thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--‘Stay Alert’ Still Means ‘Stay At Home’, Says Communities Secretary

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People will still be asked to stay at home despite the instruction having been dropped from the government’s coronavirus slogan, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has said.
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Boris Johnson is expected to tell the country on Sunday evening to “stay alert, control the virus and save lives”.
It is a softening of the previous instruction that people “stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives”.
Labour has said the new message lacks “clarity” and will leave the public “puzzled”.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Jenrick said the government wanted to “slowly and cautiously restart the economy”.
“We want now to have a message which encourages people to go to work, as we begin to ease some of the lockdown measures to take advantage of those but always to be cautious,” he said.
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But speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show later this morning, Jenrick said “staying at home will remain an absolutely essential element of that strategy but it will be broadened out”.
“Stay alert by staying home as much as possible,” he said. “But stay alert when you do go out by maintaining social distancing, washing your hands, respecting others in the workplace”.
Nicola Sturgeon has said she will continue to use the “stay at home” message to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in Scotland signalling a rift in the UK-wide response.
The Sunday papers is the first I’ve seen of the PM’s new slogan. It is of course for him to decide what’s most appropriate for England, but given the critical point we are at in tackling the virus, #StayHomeSaveLives remains my clear message to Scotland at this stage. https://t.co/zrnEgTC15H — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 10, 2020
STAY HOME. PROTECT THE NHS. SAVE LIVES. — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 10, 2020
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Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, also told Sky News that the stay-home message had “not gone away”.
Jon Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said this morning there was “no room for nuance” when it came to government slogans.
“This virus exploits ambivalence, it thrives on ambiguity,” he said. “People will be looking at it slightly puzzled, questioning what does it mean to stay alert, what are the government saying with that?
“I think the stay at home message is easily understood and that is the strength and beauty of that message.”
Lib Dem acting leader Ed Davey has demanded the government to “publish the evidence” it has used to inform its new “stay alert” slogan.
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He added: “Changing the slogan now, while in practice keeping the lockdown in place, makes the police’s job near impossible and may cause considerable alarm.”
On Monday, the government will publish a 50-page document outlining to MPs the full plan to cautiously re-start the economy after figures suggested the overall death toll for the UK has passed 36,500.
The shift in messaging will come amid concerns that workers may not feel comfortable resuming their roles.
That could be a test for ministers, with unions warning that they might not recommend their millions-strong membership to resume their roles if safety is not assured.
“The trade union movement wants to be able to recommend the government’s back-to-work plans,” Unison, Unite, the GMB, Usdaw and the Trades Union Congress wrote in a letter to The Observer.
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“But for us to do that, we need to ensure that ministers have listened and that we stay safe and save lives at work too.”
The government has also failed to meet its own 100,000 tests per day target for the seventh day in a row, saying there were 96,878 in the 24 hours up to 9am on Saturday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Five Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

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Around 50,000 coronavirus test samples had to be sent from the UK to the US after “operational issues” in the lab network led to delays in the system.
The news came as the number of daily coronavirus tests fell below health secretary Matt Hancock’s 100,000 target for a seventh day in a row.
Following a report in the Sunday Telegraph, the Department of Health said sending swabs abroad is one of the contingencies to deal with so-called teething problems in a rapidly-expanded testing system.
It is understood the test results will be validated back in the UK and communicated to patients “as quickly as possible”.
The department said work has been undertaken to resolve the issues and capacity is quickly being restored.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “The expansion of the UK’s coronavirus testing network has involved setting up an entirely new ‘Lighthouse’ lab network to process test swabs.
“When problems arise, we have contingencies in place which include creating extra temporary capacity for our labs or sending swabs abroad to partner labs for completion.
“Of course, our partner labs must match our high standards.”
The Sunday Telegraph reported the samples were airlifted to the US in chartered flights from Stansted airport.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Piers Morgan Says Donald Trump’s Handling Of The Coronavirus Crisis Could Lead To Some ‘Very Ugly Sc

Piers Morgan Says Donald Trump’s Handling Of The Coronavirus Crisis Could Lead To Some ‘Very Ugly Scenes’

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In a new interview with the Sunday Times (££), Piers also stated that Trump “doesn’t deserve” to be re-elected in November’s presidential election.
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Piers Morgan and Donald Trump Rex
“Trump’s biggest Achilles heel has always been his complete inability to show empathy,” he tells the newspaper.
“Right now, I do not think he deserves to be re-elected.”
Piers then accuses the president of making things “deliberately worse” by “airing these stupid, crazy theories about detergents or urging people to ‘liberate’ themselves in Democrat states.”
“He is rousing people to view Democrat senators as tyrannical people,” he says.
“And they’re all heavily armed with semi-automatic weapons, and if, God forbid, they lose their jobs, have no income, are angry and are persuaded by Trump that his political opponents are being tyrannical, I can see some very ugly scenes. Aided and abetted by the president.
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“And it’s shameful.”
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The presenter, who was always a vocal champion of Trump, now admits that he might have got it wrong about his former friend.
“I found the hysteria about him, for a long time, ridiculously over the top and pathetic,” he says, before admitting: “I’m not sure it looks that way now.”
Last month, Piers called out Trump for his “senseless” coronavirus comments in his column in the Daily Mail.
Running under the headline ‘President Trump’s bats**t crazy coronavirus “cure” theories are not just shockingly senseless and stupid – they’re going to kill people’, it came after the president made a series of bizarre and unfounded comments about how to treat the disease.
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At a presidential briefing, Trump told the assembled press: “I see the disinfectant, where it knocks out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that? By injection inside, or almost a cleaning.
“So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--‘Overwhelmed’ Sheridan Smith Shares First Picture Of Baby Boy After Giving Birth

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Sheridan Smith has shared the first photograph of her newborn baby boy after giving birth on Saturday.
The 38-year-old actor said that she and fiancé Jamie Horn are “completely overwhelmed with love” following the birth.
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Sharing a picture of her son holding on to one of her fingers, she wrote: “Our little man has arrived! We are both completely overwhelmed with love.”
The Cilla star revealed the gender of her baby to fans in November.
Last week she said that she felt “lucky” to be pregnant during the pandemic, adding that it gives her life “focus”.
Sheridan has starred in ITV lockdown drama Isolation Stories, where she played a heavily pregnant woman who faces childbirth alone.
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Her episode, entitled Mel, was filmed by her fiance at their home during lockdown.
Sheridan and her fiancé Jamie Horn. Barcroft Media via Getty Images
She is also known for her roles in TV series such as Mrs Biggs and Gavin & Stacey, and for her work on stage in Legally Blonde and Funny Girl.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--This Is What It’s Like To Be A Prison Guard During The Coronavirus Pandemic

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It’s the end of a shift at a Lancashire jail and a prison officer is entering his house through the utility door, stripping off his clothes because of the deadly risk of coronavirus.
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The officer has been working inside a prison where inmates and officers have tested positive for Covid-19. Someone at the jail has even died and the officer does not want to take unnecessary risks with the safety of his family.
The dangers of doing his job are currently so high that he has not seen his children since the pandemic began because of the risks of infection.
“When we’re at work, staff just get on with it,” he said. “We stand there – we chat to each other. It’s kind of like we’re all in the same household because we’re doing the shifts together. It’s kind of fine when you’re in work.
“But it’s coming home. I come in, take everything off and it’s straight into the washing machine on a 60 degree wash and then straight up for a shower before I even go near my wife or my dog or anything like that.
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“It’d be good if we had the facilities at work to have a quick shower and get changed before we came home, but there just aren’t those facilities unfortunately.”
The prison service, like the NHS and the care sector, has seen its workforce continue to risk contact with Covid-19 daily in order to keep the sector running.
“Staff are still getting cross-deployed to different wings, so potentially not containing the virus that way”
It is essential work as defined by the government, but the risks are real.
So far, official figures as of May 6 show 447 prison staff across 66 jails have tested positive for Covid-19, as well as another 15 prisoner escort and custody service staff.
The figures are higher than the 390 prisoners who have tested positive at 74 jails nationwide, despite the relatively small size of the prison workforce compared with the inmate population.
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At least five prison officers or civilian workers are known to have died during the pandemic, although there are no official government figures on these deaths.
The prison officer said he believes coronavirus is spreading rapidly within jails, although the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says this is not the case.
Agreeing to talk to HuffPost UK on condition of anonymity, he claimed:
Officers at his jail do not wear protective equipment such as masks and goggles as standard but only if a prisoner is showing symptoms of coronavirus.
Prison officers are working across different wings of the jail, potentially increasing the risk of spreading the virus.
Inmates at the jail who have Covid-19 are being held in isolation lockdown for 24 hours a day, with no showers or telephone calls.
He says he has also been made aware that a temporary morgue and critical care unit have allegedly been set up inside at least one UK jail.
“At first I was shocked at the lack of control,” said the officer, speaking about the situation in the north-west of England jail where he works. “There was not much leadership from management.
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“We do have PPE now but staff are still getting cross-deployed to different wings, so potentially not containing the virus that way.
“Prisoners were getting moved around from wing to wing when they had symptoms and coming back positive, and it just didn’t seem like they’d clamped down on it enough for my liking.”
He says the situation has now improved, but adds: “There’s always more that could be done – it’s just whether it’s viable for security reasons.”
The MoJ says a “compartmentalisation” strategy to protect staff and prisoners is in place and these steps are working to limit the spread of coronavirus in jails.
Inmates and prison officers at Pentonville Prison, where two staff members have died Anthony Devlin - PA Images via Getty Images
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The officer patrols on wings regularly, having direct contact with prisoners, and says he is surprised at how well they have adapted to Covid-19 measures.
The changes at the jail have included prisoners being held in their cells for 23 hours a day and let out for only 45 minutes to shower, exercise and make phone calls – a regime the officer says is necessary to ensure social distancing.
“To be fair the prisoners do seem to be dealing with it very well,” he said. “We thought there would be a lot of trouble, but with this new regime they seem to have just accepted it.”
Officers doing their rounds speak to prisoners about how lockdown is impacting on life outside the prison walls.
“Obviously they only get to hear what’s on the news about what’s happening outside, so when we go into work and they start complaining about something, we say to them: ‘Look, it’s actually not that good for us on the outside,’” said the officer.
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“For example, I can’t see my children because I go to work. So when you explain that to the prisoners they’re kind of like: ‘Shit, it’s not that good for you either, is it?’ So they do kind of understand it.”
He also revealed prisoners have been taking part in the Thursday night clap for the NHS and other key workers.
“I was surprised to hear all the prisoners rattling the bars and cheering out the windows and everything,” he said. “Even they’ve been doing that every week and it was a shock – it was not something I expected.”
Social distancing inside jails has resulted in changes to security procedures, which has presented some challenges.
“Every prison cell used to get checked every second day to make sure there was nothing untoward in them,” said the officer.
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“These are now just visual checks from the door rather than going into the cells. So some of the security measures have been lowered, hence why at first some of the prisoners were getting away with brewing their own alcohol and stuff like that in the cells.”
As in other public sectors there has been scrutiny of the amount of personal protective equipment, or PPE, available to prison officers and the availability of coronavirus testing.
“They’ve set up a temporary morgue in an old workshop of one of the jails and had delivery of body bags”
In terms of PPE, the officer says they have access to masks and gloves and there is plenty of hand sanitiser, although it took a while to get goggles.
He has been on wings holding prisoners who have tested positive for coronavirus and said PPE has to be thrown away after each cell door is opened.
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Availability of testing has been a contentious issue. Public Health England has said the number of prisoners believed to have been infected with coronavirus may be up to six times as high as published figures.
While prison staff displaying symptoms of coronavirus are now eligible for testing after the government widened the criteria in recent weeks, the officer says provision earlier in the pandemic was very low.
“To start off with they were only getting a small number of tests a day and then they’d send them off and get more back,” he said. “So they were only able to test a few people.”
The MoJ said there has been an increase in staff testing, with over 1,000 referred in the past fortnight, and all prison officers are provided with PPE.
The officer said it is difficult to move symptomatic prisoners to hospital, where testing is usually carried out. They can’t go in taxis, as is usually the case for hospital transfers, and there are long waits for ambulances.
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He claims there have also been shortages of medication for prisoners at the jail, including mental health medication.
Painting a blunt picture, the prison officer said preparations have been made for the death of more prisoners within jails.
“They’ve set up a temporary morgue in an old workshop of one of the jails and had delivery of body bags,” he said.
At the jail where he works, inmates with Covid-19 are being kept in isolation for seven days, which has been a key part of government policy to contain the virus in prisons.
“The prisoners that test positive now, they’re trying to keep them all on the same wing and they are basically on lockdown – they’re not allowed out at all. They don’t get showers, they don’t get phone calls,” said the officer.
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“I think it’s the only way of containing it. Obviously the only way the virus has got into the jails is either by staff or visits. I personally think they waited far too long to stop domestic visits.”
Nineteen prisoners at jails across the country are known to have died, although the Ministry of Justice does not provide official death figures.
OlFedv via Getty Images
Lives have also been lost among staff in the prison service.
A guard of honour was given to 33-year-old officer Rachael Yates, who died after contracting coronavirus, by colleagues at Usk Prison in Monmouthshire last week. Her mother has called for more to be done to protect key workers.
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The officer says it still feels in some ways like the prison service is the forgotten service.
He says there is unease about a bonus scheme that has seen prison officers get £150-a-month extra pay due to the coronavirus pandemic, while governor grade staff reportedly get much more.
“We’ve heard that the governor grades are getting a £1,500 bonus a month and they’re being allowed to work from home so many days and not be on the front line, which has kind of peeved off a lot of the staff,” he said.
Despite this, people are just getting on with their jobs, the prison officer said.
“It’s just a tough time for everyone, isn’t it?” he said. “We’re kind of used to being the forgotten service in the prison service – we never get recognised for anything unless something goes wrong. But it is what it is and we just get on with it.”
The Ministry of Justice told HuffPost UK it would be wrong to say coronavirus was spreading rapidly in jails.
Prisons minister Lucy Frazer last week announced that steps to separate prisoners with symptoms and quarantine new arrivals had limited the spread of coronavirus cases in jails.
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And she said the majority of those infected had now made a successful recovery.
“I cannot express sufficient gratitude to the hard-working prison and healthcare staff, and prisoners, who have allowed this to take place,” she added. “My thoughts are with all of those affected by this terrible virus.”
Other measures introduced by government to ease pressure on jails include the early release of low-risk offenders, temporary expansion of the prison estate, and work to reduce the number of people held on remand.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We have taken strong measures to protect the NHS and save lives. Public Health England says these steps are working and limiting the spread of coronavirus in prisons.
“Personal protective equipment is being provided to officers and we’re giving prisoners secure phones so they can keep in contact with their loved ones.”
The MoJ said it had no record of issues with lack of medication or of a temporary morgue being set up and it was unable to verify this without further information about which prisons these allegations related to.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Piers Morgan Admits He Has ‘Taken Things Too Far’ In His Criticism Of Meghan Markle

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Piers Morgan has admitted he has “taken things a bit too far” in his criticism of Meghan Markle.
The Good Morning Britain presenter has previously accused the Duchess of Sussex of “ditching” her own relatives and dividing the royal family.
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In an interview with The Sunday Times he also admitted that “it’s probably not wise, if you’re a columnist, to make things too personal”.
Piers Morgan Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Commenting on his previous comments about the duchess, he said: “Have I taken things a bit too far? Probably.
“Do I think that will govern and temper how I talk about them going forward? Absolutely.”
He added that he is at his “best as a journalist on stuff that really matters”.
“It’s the stuff that is substantial, particularly when people’s lives are at stake, that seems to galvanise my personality into the best possible place,” he said.
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“And it’s times of relative peace, calm, quiet and dare I say boredom that might occasionally bring out the worst in me.
“Having squabbles with people who are never going to change their mind in a million years about stuff that no longer seems remotely important.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
Piers was a regular critic of Meghan and her husband after they announced their decision to step back from their roles as senior royals.
In January, he tweeted: “People say I’m too critical of Meghan Markle – but she ditched her family, ditched her Dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William and has now split him from the Royal Family.
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“I rest my case.”
He later branded the couple “repulsive, deluded narcissistic tools” after they sent a letter to four UK tabloids, saying there’d be no further “corroboration” and “zero engagement” between them and the tabloids in question.
It led to Piers vowing that he would no longer be talking about either of them on Good Morning Britain “for the foreseeable future”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--This Is Your Body And Brain On Coronavirus News

If you feel like you’ve been swept into a torrent of never-ending bad news about the coronavirus, you’re not alone. Around the world, people are realising they’re teetering on a fine line between staying informed and slipping into media overload.
Each day brings an influx of new information about Covid-19 — more cases, a new death toll, temporary morgues and new symptoms. There are tragic stories from exhausted health care workers and families who had to say goodbye to loved ones through a window. It can be hard to look away.
Now, people are starting to feel the effects of being inundated by Covid-related news. For many, the stream of information has brought on bouts of fear and anxiety. Some develop physical symptoms, like lightheadedness, chest tightness and insomnia, while others are feeling really bummed out.
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This comes as no surprise to mental health experts. The media plays a huge role in our overall wellbeing, and we know from past disasters that what we read and watch online and on TV can have a profound, lasting impact on our mental and physical health.
Here’s what happens to the body and brain when we consume too much coronavirus news:
Stressful news activates our fight-or-flight response
10'000 Hours via Getty Images
You may notice that after reading one too many articles about coronavirus your body starts to feel a bit off. Perhaps your heart races or your breath quickens. Maybe you feel restless or jittery, experience trouble falling asleep at night, or have vivid nightmares.
This is because when we’re exposed to a stressor ― even indirectly as we are through the media ― our fight-or-flight response turns on, which is our body’s way of dealing with a perceived threat.
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Past evidence demonstrates that “when the brain is shown images of something potentially traumatic, the centres of the brain that are responsible for fear response light up [and] the centres of brain that are related to the development of PTSD light up,” said Alison Holman, a psychologist and associate professor of nursing at the University of California Irvine.
When people constantly expose themselves to anxiety-inducing news, they’re making their brain perceive a threatening, stressful event over and over. Needless to say, this can take a major toll on health over time.
“If you’re repeatedly exposed to that stressor, it can lead to a depressed mood, it can lead to insomnia, fatigue [and] a decline in concentration,” said Collin Reiff, a psychiatrist at NYU Langone Health.
Holman, who has studied the media’s role in past disasters and epidemics, said that the more people engage with high-stress media, the more likely they are to report higher levels of acute stress and anxiety.
This phenomenon has been well documented over time. With the 2014 Ebola crisis, for example, people who consumed more media about the outbreak experienced higher levels of distress and worry than those who viewed less Ebola-related news.
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The same goes with other disasters. A report looking at 9/11 found that people who viewed several hours of TV a day had a higher risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms and new physical health problems, predominantly with the heart, in the years that followed. Research on the Boston Marathon bombings showed that acute stress symptoms were highest among people who consumed the most news, even compared with people who actually witnessed the bombings.
According to Holman, what people see matters just as much as how much news they watch. Her research on the Boston Marathon bombings discovered that the more gruesome and graphic the coverage, the more distress and impaired functioning people experienced.
We can get trapped in a vicious cycle of news consumption, leading to mental and physical health issues like insomnia
During times of uncertainty and instability, people turn to the news for reassurance and guidance, according to a report published in March by the American Psychological Association. But when information is ineffectively communicated — due to the sensationalisation of what’s going on or misinformation— people’s anxiety and perceptions of risk can quickly increase.
This can trap people in a vicious cycle, said Yuval Neria, a professor of medical psychology at Columbia University and the director of trauma and post traumatic stress disorder at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
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“During the ongoing exposure to this rapidly spread, deadly outbreak, we often feel anxious and then turn to social and digital media,” Neria said. “High exposure to the media may in turn make us even more anxious and distressed, which in turn will intensify social media consumption.” It can quickly start to feel like doomsday.
Over time, excess exposure to stressful media can lead to chronic anxiety, depression and insomnia. It can also trigger a variety of physical health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, early ageing and suicidal risk, according to Neria.
The pandemic is chronically unfolding, which exacerbates issues
amenic181 via Getty Images
Holman, who is researching how coronavirus news is impacting people’s health, said what’s particularly concerning is how incessant and multifaceted the news is.
The coronavirus isn’t a standalone event. It’s an unfolding crisis that’s triggering secondary stressors — the growing number of new cases and deaths, the spike in unemployment, a volatile stock market, and political turmoil.
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“What’s happening, I think, is people are being exposed to new information, much of which is anxiety-provoking, over and over and over again,” Holman said.
When you combine that constant exposure and a 24/7 output of new information that’s not at all positive, it can really wear on people, Holman added.
How much news should you read?
Though each person’s threshold varies, Holman recommended choosing one or two news sources that are reliable and reputable. Look for a source that will give you the facts and not try to scare you.
Then, set some boundaries. Holman suggested checking in a couple times a day, at most.
“Get the information you need and don’t keep going back to it,” Holman said. Considering how gruesome content can have a greater impact on mental health, try to skip upsetting images.
Finally, Reiff said it’s important to focus on the facts and keep in mind that the news typically covers negative events ― like the number of deaths and new cases ― and not the positive outcomes, such as how many people are recovering and being released from hospitals (which is actually quite a lot!).
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Vegetarian And Vegan Recipes Using Produce From Delivery Boxes

We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus lockdown. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
Supporting local suppliers, discovering seasonal produce, getting out of a cooking rut – there are plenty of reasons to subscribe to a veg box. But during the pandemic, with social distancing measures firmly in place and a vulnerable economy, more people are signing up than ever – with some suppliers unable to take on new customers due to demand.
But with new food shopping habits, comes new responsibility – how the hell are you supposed to get through all of these new vegetables? We asked three chefs to share innovative recipes using seasonal items we might find in our boxes. Perfect if you’re tired of making yet another vat of soup.
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Gado Gado Salad
Serves: 2 as a main or 4 as a side | Prep time: 20 mins | Cooking time: 12-15 mins
Louise Hagger Gado Gado salad with peanut sauce
There are many dishes served with peanut sauce in Indonesia, but none is more famous than gado-gado, which literally translates from Indonesian as ‘mix-mix’. It also comes from the word menggado, which is to consume something without rice, a rarity on these islands.
You can easily substitute the suggested vegetables with whatever you have to hand – the key to this dish is a good peanut sauce and a hefty helping of kerupuk or prawn crackers. You can eat this dish on its own, but it also makes a great side dish as part of a larger feast. The peanut sauce will last for up to 5 days, but once tossed together, gado-gado is best eaten on the same day.
Ingredients:
60g fried, firm or smoked tofu, cut into bite-sized chunks
150g baby potatoes, halved
100g tenderstem broccoli
100g green beans, trimmed
60g tempeh, sliced into 1cm wide x 3cm long chunks (optional, or replace with more tofu)
Kecap manis (sweet soy sauce, optional)
1 carrot, peeled and cut into long, thin matchsticks 75g bean sprouts
½ cucumber, sliced into thin rounds
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 eggs, hard-boiled for 10 minutes, halved
2 tbsp fried shallots, optional
Sea salt, to taste
Coconut oil or sunflower oil, for frying
Kerupuk or prawn crackers, to serve
2 quantities of peanut sauce
For the peanut sauce (makes 150g 2 portions as a dressing or dipping sauce):
75g unsalted, raw peanuts, preferably with their skin on (or 75g unsweetened, unsalted smooth peanut butter)
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2 long red chillies, deseeded and very finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
4 tsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), or more to taste
2 tsp tamarind paste (or 2 tsp lime juice mixed with 2 tsp brown sugar)
Large pinch of sea salt
Sunflower oil, for frying
Method:
1. If the tofu is wet, spread the pieces in a single layer on top of several layers of paper towels, then cover with additional paper towels. Let the tofu stand for 15 minutes, pressing down occasionally to squeeze out any excess moisture.
2. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil over a high heat and add the baby potatoes. Simmer for 5–8 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and allow to cool, then set aside.
3. Refill the pan with salted water, bring to the boil and blanch the broccoli and beans for 1–2 minutes until bright green, crisp and just cooked through. Drain and cool in cold water, then set aside.
4. Heat 4 tablespoons of oil with a large pinch of salt in a wok or frying pan over a high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the tempeh and fry for 3–4 minutes until golden. Drain on a tray lined with paper towels. Alternatively, if you prefer to grill tempeh, brush it with a mixture of 1 tablespoon each of oil and kecap manis and place it under the grill on a high heat for 3–4 minutes each side.
5. Loosen the peanut sauce with water until it reaches a pourable consistency. Transfer the peanut sauce to a pan and place it over a low heat until just warmed through.
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6. Arrange the baby potatoes, broccoli, beans, tofu, tempeh, carrot, bean sprouts, cucumber, tomatoes and eggs on individual serving plates or bowls. Sprinkle with the fried shallots and place the crackers on one side of the plate.
7. For the peanut sauce. If using raw peanuts, heat 150ml of oil to 160°C in a deep saucepan over a high heat. (If you do not have a kitchen thermometer, check the oil is at temperature by adding a cube of bread; it should turn golden in 25–30 seconds.) Carefully lower the peanuts into the hot oil using a slotted spoon. Stirring continuously, as peanuts can easily burn, fry for 4–5 minutes until golden. Remove the peanuts from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a tray lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
8. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the chillies and garlic and fry until softened, about 4 minutes. Place the fried peanuts or peanut butter in a small food processor with the cooked garlic and chillies, kecap manis, tamarind paste and salt. Pulse briefly, then add a splash of water to loosen the sauce and pulse again. Gradually add water (about 4 tablespoons) and continue to pulse until the sauce is a pourable consistency. Season with salt or more kecap manis as needed.
9. Serve the peanut sauce on the side in a serving bowl or jug or drizzle generously over the top of each plate. Serve immediately.
Recipe from Coconut & Sambal by Lara Lee, published by Bloomsbury in Hardback at £26 is out 14 May 2020.
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Baingan Bharta
Serves: 6 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 30-40 mins
Kim Lightbody Baingan Bharta
This aubergine dish from north India is traditionally eaten with roti or naan but you could easily eat it with rice too. The texture is similar to baba ganoush and this spiced aubergine purée is wonderful on a toasted slice of bread, especially for all those lockdown sourdough bakers! If your aubergine is looking a little patchy and wrinkled, smoking it is a great way to use up an aubergine, which you may not have had time to cook when it arrived.
Ingredients:
2 large aubergines
4 tbsp vegetable oil
150g onions, diced
30g fresh ginger, bashed and finely chopped
150 g tomatoes, diced
4 green chillies
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
A few sprigs of mint, to garnish
Method:
1. The aubergines can be prepared in either of two ways, roasted in the oven or charred directly over a gas burner.
2. If cooking in an oven, preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Place the aubergines in an oven tray and roast for 25–35 minutes or until the skin is charred all over and the flesh cooked all the way through.
3. If cooking over a flame, using tongs, hold each aubergine directly over the burner of a gas hob (stove) until the skin is charred all over and the flesh cooked all the way through. (While this method gives the aubergines a wonderful smokiness, it can also be messy and you will need to clean all surfaces afterwards. For easier cleaning, line your hob with foil to catch any drips, then discard the foil after cooking.)
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4. Once the aubergine is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and mash the flesh into pulp. Do not discard any juices as they add to the flavour. In a small frying pan (skillet), heat the oil over a medium heat. Add the diced onions and chopped ginger and cook until softened and starting to colour.
5. Increase the heat to high and add the tomatoes and whole green chilies to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes or until the tomato mixture has reduced.
6. Add the mashed aubergine to the pan along with the chilli powder and salt. Keeping the heat on high, reduce the mixture to a thick paste.
7. Before serving, taste to check the seasoning and adjust as necessary. To serve, garnish with sprigs of mint.
Recipe from Asma’s Indian Kitchen by Asma Khan, published by Pavilion Books in Hardback at £13.75
No-Churn White Peach and Sake Sorbet
Serves: 4-6 | Prep time: 5 mins | Cooking time: 8 hrs freezing time
Nassima Rothacker No-Churn White Peach and Sake Sorbet
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White peaches are the sexiest fruit: all juicy and blushing and fragrant, and they look like lovely, plump, furry bums. The ones grown in Japan are positively slutty, enormous, and almost obscenely sweet. The fact that peach season is so short makes them all the more alluring, but with this recipe, you can preserve their intoxicating aroma for a few months longer by churning it into a slightly boozy sorbet.
Sake seems to have a special affinity for peaches – in fact, some sake even have peachy notes themselves – and the alcohol helps keep this from setting too hard in the freezer. A scoop of this also tastes great in a glass of wheat beer, for a killer beer float to enjoy on a hot day.
Ingredients:
4 big, ripe white peaches, stoned and diced
120 g caster sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
juice of 1 lemon
120 ml sake (any will do, but a good-quality sake would be particularly nice)
Method:
1. Combine the peaches, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice in a container and leave in the refrigerator overnight.
2. In the morning, the sugar will have dissolved into a peachy syrup and the peaches themselves should be very soft.
3. Add the sake and purée in a blender or food processor until smooth, then transfer to an airtight container and place in the freezer.
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4. Leave to freeze completely – it will take about 8 hours, maybe a little more or less depending on your freezer. Enjoy immediately or store in the freezer for up to 3 months.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Inside The Online Caribbean Nine Night Celebrations Paying Tribute To Black Lives Lost

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The UK was only three days into national lockdown when Jason Weatherman – a well-known DJ, promoter and media entrepreneur from London, popularly known as Mr Fox – died following a period of non-Covid-19 related illness.
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He was 49 years old, of Jamaican heritage and, thanks to his work on local radio and sound systems, hugely popular among inner city Black communities across the UK. Unable to gather to mourn him in person, Weatherman’s loved ones decided to hold a traditional ‘nine night’ in his honour – but online.
DJs played music across many genres from reggae to gospel through a live stream across local radio and social media. Musician Roger Samuels, a former contestant on The Voice UK, said prayers and spoke of how Weatherman helped the local community and churches. His favourite Psalm 91 was also read, and some of his favourite songs were played.
Family, friends and listeners called in to pay tribute, but they weren’t alone. Some 25,000 mourners watched on Facebook live, while a further 10,000 people followed live streams across YouTube and Instagram.
In the event, Weatherman’s nine night was a communal celebration – as it always should have been.
Supplied Jason Weatherman, aka Dr Fox.
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The nine night – alternatively called a ‘dead yard’ or ‘set up’ – is an extended wake that is practised across the Caribbean diaspora. For nine nights following a person’s death, friends and family typically gather at the home of the deceased, sharing their condolences and memories, playing music and sometimes singing hymns, while consuming lots of food and drink.
Traditional Jamaican legend has it that the journey from this world to the next is not complete until the nine nights after the death of the body, which is cause for a party or send-off. That night is when the biggest gathering takes place, a grand celebration of that person’s life – before their funeral and burial.
Weatherman’s nine night, which took place on April 4, was a joint effort between his friends Brandy Lee and DJ Touch T, and his family – brother DJs Zekie, sister Samantha and eldest daughter, Jay, 21, who describes it as “incredible”.
“It was significant because nine nights are so powerful in our community, bringing everyone together and showing an undeniable love for my dad and support for the family,” she tells HuffPost UK.
“When we could not gather together in a venue to host a nine night in honour of my dad, we all felt a huge sense of disconnect and helplessness. Being so far apart and not being able to take comfort in each other due to social distancing and isolation would make mourning even harder than it already is.”
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“The feedback we received after from both family members and friends was overwhelming positive, having thousands of people watching and listening over all media platforms,” DJ Zekie tells HuffPost UK. “This made me extremely happy and also meant that, through this, Mr Fox’s daughters could be helped to be given some comfort and hear the wonderful tributes about their dad.”
Jay McGregor Jay McGregor with her father at her graduation.
The following day, tributes continued from DJs in the community. DJ Brandy Lee, founder of the iconic After Dark sound system, said the concept came from a need to honour his late friend’s memory and all he had accomplished as a DJ. “The virtual nine night enabled us to acknowledge and honour Mr. Fox – he deserved the accolade. He was popular and loved beyond measure,” says Lee.
There was a wider “sense of duty and purpose” to Weatherman’s nine night, adds Lee – the cultural celebration had to go on despite Covid-19.
“Jason attended many nine nights and contributed to each of them in terms of helping to make the event happen,” he says. ”The nine night is a way of everyone coming together for the first time in terms of mourning, comforting, being there for each other, praying, exchanging stories, playing music. It’s something we do culturally and there’s a history around that culture.”
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Being virtual allowed the event to reach people who wouldn’t have normally been able to attend: the elderly and vulnerable, people living out of London or not in the UK. It was also an opportunity for those who didn’t know Mr Fox closely to connect with others at a time when many people are feeling isolated.
“Everyone is on lockdown, we’re all being affected by the Covid pandemic,” reflects Lee. “I think there were people who may not have known Mr Fox’s personally but still tuned in to the show because they liked the music played on the radio station; it was also a distraction in these difficult times.
“They too may have lost loved ones and been in a similar situation or, being cooped up in the house, just needed to connect mentally.”
Though the nine night practice is less centred around folklore these days, it remains an important Caribbean funerary custom. Amid the ongoing pandemic and national lockdowns in different countries, mourning families across the world have taken to hosting virtual nine nights during quarantine.
Using online radio, social media, mobile phones and video conferencing, well wishers have found solace in paying tribute to departed loved ones in this way. This has become all the more important, given the statistics around Covid-19 – with Black people four times more likely to die from the virus in the UK than white people.
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After contracting coronavirus early on in the pandemic, Douglas Sparks died in London from related complications on March 27. The 58-year-old was a much-loved reggae artist, known for his work with UK Pressure Records, a London-based musical imprint. He often toured Europe and had a loyal fanbase in the UK.
On April 6, Darren Skinner, one of the label’s CEOs, hosted a nine night for his friend and colleague on UK Pressure Radio.co.uk. The broadcast included live telephone tributes from friends and family, including Sparks’ mum, brother, children and grandchildren, and further tributes in the form of poetry readings and song. An online flyer spread the word to a wider audience.
UK Pressure Records The flyer for Douglas Sparks' nine night
“Douglas was a great man who meant a lot to me and also the record label team; we felt it was only right we should give him a tribute night,” Skinner tells HuffPost UK. “His death was a huge loss to us all. Not only did we lose a member of our team but a friend, a brother, plus a leader in so many ways.
Sparks always made a point of supporting other artists on the label, he says.. “Due to circumstances beyond our control we would have loved to have celebrated his life in the conventional way – with people attending a venue, artists singing – but we had to find another solution and we did.”
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Broadcasting the nine night was something he’ll never forget, says Skinner, who goes by the DJ name of Mista Stylee. “This was the first time I have ever hosted a nine night live on air and so many people tuned in.” It inspired Sparks’ friends to stage another celebration of his life a few days later, on what would have been his 59th birthday. “What a lovely night it was,” he says.
Another virtual nine night was held for Beverley Muir – fondly known as Lady Bev – following her death from Covid-19 complications on April 1. The Londoner was the sister of late Jamaican community leader Willie “Haggart” Moore and grew up on the island before migrating to Britain.
Along with her brother, Beverley was an original member of the dancehall entertainment collective known as the ‘Black Roses’ crew – led by Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy – which counted Grammy award-winning rapper Beenie Man and singer Barrington Levy among its supporters in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Supplied Bev Muir's nine night flyer.
“It’s testament to the importance of the nine night tradition that during these challenging times people are still finding a way to mark the ritual,” says playwright Natasha Gordon who made history in 2018 when she became the first Black British woman to have a play in the West End. The critically-acclaimed Nine Night, which began life at the National Theatre, followed a Jamaican-British family’s observation of the funerary tradition.
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Gordon, herself of Jamaican descent, has experienced her own bereavements during the crisis. Shortly after the lockdown was announced in the UK, Gordon’s maternal grandfather and father died within weeks of one another – with a virtual nine night held for her father who lived in the US.
“For my grandfather, my family set up a Zoom call and were able to enjoy the virtual experience with many friends and family, playing music and toasting him,” she says. “A lover of music and Dragon stout, my grandfather would definitely have approved.”
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
“I chose a smaller affair, celebrating with my immediate family in the house, though my sound system played just as loud,” she adds. “I don’t mind sharing that when my father’s nine night came around I was emotionally exhausted and felt like anything but celebrating.”
That afternoon, Gordon says, she fell asleep with a heavy feeling in her chest “like a tight knot.” When she woke a couple of hours later, she “couldn’t face” greeting a community of faces online but her partner and children assisted her in capturing the event by creating a digital flyer to send to family and friends.
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“I asked them to participate by sending any photos they had of him, and by raising a glass and, if they felt like it, to send me a picture of themselves with their chosen beverage,” she explains. “The response was immediate. I couldn’t have imagined the buoyancy I’d feel as picture, after message, after picture began to arrive. Slowly, slowly, the pain in the centre of my chest started to lift.”
With New York City suffering from a higher coronavirus death rate than some countries, it has been the locus of more than one virtual nine night. Howard Beckford, 33, a Jamaican man living in New Jersey, recently helped to arrange a virtual nine night for his late father-in-law who hailed from Guyana.
Archbishop Hodge died in New York on April 10, aged 68, from coronavirus complications. He was the head of Lotus Unity Sabbath Church of Higher Consciousness INC church in New York.
“My wife and I came up with this idea because it was impossible to physically meet with the other family members, so we did it online where the family members and friends could participate,” Beckford told HuffPost UK.
“People were initially surprised about the concept because this was the first time that many of us were seeing and doing a virtual nine night,” he adds. “But they were excited and supportive, as they were able to be apart of something we would normally gather to do in person. It was well received”.
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Howard feels that virtual nine nights will now become the new normal. “For now, online nine nights will be the norm. And, in the future, I believe those who are distant will be using this as a way to observe this tradition.”
Natasha Gordon cannot disagree. A week and a half after her father’s nine night, the playwright is still feeling comforted by its sense of community and compassion. “I’m under no illusions about the capricious nature of grief; past experience has taught me how it creeps up on you,” she says.
“But if there were any teachings left unlearnt about the importance of this tradition, then I have discovered even more over these past few weeks than I knew when I wrote my play.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--These Flatmates Take A Photo Of Themselves Every Day In Lockdown

James Dearden James, James and John stage their own quarantine photoshoot every day
We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus lockdown. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
“Having a half-hour conversation about constructing chess pieces out of cardboard really puts things into perspective,” says James Page, 25, who lives in Oval, London with two of his best friends, John and (another) James.
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“Lockdown is shit – it’s hard and can be super frustrating at times,” Page continues, “so I guess we’re wanting to keep each other’s spirits up by making these ridiculous photos, and it works – it keeps the three of us entertained.”
Ever since March 17, six days before the UK lockdown officially began, the three flatmates, who rent together, have taken a photograph of themselves doing something silly and shared it online.
The shoots have gradually become more ambitious, and what started as a way to keep spirits high in the house is now cheering a wider audience.
Day Forty Four. ON WEDNESDAYS WE WEAR PINK. THERE’S A 30% CHANCE THAT IT’S ALREADY RAINING. pic.twitter.com/IX20a7eWRx — James Page (@pagie94) April 29, 2020
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“The number of old colleagues, friends, and friends of friends who have reached out to tell us how much it’s made their day, or kept them entertained really is what has kept us motivated,” says John Mitchell, 26, a medical researcher who moonlights as prop master for the purposes of the lockdown shoots.
“We had to shout out Star Wars on May the Fourth,” says Page. “And we celebrated a month of quarantine by hosting a birthday party for our isolation.”
James Page Jump. In. The. Pool.
“A lot of the ideas came from things we would normally do, or were meant to do before the virus,” says James Dearden, 26, who like the other James is a creative producer by day, but resident cameraman for the house shoots.
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Skiing, sushi making, brunch, climbing, gym, yoga, swimming, mini-golf... all impossible under quarantine, but achievable with a little imagination and tape. Other pics are more down-to-earth, reflecting our new day-to-day – such as day 39, captioned: “Get in loser, we’re going online shopping.”
James Page Peak quarantine.
Given how prop-and-outfit laden the photos are, the housemates say their new fans (and detractors) on social media would be surprised to hear they’re quite straightforward to create. “My favourite comment so far was ‘they look like they can afford to do something like this,’ which is hilarious as everything is made of cardboard and tinfoil... copious amounts of tinfoil,” says Dearden.
Day Forty One. FEELING A LITTLE BOXED IN. pic.twitter.com/lzwjK4Unj1 — James Page (@pagie94) April 26, 2020
Straightforward doesn’t mean quick. The shoots sometimes take all evening and planning sessions eat up the weekends – a commitment given all three are working permanent jobs during the day (and feel “very lucky” for that).
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Part of what keeps the housemates entertained is how much each session differs: one day they’ll be sitting around a campfire after nightfall to get the perfect shot; another morning, they’re up early to pose for a yoga session.
Most of all, the project has given them something to bond over. “We feel so lucky to have flatmates we get along with,” says Mitchell. “We know that’s not the case for some people, as well as all the uncertainty with jobs, businesses and paying bills.”
Will they be sad when lockdown inevitably comes to an end? The trio are in discussions about how to wrap up the daily shoots when life eventually, inevitably gets back to normal.
“I’m sorry to say our lives will have to as well,” confirms Mitchell, who promises a few corkers first. “We’ve got some excellent ideas in the pipeline,” he teases. “We were careful not to get all our best ideas in at once.”
“The one thing I’ll take from all of this the most,” chips in Dearden, “is that you really can make ANYTHING with a bit of cardboard and a shit ton of tinfoil.”
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Update: on Sunday May 10, the housemates staged a photoshoot inspired by this HuffPost UK article. We’re thrilled to be recognised. See the Day 55 edition, entitled “Pressing times. No paparazzi, please” below.
Day Fifty Five. PRESSING TIMES. NO PAPARAZZI, PLEASE. pic.twitter.com/o3lky8LTRS — James Page (@pagie94) May 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--5 Smart Ways Parents Are Getting Their Kids To Talk About Covid-19 Feelings

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As the coronavirus pandemic picked up steam, Natalie Long wanted to find some ways for her family — particularly her 8-year-old daughter — to record what was going on in the world and in their hearts and minds.
So she created a Covid-19 time capsule workbook — that promptly went viral, much to her surprise.
Long, who runs an Etsy shop that sells printable art, has made a free PDF of the workbook available to anyone who wants to download it and who wants to help their children mark this moment in their lives. One page in the time capsule asks kids to write down how they’re feeling; another prompts them to write a letter to themselves.
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“I’m so thankful it is helping others in this time, working through things in a ‘fun’ way ... and [giving them] a way to document their thoughts and feelings for their future selves,” Long told HuffPost.
Inspired by her project — and in recognition of the fact that so many children are having a tough time emotionally right now — we asked our brilliant HuffPost Parents community for the activities and strategies we’re using at home to get our kiddos to open up.
Here are five tactics you’re trying that seem to really work:
1. Write a family newspaper.
HuffPost Parents reader Andrea says her family “publishes” a weekly newspaper. They post it to Facebook and also email it to their kids’ teachers, though you and your kids can obviously share publicly (or not!) in whatever way feels right to you.
What’s neat about Andrea’s family “newspaper” is that it doesn’t just include stories about what her family has been up to in the past week; it also has an op-ed section. And that’s where the kids can really dig into their emotional experiences.
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“Each day, I interview the kids, often with questions pertaining to their feelings about our current situation,” Andrea said. “Occasionally they don’t feel like sharing, but on those days they like to interview me — and their questions for me are just as revealing and indicative of their feelings as their answers.”
2. Use their pretend play as a jumping-off point.
HuffPost Parents reader Heather says she has been making a real effort to tune into her 4-year-old’s play, using it as kind of a stealth opportunity to work through any anxieties he’s feeling.
“For a while after isolation started, he would talk about a monster that would make him sick and wanted to kill him,” Heather said. “We talked about how monsters can be scary, but if we keep ourselves safe it can help us fight monsters off. Later, he was pretending his friends wouldn’t come play with him. While still playing, I explained that his friends were not going to anyone’s house, that everyone was staying home — not just him.”
It’s a powerful approach, because play is an essential aspect of childhood development and an important ways for parents and kids to bond.
Long Creations Nicole Long, of Long Creations, thought her time capsule project would just be for her own family, but is happy it has found so many fans.
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3. Get in the habit of offering a simple, consistent prompt.
For HuffPost Parents reader Jessica, getting her three kids (ages 3, 6 and 7) to open up about Covid-19 means sticking with a simple habit they’ve already developed: Asking them to name one good thing from their day, as well as one bad or challenging thing.
“Each person talks about their day by identifying one thing they celebrated and one thing they hoped would get better,” Jessica said. “Many angles of dealing with the pandemic have come up this way.” She noted that her kids especially respond to being given the chance to open up about their feelings, knowing that everyone in their family is really listening.
Even if that particular prompt doesn’t work for your family, it can help to find one that does. My own 5-year-old hates the high/low point prompt (“I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS, MUUUM”), but he’s recently gotten very into check-ins on the “mood meter” — basically, a four-colour chart his teachers taught him about what he’s feeling at a particular moment in time.
4. Go first.
“My youngest doesn’t like to talk about her feelings. She’s very much a ‘keep-to-herself’ type of person,” said HuffPost Parents reader Rikki.
Her simple strategy for getting her daughter to open up? Deliberately talking about what she herself is feeling, particularly in terms of what she misses, what she can’t wait to do again and where she is emotionally on any given day.
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“She then started to talk about how she was sad that she missed out on her school music program and how she felt like school was taken from her,” Rikki said. “I think by expressing my feelings, she felt it was OK to express hers.”
Indeed, child mental health experts stress that it’s really important for parents not to shy away from talking to their kids about what’s going on in the world and what they themselves are feeling. As the Child Mind Institute says: “Kids worry more when they’re kept in the dark.”
5. Try poetry.
“My 13-year-old’s teacher had some poetry assignments a couple of weeks ago. We were amazed by the poems he created,” said reader Rachael. “[He] expressed himself better than he could have verbally.”
There is definitely research suggesting poetry can help people tap into deep emotions, and teachers often speak to its ability to help kids explore hard-to-describe aspects of their lives. If you’re not sure where to start, just Google “poetry prompts for children” and see if anything comes up that appeals to your kiddo.
But if that isn’t your child’s thing, or they’re simply not there yet developmentally, simply giving them a journal can help. It’s a safe space for them to work through their feelings, and it could be an incredibly interesting record for them to have down the road.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Pubs, Restaurants And Cafes Could Reopen In Summer, Boris Johnson Tells Nation

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Pubs, cafes and restaurants could start to reopen in summer, providing they are able to operate social distancing measures.
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Boris Johnson said the hospitality industry could begin trading again as early as July, under strict conditions and as long as the spread of coronavirus continues to be brought under control.
In his address to the nation on Sunday setting out a “roadmap” for the easing of lockdown, the PM said: “If, and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.
“Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity. We are going to be driven by the science, the data and public health.
“And I must stress again that all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big ifs.”
Pubs could reopen in summer if they are able to observe social distancing. Education Images via Getty Images
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Johnson said the entire country must “continue to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R [rate of infection] down”.
Schools, nurseries and non-essential shops will remain closed until at least June 1, with a phased return planned for pupils, starting with young primary-aged children.
He gave five phases of a “Covid alert level” that will be primarily influenced by the rate of transmission, or R, which he said is between 0.5 and 0.9 “but potentially just below one”.
“No, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week,” he said. “Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”
Cumbria Tourism, the board covering UK holiday hotspot the Lake District, tweeted it was “shocked” at the PM’s announcement and said its attractions would remain closed.
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We are shocked by the timing and short notice of tonight's announcement. We are awaiting further details but the safety of residents must come first. For now, tourism businesses in Cumbria remain closed and we urge everyone to continue to #StayHome. — Cumbria Tourism (@cumbriatourism) May 10, 2020
But the National Trust said it was reviewing plans for reopening sites following the speech.
“Following the prime minister’s broadcast outlining the government’s gradual road map out of lockdown, we will begin to review its effect on our reopening plans,” a spokeswoman said.
Last week, the trust said it was working on plans to reopen sites, which have been shut to the public since March 24.
Johnson urged those who are unable to work from home, such as construction workers and manufacturers, to return to work, as part of the first phase of reopening the economy.
But Trades Union Congress general secretary Frances O’Grady said Johnson’s statement would cause “a lot of confusion and anxiety”.
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“The government still hasn’t published guidance on how workers will be kept safe. So how can the prime minister – with 12 hours’ notice – tell people they should be going back to sites and factories? It’s a recipe for chaos,” she added.
“Unions want to support a safe return to work so we can start rebuilding Britain. Government must provide clear direction to workers and business by introducing tough new rules on workplace safety.
“That’s the only way to build public confidence in their plans and get the economy moving.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer House of Commons - PA Images via Getty Images
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government’s latest strategy was not based on political consensus.
He told Sky News: “What I really wanted, I pushed them on this last week, I said ‘build a consensus around the plan before you deliver the plan’ that’s been delivered this evening.
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“Because I think the public are very scared and anxious about what comes next. They want reassurance.
“And if they can see political parties, employers, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland all broadly on the same page – that helps with reassurance and confidence.
“But I’m afraid we’ve arrived tonight without that.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Here's How The Rules Of Lockdown Have Changed

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Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on Sunday evening was delivered against a backdrop of uncertainty.
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Hours after Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon called his updated strategy for continuing to control Covid-19 “vague and imprecise”, the PM set out to clarify the message.
While announcing a slight relaxation of lockdown measures, Johnson warned he would “not hesitate to put on the brakes” should there be an increase in cases of the deadly virus, which claimed hundreds more lives over the bank holiday weekend.
So what does “stay alert, control the virus, save lives” really mean for you? Here’s how the rules – which come into effect on Wednesday – have changed.
Work
Despite some initial confusion among government ministers, the PM was clear in his speech that people who are able to work from home should continue to do so.
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However, those who cannot, such as construction and manufacturing workers, are being encouraged to return to their jobs.
Workplaces will be given support and guidance to ensure they are “Covid secure” by implementing social distancing tactics and protective equipment for staff.
It is the first step in re-opening the economy, but for most people a return to the office won’t be on the cards for some time.
“Work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home,” Johnson said.
Exercise
Among the more significant relaxations, exercise is no longer limited to once a day – as long as you keep your distance from others.
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“We want to encourage people to take more, and even unlimited, amounts of outdoor exercise,” the PM said.
You can now leave the house multiple times a day to exercise, drive to other locations to exercise – previously heavily discouraged – and play sport, as long as it’s with members of your own household.
Two-metre social distancing guidelines remain in place regarding anyone else.
Socialising
While you’re now able to sunbathe in your local park, or simply sit and enjoy the fresh air, you can only do so with the people you live with.
It’s still against the rules to meet up with friends and family who do not live under the same roof as you.
“This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week,” Johnson said.
“Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”
He added: “It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe the social distancing and to keep that R [rate of infection] down.”
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Sunbathing in Regent's Park, London. Jo Hale via Getty Images
Travel
While certain sectors are encouraged to return to work, employees have been asked to avoid using public transport where possible.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps warned on Saturday that even a fully operational public transport system “would allow only one in 10 passengers on parts of the network” due to social distancing rules.
Guidance around keeping tubes, trains and buses as clear as possible to allow key workers to use them safely will remain in place. Other workers are encouraged to drive, walk or cycle.
From Wednesday you will be allowed to use your car to drive to other destinations for non-work reasons, but only with members of your own household.
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“It is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down,” Johnson said.
“Thanks to you, we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.”
Masks
While public opinion on wearing protective masks is divided, the PM hinted earlier this month he would be supportive of their widespread use.
He made no mention of advising people to wear them in his latest address to the nation – but further guidance could be published this week.
Johnson previously said he believed masks could help give people “confidence” to go back to work, but on Sunday said it would be “madness” to risk allowing a second spike in the rate of infection.
“We must stay alert. We must continue to control the virus and save lives,” he added.
Schools
Schools and nurseries will remain closed, but if the spread of the virus continues to fall, some pupils could return in June “at the earliest”.
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It would be a phased return, the PM said, beginning with reception, year one and year six pupils.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Boris Johnson Announces 'Careful' Lockdown Changes From Wednesday

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Boris Johnson has announced the first slight changes to the coronavirus lockdown in England will come into force on Wednesday, but warned it would be “madness” to remove restrictions entirely this week.
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The prime minister said people will be permitted to take “unlimited” outdoor exercise, sunbathe, play sports with members of their household and “drive to other destinations”.
Johnson added that from Monday people who cannot work from home will be “actively encouraged” to return to their jobs.
But in the pre-recorded speech to the nation on Sunday evening, the PM said while some rules will be relaxed, fines for people who break the lockdown guidelines will be increased.
“You must obey the rules on social distancing,” he said.
The number of deaths involving Covid-19 that have been registered across the UK currently stands at 33,021.
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Johnson said some children, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6, could return to school by June 1 “at the earliest”.
The “phased” reopening of shops could also be allowed at the start of next month.
Under the PM’s plan, some of the hospitality industry and other public places could be allowed to reopen from the beginning of July.
But he warned he would “not hesitate to put on the brakes” and push back the timetable if the infection rate was not falling.
A new alert system is being established to monitor the threat posed by the virus.
The system, similar to that used to establish the terrorist threat, will be run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre.
The UK is currently at level four of the five-tier system, just below the “most critical” threat – the kind that would have seen the NHS swamped by coronavirus cases.
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Johnson used his address to the nation to suggest the country was now edging towards level three.
The further down the Covid alert level ladder the country goes, the more lockdown measures could be eased.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said Johnson’s speech “raises more questions than it answers”.
“The prime minister appears to be effectively telling millions of people to go back to work without a clear plan for safety or clear guidance as to how to get there without using public transport,” he said.
“What the country wanted tonight was clarity and consensus, but we haven’t got either of those.”
The UK government has been attempting to pursue a “four nations” approach to the coronavirus outbreak, with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all adopting the same tactics.
But the unity broke down in public on Sunday morning when Nicola Sturgeon rejected the prime minister’s decision to soften his public message.
Johnson has replaced his “stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives” slogan with the looser “stay alert, control the virus and save lives”.
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But Sturgeon said she did not want the new message to be deployed in Scotland. “I don’t know what ‘stay alert’ means,” she said.
Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, and Arlene Foster, the first minister of Northern Ireland, have also both said they will stick to the “stay at home” slogan.
Labour has said the new “stay alert” message lacks “clarity” and will leave the public “puzzled”.
In his speech, Johnson said: “From this Wednesday we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.
“You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.
He added: “You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.”
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In a bid to begin reopening the economy, Johnson said from tomorrow “anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction and manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work”.
“We want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible, because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited,” he said.
“So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.”
But he added: ”We must stay alert. We must continue to control the virus and save lives.
“It would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.
“This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week. Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Watch Live: Boris Johnson Addresses UK On State Of Coronavirus Lockdown

Watch Live: Boris Johnson Addresses UK On State Of Coronavirus Lockdown
The Prime Minister unveils a new coronavirus alert system and a possible timetable for the easing of lockdown restrictions, as the global total of confirmed cases surpasses four million.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Nicola Sturgeon Asks UK Government Not To Deploy New Coronavirus Slogan In Scotland

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Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon. WPA Pool via Getty Images
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Nicola Sturgeon has asked the UK government not deploy its new “stay alert” message north of the border.
The Scottish first minister said the advice from her government remains to “stay at home” other than for buying food, getting medicine or exercising.
But Scots will be able to leave the house for exercise more than once a day from Monday, she said, while still adhering to two-metre social distancing guidelines.
Sturgeon said updated guidelines from the UK government urging people to “stay alert” and “control the virus” were “vague and imprecise”.
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“I don’t know what ‘stay alert’ means,” she said.
The first minister said it would be “catastrophic” to drop the “stay at home” advice and that the current messaging was “clear”.
“We are giving these messages now for very good reasons, because we think it is the best way to control the virus,” she added.
Sturgeon said communication between the UK and Scottish governments was “ongoing”, but that she had not yet seen Downing Street’s official plans for easing the lockdown.
On the slight easing of restrictions in Scotland, she told reporters: “If you want to go for a walk more often, or to go for a run and also a walk later on in the day then you can now do so.”
But she said the extension did not apply to those who have symptoms or are living with someone who is showing symptoms, or those who are in the shielding group.
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Sturgeon said it was to be used for exercise only and should not be used for “sunbathing, picnics or barbecues”.
She added: “The fact that you’re allowed to exercise more than once is definitely not a license to start meeting up in groups at the park or at the beach.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--205 More Coronavirus Hospital Deaths Recorded Across The UK In 24 Hours

205 more hospital deaths have been recorded across the UK. WPA Pool via Getty Images
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The number of people who have died in UK hospitals after contracting coronavirus has risen by 205 in 24 hours.
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The increase consists of 178 in England, 10 in Scotland, 5 in Northern Ireland and 12 in Wales.
Fatalities in England were aged between 32 and 98, and a dozen had no underlying health conditions, NHS England said.
Of the 178, 33 occurred on May 9; 88 on May 8 and 27 on May 7.
The figures also show 24 of the new deaths took place between May 1 and May 6, four took place in April, while the remaining two deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on March 17.
NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed and for data from the tests to be validated.
The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day, with a current total of 884.
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UK-wide figures from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) show that as of 9am on Sunday, there have been 1,821,280 tests carried out, with 219,183 positive results.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Police Confront Customer In Swastika Mask, Days After Shopper Seen Wearing Klan Hood In Same Town

A man wears a swastika mask in a Santee, California, grocery story on May 7, 2020, in this blurred-out screenshot from an NBC affiliate's news report. NBC 7 San Diego
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A shopper wearing a swastika face mask has been confronted by police, just days after a man was seen wearing a Klu Klux Klan hood in the same community in south California – the latest examples of white supremacist and anti-Semitic symbols being used to protest lockdowns across the US.
The shopper removed the swastika after being ordered to do so by deputies called to the scene at Food 4 Less in Santee on Thursday, said law enforcement authorities.
The shopper — who later identified himself to the Times of San Diego (and to police) as Santee resident Dustin Hart — uploaded a video of his confrontation with a store clerk and a pair of deputies called to the scene to deal with a “disturbance.” He claimed it was his “First Amendment” right to wear the mask.
But one of the deputies pointed out that he was in a “family friendly” private store that “can make their own rules.” The officer added: “They don’t want people seeing that. It’s offensive.”
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Seconds earlier, the Times reported, a store clerk asked him to remove the mask because it was “basically a hate crime.” He refused.
In a video of the incident Hart posted to BitChute, a right-wing video platform that often features hate speech, he appeared to be with his wife, who was wearing a black T-shirt with the “honkler” clown version of Pepe the Frog, a white nationalist meme.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department issued a statement saying that when deputies “asked for the symbol to be removed, the man complied.” Investigators will “continue to look into the matter,” the statement added. “The Sheriff’s department does not condone hate or acts of intolerance. We are a county that is welcoming of people from all backgrounds.”
Hart was asked not to return to the store, reported NBC 7 in San Diego.
Sad, vile acts like this must not be tolerated here or anywhere else. It’s deeply offensive to the community and our entire region. I want to commend those who alerted law enforcement and our Sheriff’s deputies for their fast response.https://t.co/VcPhCBzrbi — Dianne Jacob (@dianne_jacob) May 8, 2020
Clerks and customers confronted another man provocatively wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood as a face covering in a Vons supermarket in Santee just last weekend. He refused to remove the hood until shortly before he paid for his groceries and left.
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Police identified that shopper at Vons on Tuesday, but did not release his name. They’re continuing to investigate, and will “pursue any appropriate charges” in that instance, said a statement.
People in the community expressed outrage — again — on Friday. San Diego County supervisor Dianne Jacob said that such “sad, vile acts like this must not be tolerated here or anywhere else. It’s deeply offensive to the community and our entire region.”
Santee has a dark history of racist attacks and skinhead activity that earned the San Diego suburb of some 55,000 people the nicknames “Klantee” and “Santucky.”
A man grocery shopping with a KKK hood in Santee, California. The city of Santee has a history of racism & people in southern California call it 'Klantee'. This is Trump's America. pic.twitter.com/AYRdnMVnXK — Stone (@stonecold2050) May 3, 2020
Protests against coronavirus lockdown measures across the UK have featured a number of hate symbols.
The Auschwitz Museum deplored the use of a Nazi slogan by a protester in Chicago earlier this month. She held aloft a sign reading: “Arbeit Macht Frei J.B.” The phrase means “work sets you free,” and was posted at some Nazi death camps where Jews and others were worked to death or killed during World War II. J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, is Jewish.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--Six Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

Around 50,000 coronavirus test samples had to be sent from the UK to the US after “operational issues” in the lab network led to delays in the system.
The news came as the number of daily coronavirus tests fell below health secretary Matt Hancock’s 100,000 target for a seventh day in a row.
Following a report in the Sunday Telegraph, the Department of Health said sending swabs abroad is one of the contingencies to deal with so-called teething problems in a rapidly-expanded testing system.
It is understood the test results will be validated back in the UK and communicated to patients “as quickly as possible”.
The department said work has been undertaken to resolve the issues and capacity is quickly being restored.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “The expansion of the UK’s coronavirus testing network has involved setting up an entirely new ‘Lighthouse’ lab network to process test swabs.
“When problems arise, we have contingencies in place which include creating extra temporary capacity for our labs or sending swabs abroad to partner labs for completion.
“Of course, our partner labs must match our high standards.”
The Sunday Telegraph reported the samples were airlifted to the US in chartered flights from Stansted airport.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-10--This Is What It’s Like To Be A Prison Officer During The Coronavirus Pandemic


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-11--Returning To Work During The Coronavirus Pandemic: Your Employment Rights

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Following the easing of the coronavirus lockdown measures, those who cannot work from home are now being “actively encouraged” to return to their jobs – though they are being warned to avoid public transport if at all possible.
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Many workers may be regarding this news with a sense of trepidation. Is it actually safe to do so? What if I have to get public transport?
Here are some things you need to know.
Which workers can return?
As of Sunday, the only workers Boris Johnson specifically mentioned were those in the construction and manufacturing industry.
On Monday this was elaborated on to include supermarket workers, those in labs and research facilities, tradesmen, delivery drivers, cleaners “and so on”.
A phased reopening of shops will not begin until June at the earliest and some sectors of the hospitality industry may be reopened by July.
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Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK – the manufacturers’ organisation, cautiously welcomed the news, though repeated calls for specific advice on how to make workplaces safe.
He said: “It is critical that there is clear advice on how to do that, and an understanding that firms will be helped to comply as we navigate uncharted waters, and not punished for inadvertent errors.
“In many parts of manufacturing people will need to work much more closely than two metres apart. It is vital that the guidance is explicit about how this may be achieved safely.”
Commuters wait to board a tram in Manchester, after prime minister Boris Johnson said people who cannot work from home should be 'actively encouraged' to return to their jobs Peter Byrne - PA Images via Getty Images
Construction worker Daniel Smith told the Press Association: “I’m fortunate enough where I’m able to return to a job site which is an uninhabited property so I can keep our workers down to a minimum, otherwise I’m sure I’d be feeling a bit different.
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“The industry has a massive contribution to the country’s economy and I’m sure that’s why the prime minister and many others are keen to get the workers back to site but to make that possible it would require much more than just the construction firms opening again.
“Obviously contractors need materials, so many trading merchants will be forced to follow and reopen as well. We’ve seen B&Q open already with many of the public lining up outside the stores, and whilst the active cases in the country are still in the hundreds of thousands, I don’t feel we should be doing anything more to encourage people to be going out any more than they need to.
“Additionally, employees in the construction industry can have actively social work days, meet with lots of different people, sometimes from other areas, and share tools and equipment. It’s going to be incredibly difficult to maintain the social distancing measures. I think it’s a little too soon for the industry myself.”
Can I refuse to return to work if I feel unsafe?
If you have coronavirus symptoms or are particularly vulnerable to the virus, such as those over 70s and those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or asthma, the government advice is that you should continue to stay at home and shield, at least until the end of June.
If you don’t fit into these categories, you are still protected by official legislation that allows workers to remove themselves from a dangerous workplace without recrimination or repercussion. BAME employees are particularly being urged to take note of this.
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Just remember when you're asking employees to use s44 of the Employment Rights Act so they don't have to go to an unsafe place to work, BAME employees are less likely than others to speak out and raise concerns for fear of being discriminated against. Not a one size fits all. — Basit Mahmood (@BasitMahmood91) May 11, 2020
Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 states: “An employee has the right not to be subjected to any detriment by any act, or any deliberate failure to act, by his employer.”
Of these conditions, the relevant one is: “In circumstances of danger which the employee reasonably believed to be serious and imminent and which he could not reasonably have been expected to avert, he left (or proposed to leave) or (while the danger persisted) refused to return to his place of work or any dangerous part of his place of work.”
Again, the absence of specific advice here continues to cloud the matter – though actively enforced social distancing, disinfectants for shared equipment, hand sanitisers and the provision of PPE will certainly be among the conditions required for workplaces to safely reopen. Speaking on Sunday, Richard Burge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce, said: “My strong and unequivocal advice to London businesses is not to change your plans for tomorrow. You have not been given sufficient information on how to get your employees safely to work, nor how to keep them safe while they are there.
“At the moment, it would be foolish for any business leader to encourage staff not already undertaking essential work to do anything but to continue to work from home tomorrow if they can do so.”
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On Monday, the government informed essential retail workers: “If you remain concerned that your employer is not taking all practical steps to promote social distancing then you can report this to your local authority or the Health and Safety Executive who can take a range of action, including where appropriate requiring your employer to take additional steps.”
It urged discussion between employers and staff but added: “If individuals need advice, they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about work disputes.”
It continued that it would be publishing further specific guidelines on how employers can make workplaces safe in due course.
Has your company done a risk assessment?
You have a right to ask if they have. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, “every employer shall provide his employees with comprehensible and relevant information on the risks to their health and safety identified by the assessment” and “the preventive and protective measures”.
The same legislation spells out that employers must make suitable assessments of the risks.
Richard Jones, of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: “Health and safety must come first. People shouldn’t re-enter workplaces until employers are certain that they’re properly managing the risk of infection and providing the support that workers need.
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“Prevention has to be the focus because, if organisations don’t get this right, workplaces can become places of transmission.”
Will the furlough scheme continue?
Firms want to know if the government programme to pay the wages of workers under the furlough scheme will be extended beyond the end of June.
Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses share the prime minister’s ambition to see more people return safely to work over the coming weeks.
“Companies will do everything they can to protect employees and customers, maintain social distancing and operate successfully as more sections of the economy are permitted to re-open.
“Businesses will need to see detailed plans for the phased easing of restrictions, coordinated with all nations across the UK and supported by clear guidance. It is imperative that companies have detailed advice on what will need to change in the workplace, including clarity on the use of PPE.
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“Firms will also need to know that government support schemes, which have helped save millions of jobs in recent weeks, will continue for as long as they are needed so that they can plan ahead with confidence.
“The timing of further easing of restrictions must be guided by the public health evidence, but businesses need their practical questions answered so they can plan to restart, rebuild and renew.”
What if I cannot drive or cycle and have to take public transport?
This is unclear. In a letter to business secretary Alok Sharma, shadow business secretary Ed Miliband and shadow employment rights minister Andy McDonald asked: “The prime minister said [...] he wanted workers to avoid public transport and use cars, bicycles or walk to work but did not explain how. What if none of these are viable options?”
As of Monday afternoon, the government is asking workers to consider whether their journeys are essential before using public transport. It has promised to set out further guidance for passengers with more advice on how to stay safe during journeys later this week – though did provide advice on how to make your own face covering if such journeys prove to be essential.
Indeed, public transport itself could be affected after rail and Tube staff are advised by their unions not to work if they believe conditions are unsafe, amid warnings that “confused” government messages could have “lethal consequences”.
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In a circular to members issued after a meeting of the union’s executive (NEC) on Sunday, the Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) union said there was an existing agreement to discuss changes in working practices that would begin on Monday next week, and there was “total opposition” to imposing them a week earlier.
It said: “Given the confusion and mixed messaging generated by the government in recent days, RMT has no confidence in the ability of the government to manage lockdown or its easing.
“To be clear, no agreement has been made to change any working practices or social distancing arrangements from tomorrow.
“Therefore if two-metre social distancing cannot be maintained we consider it to be unsafe and members have the legal right to use the worksafe process.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-11--Anna Richardson Considering Adoption After Coronavirus Helped 'Focus Mind' On Things She Still Wants

Anna Richardson Considering Adoption After Coronavirus Helped 'Focus Mind' On Things She Still Wants To Do

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Anna Richardson has said she’s considering adopting or fostering a child after the coronavirus pandemic had “focused her mind” on the things she still wants to do.
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But while Anna told Hello! magazine that she “really wants” to “welcome a child into my life”, she said she cannot speak on behalf of her partner.
Anna Richardson Yui Mok/PA Archive
“For some time I’ve toyed with the idea of fostering or adopting a child,” she said.
“I can only speak for myself, not Sue, but I really want to do the training [to foster] and welcome a child into my life.
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“I feel keenly that I’m getting older, that time is running out.
“With the Covid-19 pandemic on top of this, it’s focused my mind on the things I still want to do.”
Anna with partner Sue Perkins WENN
Anna said that she had also been thinking about “fertility coming to an end with the menopause”, which she is now going through.
“You suddenly think, ‘But I still have this desire to look after someone, to make a difference to a child who perhaps didn’t have the same opportunities as me’, so I’m keen to explore that,” she said.
Anna and Sue have been in lockdown together, with the former saying that the pair have “taken up online poker with friends” to help fill their time.
She added: “Sue’s a fantastic cook and her vegetarian curries are legendary. She’s showed me how to knit, too.
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“It’s like going back to the 1950s where we’re at home cooking, gardening and making things.”
The presenter fell in love with Sue after meeting through a mutual friend at a Halloween party in 2014, after her 18-year relationship with boyfriend Charles Martin ended.
The full interview with Anna appears in this week’s issue of Hello!, out now.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-11--Boris Johnson Urged By Tory MP To Explain Why Young Are Still In Lockdown

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Boris Johnson must now explain the “clinical case” for “his lockdown”, including why younger people cannot be released from restrictions while protecting the vulnerable .
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Senior Tory MP Steve Baker called for “transparency” from the prime minister so the British public can “understand the true balance of risks” of coronavirus.
He told HuffPost UK there was a risk that Johnson will lose public consent for the lockdown unless he makes clear the scientific reasoning for the restrictions, which some people are already beginning to breach.
Baker called for an explanation about how the disease affects people from different age groups and questioned why younger people who are at a much lower risk of dying cannot have “a more normal existence”.
He is one of several Conservatives growing increasingly concerned about the economic and wider health impacts of the lockdown.
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Conservative MP Steve Baker Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Johnson on Sunday night set out a limited easing of the restrictions, including allowing people unlimited time outside and encouraging more people to go to work.
But he made clear that more significant lifting including the reopening of non-essential shops would not come until June at the earliest, with no prospect of leisure activities like eating at restaurants or going to the cinema until at least the start of July.
Johnson is facing pressure to appear before the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs to explain the reasoning behind the lockdown, but has not yet agreed to appear.
The committee usually meets every Wednesday evening.
Baker told HuffPost UK: “The prime minister really needs to set out transparently all of the clinical advice about the disease and how the epidemic would return if he relaxed the lockdown.
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“Absolute transparency about the scientific advice on the disease is really necessary now.
“I’ve talked to people locally who have told me they are starting to meet people - I have had to say that is not actually the law, the law requires that you don’t do it.
“But I think public consent will be in danger if the prime minister and the government don’t just openly set out the clinical case for lockdown.
“People are starting to believe that they understand something of this disease but of course those of us without access to the data and without epidemiological expertise can’t honestly say that we fully understand it.
“And that’s why we need the prime minister to set out the case for his lockdown very clearly, and it is his lockdown.”
Baker said he wanted to know what the government has learned about the transmission of the virus and how it affects different groups.
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“Some commentators have proposed segmentation of the vulnerable,” he said.
“He needs to explain why that’s not acceptable, why everyone needs to be part of his lockdown and why it wouldn’t be acceptable to give vulnerable people shielding whilst less vulnerable people have a more normal existence.