inews--2020-05-01--Coronavirus latest: Testing and tracing scheme to be trialled on Scottish isles and Isle of Wight

Coronavirus latest : Testing and tracing scheme to be trialled on Scottish isles and Isle of Wight SAGE advice warns surfaces more likely to pass contamination than air The Government is to trial its Covid-19 test and contact tracing programme on the Isle of Wight and parts of Scotland before it rolls out the scheme across the country .
Experts believe the UK ’ s best chance of keeping the coronavirus outbreak under control and allow some easing of social distancing restrictions is to implement a mass test and contact tracing initiative .
Ministers do not expect a nationwide programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the month , meaning much of the lockdown is likely to remain in place until June as the Government tries to force the rate of infection down to allow test and trace to be effective .
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock is looking to rely on technology as well as manpower to help trace people who may have come into contact with an infected person .
Under his “ test , track and trace ” programme , members of the public will be able to download a smartphone app , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of Covid-19 .
Alongside this , the Department for Health and Social Care is looking to recruit 18,000 contact tracers , who will physically track people over the phone and door to door to isolate them from the rest of the population .
The scheme will now be trialled on the Isle of Wight and then the Scottish islands .
But Health Committee Chair Jeremy Hunt suggested the Government would need to recruit more contact tracers than 18,000 if it is to be successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has scrambled to meet his testing target ( Photo : TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty ) The Government ’ s scientific advisory panel is due to deliver advice stating people are more likely to catch Covid-19 from touching contaminated surfaces than they are from breathing in droplets from the air .
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) will provide a paper to policymakers next week which will stress that touching your face after encountering door handles , railings and other surfaces poses a higher risk than airborne droplets .
Sage is understood to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence ministers ’ decisions on the highly contentious issue of whether the public should be asked , or potentially required , to wear face masks .
While surfaces are regarded as a bigger risk than the atmosphere , the chief scientific adviser believes that social distancing of two metres , as required in the UK , is much more effective than the 'at least 1 metre ' space recommended by the World Health Organisation .
Meanwhile , Ed Miliband warned the Treasury will need to come forward with another wave of business support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing rules are only partially lifted .
`` Lockdown will last a lot longer in certain industries .
If it lasts there is going to have to be another wave of support , ” he told i .
`` If you just take the hospitality sector , something like 25,000 businesses have missed out from [ existing Treasury ] support , and they represent 70 per cent of the trade and jobs in the sector .
That is a big part of the sector is n't getting the grants . ''

Richard Vaughan, Tom Bawden and Chloe Chaplain

The Government is to trial its Covid-19 test and contact tracing programme on the Isle of Wight and parts of Scotland before it rolls out the scheme across the country.
Experts believe the UK’s best chance of keeping the coronavirus outbreak under control and allow some easing of social distancing restrictions is to implement a mass test and contact tracing initiative.
Ministers do not expect a nationwide programme to be up and running until the end of the month, meaning much of the lockdown is likely to remain in place until June as the Government tries to force the rate of infection down to allow test and trace to be effective.
Test, test, test
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock is looking to rely on technology as well as manpower to help trace people who may have come into contact with an infected person.
Under his “test, track and trace” programme, members of the public will be able to download a smartphone app, that will alert them if they have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of Covid-19.
Alongside this, the Department for Health and Social Care is looking to recruit 18,000 contact tracers, who will physically track people over the phone and door to door to isolate them from the rest of the population.
The scheme will now be trialled on the Isle of Wight and then the Scottish islands. But Health Committee Chair Jeremy Hunt suggested the Government would need to recruit more contact tracers than 18,000 if it is to be successful.
Mr Hancock said the number of people who have died from Covid-19 now stood at 27,510, up by 739.
The Government’s scientific advisory panel is due to deliver advice stating people are more likely to catch Covid-19 from touching contaminated surfaces than they are from breathing in droplets from the air.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) will provide a paper to policymakers next week which will stress that touching your face after encountering door handles, railings and other surfaces poses a higher risk than airborne droplets.
Sage is understood to regard this as crucial and hopes to influence ministers’ decisions on the highly contentious issue of whether the public should be asked, or potentially required, to wear face masks.
The Government is currently deliberating about what stance to take on the matter.
While surfaces are regarded as a bigger risk than the atmosphere, the chief scientific adviser believes that social distancing of two metres, as required in the UK, is much more effective than the ‘at least 1 metre’ space recommended by the World Health Organisation.
More business support
Separately, Sage is working to produce more detailed data on Covid-19 transmission rates – the R-value number – which are key to when the lockdown might end.
Meanwhile, Ed Miliband warned the Treasury will need to come forward with another wave of business support for industries still confined by lockdown if social distancing rules are only partially lifted.
“Lockdown will last a lot longer in certain industries. If it lasts there is going to have to be another wave of support,” he told i. “If you just take the hospitality sector, something like 25,000 businesses have missed out from [existing Treasury] support, and they represent 70 per cent of the trade and jobs in the sector. That is a big part of the sector isn’t getting the grants.”


inews--2020-05-01--VE Day 2020 celebrations: the events marking the 75th anniversary, and the best ideas for home decor

VE Day 2020 celebrations: the events marking the 75th anniversary, and the best ideas for home decorations

VE Day 2020 celebrations : the events marking the 75th anniversary , and the best ideas for home decorations The @ @ @ @ @ for the VE 75 celebrations may have been cancelled , but 8 May will still @ @ @ @ @ How will VE Day 75 be celebrated ?
Dame Vera Lynn alongside Katherine Jenkins , @ @ @ @ @ the VE Day celebrations ( Photo : PA Wire ) VE Day is celebrated by @ @ @ @ @ London on 8 May 1945 ( Photo : Hulton Archive/Getty ) How to get involved @ @ @ @ @ window campaign The Tommy in the window figures were made by injured veterans in the @ @ @ @ @ factory ( Photo : PA ) How to make your own VE Day bunting The @ @ @ @ @ celebrate VE Day with Union Jack bunting ( Photo : Getty ) How BBC is @ @ @ @ @ and radio

When the early May bank holiday was moved to a Friday in order to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day, it was with a raft of public commemorations in mind.
The coronavirus outbreak and ensuing UK lockdown have unfortunately forced the cancellation of the veteran parades and street parties which would have marked the historic occasion.
However, while the Government is asking people to continue to observe social distancing rules – and thus safeguard surviving veterans – there are still various events planned for 8 May, as well as plenty of ways you can get involved at home.
How will VE Day 75 be celebrated?
The “VE 75” celebrations will now be led by an address to the nation from the Queen, with her pre-recorded televised address broadcast on the BBC show at 9pm – the exact moment her father, King George VI, gave a radio address on May 8 1945.
After the broadcast, the public will be invited to join a moment of celebration and thanksgiving by taking part in a rendition of Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn’s wartime anthem “We’ll Meet Again“, during a BBC One programme of music and memories.
It follows The Queen’s address to the country on April 5 when she delivered a message of hope which concluded with an echo of Lynn’s classic words: “We will meet again.”
Prince Charles will read the diary entry for 8 May, 1945 from the wartime journal of his grandfather, which describes VE Day, including the royal family’s memorable Buckingham Palace balcony appearances.
The celebrations will also feature WWII veterans and those who served on the home front taking part in a series of video calls with the likes of the royal family and Boris Johnson.
Official commemorations begin at 11am on 8 May with a nationwide two-minute silence, and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will record a special reflection and moment of prayer to mark the day.
A pack with ideas for homemade VE Day bunting, original recipes, games, and educational and creative activities for children has been produced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, so families under lockdown can create their own experiences at home.
Victory in Europe Day on 8 May 1945 marked the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s surrender by Britain and its Allies following almost six years of brutal warfare during the Second World War.
It saw spontaneous celebrations break out across the country, and even the young Queen, then Princess Elizabeth ventured out with a group of friends, including her sister Princess Margaret, to experience the excitement. These events later formed the basis of the film A Royal Night Out.
VE Day timetable
11am — Two-minute national silence to remember the declaration of victory and the end of the Second World War in Europe.
2.45pm – 3.45pm — The first of two special BBC One programmes to mark VE75, including extract from Sir Winston Churchill’s victory speech delivered at 3pm on VE Day.
Afternoon — Britons encouraged to hold 1940s-style afternoon tea parties at home rather than street parties, including homemade bunting and recipes from the era.
9pm — Address by the Queen followed by national doorstep rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again”.
How to get involved in the Tommy in the window campaign
People in lockdown are being urged to commemorate the occasion from home displaying a specially designed image of a Second World War soldier in their windows.
The armed forces charity Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), which also organises the Poppy Appeal, has launched the “Tommy in the window” campaign, producing specially designed figures of British troops.
The perspex Tommy figures stand 25cm high, and the RBLI reported that than 2,000 had already been sold when it officially launched the campaign on Wednesday 29 April.
They were made by injured veterans in the charity’s social enterprise factory, and all money raised from the initiative will go to the RBLI’s work providing employment, training and support to veterans and their families.
You can buy your own Tommy figure from the RBLI shop here – the regular version costs £25.00, while a special edition engraved figure costs £33.00.
There is also a commemorative VE Day Tommy sticker on sale for £4.95, also produced by veterans and people with disabilities working for the RBLI’s social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company in Aylesford, Kent.
How to make your own VE Day bunting
The BBC’s Make A Difference campaign has joined the official calls for the nation to put up Union Jack bunting, with the population asked to show off their displays on social media using the hashtags #GreatBritishBunting and #VEDay75.
Director of BBC England Helen Thomas said: “Although people can’t celebrate in the way they had perhaps hoped to, we can still brighten up the streets with this special initiative in tribute to our VE Day heroes.”
To get involved, you can download the bunting template pack can be downloaded here at “The Great British Bunting”.
You’ll need some materials on hand, but these can be anything from paper, cereal boxes, string, ribbon, sweet wrappers, felt pens, poster paint or whatever you can find.
The BBC says: “You can decorate your bunting with pictures of whatever inspires you, whether it’s those who fought on the frontline or worked hard on the Homefront, or whether it’s a celebration of enduring peace or your own personal hero.”
How BBC is marking VE Day on TV and radio
The Queen’s address at 9pm on BBC One marks the centrepiece of an evening event from the corporation marking VE Day.
She is joined on the programme by the Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins, actor Adrian Lester and singer Beverley Knight, who will be performing some of the best-known songs from the 1930s and 40s.
Presented by Sophie Raworth, the programme will culminate with the national rendition of “We’ll Meet Again“.
Other highlights of programming on 8 May include a commemoration of Sir Winston’s Churchill’s historic 3pm address to the nation to announce the end of the war in Europe.
On radio, Jeremy Vine will discuss the pivotal moments that led to the end of the war and Radio 3’s Words And Music will share diary extracts from 1945 with interludes of poetry and music themed around gratitude.
On Radio 4, Dr Rowan Williams on Sunday Worship will discuss the meaning of VE Day in the context of the challenge posed to the nation by coronavirus, while Radio 4 Extra will present an adaptation of Stephen Lowe’s play Touched.
The BBC said it had planned to stage celebrations and street parties across the country before the coronavirus pandemic caused a lockdown.
Additional reporting from Press Association


inews--2020-05-01--Coronavirus and travel advice: How UK tourism bosses are preparing for visitors once Covid-19 lockdo

Coronavirus and travel advice: How UK tourism bosses are preparing for visitors once Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are relaxed

Coronavirus and travel advice : How UK tourism bosses are preparing for visitors once Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are relaxed Once lockdown restrictions are eased , it 's likely that there will be limits on how many people visit the nation 's hotspots In Boris Johnson ’ s first daily briefing since recovering from Covid-19 , he acknowledged the need for domestic tourism to rebound now that the UK is past the peak of the outbreak .
He also indicated that a roadmap for emerging from lockdown will be announced next week , prompting an increase in searches for UK holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annually to the economy , employing more than three million people and supporting 200,000 small businesses , according to Visit Britain .
Its acting CEO Patricia Yates told i , “ It was good to hear the Prime Minister acknowledge the tourism industry which , as he said , has taken such a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
” However , during the briefing , a Cornish holiday let owner expressed concern about opening the floodgates to visitors who have been indoors for almost two months .
She offered optimism for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting enquiries daily to book a holiday let from June onwards.
” However , she went on to caution that there were concerns about an “ influx of people coming away from the cities and to tourist hotspots which could bring a second wave [ of infection ] to areas such as Cornwall.
” The South-West has reported the country ’ s lowest number of infections to date .
Visitors have been discourated from the South-West during lockdown ( Photo : Getty ) However , the recovery will need to be coordinated among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ for more rural destinations this might involve a step-by-step approach , promoting first to encourage friends and relatives to visit local residents , then local visits , perhaps focusing on outdoor attractions and gardens for day trips then building up to regional and national.
” Visit Cornwall ’ s CEO Malcolm Bell spoke to i about the inevitable attraction of the county ’ s beaches and natural beauty , conceding that its geographical location “ with two main roads leading in ” will make it easier to manage visitor numbers .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is optimistic that Cornwall should be back to “ the new normal ” by September if this approach is implemented .
Until then , it is feasible that only a small number of businesses that demonstrate that they are able to mitigate the dangers of the virus , as well as minimise its impact , will be allowed to reopen , while visitor numbers are perhaps capped by allowing only those who have confirmed bookings with those businesses are allowed to enter .
The tourist board is working with its partners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a well-managed , cautious reopening of course tourism could take place .
Scotland ’ s largest tourist source market is the US , but many operators are reporting a spike in interest from within the UK during lockdown , no doubt fuelled by its remote , open landscapes .
Nicola Sturgeon has said that lockdown in Scotland could last longer than in England in a bid to protect its population .
Visit Scotland is following the advice of the Scottish government , as well as key partners , “ to ensure that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , partially or otherwise , it is done in a controlled and safe way to ensure that we help to stop the spread of the virus ” a spokesperson told i. Scotland 's wild landscapes , such as Skye 's Fairy Pools , are likely to appeal after lockdown ( Photo : Getty ) Looking beyond the initial relaxation of restrictions , they also see “ an opportunity to reset tourism and look at how we can take it forward in a responsible manner .
Local management will be as important as local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities – they are the people that are both affected by and benefit from tourism .
It is this balance we have to get right to ensure the experience is positive for everyone.
” Self-catering searches and how accommodation will protect guests For those that are confined to cities and small spaces during lockdown , nature and wildlife are likely to appeal once movement is permitted again .
In spite of the Government 's current travel advisory , Canopy & Stars - the glamping and rustic self-catering booking site - took 200 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and early 2021 , with July and August the most popular months , followed by September .
The most popular locations are Cornwall , Scotland and Wales followed by Devon then Yorkshire .
One of Canopy & Stars ' rustic properties near Hay-on-Wye ( Photo : Canopy & Stars )

Big, open landscapes, beaches and sunshine are likely to be high on the agenda for many people as thoughts turn to how lockdown is gradually lifted around the country.
In Boris Johnson’s first daily briefing since recovering from Covid-19, he acknowledged the need for domestic tourism to rebound now that the UK is past the peak of the outbreak. He also indicated that a roadmap for emerging from lockdown will be announced next week, prompting an increase in searches for UK holidays.
The tourism industry is worth £127bn annually to the economy, employing more than three million people and supporting 200,000 small businesses, according to Visit Britain. Its acting CEO Patricia Yates told i, “It was good to hear the Prime Minister acknowledge the tourism industry which, as he said, has taken such a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
However, during the briefing, a Cornish holiday let owner expressed concern about opening the floodgates to visitors who have been indoors for almost two months. She offered optimism for the sector, reporting that she was “getting enquiries daily to book a holiday let from June onwards.” However, she went on to caution that there were concerns about an “influx of people coming away from the cities and to tourist hotspots which could bring a second wave [of infection] to areas such as Cornwall.” The South-West has reported the country’s lowest number of infections to date.
Visit Britain is working with the industry and Government to facilitate the sector’s swift recovery, forecasting a loss of £22bn this year for domestic holidays and day trips.
However, the recovery will need to be coordinated among destination management organisations. Yates indicated that “for more rural destinations this might involve a step-by-step approach, promoting first to encourage friends and relatives to visit local residents, then local visits, perhaps focusing on outdoor attractions and gardens for day trips then building up to regional and national.”
She added that destinations, businesses and attractions would need clear guidance from Government, with regards to social distancing, health and safety requirements.
Heading south?
Visit Cornwall’s CEO Malcolm Bell spoke to i about the inevitable attraction of the county’s beaches and natural beauty, conceding that its geographical location “with two main roads leading in” will make it easier to manage visitor numbers. He too believes a phased reopening is likely and is optimistic that Cornwall should be back to “the new normal” by September if this approach is implemented.
Until then, it is feasible that only a small number of businesses that demonstrate that they are able to mitigate the dangers of the virus, as well as minimise its impact, will be allowed to reopen, while visitor numbers are perhaps capped by allowing only those who have confirmed bookings with those businesses are allowed to enter. The tourist board is working with its partners to open to consider the practicalities of how a well-managed, cautious reopening of course tourism could take place.
Not business as usual in Wales
Wales is also considering how it emerges from lockdown. However, a Welsh Government Spokesperson, said: “Tourism in a post-pandemic Wales will be very different – it can’t be business as usual. A gradual and cautious approach will be taken when it is safe to begin to open up tourism attractions and rural Wales again. Safety comes first and safeguards and measures will remain to reduce risk and give our communities and visitors confidence and peace of mind.
“The First Minister of Wales has published a framework to help lead Wales out of the coronavirus pandemic. We are working with partners on planning a new recovery phase to lead us out of the pandemic – but only when the conditions are right.”
Hold tight for a Highland fling
Scotland’s largest tourist source market is the US, but many operators are reporting a spike in interest from within the UK during lockdown, no doubt fuelled by its remote, open landscapes. Nicola Sturgeon has said that lockdown in Scotland could last longer than in England in a bid to protect its population.
Visit Scotland is following the advice of the Scottish government, as well as key partners, “to ensure that when the time comes to lift lockdown measures, partially or otherwise, it is done in a controlled and safe way to ensure that we help to stop the spread of the virus” a spokesperson told i.
Looking beyond the initial relaxation of restrictions, they also see “an opportunity to reset tourism and look at how we can take it forward in a responsible manner. Local management will be as important as local promotion. Central to that will be communities – they are the people that are both affected by and benefit from tourism. It is this balance we have to get right to ensure the experience is positive for everyone.”
Self-catering searches and how accommodation will protect guests
For those that are confined to cities and small spaces during lockdown, nature and wildlife are likely to appeal once movement is permitted again. In spite of the Government’s current travel advisory, Canopy & Stars – the glamping and rustic self-catering booking site – took 200 new bookings in April for stays later this year and early 2021, with July and August the most popular months, followed by September. The most popular locations are Cornwall, Scotland and Wales followed by Devon then Yorkshire.
Both Canopy & Stars and its co-brand accommodation platform Sawday’s are working with tourist boards, and local and national governments, to make sure they are aligned on preparation for visitors’ return.
Until there is a national scheme, they are also rolling out a charter for their accommodation owners, to sign up to, “committing to taking additional measures with regard to safety and hygiene. The charter will ask all places to commit to follow government guidelines while also covering self-check-in, social distancing and increased time between stays for cleaning.”


inews--2020-05-01--Coronavirus latest: Contaminated surfaces more dangerous than Covid-19 droplets in the air, scientis

Coronavirus latest: Contaminated surfaces more dangerous than Covid-19 droplets in the air, scientists say

Coronavirus latest : Contaminated surfaces more dangerous than Covid-19 droplets in the air , scientists say Government advisory group Sage to deliver paper to policymakers next week People are more likely to catch Covid-19 from touching contaminated surfaces than they are from breathing in droplets from the air , according to the latest advice from the Government ’ s scientific advisory panel .
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) is due to deliver a paper to policymakers next week which will stress that touching your face after encountering door handles , railings and other surfaces poses a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice is based on the relative general risk of catching the virus from touching a surface or from breathing in contaminated air in daily life - rather than the dangers specifically posed by standing right next to an infected person while they cough or sneeze .
Sage is understood to regard this as a really important point and its inclusion in policy advice to the Government could influence its decision on the highly contentious issue of whether the public should be asked , or potentially required , to wear face masks .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take on the matter .
Supermarkets across the UK have been enforcing social distancing measures ( Photo : Getty ) While surfaces are regarded as a bigger risk than the atmosphere , the chief scientific adviser believes that social distancing of two metres , as required in the UK , is much more effective than the 'at least 1 metre ' space recommended by the World Health Organisation .
The relationship between risk and distance is not linear , meaning the chance of catching the virus from somebody one metre away is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two metres .
Separately , Sage is working to produce more detailed data on Covid-19 transmission rates , which are key to when the lockdown might end .
At the moment an overall rate of transmission is calculated for hospital patients , care home residents and the general population .
But it 's likely that the transmission rates between these three groups vary considerably and so getting a clearer picture for each will help the Government to determine the timing and targeting of measures to ease the lockdown .
The transmission rate - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well below 1 for a sustained period before measures can be eased .
Above one the virus spreads exponentially as each patient infects more than one other person .
Below one it decreases exponentially .

People are more likely to catch Covid-19 from touching contaminated surfaces than they are from breathing in droplets from the air, according to the latest advice from the Government’s scientific advisory panel.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is due to deliver a paper to policymakers next week which will stress that touching your face after encountering door handles, railings and other surfaces poses a higher risk than airborne droplets.
The advice is based on the relative general risk of catching the virus from touching a surface or from breathing in contaminated air in daily life – rather than the dangers specifically posed by standing right next to an infected person while they cough or sneeze.
Sage is understood to regard this as a really important point and its inclusion in policy advice to the Government could influence its decision on the highly contentious issue of whether the public should be asked, or potentially required, to wear face masks.
The Government is currently deliberating about what stance to take on the matter.
Social distancing
While surfaces are regarded as a bigger risk than the atmosphere, the chief scientific adviser believes that social distancing of two metres, as required in the UK, is much more effective than the ‘at least 1 metre’ space recommended by the World Health Organisation.
The relationship between risk and distance is not linear, meaning the chance of catching the virus from somebody one metre away is ten to 20 times higher than at two metres.
Separately, Sage is working to produce more detailed data on Covid-19 transmission rates, which are key to when the lockdown might end.
At the moment an overall rate of transmission is calculated for hospital patients, care home residents and the general population.
Getting a clearer picture
But it’s likely that the transmission rates between these three groups vary considerably and so getting a clearer picture for each will help the Government to determine the timing and targeting of measures to ease the lockdown.
The transmission rate – known as R0 – needs to be well below 1 for a sustained period before measures can be eased. Above one the virus spreads exponentially as each patient infects more than one other person. Below one it decreases exponentially.
The overall figure for the UK at the moment is thought to be about 0.7.


inews--2020-05-01--Coronavirus lockdown: Most rubbish tips and recycling sites won’t open until after May Bank Holiday

Coronavirus lockdown : Most rubbish tips and recycling sites won ’ t open until after May Bank Holiday Councils are still grappling with how to operate household waste and recycling centres in an age of social distancing Most council dumps and recycling sites are not expected to open until after the bank holiday weekend , i understands , despite government pressure for sites to reopen to clear a backlog of household rubbish .
On Tuesday , Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said councils should start to “ plan the organised opening ” of household waste recycling centres ( HWRCs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be maintained .
Some sites - notably across Manchester , Merseyside and Northumberland - are planning to reopen in the coming days , in an effort to control a rise in fly-tipping since lockdown began .
But most councils are wary of prompting a surge in visits if they open before the long weekend starting 8 May , and are still struggling to work out how they can operate sites while ensuring safe social distancing is upheld , sources told i. Cornwall is one of the authorities sceptical that HWRCs can operate without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Councillor Rob Nolan told colleagues on the authority it is “ difficult to operate the tips safely at the moment ” .
“ In the last weekend before lockdown we had two hour queues at some of our tips , with people refusing to keep safe distances and abusing our staff , ” he said in a message to councillors .
In order for HWRCs to open , police guidance must change to categorise visiting the tip as an essential journey , he stressed .
A pre-booking system would also be needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other councils have pointed to the need for personal protective equipment for staff , and said police will need to be on hand for the first few days to manage traffic flow in and out of sites .
The Department for Housing , Communities and Local Government said fresh guidance for councils would be issued to council shortly .
The public has been urged to stay at home during lockdown ( Photo : ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty ) Some authorities insist HWRCs can be operated safely .
In Wigan tips opened on April 17 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the move had proved a “ fantastic success ” .
“ We have been on the front foot from the outset of this pandemic with Wigan being the first local authority to reopen recycling centres to support households in managing surplus waste produced during the imposed lockdown restrictions , '' he said .
“ After seeing a rise in fly-tips initially after the temporary closure , incidents have effectively been brought back to pre-lockdown levels since they reopened on 17 April with reported fly-tips now down by 60 per cent and that number @ @ @ @

Most council dumps and recycling sites are not expected to open until after the bank holiday weekend, i understands, despite government pressure for sites to reopen to clear a backlog of household rubbish.
On Tuesday, Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said councils should start to “plan the organised opening” of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs), provided safe social distancing can be maintained.
Some sites – notably across Manchester, Merseyside and Northumberland – are planning to reopen in the coming days, in an effort to control a rise in fly-tipping since lockdown began.
Obstacles to opening
But most councils are wary of prompting a surge in visits if they open before the long weekend starting 8 May, and are still struggling to work out how they can operate sites while ensuring safe social distancing is upheld, sources told i.
Cornwall is one of the authorities sceptical that HWRCs can operate without substantial changes to ensure safe social distancing. Councillor Rob Nolan told colleagues on the authority it is “difficult to operate the tips safely at the moment”. “In the last weekend before lockdown we had two hour queues at some of our tips, with people refusing to keep safe distances and abusing our staff,” he said in a message to councillors.
In order for HWRCs to open, police guidance must change to categorise visiting the tip as an essential journey, he stressed. A pre-booking system would also be needed to prevent long queues and overcrowding.
Other councils have pointed to the need for personal protective equipment for staff, and said police will need to be on hand for the first few days to manage traffic flow in and out of sites.
The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government said fresh guidance for councils would be issued to council shortly.
‘A fantastic success’
Some authorities insist HWRCs can be operated safely. In Wigan tips opened on April 17, and council leader David Molyneux told i the move had proved a “fantastic success”.
“We have been on the front foot from the outset of this pandemic with Wigan being the first local authority to reopen recycling centres to support households in managing surplus waste produced during the imposed lockdown restrictions,” he said.
“After seeing a rise in fly-tips initially after the temporary closure, incidents have effectively been brought back to pre-lockdown levels since they reopened on 17 April with reported fly-tips now down by 60 per cent and that number is falling.”


inews--2020-05-01--Sir Michael Craig-Martin on creativity under coronavirus lockdown: 'Art doesn’t have parameters'

Sir Michael Craig-Martin on creativity under coronavirus lockdown : 'Art doesn ’ t have parameters' The artist has drawn a poster for adults and children to colour in and display as a show of support for the work of NHS staff “ I have always thought everything important is right in front of you , ” he said of an exhibition last year .
“ I never draw an object that a person can ’ t identify by just looking , ” he says , speaking over the phone from his flat on the 21st floor of the Barbican .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , in an aside , “ to be here at this time .
The light is beautiful .
The view is beautiful.
” Back to objects .
“ You look at it and you say , ‘ That ’ s a shoe , that ’ s a table.
’ I would never draw a funny thing .
I ’ d never draw a telephone that looked like a rabbit .
I would never draw a bit of plumbing that didn ’ t have a name .
I want to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1941 , Sir Michael is one of the most influential artists and teachers of his generation .
A key influence on the first generation of British conceptual artists , he probes the quality of ordinary things .
Take the phones we are using to speak to one another .
“ Everyone has one , but this one is mine.
” When he was a teacher at Goldsmith ’ s College in London from the 1970s to the 1990s , he mentored a group of students who came to be known as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Damien Hirst – to whom he sent a message to this morning – Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas .
His work is held in museum collections around the world , including the Tate , the V & A , Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris , and the Museum of Modern Art in New York .
In 2016 , he was knighted in the Queen ’ s Birthday Honours for his services to art .
Until a few weeks ago , he walked to his studio every morning , but is now working from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer mouse , as he has done for more than a decade .
“ It ’ s my natural way of drawing and I feel more comfortable doing it than any other way .
It took me a long time to control the line , but now I have enormous control .
It ’ s second nature to me.
” “ Normally I ’ m strict about drawing mass-produced , fabricated objects , ordinary objects .
But over the past few weeks I ’ ve had a very good rush of work and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fruit , flowers and vegetables .
They are the only things I see .
You can ’ t buy clothes , you can ’ t buy furniture , you can ’ t buy high tech .
But I ’ m starting to see things I hadn ’ t noticed before .
I ’ m struck that I ’ ve been able to produce dozens of drawings , where anybody could look at them and say , ‘ that ’ s a strawberry , that ’ s fennel , that ’ s a carrot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawing natural objects , but he has never been more aware of how personal tech holds up our lives now .
“ If we couldn ’ t speak to each other , or see each other on the screen , or watch TV , this lockdown would be even worse .
It would be almost impossible to sustain .
“ Deing very confined in what one can do , doing so many things through the non-physicality of the internet , everything that ’ s physical becomes very attractive .
I think that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has become so important : it ’ s contact with the material .
The smell , the taste , the feel and the making.
” Michael Craig Martin : ' I want to be able to identify something immediately ' ( Photo : Chloe Barter ) So , the timing was right when he was asked by BBC Arts to design the NHS poster : “ If you want to congratulate , or thank , or acknowledge , or pay homage , flowers are such a nice way to do it .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gifts of a bunch of flowers.
” After all , “ the most wonderful thing about art is that there is not a standard model .
It ’ s not like sport .
We know what running fast is and we know the limits of running .
Art doesn ’ t have those parameters .
It is what you do.
” He thinks on a larger scale , too .
“ Particularly in Britain , since the referendum , our whole consciousness has been overwhelmed by politics and politicians .
Most people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are interested in other things to do with our general cultural life .
“ I would hope after this , having seen the shortcomings of politicians – which we are certainly witnessing – that we do not let the political world dominate our existence in the way that it has and that we assert the importance of the cultural world .
”

Bursting colours and precise outlines make Sir Michael Craig-Martin’s depictions of everyday objects instantly recognisable. For almost half a century he has been drawing and sculpting everyday consumer goods – a telephone, a light bulb, a portable television from the 1980s and a flat screen from today – that are signs of their times and familiar to everyone.
“I have always thought everything important is right in front of you,” he said of an exhibition last year. “I never draw an object that a person can’t identify by just looking,” he says, speaking over the phone from his flat on the 21st floor of the Barbican. “I feel lucky,” he says, in an aside, “to be here at this time. The light is beautiful. The view is beautiful.”
Back to objects. “You look at it and you say, ‘That’s a shoe, that’s a table.’ I would never draw a funny thing. I’d never draw a telephone that looked like a rabbit. I would never draw a bit of plumbing that didn’t have a name. I want to be able to identify something immediately.”
Born in Ireland in 1941, Sir Michael is one of the most influential artists and teachers of his generation. A key influence on the first generation of British conceptual artists, he probes the quality of ordinary things. Take the phones we are using to speak to one another. “Everyone has one, but this one is mine.”
The fine art of gratitude
When he was a teacher at Goldsmith’s College in London from the 1970s to the 1990s, he mentored a group of students who came to be known as the Young British Artists. Among them was Damien Hirst – to whom he sent a message to this morning – Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas. His work is held in museum collections around the world, including the Tate, the V&A, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2016, he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to art.
Until a few weeks ago, he walked to his studio every morning, but is now working from home, where he draws using his computer mouse, as he has done for more than a decade. “It’s my natural way of drawing and I feel more comfortable doing it than any other way. It took me a long time to control the line, but now I have enormous control. It’s second nature to me.”
Last month, he drew a poster for adults and children to colour in and display as a show of support for the work of NHS staff.
Along with the NHS logo, the design uses gerbera flowers, also known as African daisies. They bloom in almost every colour and were named after the German medical doctor Traugott Gerber in the 18th century.
Giving back
It is rare for Sir Michael to create images of nature, but currently unable to go anywhere except the supermarket, he has found himself drawing from the natural world during the lockdown.
“Normally I’m strict about drawing mass-produced, fabricated objects, ordinary objects. But over the past few weeks I’ve had a very good rush of work and I’ve been drawing nothing but fruit, flowers and vegetables. They are the only things I see. You can’t buy clothes, you can’t buy furniture, you can’t buy high tech. But I’m starting to see things I hadn’t noticed before. I’m struck that I’ve been able to produce dozens of drawings, where anybody could look at them and say, ‘that’s a strawberry, that’s fennel, that’s a carrot’.”
Sir Michael may be drawing natural objects, but he has never been more aware of how personal tech holds up our lives now. “If we couldn’t speak to each other, or see each other on the screen, or watch TV, this lockdown would be even worse. It would be almost impossible to sustain.
“Deing very confined in what one can do, doing so many things through the non-physicality of the internet, everything that’s physical becomes very attractive. I think that’s one of the reasons why food has become so important: it’s contact with the material. The smell, the taste, the feel and the making.”
So, the timing was right when he was asked by BBC Arts to design the NHS poster: “If you want to congratulate, or thank, or acknowledge, or pay homage, flowers are such a nice way to do it. We take flowers to weddings. We give gifts of a bunch of flowers.”
The poster will “give people a structured image within which to play with colour”. Then, he hopes, “after they use the template, they will think, ‘Well, I actually don’t need him’.”
After all, “the most wonderful thing about art is that there is not a standard model. It’s not like sport. We know what running fast is and we know the limits of running. Art doesn’t have those parameters. It is what you do.”
He thinks on a larger scale, too. “Particularly in Britain, since the referendum, our whole consciousness has been overwhelmed by politics and politicians. Most people are not very interested in politics. They are interested in other things to do with our general cultural life.
“I would hope after this, having seen the shortcomings of politicians – which we are certainly witnessing – that we do not let the political world dominate our existence in the way that it has and that we assert the importance of the cultural world.”
‘It’s not like sport. We know the limits of running. Art doesn’t have those parameters’
Although Sir Michael was born in Dublin, Ireland, he was educated in the United States, where he studied at Yale University. He returned to Europe in the mid-1960s, but still speaks with a American lilt.
“As somebody coming from, from the United States, the greatest anxiety that Americans have, justifiably, is about being ill because you’re in an absolutely terrible situation if you don’t have insurance. And no matter what, insurance is not 100 per cent. National healthcare is the most amazing thing to have.”
Download the poster via the BBC’s Culture in Quarantine website.


inews--2020-05-01--Army officer to cycle 2,000km for charity in garage challenge inspired by Giro d'Italia

Army officer to cycle 2,000km for charity in garage challenge inspired by Giro d'Italia Thomas Yaxley is hoping to raise £2,100 for three health-focused charities An army officer is hoping to raise money for charity by taking on his own version of the iconic Giro d ’ Italia bike race from the confines of his garage .
Thomas Yaxley , from Tidworth in Wiltshire , will cycle just under 2,000km on a turbo trainer to recreate the race , which has had to be cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
He will begin the challenge on 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 21 May .
The aim is to raise £2,100 in the process - £100 for each stage of the race .
Mr Yaxley said that during his previous stints on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan he had been on the receiving end of the public ’ s support and now wanted to repay their kindness .
The challenge will see Mr Yaxley pedal 1,943km in his garage ( Photo : Above and Beyond/Thomas Yaxley ) “ Whilst deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan we would receive care packages full of food and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I wanted to do my small part to repay that kindness and generosity , ” he said .
“ Over the years the Bristol Royal Infirmary has taken exceptional care of both of my brothers and my father when they were hospitalised.
” Mr Yaxley said he has close connections with the NHS as his wife Lucy is a nurse in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps and his mother-in-law Tracy Mills is a community nurse in Poole .
Doing something that matters “ I keep myself pretty fit with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ramp it up a bit over the next few weeks in the hope of it not hurting too much , ” he added .
“ As someone who is used to being able to see the enemy and do something about it , it will be nice to be doing something that can have a positive impact again.
” The money Mr Yaxley raises for Above and Beyond will go to the Bristol City Centre Hospitals Appeal , whose current focus is supporting frontline staff at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 outbreak .

An army officer is hoping to raise money for charity by taking on his own version of the iconic Giro d’Italia bike race from the confines of his garage.
Thomas Yaxley, from Tidworth in Wiltshire, will cycle just under 2,000km on a turbo trainer to recreate the race, which has had to be cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
As well as completing the ride’s 1,943km distance over 21 stages, Mr Yaxley will also challenge himself with just over 23,000m of elevation.
The 30-year-old will be raising money for three charities – Above and Beyond, the Bristol city centre hospitals charity; Poole Hospital Charity; and Hywel Dda Health Charities.
Supporting charities
He will begin the challenge on 9 May and is hoping to complete it by 21 May. The aim is to raise £2,100 in the process – £100 for each stage of the race.
Mr Yaxley said that during his previous stints on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan he had been on the receiving end of the public’s support and now wanted to repay their kindness.
“Whilst deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan we would receive care packages full of food and other home comforts from complete strangers every week and I wanted to do my small part to repay that kindness and generosity,” he said.
“Over the years the Bristol Royal Infirmary has taken exceptional care of both of my brothers and my father when they were hospitalised.”
Mr Yaxley said he has close connections with the NHS as his wife Lucy is a nurse in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps and his mother-in-law Tracy Mills is a community nurse in Poole.
Doing something that matters
“I keep myself pretty fit with the day job, but I will have to ramp it up a bit over the next few weeks in the hope of it not hurting too much,” he added.
“I’m looking forward to feeling like I’m doing something that matters.
“As someone who is used to being able to see the enemy and do something about it, it will be nice to be doing something that can have a positive impact again.”
The money Mr Yaxley raises for Above and Beyond will go to the Bristol City Centre Hospitals Appeal, whose current focus is supporting frontline staff at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust as they deal with the Covid-19 outbreak.
To sponsor Mr Yaxley, click here.


inews--2020-05-01--Coronavirus latest: urgent cancer referrals have dropped by 62%

National cancer director for NHS England said two-week referrals to specialists were down by almost two-thirds amid pandemic Urgent cancer referrals have dropped by 62 per cent due to Covid-19 , the head of cancer services for the NHS has said .
Dame Cally Palmer , national cancer director for NHS England , said chemotherapy treatments were running at 70 per cent of normal levels , but two-week referrals - where GPs send patients with suspected cancer to specialists for further investigation - were down by almost two-thirds - just under 15,000 people booked for an appointment in the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs on the Commons Health and Social Care Committee : `` That is a 62 per cent reduction and clearly it 's very important we address that because early detection is vital for increased survival . ''
When asked if that meant up to two-thirds of cancers were being missed , she replied : `` I do n't think that 's the case because the service has roughly an 8 per cent conversion rate for urgent referrals .
`` It 's really important to state that urgent referrals and urgent cancer treatments is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to patients ' individual risk , but I think it would be wrong to make a mathematical calculation on that basis .
It 's very important that we get people coming forward but I think to translate that into missed diagnosis and poor survival would not be a responsible position at this point . ''
NHS officials have urged people with suspected cancer symptoms to seek help as normal after a survey revealed a huge drop in GP referrals ( Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty ) When asked about cancer screening programmes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cervical cancers , Dame Cally said it was `` incredibly important '' that any appointments that had been missed were rescheduled .
`` I 'm concerned that we get , in particular , bowel cancer screening back in place , '' she said .
`` Things like bowel cancer ( are ) very slow growing , so I think if it 's four to six weeks rescheduling that should n't affect survival , but it 's very important that we continue with our big screening programmes for cancer . ''
It comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that thousands of people are missing out on cancer diagnoses , in part because people are staying away from hospitals and GP surgeries due to coronavirus fears .
Dame Cally told MPs that NHS England was still on track to meet a target of diagnosing 75 per cent of cancers at early stages 1 and 2 by 2028 despite the Covid-19 pandemic .
Some 14 out of 21 `` Covid-free '' cancer networks were doing cancer surgery at the moment .
She said : `` I am still optimistic that we will meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term plan because it 's crucial for our cancer patients . ''
Earlier this week , a report found almost 18,000 more people could die from cancer over the next year in England due to the impact of Covid-19 .
Delays in diagnosing new cancers and getting treatment for those who already have the disease could significantly impact survival , according to the study from University College London ( UCL ) and DATA-CAN , the Health Data Research Hub for Cancer .
Researchers estimated that pre-Covid-19 , about 31,354 newly diagnosed cancer patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But as a result of coronavirus , they found there could be at least 6,270 extra deaths in newly diagnosed cancer patients - a rise of a fifth .

Urgent cancer referrals have dropped by 62 per cent due to Covid-19, the head of cancer services for the NHS has said.
Dame Cally Palmer, national cancer director for NHS England, said chemotherapy treatments were running at 70 per cent of normal levels, but two-week referrals – where GPs send patients with suspected cancer to specialists for further investigation – were down by almost two-thirds – just under 15,000 people booked for an appointment in the week commencing April 25.
Dame Cally told MPs on the Commons Health and Social Care Committee: “That is a 62 per cent reduction and clearly it’s very important we address that because early detection is vital for increased survival.”
When asked if that meant up to two-thirds of cancers were being missed, she replied: “I don’t think that’s the case because the service has roughly an 8 per cent conversion rate for urgent referrals.
“It’s really important to state that urgent referrals and urgent cancer treatments is continuing – obviously we need to tailor that to patients’ individual risk, but I think it would be wrong to make a mathematical calculation on that basis. It’s very important that we get people coming forward but I think to translate that into missed diagnosis and poor survival would not be a responsible position at this point.”
When asked about cancer screening programmes, which include those for bowel, breast and cervical cancers, Dame Cally said it was “incredibly important” that any appointments that had been missed were rescheduled. “I’m concerned that we get, in particular, bowel cancer screening back in place,” she said.
“Things like bowel cancer (are) very slow growing, so I think if it’s four to six weeks rescheduling that shouldn’t affect survival, but it’s very important that we continue with our big screening programmes for cancer.”
Missing out
It comes after Cancer Research UK said last week that thousands of people are missing out on cancer diagnoses, in part because people are staying away from hospitals and GP surgeries due to coronavirus fears.
Dame Cally told MPs that NHS England was still on track to meet a target of diagnosing 75 per cent of cancers at early stages 1 and 2 by 2028 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 14 out of 21 “Covid-free” cancer networks were doing cancer surgery at the moment.
She said: “I am still optimistic that we will meet those targets over the term of the long-term plan because it’s crucial for our cancer patients.”
Read More: Cancer charity pauses some activities as paramedic founder returns to NHS front line
Earlier this week, a report found almost 18,000 more people could die from cancer over the next year in England due to the impact of Covid-19. Delays in diagnosing new cancers and getting treatment for those who already have the disease could significantly impact survival, according to the study from University College London (UCL) and DATA-CAN, the Health Data Research Hub for Cancer.
Researchers estimated that pre-Covid-19, about 31,354 newly diagnosed cancer patients would die within a year in England. But as a result of coronavirus, they found there could be at least 6,270 extra deaths in newly diagnosed cancer patients – a rise of a fifth.


inews--2020-05-01--'Four in a day used to be a busy day, but that's now normal': a funeral director's week during coron

'Four in a day used to be a busy day, but that's now normal': a funeral director's week during coronavirus lockdown

'Four in a day used to be a busy day , but that 's now normal ' : a funeral director 's week during coronavirus lockdown Jenny Gilbert-Trigg is funeral director at AJ Adkinson and Son in Leicestershire , which has been run by her family for four generations Four funerals in a day used to be a busy day , but that 's now normal .
There was just one attendee at the first , held early in the morning .
Her husband lived in a care home and although he didn ’ t die from coronavirus , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks before he died .
She is in her eighties and has health concerns of her own .
We spoke a lot over the phone beforehand .
They did n't have any family or children .
She asked if I would be at the funeral , and I said I would be , of course , but that I would stand at a distance .
She told me I was the person she 'd spoken to most in three weeks .
I think that 's one of the saddest things I think I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have 50 or 60 at a funeral .
Now there is a 10 person limit , which most people are reluctantly sticking to .
Saturday funerals are rare , but today we had a double funeral for father and son who both died of coronavirus .
As Hindus , they have rituals and rites that are too interactive at the moment .
I spent a lot of the previous week working helping them devise ways they could fulfil as many as possible without compromising their health or staff welfare .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on call 24 hours , every day .
We get calls from people about the funerals that we 're already arranging because they 've had a thought and want to change something .
Unusually , we didn ’ t receive calls about any new deaths , but I spoke to a colleague five miles down the road and they received 15 , which is more than they 'd ever had in a weekend .
There is a sense of waves coming .
You have a couple of quiet days but then you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gilbert-Trigg is funeral director at AJ Adkinson and Son in Leicestershire , which has been run by her family for four generations We had six calls about deaths in hospital .
When someone dies in the community , we take them into our care as soon as they have been verified as expired .
When someone dies in hospital there is a delay , because a doctor has to issue a death certificate , you have to register a death , and then there 's a conversation with the family to determine when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The guidance from Public Health England is to encourage families to have funerals as soon as possible .
Some people do want to make arrangements half an hour after the death .
Others need some time to come to terms with what 's happening .
We had a call today from someone who lives in Canterbury whose mother is gravely ill. We have buried other members of the family in the cemetery here and the mother ’ s wish is to be buried in that grave .
They had no idea if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We talked to a funeral director local to them who can help .
There is a bit of unspoken camaraderie between independent funeral directors .
I ’ m still working from home .
There are a lot of people who are saying , ' I do n't want to have a funeral now .
Nobody 's going to be there .
We 'd rather you did what needs to be done , and we will focus on a celebration of that person 's life in the future . '
Direct cremation is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those today .
We follow the same processes as any other cremation at these .
I ask , 'Would I want a member of my family treated like this ? '
And if I wouldn ’ t , I don ’ t do it .
A funeral is a difficult thing to go through for anybody , even more so when you ca n't hold hands or hug .
But I think the value of attending a funeral should n't be underestimated in terms of emotional well being and closure .
Carrying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big mental health time box down the road .

Friday
Four funerals in a day used to be a busy day, but that’s now normal. There was just one attendee at the first, held early in the morning. Her husband lived in a care home and although he didn’t die from coronavirus, she hadn’t seen him for three weeks before he died. She is in her eighties and has health concerns of her own.
We spoke a lot over the phone beforehand. They didn’t have any family or children. She asked if I would be at the funeral, and I said I would be, of course, but that I would stand at a distance. She told me I was the person she’d spoken to most in three weeks. I think that’s one of the saddest things I think I’ve ever heard.
Afterwards, she said that although she wouldn’t have chosen to be alone, it gave her time to have a final conversation with her husband.
Saturday
It is common to have 50 or 60 at a funeral. Now there is a 10 person limit, which most people are reluctantly sticking to. Saturday funerals are rare, but today we had a double funeral for father and son who both died of coronavirus.
One died in hospital and one at home. Other family members had symptoms so had been isolating for 14 days and this was the first possible day for it.
As Hindus, they have rituals and rites that are too interactive at the moment . I spent a lot of the previous week working helping them devise ways they could fulfil as many as possible without compromising their health or staff welfare.
When people are grieving, they’re less likely to follow rules and protocols because their emotions take over. Funeral directors don’t have the authority to say, ‘Don’t do that.’
Double funerals come along once every couple of years for a funeral director. We’ve done three related to coronavirus.
Sunday
There are no funerals today, but we are on call 24 hours, every day. We get calls from people about the funerals that we’re already arranging because they’ve had a thought and want to change something. Unusually, we didn’t receive calls about any new deaths, but I spoke to a colleague five miles down the road and they received 15, which is more than they’d ever had in a weekend. There is a sense of waves coming. You have a couple of quiet days but then you know something’s about to happen.
Monday
We had six calls about deaths in hospital. When someone dies in the community, we take them into our care as soon as they have been verified as expired. When someone dies in hospital there is a delay, because a doctor has to issue a death certificate, you have to register a death, and then there’s a conversation with the family to determine when they feel ready to make arrangements.
The guidance from Public Health England is to encourage families to have funerals as soon as possible. Some people do want to make arrangements half an hour after the death. Others need some time to come to terms with what’s happening.
I have learned how to read how people are feeling about that through their body language, but that’s harder now because everything is over the phone.
I went home at lunchtime because I started feeling unwell. I can’t risk infecting the 20 other members of staff because then there would be no one to conduct the funerals.
Tuesday
I’m working at home. I don’t have a cough or a temperature, so I’m not in a position to be tested.
We had a call today from someone who lives in Canterbury whose mother is gravely ill. We have buried other members of the family in the cemetery here and the mother’s wish is to be buried in that grave. They had no idea if it was possible, but it is. We talked to a funeral director local to them who can help. There is a bit of unspoken camaraderie between independent funeral directors.
Wednesday
I’m still working from home. There are a lot of people who are saying, ‘I don’t want to have a funeral now. Nobody’s going to be there. We’d rather you did what needs to be done, and we will focus on a celebration of that person’s life in the future.’
Direct cremation is an unattended cremation. We had one of those today. We follow the same processes as any other cremation at these. I ask, ‘Would I want a member of my family treated like this?’ And if I wouldn’t, I don’t do it.
A funeral is a difficult thing to go through for anybody, even more so when you can’t hold hands or hug. But I think the value of attending a funeral shouldn’t be underestimated in terms of emotional well being and closure. Carrying on with life without that is pushing quite a big mental health time box down the road.
At the other end of the scale, there was an elaborate funeral with a horse drawn cart. The family followed it on foot around their village. I am told that a lot of people came out of their houses to applaud, I guess in a sign of acknowledgement.


inews--2020-05-01--When will hairdressers reopen? Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first bus

When will hairdressers reopen? Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first businesses to open

When will hairdressers reopen ?
Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first businesses to open Latest on UK lockdown closures and if hairdressers could be among first businesses to reopen .
As hairdressers and barber shops remain temporarily closed , many across the UK have been getting creative with cutting their own hair at home - with some interesting results ( Photo : Shutterstock ) As hairdressers and barber shops remain temporarily closed , many across the UK have been getting creative with cutting their own hair at home - with some very interesting results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open again ?
Here ’ s what you need to know .
The Metro recently reported that senior ministers are pushing a so-called ‘ traffic light ’ system to lift the lockdown .
Under this plan , small shops could be allowed to reopen first , alongside hairdressers and nurseries .
Schools would also begin to reopen .
This would start with primary , GCSE and A Level students able to go back part-time .
However , the public would still be urged to avoid non-essential travel .
Next in the phase could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to go back to school with social distancing measures in place .
Companies with fewer than 50 staff would be able to reopen and people could be allowed to take public transport while wearing face masks .
Could salons be shut for a long time ?
It depends what phase of the re-opening they are included in .
According to reports , hair and beauty salons could remain shut for six months or potentially longer , after government scientists advised that there is not a safe way for them to reopen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ease their lockdowns , such as Denmark , have permitted hairdressers to open in the first phase .
They can , however , draw on a second Treasury wage scheme which is for the self-employed .
Self-employed workers do n't need to apply to it , as HMRC will contact those who are eligible for the payout by mid-May .
Citizens Advice explains that “ if your income has dropped because of coronavirus , you might be able to get money from the government .
“ You could get 80 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum of £2,500 per month .
This is called the Self-employment Income Support Scheme .
How can I support my local hairdresser ?
A good way to support your local hair salon is to buy a gift voucher now that you can use there when they reopen .
Hairdressers will also be very busy when they do reopen , so if your salon does have a waiting list , then it ’ s worth putting your name down now .

Hairdressers and barber shops across the UK are reopening from July 4, amid a raft of changes to lockdown restrictions that include the reopening of museums, galleries and cinemas, plus relief for the hospitality sector, with pubs, restaurants and hotels allowed to start trading again.
Since March, hairdressers have remained temporarily closed, with many across the UK getting creative with cutting their own hair at home – with some very interesting results.
Now they are set to reopen, but with extra security measures in place. Here’s what you need to know.
When do hairdressers reopen?
Hairdressers had been named among the businesses able to reopen from July 4, to the relief of families who have been managing with DIY haircuts and shaggier locks.
This is in line with the government’s “phase three” of lockdown, in which hospitality businesses, some entertainment venues and hairdressers might be able to reopen.
The decision to reopen salons comes as part of Boris Johnsons blueprint for a gradual easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England, which saw primary schools, nurseries and shops partially reopening from 1 June.
Although it was originally thought that hairdressers could be among the first businesses to reopen, Dominic Raab revealed that they will not open until July at the earliest.
This is in line with the plans for some cafes or restaurants with outdoor space, and places or worship and socially distanced cinemas.
When Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a four-phase route map to ease Scotland out of lockdown restrictions, she said retail services including hairdressers are not expected to be allowed to open for bookings again until phase three of the plan.
What safety measures will be in place?
Hairdressers and barbers have been advised to wear protective visors when they reopen after July 4.
Other precautions are expected, such as discussing the appointment in the mirror and avoiding smalltalk during the haircut to reduce the amount of face-to-face time.
The National Hair and Beauty Federation has advised salons to be clear in their messaging to customers about the health and safety measures in place.
What about wages?
It is estimated that 60 per cent of hairdressers are freelance, making them ineligible for the government’s furlough scheme.
They can, however, draw on a second Treasury wage scheme which is for the self-employed. Self-employed workers don’t need to apply to it, as HMRC will contact those who are eligible for the payout by mid-May.
Citizens Advice explains that “if your income has dropped because of coronavirus, you might be able to get money from the government.
“You could get 80 per cent of your average profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. This is called the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.”
How can I support my local hairdresser?
A good way to support your local hair salon is to buy a gift voucher now that you can use there when they reopen.
Hairdressers will also be very busy when they do reopen, so if your salon does have a waiting list, then it’s worth putting your name down now.
L’Oréal Professionnel, the British Beauty Council patron, has released a COVID-19 support guide to help salon owners, employees, and self-employed hair stylists who are currently out of work.
The guide includes details on the current government measures, alongside information on how to claim benefits, HR and legal advice.


inews--2020-05-02--Van Der Valk cast: who stars with Marc Warren in the cop series reboot - and when it's on ITV

Van Der Valk cast : who stars with Marc Warren in the cop series reboot - and when it 's on ITV Set in Amsterdam , it follows a team of cops led by a cynical detective as they struggle to get to grips with high profile murders ITV has rebooted classic Dutch detective drama Van Der Valk with a modern day twist and a host of new actors taking on the lead roles .
Set in Amsterdam , it follows a team of cops led by a cynical detective as they struggle to get to grips with high profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know about the remake .
When is Van Der Valk on TV ?
The first episode aired on ITV on 26 April at 8pm , with subsequent instalments following in the same slot every Sunday .
Each episode will be available to watch on catch up shortly after broadcast .
Who stars in the new cast ?
Marc Warren takes on the eponymous lead role of Simon `` Piet '' Van der Valk in the new series .
He lives on a boat , is a bit of a loner , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor , very “ comfortable in his own skin ” .
You might recognise the steely-eyed British actor from shows such as Hustle , Band of Brothers and The Good Wife .
He also played the rather scheming Samuel Parker in Beecham House , and Pete Mayfield in Netflix series Safe .
Maimie McCoy will play Lucienne Hassell , Van der Valk 's trusted detective side kick .
She previously starred alongside Warren in The Musketeers , as well as appearing in White House Farm and A Confession , among others .
Elliot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cloovers .
He 's scored roles in Ready Player One , The Strangers and Dolittle in the past .
Luke Allen-Gale ( Dominion/This Borgias ) plays Van der Valk 's teammate Brad De Vries , Darrell D ’ Silva ( Game of Thrones/Informer ) plays hard drinking pathologist Hendrik Davis , and Emma Fielding ( Les Misérables/Years and Years/Unforgotten ) takes on the part of Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman – Van der Valk 's boss .
There is also a host of guest stars every week .
In the first episode , Stephanie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meisner and Vineeta Rishi ( Doctors/Line of Duty ) will play Therese Ramecker .

ITV has rebooted classic Dutch detective drama Van Der Valk with a modern day twist and a host of new actors taking on the lead roles.
Set in Amsterdam, it follows a team of cops led by a cynical detective as they struggle to get to grips with high profile murders.
The original, starring Barry Foster as Simon “Piet” Van der Valk, was released in 1972.
Here’s everything you need to know about the remake.
When is Van Der Valk on TV?
The third episode aired on ITV on Sunday 10 May at 8.20pm, with subsequent instalments following in the same slot every week.
Each episode will be available to watch on catch up shortly after broadcast.
Who stars in the new cast?
Marc Warren takes on the eponymous lead role of Simon “Piet” Van der Valk in the new series. He lives on a boat, is a bit of a loner, a little tactiturn but, according to the actor, very “comfortable in his own skin”.
You might recognise the steely-eyed British actor from shows such as Hustle, Band of Brothers and The Good Wife. He also played the rather scheming Samuel Parker in Beecham House, and Pete Mayfield in Netflix series Safe.
Maimie McCoy will play Lucienne Hassell, Van der Valk’s trusted detective side kick. She previously starred alongside Warren in The Musketeers, as well as appearing in White House Farm and A Confession, among others.
Elliot Barnes Worrell plays junior police officer Job Cloovers. He’s scored roles in Ready Player One, The Strangers and Dolittle in the past.
Luke Allen-Gale (Dominion/This Borgias) plays Van der Valk’s teammate Brad De Vries, Darrell D’Silva (Game of Thrones/Informer) plays hard drinking pathologist Hendrik Davis, and Emma Fielding (Les Misérables/Years and Years/Unforgotten) takes on the part of Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman – Van der Valk’s boss.
There is also a host of guest stars every week. In the first episode, Stephanie Leonidas (Endeavour/Snatch) will play Eva Meisner and Vineeta Rishi (Doctors/Line of Duty) will play Therese Ramecker.
Is there a trailer?
You can watch the trailer for the new series of Van der Valk via Youtube here.


inews--2020-05-02--Primates: when the documentary narrated by Chris Packham is on BBC One, and the animals featured

Primates : when the documentary narrated by Chris Packham is on BBC One , and the animals featured The three-episode adventure takes viewers around the world for an intimate look at how monkeys , apes and lemurs have adapted to survive New BBC documentary series Primates aims to uncover the lives of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom .
Described by the broadcaster as the “ definitive celebration of the animals you thought you knew ” , the three-episode adventure takes viewers around the world for an intimate look at how monkeys , apes and lemurs have adapted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they socialise and develop cultures they pass on to future generations .
“ At the heart of this ground-breaking series is incredible animal behaviour , ” reads the synopsis .
“ New technology has captured primates on their level and in their world , whether that ’ s in the treetops of a flooded forest , or the tangled undergrowth of the Sri Lankan night.
” Here 's everything you need to know about it .
The first episode of the series , Secrets of Survival , aired on Sunday 26 Apirl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matters , airs at the same time the following Sunday , and the third , Saving Primates , the Sunday after that .
The executive producer of the series is Michael Gunton , known for his work on Big Cats , Dynasties and Planet Earth II .
It took the Primates team two years to capture the footage over 28 filming expeditions across the world .
New technology allowed them to capture primates on their level , using tiny remote cameras , canopy cams and a huge , state of the heart 360 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the first episode ?
Secrets of Survival explores the strategies and coping mechanisms monkeys , apes and lemurs in different areas of the world use in order to ensure their survival .
The team follows a troop of bearded capuchins in Brazil ’ s badlands as they struggle to find food during a drought and turn to tools in order to get what they need .
Meanwhile , on a remote island off of the west African coastline , we mean the little known drill species , who must fight for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lion-tailed macaques fight squirrels for jackfruit in the Western Ghats of India , while on the edge of the Congo basin , volcanic slopes are the homes of the silverback mountain gorillas .
One leader shows his softer side as a caring father raising his young .
Which key species are set to be featured ?

New BBC documentary series Primates aims to uncover the lives of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.
Described by the broadcaster as the “definitive celebration of the animals you thought you knew”, the three-episode adventure takes viewers around the world for an intimate look at how monkeys, apes and lemurs have adapted to survive in the most unexpected places, how they socialise and develop cultures they pass on to future generations.
“At the heart of this ground-breaking series is incredible animal behaviour,” reads the synopsis. “New technology has captured primates on their level and in their world, whether that’s in the treetops of a flooded forest, or the tangled undergrowth of the Sri Lankan night.”
Here’s everything you need to know about it.
When does Primates start?
The next episode has been postponed because of the Prime Ministers update tonight but Protecting Primates will air next week on Sunday 17 May at 8.15pm.
Who made the series?
The executive producer of the series is Michael Gunton, known for his work on Big Cats, Dynasties and Planet Earth II.
Environmentalist and trained zoologist Chris Packham is the narrator.
It took the Primates team two years to capture the footage over 28 filming expeditions across the world.
New technology allowed them to capture primates on their level, using tiny remote cameras, canopy cams and a huge, state of the heart 360 degree rig.
What can we expect from the first episode?
Secrets of Survival explores the strategies and coping mechanisms monkeys, apes and lemurs in different areas of the world use in order to ensure their survival.
The team follows a troop of bearded capuchins in Brazil’s badlands as they struggle to find food during a drought and turn to tools in order to get what they need.
Meanwhile, on a remote island off of the west African coastline, we mean the little known drill species, who must fight for a place in their hierarchy or risk exile.
Lion-tailed macaques fight squirrels for jackfruit in the Western Ghats of India, while on the edge of the Congo basin, volcanic slopes are the homes of the silverback mountain gorillas. One leader shows his softer side as a caring father raising his young.
Problem-solving baboons and rhesus macaques also make an appearance.
Which key species are set to be featured?
Producers listed the following primates who appear in the documentary series in alphabetical order:
Barbary macaque – Morocco
Bearded capuchin – Brazil
Blue-eyed black lemur – Madagascar
Bornean orangutan – Borneo
Chimpanzee – Uganda
Common marmoset – Brazil
Drill – Bioko, Equatorial Guinea
Dusky langur – Malaysia
Gray slender loris – Sri Lanka
Golden-headed lion tamarin – Brazil
Hanuman langur – India
Kipunji – Tanzania
Lac Alaotra gentle lemur – Madagascar
Lar gibbon – Thailand
Lesser bush baby – South Africa
Lion-tailed macaque – India
Long-tailed macaque – Thailand
Mountain gorilla – Democratic Republic of Congo
Owl monkey – Argentina
Rhesus macaque – Nepal
Tapanuli orangutan – Sumatra
White-cheeked spider monkey – Brazil
White uakari – Brazil
Yellow baboon – Zambia


inews--2020-05-02--Where was Van Der Valk filmed? Filming location for the rebooted ITV cop drama series

Where was Van Der Valk filmed ?
Filming location for the rebooted ITV cop drama series The series follows a team of cops led by a cynical detective as they struggle to get to grips with high profile murders It follows a team of cops led by a cynical detective as they struggle to get to grips with high profile murders .
The original , starring Barry Foster as Simon `` Piet '' Van der Valk , was released in 1972 .
The remake , which stars Marc Warren in the lead role ( Hustle/ Band of Brothers/ The Good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday on ITV at 8.00pm .
Where was the Van Der Valk remake filmed ?
A truly authentic Dutch crime drama , the reboot was shot entirely on location in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam , known for it network of canals , cafes and iconic bridges .
The exact filming spots in the city have not been released by the production company ahead of the premiere , but viewers can expect to see key landmarks and tourist attractions as the series goes on .
Expect to see plenty of canals , bridges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landmarks ( Photo : Unsplash/ Adrien Olichon ) Other famous shows and movies filmed in Amsterdam include Netflix series Sens8 , The Fault in Our Stars and Diamonds Are Forever , among others .
Who stars in the new cast ?
Marc Warren takes on the eponymous lead role of Simon `` Piet '' Van der Valk .
The character lives on a boat , is a bit of a loner , a little taciturn but , according to the actor , very “ comfortable in his own skin ” .
Maimie McCoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valk 's trusted detective side kick .
She previously starred alongside Warren in The Musketeers , as well as appearing in White House Farm and A Confession , among others .
Marc Warren takes over as the titular Dutch detective tasked with linking the murders of two seemingly unconnected victims ( Photo : Elmer van der Marel/ITV )

Dutch detective drama Van Der Valk is back on ITV with a modern day twist and a brand new cast
It follows a team of cops led by a cynical detective as they struggle to get to grips with high profile murders.
The original, starring Barry Foster as Simon “Piet” Van der Valk, was released in 1972. The remake, which stars Marc Warren in the lead role (Hustle/ Band of Brothers/ The Good Wife), is now showing every Sunday on ITV at 8.00pm.
Where was the Van Der Valk remake filmed?
A truly authentic Dutch crime drama, the reboot was shot entirely on location in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, known for it network of canals, cafes and iconic bridges.
The exact filming spots in the city have not been released by the production company ahead of the premiere, but viewers can expect to see key landmarks and tourist attractions as the series goes on.
Other famous shows and movies filmed in Amsterdam include Netflix series Sens8, The Fault in Our Stars and Diamonds Are Forever, among others.
Who stars in the new cast?
Marc Warren takes on the eponymous lead role of Simon “Piet” Van der Valk. The character lives on a boat, is a bit of a loner, a little taciturn but, according to the actor, very “comfortable in his own skin”.
Maimie McCoy will play Lucienne Hassell, Van der Valk’s trusted detective side kick. She previously starred alongside Warren in The Musketeers, as well as appearing in White House Farm and A Confession, among others.
Elliot Barnes Worrell plays junior police officer Job Cloovers. He’s scored roles in Ready Player One, The Strangers and Dolittle in the past.
Luke Allen-Gale (Dominion/This Borgias) plays Van der Valk’s teammate Brad De Vries, Darrell D’Silva (Game of Thrones/Informer) plays hard drinking pathologist Hendrik Davis, and Emma Fielding (Les Misérables/Years and Years/Unforgotten) takes on the part of Chief Commissaris Julia Dahlman – Van der Valk’s boss.


inews--2020-05-02--Coronavirus latest: Empty EU Parliament building in Belgium turned into refuge for homeless women an

Coronavirus latest: Empty EU Parliament building in Belgium turned into refuge for homeless women and domestic abuse survivors

Coronavirus latest : Empty EU Parliament building in Belgium turned into refuge for homeless women and domestic abuse survivors The doors of the Helmut Kohl office block building were opened to those displaced in the course of the crisis in Brussels on Wednesday The doors of the Helmut Kohl office building were opened to those displaced in the course of the crisis in Belgium on Wednesday .
Each office now acts as a bedroom for two women .
Meals and medical care is also provided at the facility – a joint venture between the Parliament and homelessness charity Samusocial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told public broadcaster RTBF : `` We 've had many cases of women thrown on to the streets since the lockdown started , because of domestic violence , which is tending to increase.
” He added that despite this , the future remained uncertain for homeless women when the lockdown was over , but that it afforded society the opportunity to improve its response to providing a safety net for its most vulnerable citizens .
`` We had to move on all the time in this lockdown , my husband and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the police told us 'you must keep moving ' .
At the end of the day we were exhausted , '' she said .
While she described the temporary refuge as “ more comfortable ” than shelters she 'd stayed in in the past , where up to six women share a room , she was upset that her husband was not allowed to shelter with her .
Most of the European Parliament buildings are empty during the lockdown , as most MEPs attend sessions via vidoe link .
Only a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The campaign - led by Southall Black Sisters and Compassion in Politics , and championed by Labour MP Jess Phillips - is asking for money to shelter women whose lives have been endangered during the lockdown , as has been the response to homeless citizens .
Together with the Public Interest Law Centre , they have since launched legal action against the Government for its failure to protect vulnerable women and children during the crisis .
“ The hotel-hostel sector is ready and willing to help keep vulnerable women and children safe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ How many more deaths must we see before the government wakes up to this new reality ?
” Jess Phillips MP , who is chair of the APPG on Domestic Abuse , added : “ We need the government to act now to provide the necessary funding to keep women and children safe .
This is an urgent national issue that needs an urgent national response .
`` Every passing day puts someone else at risk .
Charities and the private sector have pulled together to offer solutions to deal with the rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need the government in order to deliver them.
” Home Secretary Priti Patel 's announcement of £2million to tackle domestic abuse during the crisis was widely criticised ( Photo : Getty )

Around 100 homeless women, many of whom were seeking refuge during lockdown because of domestic abuse, have been housed in a European Parliament building in Brussels.
The doors of the Helmut Kohl office building were opened to those displaced in the course of the crisis in Belgium on Wednesday.
Each office now acts as a bedroom for two women. Meals and medical care is also provided at the facility – a joint venture between the Parliament and homelessness charity Samusocial.
Samusocial, which is running the makeshift refuge, is acting in response to rising levels of domestic abuse cases in the capital.
Sébastien Roy, the director of Samusocial, told public broadcaster RTBF: “We’ve had many cases of women thrown on to the streets since the lockdown started, because of domestic violence, which is tending to increase.”
He added that despite this, the future remained uncertain for homeless women when the lockdown was over, but that it afforded society the opportunity to improve its response to providing a safety net for its most vulnerable citizens.
Setting an example
Adeline described gaining access to the Parliament accommodation as a “relief”.
Speaking to RTBF, she said she felt that the homeless had been forgotten during the Covid-19 crisis in Belgium.
“We had to move on all the time in this lockdown, my husband and I walked 15km (nine miles) daily, the police told us ‘you must keep moving’. At the end of the day we were exhausted,” she said.
While she described the temporary refuge as “more comfortable” than shelters she’d stayed in in the past, where up to six women share a room, she was upset that her husband was not allowed to shelter with her.
Further emergency accommodation is being provided for homeless people in hotels around Brussels.
Most of the European Parliament buildings are empty during the lockdown, as most MEPs attend sessions via video link. Only a few take to the chamber in person.
“I think this crisis should push all of us, the institutions included, to set a good example,” Parliament President David Sassoli said of the Helmut Kohl facility.
The Parliament has also lent its kitchens to charities in order to provide around 1,000 meals a day to homeless people during the crisis.
The British response
In the UK, more than 30 organisations have been lobbying the Government to provide similar accommodation for victims of domestic abuse via subsidised hotel rooms.
The campaign – led by Southall Black Sisters and Compassion in Politics, and championed by Labour MP Jess Phillips – is asking for money to shelter women whose lives have been endangered during the lockdown, as has been the response to homeless citizens.
Together with the Public Interest Law Centre, they have since launched legal action against the Government for its failure to protect vulnerable women and children during the crisis.
“Covid-19 is not just a medical crisis but a social, economic and human rights crisis,” Pragna Patel, Director at Southall Black Sisters, said.
“The hotel-hostel sector is ready and willing to help keep vulnerable women and children safe. Why is the government not ready? How many more deaths must we see before the government wakes up to this new reality?”
Jess Phillips MP, who is chair of the APPG on Domestic Abuse, added: “We need the government to act now to provide the necessary funding to keep women and children safe. This is an urgent national issue that needs an urgent national response.
“Every passing day puts someone else at risk. Charities and the private sector have pulled together to offer solutions to deal with the rising cases of domestic abuse – now we need the government in order to deliver them.”
So far, Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced an extra £2 million to support crisis helplines dealing with domestic abuse reports in the UK, calls to which have increased dramatically during the lockdown.
However, organisations criticised the response as woefully inadequate and well below the £48.2 million Women’s Aid says the sector needs to prevent the deaths of more women and children during the Covid-19 crisis.
Earlier this week, researchers from Counting Dead Women Project told MPs that 14 women and two children had been killed in the first three weeks of lockdown.
If you are in a domestic abuse situation and concerned about your safety, call 999. If you are unable to speak directly to an officer at the time, press ‘5’ and they will respond accordingly. More advice can be given via the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247.


inews--2020-05-02--Remdesivir: Ebola drug granted emergency approval to treat coronavirus in US

Remdesivir : Ebola drug granted emergency approval to treat coronavirus in US The anti-viral drug was shown to help shorten the recovery time for people who were hospitalised with the coronavirus in recent trials Donald Trump is said to have been a vocal supporter of use of the Ebola drug .
He was also criticised for suggesting injecting disinfectant could combat the virus - a statement he later claimed was made sarcastically ( Photo : Getty ) Authorities in the United States will allow the emergency use of Ebola drug remdesivir for treating patients with severe Covid-19 .
The anti-viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery time for people who were hospitalised with the coronavirus in recent clinical trials .
However the emergency authorisation by the Food and Drug Administration means usage has been rushed through without the usual higher levels of review medication goes through before it can be rolled out for treating the public .
Medical experts have since warned that the use of the Ebola drug , which is manufactured by Gilead pharmaceutical company , should not be seen as a “ magic bullet ” for Covid-19 .
The company will donate 1.5 million doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , in what Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O'Day said during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office was an “ important first step ” .
`` It 's the first authorised therapy for Covid-19 , so we 're really proud to be part of it , ” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn , also present at the meeting , added .
US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) found that remdesivir shortened the duration of symptoms suffered by patients with Covid-19 from 15 days to 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the virus in hospitals around the world .
Head of NIAID , Dr Anthony Fauci , said that the use of remdesirvir had a “ clear cut , significant , positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery ” .
Even so , while the drug may speed up recovery , and potentially stop the need for some patients to be treated in intensive care , there was no clear evidence it could actually prevent further deaths from the virus .
Matt Hancock gives plasma to new UK clinical trial for Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , in the UK , a potential treatment that uses plasma from recovered patients is being trialled at Guy 's and St Thomas ' hospital in London .
It is hoped that the “ convalescent plasma ” treatment will help patients whose bodies are failing to produce enough antibodies to fight Covid-19 .
The NHS Blood and Transplant service is on standby to begin a national programme to deliver up to 10,000 units of convalescent plasma a week to the NHS if the treatment is proven to be effective .

Authorities in the United States will allow the emergency use of Ebola drug remdesivir for treating patients with severe Covid-19.
The anti-viral drug was shown to help shorten the recovery time for people who were hospitalised with the coronavirus in recent clinical trials.
However the emergency authorisation by the Food and Drug Administration means usage has been rushed through without the usual higher levels of review medication goes through before it can be rolled out for treating the public.
Medical experts have since warned that the use of the Ebola drug, which is manufactured by Gilead pharmaceutical company, should not be seen as a “magic bullet” for Covid-19.
‘Important first step’
The company will donate 1.5 million doses of the drug to help during the crisis, in what Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O’Day said during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office was an “important first step”.
“It’s the first authorised therapy for Covid-19, so we’re really proud to be part of it,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, also present at the meeting, added.
US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) found that remdesivir shortened the duration of symptoms suffered by patients with Covid-19 from 15 days to 11 during clinical trials on 1063 different people with the virus in hospitals around the world.
Head of NIAID, Dr Anthony Fauci, said that the use of remdesirvir had a “clear cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery”.
Even so, while the drug may speed up recovery, and potentially stop the need for some patients to be treated in intensive care, there was no clear evidence it could actually prevent further deaths from the virus.
On Saturday morning, 65,603 deaths from coronavirus have been confirmed in the US.
Convalescent plasma
Meanwhile, in the UK, a potential treatment that uses plasma from recovered patients is being trialled at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London.
Transfusions are expected to begin in the next few weeks.
It is hoped that the “convalescent plasma” treatment will help patients whose bodies are failing to produce enough antibodies to fight Covid-19.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service is on standby to begin a national programme to deliver up to 10,000 units of convalescent plasma a week to the NHS if the treatment is proven to be effective.
That would be enough to treat 5,000 patients in hospital a week.