thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-12--Are You A Coronavirus Minimiser?

Are You A Coronavirus Minimiser?

“I’m really not fussed about it,” says Quincy Dash, amid the wall-to-wall coverage and conversations about coronavirus. “I don’t understand why everyone is stockpiling.”
The 28-year-old PR executive from Liverpool isn’t alone in his feelings, even as the outbreak has now been classified as a pandemic, shutting down Italy and emptying out supermarkets across the UK of pasta, soap, hand sanitiser and toilet rolls.
Two camps are emerging when it comes to mentally processing the current situation, says Liz Ritchie, a psychotherapist at St Andrews Healthcare in Northampton. There’s the camp of anxiety and, conversely, the camp of nonchalance. “Both depend largely on people’s assessment of how susceptible they are [to the virus] and how severe the threat is,” she says.
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Those in the nonchalant camp fall on a spectrum, from people who don’t have a worried bone in their bodies, but know to be mindful of others, to those who defiantly go about their daily business – coughing, hacking and wheezing – unless told otherwise.
Then there are the wilfully cavalier: those who haven’t self-isolated when they should or have broken their self-isolation early despite fitting the criteria for needing a test and staying put at home.
While this last approach is not advised – it falls to all of us to stop the spread of Covid-19 – Ritchie says “to be realistic about it, and not to catastrophise it, at this moment in time, is a really healthy way to be”.
The most effective approach is “just listening to the information we’re given, listening to any advice we’ve been given, and heeding that advice as well,” Ritchie adds – “but without taking it to the extreme”.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
As the number of people being tested – and testing positive – for coronavirus continues to rise in the UK, the current advice from the government continues to be to wash hands regularly, and catch coughs and sneezes with tissues which should then be binned straight away. Increasing numbers of people are self-isolating and Public Health England have prepared plans for the next step of ‘social distancing’, which may be necessary in the coming days or weeks.
Dash says he’s well aware of the severity of the situation, but also thinks “a bit of scaremongering is going on” when it comes to how the information is being presented to him and the wider public. “I also understand the statistics are quite low in terms of death, compared to other diseases,” he says.
“It’s all over the news, social media, everywhere you go. Even celebrities are getting in on it like Naomi Campbell” – the supermodel wore a hazmat suit and mask to the airport – “I try not to get too invested because fear is not a good thing for the public or the world right now.”
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Psychotherapist Natasha Page, who is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), says how people react to the current situation is likely to depend on how they might perceive the impact it’s going to have on them. “Some people see it as something they can get through and survive. But then others with maybe a more anxious attachment are actually more worried about the implications if it gets more serious,” she explains.
Not worrying about the situation is a coping strategy in itself, says Page. People more inclined to do this might have developed it as a strategy over the years, based on their experiences and situations they’ve faced, or even from childhood, witnessing how their own parents managed stress and anxiety.
“People who have responded in that way – that is how they are taking control of the situation,” says Page. “Some clients go the other way and take control by panic-buying or being extra vigilant around contact with people – not doing the hand-shaking, not wanting to socialise as much.
“So I guess it’s all about how people feel that they can control their environment in something that feels very uncertain for us at the moment.”
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Lee Chambers, a 34-year-old life coach from Preston, says he’s “not too worried” about the virus, despite living with a compromised immune system.
Chambers, who has rheumatoid arthritis, already has to be very careful around practising good hygiene and removing himself from certain situations which could prove dangerous to his health, he tells HuffPost UK – so the stepped up precautions are nothing new – unlike for much of the rest of the public.
He does wish other people would be more aware of those in society who live with compromised immune systems but don’t necessarily look ill. “The danger for me is I’m only 34 and I look physically fit. Nobody would be able to tell of my disease or my troubles unless I told them. So I think sometimes it’s just that awareness for other people that’s missing.”
Ritchie warns that at present “it’s important that we don’t overreact” because it could have negative repercussions – some of which we’ve seen in the current spate of panic-buying across the UK.
“When we overreact, the domino effect of that affects many more things – it causes a situation where from an economic perspective, a practical perspective, a day-to-day living perspective, it starts to reshape that in some way. And it’s not always in a positive way,” she says
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For Dash, it’s business as usual in terms of going shopping, to the gym and eating out. But he has been more germ-aware, he says. “The only thing I’ve added is to bring my water bottle into the sauna with me, just in case I’ve placed it somewhere where germs could be lurking, hoping the steam would destroy anything my bottle has had contact with.”
He says he won’t be worrying too much until it hits closer to home – for example, if a friend or family member gets it. He also remains positive after hearing stories of people becoming infected and then surviving the virus.
“I just got back from South Africa and on the way back, the stop over was in Abu Dhabi, looking around there were many other travellers waltzing around with masks,” he says. “I thought to myself, surely that’s not going to do anything. Not only does it look silly, you’re not preventing anything.
“Another thing is this stockpiling saga? I don’t understand why people are doing this? Especially with loo roll, surely there are better things to be stockpiling.”
As for Chambers, he’d like people to exercise a bit of mindful caution on behalf of others. A lot of people are focused on themselves and their immediate family, he says, and perhaps of older people around them. But there’s not as much awareness for people who might have compromised immune systems or other chronic but invisible illnesses.
“If we can have just a bit more compassion and caring for other people, it’s probably the biggest thing to take and learn from the current situation,” he adds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-12--Yes, Washing Up Liquid And Bars Of Soap Get Rid Of Coronavirus Too

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When parts of the UK went into panic-buying overdrive last year because of coronavirus – antibacterial products were among the first to go. Some supermarkets even limited how many in-demand items they sell per customer.
Stocks may have returned, but is there anything else they can use to get rid of such germs? Yes, as it turns out. Washing up liquid and a good old-fashioned bar of soap also do the trick.
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Walter B. McKenzie via Getty Images
Sharing a reminder of the importance of practising good hygiene, Dr Adrian Heald, a consultant physician working in Cheshire, pointed out that using soap or washing up liquid also “disable the virus”.
How does this work, then? Dr Ed Wright, senior lecturer in microbiology at the University of Sussex, explains that coronavirus particles have a fatty, oily outer layer – and using soap or washing up liquid damages that layer.
“That layer is required for the virus to be able to infect a cell,” he explains. “If you use soap or detergent (washing up liquid), they will all interact with this waxy, oily layer and disrupt that, so the virus will fall apart and won’t be able to infect anybody.” Excellent news for your dishes, then.
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Dr Wright adds that he uses “strong detergents” to deactivate viruses in the lab – so, “they’re perfectly effective, these washing up liquids and soaps, outside of the lab”.
Liquid soap is formulated to be easy-to-use for hand washing, but it isn’t different from bar soap, foaming hand-wash, or dish detergent (washing up liquid), adds Dr Alexander Edwards, associate professor in biomedical technology at University of Reading. “Undiluted dish detergent/washing up liquid might be a bit harsh on the hands – so try to use this less,” he says.
When you’re cleaning your hands, Dr Edwards recommends doing it thoroughly – “with any soap or detergent, as long as it’s safe for hands” – to properly remove any bugs or virus. “Soap and detergent are quite good at killing the virus, but it’s mostly about removing the virus from your hands [so rinsing it down the sink], rather than killing it,” he explains.
Professor Sally Bloomfield, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also stresses that rinsing the soap off properly is really important as it helps wash away the virus.
If you don’t have a sink and running clean water, use alcohol hand gel. “This stays on your hands long enough for the high percentage of alcohol to directly kill the virus without washing it away,” he explains. “Alcohol alone can just run away, and it’s harsh on the hands, but gel stays there.”
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Remember, the main advice to protect yourself from coronavirus is to wash hands, cover the mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and put used tissues in the bin immediately.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-12--Protecting Yourself From Coronavirus Is Proving Harder For Disabled People Like Me

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It feels like every headline you read now is about coronavirus. With the virus causing concern and costing lives worldwide, it isn’t surprising. But it’s important that we talk about what that concern looks like if you’re disabled.
We already know those with pre-existing conditions, like me, are more at risk of serious consequences. In my work as a disabled advocate, I have seen the sheer fear this can cause – many people I know are immunosuppressant, and can easily be hospitalised by the common cold, let alone covid-19.
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For us, the relaxed attitudes from a minority of non-disabled people can be extremely hurtful. Hearing people being complacent about coronavirus is, of course, their own choice. But comments like “I’m fine, it wouldn’t kill me anyway” show a disregard for disabled people and the elderly. Yes, you may only experience mild symptoms, but you must not be complacent about the risk of passing the virus on to others who might not have the ability to fight it off as well as you.
“Some disabled people rely on hand sanitiser to ensure their hands are clean – yet many people seem to be hoarding for a post-apocalyptic world where the only way to be safe is using hand sanitiser...”
That’s why disabled people like me are having to take extreme measures to protect ourselves, and indeed those who care for us. We are used to challenges, of course – but coronavirus just seems to be testing every element of our lives. Here’s how.
I, like many disabled people, rely on assistance to get around – which means every time I travel I put myself in close proximity to others who could have supported a whole host of people that day. What happens if you rely on a carer and they get ill? You’re left with no support.
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What about stockpiling? Due to the inaccessibility of disabled toilets, some disabled people rely on hand sanitiser to ensure their hands are clean – yet many people seem to be hoarding for a post-apocalyptic world where the only way to be safe is using hand sanitiser. There are people with feeding tubes who need to use antibacterial wipes to sterilise things, too. And what about wheelchair users? They could spend all day pushing their wheelchair, touching the wheel rims that have been in contact with the floor.
Yet we now seem to be running the risk of these products being unavailable to those who need it the most. Everyone deserves the right to be safe, but please be mindful that five litres of hand sanitiser will often do the same job as soap and warm water.
What happens if we get ill and need to self-isolate? Well, disabled people risk being forced into a catch-22 where we need to isolate to protect our compromised immune systems, but where the detrimental effects of self-isolating is far greater too. Self-isolation for many of us would mean losing access to any help with daily tasks and personal care, and even the ability to pick up vital medications. Even something as simple as preparing food or getting a drink could be a challenge.
The government’s reaction to the virus has promoted sick pay from day one and the option for homeworking where possible. This is great, but sickness doesn’t stop there. For disabled people this can be the daily reality of having an often fluctuating condition. Scope and Mind have recently been campaigning for sick pay reform, and they want it to be more flexible, and paid at a fair rate from day one, rather than day four of someone being ill. If this change was made permanent, it would benefit disabled people – as well as anyone who might ever have to go off sick.
“Self-isolation for many of us would mean losing access to any help with daily tasks and personal care, and even the ability to pick up vital medications.”
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I understand this is a temporary situation and is because of a health crisis, but why aren’t these options readily available for disabled people? We find ourselves struggling to find work and are faced with a fight for reasonable adjustments to be implemented. For myself, being at work and being able to contribute gives me a feeling of equality. However, I work from home and this is the only way I could physically hold down a full-time role. The seemingly simple task of commuting would cause fatigue and pain which in turn would make the quality of my work poorer, as well as needing days off to recover. These jobs are far and few between, despite being handed out like hot cakes during the covid-19 outbreak.
Homeworking might not be the easiest option, but it’s been shown to be possible. For the sanity of disabled people, I hope this crisis opens the eyes of employers and means reasonable adjustments are no longer a battle. To revert back to old ways, both with sick pay and flexible working, sends the message that the health and wellbeing of disabled people just isn’t as important.
Please take precautions to prevent yourself and those around you from getting ill. The consequences of not doing so could significantly harm others. All of us deserve to be protected where possible.
Chloe Tear is a disability blogger, freelance writer, and advocate. Follow her on @chloeltear and chloetear.co.uk.
Scope’s online community is a supportive space for disabled people, parents and carers to get disability advice and information, and talk to people with similar experiences. Mind also have a coronavirus mental health support page.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: UK Excluded From Donald Trump's 30-Day Ban On Travel Between US And Europe

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The UK and Ireland have been excluded from a ban on travel between the United States and Europe for 30 days starting on Friday, US President Donald Trump has announced as he seeks to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Trump made the dramatic announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation on Wednesday, blaming the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the outbreak of the virus and saying US clusters were “seeded” by European travellers.
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The president said the US would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.
“We made a lifesaving move with early action on China,” Trump said. “Now we must take the same action with Europe.”
However, questions were quickly raised over precisely what the president was ordering.
Homeland Security officials later clarified the new travel restrictions would only apply to most foreign nationals who had been in the ‘Schengen Area’ at any point for 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the US. The area includes Italy, German, Greece, Austria, Belgium and others. The ban does not apply to US citizens or their immediate family members, and it does not apply to US legal permanent residents.
Trump also later tweeted that the ban did not include goods, only people.
A list of 26 affected countries published on the US Homeland Security website.
The action @POTUS is taking to deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in coronavirus-affected areas will keep Americans safe & save lives. These are not easy decisions but they are required. I will issue guidance within 48 hours outlining details.https://t.co/KYXE7JKswC pic.twitter.com/zgi6r5FoZq — Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) March 12, 2020
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Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2020
The move comes as Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Thursday that the UK is moving to the ‘delay’ phase of tackling coronavirus as the government ramps up efforts to bring the disease under control.
Eight people with Covid-19 are confirmed to have died in the UK, while the total number of positive cases has risen to 460.
Trump’s action came as the number of confirmed cases of the infection topped 1,000 in the US and the World Health Organisation declared the global crisis was now a pandemic.
In his address, the president said “we are marshalling the full power” of the government and private sector to protect the American people.
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He also announced the US would defer tax payments due to the government for some impacted filers for three months amid measures to lessen the financial impact of virus.
Trump had been reportedly considering new travel advisories, a national disaster declaration and a delay in the tax filing deadline.
Congress, for its part, unveiled a multi-billion dollar aid package that was expected to be voted on by the House as soon as Thursday.
After days of playing down the threat, Trump changed gears with his Oval Office address.
The mounting effort to contain the virus and financial fall-out intensified on a gruelling day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Budget Special: Johnson and Sunak And The Art Of Political Amnesia

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The Levellers?
Remember David Cameron’s Tory election poster in the 2010 general election? The huge one with a lovely new-born baby and the caption: ”Dad’s nose. Mum’s eyes. Gordon Brown’s debt”?
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Remember the Tory ridicule when Ed Miliband forgot to mention the word ‘deficit’ in his 2014 conference speech?
Remember Theresa May’s ‘magic money tree’ attack on Jeremy Corbyn in 2017?
Well, Boris Johnson clearly doesn’t remember. Or, more accurately, pretends not to. This is a man who won the 2019 election by successfully presenting his government as a brand new administration, its members somehow unconnected with the past decade of austerity. When critics pointed out his plan to recruit 20,000 more police officers would simply mean replacing the 20,000 cops cut since 2010, the PM’s general response was a generic ‘ah, fuggedaboutit’.
Serial political amnesia is, after all, Johnson’s defining modus operandi. He conveniently forgets plenty of things: offensive Spectator columns, his tenure as foreign secretary, his past attacks on Donald Trump, the number of children he has. So we shouldn’t be surprised that his 2020 spring Budget (and it felt very much like his Budget) has no remembrance of things past. This was the ‘levelling up’ Budget that assumed the voters will forget why spending was ‘down’ in the first place.
Nevertheless, the sheer abandon with which Rishi Sunak today let borrowing rip was remarkable. Deficit hawks on the Tory benches, particularly those with long memories, kept largely quiet as their own orthodoxy went up in smoke before their very eyes. Yes, there was an emergency in the form of the coronavirus threat, but the sheer scale of the spending splurge went way beyond a short-term vaccination for the economy.
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Sunak himself was clearly aware of how the new borrowing would look. He claimed, somewhat implausibly, that borrowing would “increase slightly” from 2.1% of GDP in 2019-20 to 2.4% in 2020-21 and 2.8% in 2021-22. I remember how Gordon Brown used to rattle through bad news in his Budgets by swiftly spitting out statistics before getting onto his big announcements. But today, Sunak didn’t even do that. For the first time in living memory, this was a Chancellor who failed to give a cash figure for borrowing for future years.
A look at the small print revealed just why. When you translate those percentages into pounds and pence, borrowing goes up to a whopping £66.7bn next year. Compared to figures issued by the Office for Budget Responsibility just a few weeks ago in December, borrowing will shoot up by £97bn over the next four years. Yes, £97bn. This is not a one year-blip, it’s a massive change in direction for the Tory party.
And it’s not just the new borrowing that shocked. After years of the Conservatives deriding Labour’s plans for a ‘fiscal stimulus’ to the economy, Sunak injected a £30bn stimulus bigger than anything Gordon Brown, Ed Balls and John McDonnell could have dreamed of.
House of Commons - PA Images via Getty Images
Given the anaemic growth forecasts today (as well as the pre-coronavirus zero growth figures posted before the Budget), the need for that stimulus looked obvious. But for many there will also be a sneaking suspicion that this was all about anticipating a possible Brexit downturn. The OBR forecast today was ominous on that score: trade with EU some 15% lower and economic growth 4% lower over 15 years.
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The other big Budget black hole was social care, with Sunak saying “over the next few months we’ll tackle the big issues head on”. It wasn’t just repaying the national debt that is being put off to tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. The fiscal rules will be reviewed, so will devolution, and - another huge missing policy areas - how to get to ‘net zero’ climate emissions.
Ultimately however this was a supremely political Budget. The £4.2bn ‘transforming cities fund’ looks like pork barrel politics with a lot of pork in a big old barrel. That includes £198m for the North East (key bricks in the Blue Wall), £161m for Derby (which has a new Tory MP) and Nottingham, £57m for Southampton (with a former Labour marginal now firmly Tory) £79m for true blue Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, £317m for West Yorkshire (where the Tories took four seats from Labour last December).
The spending splurge and the borrowing binge are aimed at further ensuring Johnson gets a full 10 years in power. His mission relies on the public forgetting the Tories’ past. But it also relies on his own party forgetting its core principle of ‘sound money’. If the government can navigate its way through the coronavirus and Brexit challenges over the next year (still big ‘ifs’), its new strategy may well work.
A new opinion poll today put the Tories on a massive 50% and Labour down on 29%. With a new leader due soon, many Labour MPs will be humming grimly to themselves that famous Tony Blair anthem ‘things can only get better’. Remember that Blair followed his first landslide with a second one. It’s not inconceivable that Johnson will do too.
And that’s the other amnesia affecting our politics right now too: Labour has simply forgotten how to win elections. Johnson and Sunak today proved they want it to stay that way.
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Quote Of The Day
“I trust in the discussions that were held prior to the delivery of the Budget that there was the necessary tension between No 10 and the Treasury. Generally speaking, prime ministers want to spend money and chancellors want to manage the public finances prudently…”
Theresa May reminds everyone of the former Tory orthodoxy
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
The UK will move formally from the ‘contain’ phase to the ‘delay’ phase on coronavirus tomorrow. This came on the day the World Health Organisation officially declared Covid-19 a ‘pandemic’.
As the number of UK coronavirus deaths rose to eight, an unnamed cabinet minister has gone into self-isolation after being in contact with health minister Nadine Dorries. Junior minister Edward Argar has also gone into quarantine.
Asked why Britain was not following draconian measures imposed by other nations, Matt Hancock told MPs that “there are some countries that aren’t fully following the science”. He said the peak will be in “a couple of months” time. “This is a marathon not a sprint”.
A senior Scottish government official has told the Alex Salmond trial that he gave her “very sloppy” kisses on the mouth and touched her bottom, leaving her feeling “disgusted”. Salmond denies a total of 14 sexual assault charges against 10 women.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Boris Johnson To Move UK From  'Contain' To 'Delay' Phase Of Coronavirus Action Plan

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Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Thursday that the UK is moving to the ‘delay’ phase of tackling coronavirus as the government ramps up efforts to bring the disease under control.
The prime minister is to chair a meeting of the emergency ‘Cobra’ committee where it is expected a decision will be made that effectively means the virus cannot be contained.
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The government’s action plan has three separate stages – contain, delay and mitigate. On Monday, Johnson told reporters the UK will almost certainly move to the delay phase.
‘Social distancing’ measures, such as restricting public gatherings and more widespread advice to stay at home, could be brought in as part of the effort to tackle Covid-19.
The move follows the World Health Organisation criticising “alarming levels of inaction” as they declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
Eight people with Covid-19 were confirmed to have died in the UK, while the total number of positive cases rose to 460.
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Fears of public “fatigue” has delayed the start of restrictions designed to delay the spread, England’s chief medical officer said.
Professor Chris Whitty stressed the importance of timing because “anything we do, we have got to be able to sustain” throughout the peak of the outbreak.
On Wednesday evening, ministers said they have resolved to keep parliament open despite a health minister testing positive for the coronavirus.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs he believed the Commons may have to function differently in some ways, but insisted it must continue to hold the government to account and legislate during a time of emergency.
Hancock also said health minister Nadine Dorries has done “exactly the right thing” in following official advice to self-isolate, with MPs wishing her well in her recovery after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
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A cabinet minister was also reported to be self-isolating while awaiting a test result.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a press conference about coronavirus in 10 Downing Street in London. ASSOCIATED PRESS
World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus told reporters on Wednesday that the number of cases outside China has increased 13-fold in the past two weeks, and the number of affected countries has tripled.
He said individual countries could still change the course of the virus through their actions, but said the agency expected the number of deaths and affected countries to climb higher.
But Dr Tedros advised that despite the change in the language, WHO is still advising countries to remain in the containment phase.
Also on Wednesday, the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust said a patient in their 70s being treated for underlying health conditions had died after testing positive for Covid-19.
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And the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said an elderly patient being treated for a number of serious underlying health conditions had also died.
It came as 53-year-old British woman was reported to have died from Covid-19 in Indonesia.
She was ill with other health conditions, including diabetes and lung disease, the Indonesian government said.
In other developments:
– A female patient with underlying health conditions became the first death linked to coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland
– England’s cricketers have been instructed not to sign autographs or pose for selfies with fans during their test tour of Sri Lanka, while Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal has been postponed as a “precautionary measure” over coronavirus fears
– Public Health England defended its decision not to test everyone with symptoms, saying it must focus on those at highest risk. The NHS intends to ramp up testing facilities
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Coronavirus: Italy Orders All Shops To Close Apart From Pharmacies And Food Stores

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Italy has said all shops except pharmacies and food stores will be closed in response to the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
The move follows the entire country being placed in lockdown and the World Health Organisation declaring the global coronavirus crisis a pandemic.
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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the new restrictions to the lockdown on Wednesday after figures showed the country posting the highest daily increase in deaths of any country since the outbreak began.
In a televised address to the nation, Conte said all shops would be shuttered except supermarkets, food stores and chemists, and companies must close all their departments that are not essential to production.
Services such as hairdressers and beauty parlours will also be closed, along with all bars and restaurants. Company canteens can remain open if they are able to guarantee they can keep a distance of at least one meter between customers.
“We will only be able to see the effects of this great effort in a couple of weeks,” he said, referring to the daily bulletins announcing the number of new cases and deaths.
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Elsewhere in Europe, Denmark shut all schools and universities after a 10-fold rise in cases since Monday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said up to 70% of the population was likely to be infected as the virus spreads around the world in the absense of a cure.
With Europe the new epicentre of the outbreak, the Trump administration is likely to discourage Americans from taking trips to Europe as soon as Wednesday, sources suggest.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Coronavirus Latest: Two More People Die In UK After Testing Positive For Covid-19

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Two more people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
The deaths, confirmed by NHS England, represent the seventh and eighth fatalities in the country linked to the outbreak.
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust said a patient in their 70s being treated for underlying health conditions had died after testing positive for Covid-19.
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And the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Warwickshire said an elderly patient, from Nuneaton, being treated for a number of serious underlying health conditions, had also died.
A total of 456 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday, up from 373 at the same point on Tuesday.
Earlier, the global coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus told reporters on Wednesday that the number of cases of Covid-19 outside China has increased 13-fold in the past two weeks, and the number of affected countries has tripled.
In other developments:
– A patient with an underlying illness became the first person in the Republic of Ireland to die after testing positive for the illness.
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– NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced plans to “invite up to 18,000 third year undergraduate nurses to help out on the frontline” in the battle against coronavirus.
– England’s cricketers have been instructed not to sign autographs or pose for selfies with fans during their test tour of Sri Lanka, while Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal has been postponed as a “precautionary measure” over coronavirus fears.
– Public Health England (PHE) defended its decision not to test everyone with symptoms, saying it must focus on those at highest risk. The NHS intends to ramp up testing facilities
– Cambodian health authorities are testing people on a cruise boat docked in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, after a British passenger was reported to be infected with Covid-19. The vessel had sailed from Vietnam.
– British nationals from the Grand Princess cruise ship in the port of Oakland, California, landed in Birmingham on Wednesday and are being asked to go into self-isolation.
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– The Bank of England announced an emergency cut in interest rates from 0.75% to 0.25% in response to the economic impact of coronavirus.
Earlier, Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out plans for the health service in his budget and pledged security and support for those who are sick and unable to work due to the spread of Covid-19.
Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement: “The Trust can confirm that a patient in their 70s being treated for underlying health conditions has died. The patient had tested positive for Covid-19.
“The family has been informed and our condolences and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“We will not be commenting further and ask that everybody respects the family’s privacy.”
Dr Catherine Free, medical director at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, said: “The Trust can confirm that an elderly patient being treated for a number of serious underlying health conditions has died. The patient had tested positive for Covid-19.
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“The family has been informed and our condolences and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--7 Things Buried In Rishi Sunak's 'Coronavirus Budget'

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Chancellor Rishi Sunak has delivered the new Conservative government’s budget.
The headlines will be dominated by £30bn emergency funding package to help the country cope with coronavirus and the £100bn of extra cash for public services over the next four years.
Here are some of the things you might have missed.
1. There is no extra money for social care
Demand for funds to tackle the social care crisis have been growing, with an ageing population ramping up pressure on councils and the care sector.
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The Conservative Party’s election manifesto pledged a solution which would mean workers did not have to pay a ‘dementia tax’ (as was once mooted by former PM Theresa May).
But despite announcing an extra £6bn for the NHS, there was no specific cash for social care.
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt called this a “glaring omission”, adding: “Hospitals will continue to fill up and winter crises will be annual until we fix this issue, which – I fully accept – wasn’t solved when I was in office.
“We desperately need a social care long-term plan to go alongside the NHS plan,” he added.
2. The Brexit dividend is not £350m-a-week - at least not yet
The Treasury documents set out for the first time the net amount saved by Britain leaving the European Union.
Vote Leave famously promised it would amount to £350m-a-week which would be going back into the UK government’s coffers rather than Brussels’.
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While Sunak is pumping huge sums into public services with this budget, the cash saved from no longer making EU contributions is listed as £42bn over the next five years.
This puts the figure closer to £161m-a-week.
Here's the 'Brexit dividend'.
It doesn't look like the infamous £350m a week that was on the VoteLeave bus. (From pg65 #Budget2020 RedBook.) pic.twitter.com/aDwK1w8EcA — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) March 11, 2020
The government has pointed out that the UK will continue to pay into some EU schemes and that this figure does not represent the long term benefit. It will also increase over time.
But some think that the commitments ministers have made to support sectors hit by Brexit, such as car manufacturing and farming, will eventually eat into the figure.
3. EU migrants will pay £624-a-year to use the NHS
Migrants from outside the EU currently face an annual £400 charge to use the NHS as part of a fee added on to their visa application called the immigration health surcharge.
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Sunak is hiking this levy up to £624 for adults and £470 for children, the budget document confirms.
Budget
In December, the UK-EU transition period is expected to end and EU migrants will face the charge for the first time.
It means a family of four will face up to £2,200-a-year on top of their visa application to use the NHS post-Brexit.
The government’s defence for this is that voters want immigrants to pay more for UK public services.
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4. Borrowing is going up *big time*
Sunak made a huge amount of spending commitments in the budget.
And with the government set to spend more than £600bn on major infrastructure projects, a rise in borrowing was to be expected.
But the raw figures for borrowing are huge - around £100bn over five years. While Sunak admitted borrowing would “increase slightly”, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) laid out the numbers in full, with borrowing set to rise to £66.7bn in 2021/22 and £57.9bn by 2024/25.
With Brexit and coronavirus threatening to play havoc with the economy and growth, this is a bold move and one on which Boris Johnson’s opponents could pounce.
British politics in 2020: a Conservative Chancellor outlining plans for a bigger state than under Tony Blair and more borrowing than Gordon Brown — Torsten Bell (@TorstenBell) March 11, 2020
The government has said the investment is part of its “levelling up” strategy which will see cash reach some of the former Labour “red wall” voters it has persuaded to vote Tory.
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It has also pointed out that borrowing rates are at a rare low.
5. Self-employed contractors to face higher tax bills
Tens of thousands of self-employed workers are going to face a higher tax bill.
Despite numerous calls from campaigners, Sunak refused to delay tightening up IR35 legislation and there will be a crackdown on self-employed people operating through a company.
The changes, which will come into effect in April, will see self-employed people who work for a company like an employee potentially pay the same level of tax that permanent staff members pay.
The Treasury reckons this will bring in £3.1bn in additional tax revenues between 2020 and 2024.
Chris Bryce, chief executive of the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE), has sounded the alarm.
He said: “By forging ahead with these disastrous changes, the government risks hollowing out the UK contracting industry.”
He added: “Understandably, contractors are extremely concerned about this. Many we have spoken to are already seeing work dry up almost entirely, and our research shows at least one in three are planning to stop contracting in the UK. This will be catastrophic for the £305bn contracting sector and will do serious harm to the already troubled economy.”
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6. Your energy bill will go up
Sunak decided to freeze the levy on electricity from April 2022, calling it the cleanest mode of energy.
But he chose to raise the levy on gas and introduced a green gas levy that industry experts predict could overall add £5 to your energy bill.
Mark Todd, co-founder of the Energy helpline, tweeted: “This is the first salvo in a war on gas that will be waged over the next ten years as it will be chased out of the energy system like coal and diesel.”
(2/2) WAR ON GAS cont'd:
What we expect:
- Banning of new gas heating & hot water systems
- 'Black market' in second hand / reconditioned gas boilers
- Increasing carbon tax on gas making it more & more expensive
- Electrical heating systems become norm
- Hydrogen systems arrive — Mark Todd (@markctodd) March 11, 2020
7. Taxes on flights to be raised despite Flybe collapse
A tax on air fares, known as Air Passenger Duty (APD), has been increased despite airlines calling for them to be scrapped.
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Sunak confirmed that APD for long-haul economy tickets will increase by £2 to £80, while the rate for those travelling in premium cabins will rise by £4 to £176.
The changes come into effect on April 1.
APD for short-haul flights in economy will be frozen, however.
A spokeswoman for British Airways’ parent company IAG said: “This is a tax on business.
“Last year, IAG paid around one billion euros in APD to the Treasury.
“This costs UK jobs and growth.
“If the government is serious about making Britain a global trading economy, the world’s highest aviation tax should be scrapped now.”
Regional airline Flybe, which collapsed last week, blamed APD as one of the reasons for its financial struggles.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Coronavirus Recession 'Quite Possible' This Year, Spending Watchdog Warns

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A recession caused by coronavirus is “quite possible” this year, Britain’s government spending watchdog has warned.
The Office for Budget Responsibility also found that the Brexit vote had already caused a 2% hit to the UK economy, while Boris Johnson’s proposed trade deal with the EU would result in 4% of lost growth over 15 years.
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The experts made their assessments of the two biggest crises to hit the UK in recent years as chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled £12bn of spending aimed at tackling the coronavirus outbreak.
And it came after financial markets tanked in recent days as coronavirus spread around the world, with Italy being put into lockdown and a pandemic being officially declared.
Sign up now to get The Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing, by email.
The OBR said coronavirus was “likely” to cause a “significant” hit to the UK economy and public finances but stressed it was impossible to predict the size or duration of impact “with any confidence”.
Based on information available on February 14 before coronavirus really began to take hold in the UK, the OBR predicted just a 0.1% hit to GDP growth in its economic outlook, which accompanied the Budget.
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But the outbreak now presents a “clear downside risk”, with the chief medical officer declaring an epidemic likely and the Bank of England warning the shock to the economy “could prove large”.
“A recession this year is quite possible if the spread of coronavirus causes widespread economic disruption”
If large numbers of people fall sick and are forced into self isolation the virus will reduce demand for goods and services and the ability of businesses to supply them, the OBR said.
That will in turn reduce incomes and consumer spending while the government will need to pour cash into public services like the NHS to tackle coronavirus.
The OBR warned: “Since we closed our forecast, it has become clear that the spread of coronavirus will be far wider than assumed in our baseline forecast, pointing to a deeper – and possibly more prolonged – slowdown.”
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The report went on: “Historically, the chance of the economy falling into recession at some point in a five-year period is roughly one-in-two.
“But a recession this year is quite possible if the spread of coronavirus causes widespread economic disruption.”
But the OBR stressed that over the long-term the impact “is likely to be less significant, unless the outbreak inflicts lasting damage on the economy’s supply capacity”.
Brexit
The experts also found that the government’s proposed Brexit trade deal was likely to cause a 4% hit to economic growth over the next 15 years, after taking an average of independent assessments of a typical free trade deal.
Since the referendum vote to leave the EU potential economic output has already been cut by 2% compared to what it would be if it had not happened, the OBR said.
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It blamed vastly depressed business investment and firms diverting resources from production to preparing for different Brexit outcomes including no deal.
Before the referendum, real business investment was forecast to rise by 20% by now but in the face of the Brexit vote has “barely grown” due to uncertainty.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Budget 2020: The Magic Money Tree Has Left Women Out Again

For women the budget felt very much like more of the same Getty Images
The new chancellor has found the magic money tree.
Not only did Rishi Sunak promise £600bn investment over the parliament to invest in infrastructure but the budget also started with a programme of emergency spending to address the economic impact of Covid-19 and a promise that the NHS could have “whatever it needs” to deal with the virus.
But the billions for infrastructure and the response to the coronavirus ignored the fundamental question of how women and the unpaid care they provide underpin the economy. Although the budget marked a major change of direction for a government that has spent 10 years telling us we need to cut spending, for women it felt very much like more of the same.
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The budget’s infrastructure investment was concentrated on physical infrastructure, (roads, rail, construction). There was no recognition that the economy and society also rely on social infrastructure: public services such as health, education and care. And these are services women also rely on — as WBG work with the Runnymede Trust has shown, cuts to these services over the last decade have hit women the hardest and poorer women, BAME women and disabled women the hardest of all.
The chancellor didn’t say how much Covid-19 would cost the NHS but it certainly needs extra money. Although the NHS was supposedly protected from the austerity that hit other departments over the last 10 years, it has seen some of the lowest spending increases in its history; only 1.5% a year on average between 2009 and 2019.
This underfunding has meant that bed occupancy rates are already above safe levels. In the last quarter of 2019 the occupancy rate for general and acute beds was at 92%, and anything above 85% is reported to reduce patient safety. The UK has fewer nurses relative to the population than the OECD average, with staff leaving the profession as a result of poor working conditions which include pay, short staffing and training cuts. More money will allow for the recruitment of more nurses, but this will take time. Right now there is no slack to cope with the shock to the system that a major outbreak will cause. And it is women who will be hit hardest. Women are the majority of the older people who are most at risk from the coronavirus, and the majority of NHS workers are women.
“Does the government have plans for who will provide care if care workers contract Covid-19 or is the assumption yet again that women will fill the gap?”
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And what will happen to our care system if care workers become ill, or have to self-isolate? As Age UK argued, “social care is on the frontline of keeping older people, younger disabled people and those with serious health issues safe and well”. The crisis in social care already means that one in seven adults over 65 have unmet care needs. Social care has been underfunded for decades, but the situation has reached critical levels as a result of cuts over the last 10 years. There was nothing in the budget to address this crisis.
Similarly there was nothing in the budget to address the massive funding gap faced by local authorities, that have lost 60p in every £1 of national government funding in the last decade. English local authorities are facing a £3.1bn funding gap this year, for example. The chancellor announced cuts to business rates, which fund local authorities, but nothing about what would replace them. Will local authorities have the staff and capacity to respond quickly to the coronavirus in the next few weeks when they are already stretched to breaking point?
We have got used to women picking up the pieces for our failing social infrastructure. According to Carers UK, 63% of those caring for more than 50 hours a week are women. On average women do 60% more unpaid work than men. Not long ago there was outrage when a government report suggested that a shortage of care workers after Brexit would mean many women having to give up unpaid work to care. Most care work is paid below the level required to be considered “skilled work” under new immigration rules. This is not only dismissive of the huge level of skill involved in care, it will mean that care workers from the EU will not be eligible for visas to work in the UK, worsening the existing crisis in recruitment.
Does the government have plans for who will provide care if care workers contract Covid-19 or is the assumption yet again that women will fill the gap?
Who will be expected to look after children if schools close for weeks at a time as has happened in Italy? As Zoe Williams pointed out earlier this week, 60% of grandparents look after their grandchildren after school or in the holidays. In normal times the response of many parents to a school closure would be to call granny. But if older people are advised to self-isolate, calling granny may be the last thing to do.
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The coronavirus shows how threadbare our social infrastructure has become after 10 years of austerity. It also shows how much we have become used to relying on the unpaid work of women. This was a budget with huge new spending on roads, rail and construction and marked a significant change of direction from the austerity of the last 10 years. But for social infrastructure and women’s unpaid work it was very much business as usual.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-11--Coronavirus Officially Declared A Pandemic By The World Health Organisation

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Coronavirus has been officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
A pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations, according to the body.
It comes after the organisation declared the outbreak a “global public health emergency” at the end of January, when there were fewer than 100 cases of Covid-19 outside China and eight cases of human-to-human transmission of the disease.
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Now there are more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have died, with the numbers expected to climb.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the UN agency, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak.
He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction” and appealed to affected countries to “detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilise” to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak worsening.
“We cannot say this loudly enough or clearly enough or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic,” he told a briefing in Geneva.
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🚨 BREAKING 🚨
"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
The Covid-19 outbreak which originated in Wuhan, China, has now spread to every country in western Europe.
Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.
“Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do.”
He added: “We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time. WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases.
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“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.”
The coronavirus has spread around the world, halting industry, bringing flights to a standstill, closing schools and forcing the postponement of sporting events and concerts.
The WHO no longer has a category for declaring a pandemic, except for influenza.
The agency’s officials have signalled for weeks that they may use the word “pandemic” as an descriptive term but stressed that it does not carry legal significance. The novel coronavirus is not the flu.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: Premier League And English Football League Suspend All Games Until April 3

“The League will continue to liaise with the government regarding ongoing developments and will continue to work with clubs to ensure players, staff and supporters are updated and appraised accordingly,” a spokesperson added.
“These matters are, of course, subject to change and we will update as appropriate.”
England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka cancelled
Other sporting fixtures have also faced cancellation or postponement. England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka has been called off.
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board read: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic worsening globally, and after discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket, we have today made the decision to return our players to the UK and postpone the forthcoming test series between Sri Lanka and England.
“At this time, the physical and mental well-being of our players and support teams is paramount. We will now look to bring them home to their families as soon as possible. These are completely unprecedented times, and decisions like this go beyond cricket.
“We would like to thank our colleagues at Sri Lanka Cricket for their outstanding support and assistance throughout this situation. We look forward to returning to Sri Lanka in the very near future to fulfil this important test series.”
Golf tournaments postponed
The US Masters, the first men’s golfing major of the year, has also been postponed.
The blue riband event at Augusta National was due to take place from April 9 to 12. A new date is yet to be arranged.
Augusta National chair Fred Ridley said: “Ultimately, the health and wellbeing of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision.
“We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”
The Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International, due to take place at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club next week, has been postponed with a view to it being rescheduled later in the year.
“There is no doubt that the last few weeks have been extremely challenging for sports and postponing next week’s tournament has not been an easy decision but we fully appreciate the recent restrictions which have been introduced in respect of travel into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said LET chief executive Alexandra Armas.
First Grand Tour of the cycling season postponed
Meanwhile, the Giro d’Italia, cycling’s first Grand Tour of the season that was due to start on May 9 in Budapest, has been postponed.
The announcement from RCS Sport came after the organising committee of the planned opening stages in Hungary said it was unable to deliver the event due to the state of emergency in the country.
“RCS Sport, having taken note of the international and national situation, announces that the date of the 2020 Giro d’Italia is thereby postponed,” a statement said.
Organisers will work with the Hungarian authorities to allow the race to take place at a later date. No new date will be announced for the race before April 3 following consultation with the Italian government and other authorities.
Formula One halts two further races
Formula One has announced the Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix will be postponed.
The decision follows the previous announcement that the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, due to be contested this weekend, had been postponed.
A statement on the Formula 1 Twitter account read: “Due to the continued global spread of Covid-19 and after ongoing discussions with the FIA and race organisers, a decision has been taken by all parties to postpone the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Vietnam Grand Prix due to take place on March 20-22 and April 3-5 respectively.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--These Striking Photos Show How The World Is Responding To Coronavirus

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen, countries around the world are responding to the threat. Some are taking sharp actions, such as limiting travel and closing mass gatherings such as sporting events to the public.
See the latest photos showing reaction to the coronavirus across the world below. Follow all of HuffPost UK’s coverage on the outbreak here.
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Above: In this handout image provided by UEFA, a soccer match between Valencia CF and Atalanta at Estadio Mestalla kicks off in an empty stadium on March 10, in Valencia, Spain.
MIGUEL MEDINA via Getty Images
Pigeons gather on Piazza del Duomo by Milan’s cathedral on March 10 in Milan. Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions on its 60 million people on March 10 to control the coronavirus.
Ezra Acayan via Getty Images
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A disinfection worker sprays antiseptic solution to prevent Covid-19 aboard a fire truck along a street on March 11 in Manila.
Pablo Cuadra via Getty Images
Empty shelves in supermarket at Madrid’s Arganzuela district on March 10.
Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis via Getty Images
Tourists wearing protective masks take a selfie on March 8 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Italy.
Ivan Romano via Getty Images
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A news agent reads an Italian newspaper that reads: “Tutti a casa” (Everyone at home), inside her newsstand while wearing gloves on March 10 in Salerno, Italy.
Chalinee Thirasupa / Reuters
Muay Thai fighters perform at Walking Street inside an empty bar, lacking tourists, after the coronavirus outbreak in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 11.
JASON REDMOND / Reuters
Lori Spencer visits her mom Judie Shape, 81, who Spencer says has tested positive for the coronavirus, at Life Care Center of Kirkland, the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicentre of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the US, on March 11.
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Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters
A boy wearing a hat with a protective screen, following an outbreak of Covid-19, blows soap bubbles at a park in Daegu, South Korea, March 12.
VLADIMIR SIMICEK via Getty Images
A worker wearing protective clothes disinfects an interior of a public bus at Transport Company of Bratislava as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Bratislava, Slovakia, on March 11.
Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images
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Disinfection workers wearing protective gear spray antiseptic solution in a Seoul subway car on March 11 in South Korea.
PHILIP FONG via Getty Images
A face mask-clad airline employee works at the departure hall of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on March 10.
Stefano Mazzola/Awakening via Getty Images
An ecological operator sanitizes a garbage can in Piazza San Marco against coronavirus on March 11, in Venice, Italy.
MLADEN ANTONOV via Getty Images
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An aerial photo shows unused tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on March 8.
Antonio Masiello via Getty Images


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Laurence Fox Receives Apology From Actors' Union Equity After Labelling Him A 'Disgrace'

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Laurence Fox has received an apology from the actors’ union Equity, after they branded him a “disgrace” on Twitter.
He and Equity are also reported to have “agreed an out-of-court settlement” relating to the matter.
Back in January, Laurence made a much-derided appearance on BBC’s Question Time, in which he defended the media’s treatment of Meghan Markle, insisting the UK is a “lovely, tolerant country”, and told an audience member that calling him a “privileged, white male” was “racist”.
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Following this, a post on Equity’s Minority Ethnic Members Committee (as they were then known) referred to the former Lewis star as a “disgrace to our industry”, for which they have now apologised.
On 17 January a series of tweets were posted by the @EquityMEM Twitter account about Laurence Fox's appearance on BBC Question Time. We are sorry that in the tweets he was called a 'disgrace' by Equity. Please read Equity's full statement. https://t.co/NlW8f88iRs pic.twitter.com/5zgbG5623d — Equity (@EquityUK) March 13, 2020
In a statement, they said: “We are sorry that in the tweets he was called a ‘disgrace’ by Equity.
“It was a mistake for Equity as an organisation to criticise him in this way.
“Nothing in Equity’s later statement was intended as a slur on his character or views, or to suggest that he should be denied the ability to work. We would like to make that clear.
“Equity and Laurence Fox condemn prejudice unequivocally in all its forms.”
Laurence Fox rolling his eyes during his infamous Question Time appearance BBC
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A “source close to [Laurence Fox]” has also told the Press Assocation that he and Equity have agreed on an “out-of-court settlement”.
“Equity have finally apologised and agreed an out-of-court settlement with Laurence after calls for him to be ‘unequivocally denounced’ by the Equity Minority Members’ Committee,” they said.
“He is pleased and grateful to Equity for this decision. He looks forward now to moving on in his professional and personal life after what has been a very difficult period for him and his family.”
Shortly after Equity’s post, the union’s Race Equality Committee announced they felt they had “no choice but to resign as committee members”.
It is with deep regret that, following @EquityUK’s statement this morning, all members of Equity’s recently renamed Race Equality Committee (formerly the Equity Minority Ethnic Members Committee) feel we have no choice but to resign as committee members. https://t.co/gLnKJatSw7 — Equity Race Equality Committee (@EquityREC) March 13, 2020
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Posting on Twitter for the first time in three weeks, Laurence said he hoped the matter might serve as “an opportunity for us to continue to celebrate diversity in all its forms”, adding: “Including diversity of opinion.”
Hopefully this might an opportunity for us to continue to celebrate diversity in all its forms. Including diversity of opinion. @EquityUK @EquityREC https://t.co/MqV8ic1b3M — Laurence Fox 🥦 (@LozzaFox) March 13, 2020
Last month, Laurence posted a lengthy statement, explaining that he’d made the decision to quit social media as he was “fearing for his future”.
He wrote: “Since my appearance on question time and the ensuing hubbub, I have had nothing but support on the street, from people of all backgrounds and political view points. In the weird and lonely days that followed that appearance, your kind words have lifted my spirits. Thank you.
“But privately I have been becoming more and more depressed. I have been so shocked by some of the things said to me on these platforms and I have found some of it very hard to process. I think it’s important to stand up to bullies and that is why I have continued to do so.
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“But I find that I wake up in dread of what’s to come. I’m a fairly private if opinionated person and it’s been very painful and difficult to cope with. However I also believe passionately in free speech.”
Laurence Fox at an event in January, shortly before his Question Time appearance David M. Benett via Getty Images
He continued: “I stand wholeheartedly by people’s right to express themselves. But I am fearing for my future and my ability to provide financially for my children. A thought that has kept me awake most nights. People tell me it will blow over, but when you are in it, it doesn’t feel like it will.
“I expressed an opinion, which I stand by and I don’t believe is controversial. As a result Equity UK called (amongst other things) for actors to denounce me. This has been very hard to deal with, given that members weren’t polled before these tweets were sent out...
“I love my job. I am so blessed to have been fortunate enough to make a career out of it and I have met some of the best people and made such great friends whilst working as an actor. The thought of that being taken away saddens me more than I can say.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--I’m An Adult Who Sleeps Like A Baby. There’s Nothing Shameful About That

Rarely do we celebrate an adult’s ability to sleep as well as they did as when they were a teenager. Getty Images/iStockphoto
As an army of white collar workers re-locate to their living room in the wake of coronavirus, many among them may re-discover the value of an extra hour or two in bed. I don’t think this is a bad thing; in fact, it could mean a shift away from our fetish for sleep deprivation.
I have always slept well. Don’t be jealous, it’s just who I am. As a child, I slept through massive thunderstorms. My friends once had to slap me awake at a sleepover. (They said I looked pale and peaceful, like a corpse, and they were worried.) In my first reporting job, when I was out several nights a week, I coined a term for my paranoia – Fear of Missing Out On Eight Hours’ Sleep (or FOMOO8HS). Unlike ‘Netflix and chill’, it didn’t catch on.
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In recent years we have done a good job at raising awareness and reducing stigma on everything from burn-out culture to work-life balance and mental health. Yet there is a weird cloak of shame around sleep. Sleep is for children, for teenagers, for older people, for people who are ill, or lazy, or depressed, or for those who are always late for work. When I told my friend’s brother-in-law, a corporate lawyer with a young child, that I was a freelancer, the first thing he asked me was, “What time do you normally get up?” He looked horrified when I told him 8am. If he knew the truth, his eyes might have popped out of his head.
A good night’s rest is still seen as an indulgence. We talk about bedside manners and books, the firmness of our mattress, but rarely in our culture do we celebrate an adult’s ability to sleep as well as they did as when they were a teenager. In this manic world of 24/7 news and virus mania, getting a solid eight hours is an achievement — as well as an incredible privilege.
“A good night’s rest is still seen as an indulgence”
Perhaps the problem is that our idea of success is defined – and designed – by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, who might as well be telling us to ‘sleep when we are dead’. We are inundated with articles about successful people’s morning routines – celebrities and billionaires who wake in the small hours and squeeze every minute from their day. Eight hours of sleep is never going to wash with people who invent pills instead of food because they ‘don’t have time’ to eat.
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In an article about ‘life hacks’ for Wired, Michael Affronti, a senior vice president at business communications company Fuze, says he has risen at 4.22am every day for the past 15 years. He is far from alone. And just a few months ago, Silicon Valley came up with ‘dopamine fasting’, a trend which involves spending time without phones, TVs and podcasts – to avoid being overly stimulated and reset the brain.
Wouldn’t a nap do the trick?
Little has changed since the late 1970s, it seems, when Margaret Thatcher came to power, claiming she only got four hours’ sleep a night. Incidentally, this period was also a pretty bad time for our nation’s productivity.
Without sleep, my world becomes dystopian and hellish. I break my one-a-day coffee rule, I become listless, my concentration even more fleeting and superficial. What I don’t need at that point is a blueberry and superfood powder smoothie, or to spend five minutes in a meditation pod. I just need a good night’s kip.
So, on World Sleep Day, this is my ode to the unconscious night. Savour the gentle heaviness that weighs on your eyelids, when the book you’re reading slips from your hand. The sheet is pulled up to your chin, and you are warm and cosy. You know sleep is coming, and it feels wonderful.
I am not too busy, or too important, or too successful for sleep. My sleep doesn’t say anything negative about me. It’s a reward, and an immune booster, for a relentless life.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--All The Times Donald Trump May Have Been Exposed To Coronavirus

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President Donald Trump is constantly downplaying the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. In impromptu comments on Tuesday, he urged Americans to “stay calm,” promising, “it will go away” and “a lot of good things are going to happen.” In a Wednesday night speech from the Oval Office, he sought to reassure the nation that his administration was on top of the crisis.
But reality keeps walking up and shaking his hand.
At least four people who have either tested positive for the virus or previously been in contact with someone who tested positive have met and come into close contact with the president.
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Representative Doug Collins shook Trump’s hand after Air Force One landed in Atlanta for a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last Friday. Collins would discover on Monday that he had come into contact with a major donor at last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington who tested positive for coronavirus. Collins entered himself into self-quarantine.
Doug Collins greets Trump last Friday as Air Force One arrived in Atlanta. Collins later learned that in late February he had come into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Before the donor’s contacts were discovered, Representative Matt Gaetz rode with Trump in his presidential limousine and onboard Air Force One on March 9. Gaetz was informed while on the plane that he had been in contact with the donor at CPAC, and he self-quarantined himself during the flight. He has tested negative but remains in self-quarantine.
Matt Gaetz exits Air Force One at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington on Monday shortly after learning he had come into contact in late February with same person as Collins' had who tested positive for coronavirus. Gaetz self-quarantined himself from Trump and others during the flight. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Trump named retiring Representative Mark Meadows last Friday to serve as his next White House chief of staff. Meadows attended a White House meeting on immigration policy with Trump before learning that he had also come into contact with the CPAC donor. He briefly self-quarantined, but tested negative for the virus and was back at the White House on Thursday.
Mark Meadows, seen here with outgoing White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney (left), also had contact with the same person as Collins and Gaetz. Meadows, who is replacing Mulvaney, briefly self-quarantined but tested negative for coronavirus. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images
Trump also recently hosted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Fabio Wajngarten, Bolsonaro’s top communications official, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. Wajngarten was with Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago and was photographed with Trump. Bolsonaro awaits the results of his test for the virus.
As this virus spreads rapidly across the US, the exposure experienced by politicians is no surprise. The life of a political figure involves meeting and greeting all sorts – from average voters to heads of state and high-rolling donors.
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Numerous government officials in France, the UK and Iran have tested positive for the coronavirus. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in self-quarantine and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, has tested positive.
But Trump and other White House officials have been shockingly cavalier and dismissive about the threat this kind of contact poses.
US public health officials warn that everyone should maintain social distance, avoid large gatherings and self-quarantine if coming into contact with someone who has tested positive. Vice President Mike Pence, though, said he and Trump would continue to shake hands, despite health officials discouraging the practice. The Trump campaign waited until Wednesday to postpone planned political rallies.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--If You Suddenly Work Remotely, Communication Matters More Than Anything Else

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As the number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases increase, more employers are encouraging or preparing their employees to work remotely for an indefinite period.
If you are one of the workers who is making a sudden and new transition to full-time remote work, you may be getting a lot of opinions and advice about working from home, as I have been from old-timers who love it and haters who find the routine overrated.
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I could give you basic, pragmatic tips to create boundaries between work and home, like changing out of pyjamas, showering and choosing actions to signal the beginning and end of the workday. For me, mealtimes are my scheduler. Making tea tells me my workday is starting, and cooking dinner tells my body that I am no longer going to keep typing.
But on a fundamental level, how you communicate and maintain relationships with your co-workers should be your priority, whether you are a manager or not, so that no one feels isolated. The transition is happening because of a pandemic crisis, and your workflow needs to reflect that urgency.
Westend61 via Getty Images
Keeping communication predictable and consistent is critical.
John Bwarie is the CEO of Stratiscope, a community engagement and activation company with expertise in community crisis response who has written tips for how businesses can preserve relationships through a pandemic.
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Bwarie’s one major tip for employees suddenly going remote is to ask for structured lines of communication.
“As an employee transitioning into the social distance and isolation phase, if it’s not provided, they should ask their employer to provide structure and clarity,” he said. Questions to ask your team leader can include “How often should we be expecting to hear from you about the pandemic?” or “What’s the way I should be communicating to you if I am hearing things or confused about them?” Bwarie said.
Workers need consistent updates when they are away from central information because, without them, they can tell stories in their head that may not be true, I learned in a recent remote work webinar.
Last week, I signed up, along with 500 others, for a crash course on managing people over distance co-taught by Nicole Sanchez, the founder and managing partner of Vaya Consulting, and Cate Huston, an engineering lead at Automattic. Sanchez and Huston’s hourlong webinar anticipated offices closing due to Covid-19, and one piece of advice that stayed with me came from Sanchez. The remote paranoia workers may feel, she said, can lead to thoughts like “My manager hasn’t reached out to me all week. I haven’t talked to her. Am I getting fired?”
To prevent this remote anxiety, team managers need to re-clarify how and when information will be communicated, such as “Slack is for things I need in the next three hours,” “Text is for ‘This is immediate’” or “Video-conferencing is for when there’s no other way to exchange information but also for making sure people stay connected to each other because there is no replacement for face-to-face,” Sanchez said in the webinar. The point in clarifying these different modes of communication is to make sure employees can filter the signal from the noise.
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Establishing a consistent cadence of communication also means not backing out of group meetings you scheduled if you’re a leader. “A team meeting is super important. It’s the kind of thing that sometimes people cancel if they don’t have an agenda,” Huston said. “The purpose of your team meeting is really to feel like a team, so never cancel your team meeting. Find things to talk about even if it’s just people sharing the stuff that they’re doing that isn’t as relevant to other people.“
Anticipate technical difficulties as more people suddenly use digital communication. Sanchez noted that there could be issues with more people using communication software like Zoom in neighbourhoods that don’t have the bandwidth. In those cases, be prepared to switch to landlines and no-video chats that take up less bandwidth, she said.
If you want people to share, make small social groups an option.
When you suddenly cannot see or be around your co-workers, having an ability to connect with them outside of deadlines and deliverables is essential to feeling heard and staving off social isolation.
Establishing a social group of no more than eight people, in which people can be vulnerable, can be a more effective way to find out how co-workers are really feeling than by sending an all-hands email or hosting one big messaging group about it, Bwarie said. How the small group communicates can be tailored to the company’s level of digital communication, but it needs to have a leader who can hold people accountable and check in with them. It also needs to be small so participants can share their feelings more comfortably.
“You are not going to process your emotions in a large group because no one is going to respond to you. They are going to go on to the next person,” Bwarie said.
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Bwarie also noted that having a small group can limit misinformation spreading during a pandemic: “That misinformation on a large Slack group is going to cause more rumours of ‘I heard, I heard, I heard,’” he said. Instead, Bwarie recommended giving the small social groups a channel to raise questions and know that those questions will be answered by management.
Small talk that has nothing do with work is a big deal.
Maintaining these social connections can remind you that you are part of a community that cares about your well-being. Jo Cipolla is the marketing director for SquareFoot, a New York City-based real estate company that transitioned to remote work this week due to the coronavirus outbreak. She said she is now trying to replicate the social interactions she had in the office by calling up her work friends during the lunch hour.
“The people who I’m friends with at work, we will set up a lunchtime chat and speak... It’s nice,” Cipolla said. “What’s good is that people are figuring out ways to get around the work-from-home and ensure we are still socially engaging with each other.”
If you’re seeking buddies to chat with, you can also frame your request for connection as a generic invitation colleagues can opt into, Huston said. In this case, Huston recommended the tool Donut, which uses the Slack messaging app to randomly pair team members so that they can meet each other and chat once they have opted into a Donut Slack channel.
Be understanding about the stress and loss of productivity.
If you are in management, prioritise your team’s well-being over their productivity during this abrupt transition.
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“People are really struggling emotionally. They’re not going to do their best work,” Huston told HuffPost. When the office is closed and your immediate concern is that people are not working a full 40-hour week, “are you worrying about the right thing?” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Stacey Dooley ‘Underestimated The Enormity’ Winning Strictly Would Have On Interest In Her Private L

Stacey Dooley ‘Underestimated The Enormity’ Winning Strictly Would Have On Interest In Her Private Life

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Stacey Dooley has admitted she underestimated the “enormity” that winning Strictly Come Dancing would have on interest in her private life.
The documentary maker won the BBC dance show in 2018 and is now in a relationship with professional dancer Kevin Clifton, who she was partnered with.
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But the 33-year-old said the increased interest was misplaced because she was “painfully dull”.
Stacey Dooley Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
“It’s certainly changed over the last year or two,” she told Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The thing is, I’m painfully dull. I am so boring. I have these people stood outside my house.
“I don’t know what they expect to see because it’s me taking out the bins in my tracksuit.”
Stacey praised BBC bosses for warning her about the implications of winning the show but said she still wasn’t prepared.
“They are fairly forthcoming at the start. They are quite transparent,” she said.
“The exec will sit you down and say that there’s this insatiable appetite for information and gossip surrounding Strictly.
“They explain that there will be people desperate to ask you questions and know about your personal life.
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“I definitely underestimated the enormity of the show.
“If you do that show, unfortunately it’s one of negatives that come with it.
“But the positives far outweigh the negatives.”
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Stacey also said that suggestions she was involved in Kevin’s decision to quit Strictly were “complete fantasy”.
The professional dancer announced he was departing the show after seven years last week, saying the time had come for him “to move on and focus on other areas of my life and career”.
Asked whether she was hurt by reports she had encouraged her boyfriend to quit, Stacey admitted she was initially “hurt”.
“Kevin is obviously totally incapable of making decisions for himself so I swooped in and saved the day,” Stacey joked.
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“As if it’s got anything to do with me, what he does for a living.
“I think he’s got things that are lined up that I’ll let him tell people about.”
She added: “At the start it hurts but you have to realise it’s like story time. It’s complete fantasy…”
Nihal Arthanayake is on BBC Radio 5 Live every Monday to Thursday between 1pm and 4pm.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--7 Bits Of Positivity From The Past Week That'll Leave You With A Smile

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This week has been a struggle for many people up and down the country, so we felt it was time to take action.
Feel good Friday is here, folks, and what better way to put a smile on your faces than with some happy, upbeat or downright hilarious bits of news.
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Yes, most of them feature animals and babies – but there are other great things to shout about, too. Here’s what you might have missed.
Malte Mueller via Getty Images
1. Adios, tampon tax!
Women are rejoicing around the UK after this year’s Budget announcement revealed VAT on all sanitary products will be abolished as of 2021. Women have been forced to pay a tax on these items for 50 years, as products like tampons were considered ‘non-essential, luxury items’. The saving, while relatively small, could mean we’ll pay an estimated £40 less for such products over a lifetime. It all adds up.
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2. Second HIV case cured.
A Londoner has become the second person in the world to be cured of HIV. Adam Castillejo is now free of the virus, more than 30 months after stopping anti-retroviral therapy. It’s believed he was cured by a stem-cell treatment he received for cancer, as the donors had an uncommon gene that gave them protection against HIV.
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3. Sausage dog wins at Crufts and releases her bowels.
When Maisie the wire-haired Dachshund won ‘Best in Show’ at Crufts, she knew exactly how to celebrate. The tiny pooch dropped her backside to the ground and took a rather large and perfectly cylindrical poo on the ground in front of thousands of spectators – not to mention the millions of TV viewers. Big thanks to the person who decided to zoom in at *just* the right moment. 👀
4. Child draws ‘hugs’ for kids at school.
When Katey Howes noticed her daughter had slipped a little drawing of a bear into her pocket, she told her “it felt like a hug”. Inspired, her daughter then took it upon herself to draw more ‘hugs’ to hand out to her school friends because they can’t physically hug or high-five at the moment. Why are kids so pure?!
Yesterday, my daughter slipped a little drawing into my pocket. When I found it, it felt like a hug. I told her so later, and now she’s drawing “hugs” to hand out to people at school “because we can’t hug and high-five, and everyone needs a hug right now.” #RandomActsOfKindness pic.twitter.com/U0dZoyMqPR — Katey Howes (@Kateywrites) March 12, 2020
5. Missing dog is found after being lured with bacon and sausages.
In more animal-related news, a Border Collie that had gone missing in the Scottish Highlands was lured back by the smell of cooked sausages and bacon. Mountain rescuers decided to head to where Nell the dog was last seen and set up a disposable BBQ with fresh sausages and bacon sizzling away. Sure enough, Nell’s nose led her to where they were camped and she was swiftly reunited with her owner. We do love a happy ending.
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6. Baby’s laugh is infectious (in a good way).
Not much to say here other than... n’awww. Happy Friday, everyone.
My son's laugh whilst watching his favourite show should help lift the gloom on a particularly shitty news day. pic.twitter.com/KKxumSA65J — cluedont (@cluedont) March 12, 2020
7. Sheep gets so clean and fluffy.
Introducing three of the most satisfying images ever. A grubby sheep went to the salon, got a fresh blow dry and came out looking like the cutest cloud.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Coronavirus Outbreak: UEFA Football And England Cricket Matches Cancelled Next Week


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Dame Judi Dench Addresses Cats Backlash, After Musical Film Was Mauled By Critics

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Dame Judi Dench has shrugged off the critical mauling Cats received upon its release last year.
The film adaptation of Cats – in which Dame Judi starred as Old Deuteronomy – was panned by critics upon its release last year, largely down to its special effects and apparent lack of plot.
However, the Oscar-winning star has admitted that while she’s yet to see the film for herself, she’s not bothered about what anyone has had to say about it.
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“I haven’t seen it,” she told Radio 4’s Front Row. “I didn’t read anything about the response to it, nor have I seen it, and I’ve only seen a picture of myself.”
Dame Judi Dench in Cats Universal
Insisting she was impressed with how her cat character looked, Dame Judi added: “I once had a cat like [Old Deuteronomy] called Carpet – I didn’t realise I was playing Carpet, I thought I was playing a really clapped out old, mangy old cat who didn’t have much fur.
“I didn’t realise I was this wonderful show cat.”
Judi Dench pictured last year SOPA Images via Getty Images
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Since the release of Cats, a number of stars have poked fun at the backlash the film received, most notably Rebel Wilson and James Corden, who presented an award in full costume at the Oscars last month.
“As cast members of the motion picture Cats,” they said. “Nobody more than us understands the importance of good visual effects.”
James Corden, left, and Rebel Wilson at the Oscars Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
The joke received a big laugh from the audience, but was less well-received by the Visual Effects Society.
“Last night, in presenting the Academy Award for outstanding visual effects, the producers chose to make visual effects the punchline,” they said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Tube Driver Self-Isolates After Testing Positive For Coronavirus

“The safety of our staff and customers is our top priority and we are taking all necessary precautions.
“The areas where the driver worked are being cleaned, including the depot and the trains, in line with guidance from Public Health England with whom we are working closely.”
Rail union leaders wrote to transport secretary Grant Shapps on Thursday, voicing concern about what advice transport workers are being given.
The letter said: “We are writing jointly as representatives of workers in the transport industry to implore you to break your silence and give leadership on measures that public transport can take to tackle coronavirus.
“Transport workers are receiving different advice from different companies – and in some cases even within the same company – about what actions to take in the event of suspected or actual illness.
“There is concern of ‘over-managing’ attendance procedures and how they are being applied. Clearly, if someone is told to self-isolate they should not then be penalised by their employer for doing so in the interest of public health, yet this is currently the case in the rail and bus industries.
“Our privatised transport system is not conducive to swift and co-ordinated responses. There is apparently no consistency across the public transport network in how transport workers will be treated if they fall ill.
“Companies where employees work side by side with transport workers employed by another company are being treated differently, leading to confusion and frustration.”
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s organiser on London Underground, said: “Many people will be concerned about family members who may be at high risk because of their age or underlying health conditions.”
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We have written to management demanding an emergency summit to discuss TfL’s response to this public heath crisis.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus

Watch: Here’s The Latest On Coronavirus - 13 March
As UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of “the worst public health crisis in a generation”, world leaders are coming into close contact with Covid-19. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in self-isolation after his wife Sophie tested positive for coronavirus, and a Brazilian official who was recently pictured with Donald Trump also has the virus. Elsewhere, Disneyland has closed its parks in the US and France, and the Nepalese government have closed off Mount Everest to climbers until the end of April, to help combat the spread of the virus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Stephen Fry Issues Inspirational Call For Kindness Amid Coronavirus Crisis

OK. Until this thing is over we’ve all got to be helpful, friendly and kind to each other, understood? Hatchets buried. Grievances forgotten. Disputes resolved. Feuds ended. Strangers smiled at. When the final whistle is blown we can go back to be being mean and beastly. Agreed?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-13--Coronavirus Continues To Cause Disruption For Film, Music And TV Industries

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As the coronavirus outbreak continues to cause disruptions all over the world, it has also sparked further cancellations and delays within the entertainment industry.
In the last few weeks, a number of high-profile artists from Stormzy to Madonna have had to postpone and completely scrap scheduled live shows, while the latest James Bond film No Time To Die has also had its release date pushed back by seven months.
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Here are the most recent updates on how coronavirus has affected the world of film, music and TV…
Films
Disney has announced that they are hitting pause on the release of their live-action remake of Mulan, which had been due to hit cinemas in the UK in two weeks.
The film’s director Niki Caro said that making Mulan had been “one of the most satisfying and exhilarating experiences of her entire career”, but “given the current ever-shifting circumstances we are all experiencing”, they had decided to postpone the film’s release.
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A new release date has not yet been decided, but Niki added: “I can’t wait for the day where we will all get to experience this tale of a girl warrior who became a legend together”.
While Fast & Furious 9 had its release pushed back by an entire year, until April 2021, the new release date for A Quiet Place II is yet to be revealed.
Marvel’s The New Mutants and Black Widow are both set to hit cinemas in the next six weeks, though no changes to their scheduled releases have been announced. Yet.
Music
The BBC announced on Friday that they were cancelling this year’s Radio 1 Big Weekend, which had been due to go ahead in Dundee this May.
“After careful consideration we have come to the decision that Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2020 in Dundee will not go ahead,” they said in a statement. “This decision has been made in conjunction with our event partners, in line with the advice from the Scottish government, and while we know fans looking forward to purchasing tickets will be disappointed, it is important that we prioritise the health and safety of all those involved.”
An update on #BigWeekend Dundee 2020 pic.twitter.com/o0FO4YKAfk — BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) March 13, 2020
Harry Styles and Dua Lipa had already been confirmed as this year’s headliners.
Festivals aside, chart-topping singer Billie Eilish is the latest big-name star who has been forced to postpone her live shows due to the outbreak, moving 11 US dates that had been scheduled for the rest of March.
Billie Eilish Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
“i’m so sad to do this but we need to postpone these dates to keep everyone safe,” she said (all in lower case, as that’s her “thing”). “we’ll let you know when they can be rescheduled. please keep yourselves healthy. i love you.”
Céline Dion – who recently missed two dates of her Courage world tour due to a “common cold” – has also announced she’s set to “reschedule” upcoming dates until 27 April.
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Céline Dion #CourageWorldTour dates postponed in North America. Show dates from March 24 through April 27, 2020 to be rescheduled. - Team Célinehttps://t.co/s2dzxpp9me pic.twitter.com/9h2qFGxYxY — Celine Dion (@celinedion) March 13, 2020
Interestingly, as conversations continue among music fans about whether this summer’s Glastonbury festival will go ahead, organiser Emily Eavis made the decision to announce this year’s line-up on Thursday evening.
Confirming rapper Kendrick Lamar as the third and final of this year’s headliners, she explained: “After much consideration given the current circumstances, and with the best of intentions, here is the first list of musical acts for Glastonbury 2020.
”As things stand we are still working hard to deliver our 50th anniversary Festival in June and we are very proud of the bill that we have put together over the last year or so.”
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She added: “No one has a crystal ball to see exactly where we will all be 15 weeks from now, but we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed that it will be here at Worthy Farm for the greatest show on Earth!”
Meanwhile, a number of other music festivals both in the UK and overseas, including Coachella, Country2Country and the aforementioned Radio 1 Big Weekend have been either postponed or cancelled completely as a result of Covid-19.
Similarly, The Killers – who are set to tour the UK towards the end of May and beginning of June – have released a defiant statement, claiming they “trust that the coronavirus is expected to follow traditional flu season patterns” and maintaining they intend to go ahead with their live shows.
“Look after each other – sing the chorus of Mr Brightside when you wash your hands – and see you this summer!” they wrote.
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TV
It had been reported that a number of US talk shows were planning to go ahead without an audience, but since then, it’s been revealed that several are halting production completely.
A statement posted on the official Twitter page for The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon said they “will not tape any new shows effective Friday… The Tonight Show is planning on resuming a normal taping schedule on 30 March”.
American hosts Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert will also be following suit, while daytime host Wendy Williams has also revealed that production on her show has been put on hold “indefinitely”.
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