild symptoms, prepare to weather the virus out at home with them. Due to testing shortages, people experiencing mild symptoms don’t usually qualify for testing unless they’ve been in contact with confirmed coronavirus patients or have visited high-risk areas.
Advertisement
The Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people who get mildly sick with Covid-19 should recover at home. (Mild symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, aches, chills, fatigue, runny nose and diarrhoea. If they’re experiencing severe symptoms ― shortness of breath, chest pain and pneumonia ― call 911 to get immediate medical care.)
How do you look after your loved one or roommate while ensuring that you stay as healthy as possible? Below, doctors share the advice they’re giving patients.
Your goal is to distance as much as possible.
First, don’t freak out. Taking care of a partner with Covid-19 can be done at home if they have mild symptoms, which will be most cases, said Sachin Nagrani, a physician and the East Coast Medical Director for Heal, a telemedicine provider of doctor house calls.
“If someone in your household is diagnosed and has mild symptoms, the goal is self-isolation for the sick person until she or he recovers, to limit the spread of the infection,“ he said.
Advertisement
Maskot via Getty Images Be sure to sleep in separate bedrooms.
Sleep in separate bedrooms. (And use different bathrooms, if possible.)
The CDC recommends having the sick person stay in one room, away from any other people in the house as much as possible. That means sleeping in separate rooms and using separate bathrooms, if possible.
“Limit the number of places the sick person goes to and separate them from other family members,” Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told HuffPost. “If a separate room isn’t possible, try a separate bed.”
When you do have to come into contact with them, practise good hygiene.
Your on-the-mend family member will need to take their meals in their own room. That means the person who is primarily caring for them will need to bring food in. If that person is you, wear a mask when you’re around the sick person and keep six feet away from them, the CDC advises.
“After they’ve ate, use extreme care cleaning the dishes,” said Marcus Plescia, the chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, a nonprofit organisation that represents public health agencies across the country.
Advertisement
“The dishes should be washed in hot soap and water then rinsed in a bleach solution,” he said. “Or washed in the disinfect cycle of dishwasher, if you have that.”
Whenever you come into contact with the sick person, wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, the CDC says. If soap and water aren’t on hand, use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.
And it should go without saying, but avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible right now.
Moyo Studio via Getty Images Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
Provide symptom treatment.
Make sure the sick person drinks a lot of fluids, whether it’s water or electrolyte-filled drinks.
“With a fever, you want to make sure you don’t get dehydration, and simple hydration will consistently prevent that side effect while you’re sick,” Jake Deutsch, a physician and founder of Cure Urgent Care told HuffPost recently.
Advertisement
Over-the-counter medicines help reduce minor coronavirus symptoms.
“Have paracetamol on hand to bring down your fever,” Deutsch said, adding that supplements like vitamin C and zinc are great immune system boosters, too. For most people, symptoms last a few days and get better after a week, according to the CDC. Talk to your health care provider about how long the person will need to stay isolated in their room, but Benjamin said it’s usually around 14 days.
Keep the house sanitised.
Keep high-touch surfaces ― tabletops, counters, doorknobs ― as clean as possible. The CDC says to use household cleaning sprays or wipes as you normally would.
Get extra vigilant about laundry, too. If laundry is soiled, the CDC says to wear disposable gloves and keep the dirty items away from your body while doing the laundry. Once you remove the gloves, wash your hands right away.
Don’t let the sick person feel isolated.
There are still ways to make your sick loved one feel like part of the household, even if they can’t leave their room.
“While a family member is physically isolated, video call them from the living room to interact with the family and keep their spirits up,” Nagrani said. “That’s something that is officially encouraged by this doctor.”
Advertisement
Westend61 via Getty Images Make use of Facetime while your family member is in self-isolation.
Monitor the person for worsening symptoms.
If the sick person you’re living with seems to be getting worse, call your healthcare provider for advice.
“One should always monitor for symptoms that require you or a family member to see a physician,” Benjamin said. “Those symptoms include persistent fever, shortness of breath and chest pain.”
Manage your own anxiety.
Caring for someone who’s sick is stressful in any situation. When they may have contract coronavirus, it’s even more stressful. If you start to feel anxious about everything going on around you, it helps to identity what you’re worried about: Are you anxious about what’s going to happen to your loved one’s health? Your own health? Are you worried about the potential for more spread? Are you anxious about the potential economic impact that all of this might have on your family?
Your concerns may be weighty, but you’re probably less powerless than you think. Once you’ve identified some of your worries, you often find there are things you can do alleviate the situation, said Lynn Bufka, the associate executive director for practice research and policy at the American Psychological Association.
Advertisement
“We can identify things that we can actually do that would be helpful in this situation and then we can let go of some of the anxiety and really focus on the person that we care about who needs us, because they’re probably feeling kind of scared and anxious too,” Bufka said.
Once you’ve addressed your worries as much as you can, you can get back to being more present for your sick family member, Bufka said.