inews--2020-05-14--'We should never have allowed patients from hospital into care homes' who could have had coronavirus

'We should never have allowed patients from hospital into care homes' who could have had coronavirus, says former Tory health minister

'We should never have allowed patients from hospital into care homes ' who could have had coronavirus , says former Tory health minister 'If they were Covid-19 positive they should have been continued to be looked after in hospital - but that 's the benefit of hindsight' Former Health Secretary Lord Lansley has said that hospitals `` should have never allowed '' patients to be discharged into care homes without being sure that they were free of Covid-19 , but added that this is easy to say that with the benefit of hindsight .
The Tory peer , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2012 , told BBC 's Newsnight on Wednesday that the Government 's attention had been turned towards preventing the NHS being `` overwhelmed '' .
NHS Providers , the body representing NHS trusts , said that hospitals had only been required to test patients for the virus before they were discharged into the care sector from 15 April .
This raises the risk that some asymptomatic patients were sent into care homes , where 40 per cent of Covid-19 deaths took place in the last week of April , according to data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lord Lansley said : `` You know that my view is that we should have never allowed patients to be discharged from hospital into care homes in circumstances where we could n't say that they were n't Covid-19 positive .
`` If they were Covid-19 positive they should have been continued to be looked after in hospital - but that 's the benefit of hindsight .
`` We 've got to go back to that moment and say look there was at the early part of March , they were presented with forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we carry on as we are the NHS will be overwhelmed , eight times as many patients as the inetsive care service could cope with .
`` You have to say there was an understanding that that needed focus and immediate action and the Government focused on that . ''
The Prime Minister says he 'bitterly regrets ' the epidemic of coronavirus in care homes but claims the death rate is falling ( Photo : Getty ) Chris Hopson from NHS Providers said that due to a lack of testing it 's possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic COVID-19 patients , who trusts were unable to test prior to that date , were discharged to social care '' .
Another former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said this showed that testing for the virus should have been increased far earlier .
He told Sky News : `` That led to one of the issues that 's affected care homes , which is people being discharged from hospital without being tested for Covid .
`` Anyone who had symptoms would n't have been discharged from hospital , but we know that around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens before people have symptoms .

Former Health Secretary Lord Lansley has said that hospitals “should have never allowed” patients to be discharged into care homes without being sure that they were free of Covid-19, but added that this is easy to say that with the benefit of hindsight.
The Tory peer, who was Secretary of State for Health between 2010 and 2012, told BBC’s Newsnight on Wednesday that the Government’s attention had been turned towards preventing the NHS being “overwhelmed”.
NHS Providers, the body representing NHS trusts, said that hospitals had only been required to test patients for the virus before they were discharged into the care sector from 15 April.
‘The benefit of hindsight’
This raises the risk that some asymptomatic patients were sent into care homes, where 40 per cent of Covid-19 deaths took place in the last week of April, according to data from the Office of National statistics.
Lord Lansley said: “You know that my view is that we should have never allowed patients to be discharged from hospital into care homes in circumstances where we couldn’t say that they weren’t Covid-19 positive.
“If they were Covid-19 positive they should have been continued to be looked after in hospital – but that’s the benefit of hindsight.
“We’ve got to go back to that moment and say look there was at the early part of March, they were presented with forecast modelling by Imperial College that said if we carry on as we are the NHS will be overwhelmed, eight times as many patients as the inetsive care service could cope with.
“You have to say there was an understanding that that needed focus and immediate action and the Government focused on that.”
Care homes
Chris Hopson from NHS Providers said that due to a lack of testing it’s possible “that a very small number of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, who trusts were unable to test prior to that date, were discharged to social care”.
Another former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said this showed that testing for the virus should have been increased far earlier.
He told Sky News: “That led to one of the issues that’s affected care homes, which is people being discharged from hospital without being tested for Covid.
“Anyone who had symptoms wouldn’t have been discharged from hospital, but we know that around half of the shedding of the virus happens before people have symptoms.
“Now we’ve ramped up the testing capability, we’re able to address those problems.”


inews--2020-05-14--Little Fires Everywhere, Amazon Prime Video, review: A faithful adaption of a much loved novel

Little Fires Everywhere , Amazon Prime Video , review : A faithful adaption of a much loved novel Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon play two women with very different approaches to motherhood When Celeste Ng ’ s second novel , Little Fires Everywhere , was published in 2017 it became an instant hit and spent 48 weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list .
It felt like everyone was devouring this morality tale of what it really means to be a good person , though perhaps the most important person to read the book was Reese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her previous venture – an adaptation of Liane Moriarty ’ s Big Little Lies , which won eight Emmys and four Golden Globes – Witherspoon set about recreating Ng ’ s book , bringing the author on as a producer .
The result is a brooding , intriguingly layered family drama set against the backdrop of a suffocatingly perfect middle class 90s America .
Witherspoon plays Elena , matriarch of the Richardson family , a woman hell-bent on self refinement and imposing her high standards onto her four children : Lexi , Trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is award-winning actor Kerry Washington as artist Mia , who arrives in the upmarket town of Shaker Heights in Ohio with her daughter Pearl and a chip on her shoulder .
By coincidence , Elena ends up renting Mia her spare apartment , which she inherited from her parents .
The women couldn ’ t be more different , creating a tug of war for viewers ’ attention and , crucially , sympathy .
Where Mia may sometimes unintentionally neglect Pearl ( the mesmerising Lexi Underwood ) , Elena lays her love on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Megan Stott ) a little too thick .
But so far it has been Mia who has drawn my support , mostly thanks to Elena ’ s misplaced affection for the betterment of everyone around her - but only to her standards .
It ’ s a testament to Witherspoon ’ s performance that a character could be so grating and yet so utterly compelling .
The most obvious contrast , but perhaps the most important , is that Mia is black and Elena is white .
Little Fires Everywhere isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of colour face everyday are there : Pearl is assumed by her school counsellor not to have a father ; somebody calls the police because Mia has some baggage on the top of her car .
Only three of the eight episodes were available to preview but it is clear that Little Fires Everywhere is a slow burn .
Those who have read the novel may be surprised to discover that baby Mirabelle ( nee May Ling ) , the daughter of Mia ’ s Chinese co-worker adopted by a wealthy friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t arrive until episode three despite being the catalyst for Mia and Elena ’ s eventual showdown .
She is also , however , a symbol of exactly what brings these two women together : they both want to , and believe that they are , doing the right thing .
The television series is an almost completely faithful adaptation of Ng ’ s novel , maintaining all the details - Elena ’ s letter-shaped pancakes for breakfast , Mia ’ s pot smoking - the author created to define her characters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pearl ’ s race ambiguous , the visual medium had to make a decision , bolstering the discrimination they tackle from an implication to a palpable prejudice .
Fans of Big Little Lies will find a lot to like here .
The clashing of class , an excellent soundtrack and rampant gossip tie the series to one another .
But , perhaps because it is a limited series with no second instalment , Little Fires Everywhere is tighter and asks more pertinent questions .
What is a mother ’ s role in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another family ’ s actions your business ?
Are the rules made to be broken ?
With five episodes left to explore the fall-out from the discovery of Mirabelle ’ s true identity , Little Fires Everywhere is set to become one of the best dramas of the year .
Perhaps it could even become as popular as Big Little Lies - it certainly has a good head start .

Little Fires Everywhere, Amazon Prime Video ★★★★
When Celeste Ng’s second novel, Little Fires Everywhere, was published in 2017 it became an instant hit and spent 48 weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. It felt like everyone was devouring this morality tale of what it really means to be a good person, though perhaps the most important person to read the book was Reese Witherspoon.
Bolstered by the success of her previous venture – an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, which won eight Emmys and four Golden Globes – Witherspoon set about recreating Ng’s book, bringing the author on as a producer. The result is a brooding, intriguingly layered family drama set against the backdrop of a suffocatingly perfect middle class 90s America.
Witherspoon plays Elena, matriarch of the Richardson family, a woman hell-bent on self refinement and imposing her high standards onto her four children: Lexi, Trip, Moody and Izzy. Opposite her is award-winning actor Kerry Washington as artist Mia, who arrives in the upmarket town of Shaker Heights in Ohio with her daughter Pearl and a chip on her shoulder. By coincidence, Elena ends up renting Mia her spare apartment, which she inherited from her parents.
The women couldn’t be more different, creating a tug of war for viewers’ attention and, crucially, sympathy. Where Mia may sometimes unintentionally neglect Pearl (the mesmerising Lexi Underwood), Elena lays her love on youngest daughter Izzy (the equally impressive Megan Stott) a little too thick. But so far it has been Mia who has drawn my support, mostly thanks to Elena’s misplaced affection for the betterment of everyone around her – but only to her standards. It’s a testament to Witherspoon’s performance that a character could be so grating and yet so utterly compelling.
The most obvious contrast, but perhaps the most important, is that Mia is black and Elena is white. Little Fires Everywhere isn’t explicit in its politics but the microaggressions people of colour face everyday are there: Pearl is assumed by her school counsellor not to have a father; somebody calls the police because Mia has some baggage on the top of her car.
Only three of the eight episodes were available to preview but it is clear that Little Fires Everywhere is a slow burn. Those who have read the novel may be surprised to discover that baby Mirabelle (nee May Ling), the daughter of Mia’s Chinese co-worker adopted by a wealthy friend of Elena’s, doesn’t arrive until episode three despite being the catalyst for Mia and Elena’s eventual showdown. She is also, however, a symbol of exactly what brings these two women together: they both want to, and believe that they are, doing the right thing.
Read More Lockdown is giving romantic dramas like Normal People an extra frisson of sexual tension
The television series is an almost completely faithful adaptation of Ng’s novel, maintaining all the details – Elena’s letter-shaped pancakes for breakfast, Mia’s pot smoking – the author created to define her characters. Though while Ng purposefully kept Mia and Pearl’s race ambiguous, the visual medium had to make a decision, bolstering the discrimination they tackle from an implication to a palpable prejudice.
Fans of Big Little Lies will find a lot to like here. The clashing of class, an excellent soundtrack and rampant gossip tie the series to one another. But, perhaps because it is a limited series with no second instalment, Little Fires Everywhere is tighter and asks more pertinent questions. What is a mother’s role in her children’s lives? How much is another family’s actions your business? Are the rules made to be broken?
With five episodes left to explore the fall-out from the discovery of Mirabelle’s true identity, Little Fires Everywhere is set to become one of the best dramas of the year. Perhaps it could even become as popular as Big Little Lies – it certainly has a good head start.
Little Fires Everywhere will be available on Amazon Prime Video from 22 May


inews--2020-05-14--Barber Shop Chronicles cast: who stars in the National Theatre Live play, and what time it's on YouT

Barber Shop Chronicles cast: who stars in the National Theatre Live play, and what time it's on YouTube tonight

Barber Shop Chronicles cast : who stars in the National Theatre Live play , and what time it 's on YouTube tonight Inua Ellams ' heartwarming hit leaps from a barber shop in Peckham to Johannesburg , Harare , Kampala , Lagos and Accra The National Theatre has been a godsend for many during the coronavirus lockdown , streaming some of its most popular plays for free on its YouTube channel .
How to watch Barber Shop Chronicles at home The productions will `` live stream '' on the National Theatre 's YouTube channel at 7pm on Thursday 14 May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then be available to watch at any time until 7pm on Thursday 21 May .
The National Theatre synopsis says : `` Newsroom , political platform , local hotspot , confession box , preacher-pulpit and football stadium .
For generations , African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world .
These are places where the banter can be barbed and the truth is always telling .
`` Directed by Olivier award-winning director Bijan Sheibani , Barber Shop Chronicles is a heartwarming , hilarious and insightful new play that leaps from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Harare , Kampala , Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day . ''
The play had two sellout runs at the National Theatre , as well as a world tour and a successful summer residency at London 's Roundhouse .
This particular production was filmed in January 2018 and features the original cast .
Sheibani 's other directing credits include The Brothers Size , Our Class - for which he was nominated for the Best Director Olivier award in 2010 - and Gone Too Far !
, which won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affiliate Theatre in 2008 .
The productions was filmed in 2018 ( Photo : National Theatre ) Unlike many of the other National Theatre at Home productions there are no big names in the cast , but there is plenty of stage acting experience .

The National Theatre has been a godsend for many during the coronavirus lockdown, streaming some of its most popular plays for free on its YouTube channel.
The National Theatre at Home scheme has already delivered the likes of Frankenstein, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and Antony and Cleopatra, starring Ralph Fiennes, to our laptops.
And now it’s the turn of Inua Ellams’ heartwarming hit, Barber Shop Chronicles.
Here’s everything you need to know…
How to watch Barber Shop Chronicles at home
The production “live streamed” on the National Theatre’s YouTube channel at 7pm on Thursday 14 May.
The one-hour, 45-minute play is now available to watch at any time until 7pm on Thursday 21 May.
What’s it about?
The National Theatre synopsis says: “Newsroom, political platform, local hotspot, confession box, preacher-pulpit and football stadium. For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world. These are places where the banter can be barbed and the truth is always telling.
“Directed by Olivier award-winning director Bijan Sheibani, Barber Shop Chronicles is a heartwarming, hilarious and insightful new play that leaps from a barber shop in Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day.”
The play had two sellout runs at the National Theatre, as well as a world tour and a successful summer residency at London’s Roundhouse.
This particular production was filmed in January 2018 and features the original cast.
Sheibani’s other directing credits include The Brothers Size, Our Class – for which he was nominated for the Best Director Olivier award in 2010 – and Gone Too Far!, which won the award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2008.
Who’s in the cast?
Unlike many of the other National Theatre at Home productions there are no big names in the cast, but there is plenty of stage acting experience.
Fisayo Akinade (The Girl with All the Gifts, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) plays Samuel, Wallace and Timothy.
Hammed Animashaun (Black Mirror, The Threepenny Opera) plays Mohammed, Tinashe, Kwabena and Brian.
Peter Bankole (Peaky Blinders, Casualty) plays Fabrice and Olawale.
Maynard Eziashi (Mister Johnson) plays Musa, Andile and Mensah.
Also among the cast are Sule Rimi, Simon Manyonda, Patrice Naiambana and David Webber.


inews--2020-05-14--State Pension age changes: 'I'm 65 and a frontline worker doing 12 hour night shifts in a hospital'

State Pension age changes : ' I 'm 65 and a frontline worker doing 12 hour night shifts in a hospital' Jacqueline , who says she learned of the State Pension age changes at 59 , works as a healthcare assistant As well as being a frontline worker , Jacqueline is one of the women born in the 1950s who have been affected by state pension age equalisation .
The decision to equalise the state pension age for men and women is why Jacqueline won ’ t be receiving her state pension until she is 66 .
The Government says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for women were “ clearly communicated ” , but Jacqueline says she did not find out her state pension age had risen past 60 until she was 59 , giving her little time to financially prepare for another six years without it .
According to Jacqueline , she only learned about the rise from reading about the issue and speaking to her friends .
“ I know we are living longer , and people are fitter than they used to be , but you still get the aches and pains of getting older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your head and you might look younger .
I often get told that I don ’ t look my age , but that could be a bad thing in a way because people expect you to be able to do more than you actually can .
Sometimes you have to remind them that you are not as young as they are.
” Arthritis has left her with painful knees , which makes it difficult for her to bend down , and she is on medication for high blood pressure .
“ Since going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered from depression , which I take medication for .
These are all things that happen as you ’ re getting older , ” she adds .
'It can be a struggle financially' For most of her life , Jacqueline has worked as a healthcare assistant and in nursing homes .
Then in 2016 she broke her wrist badly and was unable to work for two years .
“ The hospital did try to find me something else to do , ” she explains .
“ The only thing I was able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m OK with basic things on a computer , but the things you have to do in a hospital , in a busy fracture clinic - I just wasn ’ t up to it.
” “ I was struggling to survive on Universal Credit and a new scheme to help people get back into work was starting , ” she explains .
“ It was to get into the NHS , so although I had done NHS work before , I thought this was a good way of getting back into it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , and then I went on placement at the hospital , and I passed everything I needed to pass to get back in .
I ’ ve been doing bank shifts [ as a health care assistant ] ever since.
” “ Sometimes it ’ s a struggle financially .
You have to think about what you ’ re spending , certainly .
As you ’ re getting older , things happen .
This does worry me , being in a hospital where people have coronavirus .
My son and my daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you shouldn ’ t be going in ’ , but I ’ m in Saturday and Sunday night and I haven ’ t told them yet.
” What has changed about the state pension age ?
The Government ’ s move to equalise the state pension age to 65 , in line with men , has meant women are having to wait years after they expected to retire for their state pension .
The state pension age is in the process of moving to 66 and will continue to increase over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1950s say they were never notified about the state pension age changes , but the Government says they were `` clearly communicated '' .
These women say state pension age changes are causing them emotional stress and financial hardship .
An increasing number of women are working in their sixties and beyond .
ONS data analysed by Rest Less , a jobs and volunteering site for over 50s , shows there are currently 1.34 million women in their 60s who are working - a 54 per cent increase compared with 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can not find a job no matter how hard they try and are having to claim benefits .
Others say they have been forced into insecure or unsuitable jobs they are over qualified for .
In 2019 , more than 75 per cent of women in their 50s were employed , according to Rest Less , but the figure for women in their 60s was 37 per cent .
What has the Government said about the state pension age changes ?

In this ongoing series, i spotlights women who have been affected by the state pension age equalisation: The Women Who Can’t Retire. We are speaking to women in their 60s about their experiences of returning to work, staying in the workforce, accessing education and facing ageism.
In November last year, Jacqueline Garner returned to work as a healthcare assistant at a hospital in Lancashire. This was just a few months before the coronavirus outbreak, which means Jacqueline is now a frontline worker in an unprecedented global pandemic.
Even before the outbreak, Jacqueline, who turns 65 this month, says working in a hospital can be tiring. “Girls aged 20 are tired at the end of a shift, so I don’t know how they expect me to feel,” she tells i.
Jacqueline does two to three 12-hour bank shifts as a healthcare assistant each week. The week we are speaking, she is working nightshifts. “Now, with a pandemic, working in a hospital on the frontline is hard,” she says.
“I’ve worked with Covid-19 positive patients. The workload has ramped up a bit. Everything takes that bit longer because before you attend to a patient you have to use your PPE (personal protective equipment). It’s also very physical work.”
It’s a job not everybody can do, she adds, but one she enjoys. “You can’t do this job unless you do enjoy it.”
‘This is hard work’
As well as being a frontline worker, Jacqueline is one of the women born in the 1950s who have been affected by state pension age equalisation. The decision to equalise the state pension age for men and women is why Jacqueline won’t be receiving her state pension until she is 66.
The Government says the changes to the state pension age for women were “clearly communicated”, but Jacqueline says she did not find out her state pension age had risen past 60 until she was 59, giving her little time to financially prepare for another six years without it. According to Jacqueline, she only learned about the rise from reading about the issue and speaking to her friends.
“I felt annoyed when I found out I wasn’t going to get my pension at 60,” she recalls. “Like I say, this is hard work.
“I know we are living longer, and people are fitter than they used to be, but you still get the aches and pains of getting older, even though you feel younger in your head and you might look younger. I often get told that I don’t look my age, but that could be a bad thing in a way because people expect you to be able to do more than you actually can. Sometimes you have to remind them that you are not as young as they are.”
Arthritis has left her with painful knees, which makes it difficult for her to bend down, and she is on medication for high blood pressure. “Since going through the menopause, I’ve suffered from depression, which I take medication for. These are all things that happen as you’re getting older,” she adds.
‘It can be a struggle financially’
For most of her life, Jacqueline has worked as a healthcare assistant and in nursing homes. Then in 2016 she broke her wrist badly and was unable to work for two years. “The hospital did try to find me something else to do,” she explains. “The only thing I was able to physically do was admin. I’m OK with basic things on a computer, but the things you have to do in a hospital, in a busy fracture clinic – I just wasn’t up to it.”
After being on sick leave, she began claiming Universal Credit. She no longer claims the benefit but receives £240 per month from her NHS pension.
“I was struggling to survive on Universal Credit and a new scheme to help people get back into work was starting,” she explains. “It was to get into the NHS, so although I had done NHS work before, I thought this was a good way of getting back into it. I went to college for a few weeks, and then I went on placement at the hospital, and I passed everything I needed to pass to get back in. I’ve been doing bank shifts [as a health care assistant] ever since.”
Jacqueline says she would most likely try to continue doing one shift a week after receiving her state pension.
Jacqueline, who lives in a rented house, says her finances remain a source of worry for her. Having her state pension would have made her feel more secure.
“Sometimes it’s a struggle financially. You have to think about what you’re spending, certainly. As you’re getting older, things happen. This does worry me, being in a hospital where people have coronavirus. My son and my daughter have said to me, ‘Mum, you shouldn’t be going in’, but I’m in Saturday and Sunday night and I haven’t told them yet.”
What has changed about the state pension age? The Government’s move to equalise the state pension age to 65, in line with men, has meant women are having to wait years after they expected to retire for their state pension. The state pension age is in the process of moving to 66 and will continue to increase over the next few decades. Many women born in the 1950s say they were never notified about the state pension age changes, but the Government says they were “clearly communicated”. These women say state pension age changes are causing them emotional stress and financial hardship. An increasing number of women are working in their sixties and beyond. ONS data analysed by Rest Less, a jobs and volunteering site for over 50s, shows there are currently 1.34 million women in their 60s who are working – a 54 per cent increase compared with 10 years ago. But some women say they cannot find a job no matter how hard they try and are having to claim benefits. Others say they have been forced into insecure or unsuitable jobs they are over qualified for. In 2019, more than 75 per cent of women in their 50s were employed, according to Rest Less, but the figure for women in their 60s was 37 per cent.
What has the Government said about the state pension age changes?
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said:
“The government decided more than 20 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women as a long-overdue move towards gender equality, and this has been clearly communicated.
“We need to raise the age at which all of us can draw a State Pension so it is sustainable now and for future generations.”
If you would like to share your experience of working until you receive your state pension, please contact heather.saul@inews.co.uk


inews--2020-05-14--National Theatre Live streaming: how to watch Barber Shop Chronicles from home on YouTube tonight, a

National Theatre Live streaming: how to watch Barber Shop Chronicles from home on YouTube tonight, and schedule of free NT plays

National Theatre Live streaming : how to watch Barber Shop Chronicles from home on YouTube tonight , and schedule of free NT plays A range of plays will be made available to stream via YouTube in April and May , continuing with Antony and Cleopatra Just like all entertainment outlets , theatres have had to close their doors per the Government 's guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic .
However , the National Theatre is bringing the stage to the screen by streaming several iconic plays on YouTube every Thursday .
Explaining the reason for making the plays accessible to thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson said : `` During this unprecedented time which has seen the closure of theatres , cinemas and schools , the National Theatre announces a new initiative National Theatre at Home providing access to content online to serve audiences in their homes .
Here 's all you need to know about the National Theatre shows that are streaming .
Theatres in London have been forced to close amid the Coronavirus pandemic ( Photo : Leon Neal/Getty Images ) How can I watch the National Theatre shows from home ?
During the lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a novel way for the public to still enjoy the best from the stage .
The best part of it all is that it 's free to watch .
Every Thursday at 7pm BST on the theatre 's official YouTube channel , fans will be able to stream a selection of performances for a week .
Barber Shop Chronicles is coming to National Theatre at Home ( Photo : National Theatre ) The National Theatre at Home initiative has won praise from fans for being given the chance to watch the plays for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made possible by the various cast and crews of the plays who have waived their rights .
The executive director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre told the Guardian : `` Everyone has said yes .
Please .
Let ’ s get it out to people .
`` It has taken a bit of negotiation and management but the outpouring from the industry has been fantastic . ''
However , that 's not all the National Theatre has to offer as there will also be a selection of Q & As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plays .

Just like all entertainment outlets, theatres have had to close their doors per the Government’s guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the National Theatre is bringing the stage to the screen by streaming several iconic plays on YouTube every Thursday.
Explaining the reason for making the plays accessible to thousands free of charge, a National Theatre spokesperson said: “During this unprecedented time which has seen the closure of theatres, cinemas and schools, the National Theatre announces a new initiative National Theatre at Home providing access to content online to serve audiences in their homes.
“Audiences around the world can stream NT Live productions for free via YouTube, and students and teachers have access to the National Theatre Collection at home.”
Here’s all you need to know about the National Theatre shows that are streaming.
How can I watch the National Theatre shows from home?
During the lockdown, the National Theatre has come up with a novel way for the public to still enjoy the best from the stage. The best part of it all is that it’s free to watch.
Every Thursday at 7pm BST on the theatre’s official YouTube channel, fans will be able to stream a selection of performances for a week.
The first show, which kicked things off on Thursday 2 April, was One Man, Two Guvnors featuring James Corden.
From Thursday 9 April until 16 April theatre lovers could stream Sally Cookson’s bold reimagining of Charlotte Bronte’s classic Jane Eyre.
The stage version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic adventure novel Treasure Island, adapted by Bryony Lavery, showed from 16 April.
After that it was time for some Shakespeare with a staging of Twelfth Night starring Tamsin Grieg.
This was followed by Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein – starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller – which streamed until 8 May.
Next came Antony and Cleopatra, starring Ralph Fiennes as Antony and Sophie Okonedo as Cleopatra.
From Thursday 14 May – Thursday 21 May Inua Ellams’ Barber Shop Chronicles was available to stream.
Next came A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Gillian Anderson, and This House, from Quiz writer James Graham.
Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, starring Tom Hiddleston, The Madness of King George III and Small Island, an adaptation of Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream followed.
Les Blancs, starring Black Panther‘s Daniel Sapiani, came next and now The Deep Blue Sea, starring Helen McCrory, is streaming.
The National Theatre at Home initiative has won praise from fans for being given the chance to watch the plays for free. But it’s all been made possible by the various cast and crews of the plays who have waived their rights.
The executive director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre told the Guardian: “Everyone has said yes. Please. Let’s get it out to people.
“It has taken a bit of negotiation and management but the outpouring from the industry has been fantastic.”
National Theatre at Home schedule
Thursday 2 April: One Man Two Guvnors by Richard Bean
Thursday 9 April: Jane Eyre by Sally Cookson
Thursday 16 April: Treasure Island by Bryony Lavery
Thursday 23 April: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Thursday 30 April: Frankenstein by Nick Dear
Thursday 7 May: Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Thursday 14 May: Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams
Thursday 21 May: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Thursday 28 May: This House by James Graham
Thursday 4 June: Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
Thursday 11 June: The Madness of George III by Alan Bennett
Thursday 18 June: Small Island by Helen Edmundson
Thursday 25 June: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Thursday 2 July: Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry
Thursday 9 July: The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan
However, that’s not all the National Theatre has to offer as there will also be a selection of Q&As with the cast and creative teams of the plays.
What else?
In a bid to help schools, colleges and universities, the National Theatre has also released a new National Theatre Collection which “makes the best of British Theatre available worldwide to libraries, schools, universities and the wider education sector.”
The collection features productions from a range of theatres including the National Theatre, the Young Vic, Donmar Warehouse and Bridge Theatre.


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus travel advice: will the summer holidays be cancelled? Travel updates from France, Spain,

Coronavirus travel advice: will the summer holidays be cancelled? Travel updates from France, Spain, Greece, TUI, Ryanair and more

Coronavirus travel advice : will the summer holidays be cancelled ?
Travel updates from France , Spain , Greece , TUI , Ryanair and more The UK and France could be possible , but Spain looks less likely , while TUI looks ahead to a later and longer season July and August are usually two of the busiest months in the travel calendar .
However , the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has indicated that the summer season for holidays abroad is very likely to be cancelled , telling ITV 's This Morning that it is `` unlikely that big , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be possible this summer . ''
The Foreign Office continues to advise against all non-essential international travel , and the Government will soon require all arrivals into the UK to quarantine for a 14-day period .
The intention is that this will not be a requirement for arrivals from France and the Common Travel Area ( Ireland , the Isle of Man and Channel Islands ) , although Ireland requires arrivals to quarantine for two weeks , with the exception of Northern Ireland arrivals .
Iceland , Portugal and Greece plan to welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Algarve tourist office has said that the region will be ready to receive visitors once international borders reopen .
Three-quarters of its hotels are expected to be open by mid-June , with a ful reopening by July .
Beaches will reopen in June , with new health and safety measures in place .
The Portuguese Environment Agency will set out rules in the coming days .
The Algarve has recorded 340 Covid-19 cases since January .
Noel Josephides , director of industry issues at AITO – The Specialist Travel Association , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays is likely to materialise at the last minute and is likely to be slow in getting off the ground .
Many factors will be part of the decision-making mix : which countries will still be in lock-down , for example .
No doubt there will be countries that may not wish to welcome British visitors until the situation in the UK is clearer.
” When the islands welcome tourists again `` will depend on how the borders are opened once the COVID-19 crisis is over '' he said , emphasising the importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reference and example of a safe destination in Spain and in Europe '' and that they are working to develop `` protocols and plans to guarantee that the tourism industry can reopen its doors with the highest level of security . ''
When can we start visiting France ?
French President Emmanuel Macron wears a face mask during the visit of the military field hospital outside the Emile Muller Hospital in Mulhouse , eastern France ( Photo : Mathieu Cugnot/AFP/Getty ) However , President Macron and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , European and international cooperation in the fight against Covid-19 ” .
The British government has announced that quarantine measures will not apply to arrivals from France .
The two leaders have agreed to work together on the consultation over the coming weeks , indicating a reciprocal agreement allowing British nationals to enter France without the need to quarantine once borders reopen , nor the need to quarantine on their return home .
A spokesperson for the Spanish Tourist Office said : “ It ’ s still unknown how the pandemic will evolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the summer season .
This won ’ t just depend on the situation in Spain but also on the situation in our source markets .
The opening of borders will depend on the evolution of the health crisis .
Safety is our first priority.
” If I decide to postpone my TUI summer holiday , will I be able to move it to next summer without paying any more ?
However , if you are due to depart before 11 June , and booked before 17 March , you can change the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be asked to pay the difference if it is more expensive or you will be refunded the difference if it is cheaper .
The same will apply if your holiday is cancelled , although you ’ d also be entitled to a refund .
The German-owned holiday giant has announced plans to reduce costs by 30 per cent across the group , affecting up to 8,000 jobs globally .
However , it has pledged to `` reinvent the holiday '' this year and assured customers that it is ready to resume operations once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its hotels will open in Germany in the coming days .
CEO Fritz Joussen said : `` For 2020 we will also reinvent the holiday : new destinations , changed travel seasons , new local offerings , more digitalisation . ''
The company has implemented a 10-point plan for increased hygiene measures .
I ’ ve paid a deposit for a summer holiday and have been asked to settle the balance .
Should I pay ?
If you can and it is a financially protected package , yes .
An Atol-bonded holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid is safe , and by paying the balance on time , you won ’ t be contravening the agreement you entered into when committing to the holiday - most operators ask for the money 10-12 weeks before departure .
If the trip is cancelled , you are entitled to all of your money back , but if you don ’ t pay the balance , you risk losing your deposit .
Is the UK a safe bet for a summer holiday ?

July and August are usually two of the busiest months in the travel calendar. However, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has indicated that the summer season for holidays abroad is very likely to be cancelled, telling ITV’s This Morning that it is “unlikely that big, lavish, international holidays are going to be possible this summer.”
The Foreign Office continues to advise against all non-essential international travel, and the Government will soon require all arrivals into the UK to quarantine for a 14-day period. The intention is that this will not be a requirement for arrivals from France and the Common Travel Area (Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands), although Ireland requires arrivals to quarantine for two weeks, with the exception of Northern Ireland arrivals.
Spain has also announced that all visitors must quarantine for 14 days on arrival, starting 15 May, putting the country’s sun-kissed coastline and islands out of reach until further notice.
Iceland, Portugal and Greece plan to welcome visitors this summer
The Government of Iceland announced that it expects to start easing restrictions on international arrivals from 15 June. Visitors are expected to be given the choice of being tested for Covid-19 upon arrival, or otherwise prove that they are free of infection.
In southern Portugal, the Algarve tourist office has said that the region will be ready to receive visitors once international borders reopen. Three-quarters of its hotels are expected to be open by mid-June, with a ful reopening by July. Beaches will reopen in June, with new health and safety measures in place. The Portuguese Environment Agency will set out rules in the coming days. The Algarve has recorded 340 Covid-19 cases since January.
Greece is keen to kickstart its tourist economy, hoping to welcome visitors from 1 July, perhaps contingent on arrivals being permitted into the country only if they have been confirmed to be Covid-free.
Border bubbles
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen cautioned that nobody can make reliable forecasts as to when borders will reopen and urged people not to make summer holiday plans in Europe. However, the European commission is now drafting plans to create tourism “bubbles” – allowing countries to open borders with similar coronavirus epidemiology profiles. In the Baltic states, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia will open their borders to each other from 15 May.
Restrictions and quarantine requirements have resulted in increased interest for domestic summer holidays. The Government has said that hospitality venues could potentially begin to reopen from 4 July, should the rate of infection remain below 1, offering some hope for businesses and holidaymakers.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has announced that it plans to restart 40 per cent of its flying schedule from the beginning of July.
Noel Josephides, director of industry issues at AITO – The Specialist Travel Association, says: “New interest in peak season holidays is likely to materialise at the last minute and is likely to be slow in getting off the ground. Many factors will be part of the decision-making mix: which countries will still be in lock-down, for example. No doubt there will be countries that may not wish to welcome British visitors until the situation in the UK is clearer.”
Iago Negueruela, the Balearic Minister for Tourism said that Spain’s Mediterranean islands would likely remain closed until August and the return of British visitors will be encouraged in a safe manner. The islands are the second most popular Spanish destination for British visitors with more than 3.5 million arrivals each year.
When the islands welcome tourists again “will depend on how the borders are opened once the COVID-19 crisis is over” he said, emphasising the importance that “the archipelago continues to be a reference and example of a safe destination in Spain and in Europe” and that they are working to develop “protocols and plans to guarantee that the tourism industry can reopen its doors with the highest level of security.”
When can we start visiting France?
France is now emerging from lockdown, but its borders remain closed to non-EU citizens until further notice (British nationals are considered EU nationals until the end of this year). According to a spokesperson for the France Tourism Development Agency, the country’s tourism sector is expected to remain closed until mid-July.
However, President Macron and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have spoken about the “need for close bilateral, European and international cooperation in the fight against Covid-19”. The British government has announced that quarantine measures will not apply to arrivals from France. The two leaders have agreed to work together on the consultation over the coming weeks, indicating a reciprocal agreement allowing British nationals to enter France without the need to quarantine once borders reopen, nor the need to quarantine on their return home.
Can I get a refund for an easyJet flight to Malaga in late July?
EasyJet’s fleet has been grounded until further notice, with Easter and summer 2021 flights now on sale. Customers with cancelled bookings have the option to request a refund (by phone), rebook for any other flight until March 2021 or accept a voucher for the value of their booking, valid until summer 2021.
The airline has not indicated when flights will resume but is maintaining its fleet in order to be able to partially re-start flights with around two weeks’ notice.
However, with quarantine rules now applying in both directions for trips to Spain, a summer holiday on the Costas looks unlikely, requiring 14 days of isolation on arrival in Spain, and on return back to the UK, until further notice. This would make easyJet’s resumption of commercial flights to Spain unlikely until the measures are relaxed.
A spokesperson for the Spanish Tourist Office said: “It’s still unknown how the pandemic will evolve so it is impossible to make forecasts about the summer season. This won’t just depend on the situation in Spain but also on the situation in our source markets. The opening of borders will depend on the evolution of the health crisis. Safety is our first priority.”
If I decide to postpone my TUI summer holiday, will I be able to move it to next summer without paying any more?
TUI beach holidays have been cancelled until 11 June, with later departures “continually reviewed”. If you have booked a holiday due to depart after this date, you should assume it will go ahead and that amendment fees will apply.
However, if you are due to depart before 11 June, and booked before 17 March, you can change the date to another holiday. You will be asked to pay the difference if it is more expensive or you will be refunded the difference if it is cheaper. The same will apply if your holiday is cancelled, although you’d also be entitled to a refund.
The German-owned holiday giant has announced plans to reduce costs by 30 per cent across the group, affecting up to 8,000 jobs globally. However, it has pledged to “reinvent the holiday” this year and assured customers that it is ready to resume operations once travel restrictions are lifted. A number of its hotels will open in Germany in the coming days. CEO Fritz Joussen said: “For 2020 we will also reinvent the holiday: new destinations, changed travel seasons, new local offerings, more digitalisation.” The company has implemented a 10-point plan for increased hygiene measures.
I’ve paid a deposit for a summer holiday and have been asked to settle the balance. Should I pay?
If you can and it is a financially protected package, yes. An Atol-bonded holiday means that any money you’ve paid is safe, and by paying the balance on time, you won’t be contravening the agreement you entered into when committing to the holiday – most operators ask for the money 10-12 weeks before departure. If the trip is cancelled, you are entitled to all of your money back, but if you don’t pay the balance, you risk losing your deposit.
However, if your financial circumstances are uncertain, speak to your operator about your options before paying the balance.
Is the UK a safe bet for a summer holiday?
Boris Johnson has announed that as part of the three-part phased plan to reopen society, hospitality venues including hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation, could reopen from 4 July, providing they meet new Covid Secure Guidelines to ensure public health and safety.
However, the nation’s beauty spots are cautious about welcoming a surge of holidaymakers after lockdown, with many destinations such as Cumbria, Wales and Scotland, urging visitors to stay away. If infection rates continue to fall, it is possible that they may gradually begin to welcome visitors this summer, although this is likely to be in a controlled manner.
If you are considering a self-catering holiday, it would be advisable to book with a company that is offering flexible rebooking options.


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus latest: Boris Johnson's pandemic failings 'build the case for Scottish Independence', SN

Coronavirus latest: Boris Johnson's pandemic failings 'build the case for Scottish Independence', SNP MPs say

Coronavirus latest : Boris Johnson 's pandemic failings 'build the case for Scottish Independence ' , SNP MPs say Their comments came after England and Scotland diverged on lockdown restrictions Joanna Cherry , who has been tipped as a future SNP leader , claimed the Prime Minister ’ s approach to the Covid-19 crisis 'builds the case for independence ' ( Photo : TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty ) While Nicola Sturgeon has sought to keep party politics out of her handling of the pandemic , Joanna Cherry and Kenny MacAskill said the SNP should not lose sight of its key goal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diverged on lockdown restrictions , with Boris Johnson ditching the “ Stay at Home ” message and Ms Sturgeon reinforcing it .
Ms Cherry , who has been tipped as a future SNP leader , claimed the Prime Minister ’ s approach to the Covid-19 crisis “ builds the case for independence ” .
“ I am working towards one goal alone and that is the goal of independence which most of our movement shares , ” she wrote in The National newspaper .
Nicola Sturgeon stressed that the coronavirus lockdown in Scotland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government ) The MP said that while the Scottish Government must `` maintain its entire focus on the Covid crisis '' , there was nothing to stop the SNP “ facilitating debate on policy and strategy ” .
She said she had contacted the party 's national secretary `` suggesting that the party take these debates online '' , hitting out at senior officials who she accused of trying to stifle some activists .
Meanwhile , Mr MacAskill claimed the `` incompetence '' of the UK Government in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He suggested that the crisis could give SNP the opportunity to pursue a `` more radical agenda that 's wanted by the wider membership '' , arguing Scots would embrace such an approach .
Criticising Mr Johnson , he added : `` A man who can not even safely look after his own country ca n't restrict the forward march of another .
The road to independence is open . ''
However , Scottish Secretary Alister Jack argued that Scotland has benefited from the `` financial strength '' of the UK Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're a very powerful economic machine in the UK and I know it is a bit of a unionist message , and I am not shying away from that , I am not embarrassed to say it .
`` But because Scotland is part of the United Kingdom we have benefited enormously from that financial strength of the Treasury . ''
Pamela Nash , chief executive of the pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union , said most Scots would `` be in despair at the behaviour by these senior SNP politicians '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely focused on the needs of their constituents during this public health emergency , but instead are using it as an opportunity to talk up their campaign to leave the UK .
”

Two senior SNP MPs have suggested the UK Government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis builds the case for Scottish independence.
While Nicola Sturgeon has sought to keep party politics out of her handling of the pandemic, Joanna Cherry and Kenny MacAskill said the SNP should not lose sight of its key goal.
Their comments came after England and Scotland diverged on lockdown restrictions, with Boris Johnson ditching the “Stay at Home” message and Ms Sturgeon reinforcing it.
Ms Cherry, who has been tipped as a future SNP leader, claimed the Prime Minister’s approach to the Covid-19 crisis “builds the case for independence”.
“I am working towards one goal alone and that is the goal of independence which most of our movement shares,” she wrote in The National newspaper.
‘Policy and strategy’
The MP said that while the Scottish Government must “maintain its entire focus on the Covid crisis”, there was nothing to stop the SNP “facilitating debate on policy and strategy”.
She said she had contacted the party’s national secretary “suggesting that the party take these debates online”, hitting out at senior officials who she accused of trying to stifle some activists.
Meanwhile, Mr MacAskill claimed the “incompetence” of the UK Government in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic would open the road to Scottish independence.
He suggested that the crisis could give SNP the opportunity to pursue a “more radical agenda that’s wanted by the wider membership”, arguing Scots would embrace such an approach.
Criticising Mr Johnson, he added: “A man who cannot even safely look after his own country can’t restrict the forward march of another. The road to independence is open.”
‘Financial strength’ of union
However, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack argued that Scotland has benefited from the “financial strength” of the UK Treasury during the Covid-19 crisis.
“We’re a very powerful economic machine in the UK and I know it is a bit of a unionist message, and I am not shying away from that, I am not embarrassed to say it.
“But because Scotland is part of the United Kingdom we have benefited enormously from that financial strength of the Treasury.”
Pamela Nash, chief executive of the pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union, said most Scots would “be in despair at the behaviour by these senior SNP politicians”.
She added: “They should be completely focused on the needs of their constituents during this public health emergency, but instead are using it as an opportunity to talk up their campaign to leave the UK.”


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus latest: Vaccine trial results could be available within a month

Coronavirus latest : Vaccine trial results could be available within a month Professor Sir John Bell , of Oxford University , said 'several hundred ' people have already been vaccinated in the trial The results of a landmark human trial of a coronavirus vaccine could be available within a month , an expert has said .
Professor Sir John Bell , of Oxford University , said “ several hundred ” people have already been vaccinated in a trial that is seen as perhaps the biggest hope for beating coronavirus in the near future .
The challenge now is to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is approved by the regulators , he said .
At the end of April a team of researchers at Oxford started testing a Covid-19 vaccine in human volunteers .
They predicted that , in a best case scenario , a vaccine could be available for use by October - although many experts said they thought it would take much longer to produce an effective vaccine .
The race is on the find vaccine against the coronavirus ( Photo : University of Oxford/AP ) About 1,110 are expected to take part in the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other half - the ‘ control ’ group - receiving a widely available meningitis vaccine .
“ We want to make sure that the rest of the world will be ready to make this vaccine at scale so that it gets to populations in developing countries , for example , where the need is very great , ” Prof Bell told the BBC .
“ We really need a partner to do that and that partner has a big job in the UK because our manufacturing capacity in the UK for vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be , and so we are going to work together with AstraZeneca to improve that considerably , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve got over 1,000 people that want to start phase 1/2 project .
And so far so good , and we ’ re now starting to wait for an advocacy signal to see whether people who ’ ve been vaccinated , don ’ t get the disease so that ’ s the next step.
” He added that with the disease on the wane , there is a risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to catch people .
“ We ’ re doing those calculations because we have quite good data now on how much disease there is around , ” Prof Bell said .
He said that the researchers had discussed deliberately exposing people to the virus , but the practicalities are complicated , as there is no treatment yet to rescue people if they get sick .
He added that to check its effectiveness , you would need to give the virus to those most at risk , and the risk of them dying would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .

The results of a landmark human trial of a coronavirus vaccine could be available within a month, an expert has said.
Professor Sir John Bell, of Oxford University, said “several hundred” people have already been vaccinated in a trial that is seen as perhaps the biggest hope for beating coronavirus in the near future.
The challenge now is to be able to manufacture at scale once it is approved by the regulators, he said.
At the end of April a team of researchers at Oxford started testing a Covid-19 vaccine in human volunteers. They predicted that, in a best case scenario, a vaccine could be available for use by October – although many experts said they thought it would take much longer to produce an effective vaccine.
More than 1,000 participants
About 1,110 are expected to take part in the trial, with half receiving the vaccine and the other half – the ‘control’ group – receiving a widely available meningitis vaccine.
“We want to make sure that the rest of the world will be ready to make this vaccine at scale so that it gets to populations in developing countries, for example, where the need is very great,” Prof Bell told the BBC.
“We really need a partner to do that and that partner has a big job in the UK because our manufacturing capacity in the UK for vaccines isn’t where it needs to be, and so we are going to work together with AstraZeneca to improve that considerably,” he said.
“We’ve got over 1,000 people that want to start phase 1/2 project. And so far so good, and we’re now starting to wait for an advocacy signal to see whether people who’ve been vaccinated, don’t get the disease so that’s the next step.”
Practical difficulties of conducting trial
He added that with the disease on the wane, there is a risk there may not be enough active disease to catch people.
“We’re doing those calculations because we have quite good data now on how much disease there is around,” Prof Bell said.
He said that the researchers had discussed deliberately exposing people to the virus, but the practicalities are complicated, as there is no treatment yet to rescue people if they get sick.
He added that to check its effectiveness, you would need to give the virus to those most at risk, and the risk of them dying would be very high if it did not work.


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: 'Start preparing now for second wave', says Europe's top WHO official

Coronavirus : 'Start preparing now for second wave ' , says Europe 's top WHO official A second wave could happen in the autumn , according to Dr Hans Kluge The UK and other European countries should prepare for a second wave of Covid-19 infections , one of the continent ’ s leading health officials has warned .
Dr Hans Kluge , the World Health Organisation ’ s top official in Europe , said it is now “ time for preparation not celebration ” as lockdown restrictions begin to ease .
Dr Kluge said a second wave could happen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is also an outbreak of flu or other infectious diseases .
Protective masks are being used by train passengers in Germany ( Photo : Getty ) He said countries should use the time wisely to start to strengthen their public health systems as well as building capacity in their intensive care units .
“ Singapore and Japan understood early on that this is not a time for celebration , it ’ s a time for preparation , ” he told the Daily Telegraph .
“ That ’ s what Scandinavian countries are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second wave , but they hope it will be localised and they can jump on it quickly.
” He added : “ I ’ m very concerned about a double wave – in the fall , we could have a second wave of Covid and another one of seasonal flu or measles .
Two years ago , we had 500,000 children who didn ’ t have their first shot of the measles vaccine.
” Dr Kluge said lockdown restrictions have to be eased “ gradually and carefully ” .
He added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing has changed .
The full disease control package has to be in place .
That ’ s the key message.
” 'This virus may never go away' In 1918 , the Spanish flu killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million people .
A deadly second wave in the three months of autumn that year is thought to have been caused by a mutated virus spread by troop movements in the summer before the end of the First World War .
Countries including the UK , France , Italy and Spain have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to get their economies moving after passing the peak of Covid-19 deaths .
Dr Mike Ryan , the director of the WHO ’ s health emergencies programme , has warned that the virus may join the mix of viruses that kill people around the world every year .
“ The virus just my become another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away , ” he told a press conference in Geneva .
“ HIV has never gone away , ” he said .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it is important that we are realistic .
I don ’ t think anyone can predict when or if this disease will disappear .
”

The UK and other European countries should prepare for a second wave of Covid-19 infections, one of the continent’s leading health officials has warned.
Dr Hans Kluge, the World Health Organisation’s top official in Europe, said it is now “time for preparation not celebration” as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.
His comments came as the WHO’s emergencies chief Mike Ryan also warned that coronavirus “may never go away”.
Dr Kluge said a second wave could happen in autumn or winter at the time when there is also an outbreak of flu or other infectious diseases.
Prepare for second wave
He said countries should use the time wisely to start to strengthen their public health systems as well as building capacity in their intensive care units.
“Singapore and Japan understood early on that this is not a time for celebration, it’s a time for preparation,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “That’s what Scandinavian countries are doing – they don’t exclude a second wave, but they hope it will be localised and they can jump on it quickly.”
He added: “I’m very concerned about a double wave – in the fall, we could have a second wave of Covid and another one of seasonal flu or measles. Two years ago, we had 500,000 children who didn’t have their first shot of the measles vaccine.”
Dr Kluge said lockdown restrictions have to be eased “gradually and carefully”. He added: “People think lockdown is finished. Nothing has changed. The full disease control package has to be in place. That’s the key message.”
‘This virus may never go away’
In 1918, the Spanish flu killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million people. A deadly second wave in the three months of autumn that year is thought to have been caused by a mutated virus spread by troop movements in the summer before the end of the First World War.
Countries including the UK, France, Italy and Spain have begun to alter their lockdown restrictions to try to get their economies moving after passing the peak of Covid-19 deaths.
Dr Mike Ryan, the director of the WHO’s health emergencies programme, has warned that the virus may join the mix of viruses that kill people around the world every year.
“The virus just my become another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away,” he told a press conference in Geneva.
“HIV has never gone away,” he said. “I’m not comparing the two diseases but I think it is important that we are realistic. I don’t think anyone can predict when or if this disease will disappear.”


inews--2020-05-14--Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe, BBC2, review: A bullet train of sarcasm through two months of coro

Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe, BBC2, review: A bullet train of sarcasm through two months of coronavirus

Charlie Brooker 's Antiviral Wipe , BBC2 , review : A bullet train of sarcasm through two months of coronavirus Barry Shitpeas and Philomena Cunk made a welcome appearance on Brooker 's witty look at the recent news “ It would be easy for me to sit here and take the piss , ” Charlie Brooker joked towards the end of his new coronavirus special edition of Screen Wipe , “ That ’ s why I ’ m doing this.
” It was one of the many self-deprecating quips by the Black Mirror writer over the 45-minute episode , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mick out of one of the most serious crises the modern world has endured .
Taking us back to January , when the biggest stories were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ’ s exit from the Royal Family and Phillip Schofield coming out on This Morning felt like a trip to a bygone era , with the news only briefly touching on the novel coronavirus spreading in Wuhan , China .
But within five minutes we were in Covid-19 territory and Brooker presented us with the all too familiar scenes of Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
Incidentally , this gave Brooker his funniest , most repeated joke of the show when he realised the mouths behind the masks could be saying anything .
Cue a muffled dub over a WHO representative of “ My name is Mr McBumCake , I make bum cakes for a living.
” Juvenile ?
Yes .
Obvious ?
Yes , but proof the oldies are the goodies .
Welcome , too , was the appearance of Brooker ’ s sidekick creations , Barry Shitpeas ( show director Al Campbell ) and Philomena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - but accidentally - pointing out government hypocrisies while also delivering their own nonsensical one liners ( “ the virus might not be alive… like spiders ” ) .
But there was also unexpected pathos from Brooker dotted throughout the programme .
Captain Tom and the weekly Clap for Carers were granted sanctuary from his sharp tongue , and there was even a moment of earnest sentimentality when the presenter asked us all to continue supporting each other .
The same can not be said for the now infamous all-celebrity cover of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - “ if John Lennon heard this he ’ d ring Mark Chapman and give him his exact coordinates.
” Jokes like this came fast - so fast , in fact , that it was hard for our laughs to keep up .
While I appreciate this show was created more on the hoof than any other series of Screen Wipe , it felt as though Brooker tried to fit too much in to only a short amount of time .
Perhaps , though , that is a well-made point in itself - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was last wiped down that Brooker had no time to languish in laughter .

Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe, 9pm, BBC2 ★★★★
“It would be easy for me to sit here and take the piss,” Charlie Brooker joked towards the end of his new coronavirus special edition of Screen Wipe, “That’s why I’m doing this.” It was one of the many self-deprecating quips by the Black Mirror writer over the 45-minute episode, which just about allowed him to take the mick out of one of the most serious crises the modern world has endured.
Taking us back to January, when the biggest stories were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s exit from the Royal Family and Phillip Schofield coming out on This Morning felt like a trip to a bygone era, with the news only briefly touching on the novel coronavirus spreading in Wuhan, China. But within five minutes we were in Covid-19 territory and Brooker presented us with the all too familiar scenes of Boris Johnson’s press conferences and civilians wearing masks.
Incidentally, this gave Brooker his funniest, most repeated joke of the show when he realised the mouths behind the masks could be saying anything. Cue a muffled dub over a WHO representative of “My name is Mr McBumCake, I make bum cakes for a living.” Juvenile? Yes. Obvious? Yes, but proof the oldies are the goodies.
Read More White Lines’ Daniel Mays: ‘I was much more interested in acting than partying — but I’ve caught up’
Welcome, too, was the appearance of Brooker’s sidekick creations, Barry Shitpeas (show director Al Campbell) and Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan). Acutely – but accidentally – pointing out government hypocrisies while also delivering their own nonsensical one liners (“the virus might not be alive… like spiders”).
But there was also unexpected pathos from Brooker dotted throughout the programme. Captain Tom and the weekly Clap for Carers were granted sanctuary from his sharp tongue, and there was even a moment of earnest sentimentality when the presenter asked us all to continue supporting each other. The same cannot be said for the now infamous all-celebrity cover of “Imagine”, organised by Gal Gadot – “if John Lennon heard this he’d ring Mark Chapman and give him his exact coordinates.”
Jokes like this came fast – so fast, in fact, that it was hard for our laughs to keep up. While I appreciate this show was created more on the hoof than any other series of Screen Wipe, it felt as though Brooker tried to fit too much in to only a short amount of time. Perhaps, though, that is a well-made point in itself – the world has changed so much since it was last wiped down that Brooker had no time to languish in laughter.


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus latest: Northern Ireland follows England in partially relaxing lockdown rules as garden

Coronavirus latest: Northern Ireland follows England in partially relaxing lockdown rules as garden centres open

Coronavirus latest : Northern Ireland follows England in partially relaxing lockdown rules as garden centres open Garden centres and recycling centres in Northern Ireland will be permitted to reopen from Monday Marriage ceremonies involving someone who is suffering from a terminal illness will also be allowed from next week under the changes announced by Stormont ’ s leaders .
The move comes after a meeting of the power-sharing executive on Thursday .
First Minister , Arlene Foster , said they were “ very tentative first steps toward recovery ” .
“ It is important that everyone understands that the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there will not be a dramatic shift , ” she added .
Northern Ireland ’ s “ R rate ” – the average number of people that a person carrying Covid-19 infects – has fallen to below 0.7 .
The number of virus deaths in the region rose by five to 454 on Thursday .
Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill said the executive would “ move towards step one ” of the exit plan on Monday when further relaxations would be revealed .
She described Northern Ireland ’ s exit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby steps ” .
The decision in Northern Ireland follows an announcement by Wales ’ s First Minister , Mark Drakeford , that the region ’ s road map for easing lockdown restrictions would be published by the end of the week .
Mark Drakeford told Members of the Senedd on Wednesday that the plan was `` still being worked on '' and needed to be `` readily understood by the readership of the Welsh public '' .
`` That is the best way in which we can help one another to overcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ People are allowed now to leave their homes more than once a day for exercise , and if your way of taking exercise is to walk from your home to a river and to sit there , not near other people , and to go fishing then that is allowed within the rules in Wales .
`` But it must be local and it must be done in a way that observes social distancing . ''
The Scottish First Minister , speaking at her daily briefing , said while the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with every day that passes '' they were still necessary .
`` By staying at home we are continuing to slow down the spread of the virus and reduce the number of new cases of it we are seeing every day . ''

Northern Ireland is to follow England in relaxing some lockdown measures by allowing garden centres and household recycling centres to reopen from Monday.
Marriage ceremonies involving someone who is suffering from a terminal illness will also be allowed from next week under the changes announced by Stormont’s leaders.
Small steps
The move comes after a meeting of the power-sharing executive on Thursday. First Minister, Arlene Foster, said they were “very tentative first steps toward recovery”.
“It is important that everyone understands that the process of relaxing restrictions will be incremental, and there will not be a dramatic shift,” she added.
Northern Ireland’s “R rate” – the average number of people that a person carrying Covid-19 infects – has fallen to below 0.7. The number of virus deaths in the region rose by five to 454 on Thursday.
The region’s lockdown exit plan sets out a five-step process, but does not assign projected dates for any of the stages.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the executive would “move towards step one” of the exit plan on Monday when further relaxations would be revealed. She described Northern Ireland’s exit out of lockdown as happening in “baby steps”.
Wales told: stay at home
The decision in Northern Ireland follows an announcement by Wales’s First Minister, Mark Drakeford, that the region’s road map for easing lockdown restrictions would be published by the end of the week.
Mark Drakeford told Members of the Senedd on Wednesday that the plan was “still being worked on” and needed to be “readily understood by the readership of the Welsh public”.
However he emphasised that in Wales people would be encouraged to stay home.
“That is the best way in which we can help one another to overcome this crisis,” Mr Drakeford said.
“People are allowed now to leave their homes more than once a day for exercise, and if your way of taking exercise is to walk from your home to a river and to sit there, not near other people, and to go fishing then that is allowed within the rules in Wales.
“But it must be local and it must be done in a way that observes social distancing.”
Read More: UK nations differ over how and when to ease restrictions
Scotland ‘saving lives’
The Scottish First Minister, speaking at her daily briefing, said while the restrictions placed on people were “more difficult with every day that passes” they were still necessary.
“By staying at home we are continuing to slow down the spread of the virus and reduce the number of new cases of it we are seeing every day.”
Ms Sturgeon said despite the “really horrible, grim figures” in the daily updates “we are undoubtedly saving lives”.
She praised Scots for “continuing to do the right thing”, adding: “This truly is a national collective endeavour that all of us are contributing to.”
Additional reporting by PA


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus latest: Teaching unions to meet scientific advisers as Government seeks way out of schoo

Coronavirus latest: Teaching unions to meet scientific advisers as Government seeks way out of schools reopening stalemate

Coronavirus latest : Teaching unions to meet scientific advisers as Government seeks way out of schools reopening stalemate The meeting comes amid growing pressure on the Government to publish the scientific advice it has received on reopening schools Children of key workers take part in school activities at Oldfield Brow Primary School in Altrincham .
Unions have questioned the Government 's plans for returning children to primary schools ( Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty ) Geoff Barton , the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders , said : “ All the unions share concerns about the scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the reopening of schools , and it would help to improve confidence if the Government would provide more information about the scientific evidence and how it has informed these plans.
” Mr Barton said that headteachers did not want to “ impede the reopening of schools ” .
But he said the “ big problem ” with the Government ’ s plan is that it would result in a “ very significant increase ” in the number of children in school , including “ very young children for whom social distancing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively being asked to accept the Government ’ s decisions on faith , and this isn ’ t really good enough given the very high stakes involved .
It would be remiss of us not to ask for more information and assurances , so that is what we are doing.
” Paul Whiteman , general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers , told i : “ It ’ s a very basic request of government , which is if you ’ re asking us to do this , rather than simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so , help us to understand why .
`` Tell us what the scientists are saying about the transmission from children to adults for example , tell us what social distancing the scientists say is necessary within the school environment , and then what we can do as educators is tell you what ’ s possible within a school building rather than trying to fit a square peg into a round hole . ''
Mr Whiteman said he was keen to get beyond the current `` polarisation '' over reopening schools .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide `` clarity about what it ’ s objective is for widening access to schools '' .
`` Is the Government ’ s objective an educational objective , or is it the objective to begin to support the kickstart to the economy ? ''
If it was for economic reasons then the starting point had to be `` how many children can you safely accommodate '' .
`` If it ’ s for educational purposes , then I think there ’ s a debate about which year groups it is , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is persuaded that the ones that have been selected are the ones that they would necessarily put forward , '' he added .
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in the House of Commons , London , answering an urgent question on the Government 's plans for reopening schools during the coronavirus pandemic ( Photo : PA ) Ms Moran told i the Government 's handling of the issue had been “ shambolic ” .
“ There has been a feeling for some time that the DfE haven ’ t had a grip on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Most people sympathise with the position that is , as soon as we 're able to open schools safely we should , but I think they 've fallen short in reassuring people that we are at that point yet .
In the House of Commons on Wednesday , the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said : `` I am more than happy to share all the advice that we have received from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies .
SAGE regularly publishes its advice and when it is ready to do so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

The Government has convened a meeting between education unions and its scientific advisers on Friday in a bid to win teachers round to reopening schools in England.
It comes amid growing pressure on the Government to publish the scientific advice it has received on the likely impact of reopening schools on the spread of Covid-19.
The Government has said that if the rate of infection is under control, children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 could return on 1 June at the earliest as part of a phased reopening.
The ambition is for all primary children to return for a month before the summer holidays if possible, and for secondary students in Years 10 and 12 facing exams next year to have time back in school too.
Transmission role
However, the plan has been met with fierce resistance from teaching unions, who have raised concerns about the health of school staff and their families.
The Government’s case received a setback this week when the Department for Education’s chief scientific adviser admitted there was a “low degree of confidence” that children transmit less than adults.
Asked whether reopening schools could put together “hundreds of potential vectors that can then go and transmit”, Osama Rahman replied: “Possibly. Depending on school sizes.”
The comments were seized upon by the teacher unions. Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: [Mr Rahman] doesn’t know – neither does the Government, that they won’t reinfect the community.”
Friday meeting
In an effort to assuage concerns, union leaders will meet with the Government’s scientific advisers on Friday afternoon. i understands that other education stakeholders – such as Ofsted and school bodies – will also attend.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “All the unions share concerns about the scientific basis for the government’s decisions over the reopening of schools, and it would help to improve confidence if the Government would provide more information about the scientific evidence and how it has informed these plans.”
Mr Barton said that headteachers did not want to “impede the reopening of schools”. But he said the “big problem” with the Government’s plan is that it would result in a “very significant increase” in the number of children in school, including “very young children for whom social distancing is most difficult”.
The DfE had released guidance to schools on reopening, but it had not shared “any modelling which demonstrates the extent to which these processes mitigate against the risk of infection”, he added.
‘Basic request’
“We are effectively being asked to accept the Government’s decisions on faith, and this isn’t really good enough given the very high stakes involved. It would be remiss of us not to ask for more information and assurances, so that is what we are doing.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, told i: “It’s a very basic request of government, which is if you’re asking us to do this, rather than simply state that it’s safe to do so, help us to understand why.
“Tell us what the scientists are saying about the transmission from children to adults for example, tell us what social distancing the scientists say is necessary within the school environment, and then what we can do as educators is tell you what’s possible within a school building rather than trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”
Mr Whiteman said he was keen to get beyond the current “polarisation” over reopening schools. But he said the Government also needed to provide “clarity about what it’s objective is for widening access to schools”. “Is the Government’s objective an educational objective, or is it the objective to begin to support the kickstart to the economy?”
If it was for economic reasons then the starting point had to be “how many children can you safely accommodate”. “If it’s for educational purposes, then I think there’s a debate about which year groups it is, and I’m not sure the profession is persuaded that the ones that have been selected are the ones that they would necessarily put forward,” he added.
Scientific advice
Layla Moran, the education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, has meanwhile written to the Government’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser urging them to release their schools advice.
“We need reassurance that the decisions are being made based on public health advice only, and not economic fears,” the letter says.
Ms Moran told i the Government’s handling of the issue had been “shambolic”. “There has been a feeling for some time that the DfE haven’t had a grip on what their doing,” she said. “Most people sympathise with the position that is, as soon as we’re able to open schools safely we should, but I think they’ve fallen short in reassuring people that we are at that point yet.
“One of the things that will help is if the scientific advice and all the advice that they’ve taken in the background to make this decision is published.”
‘Find a way forward’
In the House of Commons on Wednesday, the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I am more than happy to share all the advice that we have received from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. SAGE regularly publishes its advice and when it is ready to do so, it will be sharing it again.”
i understands that as part of a compromise solution, unions are likely to ask the Government to give way on its plan to return all primary pupils by July.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Thursday: “We are very keen to hear the concern of teachers, we’ve worked with unions for the past seven weeks and we want to continue consulting for a phased return of some year groups on 1 June at the earliest.”
He added: “What we’re seeking to do is to work with schools and to work with headteachers and teachers to find a way forward that allows us to open schools safely.”


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus lockdown: Grant Shapps agrees £1.6bn bailout for London's transport network

Transport for London has lost 90 % of its income during the lockdown But Mr Shapps warned London mayor Sadiq Khan he could not expect the rest of the country ’ s taxpayers to shoulder the financial burden and urged him to unfreeze fares in the capital to help recoup costs .
The Government has been locked in talks for weeks with Mr Khan on a financial rescue package for Transport for London , whose income from train and bus fares , advertising and the congestion charge has collapsed due to the lockdown .
At the Downing Street daily press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country who were going back to work this week to use bikes , cars or walk to the office , saying that it was their “ civic duty ” to avoid public transport .
He highlighted nationwide improvements to railways during April , totally £550m , as well as £200m in road upgrades by Highways England , many of which could be speeded up because of low transport use during the lockdown .
The minister also highlighted nearly £2bn in upgrades to the UK ’ s road and rail network , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was announced last weekend and the money is not new but reallocated from previous budgets .
Since urging people who can not work from home to return to the office this week , ministers have asked commuters to cycle or use the car if possible , to reduce overcrowding on trains and buses and in turn stop Covid-19 infections from soaring again .
But with many in London reliant on the public transport system , there has been pressure on the government to help TfL with a financial shortfall that has meant it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
But he added : “ It ’ s very important in providing a rescue package for TfL that we don ’ t end up in a situation where people from outside the capital are unfairly carrying the burden .
Fares do have to rise with inflation … There is the right balance to be made.
” Mr Khan has called on the Government for the rescue package after TfL was forced to raid its £1.2bn cash reserve fund at the beginning of May .
The Government ’ s rescue package includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in loans in return for TfL restoring 100 per cent of Tube services , “ Stay Alert ” advertising across TfL sites , staff absences reported directly to government , a review of TfL finance and structure .
Under the deal , government officials will also sit on the TfL board .
The mayor had earlier warned that Thursday was the “ last day ” for a bailout to be found otherwise “ the consequences could be quite severe and the ramifications for all of us will be huge ” .
Since people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , No10 said there had been no surge in demand reported on London transport , with passenger numbers on the tube running at 7 per cent of normal levels .

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has agreed a £1.6bn bailout of London’s cash-strapped public transport system which has lost 90 per cent of its income due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But Mr Shapps warned London mayor Sadiq Khan he could not expect the rest of the country’s taxpayers to shoulder the financial burden and urged him to unfreeze fares in the capital to help recoup costs.
The Government has been locked in talks for weeks with Mr Khan on a financial rescue package for Transport for London, whose income from train and bus fares, advertising and the congestion charge has collapsed due to the lockdown.
At the Downing Street daily press conference, Mr Shapps urged people across the country who were going back to work this week to use bikes, cars or walk to the office, saying that it was their “civic duty” to avoid public transport.
Improvements
He highlighted nationwide improvements to railways during April, totally £550m, as well as £200m in road upgrades by Highways England, many of which could be speeded up because of low transport use during the lockdown.
The minister also highlighted nearly £2bn in upgrades to the UK’s road and rail network, including £1.7bn for local roads, although this was announced last weekend and the money is not new but reallocated from previous budgets.
Since urging people who cannot work from home to return to the office this week, ministers have asked commuters to cycle or use the car if possible, to reduce overcrowding on trains and buses and in turn stop Covid-19 infections from soaring again.
But with many in London reliant on the public transport system, there has been pressure on the government to help TfL with a financial shortfall that has meant it is spending £600m a month under the outbreak.
Balance
But he added: “It’s very important in providing a rescue package for TfL that we don’t end up in a situation where people from outside the capital are unfairly carrying the burden. Fares do have to rise with inflation … There is the right balance to be made.”
Mr Khan has called on the Government for the rescue package after TfL was forced to raid its £1.2bn cash reserve fund at the beginning of May.
Some 7,000 staff have been furloughed in order to save £16m a month.
The Government’s rescue package includes £1.1bn in cash as well as £505m in loans in return for TfL restoring 100 per cent of Tube services, “Stay Alert” advertising across TfL sites, staff absences reported directly to government, a review of TfL finance and structure. Under the deal, government officials will also sit on the TfL board.
The mayor had earlier warned that Thursday was the “last day” for a bailout to be found otherwise “the consequences could be quite severe and the ramifications for all of us will be huge”.
Since people were urged to return to work on Wednesday, No10 said there had been no surge in demand reported on London transport, with passenger numbers on the tube running at 7 per cent of normal levels.


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus could be passed on through speech, study finds

Coronavirus could be passed on through speech , study finds Researchers find that thousands of droplets a second are emitted by loud talking Speaking produces thousands of tiny droplets a second that can linger in the air indoors for 14 minutes ( Photo : Gabriel Kuchta/Getty ) Speaking produces thousands of tiny droplets a second that can linger in the air indoors for 14 minutes and may contain infectious traces of coronavirus , a study has found .
Researchers found that loud speech can emit 2,600 ‘ oral fluid droplets ’ per second , which quickly blow away outside but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are unlikely to contain any traces of virus , even if assuming the speaker is infected - but many still will .
The researchers estimate that over the course of a minute ’ s loud speaking , an infected person would generate more than 1,000 virus-containing droplets that would remain airborn for 8 to 14 minutes .
It is too early to say whether these droplets may cause Covid-19 but that it is likely they do , they say .
“ Speech droplets generated by asymptomatic carriers of the virus are increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease transmission , ” said Philip Anfinrud , of the National Institutes of Health in the US .
“ These observations confirm that there is a substantial probability that normal speaking causes airborne virus transmission in confined environments , ” he said .
Professor Lawrence Young , of the University of Warwick , who was not involved in the research , said : “ This study convincingly shows that normal speech generates airborne droplets that can remain suspended in the air for tens of minutes or longer.
” “ This suggests that virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this way in confined spaces , however there is no direct analysis of the presence of viruses in the droplets or their ability to pass on infection.
” Michael Cotterell , of the University of Bristol , who was also not involved in the study , said : “ The laboratory research techniques used are novel and certainly provide compelling evidence that micron-sized speech droplets have significant lifetimes.
” “ One detail that is less clear is whether the aerosol introduced to the researchers ' enclosure could be contaminated by simply opening the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the particles sampled correspond to speech droplets , ” he said .

Speaking produces thousands of tiny droplets a second that can linger in the air indoors for 14 minutes and may contain infectious traces of coronavirus, a study has found.
Researchers found that loud speech can emit 2,600 ‘oral fluid droplets’ per second, which quickly blow away outside but can remain airborne inside.
Most of these are unlikely to contain any traces of virus, even if assuming the speaker is infected – but many still will.
The researchers estimate that over the course of a minute’s loud speaking, an infected person would generate more than 1,000 virus-containing droplets that would remain airborn for 8 to 14 minutes.
Risk of speech droplets
It is too early to say whether these droplets may cause Covid-19 but that it is likely they do, they say.
“Speech droplets generated by asymptomatic carriers of the virus are increasingly considered to be a likely mode of disease transmission,” said Philip Anfinrud, of the National Institutes of Health in the US.
“These observations confirm that there is a substantial probability that normal speaking causes airborne virus transmission in confined environments,” he said.
The study is published in the journal PNAS.
‘Compelling evidence’
Professor Lawrence Young, of the University of Warwick, who was not involved in the research, said: “This study convincingly shows that normal speech generates airborne droplets that can remain suspended in the air for tens of minutes or longer.”
“This suggests that virus from an infected individual could be transmitted this way in confined spaces, however there is no direct analysis of the presence of viruses in the droplets or their ability to pass on infection.”
Michael Cotterell, of the University of Bristol, who was also not involved in the study, said: “The laboratory research techniques used are novel and certainly provide compelling evidence that micron-sized speech droplets have significant lifetimes.”
“One detail that is less clear is whether the aerosol introduced to the researchers’ enclosure could be contaminated by simply opening the speaker shutter, and therefore whether all the particles sampled correspond to speech droplets,” he said.


inews--2020-05-14--Coronavirus lockdown: Norwich shopkeeper selling 'thousands' of plants from her bungalow

Coronavirus lockdown : Norwich shopkeeper selling 'thousands ' of plants from her bungalow Kerri Notman , from Mattishall .
in Norfolk , said she is making a 'ridiculous ' amount of sales A shopkeeper who has moved 12,000 plants through her `` tiny ” two-bedroom bungalow since lockdown began has said her online business is booming .
Kerri Notman decided to close the doors at her plant and gift shop in Norwich a day before the coronavirus lockdown was formally announced to run a delivery-only operation instead .
Ms Notman , 29 , from Mattishall in Norfolk , said online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical store .
Reflecting on why so many people appear to have suddenly developed green fingers she said : `` I think everyone 's just sitting at home bored and they want to buy more stuff , they want to make their houses look good and with all the shops closed they 're spending their money online . ''
But life is n't completely a bed of roses for Ms Notman , who specialises in houseplants such as cacti and succulents , which must be kept indoors to survive .
`` We should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lockdown that got cancelled , '' she said .
`` If we had that then we could have stored the stuff in there but ...
I 've literally got it everywhere in my house - my caravan is full of plants.
” The shopkeeper said space in her two-bedroom bungalow has got so tight that during the daytime some plants have to be stored in her 11-month-old daughter Maggie 's cot .
Although her business , Leslie Terrance , is taking less than when the shop is open , Ms Notman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .

A shopkeeper who has moved 12,000 plants through her “tiny” two-bedroom bungalow since lockdown began has said her online business is booming.
Kerri Notman decided to close the doors at her plant and gift shop in Norwich a day before the coronavirus lockdown was formally announced to run a delivery-only operation instead.
Business blooming
Ms Notman, 29, from Mattishall in Norfolk, said online orders have trebled since she shut her physical store.
“The sales coming through are absolutely ridiculous,”she said.
“We’re doing 200 to 300 plants easily per day.”
Reflecting on why so many people appear to have suddenly developed green fingers she said: “I think everyone’s just sitting at home bored and they want to buy more stuff, they want to make their houses look good and with all the shops closed they’re spending their money online.”
Read More: 20 ways to improve your garden in lockdown from making bunting with coloured material to cherishing your lawn weeds
No bed of roses
But life isn’t completely a bed of roses for Ms Notman, who specialises in houseplants such as cacti and succulents, which must be kept indoors to survive.
“We should have had a greenhouse delivered but because of the lockdown that got cancelled,” she said.
“If we had that then we could have stored the stuff in there but…I’ve literally got it everywhere in my house – my caravan is full of plants.”
The shopkeeper said space in her two-bedroom bungalow has got so tight that during the daytime some plants have to be stored in her 11-month-old daughter Maggie’s cot.
Although her business, Leslie Terrance, is taking less than when the shop is open, Ms Notman said it is “surviving quite well”.
Additional reporting by PA