Coronavirus Count

UK cumulative total of lab-confirmed cases : 206,715 ( Up from 201,101 ) .
UK cumulative total of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital : 30,615 ( Up from 30,076 ) .
Latest daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases : 5,614 ( Up from 6,111 ) .
Latest daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital : 539 ( Down from 649 ) .
From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED From the Government ’ s website Number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk in the UK .
Thursday May 7 note : Public Health England has changed from recording death numbers to the death rare in its England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland figures .
“ The risk to the UK has been raised to high ” – From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
GOVERNMENT RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GUIDANCE : FURTHER BUSINESSES AND PREMISES TO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 23 .
HOW EVERYONE CAN HELP STOP THE CORONAVIRUS ( SOCIAL DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
STAY AT HOME IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE CORONAVIRUS ( SELF-DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS ON WHAT AND HOW THEY CAN CLAIM See here .
Published on Friday March 20 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR LANDLORDS , TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW See here .
Published on Saturday March 28 .
GOVERNMENT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DO See here .
Published on Wednesday March 18 HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve ( not your hands ) when you cough or sneeze .
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid close contact with people who are unwell .
The symptoms of coronavirus are : However , these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common , such as cold and flu .
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do .
Use this service if : • You think you might have coronavirus .
• In the last 14 days you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers .
• You ’ ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus .
• In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours .
• In Wales call 111 ( if available in your area ) or 0845 46 47 .
• Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
• What the coronavirus is , how it ’ s spread and how to avoid catching it – Government NHS website overview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to manage self-isolation .
( All information taken from Government sources .
Updated as of 7.00 on Friday May 8th . )


conservativehome--2020-05-08--Iain Dale: Boulton is wrong. I criticise as well as praise the Government – without fear or favour.

Iain Dale: Boulton is wrong. I criticise as well as praise the Government – without fear or favour. And here’s evidence.

Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio and is a commentator for CNN .
The Prime Minister ’ s address to the nation on Sunday evening will be quite an event – but one that doubt he ’ ll get a lot of praise for .
Either he will be accused of lifting the lockdown too quickly , or more likely , not quickly enough .
Whatever he announces won ’ t be good enough .
I am at the ‘ safety first ’ end of the argument .
While I agree that tweaks can be made , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown in any meaningful way at this stage .
Unfortunately , I think media speculation about significant changes has been allowed to run away almost without challenge .
So whatever tweaks Boris Johnson announces on Sunday will be seen as ‘ not enough ’ by some people .
Inevitable , I suppose .
It was a political triumph for Matt Hancock to reach his target of 100,000 tests on the last day of April .
However , the fact that for five days running now the target has not been met has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , only 69,000 tests were carried out .
No one seems to know why .
And then to cap it all , Boris Johnson announced an “ ambition ” to reach 200,000 tests per day by the end of May .
This was immediately written up as a “ pledge ” rather than an ambition .
So why on earth did he say that – thus making another needless rod for his own back ?
One politician who has emerged with his reputation enhanced over the last few months is the Transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hosted two ( I think ) of the daily government press briefings .
He is one of the few cabinet ministers to have shone .
He ’ s appeared cool , calm and collected .
He speaks like a human being and has largely avoided the dreadful soundbites which most of the others trot out on a daily basis .
I hope he will be used more often .
Twitter spats are rarely edifying and , over the years , I have tried to minimise the number I get into – but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionalism or integrity are impugned : either deliberately or by implication A couple of weeks ago Sky ’ s Adam Boulton , for reasons best known to himself , decided to launch a few grenades my way after I tweeted the results of a YouGov survey ( ironically commissioned by Sky News ) , which showed that trust in broadcast and print journalists over Coronavirus was the lowest of any other category of relevant people , including politicians .
I merely observed that journalists might take a moment to think about why that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over fairly quickly and I didn ’ t think anymore of it .
On Wednesday , Adam decided to take it one stage further and tweeted this : The use of the arrows around the word ‘ journalists ’ is interesting and is presumably meant to question our bona fides without actually having the balls to do so outright .
Julia Hartley-Brewer is a former political editor .
She is a trained journalist .
Most Spectator journalists are journalists at the top of their game .
I , on the other hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , there are journalistic things to what I do , but I ’ ve never been a traditional political reporter .
and have never pretended to be one .
I spent six months as a financial reporter for Lloyds List in 1990 , but that is the extent of my reporting experience .
I responded thus : Adam spent 20 years as a political reporter and editor and was brilliant at it .
He ’ s someone I look up to , so to be attacked in this way , I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite wounding .
To effectively be called a government stooge , or shill as the modern vernacular goes , was just totally unfair .
Anyone who has followed my utterances knows that I have never been an unalloyed fan of Boris Johnson , although I readily admit that he has turned out to be a far better Prime Minister than I was expecting , and I say so .
Because , you see , that ’ s what I do .
I comment on politics and call things as I see them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good job I ’ ll say so .
If I don ’ t , I won ’ t .
The trouble is , some people are so blinkered or deaf to reality that they only ever notice the occasions when I offer praise .
Unfortunately for Adam , his timing could have been better since Politico ’ s London Playbook had this little gem of a quote from me in its morning email yesterday : “ Influential Tory Iain Dale castigates Johnson ’ s mantra that “ we made the right decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete bullshit … a meaningless and trite phrase.
” Indeed , I think it was from last week ’ s Friday Diary on this site .
I don ’ t mind valid criticism .
Indeed , I often learn from it , but there was nothing valid about this .
Some of you may say ‘ Diddums , deal with it ” , and maybe you ’ re right .
Perhaps I should just turn the other cheek and ignore stuff like this , but sometimes you have to draw a line in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio and is a commentator for CNN.
The Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Sunday evening will be quite an event – but one that doubt he’ll get a lot of praise for.
Either he will be accused of lifting the lockdown too quickly, or more likely, not quickly enough. Whatever he announces won’t be good enough.
I am at the ‘safety first’ end of the argument. While I agree that tweaks can be made, there are huge dangers in lifting the lockdown in any meaningful way at this stage.
Unfortunately, I think media speculation about significant changes has been allowed to run away almost without challenge. So whatever tweaks Boris Johnson announces on Sunday will be seen as ‘not enough’ by some people. Inevitable, I suppose.
– – – – – – – – – –
It was a political triumph for Matt Hancock to reach his target of 100,000 tests on the last day of April. However, the fact that for five days running now the target has not been met has been embarrassing to say that least.
On Wednesday, only 69,000 tests were carried out. No one seems to know why. And then to cap it all, Boris Johnson announced an “ambition” to reach 200,000 tests per day by the end of May.
This was immediately written up as a “pledge” rather than an ambition. So why on earth did he say that – thus making another needless rod for his own back?
– – – – – – – – – –
One politician who has emerged with his reputation enhanced over the last few months is the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps.
He’s hosted two (I think) of the daily government press briefings. He is one of the few cabinet ministers to have shone. He’s appeared cool, calm and collected. He speaks like a human being and has largely avoided the dreadful soundbites which most of the others trot out on a daily basis.
I hope he will be used more often.
– – – – – – – – – –
Twitter spats are rarely edifying and, over the years, I have tried to minimise the number I get into – but sometimes needs must, especially when my professionalism or integrity are impugned: either deliberately or by implication
A couple of weeks ago Sky’s Adam Boulton, for reasons best known to himself, decided to launch a few grenades my way after I tweeted the results of a YouGov survey (ironically commissioned by Sky News), which showed that trust in broadcast and print journalists over Coronavirus was the lowest of any other category of relevant people, including politicians. I merely observed that journalists might take a moment to think about why that was.
Anyway, it all blew over fairly quickly and I didn’t think anymore of it. On Wednesday, Adam decided to take it one stage further and tweeted this:
The use of the arrows around the word ‘journalists’ is interesting and is presumably meant to question our bona fides without actually having the balls to do so outright.
Julia Hartley-Brewer is a former political editor. She is a trained journalist. Most Spectator journalists are journalists at the top of their game.
I, on the other hand, have never self-identified as a journalist. Yes, there are journalistic things to what I do, but I’ve never been a traditional political reporter. and have never pretended to be one. I spent six months as a financial reporter for Lloyds List in 1990, but that is the extent of my reporting experience. I responded thus:
Adam spent 20 years as a political reporter and editor and was brilliant at it. He’s someone I look up to, so to be attacked in this way, I don’t mind admitting it, was quite wounding. To effectively be called a government stooge, or shill as the modern vernacular goes, was just totally unfair.
Anyone who has followed my utterances knows that I have never been an unalloyed fan of Boris Johnson, although I readily admit that he has turned out to be a far better Prime Minister than I was expecting, and I say so.
Because, you see, that’s what I do. I comment on politics and call things as I see them. If I think the Government is doing a good job I’ll say so. If I don’t, I won’t.
The trouble is, some people are so blinkered or deaf to reality that they only ever notice the occasions when I offer praise. Unfortunately for Adam, his timing could have been better since Politico’s London Playbook had this little gem of a quote from me in its morning email yesterday:
“Influential Tory Iain Dale castigates Johnson’s mantra that “we made the right decisions at the right time” as “complete bullshit … a meaningless and trite phrase.” Indeed, I think it was from last week’s Friday Diary on this site.
I don’t mind valid criticism. Indeed, I often learn from it, but there was nothing valid about this.
Some of you may say ‘Diddums, deal with it”, and maybe you’re right. Perhaps I should just turn the other cheek and ignore stuff like this, but sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough.


conservativehome--2020-05-08--Dave Stewart: By trialling the Government’s app, the Isle of Wight is leading the fightback against

Dave Stewart: By trialling the Government’s app, the Isle of Wight is leading the fightback against the virus

Cllr Dave Stewart is the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council The Isle Wight is leading the fight against COVID-19 , and is proud of its role in trialling the new NHS track and trace app .
Many will have a vision of the Isle of Wight as a sleepy , safe , and beautiful location for a holiday , and for others , perhaps , the ideal location for retirement or a high-quality lifestyle – and indeed it is just that .
But , it is far more than that , with a thriving tourism economy , international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacture , and wind turbine production ; and with high-tech industry supported by some of the fastest broadband provision in the world .
With its Conservative MP , Bob Seely , having one of the biggest majorities in the country , and with a Conservative-led Council bringing its sound financial management and innovative future regeneration plans into the community , success at the last local elections have proved to be well justified .
Then we were all hit with the ‘ Coronavirus ’ pandemic .
Just as elsewhere in the country , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been devastating for the Island .
Ferries closed down , visitors rejected , community care homes ‘ shielded ’ for the safety of the residents , and an overall lockdown which has seen many Island businesses on the brink of bankruptcy , relying heavily on the support offered by the leadership of the local authority and the support of the local MP working under the Government Financial Package .
Yet , the Island is resilient , if not self-reliant in many areas .
It has learned to be so because it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 140,000 residents , public services have recognised the threat and have stepped up to provide essential support for our community .
Indeed , we arguably now have one of the best community-led voluntary support structures in the country .
The Island then took another key step and actively offered to be the lead location for pioneering the introduction of a new Covid 19 ‘ digital App ’ capable of identifying people at risk and taking steps to ensure they and those around them can get the health support they need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Well , in simple terms , the app uses ‘ Bluetooth ’ technology on smartphones to inform users when they have been close to someone who has already identified themselves with symptoms and enables you to self-isolate and get tested .
This whole process takes just a few days , and if you are not infected , allows you to go back about your business and continue to stay safe .
If you are infected , it enables the NHS to start a contact tracing process that will mean many others with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been in contact can be traced , warned , and protected .
Another key feature of the App is that it does not intrude on privacy with users just needing to give the first four letters of their postcode .
This is sufficient for it to operate through phone proximity only .
So personal data and confidentiality is maintained .
In fact , no personal data is shared unless and until an individual books a test through the NHS .
The data then follows the normal NHS data management process .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people to download the App in substantial numbers to give the best possible results .
The professionals did not know for sure if the Island would adopt its use .
But it did , and thousands of residents downloaded the App as soon as they were able to do so .
30,000 – critical mass already – on the first morning of the launch .
As a result , the development and use of the App have a fantastic opportunity to be a success leading to a positive roll-out across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are part of a moment in history which has enabled ‘ the Island to lead where the nation will follow.
’ I am proud to have been the Leader of the Council at this time to witness and experience my community meeting the Coronavirus challenge and doing its part to support our nation .
The legacy of this app launch will be not only a sense of pride in the role we have played but also a real and practical boost to our ambitions to make the island the Silicon Valley of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project is gathering momentum and will continue to do so , as we work in partnership with major global digital companies .
Stuck in the 1950s ?
Definitely not !

Cllr Dave Stewart is the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council
The Isle Wight is leading the fight against COVID-19, and is proud of its role in trialling the new NHS track and trace app.
Many will have a vision of the Isle of Wight as a sleepy, safe, and beautiful location for a holiday, and for others, perhaps, the ideal location for retirement or a high-quality lifestyle – and indeed it is just that.
But, it is far more than that, with a thriving tourism economy, international businesses involved in aircraft manufacture, marine manufacture, and wind turbine production; and with high-tech industry supported by some of the fastest broadband provision in the world.
With its Conservative MP, Bob Seely, having one of the biggest majorities in the country, and with a Conservative-led Council bringing its sound financial management and innovative future regeneration plans into the community, success at the last local elections have proved to be well justified.
Then we were all hit with the ‘Coronavirus’ pandemic.
Impact
Just as elsewhere in the country, the impact of the arrival of this virus has been devastating for the Island. Ferries closed down, visitors rejected, community care homes ‘shielded’ for the safety of the residents, and an overall lockdown which has seen many Island businesses on the brink of bankruptcy, relying heavily on the support offered by the leadership of the local authority and the support of the local MP working under the Government Financial Package.
Yet, the Island is resilient, if not self-reliant in many areas. It has learned to be so because it is an Island. With a population of some 140,000 residents, public services have recognised the threat and have stepped up to provide essential support for our community. Indeed, we arguably now have one of the best community-led voluntary support structures in the country.
Digital app
The Island then took another key step and actively offered to be the lead location for pioneering the introduction of a new Covid 19 ‘digital App’ capable of identifying people at risk and taking steps to ensure they and those around them can get the health support they need to be protected.
So how does it work?
Well, in simple terms, the app uses ‘Bluetooth’ technology on smartphones to inform users when they have been close to someone who has already identified themselves with symptoms and enables you to self-isolate and get tested.
This whole process takes just a few days, and if you are not infected, allows you to go back about your business and continue to stay safe. If you are infected, it enables the NHS to start a contact tracing process that will mean many others with whom a potentially infected person could have been in contact can be traced, warned, and protected.
Another key feature of the App is that it does not intrude on privacy with users just needing to give the first four letters of their postcode.
This is sufficient for it to operate through phone proximity only. So personal data and confidentiality is maintained. In fact, no personal data is shared unless and until an individual books a test through the NHS. The data then follows the normal NHS data management process.
But the secret to its success is the need for people to download the App in substantial numbers to give the best possible results. The professionals did not know for sure if the Island would adopt its use. But it did, and thousands of residents downloaded the App as soon as they were able to do so. 30,000 – critical mass already – on the first morning of the launch. As a result, the development and use of the App have a fantastic opportunity to be a success leading to a positive roll-out across the country.
The Islanders are acutely aware that they are part of a moment in history which has enabled ‘the Island to lead where the nation will follow.’ I am proud to have been the Leader of the Council at this time to witness and experience my community meeting the Coronavirus challenge and doing its part to support our nation.
The legacy of this app launch will be not only a sense of pride in the role we have played but also a real and practical boost to our ambitions to make the island the Silicon Valley of the South Coast – our Digital Island project is gathering momentum and will continue to do so, as we work in partnership with major global digital companies. Stuck in the 1950s? Definitely not!


conservativehome--2020-05-09--Germany can teach us how to stop being a contemptible nation of supplicants

“ When the virus crisis is over , we will have to look at what the NHS can learn from Germany.
” The headline on my piece for ConHome on 15th April continues to apply : Germany ’ s impressive progress since that time , attested by the graphs in the sober reports of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin , reinforces it .
But marked success in reducing the figures for deaths and new cases has led to a severe political row in Germany about how quickly the restrictions which drove down the reinfection rate can be lifted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had previously competed to see who could introduce the toughest measures to control the pandemic , now compete to see who can most swiftly set their citizens free .
Armin Laschet , the leader of North Rhine-Westphalia ( population 18 million , capital Düsseldorf ) , has pushed for weeks for the restrictions to be lifted , and has threatened to reopen kindergartens .
At the start of this week , Saxony-Anhalt ( population 2.3 million , capital Magdeburg ) allowed meetings between five people who do not live in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 million , capital Hanover ) proceeded to announce that from next Monday , restaurants , cafes and beer gardens will be permitted to reopen , and that from 25th May hotels and youth hostels can open too .
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ( population 1.6 million , capital Schwerin ) followed Lower Saxony ’ s lead , and everywhere , the desperate proprietors of beer gardens , restaurants and hotels pleaded with state governments to save them from ruin .
The Chancellor , Angela Merkel , who knows that tourism prompts travel and therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in vain for a cautious approach .
She lacks the power to uphold strict rules : health , sport , schools and kindergartens are all the responsibility of the federal states .
On Wednesday , she held a video conference lasting four and a half hours , longer than expected , with the minister presidents of the 16 states , and had to give ground .
The states will decide whether and when to reopen restaurants , hotels , cinemas , theatres , concert halls and brothels .
The Bundesliga will soon be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in care homes will be allowed to nominate a visitor who can come and see them .
Merkel obtained one major concession .
There will be an “ emergency brake ” : any institution or community which in seven days registers more than 50 Coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants will be placed once more under lockdown .
The row between Berlin and the 16 states looks as if it may have led to an admirable compromise , maintaining national standards while allowing for account to be taken of the highly unequal incidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ object to their country being reduced to a “ patchwork ” – Flickenteppich , patchwork rug , is the disparaging term used – with different rules applying in different places .
My old friend in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg ( population 1.84 million ) , Professor Doctor Moritz Hagenmeyer , an eminent lawyer who is actually much fonder of cricket than of golf , draws my attention to an anomaly which arose at a golf club in the neighbouring state of Schleswig-Holstein ( population 2.9 million , capital Kiel ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course happens to be on the other side of the border with Hamburg .
Last week , golf was allowed in Schleswig-Holstein and forbidden in Hamburg , so one of the holes at the club had to be shortened from 300 to 100 metres in order to ensure that players did not enter Hamburg .
To British eyes , there is something delightful in such an anomaly .
Our own counties , until wrecked by the infamous Heatho-Walkerian reforms of the early 1970s , used to be a patchwork , each locality rejoicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries , its sense of being superior to its neighbours .
This sense of local independence today exists more strongly in Germany than in Britain , and is one reason for that country ’ s success .
Decisions about Germany ’ s great industries are still taken in the towns and cities where they were born and nurtured .
As David Skelton has recently pointed out , the catastrophe of Britiish nationalisation was that decisions about , for example , the steel works in Consett were now taken hundreds of miles away in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretend that under-investment would somehow work out fine .
I may appear to have wandered from the subject of the pandemic .
But a mortal weakness of our health system is that the nationalisation of the late 1940s meant the key decisions about investment , and indeed about everything else , would henceforth be taken in London .
Local initiative , though not extinct , was severely discouraged .
We were taught as a people to look to London for salvation , and this is what we have witnessed during the present crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of supplicants , unable to obtain hospital gowns without the say-so of Matt Hancock .
If Boris Johnson wants to revive the northern towns , with their grand but redundant town halls , he must find a way to restore the power of initiative to them .
Only a management consultant would imagine this can be done by copying the German federal system .
What we need is a way to recover local power which is in harmony with British traditions .
Only then will we be in a fit state to survive @ @ @ @ @

“When the virus crisis is over, we will have to look at what the NHS can learn from Germany.” The headline on my piece for ConHome on 15th April continues to apply: Germany’s impressive progress since that time, attested by the graphs in the sober reports of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, reinforces it.
But marked success in reducing the figures for deaths and new cases has led to a severe political row in Germany about how quickly the restrictions which drove down the reinfection rate can be lifted.
Some leaders of the 16 federal states, who had previously competed to see who could introduce the toughest measures to control the pandemic, now compete to see who can most swiftly set their citizens free.
Armin Laschet, the leader of North Rhine-Westphalia (population 18 million, capital Düsseldorf), has pushed for weeks for the restrictions to be lifted, and has threatened to reopen kindergartens.
At the start of this week, Saxony-Anhalt (population 2.3 million, capital Magdeburg) allowed meetings between five people who do not live in the same house. Lower Saxony (population 10 million, capital Hanover) proceeded to announce that from next Monday, restaurants, cafes and beer gardens will be permitted to reopen, and that from 25th May hotels and youth hostels can open too.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (population 1.6 million, capital Schwerin) followed Lower Saxony’s lead, and everywhere, the desperate proprietors of beer gardens, restaurants and hotels pleaded with state governments to save them from ruin.
The Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who knows that tourism prompts travel and therefore increases the danger of infection, pleaded in vain for a cautious approach. She lacks the power to uphold strict rules: health, sport, schools and kindergartens are all the responsibility of the federal states.
On Wednesday, she held a video conference lasting four and a half hours, longer than expected, with the minister presidents of the 16 states, and had to give ground.
The states will decide whether and when to reopen restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theatres, concert halls and brothels. The Bundesliga will soon be playing football behind closed doors, and residents in care homes will be allowed to nominate a visitor who can come and see them.
Merkel obtained one major concession. There will be an “emergency brake”: any institution or community which in seven days registers more than 50 Coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants will be placed once more under lockdown.
The row between Berlin and the 16 states looks as if it may have led to an admirable compromise, maintaining national standards while allowing for account to be taken of the highly unequal incidence of the Coronavirus.
But some Germans object to their country being reduced to a “patchwork” – Flickenteppich, patchwork rug, is the disparaging term used – with different rules applying in different places.
My old friend in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (population 1.84 million), Professor Doctor Moritz Hagenmeyer, an eminent lawyer who is actually much fonder of cricket than of golf, draws my attention to an anomaly which arose at a golf club in the neighbouring state of Schleswig-Holstein (population 2.9 million, capital Kiel), where a small part of the course happens to be on the other side of the border with Hamburg.
Last week, golf was allowed in Schleswig-Holstein and forbidden in Hamburg, so one of the holes at the club had to be shortened from 300 to 100 metres in order to ensure that players did not enter Hamburg.
To British eyes, there is something delightful in such an anomaly. Our own counties, until wrecked by the infamous Heatho-Walkerian reforms of the early 1970s, used to be a patchwork, each locality rejoicing in its historic peculiarities, its long-established industries, its sense of being superior to its neighbours.
This sense of local independence today exists more strongly in Germany than in Britain, and is one reason for that country’s success. Decisions about Germany’s great industries are still taken in the towns and cities where they were born and nurtured.
As David Skelton has recently pointed out, the catastrophe of Britiish nationalisation was that decisions about, for example, the steel works in Consett were now taken hundreds of miles away in London, where it was easier to pretend that under-investment would somehow work out fine.
I may appear to have wandered from the subject of the pandemic. But a mortal weakness of our health system is that the nationalisation of the late 1940s meant the key decisions about investment, and indeed about everything else, would henceforth be taken in London.
Local initiative, though not extinct, was severely discouraged. We were taught as a people to look to London for salvation, and this is what we have witnessed during the present crisis: the contemptible sight of a nation of supplicants, unable to obtain hospital gowns without the say-so of Matt Hancock.
If Boris Johnson wants to revive the northern towns, with their grand but redundant town halls, he must find a way to restore the power of initiative to them.
Only a management consultant would imagine this can be done by copying the German federal system. What we need is a way to recover local power which is in harmony with British traditions. Only then will we be in a fit state to survive the next global crisis.


Coronavirus Count

UK cumulative total of lab-confirmed cases : 211,364 ( Up from 194,990 ) .
UK cumulative total of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital : 31,241 ( Up from 29,427 ) .
Latest daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases : 4,649 ( Up from 4,406 ) .
Latest daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital : 626 ( Up from 693 ) .
From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED From the Government ’ s website Number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk in the UK .
Wednesday April 29th note : Dominic Raab told today ’ s Government press conference that “ we are moving to an improved daily reporting system for deaths , so that deaths in all settings are included , wherever the individual has tested positive for COVID-19 , rather than just those in hospitals ” “ The risk to the UK has been raised to high ” – From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
GOVERNMENT RULES ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GUIDANCE : FURTHER BUSINESSES AND PREMISES TO CLOSE See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
HOW EVERYONE CAN HELP STOP THE CORONAVIRUS ( SOCIAL DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
STAY AT HOME IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE CORONAVIRUS ( SELF-DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS ON WHAT AND HOW THEY CAN CLAIM See here .
Published on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW See here .
Published on Saturday March 28 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE CORONAVIRUS BILL WILL DO See here .
Published on Wednesday March 18 HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you cough or sneeze .
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell .
The symptoms of coronavirus are : However , these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common , such as cold and flu .
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You think you might have coronavirus .
• In the last 14 days you ’ ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers .
• You ’ ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus .
• In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours .
• In Wales call 111 ( if available in your area ) or 0845 46 47 .
• Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it ’ s spread and how to avoid catching it – Government NHS website overview .
• Stay at home advice and how to manage self-isolation .
( All information taken from Government sources .
Updated as of 19.30 on Friday May 8th . )

HEADLINE FACTS
Total number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 292,950 (Up from 291,409).
Total number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 41,481 (Up from 41,279).
Daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 1,541 (Up from 1,266).
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 202 (Up from 151).
England total cases: 156,410 (Up from 156,018 ).
England total deaths: 37,069 (Up from 36,883).
England death rate: 279.4 (Was 278.7).
Scotland total cases: 15,709 (Up from 15,682).
Scotland total deaths: 2,439 (Up from 2,434).
Scotland death rate: 288.9 (Was 288.4).
Wales total cases: 14,658 (Up from 14,581).
Wales total deaths: 1,435 (Up from 1,425).
Wales death rate: 467.0 (Was 464.6)
Northern Ireland total cases: 4,838 (Up from 4,822)
Northern Ireland total deaths: 538 (Up from 537).
Northern Ireland death rate: 257.1 (Was 256.3).
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED
DAILY NUMBER OF LAB-CONFIRMED ENGLAND CASES
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
RISK
“The risk to the UK has been raised to high” –
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDER FORM
See here
(The Government’s scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers.)
– – –
OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: THE UK GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGY
See here. New as of Monday May 11.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON THE LOCKDOWN.
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SHIELDING AND PROTECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE FROM COVID-19
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: GENERAL ADVICE
See here.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. WHAT YOU CAN DO AND CAN’T DO
See here.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW
See here. Published on Saturday March 28.
– – –
HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS
Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze .
Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
A cough.
A high temperature.
Shortness of breath.
However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
USING 111
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
You think you might have coronavirus.
In the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers.
You’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.
In Northern Ireland call 111.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
FURTHER LINKS TO GOVERNMENT ADVICE
– – –
(All information taken from Government sources.
Updated as of 19.00 on Friday June 12.)


conservativehome--2020-05-09--David Gauke: Fairness and the lockdown. Why things must get worse before they get better.

David Gauke is a former Justice Secretary , and was an independent candidate in South-West Hertfordshire at the recent general election .
You don ’ t need to be a socialist to feel uneasy about the inequality of harm caused by the coronavirus and accompanying lockdown .
The old , poor , obese and black are much more likely to die from this politically incorrect disease than the young , rich , slim and white .
Some have seen their incomes and job security devastated , others are untouched .
The experience of lockdown will vary depending upon the nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you are lucky ) garden .
When we are through all this , the argument will be made that it will be for the State to redistribute the detriment , to more fairly share out the harm .
Just like the post-World War Two reconstruction , the demands for a more egalitarian society will be strong .
We should be wary about measures that end up diminishing our ability to create wealth – thus impoverishing us all – but it would be an unwise Government that sought to ignore the national sentiment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post-Covid world , the Government must first chart a course to get us there .
Given the task ahead of us , that course is likely to mean that some people will escape the lockdown quicker than others .
When it comes to inequality , things will get worse before they get better .
And if the Government attempts to shy away from that , it will either be taking unnecessary risks with our public health or unnecessarily prolonging the economic turmoil .
Before expanding on that point , let me summarise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister will set out a cautious set of proposals tomorrow .
he Government ’ s strategy appears to be to ‘ test , trace and isolate ’ ( although Ministers seem reluctant to refer to the all-important ‘ isolate ’ part ) and that requires infections to be substantially reduced from the likely 20,000 a day level .
The R number has to stay below 1 and , if we are to pursue the South Korean model , probably needs to be some way below 1 if we are to do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown will continue .
As I argued in my last column , the ‘ Stay at Home ’ message has worked so well that there is no great appetite from most of the public to recover many of our traditional freedoms .
Any significant relaxation of the lockdown in future will need the public ’ s consent , and that is unlikely to be forthcoming whilst we are bombarded with messages to stay at home .
A more nuanced message is necessary in order to give the Government the freedom to relax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last few days – with newspapers apparently encouraged to proclaim a fundamental relaxation from Monday – has not been encouraging as to the Government ’ s ability to convey with discipline and consistency a nuanced message .
It must do better in future and resist the temptation to announce good news prematurely .
Notwithstanding the communication failures , the cautious , step-by-step approach taken by the Government is sensible .
Some of the lockdown measures have been crucial in reducing infections , others have been irrelevant .
What the Government can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which .
There appears to be clear evidence that outdoor transmission is very rare , so that will mean that some of the restrictions will be lifted .
The broad principle , it would seem to me , is that , as long as you socially distance , there is no need for any other coronavirus restrictions to apply .
Good news for walkers , golfers and anglers , I would have thought .
Not yet good news for cricketers , sadly .
There are other restrictions where it is harder to judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are highly unlikely to suffer badly from the disease , nor does it appear very likely that they transmit to adults .
The closure of schools has been detrimental to economic , societal and educational prospects of the country and their re-opening is essential if we want the economy to get moving .
It looks likely that schools won ’ t re-open until June and , even then , only gradually .
The gradual re-opening is sensible , giving the Government the opportunity to test , learn and adapt .
This will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and ensure that we maintain the confidence of parents and teachers .
My concern is that if we begin this process in June , even if everything goes smoothly and it turns out that closing schools is broadly irrelevant to the spread of the disease , many pupils won ’ t get back into school until September .
Instead , we should pilot the partial re-opening of primary schools , combined with extensive testing of parents and teachers .
Choose a geographical area where the virus is not prevalent , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is lower than the national average .
Allow pupils back and monitor closely .
If , as seems likely , we don ’ t see a noticeable increase in infections , we can move more quickly in the rest of the country in June .
There are probably other activities where geographical distinctions could and should allow the rules to vary .
Initially , this might be for piloting purposes but , at a later stage , we may need to maintain or re-impose a lockdown in those areas where the infection rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country as granted additional freedoms .
Some will say that this leads to a complicated message or that it is unfair to apply different approaches in different areas .
But if the pace of easing the lockdown is determined by the pace of the slowest , this is going to be an even more drawn-out process .
Better to allow some to escape the lockdown than none .
There will also be complaints about fairness if we allow some sectors to return to the new normal , aided by access to extensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport , played behind closed doors .
But this would be a boost to morale and , if we begin our preparations now , something that could be up and running within a few weeks .
Further down the line , if we have a reliable antibodies test , those with an immunity certificate could be allowed to live a normal life .
I have mentioned in a previous column that this would be divisive but it would not be right to prohibit those who are immune from engaging in activities that pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any attempt to base restrictions on the risk to health , it is impossible to ignore the fact that there is a vast differential in the risk to life depending upon age and underlying health conditions .
The likely strategy is based on suppressing the virus but if we find ourselves moving to the position of trying to live with it , rules will have to vary depending upon the risks to the individual .
Lifting the lockdown is likely to be messy and uneven .
What you can do may be determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had the disease .
Some ‘ worthy ’ activities will remain prohibited , some ‘ frivolous ’ ones will be allowed .
If the evidence requires it , some relaxations will need to be reversed .
Much of this will offend people ’ s sense of fairness .
We could , of course , duck some of these challenges and treat everyone much the same .
That was the right course earlier in the crisis but , as we move to the next stage , treating everyone equally will stand in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recovery .
Fairness matters – but returning to normality quickly and safely matters more .

David Gauke is a former Justice Secretary, and was an independent candidate in South-West Hertfordshire at the recent general election.
You don’t need to be a socialist to feel uneasy about the inequality of harm caused by the coronavirus and accompanying lockdown.
The old, poor, obese and black are much more likely to die from this politically incorrect disease than the young, rich, slim and white. Some have seen their incomes and job security devastated, others are untouched. The experience of lockdown will vary depending upon the nature of one’s home and (if you are lucky) garden.
When we are through all this, the argument will be made that it will be for the State to redistribute the detriment, to more fairly share out the harm. Just like the post-World War Two reconstruction, the demands for a more egalitarian society will be strong. We should be wary about measures that end up diminishing our ability to create wealth – thus impoverishing us all – but it would be an unwise Government that sought to ignore the national sentiment.
However, before we deal with the post-Covid world, the Government must first chart a course to get us there. Given the task ahead of us, that course is likely to mean that some people will escape the lockdown quicker than others. When it comes to inequality, things will get worse before they get better. And if the Government attempts to shy away from that, it will either be taking unnecessary risks with our public health or unnecessarily prolonging the economic turmoil.
Before expanding on that point, let me summarise where I think we are. The Prime Minister will set out a cautious set of proposals tomorrow.
he Government’s strategy appears to be to ‘test, trace and isolate’ (although Ministers seem reluctant to refer to the all-important ‘isolate’ part) and that requires infections to be substantially reduced from the likely 20,000 a day level. The R number has to stay below 1 and, if we are to pursue the South Korean model, probably needs to be some way below 1 if we are to do this anytime soon. As a consequence, the lockdown will continue.
As I argued in my last column, the ‘Stay at Home’ message has worked so well that there is no great appetite from most of the public to recover many of our traditional freedoms. Any significant relaxation of the lockdown in future will need the public’s consent, and that is unlikely to be forthcoming whilst we are bombarded with messages to stay at home.
A more nuanced message is necessary in order to give the Government the freedom to relax restrictions in future. The evidence of the last few days – with newspapers apparently encouraged to proclaim a fundamental relaxation from Monday – has not been encouraging as to the Government’s ability to convey with discipline and consistency a nuanced message. It must do better in future and resist the temptation to announce good news prematurely.
Notwithstanding the communication failures, the cautious, step-by-step approach taken by the Government is sensible. Some of the lockdown measures have been crucial in reducing infections, others have been irrelevant. What the Government cannot be sure about is which ones are which.
There appears to be clear evidence that outdoor transmission is very rare, so that will mean that some of the restrictions will be lifted. The broad principle, it would seem to me, is that, as long as you socially distance, there is no need for any other coronavirus restrictions to apply. Good news for walkers, golfers and anglers, I would have thought. Not yet good news for cricketers, sadly.
There are other restrictions where it is harder to judge. The evidence shows that younger children are highly unlikely to suffer badly from the disease, nor does it appear very likely that they transmit to adults. The closure of schools has been detrimental to economic, societal and educational prospects of the country and their re-opening is essential if we want the economy to get moving.
It looks likely that schools won’t re-open until June and, even then, only gradually. The gradual re-opening is sensible, giving the Government the opportunity to test, learn and adapt. This will help ensure that we keep control of the virus and ensure that we maintain the confidence of parents and teachers.
My concern is that if we begin this process in June, even if everything goes smoothly and it turns out that closing schools is broadly irrelevant to the spread of the disease, many pupils won’t get back into school until September.
Instead, we should pilot the partial re-opening of primary schools, combined with extensive testing of parents and teachers. Choose a geographical area where the virus is not prevalent, as well as some areas where the R number is lower than the national average. Allow pupils back and monitor closely. If, as seems likely, we don’t see a noticeable increase in infections, we can move more quickly in the rest of the country in June.
There are probably other activities where geographical distinctions could and should allow the rules to vary. Initially, this might be for piloting purposes but, at a later stage, we may need to maintain or re-impose a lockdown in those areas where the infection rate is dangerously high whilst other parts of the country as granted additional freedoms.
Some will say that this leads to a complicated message or that it is unfair to apply different approaches in different areas. But if the pace of easing the lockdown is determined by the pace of the slowest, this is going to be an even more drawn-out process. Better to allow some to escape the lockdown than none.
There will also be complaints about fairness if we allow some sectors to return to the new normal, aided by access to extensive testing. One obvious example is professional sport, played behind closed doors. But this would be a boost to morale and, if we begin our preparations now, something that could be up and running within a few weeks.
Further down the line, if we have a reliable antibodies test, those with an immunity certificate could be allowed to live a normal life. I have mentioned in a previous column that this would be divisive but it would not be right to prohibit those who are immune from engaging in activities that pose no threat to others.
And in any attempt to base restrictions on the risk to health, it is impossible to ignore the fact that there is a vast differential in the risk to life depending upon age and underlying health conditions. The likely strategy is based on suppressing the virus but if we find ourselves moving to the position of trying to live with it, rules will have to vary depending upon the risks to the individual.
Lifting the lockdown is likely to be messy and uneven. What you can do may be determined by where you live or whether you have had the disease. Some ‘worthy’ activities will remain prohibited, some ‘frivolous’ ones will be allowed. If the evidence requires it, some relaxations will need to be reversed. Much of this will offend people’s sense of fairness.
We could, of course, duck some of these challenges and treat everyone much the same. That was the right course earlier in the crisis but, as we move to the next stage, treating everyone equally will stand in the way of taking the first small steps to recovery. Fairness matters – but returning to normality quickly and safely matters more.


conservativehome--2020-05-10--WATCH: ‘We would like the whole of the UK to move as one’, says Jenrick

“ We would like the whole of the UK to move as one , ” says Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick @ @ @ @ @ choose not to adopt England ’ s “ stay alert ” slogan # Marr # @ @

“We would like the whole of the UK to move as one,” says Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, as Scotland and Wales choose not to adopt England’s “stay alert” slogan#Marr #Covid_19bbc.in/35MESol pic.twitter.com/DHeB3YtQi2
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) May 10, 2020


conservativehome--2020-05-10--WATCH: Foster – Northern Ireland will announce roadmap out of lockdown next week

First minister of Northern Ireland , Arlene Foster says a road map of how the country will gradually get out @ @ @ @ @ 'early next week'.
# Ridge

First minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster says a road map of how the country will gradually get out of lockdown will be announced 'early next week'.#Ridge
Latest: https://t.co/AX4DVBNM1d pic.twitter.com/T8jgsmW7Qv
— Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) May 10, 2020


conservativehome--2020-05-10--WATCH: Professor attacks Government’s communication of Covid-19 statistics

The government ’ s daily briefings on # Covid_19 are `` not trustworthy communication of statistics '' says Professor Sir @ @ @ @ @ of Cambridge # Marr https : //t.co/TTJMcT0lgb pic.twitter.com/BEKFRhg23H

The government’s daily briefings on #Covid_19 are "not trustworthy communication of statistics" says Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter from the University of Cambridge#Marr https://t.co/TTJMcT0lgb pic.twitter.com/BEKFRhg23H
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) May 10, 2020


conservativehome--2020-05-10--WATCH: ‘Every western government… has made mistakes on this’, says Davis

Former Brexit Secretary , David Davis says “ every western government has made mistakes ” on dealing with the # @ @ @ @

Former Brexit Secretary, David Davis says “every western government has made mistakes” on dealing with the #COVID19 outbreak.#Ridge
Watch live: https://t.co/Gxj8isAWre pic.twitter.com/ngH1CYc8vg
— Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) May 10, 2020


conservativehome--2020-05-10--WATCH: Jenrick – “we are passing through the peak” of the care homes crisis

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick says he doesn ’ t know what the exact rate of infection in care homes is @ @ @ @ @ are passing through the peak ” of # COVID19 in care homes .
# Ridge

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick says he doesn’t know what the exact rate of infection in care homes is, but believes “we are passing through the peak” of #COVID19 in care homes. #Ridge
Watch live: https://t.co/Gxj8isAWre pic.twitter.com/ZVH5Ht41pN
— Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) May 10, 2020


conservativehome--2020-05-10--Ten questions for Johnson about his lockdown plan

• None Will the Government publish the advice and calculations on which the plan is based ?
There ’ s a good argument against : that the scientists who provide it will react badly to criticism of their work ; that they will then withdraw their services , and that Ministers will thus find it harder to get scientists to serve at all .
But there ’ s a better argument for : that open sourcing the data means that errors are less likely to be be missed , and that the stakes are so high that this consideration must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis are Ministers responding to the R rate ?
What matters most isn ’ t the reproduction rate of the virus in itself .
But , rather , where that rate is rising and falling – and among whom .
If it ’ s increasing faster in hospitals and care homes , for example , than in factories or workplaces ( as appears to be the case ) , that would suggest ordering a faster relaxation of the lockdown rules than the headline rate of transmission might seem to imply .
Or regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rates .
• None What ’ s the Government ’ s worst case scenario for the NHS ?
The foundation stone of its strategy to date has been “ Stay Home .
Protect the NHS .
[ Our italics . ]
Save Lives.
” This being so , it must have an estimate of the worst case scenario for the service – one that would risk Italy-style pictures on our TV screens of patients in waiting rooms “ gasping for air , clutching at their chests and at tubes pumping oxygen into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it – and when could the NHS cope with the numbers , if ever ?
• None Is the 200,000 number for testing an aspiration or a promise , and does it cover tests or capacity ?
Ministers now want to protect the health service through a South Korea-style plan : first by reducing the number of cases and deaths ; then stamping out reoccurences by testing people , and then tracing others than those infected have been in contact with .
Boris Johnson has referred to 200,000 tests by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t clear what this means in practice .
• None How many tracers will it have and by when ?
Ministers will need a volunteer army of tracers to track down those people who tests show to have the virus or who report having it ; then find out who they ’ ve been in contact with – and then trace those contacrs .
Matt Hancock wants to recruit 18,000 tracers .
But that number will be related to our last question – how many people are being tested and by when .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of the month , that 18,000 number could be an underestimate .
• None What level of App take-up are Ministers expecting ?
The Government is relying on people downloading and using an app as part of its test and trace plan .
What level of take-up does it need to work ?
One estimate is that if 60 per cent of the population use the app then new Coronavirus cases could be “ substantially reduced ” .
The take up of apps abroad for the same purpose has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also drop its own centralised model in favour of the Apple/Google decentralised one .
• None What ’ s the Government ’ s estimate of non-Coronavirus healthcare costs to date ?
That there is an cost is uncontrovertible : cancelled operations , impaired mental health , domestic and child abuse , and so on .
Some of these are human costs – deaths that wouldn ’ t otherwise have happened .
Some are also costs that the police and social services may eventually have to meet .
But the specific healthcare are an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centrality of the NHS to Ministers ’ strategy .
• None What ’ s its estimate of the costs of lockdown to the economy to date ?
The costs to the economy are not the costs of the lockdown .
The economic contraction set in during early March ; the lockdown was imposed on March 24 .
Social distancing would have happened anyway .
So the question , rather , is what the additional cost of this shutdown , and the less stringent one that preceded it , has been .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but government must have , or be able to calculate , an estimate .
• None What ’ s its calculation of the total cost and total saving of the lockdown ?
Again , it would be impossible to find an exact answer , but possible to work out an estimate .
The method ?
To assign a monetary value to each human life in Britain ( and , yes , such calculations are made ) ; then to estimate how many lives have been saved , from which a figure can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total costs of the lockdown and , to see whether these are greater than the saving .
• None Are there any elements of the lockdown that wouldn ’ t be reintroduced ?
There ’ s still much that isn ’ t known about the virus .
But more is known now than was in early March .
Do the Government ’ s advisers now believe that there is relatively little risk of catching it in the open air ?
If so , doesn ’ t that suggest that the present strict bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , wouldn ’ t be reintroduced even were the present lockdown first relaxed but then later tightened again ?
There will be better questions than these and there will be worse .
Boris Johnson will strain to avoid answering any of them , and ask the public to take the Government on trust .
His policy has had its successes ( ramping test numbers up quickly ) as well as its failures ( settling on test-and-trace the best part of a month into the lockdown , in its third iteration of policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , we think it ’ s better to wait for the eventual inquiry before making a final judgement , let alone rushing into one now when so much about the virus is still unknown .
But it ’ s fair to say that even though international comparisons are plagued with difficulty , Britain is unlikely to win any prizes for keeping cases and numbers down – or for consistent Government handling of the crisis .
Which is why the plan that the Prime Minister will announce tomorrow evening can ’ t simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be questioned .
Hence all the above .
Finally : we believe there is a solid political basis for a slow easing , based on the centrality of the NHS ’ s capacity to cope to the Government ’ s strategy .
If it didn ’ t , Johnson would be left with a bust healthcare system .
Leading to mass reactive social distancing .
Leading to continued economic paralysis .
And to a broken-backed Government with shot authority .
Changing that centrality would mean a national conversation about Britain ’ s folk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only be done by a kind of national Entmoot .
It would discuss whether the short-term imperative of keeping the hospitals on their feet is more important than the medium-term one of coping with other healthcare penalities : more cancer deaths , mental illness , domestic abuse , etc .
Plus the costs to the economy , and thus soon to the NHS , of this near-shutdown stasis .
Asking questions like some of the above might enable that conversation to begin .

Will the Government publish the advice and calculations on which the plan is based? There’s a good argument against: that the scientists who provide it will react badly to criticism of their work; that they will then withdraw their services, and that Ministers will thus find it harder to get scientists to serve at all. But there’s a better argument for: that open sourcing the data means that errors are less likely to be be missed, and that the stakes are so high that this consideration must be paramount.
There’s a good argument against: that the scientists who provide it will react badly to criticism of their work; that they will then withdraw their services, and that Ministers will thus find it harder to get scientists to serve at all. But there’s a better argument for: that open sourcing the data means that errors are less likely to be be missed, and that the stakes are so high that this consideration must be paramount. On what basis are Ministers responding to the R rate? What matters most isn’t the reproduction rate of the virus in itself. But, rather, where that rate is rising and falling – and among whom. If it’s increasing faster in hospitals and care homes, for example, than in factories or workplaces (as appears to be the case), that would suggest ordering a faster relaxation of the lockdown rules than the headline rate of transmission might seem to imply. Or regional variations in lifting could follow regional variations in rates.
What matters most isn’t the reproduction rate of the virus in itself. But, rather, where that rate is rising and falling – and among whom. If it’s increasing faster in hospitals and care homes, for example, than in factories or workplaces (as appears to be the case), that would suggest ordering a faster relaxation of the lockdown rules than the headline rate of transmission might seem to imply. Or regional variations in lifting could follow regional variations in rates. What’s the Government’s worst case scenario for the NHS? The foundation stone of its strategy to date has been “Stay Home. Protect the NHS. [Our italics.] Save Lives.” This being so, it must have an estimate of the worst case scenario for the service – one that would risk Italy-style pictures on our TV screens of patients in waiting rooms “gasping for air, clutching at their chests and at tubes pumping oxygen into their oxygen-starved lungs”. What is it – and when could the NHS cope with the numbers, if ever?
The foundation stone of its strategy to date has been “Stay Home. Protect the NHS. [Our italics.] Save Lives.” This being so, it must have an estimate of the worst case scenario for the service – one that would risk Italy-style pictures on our TV screens of patients in waiting rooms “gasping for air, clutching at their chests and at tubes pumping oxygen into their oxygen-starved lungs”. What is it – and when could the NHS cope with the numbers, if ever? Is the 200,000 number for testing an aspiration or a promise, and does it cover tests or capacity? Ministers now want to protect the health service through a South Korea-style plan: first by reducing the number of cases and deaths; then stamping out reoccurences by testing people, and then tracing others than those infected have been in contact with. Boris Johnson has referred to 200,000 tests by the end of the month. But it isn’t clear what this means in practice.
Ministers now want to protect the health service through a South Korea-style plan: first by reducing the number of cases and deaths; then stamping out reoccurences by testing people, and then tracing others than those infected have been in contact with. Boris Johnson has referred to 200,000 tests by the end of the month. But it isn’t clear what this means in practice. How many tracers will it have and by when? Ministers will need a volunteer army of tracers to track down those people who tests show to have the virus or who report having it; then find out who they’ve been in contact with – and then trace those contacrs. Matt Hancock wants to recruit 18,000 tracers. But that number will be related to our last question – how many people are being tested and by when. If the number gets up to 200,000 by the end of the month, that 18,000 number could be an underestimate.
Ministers will need a volunteer army of tracers to track down those people who tests show to have the virus or who report having it; then find out who they’ve been in contact with – and then trace those contacrs. Matt Hancock wants to recruit 18,000 tracers. But that number will be related to our last question – how many people are being tested and by when. If the number gets up to 200,000 by the end of the month, that 18,000 number could be an underestimate. What level of App take-up are Ministers expecting? The Government is relying on people downloading and using an app as part of its test and trace plan. What level of take-up does it need to work? One estimate is that if 60 per cent of the population use the app then new Coronavirus cases could be “substantially reduced”. The take up of apps abroad for the same purpose has been about 2o per cent. It may also drop its own centralised model in favour of the Apple/Google decentralised one.
The Government is relying on people downloading and using an app as part of its test and trace plan. What level of take-up does it need to work? One estimate is that if 60 per cent of the population use the app then new Coronavirus cases could be “substantially reduced”. The take up of apps abroad for the same purpose has been about 2o per cent. It may also drop its own centralised model in favour of the Apple/Google decentralised one. What’s the Government’s estimate of non-Coronavirus healthcare costs to date? That there is an cost is uncontrovertible: cancelled operations, impaired mental health, domestic and child abuse, and so on. Some of these are human costs – deaths that wouldn’t otherwise have happened. Some are also costs that the police and social services may eventually have to meet. But the specific healthcare are an obvious starting-point for enquiry – given the centrality of the NHS to Ministers’ strategy.
That there is an cost is uncontrovertible: cancelled operations, impaired mental health, domestic and child abuse, and so on. Some of these are human costs – deaths that wouldn’t otherwise have happened. Some are also costs that the police and social services may eventually have to meet. But the specific healthcare are an obvious starting-point for enquiry – given the centrality of the NHS to Ministers’ strategy. What’s its estimate of the costs of lockdown to the economy to date? The costs to the economy are not the costs of the lockdown. The economic contraction set in during early March; the lockdown was imposed on March 24. Social distancing would have happened anyway. So the question, rather, is what the additional cost of this shutdown, and the less stringent one that preceded it, has been. It would be impossible to find an exact answer, but government must have, or be able to calculate, an estimate.
The costs to the economy are not the costs of the lockdown. The economic contraction set in during early March; the lockdown was imposed on March 24. Social distancing would have happened anyway. So the question, rather, is what the additional cost of this shutdown, and the less stringent one that preceded it, has been. It would be impossible to find an exact answer, but government must have, or be able to calculate, an estimate. What’s its calculation of the total cost and total saving of the lockdown? Again, it would be impossible to find an exact answer, but possible to work out an estimate. The method? To assign a monetary value to each human life in Britain (and, yes, such calculations are made); then to estimate how many lives have been saved, from which a figure can be produced; then to calculate that total costs of the lockdown and, to see whether these are greater than the saving.
Again, it would be impossible to find an exact answer, but possible to work out an estimate. The method? To assign a monetary value to each human life in Britain (and, yes, such calculations are made); then to estimate how many lives have been saved, from which a figure can be produced; then to calculate that total costs of the lockdown and, to see whether these are greater than the saving. Are there any elements of the lockdown that wouldn’t be reintroduced? There’s still much that isn’t known about the virus. But more is known now than was in early March. Do the Government’s advisers now believe that there is relatively little risk of catching it in the open air? If so, doesn’t that suggest that the present strict bars on outdoors activity, introduced in late March, wouldn’t be reintroduced even were the present lockdown first relaxed but then later tightened again?
– – – – – – – – – –
There will be better questions than these and there will be worse. Boris Johnson will strain to avoid answering any of them, and ask the public to take the Government on trust.
His policy has had its successes (ramping test numbers up quickly) as well as its failures (settling on test-and-trace the best part of a month into the lockdown, in its third iteration of policy on the subject).
Like most people, we think it’s better to wait for the eventual inquiry before making a final judgement, let alone rushing into one now when so much about the virus is still unknown.
But it’s fair to say that even though international comparisons are plagued with difficulty, Britain is unlikely to win any prizes for keeping cases and numbers down – or for consistent Government handling of the crisis.
Which is why the plan that the Prime Minister will announce tomorrow evening can’t simply be taken on trust. It should be questioned. Hence all the above.
Finally: we believe there is a solid political basis for a slow easing, based on the centrality of the NHS’s capacity to cope to the Government’s strategy.
If it didn’t, Johnson would be left with a bust healthcare system. Leading to mass reactive social distancing. Leading to continued economic paralysis. And to a broken-backed Government with shot authority.
Changing that centrality would mean a national conversation about Britain’s folk religion – NHS worship. That can only be done by a kind of national Entmoot.
It would discuss whether the short-term imperative of keeping the hospitals on their feet is more important than the medium-term one of coping with other healthcare penalities: more cancer deaths, mental illness, domestic abuse, etc.
Plus the costs to the economy, and thus soon to the NHS, of this near-shutdown stasis. Asking questions like some of the above might enable that conversation to begin.


Coronavirus Count

Total number of lab-confirmed UK cases : 215,260 ( Up from 211,364 ) .
Total number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths : 31,587 ( Up from 31,241 ) .
Daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases : 3,896 ( Down from 4,649 ) .
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths : 346 ( Down from 626 ) .
From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk to the UK has been raised to high ” – From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
GOVERNMENT RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GUIDANCE : FURTHER BUSINESSES AND PREMISES TO CLOSE See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
HOW EVERYONE CAN HELP STOP THE CORONAVIRUS ( SOCIAL DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
STAY AT HOME IF YOU THINK YOU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS ON WHAT AND HOW THEY CAN CLAIM See here .
Published on Friday March 20 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR LANDLORDS , TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW See here .
Published on Saturday March 28 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE CORONAVIRUS BILL WILL DO See here .
Published on Wednesday March 18 HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your hands when you get home or into work .
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve ( not your hands ) when you cough or sneeze .
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell .
The symptoms of coronavirus are : However , these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are much more common , such as cold and flu .
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do .
Use this service if : • You think you might have coronavirus .
• In the last 14 days you ’ ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers .
• You ’ ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus .
• In Scotland call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of hours .
• In Wales call 111 ( if available in your area ) or 0845 46 47 .
• Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
• What the coronavirus is , how it ’ s spread and how to avoid catching it – Government NHS website overview .
• Stay at home advice and how to manage self-isolation .
( All information taken from Government sources .
Updated as of 7am on Sunday May 10th . )


conservativehome--2020-05-10--WATCH: Stay Alert. Control the virus. Save lives. The Government’s new plan – Johnson’s broadcast.

Prime Minister @ BorisJohnson addresses the nation on the next steps on coronavirus : https : //t.co/7bdNfHdrKi

Prime Minister @BorisJohnson addresses the nation on the next steps on coronavirus: https://t.co/7bdNfHdrKi
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 10, 2020


conservativehome--2020-05-10--“This is a plan that everyone must make work.” The Prime Minister’s statement. Full text.

“ It is now almost two months since the people of this country began to put up with restrictions on their freedom – your freedom – of a kind that we have never seen before in peace or war .
And you have shown the good sense to support those rules overwhelmingly .
You have put up with all the hardships of that programme of social distancing .
Because you understand that as things stand , and as the experience of every other country has shown , it ’ s the only way to defeat the coronavirus – the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my lifetime .
And though the death toll has been tragic , and the suffering immense .
And though we grieve for all those we have lost .
It is a fact that by adopting those measures we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities .
And it is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives .
And so I know – you know – that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike .
We must continue to control the virus and save lives .
And yet we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life .
We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants .
And there are millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this terrible disease , and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical wellbeing .
To their futures and the futures of their children .
So I want to provide tonight – for you – the shape of a plan to address both fears .
Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society .
A sense of the way ahead , and when and how and on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed .
I will be setting out more details in Parliament tomorrow and taking questions from the public in the evening .
I have consulted across the political spectrum , across all four nations of the UK .
And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates .
And though it is right to be flexible in our response .
I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland , England , Wales , Northern Ireland , there is a strong resolve to defeat this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what we could do .
Because although we have a plan , it is a conditional plan .
And since our priority is to protect the public and save lives , we can not move forward unless we satisfy the five tests .
We must protect our NHS .
We must see sustained falls in the death rate .
We must see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection .
We must sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it , and yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must fix it .
And last , we must make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease – the R – back up over one , so that we have the kind of exponential growth we were facing a few weeks ago .
And to chart our progress and to avoid going back to square one , we are establishing a new Covid Alert System run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre .
And that Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures .
The higher the level , the tougher and stricter we will have to be .
There will be five alert levels .
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed .
Over the period of the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three .
And as we go everyone will have a role to play in keeping the R down .
By staying alert and following the rules .
And to keep pushing the number of infections down there are two more things we must do .
We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS , and though the numbers are coming down sharply now , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if we are to control this virus , then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims , and for tracing their contacts .
So that – all told – we are testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day .
We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now , and we can .
When this began , we hadn ’ t seen this disease before , and we didn ’ t fully understand its effects .
With every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer , and we will pick it up where it strikes .
Because our new system will be able in time to detect local flare-ups – in your area – as well as giving us a national picture .
And yet when I look at where we are tonight , we have the R below one , between 0.5 and 0.9 – but potentially only just below one .
And though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by no means fulfilled all of them .
And so no , this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week .
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures .
And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week .
We said that you should work from home if you can , and only go to work if you must .
We now need to stress that anyone who can ’ t work from home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturing , should be actively encouraged to go to work .
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work .
So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing , and capacity will therefore be limited .
So work from home if you can , but you should go to work if you can ’ t work from home .
And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do go to work , if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle .
But just as with workplaces , public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards .
And from this Wednesday , we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise .
You can sit in the sun in your local park , you can drive to other destinations , you can even play sports but only with members of your own household .
You must obey the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them .
And so every day , with ever increasing data , we will be monitoring the R and the number of new infections , and the progress we are making , and if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out , then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further .
In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools , in stages , beginning with reception , Year 1 and Year 6 .
Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays .
And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport .
And step three – at the earliest by July – and subject to all these conditions and further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers support it , we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places , provided they are safe and enforce social distancing .
Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity .
We are going to be driven by the science , the data and public health .
And I must stress again that all of this is conditional , it all depends on a series of big Ifs .
It depends on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to follow the advice , to observe social distancing , and to keep that R down .
And to prevent re-infection from abroad , I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air .
And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here , that this measure will now be effective .
And of course we will be monitoring our progress locally , regionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks , if there are problems , we will not hesitate to put on the brakes .
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous .
We have a route , and we have a plan , and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives , restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need .
But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work .
And when I look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patience and common sense you have shown .
The fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can .
The incredible bravery and hard work of our NHS staff , our care workers .
The devotion and self-sacrifice of all those in every walk of life who are helping us to beat this disease .
Police , bus drivers , train drivers , pharmacists , supermarket workers , road hauliers , bin collectors , cleaners , security guards , postal workers , our teachers and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working round the clock to find a vaccine .
When I think of the millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that are being performed across this country .
And that have helped to get us through this first phase .
I know that we can use this plan to get us through the next .
And if we can ’ t do it by those dates , and if the alert level won ’ t allow it , we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devilish illness .
We will come back to health , and robust health .
And though the UK will be changed by this experience , I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before .
More resilient , more innovative , more economically dynamic , but also more generous and more sharing .
But for now we must stay alert , control the virus and save lives .
Thank you very much .
”

“It is now almost two months since the people of this country began to put up with restrictions on their freedom – your freedom – of a kind that we have never seen before in peace or war.
And you have shown the good sense to support those rules overwhelmingly.
You have put up with all the hardships of that programme of social distancing.
Because you understand that as things stand, and as the experience of every other country has shown, it’s the only way to defeat the coronavirus – the most vicious threat this country has faced in my lifetime.
And though the death toll has been tragic, and the suffering immense.
And though we grieve for all those we have lost.
It is a fact that by adopting those measures we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities.
And it is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down.
And thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.
And so I know – you know – that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.
We must stay alert.
We must continue to control the virus and save lives.
And yet we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life.
We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants.
And there are millions of people who are both fearful of this terrible disease, and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical wellbeing.
To their futures and the futures of their children.
So I want to provide tonight – for you – the shape of a plan to address both fears.
Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society.
A sense of the way ahead, and when and how and on what basis we will take the decisions to proceed.
I will be setting out more details in Parliament tomorrow and taking questions from the public in the evening.
I have consulted across the political spectrum, across all four nations of the UK.
And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates.
And though it is right to be flexible in our response.
I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, there is a strong resolve to defeat this together.
And today a general consensus on what we could do.
And I stress could.
Because although we have a plan, it is a conditional plan.
And since our priority is to protect the public and save lives, we cannot move forward unless we satisfy the five tests.
We must protect our NHS.
We must see sustained falls in the death rate.
We must see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection.
We must sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it, and yes, it is a global problem but we must fix it.
And last, we must make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease – the R – back up over one, so that we have the kind of exponential growth we were facing a few weeks ago.
And to chart our progress and to avoid going back to square one, we are establishing a new Covid Alert System run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre.
And that Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and the number of coronavirus cases.
And in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures.
The higher the level, the tougher and stricter we will have to be.
There will be five alert levels.
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed.
Over the period of the lockdown we have been in Level Four, and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three.
And as we go everyone will have a role to play in keeping the R down.
By staying alert and following the rules.
And to keep pushing the number of infections down there are two more things we must do.
We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS, and though the numbers are coming down sharply now, there is plainly much more to be done.
And if we are to control this virus, then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims, and for tracing their contacts.
So that – all told – we are testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day.
We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now, and we can.
When this began, we hadn’t seen this disease before, and we didn’t fully understand its effects.
With every day we are getting more and more data.
We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer, and we will pick it up where it strikes.
Because our new system will be able in time to detect local flare-ups – in your area – as well as giving us a national picture.
And yet when I look at where we are tonight, we have the R below one, between 0.5 and 0.9 – but potentially only just below one.
And though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the conditions I have given.
We have by no means fulfilled all of them.
And so no, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week.
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.
And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.
We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.
We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.
So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.
And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.
And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle. But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards.
And from this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.
You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.
You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.
And so every day, with ever increasing data, we will be monitoring the R and the number of new infections, and the progress we are making, and if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out, then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further.
In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays. And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.
And step three – at the earliest by July – and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.
Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity. We are going to be driven by the science, the data and public health.
And I must stress again that all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big Ifs. It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R down.
And to prevent re-infection from abroad, I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.
And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here, that this measure will now be effective.
And of course we will be monitoring our progress locally, regionally, and nationally and if there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes.
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.
We have a route, and we have a plan, and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need.
But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work.
And when I look at what you have done already.
The patience and common sense you have shown.
The fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can.
The incredible bravery and hard work of our NHS staff, our care workers.
The devotion and self-sacrifice of all those in every walk of life who are helping us to beat this disease.
Police, bus drivers, train drivers, pharmacists, supermarket workers, road hauliers, bin collectors, cleaners, security guards, postal workers, our teachers and a thousand more.
The scientists who are working round the clock to find a vaccine.
When I think of the millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that are being performed across this country.
And that have helped to get us through this first phase.
I know that we can use this plan to get us through the next.
And if we can’t do it by those dates, and if the alert level won’t allow it, we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right.
We will come back from this devilish illness.
We will come back to health, and robust health.
And though the UK will be changed by this experience, I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before. More resilient, more innovative, more economically dynamic, but also more generous and more sharing.
But for now we must stay alert, control the virus and save lives.
Thank you very much.”