thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Trump Storms Out Of Press Conference – And Four Other Things You Need To Know

US president Donald Trump abruptly cut short his coronavirus press briefing on Monday after getting visibly angry with two female reporters.
As the country’s death toll reached 80,000, the president refused to answer questions from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and reporter Weijia Jiang, before walking off stage.
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In the UK, chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce an extension to the furlough scheme under which the government subsidises the wages of workers temporarily laid off.
According to figures released on Monday, 32,065 people have now died in the UK – an increase of 210 on the previous 24 hours.
Here’s what you need to know today:
Trump’s briefing anger
In the final moments of his daily White House news conference, Trump took a question from Jiang, who asked him why he so often claimed the US was “doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing” and framed it as a “global competition” when so many Americans are still dying, she said.
“Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in the world. And maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” Trump told Jiang, who is of Asian descent and was born in China.
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“Don’t ask me. Ask China that question, OK? When you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer.”
Trump then called on Collins, who paused to let Jiang ask a follow-up question: “Why are you saying that to me specifically?”
Trump fired back at Jiang that she was asking a “nasty question”.
Then, seemingly punishing Collins for yielding time to Jiang, Trump refused to let Collins get her question in and called on someone else.
“Next, please,” Trump said, speaking over Collins as she tried to ask him her question.
But before actually moving on to the next reporter, Trump abruptly ended the briefing and walked off stage. This is the latest in a string of tense moments between Trump and the reporters who ask him questions at his coronavirus briefings. He has notably often directed his anger at the female reporters in the room, especially those who are women of colour.
Furlough extension
At least 6.3 million people are currently having up to 80% of their salaries paid by the taxpayer under the government’s furlough system, at a cost of some £8bn.
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Sunak previously said he was preparing to “wean” workers and businesses off the programme – which currently runs until the end of June – but calls have been made for it to be prolonged.
It has been reported the programme will continue to September, although the rate of support will be cut from a maximum of 80% of salary to 60%.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak BEN STANSALL via Getty Images
Meanwhile, ministers are to set out guidance on how people can travel safely on public transport as the coronavirus lockdown begins to ease.
The death toll from coronavirus in the UK stood at more than 32,000 as the prime minister said he wants those who cannot work from home to start returning to their workplaces from Wednesday.
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Sunak last week warned the furlough scheme was not “sustainable” at its current rate although he promised there would be no “cliff edge” cut-off.
Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think tank and an early advocate of the scheme, said it should be phased out gradually.
“Moving too quickly could spark a huge second surge in job losses at a time when unemployment already looks set to be at the highest level for a quarter of a century,” he said.
Westminster Abbey turns NHS blue
Westminster Abbey was bathed in NHS blue light on Tuesday to mark the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale.
Usually packed with nurses for an annual service to honour the founder of the modern profession, this year the abbey asked senior clinical research nurse Arlene Lee to mark the day solo, holding the iconic Nightingale lamp.
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Lee works at University Hospital, Southampton, with the National Institute of Health Research (Clinical Research Network) supporting patients through clinical trials. All the unit’s research is currently focused on COVID-19.
She is also a Nightingale scholar and this week should have been at Harvard University as part of a programme, funded by the Florence Nightingale Foundation, studying leadership and management skills.
She visited the abbey’s Nurses’ Memorial Chapel in the north ambulatory, where the Nightingale lamp is kept, and said it was “a very special moment”.
NHS lead research nurse Arlene Lee with the Nightingale lamp. Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Eastern Europeans fear Covid-19 impact
The UK’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic was “too little, too late”, experts from the eastern European community have warned, and could make the country a less attractive prospect for skilled workers.
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The twin economic impacts of lockdown and Brexit have plunged future plans into uncertainty across the whole of society, but particularly among those from eastern Europe who want to build their lives in the UK.
“One of the main fears now is what they will be coming back to, what state things will be in,” Barbara Drozdowicz, chief executive of the East European Resource Centre, told HuffPost UK.
“There’s an impact on continuation of residency for immigration purposes for a lot of people, who may end up being out of the UK for more than six months purely because of government lockdown guidance.
“In terms of the future, it’s difficult to say if the UK will still be an attractive prospect to people. Obviously you have the double whammy of Brexit, but the economic impact of Covid is going to be a Europe-wide issue, not a national one.”
Stonehenge solstice cancelled
The summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge have reportedly been cancelled.
Thousands of people routinely observe the rising of the sun at the neolithic Wiltshire monument on the longest day of the year.
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But restrictions on public gatherings mean the traditional event cannot take place, and English Heritage will be streaming the sunrise online.
The site has been closed since March following the coronavirus pandemic.
Revellers marked the winter solstice at Stonehenge in December. Rufus Cox via Getty Images
Stonehenge director Nichola Tasker was quoted in the Salisbury Journal saying: “Given the sheer number of major events worldwide which have already been cancelled across the summer, from Glastonbury to the Olympics to Oktoberfest, I doubt this will come as a huge surprise, but we know how much summer solstice at Stonehenge means to so many people.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Rachel Riley Calls Out Eamonn Holmes’ ‘Ridiculous’ And ‘Dangerous’ Comments About 5G And Coronavirus

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Rachel Riley has spoken out against Eamonn Holmes following the This Morning presenter’s recent comments about the debunked theory that 5G is a potential cause of the coronavirus outbreak.
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Rachel Riley and Eamonn Holmes Rex
Countdown star Rachel told Radio Times that she had previously fallen out with Eamonn when he invited conspiracy theorist David Icke on his radio show.
She told the magazine: “I’ve also been working on some anti-misinformation campaigns for Stop Funding Fake News.
“There are a lot of people trying to make money by spreading lies about coronavirus, whether it’s quack remedies or stupid conspiracy theories about 5G. It’s dangerous, especially when these things get repeated on shows that you’re expected to trust.
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“I’ve fallen out with Eamonn Holmes before, when he had David Icke on his radio show, but you don’t expect to see ridiculous theories about 5G being repeated on This Morning.”
Rachel, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev, had just returned to Countdown filming when the pandemic stalled production.
Rachel with her husband Pasha Kovalev. David M. Benett via Getty Images
When host Victoria Coren Mitchell asked the panellists whether there was any truth to the theory, Ian insisted: “No, no. And one of the giveaways is that Eamonn Holmes said it might be.
“It’s always worth having those key indicators flashing and Eamonn Holmes is certainly one of them.”
Ian continued: “The other thing was, when he was questioned about it, he immediately said that this wasn’t being challenged by ‘state media’.
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“Now, as soon as someone talks about the British press as ‘state media’, you know they’ve been on the internet too long. It really is time for them to go out in the garden, have a bit of sunshine, and stop believing complete rubbish.
“And the idea that a 5G network can give you a virus is not merely an opinion, or an interesting conspiracy, it’s just bollocks.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Fauci Reportedly To Warn Senate Of ‘Needless Suffering And Death’ If US Reopens Too Soon

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Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, plans to warn lawmakers on Tuesday that the country could face “needless suffering and death” should the US economy reopen too soon, according to an email exchange with The New York Times.
“The major message that I wish to convey to the Senate [Health, Education, Labor and Pensions] committee tomorrow is the danger of trying to open the country prematurely,” Fauci wrote to the Times’ Sheryl Gay Stolberg on Monday evening. “If we skip over the checkpoints … then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country.”
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He added that reopening too soon “would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal” since the rise of the coronavirus pandemic.
Full Fauci email message to me: pic.twitter.com/yq8IAa9f8g — Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) May 12, 2020
Fauci will testify before lawmakers on the health committee for the first time since the pandemic was declared a national emergency in March. He will be joined by Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The comments to the Times are a stark departure from White House talking points that have been pushed by President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers. The president has cheered states that have gone forward with relaxing stay-at-home orders even if they haven’t met guidelines laid out in a three-phase plan released by the White House called “Opening Up America Again.”
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At the same time, infections around the nation have continued to surge. More than 1.3 million people have now tested positive for Covid-19 and more than 80,000 have died of the virus
Fauci has regularly urged caution as the nation has suffered the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic, warning of catastrophic consequences should the nation return to normal unless a bevvy of safety measures are adopted and the level of infections stabilises.
The doctor himself is in a “modified quarantine” after coming in contact with a White House staffer who was diagnosed with Covid-19.
The nation’s top medical officials have also warned that the coronavirus is not going to go away anytime soon, even though Trump has suggested it could disappear even without a vaccine.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--First Brexit, Now This: How UK’s Covid-19 Response Has Hit Eastern European Workers

The UK’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic was “too little, too late”, experts from the eastern European community have warned, and could make the country a less attractive prospect for skilled workers.
The twin economic impacts of lockdown and Brexit have plunged future plans into uncertainty across the whole of society, but particularly among those from eastern Europe who want to build their lives in the UK.
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“There was an element of disappointment in the British response,” Barbara Drozdowicz, chief executive of the East European Resource Centre, told HuffPost UK.
“The restrictions were introduced too late, they were too light-touch. In Poland people were under quarantine much earlier – from the week commencing March 16 – and I think if you had the option to return, many people would have done so.
“Police [in eastern Europe] were more concerned about fining people, getting them off the streets when they were not supposed to be out.
“But it is complicated, and it depends on how different people experienced the lockdown. I know some people who are older and not economically active returned to their homeland to weather the pandemic, but not necessarily because they had extra trust in the state to provide better support.
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“Where families are strewn across Europe, people wanted to be with their nearest and dearest.”
Arrivals at London Stansted Airport. Phil Clarke Hill via Getty Images
Drozdowicz’s organisation, based in Hammersmith, west London, offers advice and support to migrants from central and eastern Europe.
When restrictions are lifted and life begins to return to normal, she said she expects to deal with casework relating to discrimination against lower-paid migrant workers.
She added: “We have already heard about cases where people who are not key workers have been forced to work – things like cleaning, non-essential construction projects and house renovations.”
Drozdowicz said while economic support measures offered by the UK government are largely better than those in Poland, many Polish people “felt better about the prospect of surviving knowing the government is really strict, when compared to the lax approach applied by the UK”.
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But she added that those who had decided to return to their home countries were worried about the prospect of returning to Britain.
“One of the main fears now is what they will be coming back to, what state things will be in. There’s an impact on continuation of residency for immigration purposes for a lot of people, who may end up being out of the UK for more than six months purely because of government lockdown guidance.
“In terms of the future, it’s difficult to say if the UK will still be an attractive prospect to people. Obviously you have the double whammy of Brexit, but the economic impact of Covid is going to be a Europe-wide issue, not a national one.
“Its impact will be even bigger in Europe, because the government there has fewer assets to draw on.”
Bartlomiej Kowalczyk, director of Polish Business Link, which helps entrepreneurs set up in the UK, said there is “massive fear” among his membership base.
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“A lot of our members take goods from Poland, and the capacity of producers in Poland is getting squeezed because of the current situation,” he told HuffPost.
“We’re in a good position here, as the UK government is helping business. When it comes to small businesses and self-employed people, the Polish government help is not that generous.
“But the question is how the markets will be affected. If unemployment is as high as 10%, once things are open again, will new people want to come to the UK? Before this pandemic hit, the Polish economy was booming, compared with previous years.
“So the advice we are giving to our members at the moment is everyone’s advice – businesses need to look now at how they can create opportunities, focusing on transformation and logistics, as the way we work will have changed.”
A Home Office spokesperson said the government had extended its visa scheme for those unable to return to the UK due to Covid-19.
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“The extension...will apply to anyone whose leave expired after the 24 January and who cannot leave the country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation,” guidance states.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--How To Make Crumpets At Home – Plus Toppings That Beat Butter

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Many of us are experimenting with food in lockdown, whether it’s trying out new recipes with veg boxes, putting together weird combinations, or just baking a whole lot more.
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So here’s a new challenge to add to your list of things to do: making your own crumpets. Given everyone’s at home, Warburtons has unveiled the family recipe behind its famous crumpets, because apparently people have been searching how to make them.
And once you’ve tackled the main event, try experimenting with some different toppings, as suggested by a few chefs. Enjoy!
For the crumpets
You will need:
150g plain white flour
200ml water
½ tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp dried yeast
Method
How to make the crumpet batter:
Add flour, water and salt to a mixing bowl Mix vigorously with a whisk until your arm aches – at least five mins, they say – to create your crumpet batter Mix a few ml of water into to your dried yeast Add sugar, baking powder and yeast mixture to bowl and mix for another 30 seconds until you have a clear batter Cover mixing bowl and put into a warm place for 15 mins. Top tip: make sure your mixing bowl is bigger than you need as it will expand.
How to bake your crumpets:
Place a greased metal biscuit cutter – any shape cutter you have to hand will also do the trick – into the middle of a non-stick frying pan Pre-heat your frying pan on a hob on a medium-high heat setting Before you start, give your batter a stir to remove any large air bubbles Use a ladle to drop approx 60g batter into the cutter inside the pan Wait for about four minutes, then carefully lift the ring off the crumpet Remove baked crumpet from pan. If the top looks a bit gooey flip over in the pan for a few seconds. Let it cool Repeat the above to make as many as you can eat!
And what about the toppings?
You could go for the standard slathering of butter for a simple topping, or you could become a bit more creative. In lockdown, I’ve had banana and peanut butter; avocado, hummus, and scrambled egg; as well as bacon on crumpets. So why not try something new?
Dan Kenny, chef and owner of The Set restaurant in Brighton is a big fan of crumpets. “Try rarebit as a topping,” he says, “that’s always a winner – the addition of marmite or sriracha is ace. Or fried chicken and blue cheese sauce is also delicious.”
Rosie Mackean, chef and food stylist, suggests brown butter, egg and prosciutto. “For two crumpets, heat 80g of butter until it starts to froth. As soon as it turns a golden caramel brown, throw in six sage leaves and take off the heat. Crisp up four slices of prosciutto by laying flat on a lined baking tray and baking in the oven at 180 until crispy and fragrant. To serve, drizzle a bit of the sage butter on your warm crumpets, top with a poached egg if you like, shards of oven crisped prosciutto and dress with more of the sage brown butter.”
Another suggestion from Mackean is egg mayonnaise and asparagus. “For two crumpets, boil two medium eggs for 7.5 minutes, cool in iced water before peeling and chopping finely. Mix the eggs with 1 tbsp mayonnaise, 1/2 tsp of Dijon mustard, salt and fresh black pepper. Blanche four spears of asparagus until just tender and refresh in ice cold water. Slice on an angle and then mix with a squeeze of lemon juice, 1 tbsp good olive oil, 1 tsp finely chopped capers and a handful of finely chopped dill. Dress your warm crumpets with the egg mayonnaise and top with the asparagus vinaigrette and more fresh dill.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--These Skin Conditions Could Mean You're Carrying Coronavirus

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Hives, bumps, blotches and toe discolouration ― as doctors learn more about the coronavirus, reports are beginning to emerge that Covid-19-positive patients sometimes experience different kinds of rashes on their bodies. It turns out that “Covid toes” are indeed a thing, but they’re not the only skin symptom you may experience if you’re carrying the virus, and rashes may appear even after your infection has cleared.
James Bradley, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Northwell Health, has been working directly with hospitalised Covid-positive patients. He has seen a wide range of skin symptoms firsthand, usually in one area of the body.
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“We have seen almost a hive-like rash on the trunk, and I did see one 6-year-old who had it around the belly button and back areas,” he said. “It’s pinkish, raised and itchy. I’ve seen other patients that it’s more like an eruption of small red bumps, which we’ve seen mostly in patients who are admitted with more serious infections going on. It’s hard for us to know if this is a viral manifestation or an immune response.”
Harold Lancer, a board-certified dermatologist, said there are a variety of potential skin issues to look out for.
“Skin findings in patients with Covid-19 can be extraordinarily diverse,” he told HuffPost. “Hive-like rashes, itchy or not, are the most common. Blotchy, red, migrating spots have also been noted along with areas that look like inflamed eczema, seborrheic dermatitis or perioral dermatitis.”
Doctors think Covid toes — when there are red blotches on or even a hypothermia-like appearance of the toes — may be a result of the virus causing inflammation of blood vessels. Fingers and toes have the tiniest vessels, and are therefore more at risk.
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“A lot of the skin manifestations we see are representative of what’s going on internally with the organs, and fingers and toes relate to thrombosis and the damage to the inside of blood vessels,” Bradley said. “When you get blueish and reddish toes, it’s either thrombosis or damage to the vessels.”
Of course, Covid-19 is not the first virus to cause a rash — think chickenpox, measles, and hand, foot and mouth disease. But unlike these viral illnesses, not every person who is infected with Covid-19 will develop a telltale sign on their skin.
“There are papers coming out of Italy and China suggesting 2% to 20% have skin symptoms,” said Jessica Cataldi, a board-certified infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “It’s not the primary symptom for most people; the majority of people with Covid won’t have a rash.”
Reports in early May stated that children were experiencing rashes too, part of a new issue facing medical professionals: children seemingly developing Kawasaki disease, which causes inflammation in the blood vessels and a rash, during or after a Covid infection.
“In the skin, inflammation of the blood vessels can appear as excessive pink-red coloration all the way down to a paler, blanched look,” Lancer said of the Covid-related symptoms doctors have seen in children lately. “Nonetheless, it is a blood vessel inflammation and perhaps nerve inflammation. It is unknown if children are more likely to experience skin rashes than adults.”
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Although all of these observations require further research, doctors agree that a Covid-related rash could pop up on someone who isn’t having any other symptoms. Whether that means their body wasn’t very affected by the virus, or whether it means it has already passed through, depends on the individual.
Vershinin via Getty Images Doctors say COVID-related skin conditions may look like psoriasis or hives.
“There was a paper out of Spain published with over 300 patients, and in patients with lesions on the fingers or toes, less than half of them actually tested positive for Covid, whereas some of the other rashes I mentioned, a lot of those were testing positive,” Cataldi said. “What we’re wondering is for the toe findings, is that something that happens after the body has helped clear the virus and your body is responding? Especially with Covid toes, those seem to happen in people who may not have many other symptoms at all.”
“We have seen patients with just a rash and malaise who test positive for Covid. It could be one of the symptoms when you don’t have others,” Bradley explained.
If you see a rash or skin change developing that is unusual for you, Cataldi said it’s worth calling your doctor. A medical professional can advise on the best over-the-counter treatment or determine if you should make time to get tested for the coronavirus.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Mindy Kaling’s ‘Never Have I Ever’ Acknowledges The Grief I’ve Felt Since Losing My Dad

HuffPost UK Netflix
In 2014, my father passed away. It was a tragedy that shifted the trajectory of my life, who I am and my relationship with my Sri Lankan Tamil culture and heritage.
Trauma is often swept under the carpet in many migrant families, particularly when it comes to fleeing war and death. However, Mindy Kaling’s new coming of age Netflix show, ‘Never Have I Ever’, grapples loss and grief through a cultural lens in a relatable and authentic way.
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Starring Tamil-Canadian newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi Vishwakumar, the show also explores what it means to be a third culture kid, a term coined by US sociologist Ruth Hill Useem in the 1950s to describe children growing up in countries that are not their parents’ homeland.
From the get go, we observe Devi’s tug of war with the parental pressure of cultural preservation and her innate desire for a teenage experience resembling mainstream narratives, popularised by American culture.
Supplied/Vyshnavee Wijekumar Vyshnavee Wijekumar now (L) and with her dad (R)
From feeling self-conscious and exoticised when wearing traditional clothing in public spaces, to rebelling against my parents’ perceived tyrannical rule, Kaling’s loosely biographical series feels uncannily accurate to my own life – most likely because it originates from a place of authenticity.
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The opening sequence of the first episode reminds me of my teenage years. We see Devi seated opposite her geometry book, which is firmly positioned on a shrine filled with pictures of Hindu deities. She asks for an invitation to a cool high school party, her arm hair to thin out, and of course, a boyfriend. This is a familiar pre-exam ritual for many Tamil Hindus, and like a lot of Tamil teenagers growing up as part of a diaspora (including myself back in the day), instead of praying for good marks, you’re asking the supreme beings for unrivalled popularity and an attractive paramour.
However, where the series truly triumphs and touched me the most is when Devi comes to terms with her father’s passing.
Like I said before, trauma isn’t always acknowledged in migrant families. Often the mantra is just to, in the words of American musician Curtis Mayfield, ‘Keep on keeping on’. To see Devi trying to address her grief with her psychologist (played with sass by Niecy Nash) – something I’ve only started to do as an adult – is subversive in a good way. Only last week, my psychologist helped me realise I was carrying the mantle of my father’s legacy – particularly when it comes to upholding Tamil traditions – to keep his essence alive, an adaptive behaviour synonymous with losing someone close. It’s been six years since he passed.
The penultimate scene in the finale where Devi’s family gathers at the beach to scatter her father’s ashes really struck a chord with me. Instead of the Malibu coastline in the arvo, my uncles, sister and I drove to Manly Beach in NSW at the crack of dawn to scatter Appa’s ashes, dressed in full traditional garb. Rather than John McEnroe in a wetsuit, we were greeted by a couple of Aussie surfers with bewildered ‘brown people be cray’ expressions on their faces. As the waves lapped against the rolled-up pants of my churidar, I tried to come to terms with how someone so present was now emulsified ash, pouring steadily and dissolving rapidly into the shoreline, and rolling slowly out to sea.
When U2’s Beautiful Day soared as the backing track to this poignant moment in the series, I choked up uncontrollably while tears slid down my cheeks. The residual anger, sadness and regret came flooding back from my own painful, yet poetic goodbye. Though I love Kaling’s use of youthful humour, it’s how she depicts grief that makes this series so special.
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‘Never Have I Ever’ excels in its depiction of a quintessentially Tamil, albeit Hindu, diaspora upbringing. While Sendhil Ramamurthy’s (who endearingly portrays Devi’s #hotdad) mispronunciation of thakkali (the Tamil word for tomato) has birthed a thousand viral memes in the ‘Subtle Curry Traits’ and ‘Subtle Tamil Traits’ Facebook groups (look it up, it’s a whole thing); on the whole Mindy Kaling’s signature wit and characterisations create balance between laughs and tears . It’s relatable to anyone who has experienced adolescent awkwardness or dealt with grief.
I hope there’s a season two – might pray to Ganesha on that one.
This article first appeared on HuffPost Australia


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--50 Small Pleasures We've Rediscovered During Lockdown

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus lockdown. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
The UK lockdown has been difficult, to say the least, as we’ve adapted to a new way of living. But amid the challenges, we’ve also discovered – or rediscovered – underrated joys that were right in front of us all along. Old hobbies have been resumed, communities have been restored.
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This period of slowing down has given us space to be introspective, or simply kick back and smell the coffee. Without the usual noise of everyday life, we’ve learned to appreciate the little things in a big way.
Sure, there are plenty of things we can’t wait to do when life returns to normal, but to mark 50 days of lockdown, here are 50 simple pleasures we’ve enjoyed during this period.
You might not relate to all of them, but we’re sure some will have you smiling in agreement.
1. Chatting to your neighbours over the fence.
2. Sitting next to a window with the sun on your face.
3. Curling up in bed for an early night.
4. Fresh flowers and their delicious scent.
5. Discovering new places on your daily walk.
6. Hearing the birds wake up each morning.
7. Painting your nails, without rushed smudges.
8. Making the perfect cup of tea, about five times a day.
SolStock via Getty Images
9. Watering plants each evening and watching them thrive.
10. Writing a letter to a friend, for the first time ever.
11. Receiving a letter back and storing it like treasure.
12. Having a bath that’s the perfect temperature.
13. Enjoying an extra hour in bed each morning.
14. Brewing a proper coffee, before you start your day.
15. Asking “how are you feeling?” and really listening to the answer.
16. Realising family are always just a phone call away.
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
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17. Buttered crumpets, with extra butter.
18. Jacket potatoes.
19. Biscuit breaks – lots of them.
20. Elasticated waistbands.
22. Getting lost in a good book.
23. Yoga with Adriene.
24. Listening to the rain tapping on the window.
25. Proper, comfy socks that aren’t designed for trainers.
26. Jigsaws, who would have thought it?
27. Appreciating takeaways like never before.
28. Dancing around the living room.
29. Spraying perfume, just for you.
30. Bingeing boxsets with zero guilt.
30. Board games, long forgotten in the cupboard.
31. Comfy slippers, preferably paired with leggings.
32. Cooking a meal and enjoying the process.
34. A Tesco click and collect slot.
35. Baking treats, even if they go wrong.
36. Running to the door when the post comes.
37. Saying hi to the bin man.
38. Chatting to supermarket workers.
39. Turning up the radio on your favourite song.
40. Spending quality time with the kids.
Biz Jones via Getty Images
41. Sewing on a button you’ve put off for ages.
42. Drawing, colouring or getting crafty.
43. Playing with pets during the working day.
44. Getting lost in a video game.
45. The luxury of freshly cleaned sheets.
46. Veg boxes from a local farm.
47. Enjoying the sounds and colours of nature.
48. Running, jogging or even just walking.
49. Getting an answer right on the quiz.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--How To Make Your Own No-Sew Face Cover In 40 Seconds

Face coverings are part of our everyday lives now – and we will rarely leave the house without one.
A face covering isn’t the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of PPE by healthcare workers, but rather something that covers your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably.
If we wear face covers, the risk of Covid-19 transmission should be reduced. So, how can you make one?
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It doesn’t matter what tutorial you use to make your face covering, as long as the end result is something that covers both your mouth and nose, fits closely to your face, and allows you to breathe properly.
Here are a few methods you could try.
How to make a no-sew face cover in 40 seconds
This YouTube tutorial is really easy and takes just 40 seconds to do. Plus, it doesn’t require any sewing skills – phew!
You will need:
Two elastic bands (or hair bobbles)
A handkerchief, bandana or similar sized piece of material cut into a square.
Method:
1. Fold the material in half, and then fold in half again.
2. Position the elastic bands about a face width apart on the material.
3. Fold each end of the material over and tuck the flaps into one another (watch the video from 20 seconds to see how it’s done).
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4. Carefully put the mask on, popping the elastic bands around your ears and ensuring your nose and mouth are covered.
5. For extra protection, scientists advise adding a sheet of disposable paper towel between the mask layers each time that you wear it to act as a makeshift filter.
This guidance was originally shared on the #Masks4All website, from a group of scientists and researchers.
How to make a face covering from a T-shirt
You will need:
A T-shirt (ideally size small or extra small)
Scissors
Method:
1. Cut a straight line across the width of the T-shirt, front and back, approx 20cm from the bottom of the T-shirt. You can go to the government’s website for illustrations to help you make this covering.
2. From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of the fabric that is parallel to the top of the rectangle.
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3. Cut down towards the bottom of the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to the bottom of the fabric to make a rectangle that can be discarded.
4. To make the ties that go around your ears, cut open the edge of the two long strips of fabric. Unfold the main piece of fabric and place over the mouth and the nose. The four strips will hold the cloth face covering in place and should be tied behind the head and around the neck.
This guidance is from the gov.uk website.
frimages via Getty Images
How to make a sewn face covering
You will need:
Two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric
Two 20cm pieces of elastic (or string or cloth strips)
Needle and thread
Scissors
Method:
1. Cut out two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric. Stack the two squares on top of each other.
2. Fold over one side by 3/4 cm and hem, then repeat on the opposite side. Make two channels by folding the double layer of fabric over 1.5cm along each side and stitching this down.
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3. Run a 20cm length of elastic (or string or cloth strip) through the wider hem on each side of the face covering. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle to thread it through. Tie the ends tightly. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the covering behind your head.
4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the covering on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping. These elastic loops fit over the ears.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--I’m A BAME Nurse, But This Is Why I’m Dreading Going 'Back To Normal’ After Coronavirus

Getty Editorial HuffPost UK
In the next few weeks you’ll be hearing a lot about “recovery” and things “getting back to normal”.
It’s no wonder people are craving some semblance of their past life – for the vast majority of us, this lockdown is incredibly difficult. But though I too long to see my friends or to sit in a cafe with my book, I can’t stand the idea of going back to where we were. As a nurse, and as someone whose community has been disproportionately affected by this pandemic, such a proposition is intolerable.
Let’s start with my job. You’ve probably heard more from nurses in the last few months than ever before as journalists have flocked to us, asking for our perspective on the pandemic, and our views on the government’s abysmal failure to protect us with the right gear. And there’s no doubt about it - it’s been a dire time for nurses. It’s hard to put into words what it felt like to go into work as the virus really began to take hold - and doing so knowing that nurses across the country weren’t getting the safety kit we needed. But for all of the rightful discussion about the scarcity of personal protective equipment, there’s been very little said about something else we’re being denied: decent pay.
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We might be hailed as heroes, but we’re not paid like them. Average annual earnings among registered nurses grew by just 8.1% between 2010 and 2018, compared to cumulative RPI inflation of 28.3%.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that nursing, especially for black, Asian and ethnic minorities has become a job of two extremes: extreme low pay and extreme risk to life and limb.”
Behind those numbers, and in the long shadow of a programme of austerity, is the stark reality of nurses turning to foodbanks to feed their families – and community groups leaving parcels of food on nurses doors during this crisis to ensure they don’t go hungry. There have been minor adjustments to nurses pay in the last few years from the so-called ‘new deal’, but despite some small improvements for some, it still meant a real terms pay cut for many over the last decade.
Nurses from a BAME background have suffered the worst, in part because despite making up 20% of the workforce we only make up 7% of senior management. The last few weeks have seen injury added to this wage insult – with a shocking 70% of the nurses who have died from Covid-19 being from a BAME background. It’s no exaggeration to say that nursing, especially for black, Asian and ethnic minorities has become a job of two extremes: extreme low pay and extreme risk to life and limb. For me this isn’t just just some abstract risk - it’s a real fear that i’ll be the next BAME person to get sick or even lose their life, and all while knowing that i’m doing this without what most people would consider to be a fair wage for my work.
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It doesn’t have to be like this. In recent years our NHS has been propped up on the shaky foundations of low pay and privatisation, but that can be stopped. The Government could announce a 10% pay rise for nurses now to make up some of the money we’ve lost in recent years, giving us money in our pockets and not just an enamel badge to recognise our contribution. The public agree with us on this, with 77% backing a 10% pay rise for nurses in new polling out today.
“We cannot have nurses on the breadline, and I shouldn’t be put at more risk because of the colour of my skin.”
Moving forwards we need a real new deal for nurses that recognises our work isn’t just something to be clapped during a crisis, but is actually the most pressing form of low-carbon job we need. It might sound abstract, but if our ageing society is to both look after itself and the planet we live on, then more of us need to be doing work which uses few resources and provides care for our communities. Nursing fits that bill perfectly.
And while a real new deal for all nurses is desperately needed, we also need to get real about the fact that not all nurses are treated equally. That’s why I want to see an inquiry into the effects of this virus on BAME healthcare staff and serious action taken to redress the stark racial inequality we see both in nursing and society as a whole.
I love being a nurse, and I wouldn’t swap my job for any other, but it just can’t go on like this after the pandemic. We cannot have nurses on the breadline, and I shouldn’t be put at more risk because of the colour of my skin. The government has many important decisions to make in the coming weeks – I just hope that they don’t let this time go by without taking that action needed to show that the clapping for the NHS, and the Prime Minister’s tribute to nurses like me, aren’t just the empty gestures they feel like right now.
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Saharla Musa is an NHS nurse working in central London


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Covid-19 ‘Excess Deaths’: The One Global Race Britain Doesn’t Want To Win

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A month ago, Rishi Sunak declared at a No.10 press conference: “I can’t stand here and say I can save every single job”. A week ago, there were reports that he was looking at slashing the state subsidy in his furlough scheme from 80% of wages to 60%.
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Today, the chancellor’s tone was markedly softer as he told the BBC “it breaks my heart” to see the rising jobless numbers indicated in Universal Credit claims. Gone too was any specific 60% number, replaced by a vague indication that employers would be expected to contribute to part of the subsidy.
Sunak could have been expected to lead the Downing Street press conference tonight, given the good news he had to tell about extending his furlough plan to November, and to include part-time workers returning gradually back to the labour market.
But it won’t be until the end of this month before we see exactly what he has planned in the extended scheme. So, perhaps learning the lesson of the PM’s Sunday night experience of jumping the gun before a detailed plan was ready, the chancellor stayed away.
There is also more than a strong suspicion that the Treasury was spooked by the feedback from employers who suggested they would have to sack many furloughed staff if asked to stump up significant cash to keep them at home. As I pointed out last night, the spectre of mass redundancies in the wake of the Covid crisis is what keeps many Tory MPs awake at night. Today, Sunak told Laura Kuenssberg a recession “is already happening”.
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When even the fiscally hawkish Mervyn King (and a Brexiteer to boot) says cutting the 80% subsidy would be wrong, and indeed that the scheme should only be cut back once the economy recovers, you know something is up.
Instead of Sunak, we got business secretary Alok Sharma at the No.10 press conference, doing his usual act of treading political water as tricky questions were lobbed his way. Sharma - with some justification - hailed the Treasury’s job retention scheme as one of the best in the world. That’s despite the attempts by some Tory MPs to suggest that being furloughed on modest wages is like some massive “featherbedded” (copyright, Iain Duncan Smith) holiday for the workshy.
Yet while Sharma likes international comparisons on wage subsidy, the government clearly no longer likes the idea when it comes to Covid death rates. The daily ‘all settings’ mortality chart, that has for weeks compared the UK to the US, Europe and Asian countries, has itself died a death. No.10 confirmed the shift, saying “it is not possible to make like-for-like comparisons”.
In last week’s PMQs, Keir Starmer had the perfect answer when the PM cited a line from Cambridge statistician David Spiegelhalter about the problems with league tables: he waved around the government’s own charts. Tomorrow, Starmer will probably quote Spiegelhalter himself since he said it’s “important to note that we [are] way above in terms of their mortality above a group like Germany, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, Norway”.
It would be surprising if the Labour leader didn’t also raise today’s newest, grimmest statistics. The latest ONS study suggested that all-cause mortality (Chris Whitty’s favoured measurement) in the UK now stood at just over 50,000 (the FT’s Chris Giles thinks the number could rise to 60,000). And once again, it seems that deaths in care homes in England has driven that awful number.
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Nick Stripe, head of life events at the ONS, told the BBC that today’s figures were “the seventh highest weekly total since this data set started in 1993...we have had four out of the top seven weeks in the last four weeks”. ‘Excess deaths’, as they are known, normally spike due to winter flu but this is extraordinary data. The issues of early discharges of the elderly from hospitals into care homes, and a lack of testing, just won’t go away.
Total mortality across the UK during the pandemic is a staggering 50,979. One former cabinet minister put it to me thus: “Everyone says how popular the PM still is with the public, but remember the Iraq War was popular too at first. The difference is Blair had his Chilcot inquiry years after he left office. We’re going to get our Covid inquiry much sooner.”
There are some stats around for all-cause deaths for other European countries, and the UK does indeed look among the worst (we are more than 61% higher than usual, Spain is 60% higher).
And while some believe that the clearest picture will only emerge later in the year, we could get a much earlier assessment. Although Italy has so far only published its total registered deaths for March, it should have its April figures pretty soon. That comparison is unlikely to make it to a No.10 briefing chart. But it will be hard to ignore.
Quote Of The Day
“Many of them have clearly been watching too many episodes of West Wing.”
Tory veteran Peter Bone blames No.10 advisers for the PM’s Covid comms errors
Tuesday Cheat Sheet
Matt Hancock told ITV’s This Morning that it is “unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer”.
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Housing secretary Robert Jenrick unveiled new plans to restart the housing market with safer viewings.
Headteachers union NAHT warned that it may be ‘impossible’ for schools in England to start admitting more pupils from June 1, amid safety fears.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps published new guidance urging the public to travel by foot, cycle or car in order to avoid using public transport.
Manchester and Liverpool metro mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram wrote to the PM to say it is “too early” to change the Stay Home lockdown slogan, and demanded regional publication of their own R-number for the virus.
Jacob Rees-Mogg said he was unlikely to renew standing orders allowing hybrid parliamentary proceedings, when they are due on May 20.
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Why The Car Is Staging A Comeback - Bloomberg
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Property Viewings Allowed As Government Reopens Housing Market In England

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The government is to allow property viewings and visits to estate agents as it attempts to restart the housing market as lockdown measures are eased.
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Under regulations coming into force in England from Wednesday, activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property will be seen as a reasonable excuse to leave home.
The housing market has nearly ground to a halt in recent weeks, with around £82 billion of transactions on hold.
According to property website Zoopla, around 373,000 property transactions across the UK have been put on hold due to lockdown measures.
Under previous rules to help limit the spread of Covid-19, moving house where it was reasonably necessary was already deemed a valid excuse for people to be away from home.
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But under amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) regulations in England, a reasonable excuse will now be expanded to include undertaking several activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property.
They include:
– Visiting estate or letting agents, developer sales offices or show homes
– Viewing residential properties to look for a property to buy or rent
– Preparing a residential property to move in
– Moving home
– Visiting a residential property to undertake any activities required for the rental or sale of that property
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said the government’s plan “will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process from viewings to removals”.
“Our step-by-step plan is based on the latest guidance to ensure the safety and protection of everyone involved.
“This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so.”
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House hunters have been able to do “virtual viewings” online in recent weeks, but many may have been holding back from putting offers in until they could physically view a property.
Some lenders also recently withdrew low-deposit mortgages from the market amid difficulties in valuing homes during the lockdown, although some new deals have come on to the market since.
Recent research by Savills found that, while prospective buyers at the top end of the market have become less committed to moving in the near term, the experience of Covid-19 has made them more determined to move within the next couple of years.
In a joint statement, David Cox, chief executive of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) Propertymark and Mark Hayward, chief executive of NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) Propertymark, said: “It’s great news for consumers and the industry that the housing market is being opened up and people can let, rent, buy and sell properties again.
“The new regulations provide clarity to agents and will allow them to deal with pent-up demand from consumers.
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“It’s also a step to reinvigorating the housing market and will be a boost to the economy. Safety of course will be paramount, and we would encourage everyone to ensure that they follow Government guidelines closely to protect others and themselves.”
Ana Bajri, associate director of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), said: “Rics has been working closely with Government and industry to get the market up and running while ensuring everyone who is involved in it is safe and secure, so this is a welcome announcement.
“We have contributed to current Government advice, and over the coming days we will publish further practical guidance to support Rics professionals who play a critical role in the housing sector, specifically on physical inspections for mortgage valuations and home surveys.”
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “Over the past week or so many house builders have commenced a gradual return to work, in a structured way that ensures the safety of its workforce and the general public.
“The industry sustains hundreds of thousands of people in numerous roles and associated sectors, boosting local economies across the country. A resumption of work will play a major part in helping the economy recover as well as delivering the homes the country needs.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Chart Comparing Global Covid Deaths Dropped From Daily No. 10 Briefing

The most recent 'global death comparison' chart published on the government's official website. UK Government
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Downing Street has stopped publishing graphs which compare the UK coronavirus death toll to the total in other countries.
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The grim slides in recent weeks have repeatedly underlined that the country has the largest number of deaths in Europe. Government advisers usually discuss the graphic at the daily televised press conference.
The graphs have been dropped, a government spokesperson told HuffPost UK, because Number 10 wanted to vary the “content and format” of data and that it was “difficult to compare statistics across countries”.
The most up-to-date figures on Tuesday showed that 32,692 people in the UK have lost their lives to the disease, after deaths in hospitals, care homes and the community were included.
For Italy, Spain, France and Germany, the national figure stands at 30,911, 26,920, 26,643 and 7,667 respectively. America, meanwhile, has recorded a total of 81,779 deaths.
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Charts making clear the difference to the public were compiled and published by Downing Street on a daily basis, but they last appeared on Saturday.
A government spokesperson said: “Since introducing slides, we have varied the content and format.
“As we made clear in the slides, it’s difficult to compare statistics across countries. Countries report deaths in different ways so it is not possible to make like-for-like comparisons.
“Numerous experts have said that reliable international comparisons won’t be possible until further along in the pandemic.”
Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street. PA
The decision follows a torrent of criticism over prime minister Boris Johnson’s response to Covid-19 - but some say international comparisons are unfair.
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Labour leader Keir Starmer and other opposition MPs have been piling pressure on the government over its record on coronavirus deaths.
Taking the PM to task last week, Starmer said: “The argument that international comparisons cannot be made, when the government have for weeks been using slides such as the one I am holding to make international comparisons, really does not hold water.”
Lib Dem acting leader Ed Davey told HuffPost UK: “The government has rightly committed to transparency through the coronavirus crisis and the daily press conferences have become very positive and an important tool for informing the public.
“So it is concerning that the government seem to be moving away from international comparisons in the data they show.
“Whilst international comparisons can be difficult to analyse, they provide an important benchmark on where the country is in the fight against the virus.”
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Statistician and Cambridge University professor David Spiegelhalter, meanwhile, said on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that while it was “completely fatuous to do a sort of Eurovision between who’s the worst in Europe” when age distribution and other factors varied between countries, international comparisons have value.
He said “when you see really massive differences between countries then it is really worth trying to investigate why”, adding it was “important to note that we [are] way above in terms of their mortality above a group like Germany, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, Norway who have low fatality rates.”
But health chiefs have said the public should focus on the total excess deaths rate closer to the end of the pandemic.
Ian Diamond, UK national statistician for the ONS, said earlier this month: “Making international comparisons is an unbelievably difficult thing to do.”
Yvonne Doyle, director of health protection at Public Health England, has also previously said “countries measure in very different ways”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Government Still Missing 100,000 Tests Target 12 Days After It Was 'Hit'

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The government has once again failed to hit its daily target for 100,000 Covid-19 tests – despite Boris Johnson aiming to double the figure.
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According to the latest Department of Health and Social Care figures, 85,293 tests were carried out or posted to people in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Tuesday.
The government had said it wanted be testing 100,000 people a day for coronavirus by the end of April, and met the target amid claims health secretary Matt Hancock had manipulated the figures.
Since then, the total has repeatedly slipped below 100,000 a day.
Ministers treat their failure to meet the testing target as a PR exercise. Or worse, with false claims of how they 'smashed' their target.
This is a disgrace. Another 627 deaths recorded today. With far fewer than 100,000 tests.
This is a matter of life & death. They failed pic.twitter.com/1lXnVG0qIX — Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) May 12, 2020
After hitting 100,000 for the first time, the prime minister set a new “ambition” to double the total.
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Johnson said on his return to the dispatch box after recovering from coronavirus: “The ambition clearly is to get up to 200,000 a day by the end of this month and then to go even higher.”
Johnson has previously said he would like the UK to carry out 250,000 tests a day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--A Tory MP Just Accused No.10 Of Watching Too Much West Wing

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A Tory MP told the Commons that government advisors had watched “too many episodes of West Wing” as he laid into Boris Johnson’s “presidential” speech easing lockdown measures on Sunday.
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Peter Bone said Johnson’s decision to announce lockdown changes in a Sunday night television address 19 hours before releasing the full details and addressing parliament was “just plain wrong”.
He criticised Labour for “facing both ways” on the coronavirus crisis, but stressed: “That does not excuse how badly the government communicated its message this weekend.”
Bone said the prime minister should have announced the mild easing of restrictions to parliament on Monday and released the 51-page command paper with the details at the same time, arguing MPs would have been in the best position to “constructively” question him.
Instead, the announcement was marred by 24 hours of U-turns, car crash interviews and attempts to clarify the details.
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In a debate on Covid-19, Bone told the Commons that Johnson was doing a “superb” job.
“But that does not excuse how badly the government communicated its message this weekend,” he said.
“The television presentation by the prime minister was plain wrong.
“Too many of the prime minister’s special advisers and aides think they are running a presidential government – that the prime minister goes on television and announces all sorts of executive orders, without any reference to parliament.
“Many of them have clearly been watching too many episodes of West Wing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Quarantined Dogs On A Company Zoom Call Are Coronavirus Lockdown Gold

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Mabel and Olive are fast becoming the breakout canine stars of the coronavirus pandemic.
Spoof videos of the two locked down Labradors “competing” in dog sports ― complemented by the hilarious commentary of their owner, the sportscaster Andrew Cotter― have garnered more than 33 million views online.
Cotter put a new spin on the pups for the latest video that he shared on Twitter Monday, imagining them participating in a company video call.
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It’s comedy gold.
Check out the clip here:
Still having the company meetings online. pic.twitter.com/aR3LfuSdKl — Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) May 11, 2020
Cotter’s earlier videos have featured play-by-plays of the dogs eating their chow, taking part in a toy-holding contest and playing fetch.
Some sports are slower. More about the strategy. pic.twitter.com/JMBaGJ1tSd — Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) April 9, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--'Hamilton' The Film Is Dropping This Summer, Just You Wait

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Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and star of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical, Hamilton, has revealed that the show will be released on Disney+ in July.
The film features the cast of the original Broadway production of Hamilton performing on stage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
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It’s only a matter of time...
Our Hamilton film.
THIS July 3rd.
On Disney+.#Hamilfilm pic.twitter.com/cXTM949hRr — Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 12, 2020
Miranda’s wife Vanessa Nadal shared a behind-the-scenes snapshot of her husband nervously waiting to share the news of the film’s release date:
Sneaky photo of @Lin_Manuel excitedly/nervously waiting to drop this news. He woke up like a jolt of energy (more than usual) and could not keep still! pic.twitter.com/kN59udV8kC — Vanessa A M Nadal (@VAMNit) May 12, 2020
Footage of a live performance of the musical was seen in the 2016 PBS Great Performances documentary Hamilton’s America. But the full performance has never been released, until now.
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Hamilton the film, directed by the play’s stage director Tommy Kail, reportedly uses footage from three live performances, plus some shots without an audience.
“All of the footage was used to create multiple angles, to ensure the cinematic nature of the event, without a bad seat in the house,” Deadline wrote earlier this year.
Miranda, in a statement announcing the film’s release, said the date had been moved up to the July 4 weekend “in light of the world turning upside down.” He said the movie would provide everyone watching “the best seat in the house.”
“I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen,” he said. “I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
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In addition to Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, the film features original Broadway cast members Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jonathan Groff as King George; Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton; Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--A Minute Of Kindness: The Woman Who Made Scrubs For Her Sister’s Surgery

A Minute Of Kindness: The Woman Who Made Scrubs For Her Sister’s Surgery
Anna Willetts got to work when she heard that her sister’s surgery didn’t have enough scrubs to help them deal with coronavirus patients.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Watch Live: Alok Sharma Chairs Daily Coronavirus Briefing

Watch Live: Alok Sharma Chairs Daily Coronavirus Briefing
Business secretary Alok Sharma leads the daily coronavirus briefing following the chancellor’s announcement earlier today that the furlough scheme will be extended to the end of October. He will be joined by NHS England’s medical director Professor Stephen Powis and HSE’s chief executive Sarah Albon.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Tories Will Not Face Islamophobia Probe By Equalities Watchdog

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The Conservative party will not face a probe by the equalities watchdog over Islamophobia in its ranks after launching its own independent investigation into discrimination.
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The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said an investigation “would not be proportionate” after the Tories published the terms of reference for the party’s own inquiry, which included specific mentions of Islamophobia.
But the terms were described as a “facade” by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which argued the Tories’ investigation was too narrow even compared to Labour’s much-criticised Chakrabarti inquiry into anti-Semitism.
The inquiry would “hide the hundreds of incidences of Islamophobic bigotry” in the Tory party identified by the MCB, it said.
EHRC had been facing pressure to investigate the Tories after MCB sent it a dossier of more than 300 allegations of Islamophobia.
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But a spokesperson for the commission said: “We have given very careful consideration to complaints raised about discrimination and Islamophobia in the Conservative party.
“We have concluded, in the light of the decision by the party to institute an independent investigation, that it would not be proportionate to initiate our own investigation at this stage.
“We will be monitoring the review and requiring the party to provide regular updates on progress.
“If we are not satisfied with progress or how the investigation is conducted we will review our decision and do not rule out the use of our legal powers.”
However, the MCB said the terms of reference of the Tory inquiry would be focused on its handling of complaints fo prejudice and discrimination, “instead of the issue of racism itself”.
Harun Khan, MCB secretary general, said: “We have previously described the Conservative party’s attitude to Islamophobia as one of denial, dismissal and deceit.
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“The publication of the terms of reference for its inquiry reflects that regrettable attitude.
“They are a facade to hide the hundreds of incidences of Islamophobic bigotry we have identified in its ranks.
“In sum, it seems even today, the Conservative party refuses to acknowledge that there can be bigotry and prejudice directed at Muslims.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Headteachers Warn June 1 Return For Schools May Be ‘Impossible’

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Boris Johnson’s plans for schools in England to return from next month are facing increasing opposition from trade unions after a headteachers’ chief warned it may be “impossible” to get safety protections in place in time.
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Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) revealed he had not been consulted about the June 1 return date and that new guidance suggesting class sizes of 15 pupils would not work for “very many” schools.
His remarks to the Commons education committee on Tuesday came as all unions representing school staff prepared to announce a common position, with the National Education Union (NEU) and Unison warning they may not engage with the government’s plans at all.
NEU leader Kevin Coutney tweeted on Tuesday: “Don’t engage with planning a June 1 return to wider opening – await further union advice.”
Education unions intend to work together.
Don't engage with planning a June 1st return to wider opening - await further union advice. https://t.co/gbCnfVTdJn — Kevin Courtney #NEU💝NHS (@cyclingkev) May 12, 2020
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Unison’s Jon Richards had already said “we advise members not to engage with planning for a June 1 return” until unions had agreed a position.
Speaking to MPs, Whiteman said that teachers and parents needed reassurance on the scientific advice on child rates of transmission of Covid-19, on protective equipment for staff and on hand sanitiser supplies. He also cautioned against catch-up lessons during the summer break.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson published new guidelines on Monday night for a phased return for pupils, including halving class sizes to 15 children each. All primary pupils should get a month’s lessons before summer, while key years at secondary will get teaching time too.
But the headteachers’ union is warning that the government’s timetable is “wildly optimistic to the point of being irresponsible”.
Whiteman said: “Our members are telling us that their building sizes on average would only accommodate 10 to 12 rather than 15. So straight away we’re getting into some real practical issues.
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“Each individual school is very different, and each school is unique in terms of its buildings and how it will work. If social distancing as we understand it now, the two meter rule, is to be applied in schools, there are very many schools that are saying it’s simply impossible to achieve, whether that’s 10, 12, six or eight [pupils per class].”
“Some of the things you think to get into schools to achieve social distancing, such as more sanitary facilities, more toilets and things like that, there’s a huge lead-in time to get those to be delivered beyond the three weeks that we’re looking at for the first years [return]. Social distancing is going to be a massive problem.”
The headteachers’ leader said he had “seen competing science” over how children transmit the virus to adults.
“There isn’t a school leader or teacher that I have spoken to who wants to delay or return to school for any longer than is absolutely necessary,” he said.
Yet while his union was keen on “the art of the possible”, heads would need to understand the level of risk that the government was asking schools to assume, to assess it and then “fully mitigate it”.
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Committee chairman Rob Halfon and committee member Jonathan Gullis asked why summer schools, using an ‘army’ of volunteers made up of retired teachers and trainee teachers, could not be used to help those children who have suffered during the lockdown.
Gullis warned that without urgent specialist help for pre-GCSE and pre-A-level students, “we’re going to see a whole generation failed and left behind” . “There is widespread concern about disadvantaged pupils, and that they will fare disproportionately badly for school closure.”
But Whiteman cautioned against the idea of “catch-up” lessons during the summer break for pupils who have fallen behind, suggesting that it was only “superficially attractive”.
“I just think that we’ll have exhausted children and exhausted teachers in schools in the back end of the year, and will lose just as much then as we’ve lost in this period,” he said.
He said that “emotional fatigue” of pupils was a factor, and “readjustment to socialisation would take some time”.
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However, the NAHT boss said that he would support the idea for a “catch-up premium” to give extra funding to schools to offer specialist support in coming months.
Earlier, health secretary Matt Hancock told ITV’s This Morning: “We do want to make sure that education is interrupted as little as possible. Also, childcare is much more difficult if you’ve got a five-year-old, six-year-old or a child in pre-school.”
“We think, as long as the rate of new cases keeps coming down, we think it is okay to make this small change in the first place. But we’ll keep a very, very close eye on it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--627 More Coronavirus Deaths Recorded Across UK In 24 Hours

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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 32,692 – an increase of 627 over 24 hours.
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This is the third week the government’s daily announcements have included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Monday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals after contracting the virus rose by 425 in 24 hours.
That increase consisted of 350 in England, 50 in Scotland, 16 in Wales and nine in Northern Ireland.
NHS England reported 350 deaths today. 264 of these 350 happened in the last 10 days and the remaining are older.
April 8th continues to be the peak with 887 (+1) deaths #Covid19UK #COVIDー19
PS: The recent dates in this graph are subject to change as deaths are certified. pic.twitter.com/GdIGQK520z — Ganesh Ranganathan (@ganeshran) May 12, 2020
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Separate figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics up to May 1, National Records of Scotland up to May 3 and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency up to May 6 show 38,355 people had died with Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
Further deaths recorded by NHS England since May 1 suggest the UK has collectively passed the mark of 40,000 deaths, according to analysis by the Press Association on Tuesday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Colonel Tom Moore Receives Freedom Of The CIty Of London Award

Colonel Tom Moore Receives Freedom Of The CIty Of London Award
Tom Moore, who has become a national hero after raising millions for the health service, was awarded the Freedom of the City of London via a virtual ceremony. Colonel Tom was honoured over video link, the first time the ceremony has been conducted virtually, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Bryan Adams Heavily Criticised For Blaming Coronavirus On 'Bat Eating, Virus Making, Greedy B******s

Bryan Adams Heavily Criticised For Blaming Coronavirus On 'Bat Eating, Virus Making, Greedy B******s'

Bryan Adams has come under fire after posting a tweet in which he blamed some “fucking bat eating, wet market selling, virus making greedy bastards” for the coronavirus crisis.
The Canadian singer’s outburst on social media came on the day he was scheduled to start a residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which has been cancelled due to the pandemic.
Bryan Adams EMPICS Entertainment
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Posting on his Instagram and Twitter accounts, Bryan wrote: “Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of a tenancy of gigs at the @royalalberthall, but thanks to some fucking bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards, the whole world is now on hold, not to mention the thousands that have suffered or died from this virus.”
Bryan, who regularly talks about being a vegan to his fans on social media, added: “My message to them other than ‘thanks a fucking lot’ is go vegan.”
His comments were soon picked up on Twitter, where his name began trending, as people accused him of being “stigmatising” and “prejudice”.
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Bryan Adams tweeting and then deleting this is just more proof that Summer of 69 was actually about his IQ. pic.twitter.com/1YEun80pyK — 🥞MeltLikeButta🥞 (@JWButta) May 12, 2020
"I got pissed off about my concert getting canceled, even though nobody gives a fuck about me anymore, #AndIWentOffTheDeepEnd with a weird, offensive social media rant." - Bryan Adams, probably pic.twitter.com/loWTB8ZBU4 — We're only gonna die from our own arrogance (@SethFromThe716) May 12, 2020
*Sees #BryanAdams is trending*
Follows the tweets...
Yikes.
You know you’re behaving like an asshole when Katie Hopkins is retweeting you IN AGREEMENT.
🤦🏼♀ pic.twitter.com/1DWoMa71Uo — Jo V (@JoSmilesJo) May 12, 2020
So let me see if I understand this correctly, #BryanAdams is inconvenienced by Covid-19 and instead of sucking it up like us normal poor folks, he decides to go on a prejudice rant? What a douche canoe. pic.twitter.com/cbPLu9Fp4c — 🇬🇧🏴🇺🇸Liz Daniels🇮🇪🇩🇪🇨🇭👑 (@LokisGoddess121) May 12, 2020
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Oh well. There goes all my respect for a supposedly Canadian icon. I am ashamed and disappointed. @bryanadams #idiot pic.twitter.com/7s5KxZpdBS — Zafar Shamsi 🇨🇦 (@ShamsiZafar) May 12, 2020
Stop acting like you’re the only one going through this. My entire year was cancelled too, just like every other artist I know. Businesses are shuttering while people lose their livelihoods and family. Give me back John Prine. At least he’d write a song instead of complaining. — Shane Koyczan (@Koyczan) May 12, 2020
So what you're saying, if I understand correctly, is that all of this has really inconvenienced Bryan Adams?
Well, I'm sure all the sick and dying common folks around the world will sympathise with you, for your loss.
The struggle is real.
For Bryan Adams. — Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) May 12, 2020
The president of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice went one step further, claiming his comments would intensify “racist hatred against Chinese”.
“This is so irresponsible,” Amy Go told Canada’s CBC News.
Bryan was also accused on social media of conflating misinformation about the virus.
While researchers do know that it originated in China, they still have many questions about exactly how it emerged. Here’s a full primer on what we actually know.
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Thank you Bryan Adams for coming out of obscurity to rant your unproven theories...now go back to wherever it is you came from - https://t.co/UReFqgTTfn — KonstantinosKomaitis (@kkomaitis) May 12, 2020
Who knew Bryan Adams was conspiracy believing covidiot? — Stephan Cook (@StephanCook1) May 12, 2020
I did not have “Bryan Adams: Coronavirus conspiracy theorist” in my 2020 pool. pic.twitter.com/p4uOEIYfJu — Chuck Sudo (@bportseasoning) May 12, 2020
Bryan has since deleted his post on Twitter, but it still remains on his Instagram account.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Walk The Last Mile To Work And Don't Eat On Public Transport, Commuters Asked

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People have been asked to walk the first or last mile of their journey to work in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus on public transport.
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The government said people should try and keep two metres apart from each other when travelling on buses and trains – but admitted on Tuesday this would not always be possible.
It comes as people who cannot work from home, including those who work in construction and manufacturing, have been asked to return to work from Wednesday.
In advice published on Tuesday, the Department for Transport said people should wear a face covering “if you can” on public transport.
And passengers have been asked to “avoid consuming food and drink”.
The government said people should try to take a less busy route than normal and reduce the number of changes made.
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“Try to start or end your journey using a station or mode of transport you know to be quieter or more direct,” the advice said.
“For instance, walk the first or last mile of your journey, or alight at an earlier station, where this is possible.”
It added: “There may be situations where you can’t keep a suitable distance from people, for example when boarding or alighting, on busier services, at busier times of day and when walking through interchanges.
“In these cases you should avoid physical contact, try to face away from other people, and keep the time you spend near others as short as possible.”
Transport operators are being urged to rearrange, remove or limit seating “to try and ensure social distancing is observed”.
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This may include blocking off seats in close proximity to others and removing face-to-face seating.
Single users of black cabs and minicabs should sit in the back left-hand seat of cars, according to the guidance.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-12--Coronavirus Has Left Casual Workers Most Exposed. Now The Government Could Get Sued

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The government could face legal action amid claims gig economy workers are being failed by gaps in health and safety law during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is preparing to mount a legal challenge on behalf of its members, saying it is “crucial” those such as couriers, cleaners and delivery drivers are protected from the virus.
It accuses the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of neglecting its health and safety duty of care by failing to transpose health and safety directives from EU law into UK law.
It says many gig workers – people who are not on companies’ staff and are often low-paid casual workers – are also not being provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) or receive testing.
The union said this makes its members more susceptible to the virus, which has killed more than 32,000 people in the UK.
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The IWGB has sent a letter-before-action to the DWP, threatening legal action if it does not extend EU laws protecting staff members to non-staff workers.
Jason Moyer-Lee, IWGB general secretary, said: “As the government looks to ease the lockdown in the midst of the pandemic, health and safety at work has never been more important.
“It is crucial that exploitative employers like Uber know they must protect the health and safety of their workers and that the government brings the criminal prosecutions necessary to enforce this law.
“The UK is already compelled by EU law to extend health and safety protections to workers – it’s a shame the government would rather litigate than comply.”
Hanna-Beth Scaife, a courier for Stuart, also provided a statement.
She said: “I suffer with Fibromyalgia and CFS (ME) which puts me at high-risk from Covid-19, yet I’m one of thousands of couriers denied proper PPE at work. Just because we’re self employed doesn’t mean we’re at any less of a risk so why does PPE seem to be an afterthought for us?
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“Ignoring our health and safety means ignoring that of the millions of people we deliver to, many of them self-isolating with Covid-19 symptoms or shielding at home because they’re high-risk. Protecting couriers would help protect the whole country.”
It is the second legal challenge threat IWGB has made in recent days.
Last week, the IWGB commenced action against the government in a separate case, filing a High Court challenge over what the union said was a failure to provide satisfactory income and sickness protection to millions of low-paid and self-employed workers.
Figures last year estimated there were around 4.7m gig economy workers in the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-11--Richard Morris: Police Appeal For Information About Missing British Diplomat Not Seen Since May 6

Richard Morris. UK Gov
Police have appealed for information that might assist in the search for a missing diplomat who went missing while out for a run last week.
Richard Morris, from Bentley, was last seen at 10.30am on May 6.
The 52-year-old was ambassador to Nepal from November 2015 to November 2019 and was due to become British High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji in July.
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In a statement, Hampshire Constabulary said: “It is believed that Richard, who is described as being white with greying hair and a beard and a distinctive birth mark on his face, was running in the local area when he went missing.
“He was last seen wearing a blue long-sleeved top with a half zip, black shorts and blue trainers.”
Police have asked people in the area to “assist by checking sheds, outbuildings and gardens” but not to look further than their own properties so they don’t disrupt the official search.
They added: ”We would also love to hear from any residents or businesses with CCTV that could help our enquiries.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--31 Classic Big Brother Moments Davina And Rylan's New Highlights Series Has To Include

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After two years off our screens, Big Brother is back... well, kind of.
It’s been announced that a new highlights series fronted by Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal will showcase some of the show’s classic episodes to mark 20 years since Big Brother debuted in the UK.
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There’s still a bit of a wait though, as Big Brother: Best Shows Ever Show won’t air on E4 until the summer, which got us to thinking – which moments should they include?
1. Jackie “yeah, Jwackie” Stallone enters the house, much to the surprise of ex-daughter-in-law Brigitte Nielsen (CBB3, 2005)
The most iconic – and quoted – Big Brother entrance in history.
2. George Galloway proves he’s just a big old pussy cat (CBB4 – 2006)
This moment is still burned into our memories.
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3. Alison Hammond breaks the table (BB3 – 2002)
“I can probably bend it back..?”
4. The Big Brother bedsit (BB5 – 2004)
Emma and Michelle’s stay in Big Brother’s bedsit was iconic for many reasons – Emma’s top falling down in the excitement of realising they’d not been evicted, Michelle screaming “no naked jacuzziness!” as she watched over her Chicken Stu.
But of course, it also spawned one of the most controversial moments ever seen on reality TV, when the infamous Fight Night broke out.
5. Kemal puts Maxwell in his place (BB6 – 2005)
Kemal’s response to having water thrown over him in his bed is the stuff of BB magic.
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6. David’s dead! (CBB17 – 2016)
We still can’t believe this actually happened.
7. Glyn cooks an egg “for the very first time” (BB7 – 2006)
Sadly, the actual footage of Glyn and his egg has disappeared from the web, but at least we have this fabulous remix.
8. Vanessa Feltz has a meltdown (CBB1 – 2001)
...and starts drawing in chalk on the dining room table while wearing a leopard print dressing gown.
9. Jayne Connery’s Diary Room rant (BB17 – 2016)
“Are you fucking on drugs??”
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10. Makosi thinks she’s pregnant (BB6 – 2005)
Nothing encompasses the spirit of Big Brother 6 quite like Makosi looking straight into the camera and whispering the immortal line: “I could be pregnant.”
11. Josie Gibson looks on the brightside (BB11 – 2010)
If we had a penny for every time Josie says “ripped off by a chimpanzee” in this clip, we’d have... well, we’d have three pennies.
12. Pete Burns’ coat is seized (CBB4 – 2006)
This is why you don’t come between a diva and his coat.
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13. Kim Woodburn blows her top (CBB19 – 2017)
When Kim made her late arrival, no one could have predicted quite how much things would escalate...
14. Mario and Lisa enjoy a biscuit (BB9 – 2008)
The last time we ever want to hear tea described as “juicy”. The pinnacle in watch-through-your-fingers TV.
15. The box task (BB6 – 2005)
Who knew watching cardboard boxed could be so entertaining, but thanks to Science and Derek’s arguing, it spawned one of the most famous BB moments ever.
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16. “Basic rations for a basic bitch” (BB16 – 2015)
Aisleyne called it exactly as she saw it when she encountered Helen Wood upon her return to the house in 2015.
17. Cameron comes out to his housemates (BB19 – 2018)
A moment that proves when you put aside the showmances, petty squabbles and whatever else has made it such an easy target over the years, reality TV can still do a bit of good.
18. Leo Sayer loses it over some underwear (CBB5 – 2017)
Leo broke out via the fire exit and got into a tussle with security, after he accused Big Brother of withholding his underwear... that actually turned out to be in his suitcase all along.
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19. Non-celebrity Chantelle has to convince her celebrity housemates she’s famous (CBB4 – 2006)
Altogether now, “I want it all, I want it right now”.
20. Shell does a spot of gardening (BB5 – 2004)
Who could forget Shell mowing the lawn with just a scarf to protect her modesty?
Channel 4
21. “He’s mugged you off, dallin’” (CBB13 – 2014)
Casey Batchelor’s mum was the greatest housemate that never was.
22. Jade Goody’s verruca (BB3 – 2002)
The late Jade’s cries of “am I minging?” became synonymous with the third series.
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23. Nasty Nick is exposed (BB1 – 2000)
Nick became the original Big Brother villain off the back of this scene, which actually seems rather tame now, compared to some of the action that would follow in the series to come.
24. Tiffany Pollard vs Gemma Collins (CBB17 – 2016)
The HBIC got very animated when she discovered that the GC had already taken back a pair of shoes she’d given her.
25. Fight Night 2.0 (BB9 – 2008)
Rex Newmark smudging some pizza on a painting sparked one of the nastiest rows to ever engulf the house.
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26. Helen and Paul’s romance (BB2 – 2001)
They were the original Big Brother couple and their sweet relationship was far from some of the showmances we saw in later series.
27. Nadia can’t have her cigarettes (BB5 – 2004)
A camo-clad Nadia fuming over her lack of cigarettes is one of the moments from BB5 that we can still quote to this day.
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28. Every single thing Gemma Collins said and did in the house (CBB17 – 2016)
Just give us this whole season in full, in all honesty.
29. Big Brother does bondage (CBB13 – 2014)
Yes, that really is Lionel Blair in a PVC police uniform.
30. Kinga gets better acquainted with a wine bottle (BB6 – 2005)
What is there to say really?
Channel 4
31. Nikki Grahame vents in the Diary Room (BB7 – 2006)


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Twitter Tells Staff They Can Work From Home Forever, But Would You Want To?

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Video meetings, instant messaging and email chains are now the norm as a huge percentage of the population has adapted to working from home. But would you want to keep it this way for good?
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Twitter announced it’ll give its staff the option to work from home indefinitely after lockdown lifts. The company, based in San Francisco with a site in London, employs around 5,000 people and said the past few months has proved remote working is possible.
“If our employees are in a role and situation that enables them to work from home and they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen,” the company said in a blog post.
How likely are people to do this, though? When we asked HuffPost UK readers, the response was mixed. Jasmine Granton, a PR consultant based in Bedford, is “desperate” to get back to the office and would hate to work from home full-time.
“I’m lucky enough to have working from home flex anyway, but all I want is to be back having chats, meetings in person and complaining about the office music,” she says. “I have the odd day where I enjoy working from home and more time with my dog, but I miss my colleagues.”
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Ellie Pilcher, a marketing manager based in north London, believes it’s easier to establish a work-life balance with two distinct locations.
“Something about working in an office keeps me feeling productive for more of the day, and I can separate my personal time from work time with ease, so no burnout,” she says.
But there are some undeniable benefits to working from home, including more time in bed, money saved on commuting, and a reduction in car emissions generated by thousands of vehicles crawling along in rush hour traffic.
Neil Hart, who works in marketing and is based in St Albans, believes some people may have dismissed remote working too early, because working from home during a pandemic is not the same as working from home in normal times.
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“Many are being put off by their first working from home stint, but aren’t getting the true remote experience, where kids and spouses are out the picture, where you can hit the library, coffee shop or co-working space with gay abandon,” he says.
Maskot via Getty Images
And Chloe, a social researcher based in Bristol, who chose not to share her surname, agrees that post-pandemic remote working would be better. She would like more companies to offer it full-time to open up job opportunities.
“There are so few jobs in my industry locally, and it would be great if this opened up companies who’ve previously only offered posts in London,” she says. “Otherwise it does mean that at some point, if you want to progress, you have to consider commuting or moving.”
Another office worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, wants her company to follow Twitter’s lead because working from home during lockdown has made life with a chronic illness easier to handle.
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“It helps to manage fatigue, reduces exposure to colds and other workplace viruses and takes the pressure off having to pretend to be okay on bad pain days,” she says.
Perhaps a mix of both is the answer? “I wouldn’t want five days in the office, but I enjoy the social aspect so wouldn’t want five days working from home,” one reader says on Twitter. For most people we spoke to, the ideal scenario would be the option to work from home part-time, to get the best of both worlds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-13--Joe Wicks Bought Mum A House After Parents Lent Him £2K To Kickstart Body Coach Empire

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Joe Wicks has revealed he bought his mum a house after his parents helped him out financially at the start of his fitness career.
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Joe, AKA The Body Coach, is now worth an estimated £15million thanks to revenue generated by advertising on his YouTube channel and sales from his hugely popular cookbooks.
Joe Wicks Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock
The fitness star has sold over 3.5million books in the UK, which has far exceeded initial expectations.
In an Instagram Stories video shared on Tuesday, Joe said: “I’m eternally grateful for every single person who followed me and bought one of them books for themselves or family member. That changed my life, I never in a million years predicted we’d sell anywhere near that many books.
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“They said if we sell 70,000 books in the first year we’ve had a success, and we sold like one million books.”
Joe then revealed that the money he has earned as The Body Coach has made it possible for him to buy his mum a house of her own, after years of living in council accommodation.
Joe explained: “it allowed me to do the one thing I think most boys dream of doing when they earn a bit of dough - buy your mum a house.”
Comic Relief via Getty Images
Joe, who borrowed £2,000 from his parents to kickstart his personal training dream, added it felt “amazing” to be able to buy his mum such an extravagant gift.
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“My mum’s always lived in a council house, we’ve never had mortgages, it wasn’t on the radar for us,” he said. “So when I could take that money I earned from that book and say ‘mum, I’m buying your house. It’s yours,’ that was an amazing moment for me. That’s something she ’s always dreamed off.
“She’s wanted to own something, so she lives there and she’s so happy.”
Joe has now released nine books, the first of which became the second most bought cookbook of all time, behind Jamie Oliver’s 15 Minute Meals.
Earlier this month, Joe revealed he had raised £200,000 for the NHS with his online PE classes.