inews--2020-04-27--Coronavirus: Storage limit for frozen eggs, sperm and embryos extended during pandemic

Coronavirus : Storage limit for frozen eggs , sperm and embryos extended during pandemic Storage period for embryos and gametes extended by two years to a maximum of 12 years Anyone who has frozen their eggs , sperm and embryos will be able to extend their storage for an additional two years under new Government plans to support those going through fertility treatment during the coronavirus pandemic .
Currently the storage period for embryos and gametes is limited to a maximum of 10 years , after which people must choose whether to undergo fertility treatment , or have their frozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That will be extended to 12 years to help women who had frozen their eggs and which were coming towards the end of their storage limit .
The number of women freezing their eggs more than tripled in the last five years .
Latest data shows that in 2017 some 1,463 women froze their eggs .
In 2012 the number was just 410 .
The various reasons for doing so include women not ready to have a family but want to preserve their fertility so that they can start a family later in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may affect their fertility and wish to protect and preserve their future fertility ; or they have several good embryos as part of their treatment cycle and store these for future treatment use .
When the Government launched its consultation on the issue earlier this year experts said the 10-year storage limit acts as a perverse incentive for women to delay freezing their eggs until their mid-to-late 30s when egg quality is declining and a woman ’ s chance of becoming a biological mother has reduced .
Latest UK figures show two-thirds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 35 .
Sally Cheshire , chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ( HFEA ) , said : “ We have been working together to ensure those patients who have stored sperm , eggs or embryos that are reaching the 10-year storage limit are not penalised by the current suspension of fertility treatment due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ We know this is a difficult and distressing time for all patients , so this decision brings good news for those who are reaching the 10-year storage limit .
It provides them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives more time to try for their much longed for family.
” Health Minister , Lord Bethell said : “ Many people rely on fertility treatment as their only hope to start a family and the current pandemic means some will have to put their hopes on hold .
We are taking steps to ensure during these extraordinary times , those that have embryos , sperm or eggs stored as part of their treatment are not unfairly caught out by the existing storage limits and have the best possible opportunity to start their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know for some people the pausing of services will be extremely worrying and we are constantly assessing when it will be appropriate to commence fertility services again while balancing the pressures of the pandemic on our NHS and workforce.
” '' This positive move will alleviate , in particular , the huge stress felt by women facing the 10-year storage limit for social egg freezing , and it also paves the way for the outdated , unscientific and discriminatory 10-year storage limit to be changed for all women seeking to preserve their fertility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls upon the Government to # ExtendTheLimit for social egg freezing and give women reproductive choice .
`` Social egg freezing should be empowering women to choose the best time to start a family , not imposing new limits on them .
Egg freezing is the fastest growing fertility treatment in the UK : yet under current UK law , women who freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons ( social egg freezing ) are only allowed to keep them stored for 10 years .
`` If women don ’ t use them during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frozen eggs or face the pressure of becoming a mother before they are ready to do so , either with a partner or , if single , as a solo mum via sperm donation .
That ’ s why PET launched its # ExtendTheLimit campaign and online petition .
Please sign and share and help others choose when to become mothers . ''

Anyone who has frozen their eggs, sperm and embryos will be able to extend their storage for an additional two years under new Government plans to support those going through fertility treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Currently the storage period for embryos and gametes is limited to a maximum of 10 years, after which people must choose whether to undergo fertility treatment, or have their frozen eggs, sperm and embryos destroyed. That will be extended to 12 years to help women who had frozen their eggs and which were coming towards the end of their storage limit.
The number of women freezing their eggs more than tripled in the last five years. Latest data shows that in 2017 some 1,463 women froze their eggs. In 2012 the number was just 410.
The various reasons for doing so include women not ready to have a family but want to preserve their fertility so that they can start a family later in life; they are having cancer treatment that may affect their fertility and wish to protect and preserve their future fertility; or they have several good embryos as part of their treatment cycle and store these for future treatment use.
When the Government launched its consultation on the issue earlier this year experts said the 10-year storage limit acts as a perverse incentive for women to delay freezing their eggs until their mid-to-late 30s when egg quality is declining and a woman’s chance of becoming a biological mother has reduced. Latest UK figures show two-thirds of women freezing their eggs are over 35.
New guidance
Sally Cheshire, chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), said: “We have been working together to ensure those patients who have stored sperm, eggs or embryos that are reaching the 10-year storage limit are not penalised by the current suspension of fertility treatment due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We know this is a difficult and distressing time for all patients, so this decision brings good news for those who are reaching the 10-year storage limit. It provides them with some much-needed reassurance and most importantly gives more time to try for their much longed for family.”
The HFEA will be issuing new guidance to fertility clinics across the UK to support them in implementing the new storage limit extension.
Fertility treatment in the UK across the NHS and private sector was paused earlier this month and while the move to extend the storage limit was welcomed by women and charities, women currently undergoing IVF treatment have been left in limbo.
Only hope
Health Minister, Lord Bethell said: “Many people rely on fertility treatment as their only hope to start a family and the current pandemic means some will have to put their hopes on hold. We are taking steps to ensure during these extraordinary times, those that have embryos, sperm or eggs stored as part of their treatment are not unfairly caught out by the existing storage limits and have the best possible opportunity to start their family in the future.
“I know for some people the pausing of services will be extremely worrying and we are constantly assessing when it will be appropriate to commence fertility services again while balancing the pressures of the pandemic on our NHS and workforce.”
Sarah Norcross, director of fertility and genomics charity Progress Educational Trust (PET), which launched its Extend The Limit campaign calling for change, said: “PET welcomes the Government’s two-year extension of the storage limit for eggs, sperm and embryos.
“This positive move will alleviate, in particular, the huge stress felt by women facing the 10-year storage limit for social egg freezing, and it also paves the way for the outdated, unscientific and discriminatory 10-year storage limit to be changed for all women seeking to preserve their fertility by freezing their eggs. PET now calls upon the Government to #ExtendTheLimit for social egg freezing and give women reproductive choice.
“Social egg freezing should be empowering women to choose the best time to start a family, not imposing new limits on them. Egg freezing is the fastest growing fertility treatment in the UK: yet under current UK law, women who freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons (social egg freezing) are only allowed to keep them stored for 10 years.
“If women don’t use them during this time they have to destroy their frozen eggs or face the pressure of becoming a mother before they are ready to do so, either with a partner or, if single, as a solo mum via sperm donation. That’s why PET launched its #ExtendTheLimit campaign and online petition. Please sign and share and help others choose when to become mothers.”
The British Fertility Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists back PET’s campaign, as does GP and TV presenter Dr Zoe Williams who froze her eggs her eggs two years ago when she was 38. The Government’s consultation continues until 5 May to consider whether the limit should be extended in line with significant improvements in freezing technologies.
‘It’s an arbitrary time limit’
Sharon Jones, 35, froze her eggs two years ago in the hope of preserving her fertility for the future. The HR Manager from Liverpool, who now lives in London, had considered freezing her eggs in her 20s but was put off from doing so because of the 10-year storage limit for social egg freezing.
She told i: “That whole conundrum baffled me – whether or not to freeze your eggs when you are younger and the egg quality is higher, or when you are older, so you can ‘prolong’ your fertility because of the 10-year time limit. It upset me as well, not just me but women across the country. It’s a completely arbitrary limit and there’s no reason for it.
“It’s also devastating for women who have paid to have their eggs frozen who are coming up to the ‘sell by date’ and are faced with having them destroyed. And yet the very next day they could have more eggs extracted and go through the same process again. It makes no sense.”
Ms Jones said she had a “massive smile” on her face when she heard the news that the Government supports the two-year extension. There were “multiple reasons” why she decided to freeze her eggs, she said, including not meeting someone yet, working and travelling.
“I really want to have children. I definitely want to be a mum. At the moment I don’t want to necessarily settle in a relationship that’s not right for that. I also don’t necessarily want to do it on my own right now, so it’s weighing up that little bit of time but also preserving the quality of my eggs.
“There’s no doubt that everyone’s lives are on hold at the moment with coronavirus so to have that extension is a massive relief. For me personally there’s hope this is a huge step in changing that arbitrary time limit.”


inews--2020-04-27--Domestic abuse deaths during coronavirus lockdown are three times higher than last year, statistics

Domestic abuse deaths during coronavirus lockdown are three times higher than last year, statistics show

Domestic abuse deaths during coronavirus lockdown are three times higher than last year , statistics show There are three times more victims than this time last year The number of domestic abuse killings over the lockdown period is three times higher than last year , statistics have shown .
At least 16 domestic abuse killings of women and children have been recorded since 23 March , in contrast to the five recorded during the same period in 2019 , Counting Dead Women has found .
Quadruple the same time last year Fourteen women and two children have been killed across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The project tracking the number of deaths by domestic violence in the UK found are double that of an average 21 day period in the last decade .
Tributes have been paid to known victims including Ruth Brown , a 52-year-old “ wonderful , loving woman ” and mother who was found dead in a house in Bognor Regis on 11 April .
Refuse worker Wayne Morris , 47 , has been charged with her murder .
52-year-old Ruth Brown has been named as one of the victims ( Photo : Sussex Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care worker and mother of two , was found dead in her flat in Grantham .
Julio Jesus , 30 , has been charged with manslaughter and ABH .
A new report by the Home Affairs Select Committee has called for new schemes to ensure that victims can access urgent help during lockdown .
Calls and contacts to the national domestic abuse helpline run by the charity Refuge were 49 per cent higher in the week prior to 15 April than the average prior to the pandemic , a new report by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The committee is calling for new emergency funding for support services , new ways for victims to access help through supermarkets and pharmacies , outreach visits to known vulnerable households , support for more than 174,000 children who live in households with reported domestic abuse cases , and a new guarantee of safe housing for anyone needing to leave their home during lockdown because of abuse .
The chair of the Home Affairs Committee , Yvette Cooper , said : “ Staying at home is an important part of the strategy to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but for some people home isn ’ t safe .
Urgent action is needed to protect victims and prevent perpetrators from exploiting the lockdown to increase abuse .
“ There are already alarming signs of the rise in domestic abuse .
Our cross-party Committee is calling for an urgent action plan from Government setting out practical measures to tackle domestic abuse as an integrated part of the fight against Covid-19 .
If the government does not respond , domestic violence victims will be dealing with the `` devastating consequences '' of lockdown `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper .
“ Without strong action to tackle domestic abuse and support victims during the Covid-19 pandemic , society will be dealing with the devastating consequences for a generation . ''
Chief executive of Refuge Sandra Horley has backed the committee 's findings .
`` The recommendations given by the committee are sensible , realistic and would make a significant difference to the women and children we support , '' she said .
`` What is needed now is a coordinated Government strategy to implement them with urgency .
In parallel , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Parliament this week for its second reading , gives a perfect opportunity for quick action and implementation in law .
`` Across England and Wales two women every week are killed by a current or former partner and almost one in three women aged between 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime .
Refuge stands ready to work closely with the Government .
Now , more than ever , we need a robust and bold response .
Women ’ s lives depend on it '' If you or a loved one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0808 2000 247 to speak to a member of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline team at any time , day or night .
The Helpline adviser will offer confidential , non-judgmental information and expert support

The number of domestic abuse killings over the lockdown period is three times higher than last year, statistics have shown.
At least 16 domestic abuse killings of women and children have been recorded since 23 March, in contrast to the five recorded during the same period in 2019, Counting Dead Women has found.
Quadruple the same time last year
Fourteen women and two children have been killed across the 23 March to 12 April. The project tracking the number of deaths by domestic violence in the UK found are double that of an average 21 day period in the last decade.
Tributes have been paid to known victims including Ruth Brown, a 52-year-old “wonderful, loving woman” and mother who was found dead in a house in Bognor Regis on 11 April. Refuse worker Wayne Morris, 47, has been charged with her murder.
Daniella Espirito Santo, a 23-year-old care worker and mother of two, was found dead in her flat in Grantham. Julio Jesus, 30, has been charged with manslaughter and ABH.
‘Alarming signs’ of rise
A new report by the Home Affairs Select Committee has called for new schemes to ensure that victims can access urgent help during lockdown.
Calls and contacts to the national domestic abuse helpline run by the charity Refuge were 49 per cent higher in the week prior to 15 April than the average prior to the pandemic, a new report by the home affairs select committee has found.
Domestic abuse project Chayn reported that visits to its website had trebled in March 2020 compared to the same month the previous year, and the Men’s Advice Line saw an increase in calls of 16.6 per cent.
The committee is calling for new emergency funding for support services, new ways for victims to access help through supermarkets and pharmacies, outreach visits to known vulnerable households, support for more than 174,000 children who live in households with reported domestic abuse cases, and a new guarantee of safe housing for anyone needing to leave their home during lockdown because of abuse.
The chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Yvette Cooper, said: “Staying at home is an important part of the strategy to prevent coronavirus from spreading and save lives, but for some people home isn’t safe. Urgent action is needed to protect victims and prevent perpetrators from exploiting the lockdown to increase abuse.
“There are already alarming signs of the rise in domestic abuse. Our cross-party Committee is calling for an urgent action plan from Government setting out practical measures to tackle domestic abuse as an integrated part of the fight against Covid-19.
If the government does not respond, domestic violence victims will be dealing with the “devastating consequences” of lockdown “for a generation”, warned Ms Cooper.
“Without strong action to tackle domestic abuse and support victims during the Covid-19 pandemic, society will be dealing with the devastating consequences for a generation.”
‘Women’s lives depend on it’
Chief executive of Refuge Sandra Horley has backed the committee’s findings. “The recommendations given by the committee are sensible, realistic and would make a significant difference to the women and children we support,” she said.
“What is needed now is a coordinated Government strategy to implement them with urgency. In parallel, the Domestic Abuse Bill, which comes back to Parliament this week for its second reading, gives a perfect opportunity for quick action and implementation in law.


inews--2020-04-27--UK Coronavirus lockdown: Health minister Edward Argar says UK 'not there yet' on easing lockdown mea

UK Coronavirus lockdown: Health minister Edward Argar says UK 'not there yet' on easing lockdown measures

UK Coronavirus lockdown : Health minister Edward Argar says UK 'not there yet ' on easing lockdown measures Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of a potential 'second peak ' if restrictions are lifted too soon 'The reality is we 're not there yet' Edward Argar said it was too early to lift restrictions .
( Photo : BBC ) '' But we do need to keep that focus on the health impact because one of the worst things , not just for the incredible human cost it would have but for our economy , would be if we let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further spike .
`` That would be far more damaging to our economy than a continuation of where we are at the moment .
We have got to be very careful about understanding the health impact but also the economic impact . ''
' I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people' Boris Johnson said now is not the time to ease lockdown ( Photo : PA ) He said : `` I want to get this economy moving as fast as I can '' but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life . ''
He said : `` When we are sure that this first phase is over and that we are meeting our five tests - deaths falling , NHS protected , rate of infection down , really sorting out the challenges of testing and PPE , avoiding a second peak - then that will be the time to move on to the second phase in which we continue to suppress the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R rate - down , but begin gradually to refine the economic and social restrictions and one by one to fire up the engines of this vast UK economy .
`` And in that process difficult judgments will be made and we simply can not spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made , though clearly the Government will be saying much more about this in the coming days . ''
He urged an `` overriding principle ... that we will only maintain those restrictions which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question over whether something is necessary or not , I think we should err on the side of openness and trying to make sure that more people can get on with their lives and more people can get on with getting back to their jobs '' .

Health minister Edward Argar has said the UK is “not there yet” when it comes to easing lockdown measures, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to work with a warning of a potential “second peak” if restrictions are lifted too soon.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Monday, Mr Argar responded to pressure from some on the Tory backbenches and beyond to start easing the restrictions that have choked off economic activity, shuttering many businesses.
Mr Johnson returned to work on Monday after recoving from Covid-19, and warned that lifting the lockdown too soon risks “throwing away” the work already achieved while the UK is in a “moment of maximum risk”.
‘The reality is we’re not there yet’
Mr Argar told BBC Breakfast: “I understand the frustrations that people are having with these measures, they are restrictive and they are very difficult.”
But he said the measures have “made a real difference”.
He added: “I’ve seen a lot of the speculation in the papers and beyond in recent days but the reality is we’re not there yet.
“We’re not in a place where the science says it is safe to ease the restrictions.”
In a subsequent interview, the health minister said the Prime Minister’s focus would be on looking at what measures are required to ease the lockdown, including what preparations businesses will need to make beforehand.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “This isn’t binary, it is a complex set of inter-related decisions and impacts, and I’m hugely pleased he is back at work today with his health fully restored, both as my boss but also as a friend and colleague.
“That’s one of the things the Prime Minister will be looking at very carefully.
“But we do need to keep that focus on the health impact because one of the worst things, not just for the incredible human cost it would have but for our economy, would be if we let up too soon and then saw a further spike.
“That would be far more damaging to our economy than a continuation of where we are at the moment. We have got to be very careful about understanding the health impact but also the economic impact.”
‘I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people’
Speaking from a podium in Downing Street, Mr Johnson acknowledged the pressure to lift some of the draconian restrictions imposed on British people and businesses.
He said: “I want to get this economy moving as fast as I can” but “I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life.”
The Prime Minister has been under intense pressure to set out how the lockdown will be lifted.
He indicated that it would be a gradual process and promised the “maximum possible transparency” with efforts to seek consensus across party lines.
Read More Boris Johnson says ending coronavirus lockdown would be ‘throwing away’ efforts in ‘moment of maximum risk’
He said: “When we are sure that this first phase is over and that we are meeting our five tests – deaths falling, NHS protected, rate of infection down, really sorting out the challenges of testing and PPE, avoiding a second peak – then that will be the time to move on to the second phase in which we continue to suppress the disease and keep the reproduction rate – the R rate – down, but begin gradually to refine the economic and social restrictions and one by one to fire up the engines of this vast UK economy.
“And in that process difficult judgments will be made and we simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made, though clearly the Government will be saying much more about this in the coming days.”
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 committee of MPs, told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour there is a limit to how long people will tolerate restrictions, especially if they seem illogical.
He urged an “overriding principle … that we will only maintain those restrictions which are necessary and if there is a question over whether something is necessary or not, I think we should err on the side of openness and trying to make sure that more people can get on with their lives and more people can get on with getting back to their jobs”.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has also called for the Government to publish an “exit strategy” for the lockdown.
Additional reporting by Press Association


inews--2020-04-27--Breaking coronavirus lockdown rules for casual sex and dates isn't worth it

Breaking coronavirus lockdown rules for casual sex and dates is n't worth it Whether it 's hook-ups or social distancing dating - there 's no justification for breaking lockdown , only risk In the week before the lockdown measures came into force , Boris Johnson issued advice around social distancing and self-isolating , believing the public would be sensible and do the right thing .
But as that week unfolded , it was clear that while some were following the advice , many were not – or to be charitable – were unclear about what was and wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people were a lot more chatty and responsive – probably a result of the reduced social interaction .
But I also noticed that all four guys I chatted to suggested meeting up .
At first , I thought it was a joke , but it turned out they were all being quite serious .
One suggested cycling over so that he wouldn ’ t be ‘ at risk ’ on public transport .
In that first week , we were all trying to wrap our heads around the severity of coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But as I started to feel symptoms that week , there was no way anyone would be cycling over .
Two weeks into the lockdown , however , one of them , Daniel , resurfaced to ask if he could drive over .
I asked him why he thought that would be a good idea , given that we were still knee-deep in a pandemic .
“ Well , I can drive straight to your place , so it ’ s low risk , '' he replied .
I was isolating on my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it really be that bad ?
But the fact remained that if Daniel was so willing to break lockdown , then who else might he have broken lockdown with ?
Could I really guarantee that I wouldn ’ t pass the virus onto him ?
When I told a friend about it , she said that she had heard about people covertly meeting up .
And then I saw a post on the sex , dating and relationship Instagram page @ lalalaletmeexplain , which described how people have been meeting up for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to polite social distancing dates .
I put a call out on Twitter to find out if people had been meeting up and why , and frankly , I was shocked at the number of responses .
Bear in mind this was after lockdown had been extended , after 18,000 people - at that time - had died from coronavirus , and long after we knew the virus didn ’ t just kill the elderly .
The responses ranged from people just wanting to have sex with randoms on dating apps to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t self-isolating together .
Two stories shocked me the most .
The first was from a person who had travelled to another part of England for a one-night stand with someone they hadn ’ t met before .
The other was about a woman who , after seven days of isolating alone following mild coronavirus symptoms , without any way of knowing if she was still infectious , had apparently met for sex with a date via Tinder because she `` needed a treat . ''
There were also a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social distancing dates was acceptable , and others who had been spending just weekends at each other ’ s places because they felt that because they were self-isolating alone , they would be low risk .
But to parrot back the Government 's line , we have to be guided by the science .
Without testing , we simply don ’ t know who has had it .
Even if you have had it , we do n't know how the virus stays in the body for , and we ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social distancing dates on paper , or weekend sleepovers if you ’ re isolating alone may seem low risk , but it ’ s still movement that carries a risk with it .
I asked my sister Priya Joi about this – she works in infectious diseases as a freelancer for the World Health Organisation , among others – and she posted a video about it saying : “ I understand why people would want to do this .
I understand the need for human connection , intimacy , emotional connection as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re putting yourself at risk and the other person at risk , anyone else that you might meet at risk.
” If enough people bend the rules , or find loopholes , or convince themselves that they ’ re low risk , it defeats the point of lockdown altogether .
And so , if there is one last argument to convince a person not to break lockdown for dating , it 's that thousands of people have had their loved ones die , and have not been able to say goodbye , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I do n't believe that our individual needs around having sex or needing companionship trump something like that .
Perhaps another way to think about it then is that by sticking to the rules , you ’ re actually committing an act of service , a much bigger act of love .
Because if the person you ’ re breaking the rules for is so incredible , just isolate with them already .
And if they aren ’ t , then they do n't sound like they are worth it in non-pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @

In the week before the lockdown measures came into force, Boris Johnson issued advice around social distancing and self-isolating, believing the public would be sensible and do the right thing. But as that week unfolded, it was clear that while some were following the advice, many were not – or to be charitable – were unclear about what was and wasn’t permissible.
In dating app land, it was a similar situation. People were definitely feeling it. Several days into the UK lockdown, Tinder experienced a record day of swipes – three billion globally – the most it saw since its launch in 2012. Sex toy brands like Lelo experienced a 40 per cent increase in sales.
On apps, I noticed that people were a lot more chatty and responsive – probably a result of the reduced social interaction. But I also noticed that all four guys I chatted to suggested meeting up. At first, I thought it was a joke, but it turned out they were all being quite serious. One suggested cycling over so that he wouldn’t be ‘at risk’ on public transport.
In that first week, we were all trying to wrap our heads around the severity of coronavirus, and how infectious it actually was. But as I started to feel symptoms that week, there was no way anyone would be cycling over.
‘Can I drive over?’
Two weeks into the lockdown, however, one of them, Daniel, resurfaced to ask if he could drive over. I asked him why he thought that would be a good idea, given that we were still knee-deep in a pandemic. “Well, I can drive straight to your place, so it’s low risk,” he replied.
Full disclosure: there was a tiny part of me that was considering it.
I was isolating on my own, so was he – would it really be that bad? But the fact remained that if Daniel was so willing to break lockdown, then who else might he have broken lockdown with? Could I really guarantee that I wouldn’t pass the virus onto him?
I felt incredibly guilty for even contemplating it and texted back a polite but firm no.
When I told a friend about it, she said that she had heard about people covertly meeting up. And then I saw a post on the sex, dating and relationship Instagram page @lalalaletmeexplain, which described how people have been meeting up for a range of things, from one-off shags to polite social distancing dates.
I put a call out on Twitter to find out if people had been meeting up and why, and frankly, I was shocked at the number of responses. Bear in mind this was after lockdown had been extended, after 18,000 people – at that time – had died from coronavirus, and long after we knew the virus didn’t just kill the elderly. The responses ranged from people just wanting to have sex with randoms on dating apps to people who had started dating before lockdown but weren’t self-isolating together.
Two stories shocked me the most. The first was from a person who had travelled to another part of England for a one-night stand with someone they hadn’t met before. The other was about a woman who, after seven days of isolating alone following mild coronavirus symptoms, without any way of knowing if she was still infectious, had apparently met for sex with a date via Tinder because she “needed a treat.”
There were also a lot of people who seemed to think going on social distancing dates was acceptable, and others who had been spending just weekends at each other’s places because they felt that because they were self-isolating alone, they would be low risk.
It’s tough to say this without sounding like a judgemental prude, but the bottom line is that there are no loopholes with the current lockdown guidelines, though it’s evident that people are trying hard to find ways around it.
But to parrot back the Government’s line, we have to be guided by the science. Without testing, we simply don’t know who has had it. Even if you have had it, we don’t know how the virus stays in the body for, and we can’t rule out the possibility of re-infection. Social distancing dates on paper, or weekend sleepovers if you’re isolating alone may seem low risk, but it’s still movement that carries a risk with it.
I asked my sister Priya Joi about this – she works in infectious diseases as a freelancer for the World Health Organisation, among others – and she posted a video about it saying: “I understand why people would want to do this. I understand the need for human connection, intimacy, emotional connection as much as anything else – but you’re putting yourself at risk and the other person at risk, anyone else that you might meet at risk.”
When you consider what people are risking it for – sex with a stranger or someone you know – I’m not convinced the risk is worth it.
If enough people bend the rules, or find loopholes, or convince themselves that they’re low risk, it defeats the point of lockdown altogether. And so, if there is one last argument to convince a person not to break lockdown for dating, it’s that thousands of people have had their loved ones die, and have not been able to say goodbye, or attend their funerals to pay their respects. I don’t believe that our individual needs around having sex or needing companionship trump something like that.
Perhaps another way to think about it then is that by sticking to the rules, you’re actually committing an act of service, a much bigger act of love. Because if the person you’re breaking the rules for is so incredible, just isolate with them already. And if they aren’t, then they don’t sound like they are worth it in non-pandemic times, let alone right now.


inews--2020-04-27--Grayson's Art Club: what time Grayson Perry is on Channel 4 tonight, how to join in and the artists

Grayson's Art Club: what time Grayson Perry is on Channel 4 tonight, how to join in and the artists appearing

Grayson 's Art Club : what time Grayson Perry is on Channel 4 tonight , how to join in and the artists appearing Viewers are also in with the chance of sharing some of the artwork they 've made during the Covid-19 pandemic with Perry Grayson Perry is on a mission to stimulate the nation 's creativity during lockdown by hosting a series of art masterclasses from his home studio .
The Turner Prize-winning artist will create new works of art with an audience at home , as well as interview leading creatives and performers .
Viewers are also in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the artwork they 've made during the Covid-19 pandemic with Grayson and the club .
“ This series will be as much an act of spontaneous creativity as the stuff that usually happens here , ” Perry said of the show .
When is Grayson 's Art Club on TV ?
The first episode of Grayson 's Art Club will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Monday 27 April at 8pm .
The theme for the first epsiode is portraits .
Comedian Joe Lycett will join Perry via a video link to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chantal Joffe will also join him .
Who will feature on the show ?
Episode two is themed “ animals ” and will feature Maggi Hambling and Harry Hill .
Episode three is themed “ fantasy ” and will include appearances from Jessica Hynes and Antony Gormley .
Episode four is themed “ view from my window ” and will star Vic Reeves and Tacita Dean .
Themes and appearances from the final two episodes are yet to be revealed .
How can you take part ?
Sketch , draw and paint along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grayson and send your artwork in to be shared in the following episodes and to be interviewed by the artist on the show .
“ I will be showing you the progress of the artworks I am making in these strange days , but I am most excited about seeing what artistic creations people all over the country have been up to in lockdown , ” Perry adds .
The plan is for Perry to curate a public exhibition of artworks created for the show when social distancing measures are lifted in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain in isolation and provide a record of the historic times we ’ ve lived through , ” a release from Channel 4 explains .

Grayson Perry is on a mission to stimulate the nation’s creativity during lockdown by hosting a series of art masterclasses from his home studio.
The Turner Prize-winning artist will create new works of art with an audience at home, as well as interview leading creatives and performers.
Viewers are also in with the chance of sharing some of the artwork they’ve made during the Covid-19 pandemic with Grayson and the club.
“This series will be as much an act of spontaneous creativity as the stuff that usually happens here,” Perry said of the show.
“I hope we can make something uplifting in response to the crisis.”
Here’s everything you need to know about it.
When is Grayson’s Art Club on TV?
The first episode of Grayson’s Art Club will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Monday 27 April at 8pm.
The theme for the first epsiode is portraits. Comedian Joe Lycett will join Perry via a video link to show off his lockdown portrait. Portrait artisit Chantal Joffe will also join him.
There are six episodes of the show set to air in total.
Who will feature on the show?
Episode two is themed “animals” and will feature Maggi Hambling and Harry Hill. Episode three is themed “fantasy” and will include appearances from Jessica Hynes and Antony Gormley. Episode four is themed “view from my window” and will star Vic Reeves and Tacita Dean.
Themes and appearances from the final two episodes are yet to be revealed.
How can you take part?
Sketch, draw and paint along at home during the masterclass sessions with Grayson and send your artwork in to be shared in the following episodes and to be interviewed by the artist on the show.
“I will be showing you the progress of the artworks I am making in these strange days, but I am most excited about seeing what artistic creations people all over the country have been up to in lockdown,” Perry adds.
The plan is for Perry to curate a public exhibition of artworks created for the show when social distancing measures are lifted in order to “chronicle the changing moods of Britain in isolation and provide a record of the historic times we’ve lived through,” a release from Channel 4 explains.
Submissions for the first episode are now closed, but individuals can submit artworks for the second episode here.


inews--2020-04-27--Coronavirus in the UK: Retired teachers and university graduates urged to form volunteer 'army' to t

Coronavirus in the UK: Retired teachers and university graduates urged to form volunteer 'army' to tutor disadvantaged children after lockdown

Coronavirus in the UK : Retired teachers and university graduates urged to form volunteer 'army ' to tutor disadvantaged children after lockdown Robert Halfon , the chair of the Education Select Committee , also said that idle Ofsted inspectors could help bring poor children up to speed Robert Halfon MP has called for retired teachers and university graduates to volunteer to tutor children who may have fallen behind during lockdown ( Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty Images ) A senior Conservative MP is calling for a volunteer “ army ” of retired teachers and university graduates to help bring disadvantaged children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Robert Halfon , the chair of the House of Commons Education Committee , also suggested that Ofsted inspectors currently sitting idle could join the force .
Concerns have been raised that the closure of schools could result in the attainment gap between children from poorer families and those from richer families widening .
Mr Halfon suggested that 2020 graduates could tutor children to help them catch up with missed work .
He told The Sunday Times that some graduates `` may even decide they want to go into teaching '' after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired teachers could also take part in the scheme , which would be similar to the volunteer responders programme set up to help the NHS .
Mr Halfon is also calling for extra cash to be allocated to vulnerable pupils in the form of a `` catch up premium '' .
He said : “ What I ’ m proposing is we have a scheme like the NHS national volunteering scheme supported by the Royal Voluntary Service .
`` I ’ m really worried that the left behind pupils get left further behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn during lockdown .
So I ’ ve been proposing a catch up premium and also a nationwide army of volunteers – including graduates and retired teachers – going in and helping the schools .
`` The research shows if you have half an hour of mentoring three times a week you can advance by about five months.
” Chairing an online Education Committee hearing on Monday , Mr Halfon suggested to the Ofsted chief inspector , Amanda Spielman , that her inspectors could volunteer given that many are former teachers and routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spielman said that a “ tutoring programme for children who need catch up help ” was “ an idea with a lot of potential ” .
She told Tes : “ How are we going to manage an army of volunteers and social distancing ?
It seems to me the two are fairly incompatible – and that ’ s before you start thinking about background checks and safeguarding .
”

A senior Conservative MP is calling for a volunteer “army” of retired teachers and university graduates to help bring disadvantaged children up to speed when the lockdown ends.
Robert Halfon, the chair of the House of Commons Education Committee, also suggested that Ofsted inspectors currently sitting idle could join the force.
Concerns have been raised that the closure of schools could result in the attainment gap between children from poorer families and those from richer families widening.
Mr Halfon suggested that 2020 graduates could tutor children to help them catch up with missed work. He told The Sunday Times that some graduates “may even decide they want to go into teaching” after the experience.
‘Catch up premium’
He told Tes magazine that retired teachers could also take part in the scheme, which would be similar to the volunteer responders programme set up to help the NHS.
Mr Halfon is also calling for extra cash to be allocated to vulnerable pupils in the form of a “catch up premium”.
He said: “What I’m proposing is we have a scheme like the NHS national volunteering scheme supported by the Royal Voluntary Service.
“I’m really worried that the left behind pupils get left further behind because they aren’t able to learn during lockdown. So I’ve been proposing a catch up premium and also a nationwide army of volunteers – including graduates and retired teachers – going in and helping the schools.
“The research shows if you have half an hour of mentoring three times a week you can advance by about five months.”
Ofsted inspectors
Chairing an online Education Committee hearing on Monday, Mr Halfon suggested to the Ofsted chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, that her inspectors could volunteer given that many are former teachers and routine school inspections are currently suspended.
Ms Spielman said that a “tutoring programme for children who need catch up help” was “an idea with a lot of potential”.
However, Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, voiced scepticism about the idea.
She told Tes: “How are we going to manage an army of volunteers and social distancing? It seems to me the two are fairly incompatible – and that’s before you start thinking about background checks and safeguarding.”


inews--2020-04-27--WhatsApp says limit on forwarding messages has led to 70% cut in viral posts

WhatsApp says limit on forwarding messages has led to 70 % cut in viral posts The app has introduced several measures to try and tackle 'highly forwarded messages ' in its bid to curb the spread of misinformation WhatsApp says its newly imposed restrictions on how many times users can forward messages on the app has already proven successful in helping to halt the uncotrollable spread of viral posts , as it continues to tackle users sharing misinformation on the platform .
The Facebook-owned company said that there had been a 70 per cent reduction in highly-forwarded messages since implementing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of April that if a users received a frequently forwarded message that has already been sent more than five times on the platform , then they would only be able to forward it on to one chat at a time , instead of being able to send it to multiple conversations .
But critics argued this measure would only add friction to the spread of misinformation on the platform , as users could simply wait until they are able to pass it on to more people .
The app introduced the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Photo : Getty ) WhatsApp has been a central platform used by people to spread misinformation for some time , from forwarded false messages appearing during the UK general election last year , to false health claims currently circulating about the coronavirus .
From bizarre `` announcements '' that helicopters will mass spray disinfectant on everyone in the UK , to posts that Covid-19 is caused by 5G , the platform is continually used to spread inaccurate information .
Mass forwarded messages have turned the app into a de-facto social network , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts akin to how posts are shared on Twitter or Facebook .
Moreover , there is a link between how information is spread among the platforms , but due to the nature of WhatsApp messages being sent with end-to-end encryption , this becomes extremely hard to track .
The app previously had to limit people to forwarding a single message on just five times , which was introduced in 2019 .
`` We recently introduced a limit to sharing ‘ highly forwarded messages ’ to just one chat .
Since putting into place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a 70 per cent reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages sent on WhatsApp , '' a spokesperson for the company said .
The app has introduced several measures to try and tackle `` highly forwarded messages '' , including a label that highlights when users receive one .
The double arrow icon next to a post highlights this .
WhatsApp has also partnered with International Fact-Checking Network ( IFCN ) to help users verify fake news , with the app sharing a list of verified phone numbers that users can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company donated $ 1m ( £804,000 ) to IFCN to assist the organisation in fighting Covid-19 misinformation .

WhatsApp says its newly imposed restrictions on how many times users can forward messages on the app has already proven successful in helping to halt the uncotrollable spread of viral posts, as it continues to tackle users sharing misinformation on the platform.
The Facebook-owned company said that there had been a 70 per cent reduction in highly-forwarded messages since implementing the measures.
WhatsApp announced at the start of April that if a users received a frequently forwarded message that has already been sent more than five times on the platform, then they would only be able to forward it on to one chat at a time, instead of being able to send it to multiple conversations.
But critics argued this measure would only add friction to the spread of misinformation on the platform, as users could simply wait until they are able to pass it on to more people.
De-facto social network
WhatsApp has been a central platform used by people to spread misinformation for some time, from forwarded false messages appearing during the UK general election last year, to false health claims currently circulating about the coronavirus. From bizarre “announcements” that helicopters will mass spray disinfectant on everyone in the UK, to posts that Covid-19 is caused by 5G, the platform is continually used to spread inaccurate information.
Mass forwarded messages have turned the app into a de-facto social network, with messages re-shared by people among their contacts akin to how posts are shared on Twitter or Facebook. Moreover, there is a link between how information is spread among the platforms, but due to the nature of WhatsApp messages being sent with end-to-end encryption, this becomes extremely hard to track.
Tackling misinformation
The app previously had to limit people to forwarding a single message on just five times, which was introduced in 2019.
“We recently introduced a limit to sharing ‘highly forwarded messages’ to just one chat. Since putting into place this new limit, globally there has been a 70 per cent reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages sent on WhatsApp,” a spokesperson for the company said.
The app has introduced several measures to try and tackle “highly forwarded messages”, including a label that highlights when users receive one. The double arrow icon next to a post highlights this.
WhatsApp has also partnered with International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to help users verify fake news, with the app sharing a list of verified phone numbers that users can contact to help authenticate claims. The company donated $1m (£804,000) to IFCN to assist the organisation in fighting Covid-19 misinformation.
WhatsApp has also recently taken down as many as two million accounts showcasing suspicious behaviour.


inews--2020-04-27--Low-key Dominic Raab steadied the ship while Boris Johnson was ill with cautious approach

Low-key Dominic Raab steadied the ship while Boris Johnson was ill with cautious approach The Foreign Secretary took a cautious approach to making big decisions on the coronavirus response Dominic Raab was thrust into the spotlight three weeks ago , when he took on the role of stand-in Prime Minister after Boris Johnson was taken to intensive care .
Before his unexpected ( and temporary ) promotion , Mr Raab was relatively unknown to the public despite holding the titles of Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State .
He was also a divisive figure among his colleagues , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some Tory MPs expressed horror at the idea that he might take charge , given his relative lack of experience , hardline economic views and low-key speaking style .
But Mr Raab largely won over the sceptics during his three weeks at the helm - not least by ensuring that he did not push his newfound powers too far .
The First Secretary made decisions through a `` quad '' of ministers with Michael Gove , Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock , to ensure that all the Cabinet 's big players were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings of the full Cabinet or the daily Covid-19 committee , he emphasised his role as first among equals , rather than a like-for-like replacement for Mr Johnson .
Mr Raab 's performances when he took part in the daily Downing Street press conferences were largely praised : although he often avoided answering questions directly , he was not as blatantly evasive as some other senior ministers .
He paid an emotional personal tribute to the Prime Minister when his life was in the balance , partly dispelling his slightly robotic reputation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national lockdown by another three weeks , was designed to avoid any major shifts in the Government strategy before Mr Johnson 's return - while also seeing off demands from Conservative backbenchers to start laying out a road map for the easing of the current rules .
But while the Foreign Secretary avoided making any major blunders , it is possible that his caution may have hampered the Government 's response by making it slower to tackle problems with testing and the supply of personal protective equipment .
Some Conservatives believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up because Mr Johnson was not in place to take charge of them .
The Prime Minister specifically mentioned both of them in his Monday morning speech outside No 10 , in a sign he will attempt to take personal control over the areas that have attracted the most criticism .

Dominic Raab was thrust into the spotlight three weeks ago, when he took on the role of stand-in Prime Minister after Boris Johnson was taken to intensive care.
Before his unexpected (and temporary) promotion, Mr Raab was relatively unknown to the public despite holding the titles of Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State.
He was also a divisive figure among his colleagues, with his Conservative leadership campaign flopping last summer. Some Tory MPs expressed horror at the idea that he might take charge, given his relative lack of experience, hardline economic views and low-key speaking style.
But Mr Raab largely won over the sceptics during his three weeks at the helm – not least by ensuring that he did not push his newfound powers too far.
Joint decisions
The First Secretary made decisions through a “quad” of ministers with Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock, to ensure that all the Cabinet’s big players were fully signed up. When he chaired meetings of the full Cabinet or the daily Covid-19 committee, he emphasised his role as first among equals, rather than a like-for-like replacement for Mr Johnson.
Mr Raab’s performances when he took part in the daily Downing Street press conferences were largely praised: although he often avoided answering questions directly, he was not as blatantly evasive as some other senior ministers. He paid an emotional personal tribute to the Prime Minister when his life was in the balance, partly dispelling his slightly robotic reputation.
His one major call, to extend the national lockdown by another three weeks, was designed to avoid any major shifts in the Government strategy before Mr Johnson’s return – while also seeing off demands from Conservative backbenchers to start laying out a road map for the easing of the current rules.
But while the Foreign Secretary avoided making any major blunders, it is possible that his caution may have hampered the Government’s response by making it slower to tackle problems with testing and the supply of personal protective equipment.
Some Conservatives believe that these issues have been allowed to build up because Mr Johnson was not in place to take charge of them. The Prime Minister specifically mentioned both of them in his Monday morning speech outside No 10, in a sign he will attempt to take personal control over the areas that have attracted the most criticism.


inews--2020-04-27--Virgin Atlantic bailout: Richard Branson 'told to find £500m' to save struggling airline

The airline is now on the hunt for potential investors Virgin Atlantic Airways has been told by Treasury officials it has to find around £500m of cash from private investors , including Sir Richard Branson , before the Government will consider the billionaire 's pleas to access a similar amount via an emergency loan .
It is understood Chancellor Rishi Sunak wants Sir Richard “ to feel some financial pain ” before allowing his airline access to lending via the Government ’ s Covid Corporate Financing Facility ( CCFF ) , which Virgin Atlantic does not qualify for currently because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grade .
Sir Richard must find more cash first Sources close to Sir Richard have told i the Treasury has made it clear Sir Richard will be required to find new investment before the Government will even consider opening the lending programme to Virgin Atlantic .
Before the health crisis Virgin was on track to beat its target to return to profitability .
However , while it had enough cash to see it through to mid-Summer it has also been hit by refund requests from passengers amounting to around £500m .
But , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virgin Atlantic is not pursuing a sale of the airline , and will continue talks with Government over a £500m loan in around a month ’ s time if it has raised a similar amount itself .
They said : `` Richard [ Branson ] and the Virgin Group are committed to the airline , and are not looking to sell Virgin Atlantic .
They recognise that further investment will be necessary to make up for the total loss of revenue due to Covid-19 and are working with Houlihan Lokey to approach private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lokey has so far spoken to more than 100 potential investors , with around half expressing an interest in taking talk further .
The airline is particularly optimistic for a number of investment leads and will spend the next two weeks refining the list before entering more detailed talks with a handful of backers .
One of the leading contenders to help Virgin Atlantic save the airline the jobs of its 10,000 staff includes some of the world ’ s leading sovereign wealth funds such a Singapore-based Temasek , which owns around 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month backed the carrier $ 15bn emergency fundraising .
Hedge funds such as London-based Lansdowne Partners and Northill Capital have also asked for more details on Virgin Atlantic ’ s rescue plan , as have Wall Street investment houses Towerbrook Capital and Centerbridge .
Distressed debt specialist Ceberus Capital is also keen to look at the Virgin Atlantic books .
Any deal with investors is likely to lead to Sir Richard losing control of the airline , which he owns 51 per cent of with American airline Delta owning the remaining 49 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not make any further investment due to its own financial issues .
Potential investors can offer to structure their investments by injecting debt , taking equity or via convertible loans .
However , while his majority stake is likely to be significantly diluted Sir Richard is expected to remain a significant shareholder in the airline .
The Virgin Atlantic source said : “ There ’ s no doubt he [ Sir Richard ] could lose control of the airline as a result of this , but he is looking at all his assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to invest into the airline .
He ’ s looking under every stone to help raise cash to invest into the airline .
If pain is what is required , he ’ s prepared to take that .
Losing control of the airline he founded will be painful , and he ’ s going to put in a lot of his own cash.
” “ We ’ re not asking for a taxpayer bailout , ” said the Virgin source .
“ We ’ re asking for access to the emergency loan system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access .
But we understand we have to show that we can raise private money too .
We ’ re working hard on that and remain hopeful we can go to the Government in around a month ’ s time to prove we ’ ve got our own skin in the game .
”

Virgin Atlantic Airways has been told by Treasury officials it has to find around £500m of cash from private investors, including Sir Richard Branson, before the Government will consider the billionaire’s pleas to access a similar amount via an emergency loan.
It is understood Chancellor Rishi Sunak wants Sir Richard “to feel some financial pain” before allowing his airline access to lending via the Government’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF), which Virgin Atlantic does not qualify for currently because the group does not have an investment grade.
Earlier this month, easyJet, which does have an investment grade, accessed a £600m via the CCFF scheme. Hungary-based Wizz Air has also been told it qualifies for a UK Government loan due to its London Stock Exchange listing and investment rating.
Sir Richard must find more cash first
Sources close to Sir Richard have told i the Treasury has made it clear Sir Richard will be required to find new investment before the Government will even consider opening the lending programme to Virgin Atlantic.
Before the health crisis Virgin was on track to beat its target to return to profitability. However, while it had enough cash to see it through to mid-Summer it has also been hit by refund requests from passengers amounting to around £500m.
Last week, Virgin Atlantic appointed investment bank Houlihan Lokey to sound out potential investors in the business, which will include Sir Richard himself.
But, despite a report over the weekend, Virgin Atlantic is not pursuing a sale of the airline, and will continue talks with Government over a £500m loan in around a month’s time if it has raised a similar amount itself.
Talks underway with possible backers
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said talks between Virgin Atlantic and the Treasury are “ongoing and constructive” following a weekend report that claimed Sir Richard is seeking to sell the airline.
They said: “Richard [Branson] and the Virgin Group are committed to the airline, and are not looking to sell Virgin Atlantic. They recognise that further investment will be necessary to make up for the total loss of revenue due to Covid-19 and are working with Houlihan Lokey to approach private investors about the investment opportunity.”
Houlihan Lokey has so far spoken to more than 100 potential investors, with around half expressing an interest in taking talk further. The airline is particularly optimistic for a number of investment leads and will spend the next two weeks refining the list before entering more detailed talks with a handful of backers.
Early stage interest in backing airline
One of the leading contenders to help Virgin Atlantic save the airline the jobs of its 10,000 staff includes some of the world’s leading sovereign wealth funds such a Singapore-based Temasek, which owns around 55 per cent of Singapore Airlines and last month backed the carrier $15bn emergency fundraising.
GIC, another Singapore sovereign wealth fund, has also shown interest as has the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s largest national fund.
Hedge funds such as London-based Lansdowne Partners and Northill Capital have also asked for more details on Virgin Atlantic’s rescue plan, as have Wall Street investment houses Towerbrook Capital and Centerbridge. Distressed debt specialist Ceberus Capital is also keen to look at the Virgin Atlantic books.
Any deal with investors is likely to lead to Sir Richard losing control of the airline, which he owns 51 per cent of with American airline Delta owning the remaining 49 per cent. Delta, however, cannot make any further investment due to its own financial issues.
Sir Richard digs deep
Potential investors can offer to structure their investments by injecting debt, taking equity or via convertible loans. However, while his majority stake is likely to be significantly diluted Sir Richard is expected to remain a significant shareholder in the airline.
Sir Richard is currently seeking to liquidate a significant proportion of his own holdings in order to help rescue the airline he founded in 1984.
The Virgin Atlantic source said: “There’s no doubt he [Sir Richard] could lose control of the airline as a result of this, but he is looking at all his assets to see where he can raise money to invest into the airline. He’s looking under every stone to help raise cash to invest into the airline. If pain is what is required, he’s prepared to take that. Losing control of the airline he founded will be painful, and he’s going to put in a lot of his own cash.”
Sir Richard is also seeking to open up Necker, his private getaway in the British Virgin Islands, to further tourist developers in order to raise cash to invest across his business.
If Virgin Atlantic is successful in raising around £500m from private investors, it will return to the UK Government and seek a special exemption to access another £500m via the coronavirus lending scheme.
“We’re not asking for a taxpayer bailout,” said the Virgin source. “We’re asking for access to the emergency loan system that other airlines have been able to access. But we understand we have to show that we can raise private money too. We’re working hard on that and remain hopeful we can go to the Government in around a month’s time to prove we’ve got our own skin in the game.”
The Treasury declined to comment.


inews--2020-04-27--Beat The Chasers: what time it starts on ITV tonight, how the format works and what to expect from T

Beat The Chasers: what time it starts on ITV tonight, how the format works and what to expect from The Chase spinoff

Beat The Chasers : what time it starts on ITV tonight , how the format works and what to expect from The Chase spinoff Contestants who dare to take part will face off against all five suited geniuses , as they fuse to form a mega-team Fans of The Chase – brace yourselves .
Brand new quiz show Beat The Chasers is promising to be one of the toughest competitions on TV .
Contestants who dare to take part will face off against all five suited geniuses , as they fuse to form a mega-team .
When is Beat The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts on Monday 27 April at 9pm on ITV1 and will be broadcast across the five consecutive nights until Friday 1 May .
How does the competition work ?
There will be a 'Cash Builder ' round , where contestants will answer five multiple choice questions for the chance to bank up to £5,000 .
If they start with a wrong answer , however , they are out of the game .
Then they are given the option of facing between two and all five of the chasers .
The more chasers they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can win .
However , the time advantage against them will decrease .
Those who do end up taking on all five of the chasers stand the chance of going home with a big cash prize .
The game will see questions alternating between the contestant and the chasers .
If either get the question wrong , the clock will keep running down until a correct answer is given .
The first side to run out of time loses the game .
What can we expect from the series ?
“ They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show 's launch .
“ I was turning around and saying , 'What do you think ? '
and they ’ re saying to the contestant , 'Only take on three players ' , or 'Only do this ' or 'Do that ' .
It was a very interesting dynamic.
” “ One contestant I was really welling up over the fact they ’ d won the money .
It was a very poignant moment .
They ended up going home with a lot of money – it was great .
”

Fans of The Chase – brace yourselves. Brand new quiz show Beat The Chasers is promising to be one of the toughest competitions on TV.
Contestants who dare to take part will face off against all five suited geniuses, as they fuse to form a mega-team.
Hosted by The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh, it promises to be a nail-biting, high-pressure and sometimes emotional rollercoaster.
Here’s everything you need to know about it.
When is Beat The Chasers on TV?
The five-part series started on Monday 27 April at 9pm on ITV1 and will be broadcast at the same time across the five consecutive nights until Friday 1 May.
Which chasers are taking part?
All five of The Chase geniuses will be looming down over contestants from a platform.
Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett, Anne ‘The Governess’ Hegerty, Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha, Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan and Shaun ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Wallace will feature in every show.
How does the competition work?
Bradley will call contestants down from the studio audience to compete against the team of geniuses for a cash prize.
There will be a ‘Cash Builder’ round, where contestants will answer five multiple choice questions for the chance to bank up to £5,000. If they start with a wrong answer, however, they are out of the game.
Then they are given the option of facing between two and all five of the chasers. The more chasers they are against, the more money they can win. However, the time advantage against them will decrease.
💪 It's the toughest quiz team on the planet… could you #BeatTheChasers? pic.twitter.com/SKuUpBV5n8 — STV (@WeAreSTV) April 21, 2020
Those who do end up taking on all five of the chasers stand the chance of going home with a big cash prize.
The game will see questions alternating between the contestant and the chasers. If either get the question wrong, the clock will keep running down until a correct answer is given. The first side to run out of time loses the game.
What can we expect from the series?
According to presenter Bradley Walsh, the audience play a big part in the show.
“They were terrific,” he said ahead of the show’s launch. “I was turning around and saying, ‘What do you think?’ and they’re saying to the contestant, ‘Only take on three players’, or ‘Only do this’ or ‘Do that’. It was a very interesting dynamic.”
There are also a few emotional moments too – including one that made Walsh cry.
“One contestant I was really welling up over the fact they’d won the money. It was a very poignant moment. They ended up going home with a lot of money – it was great.”
Chaser Labbett also implied that viewers may just see the geniuses under a little more stress than usual.
“The key thing is the time advantage – the fewer chasers they face the more of a time advantage they’ve got,” he said.
“Because we’re playing catch up, the pressure is always on us,” he explained.
Sinha agreed, adding: “It’s role reversal. Suddenly the chasers are the ones under pressure. The game play is different, the strategies are different.”


inews--2020-04-27--'Roses are red, violets are blue, coronavirus saved me from getting a U': the British children still

'Roses are red, violets are blue, coronavirus saved me from getting a U': the British children still at school

'Roses are red , violets are blue , coronavirus saved me from getting a U ' : the British children still at school While the majority of pupils are at home , many key workers ' children are in the classroom .
Here 's how they 're finding it Edward and his brother Hal , who is six years old , are among around 85,000 children in England still turning up for school despite the lockdown , according to official figures .
Their parents work for the NHS : their mother , Helen , is a GP and their father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary .
The brothers , who are allowed to sit together to work and play , attend for three days a week , doing activities at home for the other two .
“ It ’ s been strange because not many of the people in my year are there .
My friend was ill for a chunk of it but he ’ s coming again now , ” adds Edward .
Around one per cent of children are still going to school Hal and Edward Lawton are both attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worker That two-metre rule is not without its challenges .
At Newman Catholic College , a boys ’ secondary school in Harlesden , north-west London , football is strictly passing and shots only .
And when 13-year-old Donnell wants to play basketball , well , he has to lug a bench underneath the hoop for slam-dunks .
Passing in the corridors and holding open the door to the third-floor computer room where the boys gather each day involves some nimble footwork .
The deputy headteacher who is anxious to help Attendance at Newman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Years 7 to 11 , prompting Andy Dunne , the deputy headteacher to promise to open up the library to free up some more study space .
“ We could potentially have up to 50 kids but some families don ’ t necessarily want to send them in , ” he tells i .
He is anxious to help , which for some pupils means dropping off a laptop so they can work at home , while for others it means food parcels or even cash to cover essentials .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t need to worry about me being at home eating everything in the fridge , ” says Joe , who is in Year 8 .
Working 12-hour shifts at a care home left his mother struggling to get groceries , especially when stockpiling was stripping supermarket shelves .
Lunch last Thursday , when i visited the school , was a wholesome pasty with sides of vegetables .
Any leftovers are parcelled up and taken home .
Being in school means Joe can chat to friends and ask any of the four teachers working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schoolwork .
I interrupt him mid creative flow ; he is writing a script for drama , his favourite subject .
The plot he recounts is complex , but involves a scientist doing experiments , the army and the FBI .
“ It ’ s meant to be a musical , ” he adds .
Finding it 'weird ' to be one of the few in a big school Twelve-year-old Joseph speaks for children and adults alike when he complains about “ distractions ” at home .
“ I try to compartmentalise but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the games on my computer.
” Thursday was his first day in ; he ’ ll probably come back , he adds , despite agreeing it ’ s weird being in such a big school – there are normally 840 pupils – with so few children around .
Finding it tough to work at home was making him appreciate having teachers on tap , Joseph added .
“ There are qualities of school you take for granted , like having a teacher who knows the subject.
” Edward Lawton has been building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dring the lockdown

“School isn’t like normal school. We’re not doing too much learning,” says Edward Lawton, a Year 4 pupil at Menston Primary, near Ilkley, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. “It’s more fun. We’re building dens and learning about nature.”
Edward and his brother Hal, who is six years old, are among around 85,000 children in England still turning up for school despite the lockdown, according to official figures. Their parents work for the NHS: their mother, Helen, is a GP and their father, Tom, is a critical care consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
The brothers, who are allowed to sit together to work and play, attend for three days a week, doing activities at home for the other two. “It’s been strange because not many of the people in my year are there. My friend was ill for a chunk of it but he’s coming again now,” adds Edward.
At Chetwynd Primary Academy, in Beeston, near Nottingham, the mixture of kids means Owen, who is “nearly five”, is making some new friends, including – kudos alert – a nine-year-old. “I can’t remember his name,” says Owen, but together they have sweated to the fitness coach Joe Wicks in matching Spiderman masks and played “floor is lava”, jumping from bench to bench for PE.
Around one per cent of children are still going to school
Owen’s father works for a clinical commissioning group as a nurse and his mother is a hospital pharmacist for a mental health trust but there are any number of reasons why children might still be going to school, from needing additional learning support to adequate food at lunchtime.
Department for Education figures for England suggest around 1 per cent of those who normally attend school are still going. One Chetwynd attendee is there so his father can keep his day job: making bleach. Other pupils at Menston Primary have parents working in the prison service.
“The school has been awesome: ‘You’re the front line, we’re the second line – anything you need,’” says Tom Lawton. Teachers at Menston Primary were prepared for around 60 children to turn up but attendance has settled at around one-10th of that, helping teachers to apply social distancing among pupils.
That two-metre rule is not without its challenges. At Newman Catholic College, a boys’ secondary school in Harlesden, north-west London, football is strictly passing and shots only. And when 13-year-old Donnell wants to play basketball, well, he has to lug a bench underneath the hoop for slam-dunks. Passing in the corridors and holding open the door to the third-floor computer room where the boys gather each day involves some nimble footwork.
The deputy headteacher who is anxious to help
Attendance at Newman last week doubled to around 15 pupils, from Years 7 to 11, prompting Andy Dunne, the deputy headteacher to promise to open up the library to free up some more study space. “We could potentially have up to 50 kids but some families don’t necessarily want to send them in,” he tells i. He is anxious to help, which for some pupils means dropping off a laptop so they can work at home, while for others it means food parcels or even cash to cover essentials.
“Coming in means my mum doesn’t need to worry about me being at home eating everything in the fridge,” says Joe, who is in Year 8. Working 12-hour shifts at a care home left his mother struggling to get groceries, especially when stockpiling was stripping supermarket shelves. Lunch last Thursday, when i visited the school, was a wholesome pasty with sides of vegetables. Any leftovers are parcelled up and taken home.
Being in school means Joe can chat to friends and ask any of the four teachers working each day if he needs help with schoolwork. I interrupt him mid creative flow; he is writing a script for drama, his favourite subject. The plot he recounts is complex, but involves a scientist doing experiments, the army and the FBI. “It’s meant to be a musical,” he adds.
Finding it ‘weird’ to be one of the few in a big school
Twelve-year-old Joseph speaks for children and adults alike when he complains about “distractions” at home. “I try to compartmentalise but it’s hard not being tempted by the games on my computer.” Thursday was his first day in; he’ll probably come back, he adds, despite agreeing it’s weird being in such a big school – there are normally 840 pupils – with so few children around. Finding it tough to work at home was making him appreciate having teachers on tap, Joseph added. “There are qualities of school you take for granted, like having a teacher who knows the subject.”
Year 11 pupils had been taking the sitting of their GCSEs for granted. “I’ll miss out on the experience now. I wasn’t a big reviser so it’s bittersweet,” says 15-year-old Kameron, who wants to study performing arts at a college in September.
After finishing his last piece of work for the year, Kameron doesn’t know if he’ll be back. He’s wearing a T-shirt today, but has the traditional signed school shirt at home. He hopes the sentiment on another shirt, which Mr Dunne whips out his phone to show me, will hold as true for him as his peer. “Roses are red, violets are blue, coronavirus saved me from getting a U.”


inews--2020-04-27--When will hairdressers reopen? Latest on coronavirus UK lockdown closures after 'government warns sa

When will hairdressers reopen? Latest on coronavirus UK lockdown closures after 'government warns salons could shut for six months'

When will hairdressers reopen ?
Latest on coronavirus UK lockdown closures after 'government warns salons could shut for six months' Latest on coronavirus UK lockdown closures after 'government warns salons could stay shut for six months' As hairdressers and barber shops remain temporarily closed , many across the UK have been getting creative with cutting their own hair at home - with some very interesting results .
But when are hairdressers due to open again ?
Here ’ s what you need to know .
The Metro recently reported that senior ministers are pushing a so-called ‘ traffic light ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this plan , small shops could be allowed to reopen first , alongside hairdressers and nurseries .
Schools would also begin to reopen .
This would start with primary , GCSE and A Level students able to go back part-time .
However , the public would still be urged to avoid non-essential travel .
Next in the phase could then be restaurants , with all pupils able to go back to school with social distancing measures in place .
Companies with fewer than 50 staff would be able to reopen and people could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing face masks .
Could salons be shut for a long time ?
It depends what phase of the re-opening they are included in .
According to reports , hair and beauty salons could remain shut for six months or potentially longer , after government scientists advised that there is not a safe way for them to reopen .
However , other countries that have begun to ease their lockdowns , such as Denmark , have permitted hairdressers to open in the first phase .
It is estimated that 60 per cent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ineligible for the government ’ s furlough scheme .
They can , however , draw on a second Treasury wage scheme which is for the self-employed .
Self-employed workers do n't need to apply to it , as HMRC will contact those who are eligible for the payout by mid-May .
Citizens Advice explains that “ if your income has dropped because of coronavirus , you might be able to get money from the government .
“ You could get 80 per cent of your average profits up to a maximum of £2,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Self-employment Income Support Scheme .
“ If you 're eligible , you can get money to cover until at least the end of June 2020.
” How can I support my local hairdresser ?
A good way to support your local hair salon is to buy a gift voucher now that you can use there when they reopen .
Hairdressers will also be very busy when they do reopen , so if your salon does have a waiting list , then it ’ s worth putting your name down now .
L'Oréal Professionnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has released a COVID-19 support guide to help salon owners , employees , and self-employed hair stylists who are currently out of work .

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


inews--2020-04-27--Doctors like me need more than PPE - our mental health is on the brink

Doctors like me need more than PPE - our mental health is on the brink One in five of us say we are now more likely to leave the profession as a result of the pandemic Did you hear about the nurse in intensive care ?
What about that doctor who died ?
Do you know why so many of the deaths are in ethnic minorities ?
These are the new watercooler conversations among healthcare workers on the frontline .
We are anxious , stressed , and at times , afraid .
Part of this stems from concerns about our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic need .
Perhaps these shortages could have been mitigated , but we recognise that there are genuine logistical and supply chain issues .
As healthcare professionals , being understanding is in our nature .
What is harder to stomach are the accusations of PPE wastage and the pseudo-apologies .
We weigh our lives against the importance of our work - and choose to work on regardless .
It is naive , however , to think that an adequate supply of PPE alone will alleviate our worries .
The right safety gear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should expect .
The government needs to act urgently to protect staff mental health and wellbeing too .
Anxiety permeates even those departments that have the adequate protection .
Devastating new IPPR polling has found that half of health and care workers have seen a deterioration in their mental health over recent weeks .
As an A & E doctor , I nervously send people home , gambling on the trajectory of a disease I barely understand .
Complex conversations between doctors and patients about resuscitation now occur on a daily basis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only speak to their relatives by telephone .
We are left to imagine the person at the other end of the line .
People often ask me if you get used to patients dying .
The truth is , you don ’ t .
It is naive , however , to think that an adequate supply of PPE alone will alleviate our worries ( Photo : Glyn Kirk/ Getty ) But stress doesn ’ t just come from the workplace .
I have had to move house to protect my loved ones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow healthcare professionals are syncing rotas so that one works at night and the other works in the day .
They come home exhausted , taking it in turns to fall asleep reading to their children .
These stresses add up and put enormous strain on the mental health of doctors , nurses and care workers .
We need bold action .
Priority access to mental health support , including counselling and psychological services , should be scaled up and extended to all two million frontline NHS and social care staff .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside wider measures to provide better sick pay , childcare support and safe accommodation for all NHS and social care staff .
Your clapping us each week keeps us going , but our welfare is ultimately in the government ’ s hands ( Photo : Paul Ellis/Getty ) Getting this right is vital , not just for managing the immediate crisis , but also to protect the health and care system that emerges from the crisis .
Morale amongst NHS staff was low going into this pandemic .
Workforce shortages were already at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government now , this will only get worse .
As IPPR 's survey shows , one in five of us say we are now more likely to leave the profession as a result of the pandemic .
To win back our trust , we need care fit for carers .
Your clapping us each week keeps us going , but our welfare is ultimately in the Government ’ s hands .

Did you hear about the nurse in intensive care? What about that doctor who died? Do you know why so many of the deaths are in ethnic minorities? These are the new watercooler conversations among healthcare workers on the frontline. We are anxious, stressed, and at times, afraid.
Part of this stems from concerns about our physical safety. Adequate PPE is a basic need. Perhaps these shortages could have been mitigated, but we recognise that there are genuine logistical and supply chain issues. As healthcare professionals, being understanding is in our nature. What is harder to stomach are the accusations of PPE wastage and the pseudo-apologies. We weigh our lives against the importance of our work – and choose to work on regardless.
It is naive, however, to think that an adequate supply of PPE alone will alleviate our worries. The right safety gear to keep us alive is the minimum we should expect. The government needs to act urgently to protect staff mental health and wellbeing too. Anxiety permeates even those departments that have the adequate protection. Devastating new IPPR polling has found that half of health and care workers have seen a deterioration in their mental health over recent weeks.
As an A&E doctor, I nervously send people home, gambling on the trajectory of a disease I barely understand. Complex conversations between doctors and patients about resuscitation now occur on a daily basis. It is even worse that we can only speak to their relatives by telephone. We are left to imagine the person at the other end of the line. People often ask me if you get used to patients dying. The truth is, you don’t.
But stress doesn’t just come from the workplace. I have had to move house to protect my loved ones. My colleagues who have had children with fellow healthcare professionals are syncing rotas so that one works at night and the other works in the day. They come home exhausted, taking it in turns to fall asleep reading to their children.
Meanwhile, in social care, pay is already unforgivably low. Now many risk weeks on statutory sick pay – which can work out at less than £2 an hour – having to choose between heating and eating.
These stresses add up and put enormous strain on the mental health of doctors, nurses and care workers. We need bold action. Priority access to mental health support, including counselling and psychological services, should be scaled up and extended to all two million frontline NHS and social care staff. This, IPPR argue, should be introduced alongside wider measures to provide better sick pay, childcare support and safe accommodation for all NHS and social care staff.
Getting this right is vital, not just for managing the immediate crisis, but also to protect the health and care system that emerges from the crisis. Morale amongst NHS staff was low going into this pandemic. Workforce shortages were already at breaking point. Without bold action from the Government now, this will only get worse. As IPPR’s survey shows, one in five of us say we are now more likely to leave the profession as a result of the pandemic. To win back our trust, we need care fit for carers. Your clapping us each week keeps us going, but our welfare is ultimately in the Government’s hands.
Parth Patel is a junior doctor in London and a research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research


inews--2020-04-27--My New Normal: Learning to sew and cross-stitch has made me excited about my clothes again

My New Normal : Learning to sew and cross-stitch has made me excited about my clothes again Being in lockdown made me confront my shopping and fast fashion habits In the series My New Normal writers are telling us how their lives , routines and minds have changed during the coronavirus outbreak - and if they plan on keeping it up post-lockdown .
Spending time alone in coronavirus self-isolation has forced me to re-examine my old habits , with my attitude towards shopping being placed under the microscope .
My relationship with fashion has changed dramatically over the past five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the change from fast fashion fiend with a wardrobe full of once-worn bodycon dresses , to buying 90 per cent second hand .
Buying from vintage stores and eBay sellers has undeniably made me feel sanctimonius about my wardrobe : I have a large selection of clothes to decide between , but also get the smug feeling of being able to say “ it ’ s actually vintage ” when asked where an item came from .
But while more ethically sound , I still own and am purchasing far too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
With reports of appalling conditions in fast fashion distribution centres and postal workers swamped with orders , I knew that I didn ’ t want to contribute any more than I had to when I had a wardrobe full of items that were only a few short stitches away from being perfect .
I decided to make a change and dug out my grandma ’ s old sewing machine which has sat in the back of my wardrobe for nearly a year .
As my Year 8 textiles teacher could probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a sewer .
Beyond poorly fixing the odd hole in a pocket or t-shirt , I ’ ve never thought of it as something I could do , but with isolated evenings spreading out before me , I decided to properly learn to sew .
Stumbling across the magical world of ‘ thrift flip ’ videos on YouTube ( where vloggers buy and rework vintage clothes ) , I felt inspired and set about trying to breathe some life back into my wardrobe .
Besides some very dodgy stitches and wobbly lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Straps have been shortened , skirts taken up , pleats loosened and waists adjusted .
Items which I ’ ve taken out , tried on once but decided not to wear time and time again feel fresh and new and I ’ m excited about my clothes again .
I 've embellished old t-shirts and clothing I feel uninspired by ( Photo : Isobel Lewis ) In the search for a non-screen based hobby that can incorporate these skills , I ’ ve also joined the masses in learning how to embroider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crafter/untalented artist , I love having a project to work on , so purchased a starter kit with three simple designs to teach me basic stitches .
It ’ s not only a great way to switch off after working from home , but I can use these new skills to embellish old t-shirts or other clothing items I feel uninspired by .
Win-win .
It ’ s hard to think about a life on the other side of lockdown : not only do we not know when it will end , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed .
But I hope that the skills I ’ ve learned will stay with me .
Just because my jeans are ripped , it doesn ’ t mean I need to buy a new pair and just because my clothes are second hand it doesn ’ t mean I need to buy 10 new shirts for spring .
An awful lot of us could do with cutting back on our consumerist habits and if quarantine is what it takes for us to do it , then so be it .

In the series My New Normal writers are telling us how their lives, routines and minds have changed during the coronavirus outbreak – and if they plan on keeping it up post-lockdown.
Spending time alone in coronavirus self-isolation has forced me to re-examine my old habits, with my attitude towards shopping being placed under the microscope.
My relationship with fashion has changed dramatically over the past five years, as I’ve slowly made the change from fast fashion fiend with a wardrobe full of once-worn bodycon dresses, to buying 90 per cent second hand.
Buying from vintage stores and eBay sellers has undeniably made me feel sanctimonius about my wardrobe: I have a large selection of clothes to decide between, but also get the smug feeling of being able to say “it’s actually vintage” when asked where an item came from. But while more ethically sound, I still own and am purchasing far too many clothes, which quarantine has highlighted to me.
With reports of appalling conditions in fast fashion distribution centres and postal workers swamped with orders, I knew that I didn’t want to contribute any more than I had to when I had a wardrobe full of items that were only a few short stitches away from being perfect. I decided to make a change and dug out my grandma’s old sewing machine which has sat in the back of my wardrobe for nearly a year.
As my Year 8 textiles teacher could probably attest to, I’ve never been a sewer. Beyond poorly fixing the odd hole in a pocket or t-shirt, I’ve never thought of it as something I could do, but with isolated evenings spreading out before me, I decided to properly learn to sew.
Stumbling across the magical world of ‘thrift flip’ videos on YouTube (where vloggers buy and rework vintage clothes), I felt inspired and set about trying to breathe some life back into my wardrobe.
Besides some very dodgy stitches and wobbly lines, it’s been a success. Straps have been shortened, skirts taken up, pleats loosened and waists adjusted. Items which I’ve taken out, tried on once but decided not to wear time and time again feel fresh and new and I’m excited about my clothes again.
In the search for a non-screen based hobby that can incorporate these skills, I’ve also joined the masses in learning how to embroider in isolation. As a lifelong enthusiastic crafter/untalented artist, I love having a project to work on, so purchased a starter kit with three simple designs to teach me basic stitches. It’s not only a great way to switch off after working from home, but I can use these new skills to embellish old t-shirts or other clothing items I feel uninspired by. Win-win.
It’s hard to think about a life on the other side of lockdown: not only do we not know when it will end, but chances are the world will have totally changed. But I hope that the skills I’ve learned will stay with me. Just because my jeans are ripped, it doesn’t mean I need to buy a new pair and just because my clothes are second hand it doesn’t mean I need to buy 10 new shirts for spring. An awful lot of us could do with cutting back on our consumerist habits and if quarantine is what it takes for us to do it, then so be it.
Isobel Lewis is a journalist