inews--2020-06-04--How coronavirus is affecting our sleep, from hypersomnia to vivid dreams

How coronavirus is affecting our sleep , from hypersomnia to vivid dreams As with so much about Covid-19 , poorer quality sleep has not affected people equally Adequate hours of good quality sleep are crucial to our physical and mental resilience .
Unfortunately , poor quality sleep can be both a side-effect and contributor to our feelings of stress , creating a vicious circle – and there is evidence that is happening to a significant proportion of the UK population , as a result of the pandemic and its impact on our lives .
Our new survey of 2,254 UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , on how they say their sleeping has been affected by the coronavirus crisis shows that over six in 10 say they have noticed at least one negative effect , either in disturbed sleep , sleeping fewer hours or feeling less rested when they wake up .
The Covid-19 pandemic is an exceptionally stressful period for many .
The direct threat of the illness and the economic consequences of the lockdown are weighing heavily on a very large proportion of the public .
It was predictable that a significant section of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to such stress .
The challenge , of course , is that sleep is a vital part of being able to respond to these additional stresses , and so maintaining high-quality sleep is an important priority in times of strain – but more difficult to achieve .
But , as with so much about Covid-19 , poorer quality sleep has not affected people equally , and is instead especially pronounced among those suffering most .
People who reported higher levels of stress about the current pandemic were more than twice as likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower anxiety levels .
Those in unstable economic situations , women and younger people are all more likely to report higher levels of sleep disturbance .
For example , those who say they ’ re certain or very likely to face financial difficulties are much more likely to say their sleep has been disturbed .
Unrefreshing sleep of longer duration , known as ‘ hypersomnia ’ , was also reported by three in 10 , especially by younger participants .
This is often associated with a lack of energy during the day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also long been known that depressive symptoms and hypersomnia are linked .
Clearly not all reporting hypersomnia in our survey are at risk of depression , but it points to the central importance of sleep to maintaining our mental health .
Social media has been full of people sharing stories of their unusually vivid dreams , asking others if they ’ re the only ones .
Our survey confirms they ’ re very much not alone , with four in 10 of the public agreeing that they have experienced this .
We know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be linked to disturbed sleep patterns , increased stress levels and more emotional states .
Our dreams reflect our processing of the day ’ s information , consolidating memory and regulating your emotions - so it ’ s no surprise that they are more vivid right now for many of us .
But the effects of the pandemic and lockdown on our sleep have not been negative for everyone .
A quarter reported sleeping more , and feeling better for it .
For some , the slowdown from the lockdown may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of modern society .
This reflects other findings in the study , where a large proportion of us think there have been at least some things we ’ ve enjoyed about the lockdown measures .
And while younger people are more likely to report each of the negative impacts on their sleep , they are also the group most likely to report longer , better sleep .
Over a third of younger people say they have had more restful sleep , compared with half that among older groups .
This is a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has long been understood that sleep , and especially sleep which occurs in the later parts of the sleep cycle , is crucial for cognition and memory .
Sleep is crucial for emotional regulation , especially during earlier stages of our development , and so these longer , more restful sleeps really will be doing young people some good .
Currently , there is little that is positive about the pandemic and its impact on our lives , and that is as true for our sleep as anything else .
Yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily lives that we ’ re experiencing are leaving more space for some to focus on other aspects of life , beyond the rush of commuting and consuming .
Perhaps a message of this pandemic in the years to come will be one of changing priorities .
The recognition of the importance of self-control and self-reliance , strong family ties , and our physiological needs , including adequate sleep , might be one enduring positive legacy .
Establishing a steady daily routine that equally prevents a major variation in daily sleep times is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring our bedrooms are for sleep and sleep only is similarly important .
Finally , ensuring we eat healthily , we stay active and that we keep in touch with people and activities that enrich and fulfil us , is another crucial ingredient that will ensure a good night sleep .

Dr Ivana Rosenzweig and Professor Bobby Duffy

Adequate hours of good quality sleep are crucial to our physical and mental resilience. Unfortunately, poor quality sleep can be both a side-effect and contributor to our feelings of stress, creating a vicious circle – and there is evidence that is happening to a significant proportion of the UK population, as a result of the pandemic and its impact on our lives.
Our new survey of 2,254 UK adults, conducted towards the end of May, on how they say their sleeping has been affected by the coronavirus crisis shows that over six in 10 say they have noticed at least one negative effect, either in disturbed sleep, sleeping fewer hours or feeling less rested when they wake up.
The Covid-19 pandemic is an exceptionally stressful period for many. The direct threat of the illness and the economic consequences of the lockdown are weighing heavily on a very large proportion of the public. It was predictable that a significant section of the population would develop at least some reaction to such stress. The challenge, of course, is that sleep is a vital part of being able to respond to these additional stresses, and so maintaining high-quality sleep is an important priority in times of strain – but more difficult to achieve.
But, as with so much about Covid-19, poorer quality sleep has not affected people equally, and is instead especially pronounced among those suffering most. People who reported higher levels of stress about the current pandemic were more than twice as likely to also have disturbed sleep than those with lower anxiety levels. Those in unstable economic situations, women and younger people are all more likely to report higher levels of sleep disturbance. For example, those who say they’re certain or very likely to face financial difficulties are much more likely to say their sleep has been disturbed.
Unrefreshing sleep of longer duration, known as ‘hypersomnia’, was also reported by three in 10, especially by younger participants. This is often associated with a lack of energy during the day, and trouble thinking clearly. It has also long been known that depressive symptoms and hypersomnia are linked. Clearly not all reporting hypersomnia in our survey are at risk of depression, but it points to the central importance of sleep to maintaining our mental health.
Social media has been full of people sharing stories of their unusually vivid dreams, asking others if they’re the only ones. Our survey confirms they’re very much not alone, with four in 10 of the public agreeing that they have experienced this. We know that our greater recall of vivid dreams can be linked to disturbed sleep patterns, increased stress levels and more emotional states. Our dreams reflect our processing of the day’s information, consolidating memory and regulating your emotions – so it’s no surprise that they are more vivid right now for many of us.
But the effects of the pandemic and lockdown on our sleep have not been negative for everyone. A quarter reported sleeping more, and feeling better for it. For some, the slowdown from the lockdown may have provided some space away from the demands of modern society. This reflects other findings in the study, where a large proportion of us think there have been at least some things we’ve enjoyed about the lockdown measures.
‘Over a third of younger people say they have had more restful sleep, compared with half that among older groups’
And while younger people are more likely to report each of the negative impacts on their sleep, they are also the group most likely to report longer, better sleep. Over a third of younger people say they have had more restful sleep, compared with half that among older groups. This is a good and important thing for the young. It has long been understood that sleep, and especially sleep which occurs in the later parts of the sleep cycle, is crucial for cognition and memory. Sleep is crucial for emotional regulation, especially during earlier stages of our development, and so these longer, more restful sleeps really will be doing young people some good.
Currently, there is little that is positive about the pandemic and its impact on our lives, and that is as true for our sleep as anything else. Yet, some aspects of the changes to our daily lives that we’re experiencing are leaving more space for some to focus on other aspects of life, beyond the rush of commuting and consuming. Perhaps a message of this pandemic in the years to come will be one of changing priorities. The recognition of the importance of self-control and self-reliance, strong family ties, and our physiological needs, including adequate sleep, might be one enduring positive legacy.
Establishing a steady daily routine that equally prevents a major variation in daily sleep times is pivotal. Avoiding daytime napping, and ensuring our bedrooms are for sleep and sleep only is similarly important. Finally, ensuring we eat healthily, we stay active and that we keep in touch with people and activities that enrich and fulfil us, is another crucial ingredient that will ensure a good night sleep.
By Dr Ivana Rosenzweig, Senior Clinical Lecturer, IoPPN, King’s College London and Consultant Sleep Physician, GSTT, London and Professor Bobby Duffy, Director, The Policy Institute, King’s College London


inews--2020-06-04--UK Black Lives Matter protests: What happened in the London protest yesterday, and other George Floy

UK Black Lives Matter protests: What happened in the London protest yesterday, and other George Floyd events this week

UK Black Lives Matter protests : What happened in the London protest yesterday , and other George Floyd events this week Black Lives Matter organisers in London think the upcoming demonstrations are expected to be the largest ever seen by the movement in the UK People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest rally outside the St George 's Hall in Liverpool , in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis ( Photo : PA ) Where and when are the protests ?
In an impassioned speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process , we do n't know what George Floyd could have achieved , we do n't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved , but today we 're going to make sure that wo n't be an alien thought to our young ones . ''
What are the current coronavirus travel restrictions ?
A march at Trafalgar Square to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis ( Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images ) “ We need to find ways of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to make the points that many of us want to be made and to be heard right now , but to do so in a way that is safe and is not putting people protesting or wider communities at risk.
” You can also write to your local MP , to demand the UK takes a stand against police brutality and racism , using this email template ; to demand the suspension of UK exportation of crowd control weapons to the US , using this email template ; and to ask them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's death , using this email template .

As demonstrations continue around the world over the murder of 46-year old African American George Floyd, who died at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis on Monday 25 May, thousands of people have protested in solidarity in the UK.
Cities including London, Liverpool, Cardiff and Manchester have witnessed protestors taking to the streets to highlight systemic racism in the UK, and the brutality of police forces, after Mr Floyd died from “asphyxiation from sustained pressure” when the Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.
On 3 June, Mr Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, and the three other officers at the scene – Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – were charged for the first time with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
On Wednesday the Star Wars actor John Boyega joined thousands of protestors in a march from Hyde Park in central London organised by the anti-racist campaign group Black Lives Matter, with protestors chanting “no justice, no peace” as they took part.
Most of the protestors were aged under 30 and carried handmade signs, calling out names of Mr Floyd and others in the UK such as Mark Duggan, who died at the hands of police, or victims of racial injustice including the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Similarly, on Sunday thousands of demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square for a “Kneel for Floyd” protest, while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton in south London on Monday.
Placards displayed statements such as “Racism has no place” and “I can’t breathe”, in reference to Mr Floyd’s final words as Mr Chauvin knelt on his neck.
Demonstrations have also taken place in Cardiff and Manchester, and in Ireland, thousands protested outside the US embassy in Dublin on Monday.
Here’s what you need to know about the Black Lives Matter protests happening during the upcoming week.
Where and when are the protests?
On Tuesday hundreds of people gathered outside St George’s Hall in Liverpool, and according to Black Lives Matter organisers in London, the upcoming demonstrations are expected to be the largest ever seen by the movement in the UK.
Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) organised a socially distanced protest for 6pm Wednesday 3 June, as part of a day of action against discrimination in response to the murder of Mr Floyd.
Britons were urged to “take a knee” on their doorsteps – the protest stance made famous by American football star Colin Kaepernick in opposition to police brutality, now synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Wherever you are, at 6pm on Wednesday 3 June, #TakeTheKnee +/ hold a sign on your doorstep to say #BlackLivesMatter, #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd The millions who stand against racism must be heard. Details: https://t.co/GXJ4eYHf6F#BlackLivesMatterUK #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/dT70RqPz0b — Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) June 2, 2020
Alongside kneeling, protestors were asked to hold signs to say #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter , in solidarity with protestors in the US, and to highlight the disproportionate number of BAME deaths in the Covid-19 crisis in the UK.
A separate protest took place on Wednesday in London’s Hyde Park against the rights of black people being abused globally, with protestors asked to “stand with us” and to wear red.
Frankie Clarence, 28, one of the organisers, said: “I feel we are now in a period where voices don’t need to be voiceless any more.”
The family of Belly Mujinga, a black ticket office worker who died from Covid-19, also joined the protests, which concluded at Victoria Station, where she had worked.
In an impassioned speech, Star Wars actor John Boyega said: “Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don’t know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don’t know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we’re going to make sure that won’t be an alien thought to our young ones.”
On Saturday 6 June, people will gather at Parliament Square from 1pm in “peaceful protests against police brutality in the UK and US”, and are advised to wear face masks and be socially distant.
Similarly on Sunday 7 June, a protest at 2pm near the US Embassy in London calls for “justice for the multiple black people who have been killed and harmed by the police.”
In Birmingham, a protest has been set for Thursday 4 June, starting at Victoria Square.
In Manchester, demonstrators will meet in Piccadilly Gardens, in the city centre, to show their opposition from 1pm on Saturday 6 June.
Additionally, for those staying in their homes, on Thursday 4 June Black Lives Matter are asking supporters to play Jimmy Cliff’s the Harder they Come at 7pm from their doorsteps, specifically to raise awareness that racism is a public health crisis.
What are the current coronavirus travel restrictions?
Certain lockdown measures may have been eased this week, but large gatherings are still banned, and on Tuesday Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asked protesters to find an alternative to physical demonstrations.
Speaking at her daily briefing in Edinburgh, she said: “Large gatherings of people could pose a risk to health and indeed to life.
“We need to find ways of allowing people to make their voices heard and to make the points that many of us want to be made and to be heard right now, but to do so in a way that is safe and is not putting people protesting or wider communities at risk.”
The Met Police said its approach was to engage with protesters and encourage them to follow social distancing rules.
There were 23 arrests during protests at London’s Trafalgar Square on Sunday, at least three of which were for breach of Covid-19 legislation.
In response to last night’s protests in Liverpool, Merseyside Police said: “We recognise the right of people to demonstrate peacefully and express their views but would continue to remind people they should adhere to social distancing guidelines at all times.”
Writing on their Facebook page, Black Lives Matter UK said: “If you are going to a march or demo right now, please do be mindful of the pandemic and consider taking measures such as social distancing or wearing a mask.
“Many of us have lost acquaintances – Covid 19 is very real and unfortunately it’s not over yet. Be safe out there whatever you choose to do.”
Black Lives Matter are also asking those attending peaceful protests to try and self-isolate for 2 weeks to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, and are suggesting people don’t actually attend all the protests, as they could then act as a vector to spread coronavirus.
How can I support remotely?
For those unable to take to the streets, there are many ways to be a good ally to the black community.
Vogue have now published writer Mireille Cassandra Harper’s “10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship” which outlines the key principles to be actively anti-racist.
A good place to start is to donate to any of the following initiatives: George Floyd’s Memorial Fund, Belly Mujinga’s Memorial Fund, Black Lives Matter, Black Minds Matter, Show Racism The Red Card, Black Visions Collective, The Stephen Lawrence Trust, Stop Hate UK, The Innocence Project, Liberty UK, Say Her Name, Reclaim the Block, Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund, The Movement for Black Lives and Black Protest Legal Support UK.
You can also donate to The Bail Project, which provides funds to pay bail “to prevent incarceration and combat racial economic disparities in the bail system”.
You can sign Change.org’s ‘Justice for George Floyd‘ petition, which has already gathered over 10 million signatures, as well this petition demanding the police officers involved in his death are arrested and charged with second degree murder.
Sign this petition to demand the immediate arrest of the three officers who were present when Mr Chauvin kneeled on Mr Floyd’s neck.
You can also demand justice for Belly Mujinga, the railway worker who died from coronavirus after she was spat on by a man claiming to have Covid-19, by signing this petition.
Likewise, sign this petition to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, the black emergency medical technician who was fatally shot in her apartment by the Louisville Metro Police Department.
You can also write to your local MP, to demand the UK takes a stand against police brutality and racism, using this email template; to demand the suspension of UK exportation of crowd control weapons to the US, using this email template; and to ask them to support further investigation into Ms Mujinga’s death, using this email template.
You can find your local MP’s contact details here.


inews--2020-06-04--Black Lives Matter: How to donate to anti-racism charities after George Floyd's death - and other wa

Black Lives Matter: How to donate to anti-racism charities after George Floyd's death - and other ways to show support

Black Lives Matter : How to donate to anti-racism charities after George Floyd 's death - and other ways to @ @ @ @ @ to take to the streets , there are still many ways to be a good @ @ @ @ @ Demonstrators hold up signs at Lafayette Park near the White House ( Photo : Win @ @ @ @ @ and funds can you donate to ?
People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest @ @ @ @ @ Oxford , in memory of George Floyd ( Photo : PA ) Which UK charities @ @ @ @ @ to ?
Hundreds of protesters gather in Manhattan ’ s Foley Square to protest the @ @ @ @ @ ( Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images ) How to show support if you ca n't @ @

Since the horrific murder of 46-year-old African American George Floyd on 25 May, citizens worldwide have taken to the streets.
Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square on Sunday could be heard chanting ‘I can’t breathe’, the words Mr Floyd was filmed saying last Monday in Minneapolis as he died while being restrained by a police officer.
Thousands more joined protests across the country, from Cardiff, to Manchester, to Glasgow, while other gather again in Hyde Park today.
They were calling for justice for Mr Floyd as well as other victims of police brutality, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
Many are donating to anti-racism charities and funds, and there are lots of ways to show support even if you’re unable to attend the protests.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best ways to make a difference and be actively anti-racist.
What happened to George Floyd?
Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, was killed in police custody last week after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. He was recorded pleading with the officer, saying “I can’t breathe”.
Derek Chauvin, the officer seen kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck, was charged on Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but many have called for the additional three police officers involved to also be arrested and convicted.
Demonstrations have broken out across the US following the death of Mr Floyd, with more than 5,600 people are estimated to have been arrested since protests began.
The police have been accused of numerous incidents of of police brutality against people of colour during these protests.
Which US charities and funds can you donate to?
Here are some US-based initiatives to donate to:
George Floyd’s Memorial Fund is crowdfunding to cover Mr Floyd’s funeral and burial expenses, as well as mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist his family and children in their continuing fight for justice.
The The Minnesota Freedom Fund provides funds to pay bail for those protesting in Minnesota.
The Bail Project provides funds to pay bail for those who have been arrested during the protests, and you can split your donation between the 39 bail funds.
The Movement For Black Lives is a global initiative which aims to support Black organisations to conduct conversations about current political conditions.
The North Star Health Collective coordinates and provides healthcare services, resources and training to those protesting in Minnesota.
The Black Visions Creative centres its work to develop Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns.
Reclaim The Block is a grassroots organisation that works to provide the Minneapolis community with the resources they need to thrive.
Black Visions Collective aims to centre work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop their organisations core “DNA” to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota’s emerging black leadership to lead powerful campaigns.
Unicorn Riot supports journalists on the frontline.
The Innocence Project is committed to exonerating individuals who have been wrongly convicted
The Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund provides financial assistance for black journalists facing financial hardship who are unable to pay for the mental health support they need during this time.
Say Her Name is a campaign run by The African American Policy Forum, an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality.
The Movement for Black Lives Fund supports Black-led rapid response efforts and long-term strategy, policy and infrastructure investments in the movement ecosystem.
Which UK charities and funds can you donate to?
There are also plenty of organisations tackling systemic racism within the UK:
Black Lives Matter UK are a coalition of black activists and organisers across the UK that started in 2016, they’ve currently raised over £160,000.
The the Black LGBTQIA Therapy Fund is fundraising for therapy sessions for black LGBTQIA+ persons aged 18+.
Belly Mujinga’s Memorial Fund is to fund her funeral; to give her the burial she deserves, so that her loved ones and the many whose lives she touched can visit her.
Black Minds Matter is fundraising to offer free therapy sessions for black individuals and families in the UK with certified, professional, black practitioners for sessions as soon as possible.
Black Protest Legal Support UK is a hub of Lawyers and legal advisors providing free legal advice and representation to UK Black Lives Matter activists and protesters.
Show Racism The Red Card is an anti-racism education charity which utilises the high profile of professional footballers as anti-racist role-models to combat racism in society.
The Stephen Lawrence Trust work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds aged 13 to 30 to inspire and enable them to succeed in the career of their choice.
Stop Hate UK tackles hate crime and discrimination by working with local authorities.
Charity So White are a POC led campaign group seeking to tackle institutional racism in the charity sector.
The National Memorial Fund is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody.
The West Yorkshire Racial Justice Network brings together over thirty organisations and individuals from across the region to proactively promote racial justice.
UK Black Pride promotes unity and cooperation among LGBTQ people of diasporic communities in the UK, as well as their friends and families.
Liberty UK help challenge injustice, defend freedom and campaign to make sure everyone in the UK is treated fairly.
Gal-Dem is and online and print publication committed to sharing perspectives from women and non-binary people of colour.
Black Ballad is a UK based lifestyle platform that seeks to tell the human experience through eyes of black British women
Southall Black Sisters aim to highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women, empowering them to gain more control over their lives.
The Black Curriculum is a social enterprise founded in 2019 by young people to address the lack of Black British history in the UK curriculum.
The Runnymede Trust is the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank, working to build a Britain in which all citizens and communities feel valued, enjoy equal opportunities, lead fulfilling lives, and share a common sense of belonging.
Race Equality First aims to provide support, advice, leadership and an influential voice for people who face discrimination, harassment, hate crime and disadvantage.
The Resourcing Racial Justice Fund is a coalition of people of colour (POC) innovators, change makers, activists, artists and social leaders dedicated to social change.
INQUEST combines specialist support for bereaved people following a state related death, with the influence to achieve change in legislation, policy & practice.
Kwanda is a ‘modern day collection pot’, investing in the development of grassroots black communities and initiatives.
Knights of are an independent and inclusive publishing house producing content for young audiences.
Kids Of Colour are a Manchester-based organisation exploring race, identity and culture, and challenging the everyday, institutionalised racism that shapes young people’s lives.
The Amos Bursery is programme that gets black boys into top level education and changes lives in the process.
The United Families & Friends Campaign is a coalition of those affected by deaths in police, prison, immigration and psychiatric custody.
How to show support if you can’t donate?


inews--2020-06-04--Black Lives Matter fist symbol: The meaning and history behind the Black Power raised fist salute

Black Lives Matter fist symbol : The meaning and history behind the Black Power raised fist salute The raised , clenched fist has become a symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement .
The protestors were seen with raised clench fists , a symbol that has become intertwined with the Black Lives Matter movement that has emerged in response to the disproportionate police brutality experienced by people of colour .
What is the history of the black power fist ?
At first it was not exclusively used in relation to people of African descent , but by marginalised groups worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reject discriminatory behaviour .
When the Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale to challenge police brutality against the African American community , the black power fist was repeatedly used as a symbol of black liberation .
In an iconic moment at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics Games , the American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos , who both received medals , each donned a black glove and raised their fists while the national anthem played during the medal ceremony .
Tommie Smith and John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights gesture on the Olympic medal stand in Mexico City ( Photo : AFP via Getty Images ) The United States Olympic Committee said the pair had violated `` the basic standards of good manners and sportsmanship , which are so highly valued in the United States '' , but later Mr Smith declared it a `` human rights salute '' .
In reference to the subversive gesture , Mr Carlos wrote in his book The John Carlos Story : `` Hey , world , the United States is not like you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of colour .
Just because we have USA on our chest does not mean everything is peachy keen and we are living large . ''
Why is it the black lives matter logo ?

Following the horrific murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, protestors worldwide have taken the streets to demand justice.
Protestors in UK cities including London, Liverpool, Cardiff and Manchester have been heard chanting, “I can’t breathe,” the words Mr Floyd was filmed saying as he died while being restrained by a police officer.
Black Lives Matter has said: “We are doing this to place pressure on the American government and show that this is a worldwide issue.”
The protestors were seen with raised clench fists, a symbol that has become intertwined with the Black Lives Matter movement that has emerged in response to the disproportionate police brutality experienced by people of colour.
What is the history of the black power fist?
The raising of a closed fist as symbol of black power has a long history.
At first it was not exclusively used in relation to people of African descent, but by marginalised groups worldwide experiencing any form of oppression, to reject discriminatory behaviour.
The brandished fist was a rebuff of unjust authority and an act of collective resistance.
When the Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale to challenge police brutality against the African American community, the black power fist was repeatedly used as a symbol of black liberation.
Photos and video footage of the Black Panthers saluting each other with raised fists at conventions, meetings and rallies solidified the symbol as synonymous with the fight for black civil rights.
In an iconic moment at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics Games, the American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who both received medals, each donned a black glove and raised their fists while the national anthem played during the medal ceremony.
The United States Olympic Committee said the pair had violated “the basic standards of good manners and sportsmanship, which are so highly valued in the United States”, but later Mr Smith declared it a “human rights salute”.
In reference to the subversive gesture, Mr Carlos wrote in his book The John Carlos Story: “Hey, world, the United States is not like you might think it is for blacks and other people of colour. Just because we have USA on our chest does not mean everything is peachy keen and we are living large.”
Years later, when the anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 – after spending 27 years in jail – he raised a fist in triumph alongside his wife.
The black power fist has also been adopted by allies of the black community, including feminist activist Gloria Steinem and politician Bernie Saunders.
Why is it the black lives matter logo?
The Black Lives Matter movement campaigns against violence and the systemic racism directed towards black people, and was co-founded in the summer of 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.
The raised clenched fist isn’t the only symbol brandished by the movement, but it was adopted following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014.
The unarmed black teenager was shot dead by white police who claimed he was acting in self-defence, and the black power fist was used to represent the “hands up, don’t shoot” pose.
It’s been used ever since both in social media posts and at rallies, as a symbol of resistance and defiance, and was created as an emoji in 2015.


inews--2020-06-04--Paapa Essiedu: 'You might assume because it’s London in 2020, everyone accepts everyone for who they

Paapa Essiedu: 'You might assume because it’s London in 2020, everyone accepts everyone for who they are. We know it’s not like that'

Paapa Essiedu : 'You might assume because it ’ s London in 2020 , everyone accepts everyone for who they are .
We know it ’ s not like that' The actor on why Michaela Coel ’ s new drama series is so vital and why it is important to tell stories which are ignored by the mainstream While Michaela Coel was writing the second series of her Bafta-winning E4 sitcom Chewing Gum , her drink was spiked on a night out and she was sexually assaulted .
Paapa Essiedu was one of the first people she rang in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early episodes of her brilliantly nuanced , distressingly incisive new 12-part drama series , I May Destroy You , Essiedu – playing Kwame , best friend to Coel ’ s Arabella – sits in on a police interview after Arabella has reported a sexual assault in broadly similar circumstances to Coel ’ s .
`` Filming that was a real headf**k , ” says the star , shaking his head .
“ I ’ m thinking : Michaela , you ’ ve been through what you ’ ve been through , then through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve written , and you have to direct and do all the different angles… It exists in this weird place between ultra-fantasy and hyper-reality .
“ I rang her and said : are you sure you want to do this ?
It was only doable because of my relationship with her and her ultra-professionalism .
I ’ m really proud of her making her way through the process.
” Paapa Essiedu with his award for best performance in a play for Hamlet at the UK Theatre Awards at The Guildhall ( Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s something vibrant and unexpected about Kwame , ” says Essiedu .
“ He starts off as this quite free , open , sexual , fun-loving , confident guy .
Then this incredibly traumatic thing happens to him and he ’ s not prepared for it .
The rest of the series is a study in various responses to it – some intense , some unhealthy , some full of love or joy .
It ’ s the morphing nature of trauma – it does so many things to you that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of them , but it ’ s honest to show they won ’ t be the ‘ classic ’ symptoms.
” While Kwame ’ s sexuality is no big deal for his friends , he later fields an approach from a guy , muttering : “ I never really spoke to a brother who was… ” Essiedu says : “ You might assume , because it ’ s London in 2020 , everyone accepts everyone for who they are .
We know it ’ s not like that and so many different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , age , culture , community .
Kwame certainly feels way more comfortable in certain circles than others.
” The sex scenes were shot with the assistance of Ita O ’ Brien , intimacy co-ordinator on Normal People and Sex Education .
“ She ’ ll overrule anyone to protect you , ” Essiedu says .
“ This show asks challenging questions about consent across the full spectrum of orientations , genders and sexual preferences , so we need to be sure what we ’ re consenting to as well.
” The focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while high , while on a period – ensures that few of the many explicit encounters end in the way you might assume at the outset .
Each one demands that the viewer musters their own interpretation of what happened .
It will probably present a challenge to BBC1 ’ s traditional audience – all the more reason , argues Essiedu , for them to show it .
Essiedu and Coel go all the way back to Guildhall School of Music and Drama .
“ On audition day , everyone was talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Essiedu .
“ When I met her , we screamed and chatted all the way to the Tube .
We had an immediate connection.
” I owe a huge amount to Guildhall , but its response to the changing world around it wasn ’ t anywhere near rapid enough .
It wasn ’ t reflected in the syllabus , the teaching staff or the projects we worked on : there ’ s something internally confusing about doing a Restoration play in the Georgian wigs of white men .
“ But I know drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessible to people of different experiences , as well as reflecting on what happens when they get there .
I applaud it , while challenging it to happen at a faster rate.
” “ I was at the National Youth Theatre , hanging out with people interested in these things called plays that were really new to me .
My mum had seen me in a school play and thought I was good and was like , ‘ I guess you can do it , but make sure you do it properly.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turbocharged in 2014 when he stepped into the role of Edmund in Sam Mendes ’ s King Lear after Sam Troughton lost his voice mid-performance .
“ I ’ d never understudied before and , as the show was on , I was getting fitted for my costume in a cupboard next to the stage , ” he recalls .

While Michaela Coel was writing the second series of her Bafta-winning E4 sitcom Chewing Gum, her drink was spiked on a night out and she was sexually assaulted. Paapa Essiedu was one of the first people she rang in the immediate aftermath. In one of the early episodes of her brilliantly nuanced, distressingly incisive new 12-part drama series, I May Destroy You, Essiedu – playing Kwame, best friend to Coel’s Arabella – sits in on a police interview after Arabella has reported a sexual assault in broadly similar circumstances to Coel’s.
“Filming that was a real headf**k,” says the star, shaking his head. “I’m thinking: Michaela, you’ve been through what you’ve been through, then through writing it, then acting what you’ve written, and you have to direct and do all the different angles… It exists in this weird place between ultra-fantasy and hyper-reality.
“I rang her and said: are you sure you want to do this? It was only doable because of my relationship with her and her ultra-professionalism. I’m really proud of her making her way through the process.”
Essiedu, 29, is smart and drily funny company, bearded, beanie-hatted and eating porridge as he talks on Zoom from his partner’s flat in London.
His performance as Kwame hums with amiable, taciturn mystery until a Grindr hook-up goes horribly wrong.
“There’s something vibrant and unexpected about Kwame,” says Essiedu. “He starts off as this quite free, open, sexual, fun-loving, confident guy. Then this incredibly traumatic thing happens to him and he’s not prepared for it. The rest of the series is a study in various responses to it – some intense, some unhealthy, some full of love or joy. It’s the morphing nature of trauma – it does so many things to you that you can’t prepare yourself for all of them, but it’s honest to show they won’t be the ‘classic’ symptoms.”
If its depictions of trauma are unflinchingly authentic, its portrayal of millennial, multicultural, multisexual London feels equally so. Kwame, Arabella and their friend Terry (Weruche Opia) lead lives of partying, drugs and casual sex, racism experienced through micro-aggressions rather than overt abuse.
While Kwame’s sexuality is no big deal for his friends, he later fields an approach from a guy, muttering: “I never really spoke to a brother who was…” Essiedu says: “You might assume, because it’s London in 2020, everyone accepts everyone for who they are. We know it’s not like that and so many different factors affect that: family, race, age, culture, community. Kwame certainly feels way more comfortable in certain circles than others.”
The sex scenes were shot with the assistance of Ita O’Brien, intimacy co-ordinator on Normal People and Sex Education. “She’ll overrule anyone to protect you,” Essiedu says. “This show asks challenging questions about consent across the full spectrum of orientations, genders and sexual preferences, so we need to be sure what we’re consenting to as well.”
‘There’s something vibrant and unexpected about Kwame. He starts off as this quite free, open, sexual, fun-loving, confident guy. Then this incredibly traumatic thing happens to him’
The focus on sexual consent – without a condom, while high, while on a period – ensures that few of the many explicit encounters end in the way you might assume at the outset. Each one demands that the viewer musters their own interpretation of what happened. It will probably present a challenge to BBC1’s traditional audience – all the more reason, argues Essiedu, for them to show it.
“People will relate to and recognise themselves in swathes of the story. Michaela’s so great at getting across simple, universal situations that are ignored by the mainstream. It’s vital people have conversations off the back of it.”
Essiedu and Coel go all the way back to Guildhall School of Music and Drama. “I remember on audition day everyone was talking about this girl ‘Michaela’,” says Essiedu. “When I met her we screamed at each other and chatted all the way to the tube. We had an immediate connection.”
When I interviewed Coel several years ago, she referred to Guildhall as “a bit like the school for Downton Abbey’s next stars”. Essiedu guffaws long and hard in recognition. “That’s bang on, at least when we were there 10 years ago.
I owe a huge amount to Guildhall, but its response to the changing world around it wasn’t anywhere near rapid enough. It wasn’t reflected in the syllabus, the teaching staff or the projects we worked on: there’s something internally confusing about doing a Restoration play in the Georgian wigs of white men.
“But I know drama schools are making steps to become more accessible to people of different experiences, as well as reflecting on what happens when they get there. I applaud it, while challenging it to happen at a faster rate.”
Essiedu was raised in Walthamstow, north-east London, by his mother, a fashion and design teacher, earning a scholarship to an independent school and rejecting the offer to study medicine at UCL in favour of a place at Guildhall after falling in love with performance during a gap year.
“I was at the National Youth Theatre, hanging out with people interested in these things called plays that were really new to me at the time. It allowed me to think maybe that was something I could do. My mum had seen me in a school play and thought I was good in that and was like, I guess you can do it, but make sure you do it properly. I was lucky she came on the night she did!”
And, indeed, thrived. An award-winning Hamlet followed in 2016 (the production is currently available on iPlayer) and he shone among a starry ensemble for Jamie Lloyd’s series of Pinter plays in 2018. Essiedu’s television appearances have been more sparing, although it’s probably no coincidence that he has often worked with playwrights there too – Mike Bartlett (Press), Jack Thorne (Kiri), Dennis Kelly (Utopia) – before most recently hooking up with the viscerally cinematic talents of Gareth Evans in berserk action-thriller Gangs of London. At the end of it – spoiler alert – Essiedu’s gun-shy numbers man Alex was one of the few still standing. “I was as delighted as anybody by that,” he chuckles. “I know they’ve got loose plans for series two, but nothing set in stone. I am lobbying for an M-16 for Alex though, put it that way.”
Essiedu has been staying sane with running, yoga and writing (“everyone’s writing their coronavirus comedy so I’ll stay away from that”), trying not to be intimidated by recent company. “We work so hard on one well-crafted sentence, Michaela just makes up brilliant lines on the spot…”
I May Destroy You begins on Monday at 10.45pm on BBC1


inews--2020-06-04--UK coronavirus response: The Government keeps fighting losing battles during the Covid-19 pandemic

UK coronavirus response : The Government keeps fighting losing battles during the Covid-19 pandemic Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to be fighting fire after fire instead of implementing a well-laid strategy There has been a sense during the Covid-19 crisis that Downing Street has been reacting to events rather than anticipating them .
From the outside , the strategy from No10 appears to be one of fighting fire after fire instead of implementing a well-laid strategy .
This week has seen the Government pitched in two seemingly avoidable battles with its own side .
The first was its plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs returning to Westminster , despite concerns over the potential for members and Commons staff to become infected .
It initially led to farcical scenes with MPs forced to queue for hours in a snaking , theme park ride-esque line to cast their vote , infuriating members and excluding others .
It has subsequently taken on a far more serious tone following the news that Business Secretary Alok Sharma has fallen ill with suspected Covid-19 , potentially sparking a fresh outbreak of the disease on the estate .
Ministers have also been forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK for two weeks to avoid further spreading the disease .
The move has been attacked by senior Tories , the travel and tourist industry and even the Government ’ s own scientists as making `` no sense '' .
Already , Boris Johnson has had to give ground on the Parliamentary voting system , and it would be unwise to rule out further concessions in light of Mr Sharma ’ s predicament .
And ministers have also been backing away from their own quarantine plans before they have been introduced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pipeline ready to replace them in three weeks time .
It poses the question as to why Downing Street continues to pick scraps it knows it will lose and why it is upsetting its own backbenchers at a time when morale and support for the Government is at a major low ?
MPs have been forced to queue for hours in a snaking , theme park ride-esque line to cast their vote , infuriating members and excluding others ( Photo : PA ) No doubt , No10 will believe the battles are worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Polling by YouGov this week showed that 63 per cent of the public backed quarantine measures , although whether support remains once it becomes clear it could impact their summer holidays is yet to be seen .
But there is no such backing for the return of MPs to Parliament , with YouGov polling showing 76 per cent of the public believing remote voting should remain until the end of the pandemic .
Indeed , public approval for the Government ’ s handling of the crisis has plummeted in recent weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is handling the outbreak badly , up 5 percentage points , while 41 per cent believe it is doing a good job , down 4 points .
Overall , the reputation of the Conservatives has taken a “ battering ” , according to the polling company , with a 17 point drop in people believing the party was “ strong ” .
The gap between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer as to who would make the best PM is now just 5 percentage points .
Much of the fall in approval ratings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decision to back his senior advisor Dominic Cummings after he bent the lockdown rules .
It cost the Prime Minister precious political capital but he clearly believed it was worth it to keep his right hand man .
Onlookers have suggested it is due to Downing Street being run by key Vote Leave figures , whose experience lies in campaigning rather than building consensus , and whose style is not suited for a crisis such as this .

There has been a sense during the Covid-19 crisis that Downing Street has been reacting to events rather than anticipating them. From the outside, the strategy from No10 appears to be one of fighting fire after fire instead of implementing a well-laid strategy.
This week has seen the Government pitched in two seemingly avoidable battles with its own side. The first was its plan to scrap the virtual Parliament and insist on MPs returning to Westminster, despite concerns over the potential for members and Commons staff to become infected.
It initially led to farcical scenes with MPs forced to queue for hours in a snaking, theme park ride-esque line to cast their vote, infuriating members and excluding others. It has subsequently taken on a far more serious tone following the news that Business Secretary Alok Sharma has fallen ill with suspected Covid-19, potentially sparking a fresh outbreak of the disease on the estate.
Defensive positions
Ministers have also been forced to defend plans to quarantine arrivals into the UK for two weeks to avoid further spreading the disease. The move has been attacked by senior Tories, the travel and tourist industry and even the Government’s own scientists as making “no sense”.
Already, Boris Johnson has had to give ground on the Parliamentary voting system, and it would be unwise to rule out further concessions in light of Mr Sharma’s predicament.
And ministers have also been backing away from their own quarantine plans before they have been introduced, with suggestions that alternatives are in the pipeline ready to replace them in three weeks time.
It poses the question as to why Downing Street continues to pick scraps it knows it will lose and why it is upsetting its own backbenchers at a time when morale and support for the Government is at a major low?
No doubt, No10 will believe the battles are worth it if the public backs its policies. Polling by YouGov this week showed that 63 per cent of the public backed quarantine measures, although whether support remains once it becomes clear it could impact their summer holidays is yet to be seen.
But there is no such backing for the return of MPs to Parliament, with YouGov polling showing 76 per cent of the public believing remote voting should remain until the end of the pandemic.
Indeed, public approval for the Government’s handling of the crisis has plummeted in recent weeks, with 56 per cent of people saying it is handling the outbreak badly, up 5 percentage points, while 41 per cent believe it is doing a good job, down 4 points.
Overall, the reputation of the Conservatives has taken a “battering”, according to the polling company, with a 17 point drop in people believing the party was “strong”. The gap between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer as to who would make the best PM is now just 5 percentage points.
A war on all fronts
Much of the fall in approval ratings can be explained in Mr Johnson’s decision to back his senior advisor Dominic Cummings after he bent the lockdown rules. It cost the Prime Minister precious political capital but he clearly believed it was worth it to keep his right hand man.
Quite why he is continuing to wage war with those he will later rely on for support remains unclear.
Onlookers have suggested it is due to Downing Street being run by key Vote Leave figures, whose experience lies in campaigning rather than building consensus, and whose style is not suited for a crisis such as this.
Something is likely to give, however. Mr Johnson will surely find he cannot keep fighting a war on all fronts.


inews--2020-06-04--Rudy Giuliani: Piers Morgan brands Donald Trump lawyer 'deranged' during bitter row on Good Morning

Rudy Giuliani: Piers Morgan brands Donald Trump lawyer 'deranged' during bitter row on Good Morning Britain

The pair traded blows over the President 's handling of widespread protests taking place across the US over the death of George Floyd The pair traded blows over the President 's handling of widespread protests taking place across the US over the death of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Former police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder after videos emerged of him kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd for over eight minutes .
Mr Floyd was recorded saying `` I ca n't breath . ''
The three other former officers involved in the killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second degree murder .
Mr Morgan , previously a supporter of the US President , sparred with Mr Giuliani over Mr Trump 's use of the phrase `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts '' - a racially loaded term attributed to Walter E. Headley , a Miami police chief , during the civil rights movement in the 1960s .
Mr Giuliani , who was Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001 , defended Mr Trump 's response claiming that he was simply warning about the risk of violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , it became increasingly personal .
Mr Morgan told the lawer : `` You sound completely barking mad .
Do you know that ? ''
The lawyer then brought up Mr Morgan 's brief stint on US television , telling him , `` You 're the one who got thrown off the television here because you had ratings of about two .
So do n't tell me I 've lost anything . ''
Mr Morgan then appeared to say , `` I remember how you fucked up , '' and added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff .
I know who you are . ''
'Everyone in America knows you 're a failed journalist' As the presenter apologised for the language the lawyer said : `` You are helping to create violence in this country the way you 're covering this . ''
Mr Morgan said : `` When I used to interview you , you were an intelligent , reasonable , man , and you 've gone completely mad and you sound deranged .
You 're abusive and it 's really sad to see what 's happened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was really sad to see the way your career imploded in the United States , Piers .
Yeah .
If you think I have any respect for you after this , well maybe you do n't care , but everyone in America knows you 're a failed journalist . ''
Mr Morgan hit back : `` Really ?
You know what Rudy , I had the stomach to stand up and say that your gun culture is completely out of control and unacceptable .
And people like you kept telling me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitled to shoot each other all day long ' .
I stand by what I did . ''
Mr Giuliani said : `` Do n't talk to me about your stupid comment .
I did n't quote that .
I was nice enough to keep my mouth shut about it because I liked you . ''
The presenter said : `` Yeah , well , you know what , you 've come on here .
You 've been rude and abusive .
You sound unhinged .
You 've been using profanity .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rudy . ''

A bitter row erupted between Rudy Giuliani and Piers Morgan live on air on Thursday, leading to the Good Morning Britain presenter branding Donald Trump‘s personal lawyer “deranged”.
The pair traded blows over the President’s handling of widespread protests taking place across the US over the death of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Former police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder after videos emerged of him kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd for over eight minutes. Mr Floyd was recorded saying “I can’t breath.” The three other former officers involved in the killing have since beencharged with aiding and abetting second degree murder.
Mr Morgan, previously a supporter of the US President, sparred with Mr Giuliani over Mr Trump’s use of the phrase “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” – a racially loaded term attributed to Walter E. Headley, a Miami police chief, during the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
Mr Giuliani, who was Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, defended Mr Trump’s response claiming that he was simply warning about the risk of violence.
‘You sound completely barking mad’
But as the fiery interview wound down, it became increasingly personal. Mr Morgan told the lawer: “You sound completely barking mad. Do you know that?”
Mr Giuliani replied: “No, I don’t.” Mr Morgan told him: “You’ve lost the plot and it’s sad to see.”
The lawyer then brought up Mr Morgan’s brief stint on US television, telling him, “You’re the one who got thrown off the television here because you had ratings of about two. So don’t tell me I’ve lost anything.”
“You keep going Rudy,” the presenter said.
Mr Giuliani continued: “I know what happened to your show Piers. Yeah. And I remember the mistakes you made.”
Mr Morgan then appeared to say, “I remember how you fucked up,” and added: “Don’t give me that that stuff. I know who you are.”
‘Everyone in America knows you’re a failed journalist’
As the presenter apologised for the language the lawyer said: “You are helping to create violence in this country the way you’re covering this.”
Mr Morgan said: “When I used to interview you, you were an intelligent, reasonable, man, and you’ve gone completely mad and you sound deranged. You’re abusive and it’s really sad to see what’s happened to you.”
He replied: “It was really sad to see the way your career imploded in the United States, Piers. Yeah. If you think I have any respect for you after this, well maybe you don’t care, but everyone in America knows you’re a failed journalist.”
Mr Morgan hit back: “Really? You know what Rudy, I had the stomach to stand up and say that your gun culture is completely out of control and unacceptable. And people like you kept telling me, ‘Don’t be ridiculous – we’re entitled to shoot each other all day long’. I stand by what I did.”
Mr Giuliani said: “Don’t talk to me about your stupid comment. I didn’t quote that. I was nice enough to keep my mouth shut about it because I liked you.”
The presenter said: “Yeah, well, you know what, you’ve come on here. You’ve been rude and abusive. You sound unhinged. You’ve been using profanity. And you were somebody I used to admire, Rudy.”


inews--2020-06-04--What is the current Covid alert level? Why England is at stage 4 still, despite coronavirus lockdown

What is the current Covid alert level? Why England is at stage 4 still, despite coronavirus lockdown measures easing

What is the current Covid alert level ?
Why England is at stage 4 still , despite coronavirus lockdown measures easing England 's chief medical officer Chris Whitty has vetoed the Government 's wish for the Covid-19 alert level to be lowered to level three This week lockdown measures in the UK have been eased , with measures including the reopening of schools for pupils in years Reception , Year 1 and Year 6 , and people being able allowed to gather outdoors in parks and private gardens in socially-distanced groups of six .
Outdoor retail and car showrooms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can reopen on 15 June providing they are “ Covid-secure ” .
The Government has also raised the prospect of the limited reopening of the hospitality sector in July .
However , the official Covid alert level , which the public was told would determine how and when lockdown could be eased has not changed and remains at the severe level of four , just one rung below the maximum , critical level of five .
The ‘ alert system ’ will rank the threat level of coronavirus on a scale of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) What is the UK 's current coronavirus alert level ?
Why the UK is still at level 4 despite lockdown rules easing It was expected that with the easing of lockdown measures - including schools reopening and people being allowed to meet in groups of six outside - the five-point alert system would have been reduced from four to three , from coronavirus transmission being `` high or rising exponentially '' to just `` in general circulation '' .
Previously , in his nationwide address on 10 May , Prime Minister Boris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level three , and lockdown measures would be able to be introduced as we moved further down the alert system .

This week lockdown measures in the UK have been eased, with measures including the reopening of schools for pupils in years Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, and people being able allowed to gather outdoors in parks and private gardens in socially-distanced groups of six.
Outdoor retail and car showrooms are now open, and other non-essential shops can reopen on 15 June providing they are “Covid-secure”. The Government has also raised the prospect of the limited reopening of the hospitality sector in July.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson has said the gradual changes made to lockdown measures have been “guided by the scientific and medical advice”.
However, the official Covid alert level, which the public was told would determine how and when lockdown could be eased has not changed and remains at the severe level of four, just one rung below the maximum, critical level of five.
What is the UK’s current coronavirus alert level?
Despite this week’s easing of certain lockdown restrictions, England’s official coronavirus alert level still remains at four.
This assessment was made by the chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty, guided by data provided by the Government’s new Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC).
The UK’s government Covid-19 recovery strategy, published last month, stated: “The JBC will be responsible for setting the new Covid-19 alert level to communicate the current level of risk clearly to the public.”
The Covid Alert System ranks the threat level of the virus on a scale of one (green) to five (red), with social distancing measures becoming tougher the higher the threat level is.
According to the system, level four is severe, meaning the NHS is stretched but is coping.
Level three is substantial, with the virus in general circulation and the NHS operating at extra capacity; some restrictions need to remain in place and other measures can be relaxed.
Why the UK is still at level 4 despite lockdown rules easing
It was expected that with the easing of lockdown measures – including schools reopening and people being allowed to meet in groups of six outside – the five-point alert system would have been reduced from four to three, from coronavirus transmission being “high or rising exponentially” to just “in general circulation”.
However, the level has stayed the same.
Previously, in his nationwide address on 10 May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is moving towards level three, and lockdown measures would be able to be introduced as we moved further down the alert system.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said: “In terms of the setting of the alert level, it’s ultimately for the chief medical officers, who are informed by the data which has been collected, collated and analysed by the JBC.”
They added: “With the decisions in terms of the easements we made yesterday, I’ll stress again how cautious they were, and how we’re moving forwards at a very gradual rate.
“Secondly, they were based upon us meeting the five tests, and that is what we are currently doing.”
After being hospitalised with coronavirus himself, Mr Johnson said he would not risk a second peak in the disease by relaxing restrictions too quickly.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own chief medical officers – and the easing of lockdown measures vary across all the nations, with further measures set to be introduced if infection levels do not increase.


inews--2020-06-04--When is the next lockdown review? Date UK Government will assess coronavirus rules - and what the ne

When is the next lockdown review? Date UK Government will assess coronavirus rules - and what the next phase will mean

When is the next lockdown review ?
Date UK Government will assess coronavirus rules - and what the next phase @ @ @ @ @ extended the time between lockdown reviews to four weeks instead of three What changes were @ @ @ @ @ A classroom rearranged to provide a teaching environment safe from coronavirus for pupils and teachers @ @ @ @ @ at Kentish Town , north London ( Photo : Isabel Infantes/AFP ) What are the @ @ @ @ @ measures ?
What are the next phases in easing lockdown ?
The government has already @ @ @ @ @ on public transport ( Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images ) What happens if the number @ @ @ @ @ will change at the next government review on 25 June ?

The Government has extended the time between lockdown reviews to four weeks instead of three, under new plans announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Tuesday, increasing the length of time current measures will be in place.
A new maximum review period of 28 rather than 21 days means the next review will take place on 25 June, a month after the last review on 28 May.
In a written statement to MPs, Matt Hancock said the extended time frame will allow decisions to align more closely with the period of time necessary to assess the impact of previous changes on key data feeds, including the R rate.
“The Government will also keep all the measures under continual review and will account to Parliament on an ongoing basis,” Mr Hancock said.
What changes were made on 28 May?
Since Monday 1 June, people are allowed to gather outdoors in parks and private gardens in groups of six, as long as they maintain social distance and keep two metres apart.
The changes in England also permit people unlimited amounts of exercise, sunbathing in local parks, outdoor picnics and driving to other destinations for day trips. People from different households are permitted to meet in a public place, providing a two-metre distance is maintained.
The new guidance only applies in England as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are adopting their own approach to the next phase of lockdown.
In England, people are still required to work from home where possible, while school children in years other than Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 must stay at home. Pubs and restaurants are still closed.
The changes are the first part in the Government’s three-phase plan, launched in a 50-page document released by the Government on May 11.
What are the five tests for easing lockdown measures?
On 16 April the Government presented five tests that the UK must pass before lockdown measures can be eased.
The five tests:
Protect the NHS’s ability to cope and to provide sufficient critical care and specialist treatment right across the UK.
See a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates from Covid-19 so it can be certain that it has moved beyond the peak.
Obtain reliable data from Sage showing that the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels across the board.
Be confident that the range of operational challenges, including testing capacity and PPE, are in hand, with supply able to meet future demand.
Be confident that any adjustments to the current measures will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelms the NHS.
What are the next phases in easing lockdown?
Once the Government can be sure that the UK has passed the five tests, it will move through two further phases.
Phase two is called “smarter controls” and involves replacing existing social restrictions with measures that mitigate the effect on the health system and the economy.
The Government has said it will develop these measures in periodic “steps” over the coming weeks and months.
Throughout this time, those who are showing symptoms, however mild, must continue to self-isolate at home, the Government says.
Phase three, “reliable treatment” concerns the search for a vaccine. The Government says it is investing in research, developing international partnerships and putting in place the infrastructure to manufacture and distribute a vaccine at scale to “bring about this phase as quickly as possible”.
What happens if the number of infections increases?
The Government’s strategy to relax social restrictions relies on maintaining the epidemic at a manageable level.
Maintaining progress on the epidemic is expected to be particularly challenging during the winter months, given the fact that coronavirus shares many symptoms with common colds and the flu.
To monitor spikes in infections, the Government has established a Joint Biosecurity Centre as an independent body providing real time analysis and assessment of infection outbreaks.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre will be responsible for setting a Covid-19 alert to communicate the current level of risk to the public.
The new five-point alert system will rank the threat level of the virus on a scale of one (green) to five (red), with social distancing measures becoming tougher the higher the threat level is.
The threat level will be adjusted accordingly based on medical and scientific data, with experts analysing data from hospitals and a new smartphone tracking app to inform an accurate picture of infection rates.
The alert levels:
Level five – Critical: This level would require a strict lockdown and means the virus is spreading fast, and could overwhelm the NHS.
This level would require a strict lockdown and means the virus is spreading fast, and could overwhelm the NHS. Level four – Severe: This is the level the UK is currently at and means the NHS is stretched but is coping.
This is the level the UK is currently at and means the NHS is stretched but is coping. Level three – Substantial: This means the virus is in general circulation and the NHS is operating at extra capacity. Some restrictions will need to remain in place, but it will be safe to relax some measures.
This means the virus is in general circulation and the NHS is operating at extra capacity. Some restrictions will need to remain in place, but it will be safe to relax some measures. Level two – Moderate: This means there is a low level of virus transmission and the NHS is operating normally. Schools and businesses should be able to open, subject to social distancing measures.
This means there is a low level of virus transmission and the NHS is operating normally. Schools and businesses should be able to open, subject to social distancing measures. Level one – Low: This means the virus is no longer present in the UK. No behavioural restrictions will be needed, and public and private sectors will be able to operate normally.
What will change at the next government review on 25 June?
The next review will first consider the effects of the changes made at the last review and decide if the alert level is low enough to make further changes.
However in the Government’s “roadmap to recovery”, the ambition at step three is to open at least some of the remaining businesses and premises that have been required to close.
The Government has assumed that step three will happen no earlier than 4 July.
That means that many businesses and other spaces will stay closed until at least 4 July, including:
Hairdressers, beauty salons and other personal care businesses
Pubs and accommodation and other hospitality businesses
Places of worship and other public places
Cinemas and other leisure facilities
We still do not know when lockdown measures will be lifted entirely.


inews--2020-06-04--When is Pride Month 2020? How LGBTQ celebration is marked in the UK, and the meaning behind it

When is Pride Month 2020 ?
How LGBTQ celebration is marked in the UK , and the meaning behind it Obviously , with the planet under the grip of the coronavirus breakout , public gatherings are a no-go this year But what is Pride ?
And how are the celebrations begin affected by Covid-19 this year ?
Every year , during the month of June - chosen because that is when the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969 - the LGBT+ community celebrates Pride in a number of different ways .
Various events are held across the globe during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence LGBT+ people have had throughout history .
As well as being a month-long celebration packed with events , Pride is an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of current issues facing the LGBT+ community and beyond .
How will it be celebrated in 2020 ?
Parades are a prominent feature of Pride month , and there are many street parties , community events , poetry readings , public speaking , street festivals and educational sessions , all of which are covered by mainstream media and attract millions of participants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own parades in places like London and Manchester , although these have understandably been cancelled this year .
Obviously , with the planet under the grip of the coronavirus pandemic , public gatherings are a no-go this year , and so many events have moved online .
People ride a tube escalator decorated with the Pride flag in London ( Photo : Getty ) Despite technically occurring in June , this year 's most prominent Pride events wo n't be kicking off until the end of the month , and will take place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be joining forces with UK Black Pride , Stonewall and ParaPride to bring this year ’ s Pride celebrations completely online .
Dubbed Pride Inside , the virtual celebration will see artists , musicians , comedians , DJs and activists come together for a series of performances , talks and workshops honouring the LGBT+ community .
“ COVID-19 won ’ t stop us celebrating LGBT+ rights .
This year , Pride will be inside – in our homes and in our hearts , ” said Sen Raj , Amnesty International ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Around the world , the pandemic is having a disproportionate effect on LGBTI+ people who have been historically discriminated against in their access to healthcare , housing and employment . ''
Who will be involved ?
“ That ’ s why this year , it ’ s more important than ever that LGBTI+ people and their allies have a chance to come together , celebrate how far we ’ ve come as a movement and support each other where we still have further to go , '' added Raj .

The month of June sees Pride Month take place across the globe.
But what is Pride? And how are the celebrations begin affected by Covid-19 this year?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Pride?
Every year, during the month of June – chosen because that is when the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969 – the LGBT+ community celebrates Pride in a number of different ways.
Various events are held across the globe during the month as a way of recognising the influence LGBT+ people have had throughout history.
As well as being a month-long celebration packed with events, Pride is an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of current issues facing the LGBT+ community and beyond.
How will it be celebrated in 2020?
Parades are a prominent feature of Pride month, and there are many street parties, community events, poetry readings, public speaking, street festivals and educational sessions, all of which are covered by mainstream media and attract millions of participants.
Usually, major UK cities hold their own parades in places like London and Manchester, although these have understandably been cancelled this year.
Obviously, with the planet under the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, public gatherings are a no-go this year, and so many events have moved online.
What’s happening this year?
Despite technically occurring in June, this year’s most prominent Pride events won’t be kicking off until the end of the month, and will take place primarily online.
Amnesty International announced that it would be joining forces with UK Black Pride, Stonewall and ParaPride to bring this year’s Pride celebrations completely online.
Dubbed Pride Inside, the virtual celebration will see artists, musicians, comedians, DJs and activists come together for a series of performances, talks and workshops honouring the LGBT+ community.
“COVID-19 won’t stop us celebrating LGBT+ rights. This year, Pride will be inside – in our homes and in our hearts,” said Sen Raj, Amnesty International’s Rainbow Network committee member.
“Around the world, the pandemic is having a disproportionate effect on LGBTI+ people who have been historically discriminated against in their access to healthcare, housing and employment.”
The events will begin on Sunday 28 June and run until Sunday 5 July.
Who will be involved?
“That’s why this year, it’s more important than ever that LGBTI+ people and their allies have a chance to come together, celebrate how far we’ve come as a movement and support each other where we still have further to go,” added Raj.
“We invite all friends and allies to join us for Pride Inside to show that we’ll always be proud – no matter what, no matter where.”
The lineup for Pride Inside will be announced in the near future.


inews--2020-06-04--What is martial law? Donald Trump hasn't declared it over George Floyd protests - but here's when it

What is martial law? Donald Trump hasn't declared it over George Floyd protests - but here's when it has been used in US history

What is martial law ?
Donald Trump has n't declared it over George Floyd protests - but here 's when it has been used in US history Normally military troops are forbidden by law to become involved in law enforcement , but Donald Trump is threatening to send in the army The act permits the president to send active-duty troops to the streets of cities during protests to be used for domestic law enforcement , and it contains multiple sections , with the first two being the most significant .
The first involves federal `` aid '' for state governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a governor ( or a state legislature if the governor is unavailable ) , the president can send `` land or naval forces of the U.S. '' ... `` to suppress [ an ] insurrection '' or rebellion .
When has martial law been used in US history ?
Police block a street from protesters during a demonstration in the aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death , after nearby shops were ransacked , in Santa Monica , California ( Photo : Getty ) In the 20th Century , it was also enacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Martin Luther King Jr in 1968 , and in 1957 President Eisenhower sent troops to help integrate the Little Rock Nine - a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School .
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , Congress amended the law to give further clarity on its use during natural disasters .
The changes were dropped a year later following objections by state governors who did not want to surrender their authority .
What has Donald Trump said about the US protests ?

Donald Trump threatened to use military force to quash heated protests in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis if state governors do not stamp out the violent uprisings.
Thousands of people have been arrested as protests against police brutality continue across the United States, but Mr Trump derided the nation’s governors as “weak” and demanded tougher action.
The protests started after videos emerged of Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, pleading for air while a police officer pressed a knee on his neck for almost nine minutes, causing him to die of asphyxia.
Derek Chauvin, the officer seen kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck, was charged on Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but Mr Floyd’s brother Philonise and others are calling for the additional three police officers involved to also be arrested and convicted.
With Mr Trump threatening to send in the army to end unrest, what exactly is martial law, how would it be implemented and when has it previously been used?
What is martial law?
Normally military troops are forbidden by law to become involved in law enforcement in the US.
The Posse Comitatus Act, signed on 18 June, 1878, by President Rutherford B. Hayes, bars federal troops from participating in domestic law enforcement activities such as arrests and detentions.
However, there are some exceptions. Mr Trump’s threat could see him enact the Insurrection Act of 1807, which was signed into law by Thomas Jefferson.
The act permits the president to send active-duty troops to the streets of cities during protests to be used for domestic law enforcement, and it contains multiple sections, with the first two being the most significant.
The first involves federal “aid” for state governments. It states at the request of a governor (or a state legislature if the governor is unavailable), the president can send “land or naval forces of the U.S.” … “to suppress [an] insurrection” or rebellion.
According to the second section, the president may also deploy troops without a state’s request in the events of “unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of the United States.”
Martial law could see people’s civil rights suspended, curfews enacted, search and seizure carried out without warrant, or a military tribunal for those who defy the rules.
It’s also likely there would be heavy travel restrictions, with road closures and quarantine zones.
When has martial law been used in US history?
The Insurrection Act was last invoked in 1992 during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, which followed the acquittal of four white police officers who beat Rodney King.
Martial law was first used by General Andrew Jackson in New Orleans during the War of 1812, between the United Kingdom and United States.
In the 20th Century, it was also enacted to restore order following the killing of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, and in 1957 President Eisenhower sent troops to help integrate the Little Rock Nine – a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School.
President Lincoln used martial law during the civil war specifically to control “rebels and insurgents”, and it was also imposed in Boston and in Virginia during the American Revolution, from 1775 – 1783.
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress amended the law to give further clarity on its use during natural disasters. The changes were dropped a year later following objections by state governors who did not want to surrender their authority.
What has Donald Trump said about the US protests?
Mr Trump hasn’t declared martial law yet, but he does brand himself a “wartime president”.
Yesterday he said he planned to deploy “thousands and thousands” of United States soldiers with the National Guard and other branches of the armed forces to “dominate the streets” until protests subside.
In remarks made from the White House Rose Garden, Mr Trump said: “If the city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residence, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.
“As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the wanton destruction of property.”
However in March, when Mr Trump activated the National Guard in three states, Defense Secretary Mark Esper insisted: “this is not a move toward martial law as some have claimed.”


inews--2020-06-04--What is an 'air bridge'? Meaning behind the UK travel qurantine plan - and countries which could be

What is an 'air bridge'? Meaning behind the UK travel qurantine plan - and countries which could be exempt

What is an 'air bridge ' ?
Meaning behind the UK travel qurantine plan - and countries which could be exempt A new scheme could allow Brits to travel to and from countries with a low coronavirus infection rate without going into quarantine Brits hoping for a summer holiday abroad have been given some hope in the form of `` air bridges '' .
A new scheme could allow people in the UK to travel to countries with a low coronavirus infection rate without going into quarantine upon their return .
The proposal , put forward by senior Tory MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers and officials , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said .
What is an air bridge ?
An air bridge is essentially a route between two countries where the Covid-19 outbreak is under control .
It would allow people to travel freely between Britain and a list of approved countries without having to go into a mandatory quarantine on either end .
Under current plans , anyone arriving into Britain from 8 June must self-isolate for 14 days , a measure which is putting many off going abroad .
But if the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government could make agreements with countries with low R numbers - the average amount of people someone with the virus infects - to make exemptions .
The Government is planning to ease some quarantine restrictions in three weeks ' time , in order to aid economic recovery .
Ministers will use a five-point assessment to decide which countries will be prioritised for possible air-bridge agreements .
Which countries might be included ?
Britain ’ s airlines have sent ministers a list of the 45 nations that they want to be exempt from quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be a possibility this summer ( Photo : Getty ) The USA , Canada , Mexico , the Bahamas , Antigua , Barbados , the Dominican Republic , Jamaica and St Lucia are all included , as are Israel , Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong .
Notable exemptions from the list include Belgium , where the R rate is currently very high , Iceland , Ukraine , Russia , South Africa , Kenya , Ghana , Nigeria , the United Arab Emirates , China , Thailand , Malaysia and Singapore The number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has now risen over 39,000 , and government advisor Jonathan Van-Tam said last month that we may have to live with the virus for `` several years '' .

Brits hoping for a summer holiday abroad have been given some hope in the form of “air bridges”.
A new scheme will allow people in the UK to travel to countries with a low coronavirus infection rate without going into quarantine upon their return.
The proposal, put forward by senior Tory MP Huw Merriman, was backed by Transport Minister Grant Schapps, and could come into force as early as 6 July.
What is an air bridge?
An air bridge is essentially a route between two countries where the Covid-19 outbreak is under control.
It would allow people to travel freely between Britain and a list of approved countries without having to go into a mandatory quarantine on either end.
Under current plans, anyone arriving into Britain from 8 June must self-isolate for 14 days, a measure which is putting many off going abroad.
But air bridges would allow the UK Government to make agreements with countries with low R numbers – the average amount of people someone with the virus infects – to make exemptions.
The Government is planning to ease some quarantine restrictions in July, in order to aid economic recovery.
Ministers were thought to be using a five-point assessment to decide which countries will be prioritised for possible air-bridge agreements.
The criteria will include:
The economic importance of the country to the UK
The number of passengers and amount of trade
The Covid-19 “risk picture” and the health screening requirements in place at airports for passengers coming to Britain.
A country’s Covid-19 controls
Ensuring the R rate of infection in a country is low
Which countries might be included?
Around 60 countries are set to be made exempt from quarantine, a dramatic shift in policy from earlier plans, which suggested the list would be far more limited.
Spain, France, Italy and Germany are all on the list, which will be published in full on Friday 3 July.
However, the USA, Portugal and China will remain on the “red” list – which means there will still be a ban on non-essential travel to these destinations.
Transport Secretary Grant Schapps told Sky News: “There will be a list of 50-plus countries. If you add in the overseas territories, 60-something-or-other that will be announced later today.
“France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be on that list. It is really important that we have done this in a very careful and cautious way. The most important thing is to maintain the gains that we have had.”
The list was drawn up using a “traffic light” system, with air bridges granted to countries in the “green” and “amber” sections.
The system was devised by scientists, and is based on how countries are managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
He told BBC Breakfast that passengers who are currently isolating for 14 days will be able to break the restrictions legally from next Friday.
He said while “nothing could happen” before July 10, “from that point onward you will be legal not to quarantine yourself”.
“It’s very important to stress the quarantine does exist until July 10,” Mr Shapps said.
While quarantine measures will be lifted, passengers arriving in the UK will still need to fill out a “locator form”, Mr Shapps said.
Grant Shapps has said the quarantine rules will not be lifted next week for travellers arriving from the United States or from Greece.
Is it a four nation approach?
The list currently only applies to holidaymakers in England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s devolved administrations to set out their own approach.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “It is disappointing that the UK Government have chosen to make an announcement on the countries they intend to exempt before a four-nations agreement has been reached.
“We would still like to reach a four-nations approach if possible but that is difficult when the UK Government change proposals and give us last-minute sight of them.”
Which countries are included?
The list of countries includes the below, plus 14 British overseas territories.
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malta
Mauritius
Monaco
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Reunion
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
South Korea
Spain
St Barthelemy
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Pierre and Miquelon
Switzerland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Vatican City
Vietnam
Summer no longer ‘cancelled’?
Before this proposal the chances of Brits heading abroad for the summer had looked bleak.
The number of deaths from Covid-19 in the country has now risen over 39,000, and government advisor Jonathan Van-Tam said last month that we may have to live with the virus for “several years”.
Asked in May if summer would be “cancelled”, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I think that’s likely to be the case.”
He added: “It is unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer. I just think that’s a reality of life.”


inews--2020-06-04--When will gyms open? Latest UK coronavirus lockdown updates with fitness centres closed

When will gyms open ?
Latest UK coronavirus lockdown updates with fitness centres closed With the UK lockdown still in place , but Boris Johnson revealing a `` conditional plan '' to easing restrictions , when could gyms begin to open again ?
Johnson said that his blueprint for a gradual easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England could see primary schools , nurseries and shops partially reopening from 1 June .
Some cafes or restaurants with outdoor space , and places or worship and socially distanced cinemas , could return to business from July , although specific details haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government hasn ’ t yet confirmed when gyms will be able to reopen .
The First Minister has unveiled plans to ease Scotland out of lockdown restrictions , around two weeks after Boris Johnson began to ease lockdown restrictions in England .
She said that several strict measures will be relaxed from 28 May in a four-phase `` route map '' .
In phase one , from May 28 , outdoor swimming in Scotland is permitted along with other outside activities including golf , canoeing and hiking .
However , leisure centres and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country reaches phase three of the exit-lockdown plan during which physical distancing measures will still be in place .
The First Minister of Wales , Mark Drakeford , said that Wales would allow more frequent exercise and the opening of garden centres , but that said schools will not reopen from 1 June .
In Northern Ireland , some sports , such as golf and tennis , have also been allowed to restart , with social distancing measures in place .
Health club chain PureGym has previously said that it is working out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow for social distancing , alongside capping member numbers .
However , Mr Cobbold added that gyms will only be re-opened when permitted to do so by the government .
He said : `` The right approach is a considered and careful opening , we will probably , when permitted by government , start by opening half a dozen sites and then expand from there when we 're confident that we have a model that 's safe and secure for members for the future.
” The PureGym website states : “ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to ensure your club is clean , safe , and ready for your return .
We are looking forward to welcoming you back.
” Fitness studio Barry 's Bootcamp also released a statement saying the company is `` unsure when we will be reopening but will continue to closely follow the advice of the government and local authorities '' .
They are currently offering virtual workouts for members .
Virgin Active will also inform customers when it will reopen clubs `` once it is safe to do so based on government advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European countries ?
In Italy , citizens will now be able to travel within regions in order to visit relatives , provided that they wear masks .

The coronavirus lockdown has changed people’s lives in many ways, but one of the biggest has been the way in which we exercise.
Gyms, leisure centres and indoor pools had all been closed since 21 March, while home workout equipment is like gold dust online.
However, the Government has finally given the go-ahead for gyms to open their doors again.
When did the gyms reopen?
Gyms, leisure centres and indoor pools reopened on Saturday 25 July.
They will have to follow strict new guidelines, such as introducing timed bookings for workouts and restrictions on showering.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the move to reopen gyms would help get the country “match-fit to defeat the virus” amid growing fears of inactivity among the population due to social distancing restrictions.
“The reopening of gyms is the news millions across the country have been waiting for with many people desperate to jump on a spinning bike or dive into a pool,” he said.
“Our comprehensive guidance will ensure gyms, pools and leisure centres have the support they need to reopen safely for their customers and staff.”
In the Government’s Our Plan to Rebuild document, released on Monday 11 May, gyms and fitness studios were originally part of step three of the lockdown exit plan, starting from 4 July.
However, Mr Johnson later said indoor gyms are categorised as “close proximity” businesses and would remain shut.
He said: “The business and culture secretaries will establish task forces with public health experts and the sectors to help them become Covid-secure and reopen as soon as possible.”
The industry reacted with frustration at Mr Johnson’s “catastrophic decision” to give the green light to many sectors of the economy, but not gyms.
Mark Sesnan, managing director of GLL, which runs 270 leisure and sport facilities on behalf of local authorities, said: “This will bad for business, bad for jobs and bad for the health of the nation.”
He added: “The Government is ignoring the health of the nation, when it has been proven that conditions such as obesity and diabetes increase the risks associated with Covid-19.”
What safety measures will be in place?
When gyms reopen, it won’t be business as usual.
According to The Times, gyms and swimming pools will require receptionists to use clickers to count numbers going in, and booking systems will be put in place to prevent overcrowding.
On gym floors, people will only be permitted to use equipment that’s spaced two metres apart and a gym’s maximum capacity will be calculated based on three metres squared per person.
Changing rooms and showers will be in use but “extra care” will be provided to maintain social distancing in these areas, while sweat towels will not be permitted on gym floors or studios.
Health club chain PureGym has previously said that it is working out how its facilities could be laid out to allow for social distancing, alongside capping member numbers.
PureGym CEO Humphrey Cobbold, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the chain was working to upgrade hygiene and sanitation procedures in order to “provide a safe environment for the future.”