thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Can I Still Move House In Lockdown? A Guide For Renters, Sellers And Buyers

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Buyers and renters have been left in limbo since the UK has been on lockdown. Those moving homes were told: don’t do it unless absolutely necessary.
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This has resulted in a lot of confusion, with many wondering whether they can still go ahead without being fined for doing so.
Alexa Cobbold, 31, has been in the process of buying a house for several months and was near to exchanging before the lockdown hit. The digital PR account manager, who lives with her partner in Leeds, told HuffPost UK: “We’re not even sure what’s going on anymore as our estate agents are not letting us know what’s happening.”
While she recognises they’re fortunate as they’re still living in a nice flat, she said it’s “frustrating” to be in this state of limbo.
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One of Cobbold’s primary concerns is whether their mortgage offer will last beyond this period – particularly as they didn’t get to the point of exchanging. As it stands, mortgage lenders may be able to let customers who have exchanged contracts extend their mortgage offer for up to three months. But the likelihood is that the rest will have to start over.
Another reader told us the delay was a “gut punch” as they’d been waiting five years to move back north to their hometown but were unable to up until now due to child custody arrangements.
So if you’re in a similar situation – whether you’re renting or buying – what do you need to know?
What is the guidance for moving homes?
For buyers and sellers, the guidance states that where the property being moved into is empty, people can continue because the risk of catching Covid-19 is far lower. However, where the property being moved into is occupied, the government is encouraging people to “amicably agree alternative dates to move”.
Colby Short, founder and CEO of estate agent comparison site GetAgent.co.uk, believes the market could see 290,000 transactions at risk.
There’s no need to pull out of a move, the government states, but you still need to ensure you’re following guidance to stay at home and away from others at all times. This is easier said than done when you’re in a lengthy chain.
Rob McKellar, head of residential conveyancing at law firm Slater and Gordon, tells HuffPost UK that if the property you’re moving into is occupied, “it can still proceed if the move is essential”.
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Anyone with symptoms, or who is self-isolating or shielding from the virus, should follow medical advice and not move house for the time being.
So you won’t be fined if you move house?
Some buyers contacted HuffPost UK anonymously with concerns they’d be fined if they continued to move house. If a move is critical and a new date cannot be agreed, then “it is exempted from the emergency police powers and home movers cannot, in those circumstances, be fined”, said McKellar.
“Where contracts have exchanged, this would qualify as a critical move if the seller and buyer cannot reach agreement around alternative arrangements. Equally, where a move is urgent and essential but contracts have not yet exchanged, this would qualify and movers cannot be fined.”
If you do go ahead, you must follow social-distancing guidance during the process – so staying two metres away from others and regularly washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
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Removal firms should still be in operation at this time and honour moves that have been booked in. The latest guidance, as of 26 March, states that work carried out in people’s homes can continue, provided the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms or coronavirus.
How should estate agents be helping those who are moving?
Short, from GetAgent.co.uk, said estate agents have a valuable role to play and it’s important they keep clients in the loop. The government has advised estate agents to “progress sales where this can be done” whilst following guidance to stay at home and away from others.
However, Jenny Jones*, a 28-year-old teacher, said she received little information from her estate agents. Jones is currently living in a flat with her boyfriend in Boreham Wood and they’re looking to buy their first home together.
The process has been a “rough ride” anyway due to a big chain, she said. Before coronavirus hit the UK, they were close to exchanging – there was just one survey left to be done. On Friday, the estate agents broke their silence to confirm everything is on hold with their move.
“It is down to the nation’s estate agents to demonstrate their worth by acting as the lynchpin between both buyers and sellers to keep them as informed as possible via any and all channels of communication,” said Short.
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What if you’re renting?
The government has advised renters not to move – however, this is only guidance. For people who had planned to move into a rental accommodation, McKellar said where contracts have exchanged or a tenancy agreement has been signed by both the landlord and the tenant, these documents will remain legally binding and enforceable.
“Neither a contract nor a tenancy agreement says you have to physically move on a specific day,” he added. “What they usually say is that money must change hands on a specific day, and the landlord must make the property available for the tenant to move into on a specific day.”
This means if you were worried you’d signed an agreement and had to move on a set day, but were self-isolating or wanted to hold off moving because of the latest advice, you are within your rights to delay moving.
If you’re unsure about the status of your move, contact the landlord or estate agent.
What if you’re selling up?
If your property had been on the market, but you were yet to have a buyer, you could boost its value in the meantime with some tactful renovations during the lockdown period.
“If you have the right equipment and know-how, easy fixes include a freshly-painted exterior or front door, cleaning the windows, clearing gutters and tidying the driveway,” said Mike Scott, chief property analyst at Yopa estate agency.
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“Now is also a great time to get out in the garden. With many people cooped up in flats just as the sun has started shining, outdoor space will be rising on the list of must-haves for buyers.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Trump Administration Deems Gun Sales A 'Critical' Activity Amid COVID-19 Crisis

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The Trump administration has determined that the firearms industry — from manufacturing to retail sales and shooting ranges — is a “critical” service that should continue to operate amid the coronavirus crisis.
The firearms industry was added Saturday to a federal list created a week earlier of “essential critical infrastructure” elements during the COVID-19 emergency.
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“Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors and shooting ranges” are “typically considered essential to continued critical infrastructure viability,” said an updated statement by the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The new statement was listed under a “law enforcement” and “public safety” section.
Other critical operations on the lengthy list include energy, telecommunications, food production, emergency services, government offices, transportation and health care.
The list is not a directive, but advisory for states and municipal governments as many shut down inessential businesses to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
It’s “intended to help state, local, tribal and territorial officials as they work to protect their communities while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security,” said the CISA statement.
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The Los Angeles County sheriff shut down gun stores this month after California Governor Gavin Newsom left decisions on critical infrastructure up to county governments. Gun groups immediately sued.
The addition of the firearms industry as a critical operation comes amid lobbying by gun groups as firearm and ammunition sales skyrocket across the nation.
The move was immediately blasted by gun-control advocates. The Brady Campaign called it “contemptible, ill-conceived and dangerous.”
Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said it’s time now to focus on the “health and safety of all Americans — not the bottom line of the gun industry.”
The centre warned that “panic-buying” of firearms by a fearful public during the pandemic crisis will “help no one,” and “poses serious dangers.”
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Officials “should make decisions based on ... public health experts, not misinformation spread by gun industry actors attempting to profit off this crisis,” the centre warned.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--The Foods You Didn't Know You Could Freeze So Your Supplies Last Longer

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Our supermarket habits are changing. We’re trying to make the foods we have in our cupboards last longer, reduce waste and limit the amount of times we need to head out to the shops.
For those who want to make their weekly supermarket shop go a long way, freezing could be the answer to your food waste woes.
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Why freeze?
In short: it makes the food we buy last longer. A freezer acts like a “pause button”, explains the Food Standards Agency – meaning the food in a freezer doesn’t deteriorate and most bacteria can’t grow in it. Basically, the bacteria are still alive, but they stop growing or producing toxins, in effect pausing reactions.
You can freeze pre-packaged food right up to the ‘use by’ date – leftovers and homemade goods should be frozen as soon as possible.
Make sure any warm dishes are cooled before putting them in your freezer. And, to stop cold air in your freezer drying out your food, place it in an air-tight container or wrap it well in freezer bags or freezer wrap.
Helen White, special advisor at Love Food Hate Waste, says labelling what’s in your freezer is always a good idea so you avoid UFOs: unidentified frozen objects! “And pop the date on your label too,” she tells HuffPost UK, “so you know how long it’s been in there.
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“Your food in theory can stay in the freezer as long as you need, but the quality will start to deteriorate after about 3–6 months, so keep an eye on those dates!”
Foods to freeze
The team at Love Food Hate Waste tell HuffPost UK we can all be freezing the following:
Eggs . “Separate into yolks and whites before freezing, and label your containers when they go in the freezer.”
Milk . “Smaller amounts freeze better, and won’t take forever to defrost. Try freezing in ice-cube trays so you’ve got the perfect amount to drop into your brew.”
Cheese . “Grated cheese freezes brilliantly and you can just grab a handful whenever you need it.”
Herbs . “Fresh herbs can be hard to use up in time, so chop them up, sprinkle them into ice cube trays, and pour in a bit of water. You can add these to the pan next time you’re making a sauce, stir fry, or curry!”
All your veggie offcuts and peels . “Keep a container or reusable freezer bag in one of the freezer drawers and add whatever peelings you’ve got. When it’s full, use to make stock.”
Bread . “We all knew you could freeze bread, right? Pop your sliced loaf in the freezer (tap it on the counter first to separate the slices), and you can grab one whenever you fancy a bit of toast.”
Leftover portions. “These make perfect homemade ‘ready meals’ for when you need something quick and easy. Let your leftovers cool down before freezing and then you can keep them for another day.”
How to defrost
When defrosting the food, there are a few guidelines to follow to make sure you’re doing it safely. Don’t defrost food at room temperature, advises the FSA – ideally, it should be defrosted fully in the fridge. But if this isn’t possible, you can use a microwave on the defrost setting directly before cooking.
Also, make sure your food is fully defrosted before cooking. Partially defrosted food may not cook evenly, meaning that harmful bacteria could survive the cooking process. Once food has been defrosted, eat it within 24 hours.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Jeremy Clarkson Blasts MailOnline Headline As He Clarifies Coronavirus Comments

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Jeremy Clarkson has hit back at the Daily Mail, suggesting they misquoted his recent comments about the coronavirus pandemic in a story on their website.
In his latest column for The Sun, published over the weekend, the former Top Gear presenter suggested that those who still have to go out while the country is on lockdown should try and get to their destination by driving.
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He also suggested that driving restrictions, such as parking limitations and traffic cameras, should be abolished during the pandemic.
In the piece, titled “I have the answer to going out and staying safe… it’s called a motor car”, Clarkson wrote: “[I] have a helpful suggestion for people who really do need to get to work. A suggestion that no one will have considered. It’s a means of transport that’s virus proof.
“You can’t be infected when you’re inside it and you can’t pass your infection on to anyone else. It’s called the ‘motor car’.”
Jeremy Clarkson at the GQ Car Awards last month David M. Benett via Getty Images
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He continued: “During the Covid-19 outbreak, when it’s important we keep our distance, all parking restrictions should be lifted.
“Cars should be allowed to use both bus and cycle lanes and all traffic cameras should be turned off. I know this flies in the face of what the eco-mentalists say is good for us but buses are petri dishes so park them at the depot.
“Trains and the Tube are no better, so turn off the power immediately. In the last three months of last year, 32 million people in this country had jobs. And that’s handy because at the last count there were 32 million cars registered for use on the road.
“This means that everyone can get to their place of work, safely, in a virus-proof cocoon. Strange isn’t it. For years we were told that cars would one day kill us all. But now it’s obvious that actually, they are our knights in shining armour.”
The following day, the Daily Mail published an article on their website based around the comments made in his column, with the headline: “‘You can’t get coronavirus in a car!’ Jeremy Clarkson urges people to keep driving during Covid-19 crisis amid government advice to stay at home.”
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However, the divisive quiz show host took issue with the piece, insisting on Twitter: “This is NOT what I said… I said that if you need to go to work, or the shops, you should drive. And parking restrictions and the congestion charge should be removed.”
This is NOT what I said. pic.twitter.com/d8AKHSIDrE — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 29, 2020
I said that if you need to go to work, or the shops, you should drive. And parking restrictions and the congestion charge should be removed. — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 29, 2020
Why does the Mail employ halfwits? — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 29, 2020
He added: “Why does the Mail employ halfwits?”
In a tweet addressed to the MailOnline, he also urged them to “take [the] story down”. The original piece remains on their website.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--No, Gogglebox's Jenny And Lee Haven't Been Breaking Social Distancing Rules

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Gogglebox star Lee Riley has explained why he and on-screen partner Jenny Newby still appeared together in the most recent episode, despite the current lockdown.
Since they first began appearing on the hit Channel 4 show in 2014, Lee has always joined best friend Jenny in her caravan to pass comment on the week of TV.
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However, government rules aiming to prevent the spread of coronavirus mean that people are not allowed to accept visitors at their homes, unless there is a medical reason or they need to tend to a vulnerable person.
Answering any possible questions viewers might have had about how he had managed to get round the rules in order to film Gogglebox, Lee revealed he has actually moved in with Jenny so they can continue to do the show together during this period of social distancing.
Jenny and Lee on Gogglebox Channel 4
He tweeted: “Jenny and me watching together as we are both on lockdown TOGETHER.”
“Friends with no benefits I may add,” he joked.
Well what can we say it’s Friday and it’s still on #Gogglebox 👏👏👏👏Jenny and me watching together as we are both on lockdown TOGETHER friends with no benefits I may add 😂😂an hour of laughs stay safe stay well #StayHomeSavesLives — Lee And Jenny (@leegogglebox) March 27, 2020
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HuffPost UK has contacted a Gogglebox spokesperson to clarify if this is also the case for other families from the show who don’t all live in the same household.
The show’s makers recently announced that they had taken measures to allow “the families to take part without any contact from crew” with their homes fitted with remote cameras.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Dominic Cummings Self-Isolating After Experiencing Coronavirus Symptoms

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Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s chief adviser, is self-isolating at home after experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
He is the latest senior figure in government to be affected by the pandemic, after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock both tested positive.
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England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, also self-isolating with symptoms.
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Scottish secretary Alister Jack has also announced he was following guidance and self-isolating after developing mild symptoms, although he has not been tested.
Alok Sharma, the business secretary, has insisted there were “no gaps in government”.
On Saturday he said the prime minister was still “leading the response from the front” – behind closed doors.
Cummings was last seen in public on Friday, running out of Downing Street, shortly after the PM’s positive status was confirmed.
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Johnson has said the UK will get through the coronavirus crisis “together” after Britons were warned restrictions on their lives may last for at least six months.
The prime minister issued the words of encouragement, praising the 750,000 volunteers who have offered to assist the NHS.
On Sunday, England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the nation will not be in “complete lockdown” for half a year but said social distancing measures will be lifted gradually.
Harries said the three-week reviews on the measures to slow the disease’s spread are likely to continue for six months and their success would be judged on slowing its rate.
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A sudden lifting, she said, could see the nation’s sacrifices “wasted” with another spike in deaths, which have reached 1,228.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Bugzy Malone 'Lucky To Be Alive' After Quad Biking Accident

British rapper Bugzy Malone has told fans he’s “lucky to be alive” after he was injured in a quad biking accident last week.
Bugzy – real name Aaron Davis – was involved in a collision with a car in Bury, Greater Manchester on Wednesday, after which he was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Bugzy Malone performing at Wireless last year Lorne Thomson via Getty Images
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He has now given fans a reassuring update on his condition, posting on social media for the first time since the crash.
“They tell me I’m lucky to be alive, I sustained serious injuries and at the time I lost consciousness,” the 29-year-old wrote. “But what I do remember is the [non-stop] love, and just want to say thanks for all the well wishes and prayers you lot caught me off guard with all the support!”
He ended the message with the hashtag “#ImOK”, alongside images of the aftermath of the accident, and the injuries he sustained to his face.
They tell me i’m lucky to be alive, I sustained serious injuries and at the time I lost consciousness but what I do remember is the none stop love, and just want to say thanks for all the well wishes and prayers you lot caught me off guard with all the support! ❤ #ImOk pic.twitter.com/XA4i9um3ME — Bugzy Malone (@TheBugzyMalone) March 29, 2020
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Last week, his team told fans that the artist was in a “stable condition”, tweeting: “I can now confirm that [Bugzy Malone] is in a stable condition. He remains in hospital whilst being monitored and assessed.
“He would love privacy for him and his family while recovering so let us leave him at peace until stable enough to make a comeback on social media.”
They later said: “It’s been a very craaazy last 24hrs which was not obviously intended & shows how quick life can turn.
“I just wanted to say to everyone who has wished and prayed for bugzy & anyone in general, stay safe and keep healthy, keep your loved ones close and live your life! Thank You.”
I can now confirm that @TheBugzyMalone is in a stable condition. He remains in hospital whilst being monitored and assessed. He would love privacy for him and his family while recovering so let us leave him at peace until stable enough to make a comeback on social media ❤ — Bugzy Malone Official Fan Page (@TheBugzymaloneT) March 26, 2020
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Bugzy Malone released his debut album B. Inspired in 2018, reaching number five in the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus - 30 March
20,000 retired NHS staff will help fight coronavirus in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is continuing to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus, has said. The announcement comes as experts warn it could be six months before life in the UK returns to normal. In the US, Donald Trump has extended social distancing measures until the end of April. The death rate in Italy has fallen for the second consecutive day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--UK Not Yet Testing 10,000 A Day For Coronavirus Despite Government's Claims, Health Minister Admits

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Health minister Helen Whately has conceded the government has yet to hit its target of testing 10,000 people a day for coronavirus, despite other ministers having claimed that figure had been reached.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, Whately said the government now had only “achieved the capacity to have 10,000 people a day tested”.
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She admitted the actual number of people tested on Sunday was “around 7,000″.
“Within the next three weeks we expect to get to 25,000 tests a day,” she added.
Whately said testing was “really important” but “overall the key to this is the huge national effort”.
An NHS worker being tested for coronavirus at a temporary testing station in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Chessington, Greater London. PA
That is in contrast to the words of Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, who told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: “We had 10,000 tests yesterday.
“This is just ahead of the deadline that was set by the health secretary Matt Hancock.”
Hancock also tweeted yesterday morning claiming the 10,000 figure had been reached.
NEWS: Good news that we’ve reached 10,000 #coronavirus tests a day - ahead of schedule. We’re on track to 25,000. #StayHomeSaveLives — Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 29, 2020
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British Medical Association (BMA) council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul yesterday called for testing to be given to all healthcare staff quickly, in particular those in general practice.
The government has said testing of NHS staff began this weekend, with roll-out across England from today.
On Sunday, England’s deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said the nation will not be in “complete lockdown” for half a year, but said social distancing measures could last beyond September.
Harries said the three-week reviews on the measures to slow the disease’s spread are likely to continue for six months and their success would be judged on slowing its rate.
A sudden lifting, she said, could see the nation’s sacrifices “wasted” with another spike in deaths, which have reached 1,228.
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“We need to keep that lid on and then gradually we will be able to hopefully adjust some of the social distancing measures and gradually get us all back to normal,” she said.
Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said “we simply cannot and should not” ask health workers to go to the frontline without adequate protective equipment, as he announced the nation was put on an “emergency footing” in an “unprecedented step in peace time”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Rita Ora Whacking Her Head During A Workout Is All Of Us Who Are Struggling With Exercising At Home

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With a lack of equipment (and sometimes motivation), there’s many of us who are struggling to adapt our gym routines for working out at home.
But spare a thought for Rita Ora, who has suffered an unfortunate exercise fail while doing a home workout.
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The singer had been attempting to mobilise her fans with an Instagram Live of her exercising.
Rita had just got to the jump squats round of her workout when things took a rather unexpected turn due to the low ceiling of the room she was exercising in.
Rita Ora had a mishap while working out at home Instagram
Trying to demonstrate the move, she squatted down low before thrusting herself in the air, but whacked her head on the ceiling above a bay window.
After a rather loud clunk could be heard on her livestream, she yelped: “Ouch! Ah why am I so stupid? I am losing my mind I am literally losing my mind, this is insane. I banged my head on the window.”
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It certainly kept Radio 1 DJ Greg James entertained, who tweeted out a clip of the incident, writing: “Your first laugh of the day courtesy of @RitaOra.”
Your first laugh of the day courtesy of @RitaOra 😂 pic.twitter.com/Y3oxuNWLAu — Greg James (@gregjames) March 30, 2020
Perhaps Rita should give Joe Wicks’ workouts a try instead.
The Body Coach has become the nation’s PE teacher after hosting online fitness lessons for kids who are off school during the coronavirus pandemic.
The fitness influencer attracted 13 million new views to his YouTube channel with his first five workouts last week.
Joe has since announced that he will be donating the advertising revenue generated from his classes to the NHS.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Nine Things You Need To Know About Coronavirus Today

The UK has now been in lockdown for almost a week to tackle the coronavirus.
As the country moves into its seventh day under the new rules, official figures show that so far:
At least 19,522 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.
An estimated 1,415 people have now died across the UK as of 3pm on Monday – an increase of 180 on the previous 24 hours. Here are the latest updates on Covid-19:
Huge Navy hospital ship arrives in New York City
The USNS Comfort – a massive converted oil tanker used by the US Navy as a hospital ship – arrived in New York City on Monday, in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure on healthcare services dealing with coronavirus crisis.
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The 1,000-bed vessel had been undergoing planned maintenance but was rushed back into service to aid the city.
The USNS Comfort passes Manhattan as it enters New York Harbour on Monday. Brendan McDermid / Reuters
It’s understood the ship will deal with non-coronavirus cases, freeing up capacity in overstretched hospitals.
The state is fast becoming the global epicentre of the outbreak and accounts for almost half of the US’s 141,883 cases and more than a third of its 2,477 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
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Large sections of New York City’s iconic Central Park have also been converted to a new field hospital.
A Samaritan's Purse crew works on building an emergency field hospital equipped with a respiratory unit in New York's Central Park across from the Mount Sinai Hospital on Sunday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The USNS Comfort arrived at a Manhattan pier a week after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast.
The ship has 12 operating rooms as well as radiology suites and a CT scanner. It also has ICU beds, a lab and a pharmacy. The 1,100 or so medical staff on board are mostly active duty service members from the US Navy, and some reservists.
Abortion rules relaxed after another health department U-turn
Abortion rules have been changed for the second time in just over a week to allow women to take pills at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Last Monday, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it would allow women and girls to take abortion pills at home, and for doctors to prescribe from their homes.
Just hours later, the statement was removed from the department’s website, with officials saying it was “published in error”.
Health secretary Matt Hancock later told MPs that abortion rules would not be changed as part of the response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
But now, in another U-turn, the department has said women needing an abortion up to 10 weeks can use abortion pills at home after a consultation with a medical practitioner over the phone or via the internet.
In a letter to various health bodies, the DHSC said Hancock has also approved measures to allow doctors to prescribe the medicines – Mifepristone and Misoprostol – from their homes.
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The measures will last for up to two years. It is understood the updated guidance has not yet been made public.
Carluccio’s and BrightHouse fall into administration
Carluccio’s and BrightHouse have collapsed into administration, casting a shadow over the future the 4,500 the two companies employ.
The former, a dining chain founded by Antonio Carluccio in 1991, confirmed it has hired advisory firm FRP to oversee its administration.
The business’s Ireland operation and its franchise business in the Middle East are unaffected by the administration, it said.
Geoff Rowley, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: “We are operating in unprecedented times and the issues currently facing the hospitality sector following the onset of Covid-19 are well documented.”
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Controversial rent-to-own retailer BrightHouse also sank into administration on Monday, just days after it closed all its stores due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Julie Palmer, a partner at restructuring expert Bebgies Traynor, said: “Coronavirus was the final nail in the coffin for BrightHouse.
“It was already wrapped up and squeezed by payment claims against it and new regulations were having a detrimental effect to its business model.
“As soon as its stores closed due to the pandemic it looked inevitable that this business would break.”
Cabin crew will staff new coronavirus hospitals
Ambulances at the ExCel centre in London, which is being made into a temporary hospital PA
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Cabin crew will help staff the new Nightingale hospitals built to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the NHS said.
Staff at Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet have been invited to volunteer at the new 4,000-bed clinic being built at the Excel centre in east London, and those planned in Birmingham and Manchester.
Volunteers will perform support roles such as changing beds after receiving expert training.
The news came as EasyJet announced it was grounding its entire fleet due to “unprecedented travel restrictions” caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, with bosses saying “there can be no certainty of the date for restarting commercial flights”.
EasyJet has already written to its 9,000 UK-based staff – including 4,000 cabin crew trained in CPR – to invite them to give their time to the NHS, with Virgin Atlantic set to ask 4,000 of its employees on Monday.
Any crew who sign up to volunteer will have their salaries paid by their airline.
St John’s Ambulance have already said that hundreds of people will give their time at the first Nightingale hospital in London.
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Prince Charles is out of self-isolation
The Prince of Wales, who tested positive for coronavirus last week after developing mild symptoms, is now out of self-isolation at his Birkhall home in Scotland.
Charles, 71, had developed mild symptoms of Covid-19 and self-isolated for seven days after receiving the positive test result last Tuesday.
The Duchess of Cornwall, 72, who is also at Birkhall, in Aberdeenshire, tested negative for the virus and remains in self-isolation until the end of the week, observing the advice to do so for 14 days.
A spokesperson said: “Clarence House has confirmed today that, having consulted with his doctor, the Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation.”
Mercedes F1 team helps to develop breathing aid
sturti via Getty Images
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A breathing aid that could help keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care has been developed by a group of researchers.
The continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP), which delivers oxygen to the lungs without the need for a ventilator or for the patient to be sedated, was developed by a group including researchers from the Mercedes Formula One team and University College London.
The device was developed in under 100 hours from an initial meeting to production of the first CPAP.
Pending successful trials this week, it is hoped the machine could be distributed through the NHS, with the BBC reporting that the device already has regulatory approval.
Mercedes has said it could produce up to 1,000 of the new CPAP machines a day.
The device has reportedly been designed within a week by modifying and improving an existing model.
Professor Rebecca Shipley, director of the UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering, said 50% to 60% of patients who were treated with the CPAP devices did not progress to mechanical ventilation.
“We already have 100 from Mercedes and UCL and UCLH which we are currently testing in our first patient trials,” she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
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“Mercedes can make 1,000 a day within a week and if the tests go well they can be in the NHS by the end of this week.”
20,000 former NHS staff have volunteered to go back to work
Tens of thousands of ex-NHS workers have volunteered to return to the frontlines to fight coronavirus, Boris Johnson has said.
The prime minister, who tested positive coronavirus on Friday, revealed the latest figure in a video message.
Thanks to everyone who has been staying at home.
By delaying the spread of the disease we can reduce the pressure on our NHS, and that's how we hope to save many thousands of lives.#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/kxdqItMYSE — Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 29, 2020
“Thank you to everybody who is now coming back into the NHS in such huge numbers,” Johnson said. “Just this evening I can tell you, we have 20,000 NHS staff coming back to the colours – doctors and nurses.
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“It’s a most amazing thing.”
Meanwhile, the PM said that more than 750,000 people had signed up for the NHS volunteer scheme.
Donald Trump extends US coronavirus guidelines by a month
President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing ASSOCIATED PRESS
Donald Trump has said that US guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus will be extended to April 30 as deaths from the pandemic in the country continue to rise.
The president had previously said rules calling for social-distancing could be relaxed as early as Easter, with the initial 15-day period set to expire on Monday.
However, Trump’s impulse to restore normality met a sober reality check on Sunday from Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, who said the US could experience more than 100,000 deaths and millions of infections from the pandemic.
The federal guidelines recommend against large group gatherings and urge older people and anyone with existing health problems to stay at home.
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People are urged to work at home when possible and avoid restaurants, bars, non-essential travel and shopping trips.
Many states and local governments already have stiffer controls in place on movement and gatherings.
The US had more than 137,000 Covid-19 cases reported by late Sunday afternoon, with more than 2,400 deaths.
Coronavirus fake news unit ‘dealing with 10 stories a day’
A health care worker prepares to collect a sample to test for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site ASSOCIATED PRESS
The government’s unit to tackle fake news about coronavirus is dealing with as many as 10 articles a day.
The Rapid Response Unit – which operates from within the Cabinet Office and No.10 – coordinates with departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response when misinformation is identified online.
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Up to 70 incidents a week, often false narratives containing multiple misleading claims, are being identified and resolved, the government said.
In Kent, the local branch of Age UK warned about people being sent a text falsely accusing them of breaking lockdown rules and being fined £35.
Digital secretary Oliver Dowden said: “We need people to follow the advice of our medical experts so we can protect the NHS and save lives.
“But false or misleading information about coronavirus shared online could undermine our efforts.”
Meanwhile, Tory MP Damian Collins – who led the government’s investigation into disinformation and fake news – said sharing fake news about coronavirus should be an offence.
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Launching his own online service to combat false stories about Covid-19, Collins said: “In some ways, this is the first public health crisis in the age of social media disinformation, and therefore it requires a different response.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--James McAvoy Donates £275k To Crowdfunder For Protective Equipment For NHS Staff

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James McAvoy has donated £275,000 to a campaign to provide protective equipment for frontline NHS staff as they treat patients amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The X-Men star made an initial payment of £25,000 on Saturday, before doctors publicly shared their plan to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) from a verified supplier.
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It prompted James to then make a further £250,000 donation to the Masks For NHS Heroes crowdfunder.
James McAvoy Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Dr Salaj Masand, one of the initiatives’ founders, told the Evening Standard: “It was a complete surprise, we didn’t reach out to any celebrities - the crowdfunding company just pointed out that he had made a donation.
“We’re all speechless and it’s absolutely humbling that not only him but members of the public trusted us to deliver what we said we would.”
Speaking about his decision to donate on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, James said: “You can’t take it with you, which is something people have said for as long as we’ve been making money, but we might not be taking it with us sooner rather than later.
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“One of the incredible things that’s happening right now across the world is we are prioritising our health service, our care for the elderly, we are looking inwards, we are spending time with our families – there are weird positives to come out of this new reality we find ourselves in, but one of the massive things is we’re all coming together regardless of financial status, birthright status. We’re all in the exact same boat.
“If you’ve got £10 to give, great, if you’ve got £275,000 to give, then great. Everything helps… We value the NHS so much.”
So far, the four doctors who launched the campaign have raised nearly £850,000 for PPE, as of Monday morning.
They had initially hoped to raise £200,000, but later increased their target to £900,000 following the “phenomenal outpouring of support”.
They wrote on the crowdfunding page: “Unfortunately, current hospital supplies are not sufficient and while we are reassured the government is doing everything it can, healthcare workers on the frontline are risking themselves daily without adequate protection to care for sick patients.
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“Healthcare workers on the frontline without PPE (personal protective equipment) is the equivalent of going to war without armour and protection.”
As well as the donation, James also made a video in support of the campaign.
He said: “NHS staff are heroes. We must do all that we can to protect them, support them and thank them.
“Nurses and doctors have described a lack of personal protective equipment.
“Caring for people with Covid-19 without access to proper masks, goggles, gowns and gloves puts themselves and others at risk.
“That’s why I’m supporting the efforts of four NHS doctors … to plug this urgent gap….Thank you NHS.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Linda Lusardi Leaves Hospital As She Recovers From Coronavirus

Linda Lusardi has left hospital as she recovers from Covid-19, her husband has confirmed.
The former Loose Women star has returned home after becoming extremely ill with coronavirus.
Linda and her husband Sam Kane were both admitted to hospital with the disease earlier this month.
While Sam was discharged a few days later, Linda’s condition was considerably worse, with Sam saying he had watched the virus take her “to death’s door”.
Linda Lusardi PA
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However, in a status he posted on Facebook on Sunday evening, Sam revealed Linda had returned home after “beating” the virus.
“It’s with absolute joy that I can tell you my girl is finally at home,” he wrote. “She’s on the sofa with a nice cup of tea and Dexter on her lap. She’s doing great.
“She’s battled through this hell and with God’s grace has thankfully come out other side.”
Praising the “miracle workers” at the hospital, Sam continued: “Words will never do justice for how we feel and our gratitude to them. It’s thanks to them that we now have our family back together.”
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He added: “It’s heaven to have my beautiful baby home. I can take the reins now and be her carer. She’s home.”
Sam and Linda have both urged their followers to stick to the advice of experts on self-isolation and social distancing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--‘Listen Up, Dips**ts’: US Mayor Rips People Ignoring Coronavirus Warnings

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A Kentucky mayor is going viral for an exasperated Facebook post in which he didn’t mince words about people who aren’t following restrictions meant to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
“Listen up dipshits and sensible people,” wrote Mayor Gabe Brown of Walton, Kentucky. “I might not put you at ease like the Governor does, but I don’t care. You need to realise that this is a serious ordeal. In fact, it’s a big f**cking deal. Stay at home.”
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He warned people sceptical of the threat to treat it seriously ― noting that lives are on the line.
“If you ignore this problem, the worst thing that could happen is that your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunts, uncles could die,” he warned. “Be responsible. If you don’t, then screw you.”
In a separate post on his Facebook page, Brown linked to a story about hundreds of people gathering on the streets of Louisville, about 80 miles away.
“Dipshits,” he wrote.
And in another post, he offered to act as “anger translator” for Governor Andy Beshear, who was ticked off over reports of people defying the state’s guidelines to hold “coronavirus parties.”
At least one person got sick at one of those parties, Beshear said.
Read Brown’s full message below:
Gabe Brown Gabe Brown


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--12 Wacky Ways To Occupy Kids That Require Very Little Effort

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If you’re the type of parent who’s never far from glitter glue, face-paint, a cupboard-full of home baking equipment and pens you can use in water, look away now. This is for the, what I like to call, average parents. Parents like me.
The announcement of school closures has been a real shock to the system for those of us who are usually happy to leave the messy stuff – you know, papier-mâché, potato printing and bead necklaces – to teachers and nursery workers. You see, I’m not good at that. I’m very, very bad at it.
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And while they’re well-intentioned, the plethora of WhatsApp messages and YouTube tutorials suggesting ‘fun’ activities for parents to do with their kids just end up feeling like a whole lot of extra work, to me. No, I don’t want to learn how to make 500 flour-filled ninja balls, thanks – I’m just trying to sit down for a few minutes to get some work done.
If you, like me, are completely clueless when it comes to crafts, and are looking to occupy your kids as best you can (with minimal effort), this is for you.
1. Make chores sound fun
I don’t care how you do it, but for the love of all that is holy, make it sound like emptying the dishwasher is the leisure activity of a lifetime. My three-year-old literally gasped with anticipation when I told him he could empty the washing machine of wet clothes. I know. Living the soap-sud dream. My eight-year-old was less impressed with my dustpan-and-brush idea, but did enjoy a spot of role play with a handheld vacuum cleaner in the car. She even invented a whole persona and business, ‘Chloe’s Cleaning Service’ – but I think that was just to get a tip.
2. Run a Kitchen disco
No work involved at all – just chuck on Beyoncé and a disco ball, if you’ve got one, and tell them it’s party time. It also counts as exercise, if you’re fed up of PE with Joe Wicks. And it’s genuinely enjoyable. Plus, you get to choose the playlist.
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3. Make-your-own lunch in a muffin tray
This is my parenting pro-tip, to be deployed at a future play-date of your choice. Get a muffin or Yorkshire pudding tray (the type with 12 empty compartments) and bung a load of different ingredients in each one. A splodge of hummus, a blob of peanut butter, some cucumber sticks, olives, blueberries, grapes, cubes of cheese, slices of ham, breadsticks, cherry tomatoes, grapes and mini sausage rolls. Everyone helps themselves – it makes lunchtime fun. Bonus: take lunch outside, if safe to do so. We’ve been eating ours on the front doorstep. We’re able to maintain a distance from the pavement and we also get to wave at passers-by, like the Queen. Plus, it gives us a different view – and in these days of confinement, anything you can do to jazz it up will help.
4. Draw imaginary people in a furniture catalogue
Got any old catalogues lying around the house? Well, they’re now an empty canvas, full of untold possibility. I used this Loaf catalogue to test my drawing skills, previously unseen since I did Art A-level in 1997. Have your child make amusing and creative additions. People, dogs, aliens. You name it.
Victoria Richards
5. Unleash the dressing up box
Fill a box or cupboard with all those old accessories and clothing items you bought in a sale because they were only £1, without thinking of when – or why – you would ever wear a pair of bright green shiny tights. Yes, the time is finally here for bad belts, dodgy hats, silver wigs, tops with the sleeves cut off, terrible floral shirts, big strings of pearls and rainbow sunglasses – we’ve all got them. Bung them together and let your child unleash their inner fashionista.
6. Create a home beauty salon
You’re going to have to get involved for this one. But to soften the blow, think of it this way: nobody is going out, so no one has to see the results of your child (or children) giving you a special makeover. The type where... you have more nail polish on your toes than on your toenails, and lipstick all over your cheeks in place of blusher. Beautiful.
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7. Get the foil out
Empty toilet roll holders, plastic yoghurt bottles, and egg cartons. Stick it all together (badly) with sellotape, cover the lot in foil... et voilà. You’ve made a replica model of the International Space Station. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Victoria Richards It's the International Space Station, obviously.
8. Make a silly video
If you’ve got an iPad you don’t mind the kids using, a phone, or even an old-fashioned video camera – the easiest way to keep them entertained is by letting them take silly videos of each other, or themselves. Teach them the old trick of: record, pause, take something away, and record again – to make it look like the “thing” or person has magically disappeared. Remember to always keep your kids’ online safety at the front of your mind, though. Make sure WiFi is disabled or child safety controls are activated so they can’t post or send anything online without your permission.
9. Create a post box
I stole this idea from my son’s nursery homework – but it’s simple, and most importantly, keeps kids entertained for about five minutes. All you need is an empty PG Tips box or an old shoe box. Cut out a 2-inch wide ‘slot’, and have your child either paint it red, or colour in a couple of pieces of paper with red crayon. Stick them on to cover it... then bargain with them to write a bunch of letters. To their friends, their relatives, to their toys or to each other. Bung them in the post box and stick it next to the front door until you can get to a real one.
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10. Form a production line
This is cheating, because it probably belongs in the ‘household chore’ section, but as every average parent knows – make one activity sound like two, and you’re basically winning. The ‘production line’ idea works on the proviso of old childhood games – the ones where you had to get from one side of the room to the other, without touching the floor. I have my children pass things to each other, hand by hand – we first line all of the things up in a row, so the transferral is seamless – and they take turns standing on a stool to put them away neatly in the fridge. Note: is also known more commonly as, “putting away the shopping”.
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11. Make your own treasure hunt
This one comes courtesy of playHOORAY founder Claire Russell, who has a bunch of stay-at-home entertainment ideas available to download on her website. Russell suggests creating a treasure hunt for household items and letting your kids run around for a while doing that. She also suggests an alternative: going on a word hunt in a newspaper or magazine, or making your own word-search.
12. Trampoline time


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--How I Cope: Counting Colours On My Daily Walk Keeps Anxiety At Bay

Rachel Moss
You’re reading How I Cope, a series sharing self-care tips as we all adjust to the coronavirus pandemic.
There’s the tree blossom, obliviously starting its spring parade. Then tulips, proudly standing in my neighbour’s garden. Next, the abandoned packet of prawn cocktail crips, blowing across the street like tumbleweed. And finally, a child’s coat as she toddles alongside her family – across the road, of course, at a strict distance of at least two metres.
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What do all four have in common? They’re pink: my colour of the day. And no, the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t caused me to regress to a reception-aged pupil.
I’m writing this two weeks into working from home and almost one week into the UK lockdown. Each day, I’ve been trying to practise a simple mindfulness technique while out on my walk or run: you pick a colour, then see how many things you can count in that colour.
I picked up the technique when I interviewed Rebecca Adlington about her experience of anxiety and panic attacks earlier this year for our Head In The Game series, where we interviewed athletes about their mental health.
“If I’m at home and I’m feeling [panicky], I try to just acknowledge where I am by looking around the room and looking for five things in a certain colour,” she told me. “It brings you back to the room and gets you concentrating on something else.”
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The concept is so simple, yet it really does work. Before I started using it, my lunchtime walks involved pacing up the road, stuck in my head, physically moving but mentally focussed on the latest coronavirus news. My break wasn’t really a break at all and I noticed I was increasingly catastrophising, thinking about the worst case scenario.
Then, I spotted that first blossom and the world felt a bit brighter. I remembered Rebecca’s words and decided to see how many other pink things I could spot. Within minutes, my heartbeat slowed and my mind was given a genuine break from the C-word. I’ve used the technique almost every day since and each little burst of colour is a reassuring reminder that life continues – even the litter.
Rachel Moss
You can try the technique with sounds or other focus points, too; my fiancé decided to count bees on our recent weekend wander. His exited exclamations of “10!”, “11!” provided much-needed interruptions to the virus-related chat. It may sound silly, but it gave two stressed-out adults approaching 30 a brief reminder of childhood escapism. And with social distancing firmly in place, there was no one around to raise an eyebrow anyway.
Of course, counting colours or bees won’t fix everything – when you’ve got loved ones in vulnerable groups, or risking their lives as front line health workers, it’s impossible not to worry. Keeping the lid on the panic is a daily challenge, but armed with this little trick, it’s a challenge I’m winning most days.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--9 Desk And Chair Hacks To Make Working From Home More Bearable

Many of us have been working from home for months – but without the chair we usually have in the office, or the double screens some of us are lucky to use, it can be a bit... achey, to say the least.
Find yourself hunching over to look at your laptop screen? Or constantly rearranging yourself on your chair because it’s just so uncomfortable? You’re not alone.
“Most of us found ourselves unexpectedly working from home for the foreseeable future,” says Jo Blood, resident ergonomics expert at Posture People. “Whilst it poses many challenges, a well set-up workspace is something that can provide us with a tangible way to feel better and prevent aches and pains further down the line. For the time being, we can utilise everyday household items to achieve a better, more ergonomic workspace.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--Is Your Beard Putting You And Loved Ones At Risk For Coronavirus?

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We have a bit of good news for supporters of scruff: Beards, though likely covered in germs, are also probably not increasing your chances of getting and/or spreading Covid-19.
It’s a question that has sprouted up amid the coronavirus pandemic, partially thanks to an infographic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that features guidelines for facial hair in extreme detail. But, as Thomas Russo, a doctor at the Buffalo VA Medical Center and the chief of infectious diseases at the State University of New York at Buffalo medical school told HuffPost, those guidelines are in place for medical professionals who have to wear N-95 masks.
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“For healthcare providers, beards present a problem because getting a good, tight fit for N-95 masks is difficult,” Russo said. “Certainly, big fluffy beards are a big problem because unless they’re trimmed way back, you might not be able to get a good seal, making it not effective.”
Claudia Burlotti via Getty Images
While there is still much to be learned about the new virus, it is thought to largely be passed through respiratory droplets from person to person, for example by coughing or sneezing in close proximity to them. Russo points out that if you’re close enough to contract the virus from someone, you’re likely going to get it from proximity alone, beard or no beard.
“I can imagine that maybe the beard could collect a little bit of spit or something,” he said. But then a person they might infect “would have to be in really close contact, and that would make them at risk from all the other mechanisms.”
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Of course, that doesn’t account for the other potential ways the virus may or may not spread, though evidence suggests that airborne transmission is much less common than getting it from a respiratory droplet or picking it up from an infected surface.
John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health who studies infectious diseases, was also hesitant to make any broad claims to The Los Angeles Times concerning beards and coronavirus, citing a lack of scientific evidence. He told the outlet that though “theoretically” coronavirus could perhaps be transmitted to a person or someone else through a beard, he knows of “no science to support what I’ve just said.”
There is, however, scientific literature on adjacent topics, as Lucy Wilson, a professor in the department of emergency health services at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, told HuffPost. Such studies mainly focus on bacteria, though, and not something like this virus.
“There are studies regarding beards actually showing decreased risk of bacteria from beards versus shaved areas in men,” she said. “I haven’t seen studies looking at viruses, but the theory is that the abrasions from shaving may increase risk of bacterial infection.”
The guidance remains ― as we’ve heard over and over again at this point ― to prioritise good hygiene and hand-washing.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--My Family Is Trapped In Paradise During The Coronavirus Pandemic, But It's No Vacation

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
I am hand-washing our laundry for the second time in three days. The first time, I packed our wet clothes in a fury as we raced from the northern Balinese fishing village of Lovina to Denpasar, in the south, hoping to catch a flight home.
An hour into our drive, a mechanical issue with our scooter had us back at our homestay, our hastily packed, still-damp laundry now smelling of warm, wet dog.
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Covid-19 is forcing my family to end our six-month Bali adventure earlier than planned.
My family and I live aboard our sailboat off the west coast of Canada. Both work-from-home writers, my husband and I homeschool our two youngest children. While living at sea offers us a peaceful and wildly beautiful life, it can make for some rugged and challenging conditions. So it was that we decided to spend the winter in the warm, tropical embrace of Bali.
Bali has long been a popular tourist destination known for its vibrant culture and spirited citizens. Spending six months in this magical land was to be a homeschooler’s dream ― language, culture, nature and global citizenry all wrapped up in one endless educational experience.
We arrived last October and set about exploring the island’s abundant temples, near-daily ceremonies and simply gorging ourselves on fruit. Then January happened.
Reports began trickling through to mainstream media about a small outbreak of a pneumonia-like illness out of Wuhan, China. On Feb. 1, I received the first email from the Canadian Embassy about the novel coronavirus with generalised information for travellers on following basic health precautions. We carried on exploring rice fields, taking jungle hikes and meeting locals who helped us along as we practiced speaking Indonesian.
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I now receive a daily email with increasingly urgent language and instructions from the Canadian Embassy on the sole topic of covid-19.
So, what’s it really like to be trapped in paradise during a global pandemic?
It’s scary. It’s beautiful. It’s filled with anxiety and fear and calm and peace. I vacillate between wanting to just get home and wanting to just stay put.
Do we risk exposure in the travel home or do we risk staying here? I live in doubt followed by firm decisions, only to encounter more doubt, rethinking and changing plans, and, through it all, daily life continues around my family and me.
“Do we risk exposure in the travel home or do we risk staying here? I live in doubt followed by firm decisions, only to encounter more doubt, rethinking and changing plans, and, through it all, daily life continues around my family and me.”
We have been staying at a homestay, Bali’s version of a bed and breakfast. Staying here long-term through the pandemic would mean renting a villa ― a home where we can properly isolate ourselves if the Indonesian government orders us into lockdown. And suddenly, a whole new realm of logistics opens before me of navigating morning markets and setting up a house with nothing more than the two motorcycle saddlebags worth of luggage we brought with us from Canada.
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Our prime minister is urging all Canadians to return home while they still can. Easy for him to say; he has access to his passport and can simply book a flight. Our passports sit in hiatus somewhere in the mysterious recesses of the Indonesian immigration office, awaiting what had been a routine tourist visa renewal three weeks ago. Now that same routine visa renewal means we have no passports in hand and cannot leave at a moment’s notice. Or even a few days’ notice. We cannot leave.
We could cancel the renewal, perhaps. But how does one go about stopping such an official process? I speak broken, halting Indonesian. I can say: “No, finish, slowly, closed,” but I’ve no earthly idea how to even begin to say: “So here’s my logistical nightmare that’s full of ‘If this, then that, but if that, then this.’ Can you help me with it?”
I don’t even know the Indonesian word for help.
I am embarrassed at the realization that I once tossed the word “embassy” around with family and friends as though it gave me some sort of international cachet. I felt important, special, cool.
I now whisper words like embassy, WHO and confirmed cases to my husband, hushed and nonchalant, so my children won’t hear me talking about it. It’s not cool. It’s kind of scary.
I haul our wet clothes outside to hang on the drying rack. Coconut palms set across the blue sky and the rhythmic thrum of surf surround me. It is startlingly beautiful here. How can the world be falling apart when this place is so pretty?
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“Mommy, is lunch ready?”
“Daddy, where’s my other flip-flop?”
“Mommy, can you fill up my water bottle?”
“Daddy, I want to paint.“
Where does lunch and art play even fit into a day’s plans that include emergency laundry, possible shady deals with a visa agent to expedite our visa renewals and emails from the Canadian Embassy?
Courtesy of Kate Gilgan The Gilgan family in Bali, Indonesia.
I see Ketut. She and her husband, Komang, own the homestay we are living in. She and I speak only a smattering of one another’s languages, but enough to fumble through half-English, half-Indonesian conversations with each other.
We chat and laugh, saying the Indonesian government had better not put ration limits on chocolate. We stand apart, eyes searching to connect, as we stand at what would normally be a socially awkward distance between two people. One week ago, we were folded together in our laughter, bent over in our shared giggles. She would drape an arm around my shoulders. I’d rest my hand on her arm. We’d laugh, easy and normal. Not now. Not anymore. We laugh, still dancing together in the human delight of connection. But laugh at a distance.
On 19 March, my husband got an update from our visa agent: Our passports were to be delivered later that day. We could finally book a flight.
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But that was over a week ago.
We commence making a new plan. Yet another new plan. I’m so sick of new plans. My husband gets online and starts searching for a flight.
“Five thousand dollars?” I shout. “That’s too expensive. What are you thinking?” I blurt as he relays our flight options.
He flashes me a look. We’re both tense. I want to get angry, mad. I want to blame somebody. Not even blame, necessarily, but at least just yell at someone. Anyone.
“Mommy, can we go to the beach now?”
Breathe. This moment is fine. We’re all fine. It’s only the future that’s making me worry, feel tense. But the worry is wearing on me.
“Thank you for looking into flights. I’ll let you do that and I’ll take these two to the beach for now.”
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And just like that, I’m back on the damned beach. Blue sky, palm trees, surf. A million miles away from headlines and wait times and busy signals and health certificates and rules of quarantine upon arrival.
We secure a flight out of Denpasar, Bali, that connects through Taipei International Airport in Taiwan before flying us — finally, finally, finally — home to Vancouver, Canada. We fly out in one week.
No less than two hours after booking the flight, smug smiles still plastered on our faces, the latest embassy email comes through. It reads: “At this time, we understand that transit may not be possible via Taipei in the coming days.”
What does “may not be possible” mean?
Turns out it means the Taiwanese government is closing its international airport as a hub for connecting flights, the Canadian Embassy confirms the following day. It means our airline has now contacted us with notice of our canceled flight. It means we are still here, in Bali.
It means we need a new plan. Again.
“One week ago, we were folded together in our laughter, bent over in our shared giggles. She would drape an arm around my shoulders. I’d rest my hand on her arm. We’d laugh, easy and normal. Not now. Not anymore. We laugh, still dancing together in the human delight of connection. But laugh at a distance.”
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We wanted to introduce our children to travel and new culture and the resourcefulness that world travel incites. We’ve been granted the ultimate opportunity to teach our children to be global citizens. Beyond the language lessons, geography and discovery, there’s a chance to teach them patience and practicality.
Our skills as sailors serve us well in these uncertain times. Much like a passage aboard our vessel, we are at the mercy of wind and weather, currents and tides. We can check the forecast before casting off, but still, we must accept changing weather systems, equipment and system failures, and good-old-fashioned ups and downs in the mood and mindset of the crew. No sailing voyage is ever predictable. But it is filled with challenges and success, doubt and decision, beauty and wonderment. It is a living metaphor for life.
Thursday’s email from the Canadian Embassy raises doubt about the accuracy of Indonesia’s reporting of actual cases, suggesting only 2% have been accounted for. It warns that if we decide to stay in Indonesia, it is strongly recommended that we prepare for the worst and make preparations to be self-sufficient. Of his assessment of Indonesia’s situation, our ambassador writes: “The ultimate number of fatalities will be very high.”
I met a woman on the beach yesterday, a fellow stranded traveler. Like Ketut and I, we stood awkwardly apart as we chatted. I saw her anxiety, her fear, as she talked about her husband and children back home in Switzerland. She came here two weeks ago to visit an uncle. And now, she is alone and separated from her family.
Though I am facing wild upheavals of plans and choices, decisions and doubt, I am blessed to have my husband and children with me. I am privileged to be in a place that offers such natural beauty, a stark contrast to the realities of so many currently in isolation around the world. I suspect, too, our turn with mandated isolation is coming.
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I’ve met many travelers and locals alike during the last five months, and perhaps the greatest reprieve I have from the emotional and mental turmoil of navigating a global pandemic in a foreign country is when I set aside all the logistics and the worry, pick up the phone or send a message and ask a friend, “How are you today? Is there anything I can do to help?” Our online world offers us instant access to loved ones ― not quite but almost as good as being there in person. Let’s use it. Let’s connect and chat and take care of and encourage and help and support one another.
Of the many new friends my family has made over the past five months, an aged gentleman by the name of Putu has brought me grand comfort. He is a holy man, a pemangku. He taught me a new Indonesian word: sinkankan. Literally translated, it means “allow it.” But Putu uses it to mean “Don’t worry. Be happy.”
Even as I write this, I don’t yet know if we are staying in Bali or going home. But I do know that a wise man taught me that while I navigate each day along my life’s journey, I have the choice to try and smile and say: “Sinkankan.”
Kate Gilgan is a writer, mother and hesitant adventurist. This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--This Pandemic May Finally Teach Us What It Means To Be Successful — And Satisfied

I had been suffering from the sickness of comparison – heightened by non-stop visibility on social media. Getty Images/iStockphoto
“My name is Tola Fisher, I’m 34 and I’m living an unsuccessful life.”
This is how my TEDx Talk began last year, as I started to unpick what I saw as the myth of success and the effect it was having on my own life.
I had been suffering from the sickness of comparison – heightened by non-stop visibility on social media. Why was I living in a home I did not own? Why wasn’t I driving a car with a hefty price tag? Where oh where were my visible indicators of “success”? (I am not by any means knocking these displays of wealth. My concern however, is that they should be seen as exactly that and not the picture of a “successful life”.)
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A few years ago, I saw a tube advert with the slogan, “Use your 6-9 to improve your 9-5”. Once this was a reality faced by many families trying to improve their wellbeing — now, working in the daytime and studying at night is presented as aspirational for the entire working population. For those of us who do not have the same levels of financial necessity, the nonetheless constant activity has been applauded because we have laboured under the premise that productivity equals success.
In current times of pandemic, the constant show of “doing” has gone out of the window as we turn to self-isolation and social-distancing. The hustle energy with which we’ve previously been encouraged to “rise and grind” in order to live a successful life cannot be mustered when you’re trying to wfh along with flatmates, children who need to be homeschooled or a manager insistent on 10 Zoom meetings a day to prove you are actually working.
At my all-girls’ school, we were taught that we could be anything we wanted. And I’m grateful for the education I have had and the opportunities to live out my childhood dream of being a writer. But the “we can have it all” narrative deprives us from recognising that “having it all” is not necessarily a measure of success. None of the advice from my school guidance counsellors included a career as a cleaner, a carer or even a parent. They are seen as the traditional roles for women and, although we don’t often admit it, the easier ones.
Recently, self-titled “Tradwife” Alena Pettitt faced a backlash after appearing on ITV’s This Morning to talk about why she voluntarily quit a career in marketing to become a housewife. On her blog, The Darling Academy, she says, “Don’t get me wrong, I am forever grateful for feminism and the courageous women who went before me, to win the vote for me, to win choices for me. However in the wake of all that, it doesn’t give them the permission to tell me I can be anything I want to be, but it’s simply ‘not enough’ to want to stay at home and raise my children, take care of my husband, and my home.”
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Those of us now forced to stay at home all day with our children will realise, perhaps more than ever, that full-time parenting is bloody hard. And yet to some, like Alena, it can be even more rewarding than working outside the home.
“At my school, we were taught that we could be anything we wanted. The “we can have it all” narrative, however, deprives us from recognising that “having it all” is not necessarily a measure of success.”
As recently as a month ago, the government released plans to stop issuing visas to low-skilled workers such as carers, shop staff and cleaners. Fast forward to the spread of coronavirus and suddenly we are clamouring to support these actually rather skilled and particularly necessary members of our community. Ironically, much of our success in this uncertain time will rely on this once maligned group of people.
The joint clapping for the NHS on 26 March this year was the biggest show of togetherness the UK has seen for a long time and I sense we will all come out of this pandemic very much changed. Our “doing” may no longer be determined by the lure of things to show off to our friends – not immediately anyway. Hopefully much closer to our hearts will be where we set our value and how we pay attention to the things most important to us. After so much isolation, individualist pursuits may no longer appeal compared to our relationships with family, friends, even our neighbours, or contributing to the community.
Maybe this is time for us to build our own success stories. What would make you proud even if no one else knew about it? Having a sense of self-satisfaction is a success indicator we should not ignore and, since we may be stuck indoors for a while, we have plenty of opportunities to seek that out in our everyday lives. And maybe that’s what can steer us away from chasing “success”, towards a life we can be truly proud of.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-30--In Spain We’ve Been In Lockdown For Weeks – And I Promise You It Gets Easier

Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
When I moved to Barcelona last autumn, I pictured long wine-filled evenings in squares and trips to the beach. I didn’t imagine weeks spent inside my flat isolating from a global viral pandemic.
On Sunday 15 March, the Spanish government announced a two-week lockdown to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus. The public were ordered to stay at home unless they needed essential food or medicine. Schools, universities, restaurants, bars and public spaces were all to be closed.
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The Spanish are a very sociable bunch, and an enviable climate means much of life is spent outdoors. All year round in my neighbourhood, bars keep their doors swung open and people sit outside at restaurants. Every morning and afternoon, like clockwork, a crowd of children and their families gather at the school gates to gossip, eat pastries and play games.
But when I ventured out last Monday, the first official day of lockdown, the city looked like a very different place. There’s something very odd about seeing a bright blue sky and a completely empty city beach but it was the ghost-like streets that were even weirder. A few people were out running errands but the majority were wearing masks and gloves. At the big supermarket, I was met with a security guard monitoring the queue with a ‘one in, one out’ policy you’re more used to seeing at some exclusive nightclub. I passed a pharmacy where medicine was handed to customers through a small hole in a screen.
“The first week was really difficult. The situation escalated very fast and as all upcoming plans fell through...”
The first week was really difficult. The situation escalated very fast and as all upcoming plans fell through – including a visit from my parents and an upcoming holiday to Colombia – I struggled to look forward to a completely clear diary. I read the news obsessively in an attempt to understand what the hell was going on and when on earth it would end. The thought of staying in my flat for the foreseeable felt incredibly claustrophobic. And while drinking wine in my pyjamas was fun at first, the novelty of Christmas in March quickly wore off.
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As the first week came to a close, the government extended the lockdown for a further two weeks and tightened the rules – including asking citizens to carry a slip of paper or digital form detailing why they weren’t at home. It felt like things had just got even more serious but I kept reminding myself that the stricter the measures, the sooner the situation would get better. Police presence was visibly upped, and only one person should now only leave the house at once – something a friendly policeman told my housemate and I as we made our way to the supermarket on a joint trip. Dogs, however, must have felt like they struck gold. Going for a walk is only allowed if you have a canine companion – and photos of exhausted dogs and adverts pimping out pets circulated widely on social media. One man was even caught walking a goat.
However, by week two, things got – whisper it – a little easier. Unfortunately, when everything was in chaos, I found the boring things like routine and exercise made the most difference. I set my alarm for 8am each weekday morning, do a HIIT or yoga video before work and try and take a proper hour-long lunch break. I’m a big advocate of the loungewear life but when you might not get dressed for months, I’ve found it’s worth switching into normal clothes for at least some part of each day. Evenings we began to fill with virtual plans: a phone call with family, a Houseparty catch-up with friends, a pub quiz over Zoom. I’ve never been so in touch with my wider circle since moving abroad - a much-needed silver lining to this whole debacle.
“Slowly but surely, I stopped thinking so much about the parallel reality of what I should have been doing...”
Other things that have kept me sane include trying to separate the weekend from the week (we save films and take-away for Fridays and Saturdays) and finding new things to look forward to (a wine and cheese night or a new book). While the Internet may suggest this is the perfect time to start your novel, Etsy side hustle or online masters, I realised fast there’s no point putting pressure on yourself to use this extended time ‘productivity’. Life is still pretty busy even if you’re at home all day and coping with the current overwhelming situation is enough before adding an extra challenge into the mix.
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Slowly but surely, I stopped thinking so much about the parallel reality of what I should have been doing if it weren’t for this dreaded virus. Sure, I miss my old life but I’m also weirdly getting quite used to this one. People talk about a ‘new normal’ and it’s true, somehow you manage to adjust.
And, when all else fails, I look forward to 8pm when the whole street comes out onto their balconies and claps in solidarity with emergency workers. As days go on there’s been people dancing, singing, blasting the music and tooting their car horns.
A reminder that when this is all over, what a party there will be.
Elizabeth Bennett is a freelance journalist based in Barcelona. She writes about culture, health, beauty, women, travel and sustainability.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-29--Donald Trump Just Suggested Healthcare Workers Are Stealing And Selling Face Masks

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Donald Trump has suggested hospital workers in New York of stealing and possibly selling face masks “out the back door” during an astounding press conference on Sunday evening.
Standing in the White House’s Rose Garden the president asked reporters to look into the supposed illegal activity but provided no evidence to back up his claims aside from increased demand for supplies from hospitals swamped by the coronavirus pandemic.
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“For years [suppliers] have been delivering ten to twenty thousand masks. OK, it’s a New York hospital and it’s packed all the time but how do you go from ten to twenty thousand to 300,000?”
“Something’s going on and you ought to look into it as reporters.
“Where are the masks going? Are they going out the back door? And we have that in a lot of different places so somebody should probably look into that because I just don’t see from a practical standpoint how that’s possible.”
"How do you go from 10 to 20 to 30,000, to 300,000 [masks]...? Something is going on. And you ought to look into it as reporters. Where are the masks going?" Trump asks, suggesting that hospital workers are stealing masks. pic.twitter.com/oDWIAOUfFx — Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) March 29, 2020
New York state is rapidly becoming the new global epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. There are currently 8,500 people hospitalised in the state including 2,000 in intensive care.
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Deaths in New York state increased by 237 in the past day alone, reaching a total of 965.
As for masks, they are single use and New York-Presbyterian Hospital for instance employs 20,000 people.
Just seconds before Trump’s comments, a businessman involved in the production of face masks explained he was trying to produce “forty to fifty million” extra face masks to deal with the crisis in the US.
He added: “Even with a significant ramp up in supply, there is still that demand that is much greater than that supply.”
He made no mention of hoarding, stealing or selling of face masks yet Trump said some of his clients “could well be in trouble” over the supposed disappearing of them.
Today, Donald Trump accused nurses of stealing masks and running a black market.
Not only is there no bottom, but we have punched down into another universe. — Bill Prady (@billprady) March 29, 2020
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Asked by a reporter to explain his comments more fully, Trump said: “I don’t think it’s hoarding, I think it’s worse than hoarding.”
He added: “I don’t know, I don’t know, I think that’s for other people to check out.”
Also on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimated in an interview with CNN that the pandemic could cause between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths in the United States.
New York, New Orleans and other major cities have pleaded to the Trump administration for more medical supplies and Reuters has documented healthcare workers hiding supplies such as face masks from colleagues in other departments as there is a chronic shortage despite the vast numbers being delivered.
Earlier on Sunday Trump also accused hospitals of hoarding ventilators but did not cite any evidence to back his accusation.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-29--Donald Trump Hits Out At Reports Harry And Meghan Have Moved To The US

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The United States will not pay for the security protection of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they reportedly moved from Canada to California, Donald Trump has said.
In a tweet in which the US president said he was a “great friend and admirer of. the Queen and the United Kingdom”, he added that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “must pay!”.
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I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020
The couple left their rented home in Vancouver and took a private flight to the US before the border between the two countries closed last week, the Sun reported on Sunday.
Harry, Meghan and baby Archie are now said to be living in lockdown close to Hollywood in accordance with the sunshine state’s Covid-19 containment measures.
A source told the Sun: “Harry and Meghan have left Canada now for good.
“The borders were closing and the flights were stopping. They had to get out.”
The source added: “But this move was planned for some time. They realised Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area.
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“They have a big support network there. It’s where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based. Meghan has lots of friends there and, of course, her mum Doria.”
The couple do not officially step down as senior royals until the end of this month.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, PA Media reports.
Despite the US death toll from coronavirus passing 2,400 on Sunday, Trump instead tweeted about the “ratings hit” his White House briefings had become.
Without any mention of the dead, the president instead quoted highly selective quotes from a New York Times article from four days ago.
“President Trump is a ratings hit. Since reviving the daily White House briefing Mr. Trump and his coronavirus updates have attracted an average audience of 8.5 million on cable news, roughly the viewership of the season finale of ‘The Bachelor.’ Numbers are continuing to rise... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020
Sections he omitted include:
“And the audience is expanding even as Mr. Trump has repeatedly delivered information that doctors and public health officials have called ill informed, misleading or downright wrong.”
And...
“The emergence of the pandemic has raised the stakes for what had existed mostly as an insular discussion among media ethicists. Now, the president’s critics say, lives are at risk.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-29--It Could Be Six Months Or Longer Before UK Returns To Normal, Says Deputy Chief Medical Officer

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It could be six months or longer before the country gets back to normal from the coronavirus pandemic, the deputy chief medical officer has said.
Dr Jenny Harries told Sunday’s Downing Street press conference it was “plausible” social distancing measures could need to remain in place beyond the end of September.
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But Harries added it was not necessarily the case that the UK would be in “complete lock down” for that long.
She said instead measures could be loosened and tightened in response to the rate of infections.
Harries warned it would be “dangerous” for the UK to “suddenly revert to our normal way of living” before the outbreak had been “really squashed”.
“If we stop then all of our efforts will be wasted and we could potentially see a second peak,” she said.
“As a nation we have to be really, really responsible and keep doing what we’re all doing until we’re sure we can gradually start lifting various interventions which are likely to be spaced – based on the science and our data – until we gradually come back to a normal way of living.
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“Three weeks for review, two or three months to see if we’ve really squashed it, but three to six months, ideally, but lots of uncertainty in that but then to see at which point we can actually get back to normal and it is plausible it could go further than that.”
Harries added she expected the coronavirus death toll to increase “for the next week or two”.
She said: “But then we anticipate that if we keep doing what we’re doing… we do anticipate that those numbers will start to drop.”
Harries said the government would review the current lockdown measures in three weeks time.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries, speaking at a media briefing in Downing Street, said she expects the death toll to increase 'for the next week or two'. PA
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Speaking alongside Harries, communities secretary Robert Jenrick said all parts of the UK were now on an “emergency footing”.
Earlier today Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said the lockdown will be in place for a “significant period” and could last longer if people do not stick to the rules.
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His warning came on Sunday as the death toll in UK hospitals reached 1,228, a rise of 209 which was a smaller increase than 24 hours earlier.
And the NHS announced the first confirmed death of a frontline health worker who had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Gove acknowledged the scale of the “sacrifice” the public is taking but said he could not make “an accurate prediction” on how long it must be endured.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-29--Labour MP Stephen Kinnock Gets Told Off By Police For Celebrating His Dad's Birthday

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A Labour MP has drawn the ire of police after tweeting a picture of the “socially distanced” celebration of his father’s birthday during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labour leader Neil, said he had taken “a couple of chairs over and sat in their front garden”, adding: “Happy Birthday mate.”
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While many of the replies to the tweet shared the sense of occasion, one from South Wales Police was slightly less jovial in tone.
Dad turned 78 today. Incredible, but true. @HelleThorning_S and I took a couple of chairs over, and sat in their front garden for a socially distanced celebration. As you do 🙂Happy birthday, mate. 🍰 🎁🏴 pic.twitter.com/ipGuN2WzsC — Stephen Kinnock (@SKinnock) March 28, 2020
The force wrote: “Hello Stephen, we know celebrating your Dad’s birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel.
“We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with government restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you.”
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Hello @SKinnock we know celebrating your Dad’s birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with @GOVUK restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you. ^cy — South Wales Police | #StayHomeSaveLives (@swpolice) March 29, 2020
Kinnock defended his jaunt outdoors, replying: “I felt that this was essential travel as I had to deliver some necessary supplies to my parents.
“I stayed long enough to sing ‘happy birthday’ to Dad, and then I was off. All the best, Stephen.”
I felt that this was essential travel as I had to deliver some necessary supplies to my parents. I stayed long enough to sing ‘happy birthday’ to Dad, and then I was off. All the best, Stephen. — Stephen Kinnock (@SKinnock) March 29, 2020
At the time of writing, South Wales Police has yet to respond.
Current government guidelines say people can only leave the house to shop for necessities, exercise once a day, get medical care or help a vulnerable person, or travel to and from work if you can’t work from home.
Despite the nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, there have been multiple reports of people flouting the rules.
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Officers in Derby reported having to break up “25 people having a massive party with speakers and karaoke” on Sunday.
Group 1 Officers have just attended an address in absolute shock to find 25 adults and children having a massive party with speakers and karaoke. Everyone dispersed and hosts dealt with.
It is clear people are still having complete disregard for the Government advice and rules. pic.twitter.com/g3GFGhFN6e — Derby West Response (@DerWestResponse) March 29, 2020
It comes as Michael Gove announced on Sunday morning that the length of the coronavirus lockdown depends on how stringently the public stick to the rules.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster warned ministers would not hesitate to enforce tougher rules if needed.
As the death toll in the UK passed 1,200, Gove declined to be drawn on how long the tough measures restricting people’s lives would be in place, and what stricter rules could look like
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“There are different projections as to how long the lockdown might last,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
Professor Neil Ferguson, one of the key experts advising the government on the spread of the virus, told The Sunday Times the lockdown would likely have to remain in place until June.
Asked about Ferguson’s prediction, Gove said: “It’s not the case that the length of the lockdown is something that is absolutely fixed.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-29--Watch Live: Robert Jenrick Hosts Coronavirus Conference As Boris Johnson Urges People To Stay At Hom

Watch Live: Robert Jenrick Hosts Coronavirus Conference As Boris Johnson Urges People To Stay At Home
Following the PM’s letter to 30m households telling them to stay inside, housing secretary Robert Jenrick is leading today’s press conference. The briefing comes as the government admits that the length of the lockdown is not fixed and stricter measures could be introduced.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: UK Death Toll Rises By 209 To 1,228

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At least 1,228 people have now died in the UK after contracting coronavirus – an increase of 209 in 24 hours.
It is the second–largest jump in cases so far, following the news on Saturday that deaths had increased by 260 in one 24–hour period.
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The latest figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care show that a total of 127,737 have now been tested, with 19,522 testing positive. One week ago, on March 22, the total stood at 5,683.
The number of deaths is correct as of 5pm on Saturday, March 28, while the number of tests and positive cases is correct as of 9am on Sunday, March 29.
UPDATE on coronavirus (#COVID19) testing in the UK:
As of 9am 29 March, a total of 127,737 have been tested:
108,215 negative.
19,522 positive.
As of 5pm on 28 March, of those hospitalised in the UK, 1,228 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/Yjy0zQdF8u — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) March 29, 2020
The news comes hours after cabinet minister Michael Gove warned that the current coronavirus lockdown had no “fixed” end date, and depended entirely on how well the public adhered to guidelines.
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“There are different projections as to how long the lockdown might last,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
Professor Neil Ferguson, one of the key experts advising the government on the spread of the virus, told The Sunday Times the lockdown would likely have to remain in place until June.
Asked about Ferguson’s prediction, Gove said: “It’s not the case that the length of the lockdown is something that is absolutely fixed.
“It depends on all of our behaviour. If we follow the guidelines, we can deal more effectively with the spread of the disease.”
Today’s announcement of number of deaths takes the total 21% higher than the equivalent figure yesterday. The day-on-day percentage increase yesterday was 34%.
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Preparations across the country to deal with a huge influx of cases DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
It took 16 days for the number of deaths in the UK to go from one to just over 200. It has taken a further eight days for the total to go from just over 200 to just over 1,200.
On average, around 7,000 new tests a day were carried out in the seven days to 9am March 29.