inews--2020-04-30--Cambridgeshire and Essex police reported to themselves over unchallenged racism on Twitter feeds

Cambridgeshire and Essex police reported to themselves over unchallenged racism on Twitter feeds The raft of tweets targeting the Gypsy , Roma and Traveller community have been labelled 'racist and heartbreaking' The Gypsy , Roma and Traveller police support network GRTPA has tracked a raft of posts since February , with the group claiming the tweets have not been challenged by the police forces - and in some cases , have been encouraged .
Some of the comments seen by the GRTPA '' Travellers and gypsies face [ this ] on a day-to-day basis due to that criminal stereotype .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gypsies are inherently a criminal race .
What the police are doing by not managing their social media can feed into that stereotype .
`` I believe there has been a spike in malicious comments since Channel 4 aired the Dispatches documentary , '' said Mr Davies .
`` As the community has experienced previously , any airtime given to a Gypsy or Traveller related topic can more or less guarantee an extreme racist views aired as a result . ''
The documentary was aired on Thursday evening ( Photo : Taken from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the time , '' she said .
`` Police forces on the whole do not challenge or call out racist anti-Traveller comments on their community Facebook pages , including a complaint upheld by page 'Meet the MET ' .
Although the page was not officially owned by the police , many of those contributing and making racist comments or liking comments were serving and retired police officers , '' she claimed .
`` Enough of the compliancy and lame excuses , it ’ s time for action and not just on challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and join in the call by the GRTPA for a full investigation and national review into the service provision by police to GRT communities .
This review should focus on identifying and eliminating internal systematic institutional racism and bias as evidenced by the Traveller Movement report into relationships between GRT and Police , '' Ms MacNamara added .
`` The comments are already having a profound impact on our own GRT officers and staff with many expressing anxieties about going to work , and more importantly the devastating impact it ’ s having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group said .
Essex Police said in a statement : `` We did receive a complaint from Mr Davies .
However as he does not have written consent to act on the behalf of GRTPA , we have not been able to proceed .
However , if this is forthcoming we would review this decision , as a letter was sent to Mr Davies explaining this . ''

Two police forces accused of failing to remove racist abuse from their Twitter feeds have been reported to themselves for online hate speech.
Dozens of abusive and racist tweets targeting the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community have been posted on Cambridgeshire Rural Police and Essex Rural Police Force’s Twitter feeds as replies to messages, with a complaint filed accusing the forces of encouraging, rather than challenging, the abuse.
The criminal stereotype
Tweets dating back to February 2020 have been left on the Twitter feeds by members of the public, branding the ethnic minority as “born to rob scum” and “thieving p**eys”.
The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller police support network GRTPA has tracked a raft of posts since February, with the group claiming the tweets have not been challenged by the police forces – and in some cases, have been encouraged.
GRTPA showed i a series of tweets, requesting both police forces remove and report the abusive posts.
GRTPA committee member Jim Davies told i: “All public bodies have a responsibility to advance equality of opportunity between people, and to eliminate unlawful discrimination, and foster lawful relations.
“Travellers and gypsies face [this] on a day-to-day basis due to that criminal stereotype. The criminal stereotype is that Travellers and Gypsies are inherently a criminal race. What the police are doing by not managing their social media can feed into that stereotype.
“At best, you could say the accounts are being naive and there’s a lack of awareness. At worst, you could say they’re purposefully feeding into it.”
Rise in views
Mr Davies said he has noticed a further spike in remarks since Channel 4 aired a controversial Dispatches documentary called “The Truth About Traveller Crime'”.
A Channel 4 spokesperson said the programme “examined an important issue which was addressed fairly, accurately, and with due impartiality in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code”.
“I believe there has been a spike in malicious comments since Channel 4 aired the Dispatches documentary,” said Mr Davies. “As the community has experienced previously, any airtime given to a Gypsy or Traveller related topic can more or less guarantee an extreme racist views aired as a result.”
CEO of the Traveller Movement charity Yvonne MacNamara told i that unchallenged abusive posts are common.
“We see this all the time,” she said. “Police forces on the whole do not challenge or call out racist anti-Traveller comments on their community Facebook pages, including a complaint upheld by page ‘Meet the MET’. Although the page was not officially owned by the police, many of those contributing and making racist comments or liking comments were serving and retired police officers,” she claimed.
“We know there’s been a spike in racist abuse following Channel 4’s whitewash of a documentary. Police have a duty under the Equality Act to protect all communities from hate speech, including Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities.
“Enough of the compliancy and lame excuses, it’s time for action and not just on challenging online hate speech. We fully support and join in the call by the GRTPA for a full investigation and national review into the service provision by police to GRT communities. This review should focus on identifying and eliminating internal systematic institutional racism and bias as evidenced by the Traveller Movement report into relationships between GRT and Police,” Ms MacNamara added.
A spokesperson for GRTPA called the comments “racist and heartbreaking,” and claimed the stereotypes have an enduring impact on serving police officers.
“The comments are already having a profound impact on our own GRT officers and staff with many expressing anxieties about going to work, and more importantly the devastating impact it’s having on the wider community,” the group said.
Essex Police said in a statement: “We did receive a complaint from Mr Davies. However as he does not have written consent to act on the behalf of GRTPA, we have not been able to proceed. However, if this is forthcoming we would review this decision, as a letter was sent to Mr Davies explaining this.”
Mr Davies said he has not received a letter, and will clarify his position as a committee member of the GRTPA to the force.
i has approached Cambridgeshire Police for comment.


inews--2020-04-30--Frankenstein National Theatre cast: who stars with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, and wh

Frankenstein National Theatre cast: who stars with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, and when it's on YouTube tonight

Frankenstein National Theatre cast : who stars with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller , and when it 's on YouTube tonight Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternate the lead roles in Danny Boyle 's 2011 production of Frankenstein While its doors may be shut for the foreseeable future , it has been showing some of its most popular productions for free on YouTube .
One Man Two Guvnors , Jane Eyre , Treasure Island and Twelfth Night have already been streamed , and now it is the turn of Frankenstein , directed by Danny Boyle .
Want more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ versions for you to watch .
The reason there are two different versions is because during the original 2011 production , Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternated the lead roles , switching between Victor Frankenstein and the creature .
The version with Cumberbatch as the creature will live stream at 7pm on Thursday 30 April , and will be available until 7 May .
The version with Miller as the creature will stream the following night , Friday 1 May , at 7pm , and will be available until 8 May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the National Theatre 's YouTube channel .
It is recommended for ages 12 and up .
Who is in the cast ?
Viewers will get to see Cumberbatch perform on stage as he was becoming one of the world 's most famous actors .
When he took on these roles in 2011 only one season one Sherlock had aired , and it was before he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Strange .
Miller won an Olivier award for his performances in Frankenstein .
His collaborations with Boyle have always brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simon `` Sick Boy '' Williamson in Trainspotting in 1996 , and reprised the role for T2 Trainspotting in 2017 .
The National Theatre synopsis of the show says : `` Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form , Frankenstein ’ s bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker .

The National Theatre has been a godsend for drama fans during the coronavirus pandemic.
While its doors may be shut for the foreseeable future, it has been showing some of its most popular productions for free on YouTube.
One Man Two Guvnors, Jane Eyre, Treasure Island and Twelfth Night have already been streamed, and now it is the turn of Frankenstein, directed by Danny Boyle.
Want more good news? There are two different versions for you to watch.
Here is everything you need to know…
How can I watch Frankenstein online?
The reason there are two different versions is because during the original 2011 production, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternated the lead roles, switching between Victor Frankenstein and the creature.
The version with Cumberbatch as the creature will live stream at 7pm on Thursday 30 April, and will be available until 7 May.
The version with Miller as the creature will stream the following night, Friday 1 May, at 7pm, and will be available until 8 May.
You can watch for free by heading to the National Theatre’s YouTube channel. It is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Who is in the cast?
As mentioned, Cumberbatch and Miller alternate the two main roles.
Viewers will get to see Cumberbatch perform on stage as he was becoming one of the world’s most famous actors. When he took on these roles in 2011 only one season one Sherlock had aired, and it was before he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Strange.
Miller won an Olivier award for his performances in Frankenstein. His collaborations with Boyle have always brought success – he made his name as Simon “Sick Boy” Williamson in Trainspotting in 1996, and reprised the role for T2 Trainspotting in 2017.
They are joined in the cast be several other famous faces. Naomie Harris (Moonlight, Skyfall) plays Victor’s bride Elizabeth Lavenza.
Karl Johnson (Wittgenstein, Lark Rise to Candleford) plays De Lacey and Daniel Millar (Downton Abbey) plays Felix de Lacey.
Also among the cast are Ella Smith, John Killoran, Steven Elliott and Lizzie Winkler.
The National Theatre synopsis of the show says: “Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker.
“Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the increasingly desperate and vengeful creature determines to track down his creator and strike a terrifying deal.”


inews--2020-05-01--Children and coronavirus: Latest NHS and WHO advice on Covid-19 symptoms in children, after warning

Children and coronavirus: Latest NHS and WHO advice on Covid-19 symptoms in children, after warning on toxic shock syndrome

Children and coronavirus : Latest NHS and WHO advice on Covid-19 symptoms in children , after warning on toxic shock syndrome Experts have said that children typically develop less severe side-effects but are still at risk of catching and spreading coronavirus At the start of the outbreak , experts said the vast majority of infections would be concentrated among the elderly , and while this remains the case , last week a high priority alert was sent to NHS doctors warning of a possible coronavirus-related syndrome among children that may be emerging in the UK .
More than 22,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far , but of those fatalities only 10 have been people under the age of 20 .
What does the World Health Organisation say ?
The verdict is similar from the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) , which says current research suggests children and adolescents are “ just as likely to become infected as any other age group and can spread the disease ” .
There have been reports of a new Covid-19-like illness in children ( Photo : Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images ) What has the new warning been about ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ( Photo : Kena Betancur/Getty Images )

Concern has grown over how children are affected by the coronavirus and any possible related conditions.
At the start of the outbreak, experts said the vast majority of infections would be concentrated among the elderly, and this remains the case.
However, a high priority alert was sent to NHS doctors warning that a small number of children diagnosed with Covid-19 may actually be suffering from a syndrome among children that may be emerging in the UK. The alert stated that children affected display signs similar to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a severe illness associated with infections, and have blood markers in line with severe Covid-19 in children. The alert also mentioned an atypical Kawasaki disease, a condition that mainly affects children under the age of five which can’t be prevented, but the NHS has stressed this is rare.
Here, we take a look at the latest official guidelines around children and Covid-19.
Can children get coronavirus?
Children are not immune to Covid-19, with a five-year-old known to be the UK’s youngest person to catch the virus.
However, NHS guidance says that “they usually seem to get it less often than adults and it’s usually less serious”.
Great Ormond Street, the UK’s leading children’s hospital, said: “The evidence to date (24 April 2020) suggests that although children do develop Covid-19, very few children develop severe symptoms, even if they have an underlying health condition.”
More than 22,000 people have died from the disease in hospital so far, but of those fatalities only 10 have been people under the age of 20.
But the NHS warns viruses can make children poorly rapidly, so parents should call 111 if their child has a high temperature or a new and continuous cough – meaning three or more coughing spells in 24 hours.
What does the World Health Organisation say?
The verdict is similar from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which says current research suggests children and adolescents are “just as likely to become infected as any other age group and can spread the disease”.
WHO official guidance adds: “Evidence to date suggests that children and young adults are less likely to get severe disease, but severe cases can still happen in these age groups.”
The WHO also warns it is “particularly important” that children stay away from older people and those more at risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms.
What has the new warning been about?
Recent reports have warned of a rise in children showing symptoms similar to toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease, which has seen 20 children treated in intensive care, according to NHS England.
The NHS’ high-priority alert issued to doctors containing the warning came after a reported rise of “a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also in other regions of the UK”.
The children had persistent fevers and severe abdominal pain and some had skin rashes, as is typical with Kawasaki disease, which is experienced by under fives.
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease include a high temperature that lasts for five days or more, often with a rash and/or swollen glands in the neck. Children can make a full recovery within six to eight weeks if it’s diagnosed and treated promptly, but complications can develop.
However, doctors at the UK Kawasaki Disease Foundation have cautioned that there is little evidence of a link between the new illness and Covid-19, and that some cases may be a misdiagnosis of Kawasaki disease.
NHS advice remains for any parents who spot the feverish symptoms of Kawasaki disease – which may be a sign of the new apparent syndrome – to call 111 straight away and see their GP as soon as possible.


inews--2020-05-01--Animal Crossing May Day maze: how to complete the New Horizons challenge, ticket location and how lo

Animal Crossing May Day maze: how to complete the New Horizons challenge, ticket location and how long the island will last

Animal Crossing May Day maze : how to complete the New Horizons challenge , ticket location and how long the @ @ @ @ @ has rolled out a new May Day Tour that lasts all week ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ May How to get the Animal Crossing : New Horizons May Day update The new @ @ @ @ @ ( Image : Nintendo ) Tickets are only valid between 1 May and 7 May @ @ @ @ @ clear whether users can have multiple attempts at the maze - so this may be @ @ @ @ @ to conquer the Animal Crossing : New Horizons May Day maze The mazes are chosen @ @ @ @ @ slightly different for each user , but there are some common rules that apply throughout @ @ @ @ @ a new challenge on their hands ( Photo : Nintendo ) How to get Rover @ @ @ @ @ Crossing : New Horizons May Day maze

Housebound fans of Animal Crossing: New Horizons have been keeping busy lately, but their horizons are set to expand with a new update.
The game has rolled out a new May Day Tour that lasts all week ahead of the Spring celebration on Friday 8 May.
Inspired by the North American public holiday Labour Day, May Day is celebrated across Europe to mark the new season.
And this challenge is quite unlike any of the updates we have seen so far.
The feature opens up a maze to explore and there are even some prizes along the way.
How to get the Animal Crossing: New Horizons May Day update
Grabbing tickets for May Day is actually very simple and completely free of charge.
First, head to Resident Services where Tom Nook will guide you to the airport.
When at the terminal, collect your tickets and select the “I’d like to fly” button and you’ll be whisked to May Day island.
Tickets are only valid between 1 May and 7 May and it is not yet clear whether users can have multiple attempts at the maze – so this may be your only chance.
How to conquer the Animal Crossing: New Horizons May Day maze
Upon arrival on May Day island you will find it is only you versus a giant maze – with no tools to help.
The mazes are chosen at random so will be slightly different for each user, but there are some common rules that apply throughout.
First, you can use your shovel to dig up shrubs
Eat a piece of fruit first to bolster your strength ahead of removing a tree or smashing a rock
You can get jump over the square holes but have to walk at them in a straight line
Worn axes will only have enough strength to slash one tree.
How to get Rover’s suitcase to complete Animal Crossing: New Horizons May Day maze
You will met Rover the cat at the end of the maze – a familiar face for seasoned players of the Animal Crossing games.
He will give you an exclusive suitcase as confirmation you have completed the maze challenge, and will be posted directly to your house by the dodos when you fly back.
Ensure you pick up the bell tokens before you leave too – they could come in handy later.


inews--2020-05-01--Who's on The Graham Norton Show tonight? Jeff Goldblum, Imelda Staunton and Louis Theroux dial in fr

Who's on The Graham Norton Show tonight? Jeff Goldblum, Imelda Staunton and Louis Theroux dial in from their own homes

Who 's on The Graham Norton Show tonight ?
Jeff Goldblum , Imelda Staunton and Louis Theroux dial in from their own homes The hit TV show returns to our screens tonight , albeit without a studio audience The host will be presenting his BBC show without a studio audience or any guests on his famous red sofa for another week .
Instead , he 'll be interviewing stars from the comfort of their own homes via webcam - and the infamous Big Red Chair even remains .
Actor Jeff Goldblum will join the virtual red sofa to chat about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Jeff Goldblum .
Jeff Goldblum will share his golden teeth set on the show ( Photo : Sela Shiloni ) Talking about the show , he said : “ It was an eyeopener .
I was doing it during the time of being a dad for the first time , so I was in a growth spurt of curiosity , engagement and surprise .
I loved it !
” Talking about the halted Jurassic World movie , he added : “ I was meant to be in England right now filming but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m just working on my part constantly – by the time the film finally gets made , I ’ ll either be very good or burnt out !
” A Confession and Downton Abbey star Imelda Staunton will also dial into the programme to discuss her new Apple TV+ series Trying .
Imelda Staunton will also join the chat ( Photo : Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images for RFF ) Talking about her character , she says , “ She is rather zany – not your normal social worker .
She is quirky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it .
She ’ s closer to me than you think !
” Asked about Downton Abbey and her `` upstairs '' character and real-life husband Jim Carter ’ s `` downstairs '' role and how it plays out at home , she added : “ I never get waited on !
” Louis Theroux will discuss his new podcast ( Photo : Daniel Dewsbury ) Asked about the series , he says : “ Like millions of others , when the pandemic hit , all my plans had to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can we do from your home ?
’ '' We had this idea to interview people that I ’ d always wanted to talk to and that I could have a good conversation with .
We are kind of comparing notes at this difficult time , which is a positive thing as well , I think .
“ It ’ s the first time I ’ ve done interviews that aren ’ t in a real location or part of a live encounter like a porn set or a hospital , wherever it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations in which the star of the show is just the chat .
”

Telly favourite Graham Norton returns to our screens tonight in true social distancing fashion.
The host will be presenting his BBC show without a studio audience or any guests on his famous red sofa for another week.
Instead, he’ll be interviewing stars from the comfort of their own homes via webcam – and the infamous Big Red Chair even remains.
And it is set to be a cracker with this week’s line-up:
Jeff Goldblum
Actor Jeff Goldblum will join the virtual red sofa to chat about his new Disney+ series The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
The Jurassic Park star will join Norton from his US home – and reveal his set of golden teeth.
Talking about the show, he said: “It was an eyeopener. I was doing it during the time of being a dad for the first time, so I was in a growth spurt of curiosity, engagement and surprise. I loved it!”
Talking about the halted Jurassic World movie, he added: “I was meant to be in England right now filming but as the calendar has changed, I’m just working on my part constantly – by the time the film finally gets made, I’ll either be very good or burnt out!”
Imelda Staunton
A Confession and Downton Abbey star Imelda Staunton will also dial into the programme to discuss her new Apple TV+ series Trying.
Talking about her character, she says, “She is rather zany – not your normal social worker. She is quirky and that’s why I wanted to do it. She’s closer to me than you think!”
Asked about Downton Abbey and her “upstairs” character and real-life husband Jim Carter’s “downstairs” role and how it plays out at home, she added: “I never get waited on!”
Louis Theroux
Documentary supremo Louis Theroux is also back on our screens tonight to discuss his latest venture, the BBC Sounds podcast Grounded.
Asked about the series, he says: “Like millions of others, when the pandemic hit, all my plans had to change so the conversation changed to ‘What can we do from your home?’
“We had this idea to interview people that I’d always wanted to talk to and that I could have a good conversation with. We are kind of comparing notes at this difficult time, which is a positive thing as well, I think.
“It’s the first time I’ve done interviews that aren’t in a real location or part of a live encounter like a porn set or a hospital, wherever it may be. These are much more conversations in which the star of the show is just the chat.”
He will also discuss the hit documentary series Tiger King and its star Joe Exotic.
Mabel
Pop singer Mabel will also make an appearance on the show, performing her track Boyfriend live from her parents’ home.


inews--2020-05-01--Smoking and coronavirus: The official WHO and UK advice about smokers, after studies investigate whe

Smoking and coronavirus: The official WHO and UK advice about smokers, after studies investigate whether nicotine could prevent Covid-19

Smoking and coronavirus : The official WHO and UK advice about smokers , after studies investigate whether nicotine could prevent Covid-19 Doctors in Wales have suggested nicotine helps to fight coronavirus and that patches might 'block ' the virus from entering people 's cells While boldly counter-intuitive , last week a group of researchers from Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris said that fewer people were hospitalised with Covid-19 who were regular smokers , compared to the general population .
Its credibility is further dented when considering a second study by a group in China , which said smokers are 14 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after contracting the virus .
The studies are not conclusive ( Photo : Getty ) But some do not believe the French study is without merit .
A second piece of analysis conducted by the Pasteur Institute in France corroborated the claims and said smokers are `` four times less likely '' to develop severe symptoms .
Both follow suggestions by doctors in Wales that it is nicotine that helps to fight coronavirus and that patches might `` block '' the virus from entering people 's cells .
The treatment option is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in the British Medical Journal .
For now , however , the evidence to support such ideas is relatively limited and there is no medical advice telling people to use nicotine patches in order to limit the chance of becoming infected , or to fight off the virus in such an instance .
The institute in France said while there is a theory that nicotine could be a `` protective factor '' , it added : `` One should not forget that nicotine is a drug of abuse responsible for smoking addiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains a serious danger for health . ''
Public Health England has said smokers are at greater risk of harm : `` Smoking tobacco is known to damage the lungs and airways causing a range of severe respiratory problems .
Speaking in the Commons on 18 March , in response to questions on the subject , Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock said : `` It is abundantly clear from the research into previous coronaviruses that smoking makes the impact of a coronavirus worse.
” The BBC has also reported that government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against smoking and maintained it to be dangerous .
Authorities said it kills 75,000 people a year in the country .
The World Health Organisation has said smokers are more vulnerable and said smoking not only increases the risk of poor health , but raises the chance of transmission .
`` Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to Covid-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers ( and possibly contaminated cigarettes ) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth , '' @ @ @ @

A study has been made public that suggests smokers might be less susceptible to catching Covid-19 due to the drug nicotine.
While boldly counter-intuitive, last week a group of researchers from Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris said that fewer people were hospitalised with Covid-19 who were regular smokers, compared to the general population.
Given smoking has been widely proven to damage people’s respiratory health, which is what coronavirus attacks, the research defies logic.
Its credibility is further dented when considering a second study by a group in China, which said smokers are 14 times more likely to develop more severe symptoms after contracting the virus.
Early studies
But some do not believe the French study is without merit. A second piece of analysis conducted by the Pasteur Institute in France corroborated the claims and said smokers are “four times less likely” to develop severe symptoms.
Both follow suggestions by doctors in Wales that it is nicotine that helps to fight coronavirus and that patches might “block” the virus from entering people’s cells.
The treatment option is being considered by some physicians and has been published in the British Medical Journal.
For now, however, the evidence to support such ideas is relatively limited and there is no medical advice telling people to use nicotine patches in order to limit the chance of becoming infected, or to fight off the virus in such an instance.
Warnings against smoking
The institute in France said while there is a theory that nicotine could be a “protective factor”, it added: “One should not forget that nicotine is a drug of abuse responsible for smoking addiction. Smoking has severe pathological consequences and remains a serious danger for health.”
Public Health England has said smokers are at greater risk of harm: “Smoking tobacco is known to damage the lungs and airways causing a range of severe respiratory problems.
“The evidence clearly shows Covid-19 virus attacks the respiratory system, which explains why smokers are at greater risk.”
Speaking in the Commons on 18 March, in response to questions on the subject, Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock said: “It is abundantly clear from the research into previous coronaviruses that smoking makes the impact of a coronavirus worse.”
The BBC has also reported that government health officials in France have also cautioned against smoking and maintained it to be dangerous. Authorities said it kills 75,000 people a year in the country.
WHO guidelines
The World Health Organisation has said smokers are more vulnerable and said smoking not only increases the risk of poor health, but raises the chance of transmission.
“Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to Covid-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth,” said a warning.
“Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.
“Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings.
“Conditions that increase oxygen needs or reduce the ability of the body to use it properly will put patients at higher risk of serious lung conditions such as pneumonia.”


inews--2020-05-01--Ryanair to axe 3,000 jobs as coronavirus continues to cripple airlines

Ryanair to axe 3,000 jobs as coronavirus continues to cripple airlines Announcement comes after British Airways said on Tuesday that it plans to cut almost a third of its 42,000 employees Ryanair expects to operate less than 1 per cent of its scheduled flights in Apr , May and June ( Photo : Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty ) Ryanair is to cut 3,000 jobs at the low-cost airline and decrease the pay of its workforce by up to 20 per cent in yet another sign of the devastating blow the coronavirus has dealt the global air travel industry .
The airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its 20,000-strong workforce , mainly pilot and cabin crew staff , as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ground flights .
Ryanair said : “ As a direct result of the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis , the grounding of all flights from mid-March until at least July , we now expect the recovery of passenger demand and pricing will take at least two years , until summer 2022 at the earliest.
” The announcement comes after Boeing , one of the world ’ s largest aeroplane makers , said on Wednesday that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workforce .
The cuts will equate to about 16,000 of the American airline ’ s 161,000 employees .
On Tuesday , British Airways also announced plans to cut almost a third of its 42,000 employees .
Ryanair ’ s chief executive , Michael O ’ Leary , took a 50 per cent pay cut for April and May and said he has now extended this until the end of March next year .
The job cuts and pay reductions will also be extended to head office and back office teams .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Ryanair airlines will shortly notify their trade unions about its restructuring and job loss program , which will commence from July 2020 .
These plans will be subject to consultation but will affect all Ryanair airlines.
” It added : “ Due to continent wide EU Government flight restrictions , we expect to operate less than 1 per cent of our scheduled flying program in Apr , May and June.
” Ryanair is now reviewing its growth plans and aircraft orders , and is in active negotiations with both Boeing and Laudamotion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of planned aircraft deliveries over the next 24 months .
The company said : “ Ryanair entered this unprecedented Covid-19 crisis with almost €4bn in cash , and we continue to actively manage these cash resources to ensure that we can survive this Covid-19 pandemic , and more importantly return to lower fare flight schedules as soon as possible .
”

Ryanair is to cut 3,000 jobs at the low-cost airline and decrease the pay of its workforce by up to 20 per cent in yet another sign of the devastating blow the coronavirus has dealt the global air travel industry.
The airline said it was axing 15 per cent of its 20,000-strong workforce, mainly pilot and cabin crew staff, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ground flights.
Ryanair said: “As a direct result of the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis, the grounding of all flights from mid-March until at least July, we now expect the recovery of passenger demand and pricing will take at least two years, until summer 2022 at the earliest.”
The announcement comes after Boeing, one of the world’s largest aeroplane makers, said on Wednesday that it is cutting about 10 per cent of its workforce. The cuts will equate to about 16,000 of the American airline’s 161,000 employees. On Tuesday, British Airways also announced plans to cut almost a third of its 42,000 employees.
Pay cuts
Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, took a 50 per cent pay cut for April and May and said he has now extended this until the end of March next year. The job cuts and pay reductions will also be extended to head office and back office teams.
The company said in a trading statement: “The Ryanair airlines will shortly notify their trade unions about its restructuring and job loss program, which will commence from July 2020. These plans will be subject to consultation but will affect all Ryanair airlines.”
It added: “Due to continent wide EU Government flight restrictions, we expect to operate less than 1 per cent of our scheduled flying program in Apr, May and June.”
Reviewing growth plans
Ryanair is now reviewing its growth plans and aircraft orders, and is in active negotiations with both Boeing and Laudamotion’s A320 lessors to cut the number of planned aircraft deliveries over the next 24 months.
The company said: “Ryanair entered this unprecedented Covid-19 crisis with almost €4bn in cash, and we continue to actively manage these cash resources to ensure that we can survive this Covid-19 pandemic, and more importantly return to lower fare flight schedules as soon as possible.”


inews--2020-05-01--Neighbours leads TV drama out of lockdown - with digital trickery and strictly no kissing

Neighbours leads TV drama out of lockdown - with digital trickery and strictly no kissing With gaps in schedules looming , broadcasters will introduce new safety protocols to get cameras rolling on hit dramas Sheridan Smith , soon to give birth herself , plays a heavily pregnant woman in Isolation Stories ( Photo : ITV ) With social distancing measures likely to remain in some form until the end of the year , UK broadcasters and production hubs such as Pinewood and Shepperton studios , are discussing an industry-wide set of protocols which will allow films , high-end drama and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production teams are isolated from each other and only three actors are allowed to cross between the groups .
If illness breaks out in one production team , the others can continue shooting .
'Neighbours puts such a preposterous spin on your worries that it renders them laughable ' ( Photo : Channel 5 ) “ Hair , make-up and costume supervisors can ’ t touch actors .
Inevitably , it slows the shoot down when everything is done at a distance .
Until you can put two actors together on set , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to film normally.
” A Line of Duty spoof - but when will series resume shooting ?
( Photo : BBC ) The drama boss has mooted a radical solution .
“ Are we going to have to look at quarantining actors and crew to allow actors to interact in the same space ?
, ” he asked in an Edinburgh TV Festival YouTube interview .
Netflix chief Ted Sarandos said : “ We ’ re currently in production in Iceland and in Korea , and we ’ re taking some of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ productions today and applying that to our plans to start our productions around the world.
” The real-life drama has overtaken some series .
Scripts for the second series of Sky ’ s Cobra , set in the Cabinet Office war room during a government crisis , are being rewritten .
Some dramas already in development will be mothballed .
Ian Katz , Channel 4 director of programming , forced to cut its content budget by £150m in response to the coronavirus crisis , said : “ In the next few months I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any new dramas getting up and running.
” Robert Glenister stars in an Isolation story with son Tom ( Photo : ITV )

There are no kissing scenes, crew members double up as extras and digital trickery will be used to reduce the physical distance between actors.
Neighbours has become a test case for a television industry desperate to get cameras rolling again, after the Australian soap restarted production under strict new safety guidelines.
The novelty of snooping around celebrities’ living rooms during Zoom-shot versions of popular shows is wearing off.
Monologues, such as the BBC’s revival of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads and ITV’s Isolation Stories, self-shot at home by actors including Sheridan Smith, have become a short-term fix to fill schedules running out of fresh drama.
Yet the DIY option isn’t available for action-packed, big budget dramas like Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty, which suspended production six weeks ago.
With social distancing measures likely to remain in some form until the end of the year, UK broadcasters and production hubs such as Pinewood and Shepperton studios, are discussing an industry-wide set of protocols which will allow films, high-end drama and soaps to resume shooting safely.
Piers Wenger, BBC controller of drama commissioning, said the Neighbours experience was being studied.
After a month-long shutdown, the Channel 5 series, which normally churns out five episodes a week but has been broadcast twice a week during lockdown, restarted filming with its studio space divided into quadrants.
Neighbours new rules
Three production teams are isolated from each other and only three actors are allowed to cross between the groups. If illness breaks out in one production team, the others can continue shooting.
Physical contact and intimacy have been banished from scripts and actors are expected to apply their own make-up.
A nurse on set checks the temperature of everyone entering the site. Digital editing allows actors, maintaining social distancing, to appear closer than they are.
“There are ways of cheating to make actors look close enough to each other to interact in a scene,” said Wenger. “Neighbours is experimenting with different angles and ways of shooting.”
There are still practical difficulties to overcome. “You can’t move an object on set that needs two people to carry,” Wenger said.
“Hair, make-up and costume supervisors can’t touch actors. Inevitably, it slows the shoot down when everything is done at a distance. Until you can put two actors together on set, it’s going to be hard to film normally.”
The drama boss has mooted a radical solution. “Are we going to have to look at quarantining actors and crew to allow actors to interact in the same space?,” he asked in an Edinburgh TV Festival YouTube interview.
Costs would rise if the BBC was forced to contract big-name stars for an extended period in lockdown – even if their partners agreed to the imposition.
UK broadcasters have to find a way of replenishing drama stocks because streaming rivals are using their global reach to maintain a pipeline of new shows for subscribers.
Netflix chief Ted Sarandos said: “We’re currently in production in Iceland and in Korea, and we’re taking some of those key learnings about how we run those productions today and applying that to our plans to start our productions around the world.”
The real-life drama has overtaken some series. Scripts for the second series of Sky’s Cobra, set in the Cabinet Office war room during a government crisis, are being rewritten. Some dramas already in development will be mothballed.
Ian Katz, Channel 4 director of programming, forced to cut its content budget by £150m in response to the coronavirus crisis, said: “In the next few months I don’t think we will see any new dramas getting up and running.”
Escapism will be the order of the day when the lockdown finally lifts, with audiences seeking “rollercoaster, edge-of-the-seat drama, taking people out of their own world” rather than “homely, wholesome” stories, Wenger predicts.
Sky said shows which shoot abroad, such as its glossy Riviera series, will not resume until at least Spring 2021.
Viewers can expect more domestic dramas, telling British stories, Sky and the BBC, agreed.
Lockdown is also set to change the grammar of TV drama. On-set “intimacy co-ordinators” will advise actors on creating sensual scenes without touching, for some time.
Bill Roache, 88, stood down
ITV is considering using one-way staircases and perspex screens to protect editors, ideas gleaned from the construction industry, when production restarts on Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Older cast members will be stood down until it is safe for them to work.
ITV’s 15-minute Isolation Stories, which air next week, might look “rough around the edges,” Jeff Pope, the Bafta-award winning writer and producer, admitted.
“We needed wives, husbands, partners and children isolating with them (the actors) to help with operating the camera and help with lighting, make-up, wardrobe, continuity and so on.”
Robert Glenister, who plays a coronavirus sufferer isolating with his son, said: “If things carry on like this, we might reach a point where people start wondering why we’ve been spending £250,000 a week making TV shows when we can do things in a far simpler, quicker fashion.”
Neighbours returns to Channel 5 five days a week from Monday 11 May


inews--2020-05-01--Condom sales have shrivelled up during UK coronavirus lockdown, Durex boss says

Condom sales have shrivelled up during UK coronavirus lockdown , Durex boss says Social distancing and lockdown is 'having a toll on the number of intimate occasions in the UK' Condom sales have dried up in the era of social distancing , with lockdown serving as a contraceptive in its own right .
People are having less sex in the UK , and around the world , as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak , Laxman Narasimhan , chief executive of Durex parent company Reckitt Benckiser has said .
The closure of pubs , bars and other nightspots , combined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from anyone who does not live in their household is depriving people of opportunities to engage in sexual activity with partners beyond the confines of their home .
Even among people in relationships who live together , it appears that the spectre of a global pandemic is proving to be a passion killer .
Young people are having “ significantly ” less sex now than before the UK went into lockdown on 23 March as opportunities for casual liasions have dwindled .
For many people already in relationships , anxiety and stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat , Mr Narasimhan suggested .
“ What you see is this virus is having a toll on the number of intimate occasions in the UK , ” Mr Narasimhan told The Guardian .
When the UK went into lockdown , the Government asked people in relationships who did not live together to decide then and there whether or not to move in together or quarantine separately .
“ If the two halves of a couple are currently in separate households , ideally they should stay in those households , ” Jenny Harries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The alternative might be that , for quite a significant period going forwards , they should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household , ” she added .
While condom sales have seen a decline , demand for hygiene products has been strong , Reckitt Benckiser , which also owns Dettol and Nurofen , reported in a trading update .
Like-for-like sales of health and hygiene products were up 13 per cent in the first three months of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , it said .

Condom sales have dried up in the era of social distancing, with lockdown serving as a contraceptive in its own right.
People are having less sex in the UK, and around the world, as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, Laxman Narasimhan, chief executive of Durex parent company Reckitt Benckiser has said.
Limited opportunities
The closure of pubs, bars and other nightspots, combined with the requirement to remain two metres away from anyone who does not live in their household is depriving people of opportunities to engage in sexual activity with partners beyond the confines of their home.
Even among people in relationships who live together, it appears that the spectre of a global pandemic is proving to be a passion killer.
Young people are having “significantly” less sex now than before the UK went into lockdown on 23 March as opportunities for casual liasions have dwindled. For many people already in relationships, anxiety and stress has led to sex taking a back seat, Mr Narasimhan suggested.
“What you see is this virus is having a toll on the number of intimate occasions in the UK,” Mr Narasimhan told The Guardian.
‘Testing’ relationships
When the UK went into lockdown, the Government asked people in relationships who did not live together to decide then and there whether or not to move in together or quarantine separately.
“If the two halves of a couple are currently in separate households, ideally they should stay in those households,” Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said.
“The alternative might be that, for quite a significant period going forwards, they should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household,” she added.
Read more Breaking coronavirus lockdown rules for casual sex and dates isn’t worth it
While condom sales have seen a decline, demand for hygiene products has been strong, Reckitt Benckiser, which also owns Dettol and Nurofen, reported in a trading update.
Like-for-like sales of health and hygiene products were up 13 per cent in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2019, it said.
@kt_grant


inews--2020-05-01--Hitting 100,000 Covid-19 tests is an impressive feat, but now Matt Hancock needs to explain what the

Hitting 100,000 Covid-19 tests is an impressive feat, but now Matt Hancock needs to explain what the point of it was

Hitting 100,000 Covid-19 tests is an impressive feat , but now Matt Hancock needs to explain what the point of it was Friday has become a self-imposed D-Day for Matt Hancock .
Having set himself - and therefore the Government - the hugely ambitious target of carrying out 100,000 Covid-19 tests a day , the moment has finally come to see if he has delivered .
Insiders are increasingly optimistic that the target will be met , after figures showed on Thursday that more than 81,000 tests were undertaken , leaving the magic 100,000 number in touching distance .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Care have been working non-stop to reach the goal , even going to lengths of installing a Brexit-style countdown clock to help motivate staff .
But as to whether the target is based on scientific evidence , which the Government has repeatedly stated it is being guided by during this crisis , is very much open to debate .
The Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty admitted this week that the 100,000 figure did not come from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies .
Reaching such levels of testing , while sounding impressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no underlying strategy .
Leading geneticist and chief executive of the Francis Crick Institute Sir Paul Nurse went further , insisting the target was a “ figure with a lot of noughts in it ” and branded the whole exercise a “ bit of PR stunt ” .
“ 100,000 ?
Why 100,000 ?
Where was the strategy under that ?
I haven ’ t seen one , ” he said on the BBC , before adding : “ Testing was absolutely critical .
It hasn ’ t been handled properly.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been to build capacity in order to enable a mass test and trace programme to quickly shut down fresh outbreaks in the months ahead , while also allowing large randomised sampling of the population to see where the virus is spreading .
But the problem he and the Government faces is all of this testing may have come too late .
Countries that have been successful in stopping the outbreak in its tracks , most notably South Korea , were able to implement testing and contact tracing from the outset .
Prof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exact number of people infected with Covid-19 it would need to get down to for test and trace to work effectively , but said “ the lower the better ” .
South Korea carried out its test and trace programme by undertaking 15,000 tests a day , with a population of 60m people .
It never saw its daily number of cases go above 100 .
The UK in contrast had 6,032 confirmed cases on Wednesday according to the latest figures , and is likely to have many more that number in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government will have to wait a lot longer for the number of cases to come down sufficiently for its “ test , track and trace ” programme to be in any way useful and for all that testing capacity to be put to some use .
Until then , Mr Hancock can pat himself on the back for winning his personal battle .
Now he needs to explain what the point of it was .

Friday has become a self-imposed D-Day for Matt Hancock. Having set himself – and therefore the Government – the hugely ambitious target of carrying out 100,000 Covid-19 tests a day, the moment has finally come to see if he has delivered.
Insiders are increasingly optimistic that the target will be met, after figures showed on Thursday that more than 81,000 tests were undertaken, leaving the magic 100,000 number in touching distance.
Officials in the Department of Health and Social Care have been working non-stop to reach the goal, even going to lengths of installing a Brexit-style countdown clock to help motivate staff.
Led by the science?
Hitting the landmark will undoubtedly be an impressive achievement, and drastically increasing the capacity to run a greater number of tests has been pinpointed as a key weapon in the country’s armoury in tackling the virus outbreak.
But as to whether the target is based on scientific evidence, which the Government has repeatedly stated it is being guided by during this crisis, is very much open to debate.
The Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty admitted this week that the 100,000 figure did not come from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Reaching such levels of testing, while sounding impressive, could be entirely pointless if there is no underlying strategy.
Leading geneticist and chief executive of the Francis Crick Institute Sir Paul Nurse went further, insisting the target was a “figure with a lot of noughts in it” and branded the whole exercise a “bit of PR stunt”.
“100,000? Why 100,000? Where was the strategy under that? I haven’t seen one,” he said on the BBC, before adding: “Testing was absolutely critical. It hasn’t been handled properly.”
“Testing was absolutely critical. It hasn’t been handled properly” Geneticist Paul Nurse says the government’s coronavirus testing target number of 100,000 tests per day was a ‘bit of a PR stunt’. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/K3Wd5r6xiR — BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) April 30, 2020
Mr Hancock will argue that the strategy has been to build capacity in order to enable a mass test and trace programme to quickly shut down fresh outbreaks in the months ahead, while also allowing large randomised sampling of the population to see where the virus is spreading.
But the problem he and the Government faces is all of this testing may have come too late. Countries that have been successful in stopping the outbreak in its tracks, most notably South Korea, were able to implement testing and contact tracing from the outset.
Prof Whitty on Thursday could not give an exact number of people infected with Covid-19 it would need to get down to for test and trace to work effectively, but said “the lower the better”.
Not a Korea
South Korea carried out its test and trace programme by undertaking 15,000 tests a day, with a population of 60m people. It never saw its daily number of cases go above 100. The UK in contrast had 6,032 confirmed cases on Wednesday according to the latest figures, and is likely to have many more that number in the wider community.
It is clear the Government will have to wait a lot longer for the number of cases to come down sufficiently for its “test, track and trace” programme to be in any way useful and for all that testing capacity to be put to some use.
Until then, Mr Hancock can pat himself on the back for winning his personal battle. Now he needs to explain what the point of it was.


inews--2020-05-01--Forget the news, Gemma Collins: Diva on Lockdown has captured the coronavirus apocalypse better than

Forget the news, Gemma Collins: Diva on Lockdown has captured the coronavirus apocalypse better than any documentary

Forget the news , Gemma Collins : Diva on Lockdown has captured the coronavirus apocalypse better than any documentary Reality TV cameras have accidentally captured the Coronavirus crisis playing out in real time .
It 's becoming a vital historical record I haven ’ t bothered , obviously .
What would it say ?
“ Woke up , did a work call , sat at my kitchen table for 11 hours , went for a walk , watched five episodes of Buffy while playing on my phone , fell asleep , repeat ad infinitum ?
” Nah .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it a time in my life I imagine I ’ ll be desperate to revisit .
Naturally , though , this era will be remembered by those more inspired , and less facetious , than me .
On Monday night begins a series of short dramas on ITV , Isolation Stories , depicting life in lockdown .
It is an impressive feat on all fronts , from the pedigree ( produced by Stan & Ollie ’ s Jeff Pope , the series kicks off with a film starring Sheridan Smith ) to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the speed of production – to adhere with government rules , episodes will be filmed in their homes by cast members themselves .
It may prove a poignant meditation on , here we go , THESE STRANGE AND UNSETTLING TIMES .
But I ’ m picturing a worthy Inside Number 9 without the lols , so I ’ m not thrilled at the prospect .
I would rather focus on getting this period over with than speculate on its artistic merits .
Where TV does provide a compelling account of modern history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satire , not in the news , nor even the urgent documentaries filmed in hospitals .
No , it ’ s on ITVBe .
I suspect the Venn diagram of i readers and ITVBe viewers shows little overlap , so for those out of the loop , this where the commercial broadcaster dumps all its reality series such as Towie , mad US imports such as Real Housewives and Botched , B-rate lifestyle series like Dinner Date and my and my friends ' favourite , comforting , enjoyably banal Towie spin-off Sam and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because of the fast-turnaround production schedule of its reality shows – the cameras are always rolling in Brentwood – the channel has real-time footage of the coronavirus crisis unfolding on its current series Ferne McCann : First Time Mum and Gemma Collins : Diva on Lockdown .
Proper journalism might seek out powerful case studies and interviews , but the first episode of Diva on Lockdown captures the charismatic Towie export as she weathers all manner of new storms : with garment factories in China shut down , she is forced to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; she is heartbroken as her house purchase falls through ; she watches Boris Johnson ’ s speech on the TV and promptly sends her camera crew home , too , and prepares , with admirable jollity , to hunker down .
Where else , but in our own lives , have we watched normality unspool ?
Even more absorbing is the way cameras accidentally capture the rapid shift in Britain ’ s attitudes .
The casual jokes – “ Wash your hands – corona !
” fall away as concern mounts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ like a ghost town ” .
Very soon , she ’ s forced to take it all seriously .
McCann ’ s show , too , captures her worry , her fretting with friends about whether it is safe to travel , the eye rolls at her mother who gives her face masks before a flight .
No other factual television is churned out as quickly , yet already this feels like a relic .
It is jarring , familiar , revelatory and damning to watch – these stars display the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s often said that in future , we ’ ll look back on reality TV and despair at society .
Who could have thought that Gemma Collins would narrate such a landmark moment – or that we ’ d be looking back quite so soon ?

What’s going in your Covid time capsule, then? Sourdough starter? Banana bread? Knitting needles? And which of you has started a diary, the 2020 Samuel Pepys?
I haven’t bothered, obviously. What would it say? “Woke up, did a work call, sat at my kitchen table for 11 hours, went for a walk, watched five episodes of Buffy while playing on my phone, fell asleep, repeat ad infinitum?” Nah. I’m not feeling very creative, nor is it a time in my life I imagine I’ll be desperate to revisit.
Naturally, though, this era will be remembered by those more inspired, and less facetious, than me. On Monday night begins a series of short dramas on ITV, Isolation Stories, depicting life in lockdown.
It is an impressive feat on all fronts, from the pedigree (produced by Stan & Ollie’s Jeff Pope, the series kicks off with a film starring Sheridan Smith) to the fast response to world events, and the speed of production – to adhere with government rules, episodes will be filmed in their homes by cast members themselves.
It may prove a poignant meditation on, here we go, THESE STRANGE AND UNSETTLING TIMES. But I’m picturing a worthy Inside Number 9 without the lols, so I’m not thrilled at the prospect. I would rather focus on getting this period over with than speculate on its artistic merits.
Where TV does provide a compelling account of modern history is not in drama, not in satire, not in the news, nor even the urgent documentaries filmed in hospitals. No, it’s on ITVBe.
I suspect the Venn diagram of i readers and ITVBe viewers shows little overlap, so for those out of the loop, this where the commercial broadcaster dumps all its reality series such as Towie, mad US imports such as Real Housewives and Botched, B-rate lifestyle series like Dinner Date and my and my friends’ favourite, comforting, enjoyably banal Towie spin-off Sam and Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries.
Because of the fast-turnaround production schedule of its reality shows – the cameras are always rolling in Brentwood – the channel has real-time footage of the coronavirus crisis unfolding on its current series Ferne McCann: First Time Mum and Gemma Collins: Diva on Lockdown.
Proper journalism might seek out powerful case studies and interviews, but the first episode of Diva on Lockdown captures the charismatic Towie export as she weathers all manner of new storms: with garment factories in China shut down, she is forced to close her boutique and send home her staff; she is heartbroken as her house purchase falls through; she watches Boris Johnson’s speech on the TV and promptly sends her camera crew home, too, and prepares, with admirable jollity, to hunker down. Where else, but in our own lives, have we watched normality unspool?
Even more absorbing is the way cameras accidentally capture the rapid shift in Britain’s attitudes. The casual jokes – “Wash your hands – corona!” fall away as concern mounts. Collins goes to work and finds Brentwood “like a ghost town”. Very soon, she’s forced to take it all seriously.
McCann’s show, too, captures her worry, her fretting with friends about whether it is safe to travel, the eye rolls at her mother who gives her face masks before a flight.
No other factual television is churned out as quickly, yet already this feels like a relic. It is jarring, familiar, revelatory and damning to watch – these stars display the same naivety we shared weeks ago. It’s often said that in future, we’ll look back on reality TV and despair at society. Who could have thought that Gemma Collins would narrate such a landmark moment – or that we’d be looking back quite so soon?


inews--2020-05-01--Jeremy Hunt wants more money for social care now, but he was the one in charge of the sector as Heal

Jeremy Hunt wants more money for social care now, but he was the one in charge of the sector as Health Secretary for six years

Jeremy Hunt wants more money for social care now , but he was the one in charge of the sector as Health Secretary for six years The UK 's longest serving Secretary of State for Health says the coronavirus pandemic has brought home the importance of social care to all As Jeremy Hunt took to the airwaves on Friday morning and praised care workers for looking after the 410,000 people who live in care homes , one can imagine what everyone working in the sector listening to his comments made of them .
When asked whether he would support increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : `` I will certainly be asking for a proper settlement for the social care sector , because I think that 's something that we all recognise needs to happen , but I also think the Government will want to do that . ''
Mr Hunt is , of course , the man who put `` Social Care '' into the Department of Health and Social Care , when it was renamed in January 2018 - in recent times it always has been technically responsible for social care but the change was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a result , he took over the preparation of the government 's policy paper ( known as a green paper ) on social care , announced in the March 2017 Budget and due in the summer of 2018 .
It should have been one the most important pieces of work done by Theresa May 's government , but the Conservatives ' general election campaign in the summer of 2017 was seriously dented by the manifesto plan to remove a proposed cap on personal social care costs .
This was swiftly dropped .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan and was understood to be against it being announced at the head of an election campaign .
Instead , attention turned back to the social care green paper , yet the paper never materialised .
Last October Mr Hunt 's successor , Matt Hancock , spoke of scrapping the social care consultation as he wanted to `` focus on solutions '' rather than producing a paper with more options .
Lasting five years and 10 months , Mr Hunt also holds the record as the longest serving Secretary of State for Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Richmond House is not remembered for anything to do with social care , however .
Instead , it was dominated by the junior doctors ' contract ( and subsequent strikes ) , NHS weekend cover , NHS funding and hospital closures .
Jeremy Hunt was the longest serving Heath Secretary in British political history ( Photo : Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ) It did take him more than five years to add social care to his department 's name , almost as an afterthought towards the end of his reign .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated by Mr Hunt - an afterthought .
To be fair to him , that is how almost every Health Secretary down the years has treated social care , the poor relation to the sacred cow that is the NHS .
Whereas Mr Hunt was able to say NHS spending increased - in cash terms at least - during the years of austerity , social care suffered terribly .
In the UK , publicly funded social care is mainly paid for by local councils , not the NHS .
Local authority spending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent in real terms between 2009–10 and 2016–17 , according to a report by the Institute for Financial Studies , but was protected relative to spending on other local authority services .
The population has been growing , so spending on adult social services per adult fell by 13.5 per cent in England over the same period .
This does not take into account that the population is ageing , which will have put additional pressure on adult social care services .
'Some cuts went too far' In June last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson for the Tory leadership , Mr Hunt admitted during a live debate that `` some of the cuts in social care did go too far '' .
Now he wants a `` proper settlement '' for the sector .
`` One thing that this terrible crisis has brought home to us is the importance of the social care sector , '' he said on Friday morning , going on to describe how care workers `` put their lives at risk to do incredibly important work , often at very low pay '' @

As Jeremy Hunt took to the airwaves on Friday morning and praised care workers for looking after the 410,000 people who live in care homes, one can imagine what everyone working in the sector listening to his comments made of them.
When asked whether he would support increased spending in social care, Mr Hunt said: “I will certainly be asking for a proper settlement for the social care sector, because I think that’s something that we all recognise needs to happen, but I also think the Government will want to do that.”
Mr Hunt is, of course, the man who put “Social Care” into the Department of Health and Social Care, when it was renamed in January 2018 – in recent times it always has been technically responsible for social care but the change was supposed to be more than symbolic. As a result, he took over the preparation of the government’s policy paper (known as a green paper) on social care, announced in the March 2017 Budget and due in the summer of 2018.
‘Focus on solutions’
It should have been one the most important pieces of work done by Theresa May’s government, but the Conservatives’ general election campaign in the summer of 2017 was seriously dented by the manifesto plan to remove a proposed cap on personal social care costs. This was swiftly dropped.
Mr Hunt was not consulted about the plan and was understood to be against it being announced at the head of an election campaign. Instead, attention turned back to the social care green paper, yet the paper never materialised. Last October Mr Hunt’s successor, Matt Hancock, spoke of scrapping the social care consultation as he wanted to “focus on solutions” rather than producing a paper with more options.
Lasting five years and 10 months, Mr Hunt also holds the record as the longest serving Secretary of State for Health in British political history. His tenure at Richmond House is not remembered for anything to do with social care, however. Instead, it was dominated by the junior doctors’ contract (and subsequent strikes), NHS weekend cover, NHS funding and hospital closures.
Treated as an afterthought
It did take him more than five years to add social care to his department’s name, almost as an afterthought towards the end of his reign. And that is how the sector felt it was treated by Mr Hunt – an afterthought. To be fair to him, that is how almost every Health Secretary down the years has treated social care, the poor relation to the sacred cow that is the NHS. Whereas Mr Hunt was able to say NHS spending increased – in cash terms at least – during the years of austerity, social care suffered terribly.
In the UK, publicly funded social care is mainly paid for by local councils, not the NHS. Local authority spending on adult social care in England fell 8 per cent in real terms between 2009–10 and 2016–17, according to a report by the Institute for Financial Studies, but was protected relative to spending on other local authority services.
The population has been growing, so spending on adult social services per adult fell by 13.5 per cent in England over the same period. This does not take into account that the population is ageing, which will have put additional pressure on adult social care services.
‘Some cuts went too far’
In June last year, as Foreign Secretary and standing against Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership, Mr Hunt admitted during a live debate that “some of the cuts in social care did go too far”. Now he wants a “proper settlement” for the sector.
“One thing that this terrible crisis has brought home to us is the importance of the social care sector,” he said on Friday morning, going on to describe how care workers “put their lives at risk to do incredibly important work, often at very low pay”.
Many people were aware of this before the pandemic, Mr Hunt, yet nothing was done.


inews--2020-05-01--What is the R number? Why the coronavirus reproduction rate is the important number to understand fo

What is the R number? Why the coronavirus reproduction rate is the important number to understand for whether the UK lockdown can end

What is the R number ?
Why the coronavirus reproduction rate is the important number to understand for whether the UK lockdown can end The key is to keep the reproduction number for Covid-19 below one What is the reproduction number ?
This is the reproduction number and refers to the number of people an infected individual could pass the virus on to .
Different mathematical and statistical models can be used to predict the value .
Dr Yuliya Kyrychko , a reader in mathematics at the University of Sussex , tells i : “ The higher this number is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an epidemic will develop , and as soon as it goes over one , that ’ s a clear sign that there will be an outbreak .
So a lower reproduction number is better ?
What is the reproduction number now ?
Near the beginning of the outbreak , different studies and organisations had different figures for the average reproduction rate but it was generally thought to be between two and three .
How do we reduce the R number ?
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies is looking at options for easing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
It is thought some form of social distancing will be in place for a while .
`` Because if not we will go back to a second wave .
It is entirely plausible for a second wave to actually be more severe than the first if it is not mitigated , '' he said .
Can the reproduction number go back up ?
`` Quarantine measures reduce the value of R by reducing contacts between people , and in Germany it went to about 0.7 in mid April and jumped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown , '' says Dr Kyrychko .
`` Any changes we might make and what that might do - not just to the coronavirus infection rate , as we 've seen in Germany , but also to the non-Covid cases - we need to be confident that the NHS would be able to cope . ''
He said the Government is awaiting Sage 's advice on the R value - as well as on the four other tests - by early May , with the lockdown due to be reviewed on 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R0 and Re ?
It refers to the average number of people an individual infected with the virus could pass it on to at the start of an epidemic when the population is susceptible , before widespread immunity starts to develop and before any attempts at immunisation are made , according to the CEBM .
The Re , also referred to as Rt sometimes , stands for the effective reproduction rate , according to the CEBM .
This is most likely what scientists are using at the moment .
It refers to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be infected at any given time , and can change as immunisation spreads .

There are countless numbers to process every day as the world continues to get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.
But one number is particularly important in trying to understand how quickly Covid-19 is spreading – the reproduction number.
It could be the key to understanding when the strict lockdown conditions can be lifted.
What is the reproduction number?
You may have heard England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and various ministers talk about the “R” number in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the reproduction number and refers to the number of people an infected individual could pass the virus to. Different mathematical and statistical models can be used to predict the value.
The higher the R value, the more infectious the virus. R3 means one person can pass Covid-19 to three people while R10 means it can be transmitted to 10.
Dr Yuliya Kyrychko, a reader in mathematics at the University of Sussex, tells i: “The higher this number is, the more likely it is that an epidemic will develop, and as soon as it goes over one, that’s a clear sign that there will be an outbreak.
“It is determined by the infectiousness of the pathogen itself, the number and frequency of contacts between people and some other factors,” she adds.
So a lower reproduction number is better?
A lower R number is better – lower than one, to be precise. This means each infected person could expect to pass it to less than one person on average.
This means it will spread slowly and eventually die out, according to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) at Oxford University. If it is greater than one, the virus will “spread exponentially”.
What is the reproduction number now?
Near the beginning of the outbreak, different studies and organisations had different figures for the average reproduction rate but it was generally thought to be between two and three.
Now in the UK, the reproduction rate is believed to be between 0.75 and one. This means the total number of cases is falling.
For comparison, measles has an estimated value of more than R14 while smallpox is almost R6, according to the CEBM.
How do we reduce the R number ?
The lockdown and social distancing measures imposed by the Government are aimed at helping to reduce the reproduction number. Blocking contact between people will mean the virus has fewer chances to spread.
Reducing the R number to manageable levels is one of the Government’s five tests that must be reached before lockdown restrictions are changed.
With the number in the UK currently below one, the Prime Minister has eased some lockdown restrictions for people in England. Individuals are now allowed to meet up with a person from another household in an outdoor space, for example.
However Mr Johnson has warned that ministers will not hesitate to put the brakes on relaxing measures “if the data goes the wrong way”.
Can the reproduction number go back up?
When Germany began easing its lockdown, allowing some shops to open with strict social distancing measures, its reproduction number increased slightly.
“Quarantine measures reduce the value of R by reducing contacts between people, and in Germany it went to about 0.7 in mid April and jumped to about 0.96… after the relaxation of lockdown,” says Dr Kyrychko.
As a result, Chancellor Angela Merkel extended the social distancing measures.
Referring to the situation in Germany, Mr Raab warned that the UK must proceed “carefully” in lifting lockdown measures.
“Any changes we might make and what that might do – not just to the coronavirus infection rate, as we’ve seen in Germany, but also to the non-Covid cases – we need to be confident that the NHS would be able to cope.”
What is the difference between R0 and Re?
R 0 is the basic reproduction number.
It refers to the average number of people an individual infected with the virus could pass it on to at the start of an epidemic when the population is susceptible, before widespread immunity starts to develop and before any attempts at immunisation are made, according to the CEBM.
The zero in R 0 means it has been estimated when there is no immunity in the population, it adds.
An Imperial College London study predicted around 490,000 deaths in the UK with a model using an R0 of 2.4.
The CEBM says: “The larger the population, the more people are susceptible, and the more infective the virus, the larger R 0 will be for a given virus; the faster the rate of removal of infected individuals, by recovery or death, the smaller R 0 will be.”
The Re, also referred to as Rt sometimes, stands for the effective reproduction rate, according to the CEBM. This is most likely what scientists are using at the moment.
It refers to the number of people in a population who can be infected at any given time, and can change as immunisation spreads.
Additional reporting by PA


inews--2020-05-01--Question Time: Nobel Prize winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse brands coronavirus 100,000 test target '

Question Time: Nobel Prize winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse brands coronavirus 100,000 test target 'a PR stunt that has gone wrong'

Question Time : Nobel Prize winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse brands coronavirus 100,000 test target ' a PR stunt that has gone wrong' 'Why 100,000 ?
Where was the strategy ?
It just sounded good' The Government set a target of 100,000 test per day by the end of April after widespread criticism that the UK was testing at a far lower rate than other comparable countries .
The results will be revealed in Friday afternoon 's press conference .
Sir Paul Nurse said that the testing target is a 'PR stunt gone wrong . '
( Photo : BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had had local testing connected to hospitals , we could have made hospitals a safe place .
But what we had was the potential for care workers on the words , working with sick patients , who were carrying the disease and were n't being tested .
He said that instead “ what we had is the potential for having care workers working on the wards , working with sick patients who were carrying the disease and weren ’ t being tested '' .
“ They had such restricted rules on who could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply make the decision that we have to test everybody that is a frontline worker and , in particular , they wouldn ’ t test anybody who had no symptoms .
“ Now that may have been because they didn ’ t have testing capacity throughout the country but you can ’ t simply say we don ’ t need to do it because we don ’ t have testing capacity , and even when we could provide testing capacity we couldn ’ t do it because of the NHS rules .
'We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very close' NHS nurses wait for the next patient at a drive through Coronavirus testing site in Wolverhampton .
( Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images ) Minister Robert Jenrick said the Government will hit its 100,000-a-day coronavirus testing target `` or be very close '' , and thinks Government testing for Covid-19 will have been a `` success '' even if the target is not met .
Mr Jenrick told Sky News : `` I think we will either have met it or be very close , and in that sense the target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ galvanised people across Government , in the private sector and across the country .
`` This in itself is just a stepping stone ; we need to go beyond 100,000 , but we have seen now a very substantial increase in testing in quite a short period of time , so in that sense it 's been a success , but there 's more to be done . ''

Leading geneticist Sir Paul Nurse criticised the Government’s 100,000 Covid-19 test target during Question Time on Thursday night branding it a “PR stunt, which has gone a bit wrong.”
The Nobel Prize winner, who is director of the Francis Crick Institute, said that testing was “absolutely critical” and that it “hasn’t been handled properly.”
The Government set a target of 100,000 test per day by the end of April after widespread criticism that the UK was testing at a far lower rate than other comparable countries. The results will be revealed in Friday afternoon’s press conference.
‘It just sounded good’
Sir Paul said: ‘The 100,000 target is just a figure with a lot of noughts in it. It was a bit of a PR stunt, which has gone a bit wrong.
‘The reality is… If we had had local testing connected to hospitals, we could have made hospitals a safe place. But what we had was the potential for care workers on the words, working with sick patients, who were carrying the disease and weren’t being tested.
“If we had had local testing connected to local hospitals, we could have made hospitals a safe place,” he said.
He said that instead “what we had is the potential for having care workers working on the wards, working with sick patients who were carrying the disease and weren’t being tested”.
“They had such restricted rules on who could be tested that they didn’t simply make the decision that we have to test everybody that is a frontline worker and, in particular, they wouldn’t test anybody who had no symptoms.
“We were allowing potentially for frontline care workers to be on the wards potentially infecting people because we weren’t testing.
“Now that may have been because they didn’t have testing capacity throughout the country but you can’t simply say we don’t need to do it because we don’t have testing capacity, and even when we could provide testing capacity we couldn’t do it because of the NHS rules.
“Testing was absolutely critical, it hasn’t been handled properly.”
‘We will either have met it or be very close’
Minister Robert Jenrick said the Government will hit its 100,000-a-day coronavirus testing target “or be very close”, and thinks Government testing for Covid-19 will have been a “success” even if the target is not met.
The deadline for hitting the target passed on Thursday but a time lag in reporting results means it will not be known until Friday whether the target was met.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to deliver an update on testing later, Mr Jenrick said.
Mr Jenrick told Sky News: “I think we will either have met it or be very close, and in that sense the target will have succeeded because it will have galvanised people across Government, in the private sector and across the country.
“This in itself is just a stepping stone; we need to go beyond 100,000, but we have seen now a very substantial increase in testing in quite a short period of time, so in that sense it’s been a success, but there’s more to be done.”
Mr Jenrick also told BBC Breakfast there is a definite need to increase testing past 100,000 per day – seen by many as a key route out of lockdown.
Additional reporting by Press Association.


inews--2020-05-01--'If they don't move, I can't social distance': Disabled people are being 'judged' for trying to shop

'If they don't move, I can't social distance': Disabled people are being 'judged' for trying to shop safely during pandemic, charity warns

'If they do n't move , I ca n't social distance ' : Disabled people are being 'judged ' for trying to shop safely during pandemic , charity warns Buying food and essentials continues to be a source of enormous worry for many disabled people who are left feeling vulnerable From risking their health because they can ’ t get delivery slots , to facing negativity from other shoppers , buying food and essentials continues to be a source of enormous worry for many disabled people who are left feeling vulnerable by the experience , new research by Scope suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36 per cent ) disabled shoppers surveyed by Scope said long queues were aggravating their conditions or impairments , with 26 per cent saying they have faced negative attitudes from other shoppers .
Supermarkets have introduced priority delivery slots and dedicated shopping hours for vulnerable customers , with some offering assisted shopping for those in need , but many disabled people are still finding food shopping a difficult experience .
Scope has called on supermarkets to develop a `` consistent and co-ordinated approach '' for disabled customers , and to expand their lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
'If they do n't move , I ca n't social distance' Fola Toya said the experience has made her feel 'incredibly vulnerable ' ( Photo : Supplied by Scope ) Fola Toya , a 40-year-old in London is visually impaired and has struggled to go shopping .
She said she has felt `` incredibly vulnerable '' when she goes out to buy food .
“ I do n't feel safe .
I went to the supermarket and people were grabbing things over my shoulder .
When it comes to social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone until they ’ re about to pass me , so if they don ’ t move I can ’ t social distance .
I ’ ve started sweeping my cane around 180 degrees to try to stop people coming near.
” 'Disabled people should be classed as vulnerable' Mr Bloch said it took three weeks for him to secure high risk status ( Photo : Supplied by Scope ) '' Obviously , anyone with any breathing condition is concerned at the minute , '' he said .
`` I rang my doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said I have to wait for a letter to see if I 'm classed as vulnerable .
I said , 'Well I ’ m blind , so I may not be able to see the letter . '
But they just said there was nothing they could do . ''
`` I ’ ve had two deliveries now .
But the last one I had , last weekend , was really gutting for me because they only brought 20 per cent of my shopping , which kind of defeats the object as I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Sometimes if I go to a shop , I ’ ll ask a member of staff to help me find what I need .
It ’ s called assisted shopping , you can book it with other supermarkets .
If the assistant guides me , that puts them within two metres of me , '' he said .
`` I can only read labels if they are close to my face , which I ca n't do at the moment .
`` I think definitely disabled people should have been classed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The impact that people are facing now is so different to usual .
My support network is gone , and I live on my own .
I have friends with a multitude of disabilities who feel so cut off , '' he added .
James Taylor , Scope ’ s Executive Director of strategy , impact and social change , said : “ Shopping is already a difficult task for many disabled people , and now many are telling us they feel judged and compelled to explain their condition just to be able @ @ @ @

Disabled people are being “judged” and forced to explain their situation when trying to safely buy food at supermarkets during the coronavirus pandemic, a leading disability charity has warned.
From risking their health because they can’t get delivery slots, to facing negativity from other shoppers, buying food and essentials continues to be a source of enormous worry for many disabled people who are left feeling vulnerable by the experience, new research by Scope suggests.
More than one in three (36 per cent) disabled shoppers surveyed by Scope said long queues were aggravating their conditions or impairments, with 26 per cent saying they have faced negative attitudes from other shoppers.
Supermarkets have introduced priority delivery slots and dedicated shopping hours for vulnerable customers, with some offering assisted shopping for those in need, but many disabled people are still finding food shopping a difficult experience. Scope has called on supermarkets to develop a “consistent and co-ordinated approach” for disabled customers, and to expand their lists of vulnerable people who are eligible for help.
‘If they don’t move, I can’t social distance’
Fola Tayo, a 40-year-old in London is visually impaired and has struggled to go shopping. She said she has felt “incredibly vulnerable” when she goes out to buy food.
“I don’t consider myself vulnerable, I try to be as independent as possible, but suddenly a simple thing like going shopping has made me feel incredibly vulnerable,” Ms Toya said.
“I don’t feel safe. I went to the supermarket and people were grabbing things over my shoulder. When it comes to social distancing, I won’t always see someone until they’re about to pass me, so if they don’t move I can’t social distance. I’ve started sweeping my cane around 180 degrees to try to stop people coming near.”
‘Disabled people should be classed as vulnerable’
Charles Bloch, who is registered blind and has 10 per cent of his vision, has fought to be classed as vulnerable due to his asthma.
“Obviously, anyone with any breathing condition is concerned at the minute,” he said. “I rang my doctors in the first instance, and they said I have to wait for a letter to see if I’m classed as vulnerable. I said, ‘Well I’m blind, so I may not be able to see the letter.’ But they just said there was nothing they could do.”
Mr Bloch then applied for high risk status online. Three weeks into lockdown, he managed to secure his first delivery slot.
“I’ve had two deliveries now. But the last one I had, last weekend, was really gutting for me because they only brought 20 per cent of my shopping, which kind of defeats the object as I’ve still got to go to shops.
“Sometimes if I go to a shop, I’ll ask a member of staff to help me find what I need. It’s called assisted shopping, you can book it with other supermarkets. If the assistant guides me, that puts them within two metres of me,” he said. “I can only read labels if they are close to my face, which I can’t do at the moment.
“I think definitely disabled people should have been classed as vulnerable from the word go. The impact that people are facing now is so different to usual. My support network is gone, and I live on my own. I have friends with a multitude of disabilities who feel so cut off,” he added.
Read More ‘It’s what we face every day’: People with disabilities say they are being overlooked during coronavirus outbreak
James Taylor, Scope’s Executive Director of strategy, impact and social change, said: “Shopping is already a difficult task for many disabled people, and now many are telling us they feel judged and compelled to explain their condition just to be able to shop safely.
“It’s crucial that new rules to protect people, such as asking people to queue outside supermarkets, don’t make it harder or impossible for disabled people to shop.
“Disabled people also have the right to reasonable adjustments, and these rights shouldn’t be thrown aside or forgotten about.
“The Government and supermarkets need to listen to disabled people and develop a consistent and co-ordinated approach and urgently act to expand its ‘vulnerable’ list, to make sure all disabled people can safely get the food and essentials they need.”
i has approached the Government Equalities Office for comment.