inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Britain's high street retailers endure their worst month on record as shoppers keep the

Coronavirus: Britain's high street retailers endure their worst month on record as shoppers keep their distance

Coronavirus : Britain 's high street retailers endure their worst month on record as shoppers keep their distance Fashion in-store sales plunged by 40.4 per cent — its worst ever decline Britain 's high street retailers suffered their worst month on record in March , for both in-store and total sales , following the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK , figures show .
According to BDO ’ s High Street Sales Tracker ( HSST ) , total like-for-like sales , combined of both in-store and non-store sales , dropped 17.9 per cent last month , compared with a rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In-store like-for-like sales plummeted a record 34.1 per cent , against a 4.8 per cent rise for March last year .
Reduced footfall due to social distancing and isolation , diverted demand from discretionary to essential items , and enforced store closures in the final week of March all contributed to the worst results on record for total in-store like-for-like sales .
London looks deserted as Britons pay attention to strict social distancing measures ( Photo : Leon Neal/Getty ) Every sector suffered a decline last month .
Fashion in-store sales plunged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline .
During the final week of March , in-store fashion sales were almost wiped out , falling 99.28 per cent after trading for just two days prior to lockdown .
Lastly , homeware in-store sales declined by 26.1 per cent , after a 9.0 per cent rise last year .
These results mark the worst like-for-like for in-store homeware since May 2018 .
As shoppers turned to ecommerce , non-store like-for-like sales increased by 13.7 per cent in March , on the back of a rise of 18.7 per cent last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth , however the increase was not consistent across all sectors as fashion retailers experienced a substantial drop in demand across all channels , while lifestyle retailers experienced good results online .
Sophie Michael , Head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO LLP , said : “ It ’ s no surprise that March was the worst month on record for the high street , as the Covid-19 outbreak had an immediate impact on consumer demand for discretionary items .
“ Understandably , shoppers are being very cautious with their pounds , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For most retailers , in-store sales make up the largest portion of their revenue , so they are having to rely solely on non-store channels and adapt aggressively to survive .
It is likely that the pandemic has only sped up the shift away from in-store shopping as consumers become even more accustomed to buying on-line . ''
Ms Michael added that retailers need to consider longer term strategic planning for the future once the lockdown lifts and normality resumes .
She said : “ For now , businesses and consumers will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and clarity .
Although many will welcome the extent of government support provided , most if not all retailers will still carry heavy costs associated with inactive shops .
Ultimately , a frank and open dialogue is now needed together with collaboration from all parties to achieve viable outcomes .
”

Britain’s high street retailers suffered their worst month on record in March, for both in-store and total sales, following the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK, figures show.
According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), total like-for-like sales, combined of both in-store and non-store sales, dropped 17.9 per cent last month, compared with a rise of 6.5 per cent last year.
In-store like-for-like sales plummeted a record 34.1 per cent, against a 4.8 per cent rise for March last year. Reduced footfall due to social distancing and isolation, diverted demand from discretionary to essential items, and enforced store closures in the final week of March all contributed to the worst results on record for total in-store like-for-like sales.
Every sector declines
Every sector suffered a decline last month. Fashion in-store sales plunged by 40.4 per cent – its worst ever decline. During the final week of March, in-store fashion sales were almost wiped out, falling 99.28 per cent after trading for just two days prior to lockdown.
Lifestyle in-store like-for-like sales also endured a record fall, down 24.6 per cent from a negative base of a 2.7 per cent last year.
Lastly, homeware in-store sales declined by 26.1 per cent, after a 9.0 per cent rise last year. These results mark the worst like-for-like for in-store homeware since May 2018.
As shoppers turned to ecommerce, non-store like-for-like sales increased by 13.7 per cent in March, on the back of a rise of 18.7 per cent last year. Total non-store sales continued to show growth, however the increase was not consistent across all sectors as fashion retailers experienced a substantial drop in demand across all channels, while lifestyle retailers experienced good results online.
Shoppers ‘cautious with their pounds’
Sophie Michael, Head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO LLP, said: “It’s no surprise that March was the worst month on record for the high street, as the Covid-19 outbreak had an immediate impact on consumer demand for discretionary items.
“Understandably, shoppers are being very cautious with their pounds, as concerns about job security grip the nation. For most retailers, in-store sales make up the largest portion of their revenue, so they are having to rely solely on non-store channels and adapt aggressively to survive. It is likely that the pandemic has only sped up the shift away from in-store shopping as consumers become even more accustomed to buying on-line.”
Ms Michael added that retailers need to consider longer term strategic planning for the future once the lockdown lifts and normality resumes.
She said: “For now, businesses and consumers will be looking to the Government for help and clarity. Although many will welcome the extent of government support provided, most if not all retailers will still carry heavy costs associated with inactive shops. Ultimately, a frank and open dialogue is now needed together with collaboration from all parties to achieve viable outcomes.”


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Your home haircuts may not be so stylish after lockdown

Coronavirus : Your home haircuts may not be so stylish after lockdown Several salon owners wrote to me despairing of having to tidy up the chaos left behind by Britain ’ s apprentice snippers Would-be hairdressers across the country are trying their hands at trims - and more ( Photo : Getty ) I fear we have done nothing for the mental wellbeing of the nation ’ s barbers and hair stylists .
Our article on Wednesday , “ Top snips for cutting your hair at home ” , provoked lively correspondence – both delight and consternation .
My wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it for my liking .
I shall sleep with one eye open .
Jo Whitney of West Looe in Cornwall ponders : “ I always wondered how Van Gogh managed to cut off his ear – was he doing a DIY haircut during lockdown ?
” Several salon owners wrote to me despairing of having to tidy up the chaos left behind by Britain ’ s apprentice snippers – the mullets , skullets , bowl cuts and curtains .
The prospect of such hairstrosity creates real angst .
Ted Aldridge , owner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cheshire , writes : “ Thousands of us will have been wincing at your article !
Daily , we get ‘ home haircut ’ disasters and then it ’ s up to the professionals to correct the utter mess created .
Don ’ t get me wrong , I do love the challenge.
” He emphasises : “ My top tip gentlemen is avoid ANY self cutting , you will make a mess of it.
” London i reader and scissorsmith Spike Denton adds , further to his letter : “ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay still and stiff .
I ’ m giving away trade secrets here but there ’ s no work at the mo .
Good luck you amateurs.
” Nigel the Daschund puppy , soon to have a new name ... ( Photo : Simon Kelner ) Thank you for the torrent of messages suggesting names for Simon Kelner ’ s dachshund , as Simon applies by doggy deed poll for his new friend to be rechristened .
( This , after the breeders registered the wee fellow as “ Nigel Farage ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair of dachshunds down our road in my childhood were called Bach and Offenbach , because they did.
” We are forwarding every suggestion to Simon .
He has confirmed plans for a cathedral baptism , before all i readers are invited back to his gaff .
Full details will follow in this column in due course .
I hear that the clap for carers ( and other key workers ) was particularly moving in London , with huge numbers turning out to applaud .
I particularly enjoyed the hero ’ s welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cromer , Norfolk , with one stranger rushing up to pay for his shopping .
Thank you all !

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inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Scientists show Dunkirk spirit to form scientific flotilla of 'little ships' to boost v

Coronavirus: Scientists show Dunkirk spirit to form scientific flotilla of 'little ships' to boost virus testing

Coronavirus : Scientists show Dunkirk spirit to form scientific flotilla of 'little ships ' to boost virus testing A network of small laboratories will seek to massively expand Covid-19 testing in the UK Entrepreneur Mike Fischer , the director of a medical research lab in Oxfordshire , has told i he has been “ inundated ” with messages from scientists offering to help with Covid-19 tests just hours after he launched a £1m drive to create a national volunteer laboratory testing network .
Mr Fischer said : “ We are already speaking to seven laboratories and through one of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 tests a week starting next week .
I will be very happy if we get ten laboratories , but I 'm hoping we will get hundreds.
” There are thousands of laboratories in the UK with the right equipment to run tests , but there are currently standing unused .
A national network of university and healthcare laboratories could deliver tens of thousands of extra tests a day .
Lab network to help with tests Matt Hancock was back at the Downing St briefing after self-isolating for seven days i has learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and institutes are separately in different stages of development as they seek to help with research and actual testing .
Some of the best scientists in the world At the University of Bristol , a team of 30 senior academics led by Professor Adam Finn are working on using techniques used in studying genes in bacteria and viruses to see whether an easier-to-use test could be rolled out across the country .
Researchers at the Warwick Medical School are also using supplies from a campus laboratory to make more of the reagents needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply to Coventry Hospital for testing on patients .
Iain Foulkes , Cancer Research UK 's executive director of research , said : “ As well as the Crick , many Cancer Research UK laboratories throughout the country are providing vital testing kit and skills .
And we are proud of our scientists , some of the best in the world , who are turning their focus to Covid-19 during this global pandemic .
”

Hundreds of scientists working in small laboratories across the UK are answering calls to create a 21st century scientific flotilla of “little ships” to avert Britain’s threatened coronavirus “Dunkirk” by testing the nation’s frontline NHS workers.
Entrepreneur Mike Fischer, the director of a medical research lab in Oxfordshire, has told i he has been “inundated” with messages from scientists offering to help with Covid-19 tests just hours after he launched a £1m drive to create a national volunteer laboratory testing network.
Mr Fischer said: “We are already speaking to seven laboratories and through one of these in Nottingham we will be supporting another 3,000 tests a week starting next week. I will be very happy if we get ten laboratories, but I’m hoping we will get hundreds.”
There are thousands of laboratories in the UK with the right equipment to run tests, but there are currently standing unused. A national network of university and healthcare laboratories could deliver tens of thousands of extra tests a day.
Lab network to help with tests
On Thursday, Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, called on the life sciences industry, universities and public agencies to “unite together” to meet his new goal of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month.
i has learned that at least seven universities, charities and institutes are separately in different stages of development as they seek to help with research and actual testing.
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in London have re-purposed their laboratories to focus on coronavirus testing for NHS staff, with plans to carry out 3,000 tests a week by early next week.
Sir Paul Nurse, the director of the Crick, said: “Institutes like ours are coming together with a Dunkirk spirit – small boats that collectively can have a huge impact on the national endeavour.”
Starting with University College London Hospital, the Crick will also offer its testing to other hospitals and aims to eventually do 2,000 tests a day.
Some of the best scientists in the world
At the University of Bristol, a team of 30 senior academics led by Professor Adam Finn are working on using techniques used in studying genes in bacteria and viruses to see whether an easier-to-use test could be rolled out across the country.
Retrovirologist Professor Myra McClure has converted a lab at Imperial College London for NHS Covid-19 virus testing, which is able to handle 1,500 samples a day.
Researchers at the Warwick Medical School are also using supplies from a campus laboratory to make more of the reagents needed for Covid-19 testing, which it will supply to Coventry Hospital for testing on patients.
Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of research, said: “As well as the Crick, many Cancer Research UK laboratories throughout the country are providing vital testing kit and skills. And we are proud of our scientists, some of the best in the world, who are turning their focus to Covid-19 during this global pandemic.”
The options
There are two main types of test for the presence of Covid-19.
An antigen test detects whether a person is infected with the virus and whether they could pass it on to other people.
The other test, the antibody test, searches for signs that a person has previously had the virus by looking at whether the immune system has been activated.
Chinese scientists published the virus’s full genetic code in January, giving their colleagues around the world the chance to carry out antigen testing using a procedure called polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
This can be done using a swab taken from inside a person’s nose, or the back of the throat.
Antibody tests use blood samples to detect a past infection – and whether a person has therefore developed immunity to the virus by having previously been infected.
A finger-prick test should provide enough blood to detect two types of antibodies against Covid-19. Antibody tests should give results more quickly than traditional PCR tests.


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Matt Hancock pledges to increase Covid-19 tests to 100,000 a day by the end of April

Coronavirus : Matt Hancock pledges to increase Covid-19 tests to 100,000 a day by the end of April Health Secretary admits some criticism of government response is justified The Health Secretary , Matt Hancock , has admitted criticism over the Government ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis has been justified as he pledged to increase tests for Covid-19 to 100,000 a day by the end of April .
In a frank admission that not every aspect of the response to the pandemic had been right , Mr Hancock said he understood the concerns that NHS staff and the wider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease compared with other countries .
Mr Hancock , who has just recovered from Covid-19 , set out a five-point plan to ramp up production and diagnosis of both swab tests for people who currently have the disease and blood tests to identify those who have immunity .
Matt Hancock was back at the Downing St briefing after self-isolating for seven days The Government has not clarified how many of those 100,000 tests will be for current disease sufferers or antibody tests to show immunity , but NHS workers and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Following days of criticism over a lack of clarity over testing , the minister added : “ There will be bumps in the road , there will be criticisms made and some of them will be justified.
” But the new timescale suggests that the lockdown - which the Government is due to review on the week beginning 13 April - will need to continue well beyond that .
It was revealed that 569 people have died in the UK from Covid-19 , taking the total to 2,921 .
The daily increase was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The number of positive cases rose sharply by 4,244 - although this was partly due to increased testing - taking the total number of cases in the UK to 33,718 .
Chairing the daily Downing Street press conference for the first time since going into self-isolation a week ago , Mr Hancock also called on premier league footballers to take a pay cut just as other workers in the sport and wider public were facing financial hardship or their jobs being furloughed .
Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted the data on coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Photo : Scottish Government ) The five point plan for testing consists of increasing swab tests in existing Public Health England laboratories and NHS hospitals to 25,000 a day by the end of the month ; new swab testing capacity created by private companies and research institutions ; introducing an antibody test ; a system of “ surveillance ” by carrying out sampling antibody testing at Porton Down to identify clusters in the wider population ; and pharmaceutical giants building a new British diagnostics industry “ at scale ” .
The Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppliers but they are still being evaluated - one of the versions had a 75 per cent inaccuracy rate .
The Health Secretary added : “ I am awed by the dedication of colleagues on the frontline who contribute to the running of this institution our nation holds so dear , many of those who have died came to this country to make a difference and we salute them .
“ I return from illness more determined than ever to fight this disease , bring together the best minds and the best science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are in the midst of a war against an invisible enemy and it is a war in which all of humanity is on the same side and we will prevail.
” Mr Hancock confirmed the Government is looking at a system of immunity certificates which people who had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies could carry to allow them to get back to work .
He also announced he was writing off £13.4bn worth of historic NHS debt .

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has admitted criticism over the Government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis has been justified as he pledged to increase tests for Covid-19 to 100,000 a day by the end of April.
In a frank admission that not every aspect of the response to the pandemic had been right, Mr Hancock said he understood the concerns that NHS staff and the wider public had over a shortage of tests of the disease compared with other countries.
Mr Hancock, who has just recovered from Covid-19, set out a five-point plan to ramp up production and diagnosis of both swab tests for people who currently have the disease and blood tests to identify those who have immunity.
Around 10,000 tests are being carried out per day at the moment, including 2,000 NHS staff, as well as people with symptoms in hospitals.
‘Bumps in the road’
The Government has not clarified how many of those 100,000 tests will be for current disease sufferers or antibody tests to show immunity, but NHS workers and their families will be given top priority.
Mr Hancock said all NHS workers who needed a test would have one by the end of the month.
Following days of criticism over a lack of clarity over testing, the minister added: “There will be bumps in the road, there will be criticisms made and some of them will be justified.”
But the new timescale suggests that the lockdown – which the Government is due to review on the week beginning 13 April – will need to continue well beyond that.
It was revealed that 569 people have died in the UK from Covid-19, taking the total to 2,921. The daily increase was broadly the same as the previous day.
The number of positive cases rose sharply by 4,244 – although this was partly due to increased testing – taking the total number of cases in the UK to 33,718.
Chairing the daily Downing Street press conference for the first time since going into self-isolation a week ago, Mr Hancock also called on premier league footballers to take a pay cut just as other workers in the sport and wider public were facing financial hardship or their jobs being furloughed.
‘Dedication of frontline colleagues’
The five point plan for testing consists of increasing swab tests in existing Public Health England laboratories and NHS hospitals to 25,000 a day by the end of the month; new swab testing capacity created by private companies and research institutions; introducing an antibody test; a system of “surveillance” by carrying out sampling antibody testing at Porton Down to identify clusters in the wider population; and pharmaceutical giants building a new British diagnostics industry “at scale”.
The Government has purchased 17.5m antibody tests from nine suppliers but they are still being evaluated – one of the versions had a 75 per cent inaccuracy rate.
The Health Secretary added: “I am awed by the dedication of colleagues on the frontline who contribute to the running of this institution our nation holds so dear, many of those who have died came to this country to make a difference and we salute them.
“I return from illness more determined than ever to fight this disease, bring together the best minds and the best science that this country has to offer.
“We are in the midst of a war against an invisible enemy and it is a war in which all of humanity is on the same side and we will prevail.”
Mr Hancock confirmed the Government is looking at a system of immunity certificates which people who had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies could carry to allow them to get back to work. He also announced he was writing off £13.4bn worth of historic NHS debt.


inews--2020-04-02--Rishi Sunak changes coronavirus loan rules to make it easier for small firms to access emergency fin

Rishi Sunak changes coronavirus loan rules to make it easier for small firms to access emergency finance Companies will no longer prove they have exhausted all commercial options before getting a state-backed loan The Treasury will make it easier for small firms to access emergency coronavirus loans to avoid going out of business due to a lack of cashflow .
Rishi Sunak has moved to shore up the Government 's economic support for business following concerns many firms would be unable to access the finance they need .
Companies will no longer have to show they are unable to access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan , and a new scheme will target medium-sized businesses with loans of up to £25m .
The pressure on the economy has been highlighted by an unprecedented spike in claims for universal credit .
In the last two weeks , nearly 950,000 people have applied to start receiving the benefit - up tenfold from the average fortnight .
The new claimants are likely to be a mixture of people who have lost their job entirely and others who have seen their incomes fall , for example because they are getting less freelance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interruption loan scheme , companies with a turnover of up to £45m could ask for a loan of up to £5m , interest-free for a year and with the risk underwritten by the Treasury .
Originally they had to show they were unable to get a loan on commercial terms , but the Chancellor has scrapped that condition .
The Government has also banned lenders from requiring business owners to put up personal guarantees for any loan under £250,000 , so that entrepreneurs do not risk losing their homes if they are unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency loans have been agreed so far , while 130,000 firms have enquired about financing .
A new parallel scheme is being created for companies with a turnover of £45-500m .
They will be able to access loans of up to £25m , with 80 per cent of the risk carried by the exchequer .
Mr Sunak said : `` This is a national effort and we ’ ll continue to work with the financial services sector to ensure that the £330bn of government support , through loans and guarantees , reaches as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell responded : `` I welcome this move but the Chancellor can not keep being behind the curve in supporting our economy .
There remain huge gaps in support for employees and self-employed that must be addressed immediately if people are to avoid facing serious hardship in this crisis . ''

The Treasury will make it easier for small firms to access emergency coronavirus loans to avoid going out of business due to a lack of cashflow.
Rishi Sunak has moved to shore up the Government’s economic support for business following concerns many firms would be unable to access the finance they need. Companies will no longer have to show they are unable to access regular commercial finance before claiming a state-backed loan, and a new scheme will target medium-sized businesses with loans of up to £25m.
The pressure on the economy has been highlighted by an unprecedented spike in claims for universal credit. In the last two weeks, nearly 950,000 people have applied to start receiving the benefit – up tenfold from the average fortnight.
The new claimants are likely to be a mixture of people who have lost their job entirely and others who have seen their incomes fall, for example because they are getting less freelance work.
New rules
Under the existing coronavirus business interruption loan scheme, companies with a turnover of up to £45m could ask for a loan of up to £5m, interest-free for a year and with the risk underwritten by the Treasury. Originally they had to show they were unable to get a loan on commercial terms, but the Chancellor has scrapped that condition.
The Government has also banned lenders from requiring business owners to put up personal guarantees for any loan under £250,000, so that entrepreneurs do not risk losing their homes if they are unable to repay. Nearly 1,000 of the emergency loans have been agreed so far, while 130,000 firms have enquired about financing.
A new parallel scheme is being created for companies with a turnover of £45-500m. They will be able to access loans of up to £25m, with 80 per cent of the risk carried by the exchequer.
Mr Sunak said: “This is a national effort and we’ll continue to work with the financial services sector to ensure that the £330bn of government support, through loans and guarantees, reaches as many businesses in need as possible.”
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell responded: “I welcome this move but the Chancellor cannot keep being behind the curve in supporting our economy. There remain huge gaps in support for employees and self-employed that must be addressed immediately if people are to avoid facing serious hardship in this crisis.”


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Vaccine hopes raised after skin patch proves success on mice

The Pittsburgh team is applying to US drug regulators for permission to begin accelerated trials in humans Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh 's School of Medicine have developed a vaccine that can be delivered into the skin with a plaster-like patch made of 400 tiny needles .
When they tested the patch in mice , the vaccine produced enough antibodies to defeat the virus within two weeks , according to a study published in the journal EBioMedicine .
This makes it the first of more than 40 vaccinations under development worldwide to be peer-reviewed by experts not involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died in Britain so far ( Photo : Getty ) The Pittsburgh team is applying to US drug regulators for permission to begin accelerated trials in humans .
The vaccine is based on discoveries made during the Sars and Mers coronavirus-based outbreaks .
A big advantage of this vaccine is that it can be manufactured in large quantities relatively easily because the proteins and needles lend themselves to mass production - something that can not be said for many of the other vaccines in development , researchers say .
`` For most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address scalability to begin with , '' said Andrea Gambotto , of the Pitt School of Medicine .
`` But when you try to develop a vaccine quickly against a pandemic that 's the first requirement , '' she said .
The researchers can not say for certain whether their vaccine candidate produces long-lasting protection against Covid-19 .
But a similar vaccine they made against Mers-CoV produced enough antibodies in mice to protect them from that virus for a year .
The antibody levels they have tracked in the mice that received the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Separately , Australian scientists have started tests on two new vaccines after the World Health Organisation gave them the go-ahead .
One is a “ vector vaccine ” created at Oxford University which uses a “ defective ” virus to introduce the proteins of Covid-19 to the immune system and induce a response .
The other is made by the US company Inovio .
Australia ’ s national science agency will assess if the vaccines work , and if they would be safe for humans .
“ Normally it takes about one-to-two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve in fact shortened that to a period of a couple of months , ” said Rob Grenfell , of Australia ’ s Commonwealth and Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation ( CSIRO ) .
However , a vaccine is unlikely to be ready until at least the end of 2020 .

Global efforts to create a coronavirus vaccine were given a boost after scientists unveiled a series of promising new prototypes.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine have developed a vaccine that can be delivered into the skin with a plaster-like patch made of 400 tiny needles.
When they tested the patch in mice, the vaccine produced enough antibodies to defeat the virus within two weeks, according to a study published in the journal EBioMedicine.
This makes it the first of more than 40 vaccinations under development worldwide to be peer-reviewed by experts not involved in the project.
Human tests
The Pittsburgh team is applying to US drug regulators for permission to begin accelerated trials in humans. The vaccine is based on discoveries made during the Sars and Mers coronavirus-based outbreaks.
Covid-19 shares a protein with those earlier viruses and the new vaccine, called PittCoVacc, contains pieces of that protein.
A big advantage of this vaccine is that it can be manufactured in large quantities relatively easily because the proteins and needles lend themselves to mass production – something that cannot be said for many of the other vaccines in development, researchers say.
“For most vaccines, you don’t need to address scalability to begin with,” said Andrea Gambotto, of the Pitt School of Medicine.
“But when you try to develop a vaccine quickly against a pandemic that’s the first requirement,” she said.
The researchers cannot say for certain whether their vaccine candidate produces long-lasting protection against Covid-19. But a similar vaccine they made against Mers-CoV produced enough antibodies in mice to protect them from that virus for a year. The antibody levels they have tracked in the mice that received the Covid-19 vaccine are following a similar trend.
Australian research
Separately, Australian scientists have started tests on two new vaccines after the World Health Organisation gave them the go-ahead. One is a “vector vaccine” created at Oxford University which uses a “defective” virus to introduce the proteins of Covid-19 to the immune system and induce a response.
The other is made by the US company Inovio. Australia’s national science agency will assess if the vaccines work, and if they would be safe for humans.
“Normally it takes about one-to-two years to get to this point and we’ve in fact shortened that to a period of a couple of months,” said Rob Grenfell, of Australia’s Commonwealth and Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). However, a vaccine is unlikely to be ready until at least the end of 2020.


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Pets at Home 'working tirelessly' to meet 'exceptional' demand for food

Coronavirus : Pets at Home 'working tirelessly ' to meet 'exceptional ' demand for food The huge surge in demand from pet lovers has led to shortages of many products While every day feels like a Sunday for many across the UK during the coronavirus lockdown , pets are finding it is Christmas every day .
As our nation of animal lovers spoil their pets , companies such as Pets at Home are not feeling the economic heat as much as many businesses .
Pets At Home said that it has enjoyed unprecedented demand and that it expected annual profit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home rules implemented last week .
The pet store , which has been classed as an essential retailer and has continued to trade during the lockdown , said that both in-store and online sales had increased .
It said that existing customers had bought more products per visit while new customers had tried its pet products and healthcare services .
Nevertheless , its chief executive , Peter Pritchard , warned that it would “ not be immune ” to challenges caused by the virus , adding : “ We are working tirelessly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products and healthcare services.
” Mr Pritchard said that he was expecting lower customer revenues across the firm ’ s veterinary practices , and that this , combined with the potential for lower store revenues due to social distancing and other measures , is expected to have a “ negative impact ” on group turnover for the year but that profits would beat expectations after an “ exceptional ” level of demand driven by the Covid-19 outbreak .
The huge surge in demand from pet lovers has also led to shortages of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Until now , I haven ’ t been very concerned about getting my hands on food or litter , as I have enough to get on for about a month .
“ But I decided to have a look on Pets At Home and Amazon to check availability , and that was when I did get a little worried .
The food my cat normally eats was in stock on Amazon , but the earliest it can be delivered is in about two and a half weeks .
“ If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food , like I usually do , logged on to buy food and saw a two week-minimum wait that would not be good , as she could run out entirely .
”

While every day feels like a Sunday for many across the UK during the coronavirus lockdown, pets are finding it is Christmas every day.
As our nation of animal lovers spoil their pets, companies such as Pets at Home are not feeling the economic heat as much as many businesses.
Essential retailer
Pets At Home said that it has enjoyed unprecedented demand and that it expected annual profit to beat all forecasts, following the stay-at-home rules implemented last week.
The pet store, which has been classed as an essential retailer and has continued to trade during the lockdown, said that both in-store and online sales had increased.
It said that existing customers had bought more products per visit while new customers had tried its pet products and healthcare services.
Nevertheless, its chief executive, Peter Pritchard, warned that it would “not be immune” to challenges caused by the virus, adding: “We are working tirelessly to ensure that we continue to provide essential products and healthcare services.”
Mr Pritchard said that he was expecting lower customer revenues across the firm’s veterinary practices, and that this, combined with the potential for lower store revenues due to social distancing and other measures, is expected to have a “negative impact” on group turnover for the year but that profits would beat expectations after an “exceptional” level of demand driven by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Long delivery times
The huge surge in demand from pet lovers has also led to shortages of many products.
One cat owner told i: “Until now, I haven’t been very concerned about getting my hands on food or litter, as I have enough to get on for about a month.
“But I decided to have a look on Pets At Home and Amazon to check availability, and that was when I did get a little worried. The food my cat normally eats was in stock on Amazon, but the earliest it can be delivered is in about two and a half weeks.
“If I waited until she was quite low on food, like I usually do, logged on to buy food and saw a two week-minimum wait that would not be good, as she could run out entirely.”


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus in the UK: Fly-tipping on the rise as waste collections are cut

Coronavirus in the UK : Fly-tipping on the rise as waste collections are cut Councils implore residents not to start DIY or spring cleaning projects if it means dumping piles of waste by roadsides Councils across the UK have complained of a rise in fly-tipping after many were forced to scale back waste collection services to cope with the impacts of coronavirus .
Dozens of authorities closed recycling centres and stopped all collections of bulky items like fridges and sofas last week as they struggled to cope with staffing shortages .
Meanwhile charity shops are shuttered and not accepting new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furniture .
The situation has led some people to dump unwanted items on roadsides and in fields , despite Government rules banning all but essential travel outside the home .
Sunderland Council reported a spate of fly-tipping at local beauty spots this week .
Meanwhile Bolton resident Sarah Garforth said fly-tipping in her area had got “ much worse ” since the Government imposed stricter social distancing conditions on UK residents , complaining of bags of household waste and broken furniture littering the streets .
In North Ayrshire , Scotland , officials vented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selfish acts ” of fly-tipping , and warned the Council ’ s enforcement team will be “ ramping up patrols ” to catch offenders .
“ Fly-tipping is always very , very selfish but in the situation we all face just now it is particularly hard to take , ” said Councillor Jim Montgomerie , Cabinet member for Place .
“ We all need to be in this together and this is just slowing us all down and very frustrating.
” Anglesey Council in Wales said it has also seen an increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter it pleaded with residents to “ keep hold of their excess waste during this extremely difficult period ” .
In Northern Ireland , legislator John Blair told i he had seen a spike in fly-tipping in his constituency of Antrim since the Government introduced tougher social distancing measures .
“ This is largely as a result of people working in their gardens , clearing out wardrobes , as well as garage clearances and other examples of domestic chores , ” he said .
“ I would appeal to the public that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the health of those workers that will have to deal with this fly tipping , is much more important than any domestic chore.
” Fly-tipping can lead to dangerous chemicals leaching from appliances into the soils and watercourses , sometimes with catastrophic effect on local wildlife .
It is illegal in the UK and councils have the power to levy fines on rule breakers .
“ Reports of fly-tipping at such a difficult time for everyone is really disappointing , ” said Allison Ogden-Newton , CEO of Keep Britain Tidy .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping the services we all rely on , like bin collections , going and if they have to clear up the thoughtless fly-tipping perpetrated by a small minority it diverts resources away from vital activity .
”

Councils across the UK have complained of a rise in fly-tipping after many were forced to scale back waste collection services to cope with the impacts of coronavirus.
Dozens of authorities closed recycling centres and stopped all collections of bulky items like fridges and sofas last week as they struggled to cope with staffing shortages. Meanwhile charity shops are shuttered and not accepting new donations of old clothes, toys and furniture.
The situation has led some people to dump unwanted items on roadsides and in fields, despite Government rules banning all but essential travel outside the home.
Fly-tipping surge
Sunderland Council reported a spate of fly-tipping at local beauty spots this week. Meanwhile Bolton resident Sarah Garforth said fly-tipping in her area had got “much worse” since the Government imposed stricter social distancing conditions on UK residents, complaining of bags of household waste and broken furniture littering the streets.
?Sadly this was no #AprilFoolsDay joke! Some of our most beautiful places have been hit by fly tipping. Large piles of rubbish have been dumped at Hendon Beach and Tunstall Hills over the last five days. ?Report any fly tipping at https://t.co/9DC0P5Roa9 pic.twitter.com/9030fPtApH — Sunderland UK ? (@SunderlandUK) April 2, 2020
In North Ayrshire, Scotland, officials vented their anger at a spate of “selfish acts” of fly-tipping, and warned the Council’s enforcement team will be “ramping up patrols” to catch offenders.
“Fly-tipping is always very, very selfish but in the situation we all face just now it is particularly hard to take,” said Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet member for Place. “We all need to be in this together and this is just slowing us all down and very frustrating.”
Anglesey Council in Wales said it has also seen an increase in fly-tipping over the past week. Writing on Twitter it pleaded with residents to “keep hold of their excess waste during this extremely difficult period”.
Read More: Councils press pause on recycling collections amid coronavirus crisis
John Blair, an Alliance Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim, told i that he had seen a spike in fly-tipping in his constituency since the government introduced tougher social distancing measures.
“This is largely as a result of people working in their gardens, clearing out wardrobes, as well as garage clearances and other examples of domestic chores,” he said. “I would appeal to the public that in this current crisis public health, including the health of those workers that will have to deal with this fly tipping, is much more important than any domestic chore.”
Environmental hazard
Fly-tipping can lead to dangerous chemicals leaching from appliances into the soils and watercourses, sometimes with catastrophic effect on local wildlife. It is illegal in the UK and councils have the power to levy fines on rule breakers.
“Reports of fly-tipping at such a difficult time for everyone is really disappointing,” said Allison Ogden-Newton, CEO of Keep Britain Tidy. “Local authorities are at the frontline of keeping the services we all rely on, like bin collections, going and if they have to clear up the thoughtless fly-tipping perpetrated by a small minority it diverts resources away from vital activity.”


inews--2020-04-02--Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool: Dyson launches first three-in-one air purifier, humidifier and fan

Dyson has released its first fan which also serves as a humidifier and air purifier , capable of killing 99.9 per cent of bacteria that passes through it .
Humidifiers release moisture into the air to combat health issues including worsening asthma and allergies , loosen congestion and alleviate cold and flu symptoms .
The Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool uses ultraviolet UV-C light to kill the vast majority of bacteria present in its water tank , using a highly reflective tube to concentrate the light 's rays .
The water then travels into the machine 's evaporator , which is lined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to further inhibit bacteria growth .
Purified air inside the evaporator is hygienically humidified by released water vapour before being projected into the room through its Air Amplifier , the bladeless structure at the top .
The pollutants are filtered out ( Photo : Dyson ) Two jets on either side of the amplifier can be set to provide different airflows , including direct cooling , oscillation or diffused mode .
A new setting , breeze mode , is powered by an algorithm designed to replicate natural cooling outdoor breezes , while fan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air and the diffused setting diverts air through the rear of the amplifier - purifying and humidifying without cooling .
The machine also captures pollutants , including allergens and pollen , in a filter Dyson recommends is replaced yearly , and will notify users when senses it should start self-cleaning around once a month .
The machine is available in white and silver finishes and retails for £599 .
“ Usually , the bacteria that surround us day to day don ’ t harm us – coexisting and cooperating with us .
Occasionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more problematic , '' said Karen Holeyman , Dyson 's research lead for microbiology .
`` We extensively tested our technology against the standard test bacteria – Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus – and also the hardy environmental organism Bacillus subtilis .
Bacillus subtilis can survive many environmental stresses including UVC – still we obtain a 99.9 per cent reduction of these organisms.
” The British company is currently racing to manufacture ventilators , after the Government placed an order for 10,000 to aid the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak @

Dyson has released its first fan which also serves as a humidifier and air purifier, capable of killing 99.9 per cent of bacteria that passes through it.
Humidifiers release moisture into the air to combat health issues including worsening asthma and allergies, loosen congestion and alleviate cold and flu symptoms.
The Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool uses ultraviolet UV-C light to kill the vast majority of bacteria present in its water tank, using a highly reflective tube to concentrate the light’s rays.
The water then travels into the machine’s evaporator, which is lined with an air-mesh fabric containing silver thread to further inhibit bacteria growth.
Purified air inside the evaporator is hygienically humidified by released water vapour before being projected into the room through its Air Amplifier, the bladeless structure at the top.
Two jets on either side of the amplifier can be set to provide different airflows, including direct cooling, oscillation or diffused mode.
A new setting, breeze mode, is powered by an algorithm designed to replicate natural cooling outdoor breezes, while fan mode delivers a powerful stream of purified air and the diffused setting diverts air through the rear of the amplifier – purifying and humidifying without cooling.
Pollutant capturing
The machine also captures pollutants, including allergens and pollen, in a filter Dyson recommends is replaced yearly, and will notify users when senses it should start self-cleaning around once a month.
The machine is available in white and silver finishes and retails for £599.
Read More Dyson’s latest robot vacuum cleaner cleans your home in the dark
“Usually, the bacteria that surround us day to day don’t harm us – coexisting and cooperating with us. Occasionally when conditions change these bacteria can become more problematic,” said Karen Holeyman, Dyson’s research lead for microbiology.
“We extensively tested our technology against the standard test bacteria – Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus – and also the hardy environmental organism Bacillus subtilis. Bacillus subtilis can survive many environmental stresses including UVC – still we obtain a 99.9 per cent reduction of these organisms.”
The British company is currently racing to manufacture ventilators, after the Government placed an order for 10,000 to aid the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak.


inews--2020-04-02--The bread you make at home will be lumpy and bumpy, but also — I guarantee — delicious

The bread you make at home will be lumpy and bumpy , but also — I guarantee — delicious If you want to guarantee your bread supply , you need to make your own .
And it will taste fantastic Thanks to a combination of supermarkets being unable to keep up with the initial demand , which left bread aisles empty , the guidance against leaving the house for any but the most essential reasons and , well , boredom , we ’ ve seen swathes of people turning to dough .
Unlike rice and pasta , you can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s stopped people trying ) , unless you have a very big chest freezer .
If you want to guarantee your supply , you need to make your own .
In normal times , bread is the most bought item in a UK supermarket .
The equivalent of 12 million loaves are sold every day .
Most of these are made to the Chorleywood method , a process developed in the 1960s to produce millions of uniform loaves with lower-protein flours .
The bread you make at home will be lumpier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee – more delicious .
This isn ’ t the first crisis that has driven Britons to their ovens .
In 1974 , Ted Heath ’ s Conservative government brought in the three-day week to conserve electricity while coal miners were on strike .
All businesses not classed as “ essential ” could only operate for three days each week , and that included bakeries .
As a result , bread production fell , and people were obliged to make their own .
A similar thing happened in 1977 when bakery workers went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bare .
There 's never been a better time to learn to bake Most of us have lost the knack of bread baking .
But today , unlike in the 1970s , we have the internet .
Inexperienced bread bakers can browse hundreds of recipes , FAQs and tutorials .
They can even get a donation of sourdough starter from a supportive neighbour delivered to their doorstop , without breaking social-distancing protocol .
Last week , I conducted a bake-along on my Instagram feed and was overwhelmed by the number of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple like soda bread .
Two days later , I led a white loaf tutorial and even more joined .
Olivia Potts has been showing her Instagram followers how to make their own bread - and promises that doing it yourself means a delicious loaf And , while there are many carbs that bring us succour , there is something special about bread .
It pervades our language , our economics , our politics and most major religions .
The smell of bread is piped into shops and used to sell houses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These days , we have many food options , coronavirus notwithstanding .
We can all live without bread .
We just don ’ t really want to .
Adventurous bakers can have a go at sourdough , newbies might want to start with something more straightforward There are many pitfalls to avoid when baking your own bread : underproving , overproving , shaping , slashing , getting the crumb right , getting the crust right .
But – providing you don ’ t forget the salt or the yeast – what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edible , and probably significantly tastier than the bread you would have got at the supermarket .
Newcomers should keep it simple If you ’ re a newbie , I recommend walking before you attempt a marathon , especially if you only have a bag or two of flour at home .
Start with simple recipes , perhaps even a soda bread , which doesn ’ t rely on yeast and doesn ’ t require any proving time .
Get a feel for the dough and , hopefully , your successes will inspire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loaves .
Forget paying £4 for a posh loaf and learn to make your own in lockdown If we all become accustomed to the joys of a homemade loaf , will we ever return to the supermarket sliced ?
Will we consider ourselves above paying £4 for a loaf of posh artisan sourdough ?
Maybe , but I suspect not .
Our lives will fill up again , and we ’ ll struggle to find the time .
Nevertheless , I hope this strange period teaches us to appreciate the bread we have @

Our new world of social distancing and staying at home is already having some unexpected effects – a refound enthusiasm for jigsaw puzzles, pub quizzes conducted via Skype – but perhaps one of the more surprising ones is a boom in bread-making.
Thanks to a combination of supermarkets being unable to keep up with the initial demand, which left bread aisles empty, the guidance against leaving the house for any but the most essential reasons and, well, boredom, we’ve seen swathes of people turning to dough. Unlike rice and pasta, you can’t effectively stockpile bread (not that that’s stopped people trying), unless you have a very big chest freezer. If you want to guarantee your supply, you need to make your own.
In normal times, bread is the most bought item in a UK supermarket. The equivalent of 12 million loaves are sold every day. Most of these are made to the Chorleywood method, a process developed in the 1960s to produce millions of uniform loaves with lower-protein flours. The bread you make at home will be lumpier and bumpier, but also – I guarantee – more delicious.
This isn’t the first crisis that has driven Britons to their ovens. In 1974, Ted Heath’s Conservative government brought in the three-day week to conserve electricity while coal miners were on strike. All businesses not classed as “essential” could only operate for three days each week, and that included bakeries. As a result, bread production fell, and people were obliged to make their own. A similar thing happened in 1977 when bakery workers went on strike and panic buying stripped shops bare.
There’s never been a better time to learn to bake
Most of us have lost the knack of bread baking. But today, unlike in the 1970s, we have the internet. Inexperienced bread bakers can browse hundreds of recipes, FAQs and tutorials. They can even get a donation of sourdough starter from a supportive neighbour delivered to their doorstop, without breaking social-distancing protocol. Last week, I conducted a bake-along on my Instagram feed and was overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to learn how to make something simple like soda bread. Two days later, I led a white loaf tutorial and even more joined.
I was initially surprised by this enthusiasm, but as I thought about why I bake bread, I realised it makes perfect sense. Turning flour, water, yeast and salt into a proud, golden loaf that tastes and smells incredible is not only practical: it’s deeply empowering. In a time of crisis and uncertainty, you are in some small way providing for yourself.
The physical aspect of bread-making is also very soothing. Knocking seven bells out of a blob of dough is one way to get rid of any pent-up frustration, but it’s also grounding, feeling the dough beneath your hands, seeing, feeling, smelling it change as you manipulate it.
The soothing power of carbs
And, while there are many carbs that bring us succour, there is something special about bread. It pervades our language, our economics, our politics and most major religions. The smell of bread is piped into shops and used to sell houses, because bread is both irresistible and comforting. These days, we have many food options, coronavirus notwithstanding. We can all live without bread. We just don’t really want to.
There are many pitfalls to avoid when baking your own bread: underproving, overproving, shaping, slashing, getting the crumb right, getting the crust right. But – providing you don’t forget the salt or the yeast – what you end up with will almost certainly be edible, and probably significantly tastier than the bread you would have got at the supermarket.
If your first loaf isn’t a roaring success, don’t be disheartened. I didn’t get the shaping right the first few times I baked bread, and the eventual loaves were about an inch high. They looked, in truth, more like breadsticks – but they were still mind-blowingly delicious.
Adventurous bakers may also be tempted by sourdough, which involves using wild yeasts to create a bubbling broth known as a starter, especially given the recent run on commercial yeast. With that, you can make bread from only flour, water, and salt.
Newcomers should keep it simple
If you’re a newbie, I recommend walking before you attempt a marathon, especially if you only have a bag or two of flour at home. Start with simple recipes, perhaps even a soda bread, which doesn’t rely on yeast and doesn’t require any proving time. Get a feel for the dough and, hopefully, your successes will inspire confidence when it comes to more unpredictable loaves.
If we all become accustomed to the joys of a homemade loaf, will we ever return to the supermarket sliced? Will we consider ourselves above paying £4 for a loaf of posh artisan sourdough? Maybe, but I suspect not. Our lives will fill up again, and we’ll struggle to find the time. Nevertheless, I hope this strange period teaches us to appreciate the bread we have.
As a nation, we throw out nearly half the loaves we buy; when we understand the time and effort that goes into them, perhaps we’ll see things differently.


inews--2020-04-02--Clap For Carers: UK's TV channels pause to celebrate NHS and frontline workers fighting coronavirus

Clap For Carers: UK's TV channels pause to celebrate NHS and frontline workers fighting coronavirus pandemic

Clap For Carers : UK 's TV channels pause to celebrate NHS and frontline workers fighting coronavirus pandemic Millions went outside their homes to show their appreciation for key workers Millions of people across the UK stood at their doorways and on their apartment balconies to pay tribute to the NHS for the second week in a row .
At 8pm , BBC One , Channel 4 , ITV and Channel 5 showed images of people from across the UK clapping and banging pots and pans to show appreciation for NHS workers , carers , supermarket workers , cleaners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of appreciation began last week when millions clapped around the UK , and it will now be repeated each week , as revealed by i. ITV changed its on screen idents to display messages encouraging viewers to donate to charities supporting NHS workers and other carers helping the national effort .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson emerged from 11 Downing Street , where he is in isolation with coronavirus , to join the applause .
Nicola Sturgeon wrote online : `` Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Shard , Britain 's tallest building , Wembley Stadium and the London Eye were lit up in NHS blue .
Wembley way is seen thanking the NHS ( Photo : Getty ) Finlay MacDonald , director of Scotland ’ s National Piping Centre , said : “ We ’ re in Scotland so we thought getting the pipes out would be a nice thing to do “ I went out and did the round of applause with my family last week , and it was very emotional .
I think that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need at this time . ''
In Wales , people sang Calon Lan , a traditional rugby song about a pure heart , while its national rugby stadium was lit up in blue for the NHS .

Millions of people across the UK stood at their doorways and on their apartment balconies to pay tribute to the NHS for the second week in a row.
The nation’s most-watched TV channels paused broadcasting to celebrate frontline workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
At 8pm, BBC One, Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5 showed images of people from across the UK clapping and banging pots and pans to show appreciation for NHS workers, carers, supermarket workers, cleaners and other key workers.
The nationwide show of appreciation began last week when millions clapped around the UK, and it will now be repeated each week, as revealed by i.
National thank you
ITV changed its on screen idents to display messages encouraging viewers to donate to charities supporting NHS workers and other carers helping the national effort.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson emerged from 11 Downing Street, where he is in isolation with coronavirus, to join the applause.
Nicola Sturgeon wrote online: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you are doing”.
Clapping for our brilliant NHS and social care workers with @JeaneF1MSP outside @scotgov HQ at 8pm. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you are doing ❤ #ClapForCarers #clapforNHS pic.twitter.com/aO5NlJgl2t — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 2, 2020
Emergency services also joined in backing their carer colleagues.
Amazing scenes at #Cramlington hospital tonight as our officers show their support and #ClapForCarers Well done everyone 💪#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/uyzPTqIHuU — Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) April 2, 2020
Bagpipes and singing
Landmarks across London, including The Shard, Britain’s tallest building, Wembley Stadium and the London Eye were lit up in NHS blue.
In Scotland, bagpipe players played Scotland the Brave in streets across the country.
Finlay MacDonald, director of Scotland’s National Piping Centre, said: “We’re in Scotland so we thought getting the pipes out would be a nice thing to do
“I went out and did the round of applause with my family last week, and it was very emotional. I think that’s the sort of thing we all need at this time.”
In Wales, people sang Calon Lan, a traditional rugby song about a pure heart, while its national rugby stadium was lit up in blue for the NHS.


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus in Scotland: death toll rises sharply to 126

Coronavirus in Scotland : death toll rises sharply to 126 The latest official statistics show 2,602 people have now tested positive for the virus north of the border , a rise of 292 Scotland 's official coronavirus death toll has risen sharply to 126 after ministers decided to speed up the way they are reported to reflect the daily reality .
It means that 40 extra deaths recorded over the last three days , which had not yet been announced while next of kin were being informed , can now be added to the daily toll .
When they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday morning , the total coronavirus toll in Scotland now stands at 126 , a steep rise on the 76 reported on Wednesday .
The latest official statistics show 2,602 people have now tested positive for the virus north of the border , a rise of 292 , while 162 people are in intensive care .
The number of deaths attributed to the pandemic is also likely to rise sharply next week , when information from death certificates will be included for the first time .
This means that the daily figures will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus is `` presumed '' to have been a factor , even if it has not been confirmed by testing .
Nicola Sturgeon refused to speculate on how far this would push up the overall death statistics , but stressed she wanted the data to be `` as accurate , comprehensive and up to date as possible '' .
“ It will clearly , both at that point and on an ongoing basis , increase the number of deaths because we 're taking a more comprehensive overview , ” she added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo : Getty ) “ We can ’ t have a repeat of a situation where scores of deaths have suddenly been revealed which actually should have been included at an earlier stage , ” he added .
In separate developments , it also emerged that almost a quarter of Scottish Prison Service staff are currently absent from work as the coronavirus outbreak worsens .
“ Large numbers of staff are self-isolating .
We have an enormous number of staff who are not available to attend the prison on a day-to-day basis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is having a significant impact in terms of what we are able to do .
I think we are getting close to about 25 per cent of the staff being unavailable in any given day.
” He welcomed the Scottish Government 's plans to give prisons powers to release inmates early if staff levels fall too low , but called for some to be let out on home curfews now .
Responding , Ms Sturgeon said : “ We are monitoring the situation in our prisons very carefully ... we do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we do n't have to do that .
It would be a last resort .
”

Scotland’s official coronavirus death toll has risen sharply to 126 after ministers decided to speed up the way they are reported to reflect the daily reality.
It means that 40 extra deaths recorded over the last three days, which had not yet been announced while next of kin were being informed, can now be added to the daily toll.
When they are counted alongside another 10 deaths recorded by Thursday morning, the total coronavirus toll in Scotland now stands at 126, a steep rise on the 76 reported on Wednesday.
The latest official statistics show 2,602 people have now tested positive for the virus north of the border, a rise of 292, while 162 people are in intensive care.
The number of deaths attributed to the pandemic is also likely to rise sharply next week, when information from death certificates will be included for the first time.
This means that the daily figures will also start to include all deaths where the virus is “presumed” to have been a factor, even if it has not been confirmed by testing.
‘Comprehensive overview’
Nicola Sturgeon refused to speculate on how far this would push up the overall death statistics, but stressed she wanted the data to be “as accurate, comprehensive and up to date as possible”.
“It will clearly, both at that point and on an ongoing basis, increase the number of deaths because we’re taking a more comprehensive overview,” she added.
The delay in reporting the 40 extra deaths was criticised by Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw, who said “robust and reliable” data was “hugely important”.
“We can’t have a repeat of a situation where scores of deaths have suddenly been revealed which actually should have been included at an earlier stage,” he added.
“That causes alarm and confusion among the public when anxieties are already sky high.”
Prison concern
In separate developments, it also emerged that almost a quarter of Scottish Prison Service staff are currently absent from work as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.
Phil Fairlie, national chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association in Scotland, said staffing levels across the nation’s jails had been “dramatically reduced”.
“Large numbers of staff are self-isolating. We have an enormous number of staff who are not available to attend the prison on a day-to-day basis,” he told the BBC.
“It is having a significant impact in terms of what we are able to do. I think we are getting close to about 25 per cent of the staff being unavailable in any given day.”
He welcomed the Scottish Government‘s plans to give prisons powers to release inmates early if staff levels fall too low, but called for some to be let out on home curfews now.
Responding, Ms Sturgeon said: “We are monitoring the situation in our prisons very carefully…we don’t want to have to release prisoners early if we don’t have to do that. It would be a last resort.”


inews--2020-04-02--DUP councillor: Coronavirus pandemic is God's punishment for abortion and same-sex marriage in North

DUP councillor: Coronavirus pandemic is God's punishment for abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland

DUP councillor : Coronavirus pandemic is God 's punishment for abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland Norther Ireland 's laws changed in 2019 , despite opposition from the DUP The coronavirus pandemic is God 's judgment for the legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland , a DUP councillor has said .
John Carson , who represents Ballymena , Co Antrim , the former stronghold of the late leader Ian Paisley , said the current crisis is due to the `` immoral and corrupt '' law change .
The regulations will allow terminations on request for the first 12 weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case of a risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl .
'They laughed at Noah until the rain' Mr Carson said : `` I said when abortion was legalised that our nation would be judged by God because of its departure from his word and the legalisation of the murder of the unborn child as well as same-sex marriage .
`` I was laughed at and mocked by some but as I said at the time , they laughed at Noah until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you sow and our nation is now reaping the judgment of God because of an immoral and corrupt Government .
It is time to repent and turn again to the God of our fathers . ''
The DUP , which strongly opposed changes in law to abortion and same-sex marriage , has distanced itself from the comments .
Peter Lynas , UK director of the Evangelical Alliance , said Mr Caron 's comments were unhelpful and the media would `` go to town '' on them .
Campaigners have claimed many barriers still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they have called for greater use of telemedicine to provide pills , particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic .
The Rainbow Project , a Belfast-based LGBT support organisation , said : `` It is disgraceful but not at all surprising that a DUP elected member would try to blame LGBT people and our partners in the women 's movement for the coronavirus outbreak , just as they have blamed us for Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters in the past . ''

The coronavirus pandemic is God’s judgment for the legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, a DUP councillor has said.
John Carson, who represents Ballymena, Co Antrim, the former stronghold of the late leader Ian Paisley, said the current crisis is due to the “immoral and corrupt” law change.
Westminster MPs passed provisions on terminations last year in the absence of the powersharing Assembly.
The regulations will allow terminations on request for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to 24 weeks in the case of a risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl.
‘They laughed at Noah until the rain’
Mr Carson said: “I said when abortion was legalised that our nation would be judged by God because of its departure from his word and the legalisation of the murder of the unborn child as well as same-sex marriage.
“I was laughed at and mocked by some but as I said at the time, they laughed at Noah until the rain started.
“You reap what you sow and our nation is now reaping the judgment of God because of an immoral and corrupt Government. It is time to repent and turn again to the God of our fathers.”
‘Unhelpful’ remarks
The DUP, which strongly opposed changes in law to abortion and same-sex marriage, has distanced itself from the comments.
Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, said Mr Caron’s comments were unhelpful and the media would “go to town” on them.
“The church response is one of compassion, practical needs like food banks, lament, hope and prayer.”
Abortion laws in Northern Ireland
Campaigners have claimed many barriers still exist to terminations after 12 weeks, and they have called for greater use of telemedicine to provide pills, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Rainbow Project, a Belfast-based LGBT support organisation, said: “It is disgraceful but not at all surprising that a DUP elected member would try to blame LGBT people and our partners in the women’s movement for the coronavirus outbreak, just as they have blamed us for Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters in the past.”


inews--2020-04-02--Newcastle Falcons' promotion party is on ice as financial implications of coronavirus loom large

Newcastle Falcons ' promotion party is on ice as financial implications of coronavirus loom large The Falcons may have been promoted , but there is no guarantee they will be in business next season The offices at Newcastle Falcons ’ home stadium , Kingston Park , have been closed for a fortnight .
It is thought the groundsman is still popping in to mow the grass , but if the Greene King IPA Championship trophy is dropped off there today , there may be no one available to sign for it .
The Rugby Football Union decided to split the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ averaging the number of points earned in each case and applying that to the remaining , cancelled fixtures .
This confirmed the Falcons – currently top of the table by 18 points from second-placed Ealing – as champions and promoted back to the Premiership .
There is a huge and worrying caveat for the Falcons , though , not to mention the irony as they prepare to swap places with a club who overspent on wages .
There is no guarantee Newcastle will still be in business next season .
RFU championship table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ i ) In March , they cut their players ’ and staff ’ s pay and put them on furlough for three months in the face of the savage slash in revenue due to the covid-19 outbreak .
Staff earning up to £37,500 are being paid normally , those on £37,500 to £75,000 are pegged to the lower of those two sums , and those earning £75,000-plus are on half-pay .
And even this emergency measure is in doubt , as i understands the club was able to pay only 80 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Players are hoping to receive the remaining 20 per cent on Friday .
No Newcastle player is ignoring the terrible situation in the wider world - not when they have seen close up the case of Hogan , who is thankfully progressing well after he suffered breathing difficulties last week .
But one player who has two mortgages is considering leaving the club , and several are dipping into savings to pay the bills .
When Newcastle ’ s director of rugby Dean Richards first mooted the cuts last month , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position was quickly seen to be untenable .
There have been grumbles asking what has happened to the £13.5million payment by CVC as part of its buy-in to the Premiership ; it is thought it has gone to pay old debts .
No wonder Kurdi said in a statement Thursday : “ These aren ’ t the circumstances under which any team would want to be promoted ... We fully appreciate the bigger picture with regards to the ongoing pandemic and how sport pales into insignificance during times of national emergency… our thoughts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been affected by the whole situation .
`` We are doing our best to manage our way through this situation with everyone ’ s best interests at heart , and in the meantime would just urge everyone to stay safe and continue to follow government advice.
” Dean Richards , the Newcastle Falcons director of rugby at Kingston Park ( Getty Images ) The Rugby Players ’ Association ( RPA ) told i on Sunday they want to help manage it “ industry-wide ” but the union has no statutory role and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Rugby Football Union .
And , anyway , the Premiership does not employ the players , the clubs do .
So arrangements are made club by club , and sometimes player by player .
There are rumours of some clubs agreeing a 25 per cent pay-cut with top-class players on four-year contracts and then those players being expected to recommend it to colleagues .
But some feel more could have been done centrally to avoid the discomfort when , say , a 21-year-old with no dependents is wondering what to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; one concerned with being picked for the next match or even his entire career , another protecting the few months left on his contract .

Has there ever been a more muted promotion party?
The offices at Newcastle Falcons’ home stadium, Kingston Park, have been closed for a fortnight. It is thought the groundsman is still popping in to mow the grass, but if the Greene King IPA Championship trophy is dropped off there today, there may be no one available to sign for it.
The quiet celebration amid grim times can be summed up by the long-serving club director Mick Hogan, currently recovering at home after hospital treatment for the coronavirus, who on Thursday merely tweeted “Woo-hoo!!”
The second-division Championship season had been abandoned with Newcastle having played 15 of the scheduled 22 matches, winning all 15.
The Rugby Football Union decided to split the games played into home and away, averaging the number of points earned in each case and applying that to the remaining, cancelled fixtures. This confirmed the Falcons – currently top of the table by 18 points from second-placed Ealing – as champions and promoted back to the Premiership.
The latter league could yet resume, but Saracens have been confirmed in the relegation position already as punishment for their breaches of the salary cap.
There is a huge and worrying caveat for the Falcons, though, not to mention the irony as they prepare to swap places with a club who overspent on wages. There is no guarantee Newcastle will still be in business next season.
In March, they cut their players’ and staff’s pay and put them on furlough for three months in the face of the savage slash in revenue due to the covid-19 outbreak. Staff earning up to £37,500 are being paid normally, those on £37,500 to £75,000 are pegged to the lower of those two sums, and those earning £75,000-plus are on half-pay.
And even this emergency measure is in doubt, as i understands the club was able to pay only 80 per cent of the reduced terms earlier this week. Players are hoping to receive the remaining 20 per cent on Friday.
No Newcastle player is ignoring the terrible situation in the wider world – not when they have seen close up the case of Hogan, who is thankfully progressing well after he suffered breathing difficulties last week. But one player who has two mortgages is considering leaving the club, and several are dipping into savings to pay the bills.
When Newcastle’s director of rugby Dean Richards first mooted the cuts last month, an initial push by players to reserve their position was quickly seen to be untenable. There have been grumbles asking what has happened to the £13.5million payment by CVC as part of its buy-in to the Premiership; it is thought it has gone to pay old debts.
Read more: How the ending of the English rugby championship led to a legal threat and a shouting match
But the players understand Newcastle, with average crowds in four figures, are not as wealthy as other clubs, and they rely heavily on chairman and main benefactor Semore Kurdi.
No wonder Kurdi said in a statement Thursday: “These aren’t the circumstances under which any team would want to be promoted… We fully appreciate the bigger picture with regards to the ongoing pandemic and how sport pales into insignificance during times of national emergency… our thoughts just go out to everyone who has been affected by the whole situation.
“We are doing our best to manage our way through this situation with everyone’s best interests at heart, and in the meantime would just urge everyone to stay safe and continue to follow government advice.”
Still there are rumblings around the Premiership, in which Newcastle are a shareholder, that the pay situation could have been handled better.
The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) told i on Sunday they want to help manage it “industry-wide” but the union has no statutory role and their development programmes are funded by the Premiership and the Rugby Football Union. And, anyway, the Premiership does not employ the players, the clubs do.
So arrangements are made club by club, and sometimes player by player. There are rumours of some clubs agreeing a 25 per cent pay-cut with top-class players on four-year contracts and then those players being expected to recommend it to colleagues.
At Newcastle, the leadership group including their RPA rep Sam Lockwood have been busy consulting, sometimes on an hourly basis. They held a video conference involving the RPA’s Damian Hopley, Richard Bryan and Christian Day, and the union’s lawyer Tim Copplestone.
But some feel more could have been done centrally to avoid the discomfort when, say, a 21-year-old with no dependents is wondering what to do when compared with a 30-year-old family man; one concerned with being picked for the next match or even his entire career, another protecting the few months left on his contract.


inews--2020-04-02--Smart thermostats and shared taxis could help UK to net zero emissions target, study says

Smart thermostats and shared taxis could help UK to net zero emissions target , study says Research suggests low cost , small-scale green technologies will be most effective at reducing emissions Mass adoption of electric bicycles and smart thermostats will get the UK to net zero emissions more quickly than large scale , expensive options like nuclear power plants and carbon capture and storage technologies .
That is according to a team of climate researchers led by the University of East Anglia , which tested how effective a range of low carbon technologies would be at speeding carbon cuts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up against a variety of metrics , including cost , accessibility , and carbon-cutting potential .
Smaller , cheaper technologies beat larger scale options because they can significantly reduce emissions by reaching a lot of people quickly and cheaply , they concluded .
They also boast lower investment risks and more scope for reducing energy demand - key attributes for cutting emissions .
“ We find that big new infrastructure costing billions is not the best way to accelerate decarbonisation , ” said lead researcher Dr Charlie Wilson , ahead of the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If millions of households adopted smart thermostats household emissions could drop significantly ( Photo : George Frey/Getty ) Dr Wilson said governments , investors and members of the public should focus on solutions like solar panels , electricity storage batteries , heat pumps , smart thermostats , electric bikes , and shared taxis , which are growing in popularity .
“ This means directing funding , policies , incentives , and opportunities for experimentation away from the few big and towards the many small , ” Dr Wilson said .
The researchers stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every aspect of the climate problem .
For example , decarbonising aviation or steel production will not be possible without industrial-scale technologies .
But they said their findings should make politicians think twice before spending large amounts of public money on flagship green projects .
“ Large ‘ silver bullet ’ technologies like nuclear power or carbon and capture storage are politically seductive , ” said Professor Arnulf Grubler from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria .
“ But larger scale technologies and infrastructures absorb large shares of available public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need .
”

Mass adoption of electric bicycles and smart thermostats will get the UK to net zero emissions more quickly than large scale, expensive options like nuclear power plants and carbon capture and storage technologies.
That is according to a team of climate researchers led by the University of East Anglia, which tested how effective a range of low carbon technologies would be at speeding carbon cuts.
The researchers considered how the technologies stacked up against a variety of metrics, including cost, accessibility, and carbon-cutting potential.
Read More: Why electric bikes have become so popular
Smaller, cheaper technologies beat larger scale options because they can significantly reduce emissions by reaching a lot of people quickly and cheaply, they concluded. They also boast lower investment risks and more scope for reducing energy demand – key attributes for cutting emissions.
“We find that big new infrastructure costing billions is not the best way to accelerate decarbonisation,” said lead researcher Dr Charlie Wilson, ahead of the study’s publication in the journal Science.
Smart investment
Dr Wilson said governments, investors and members of the public should focus on solutions like solar panels, electricity storage batteries, heat pumps, smart thermostats, electric bikes, and shared taxis, which are growing in popularity. “This means directing funding, policies, incentives, and opportunities for experimentation away from the few big and towards the many small,” Dr Wilson said.
The researchers stressed small scale solutions won’t solve every aspect of the climate problem. For example, decarbonising aviation or steel production will not be possible without industrial-scale technologies.
But they said their findings should make politicians think twice before spending large amounts of public money on flagship green projects. “Large ‘silver bullet’ technologies like nuclear power or carbon and capture storage are politically seductive,” said Professor Arnulf Grubler from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria. “But larger scale technologies and infrastructures absorb large shares of available public resources without delivering the rapid decarbonisation we need.”


inews--2020-04-02--Mice pull different facial expressions depending on their mood

Mice pull different facial expressions depending on their mood A study has found that mice consistently made the same expression when stimulated to express different emotions The facial expression of a mouse reveals its feelings , providing a possibility for researchers to study the underlying neuronal mechanisms of emotions ( Photo : MPI of Neurobiology/Kuhl ) They may not seem particularly emotional or communicative , but it turns out that mice have a range of distinct facial expressions which they pull depending on their mood .
And some of them bear a remarkable similarity to those used by us humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some ways , mouse expressions are even more nuanced as they have an additional tool in their facial armoury , whiskers – and use their noses and ears to much greater effect .
Researchers carried out a series of experiments with mice designed to elicit various emotions , such as giving them sweet and bitter food and tail shocks .
In some ways , mouse expressions are even more nuanced as they have an additional tool in their facial armoury , whiskers ( Photo : YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty ) The mice consistently experienced similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – when subjected to various categories of mood-influencing stimuli to provoke feelings such as pain or disgust .
“ Mice that licked a sugar solution when they were thirsty showed a much more joyful facial expression than satiated mice , ” said lead researcher Nadine Gogolla , of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Germany .
Meanwhile , mice that tasted a slightly salty solution showed a “ satisfied ” expression , while a very salty solution led to a “ disgusted ” face , she said .
Dr Gogolla said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans and mice when expressing their emotions through the face .
“ When humans see something disgusting their sinuses contract as if to decrease the exposure to the disgusting substance .
But when something is scary , they rather try to get all the information in about it , for example by widening their eyes and sinuses .
We see something similar in mice , ” she said .

They may not seem particularly emotional or communicative, but it turns out that mice have a range of distinct facial expressions which they pull depending on their mood.
And some of them bear a remarkable similarity to those used by us humans, a study has found.
In some ways, mouse expressions are even more nuanced as they have an additional tool in their facial armoury, whiskers – and use their noses and ears to much greater effect.
Researchers carried out a series of experiments with mice designed to elicit various emotions, such as giving them sweet and bitter food and tail shocks.
Say cheese
The mice consistently experienced similar emotions – and made similar facial expressions – when subjected to various categories of mood-influencing stimuli to provoke feelings such as pain or disgust.
“Mice that licked a sugar solution when they were thirsty showed a much more joyful facial expression than satiated mice,” said lead researcher Nadine Gogolla, of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Germany.
Meanwhile, mice that tasted a slightly salty solution showed a “satisfied” expression, while a very salty solution led to a “disgusted” face, she said.
Similar to people
Dr Gogolla said she has noticed at least some similarities between humans and mice when expressing their emotions through the face.
“When humans see something disgusting their sinuses contract as if to decrease the exposure to the disgusting substance. But when something is scary, they rather try to get all the information in about it, for example by widening their eyes and sinuses. We see something similar in mice,” she said.
“It has never been shown comprehensively that facial expressions in mice reflect complex internal states,” she added.
The study is published in the journal Science.


inews--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: NHS whistleblower says nurses advised to 'walk away' from Covid-19 heart attack victims

Coronavirus: NHS whistleblower says nurses advised to 'walk away' from Covid-19 heart attack victims over 'inadequate' PPE

Coronavirus : NHS whistleblower says nurses advised to 'walk away ' from Covid-19 heart attack victims over 'inadequate ' PPE Exclusive : Hospital trust insists nurses can intervene in a coronavirus patient emergency — even if staff do not have enhanced PPE A nurse adjusts her face mask before taking swabs at a Covid-19 at a testing station in Surrey .
A whistleblower at a Welsh hospital has told inews that nurses have been advised to 'walk away ' from patients with coronavirus if they suffer a heart attack or require intervention such as intubation because of concerns over PPE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior nurse at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen told i she believed that clinicians and patients were being put at risk because she and her colleagues had been provided with only standard surgical masks and plastic aprons as personal protective equipment ( PPE ) to care for coronavirus victims .
The whistleblower , who i has agreed not to identify , said that nurses had been told not to intervene should a coronavirus patient require an “ aerosol procedure ” such as intubation or suffer an emergency such as a heart attack because higher-spec @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , she said nurses who otherwise have the training to begin interventions are being asked to call for a Medical Emergency Team ( MET ) from elsewhere in the hospital who would be expected to have adequate PPE .
The Hywel Dda University Health Board , which runs the hospital , insisted that its staff were following national NHS guidelines which allowed staff to begin resuscitation procedures using existing PPE .
It insisted that no time would be lost in providing emergency interventions .
'There is a very real fear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ We do not have enhanced PPE on the ward and the advice from my manager was to walk away if a situation such as a cardiac arrest arose with a Covid-positive patient and call for a MET .
“ But that would take valuable seconds or minutes during which we feel we could not intervene because we do not have the right protective equipment .
It is appalling because there is a very real fear that a patient could die in that time.
” She added : “ We feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have been issued with these are plastic aprons and these piddling surgical masks and yet we are told we can care for all the day-to-day needs of covid-positive patients .
We are wearing uniforms which we then take to our homes to wash each night and place ourselves and our families at risk .
“ Our every instinct is to care for our patients but we are being asked to put ourselves in harm ’ s way .
It is simply not good enough.
” The nurse said a patient who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her general ward with about 20 non-Covid patients for two days in the last fortnight .
During the same time period a further five patients developed symptoms which led to them being tested for Coronavirus .
The nurse added : “ I don ’ t think we are alone in facing these circumstances .
I have heard very similar accounts from elsewhere .
I think hospital managers are doing their best - the issue is the shortages and those above them.
” Director of nursing Mandy Rayani , said : “ The national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that chest compressions can be started by first responders , in an emergency situation , with the PPE that is currently available to our nursing staff .
In the initial stages of a resuscitation enhanced PPE… is not required .
This means that critical time does not need to be lost.
” Downing Street insisted once more that it was getting to grips with any problems in the PPE supply chain for both health and social care facilities .
Number 10 said PPE had now been provided to more than 26,000 care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( PPE ) has become an increasingly worrying issue for NHS staff as the number of coronavirus cases continues to surge ( Photo : Justin Setterfield/Getty )

Staff caring for Covid-19 victims at a major hospital in Wales have been advised to “walk away” from patients in the event of a major emergency such as a cardiac arrest because of inadequate protective equipment, a whistleblower claimed.
A senior nurse at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen told i she believed that clinicians and patients were being put at risk because she and her colleagues had been provided with only standard surgical masks and plastic aprons as personal protective equipment (PPE) to care for coronavirus victims.
The whistleblower, who i has agreed not to identify, said that nurses had been told not to intervene should a coronavirus patient require an “aerosol procedure” such as intubation or suffer an emergency such as a heart attack because higher-spec PPE was not available on the ward.
Instead, she said nurses who otherwise have the training to begin interventions are being asked to call for a Medical Emergency Team (MET) from elsewhere in the hospital who would be expected to have adequate PPE.
National guidelines
The Hywel Dda University Health Board, which runs the hospital, insisted that its staff were following national NHS guidelines which allowed staff to begin resuscitation procedures using existing PPE. It insisted that no time would be lost in providing emergency interventions.
In the meantime, the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said it was launching a campaign to highlight what it said was a “scandalous” lack of PPE.
‘There is a very real fear that patient could die’
The Glangwili Hospital nurse said: “We do not have enhanced PPE on the ward and the advice from my manager was to walk away if a situation such as a cardiac arrest arose with a Covid-positive patient and call for a MET.
“But that would take valuable seconds or minutes during which we feel we could not intervene because we do not have the right protective equipment. It is appalling because there is a very real fear that a patient could die in that time.”
‘Lambs to the slaughter’
She added: “We feel like lambs to the slaughter. All we have been issued with these are plastic aprons and these piddling surgical masks and yet we are told we can care for all the day-to-day needs of covid-positive patients. We are wearing uniforms which we then take to our homes to wash each night and place ourselves and our families at risk.
“Our every instinct is to care for our patients but we are being asked to put ourselves in harm’s way. It is simply not good enough.”
Covid-positive patient
The nurse said a patient who had tested positive for coronavirus was kept on her general ward with about 20 non-Covid patients for two days in the last fortnight. During the same time period a further five patients developed symptoms which led to them being tested for Coronavirus.
The nurse added: “I don’t think we are alone in facing these circumstances. I have heard very similar accounts from elsewhere. I think hospital managers are doing their best – the issue is the shortages and those above them.”
No directives
In a statement, the Hywel Dda University Health Board said no directives had been issued to staff beyond national NHS guidance and staff wearing standard PPE could safely begin to intervene in the event of a cardiac arrest.
Director of nursing Mandy Rayani, said: “The national guidance that we have been following… confirms that chest compressions can be started by first responders, in an emergency situation, with the PPE that is currently available to our nursing staff. In the initial stages of a resuscitation enhanced PPE… is not required. This means that critical time does not need to be lost.”
Downing Street insisted once more that it was getting to grips with any problems in the PPE supply chain for both health and social care facilities. Number 10 said PPE had now been provided to more than 26,000 care homes, including hospices.
45.5 million items of PPE delivered
NHS England said that on Wednesday some 45.5 million items of PPE were delivered to 280 trusts and providers, including five million aprons, a million high-spec face masks and six million surgical masks.
But the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said there was a “scandalous” lack of PPE as it launched a campaign to highlight the problem.
Dr Fiona Godlee, editor of British Medical Journal, published by the BMA, said: “For healthcare staff on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic, work has suddenly become a frightening place. There is real and justified fear about personal safety, fuelled by a scandalous lack of personal protective equipment.”