channel4uk--2020-05-06--FactCheck: does the UK have the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe?

The UK passed another grim milestone yesterday : the official death toll exceeded Italy ’ s , making ours the highest in Europe .
But experts warn we should be extremely careful about assuming that these figures are directly comparable between countries – and it could be some time before we know whether the UK really has suffered more fatalities than other nations .
More deaths or different metrics ?
There are various ways of calculating the UK death toll , each with their own strengths and limitations , as FactCheck has reported throughout the crisis .
What they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK has actually seen more coronavirus deaths than other countries – or whether we ’ re just better at counting them .
We know , for example , that as recently as 20 April , Spanish authorities were only including people who had tested positive for coronavirus in the national death toll .
In the UK , our definition of what counts as a coronavirus death is much broader .
The Office for National Statistics includes any fatality where doctors mention covid-19 on the death certificate , whether or not the person was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Catalonia and Madrid have started to publish their own stats to take account of probable coronavirus deaths .
These figures suggest the overall death toll in Spain could be much higher than the national government has so far announced .
The Spanish government has defended its approach on the grounds that it is in line with World Health Organisation guidance , and says suspected deaths should be analysed at a later stage .
Dr Fernando Simon , a senior health official in charge of Spain ’ s response to the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths is hard to know ” .
Meanwhile in France , the official tally includes hospital deaths and those who died in care homes ( whether they were tested for covid or not ) .
But unlike the UK , the national figure does not include people who died at home .
French commentators have described the lack of data on these deaths as a “ timebomb ” .
The government plans to add them to the official stats in June .
Even figures for “ excess mortality ” – how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same point in previous years – are difficult .
The French statistical authority , INSEE , warns that their estimates are “ very provisional ” and will be revised with each new update .
These stats are compiled based on filings from local town halls across the country – some of which are still completed on paper .
Responding to yesterday ’ s ONS figures , Sir David Spiegelhalter , Winton Professor of Risk at the University of Cambridge , pointed to several factors that make crude comparisons between official death tolls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind the size of the population ( for example , the UK is 10 per cent larger than Italy ) , the urban density , the ethnic mix , movement in and out of the country and the average age of citizens , he says .
Professor Spiegelhalter notes as an example that the median age in Italy is significantly higher than it is in Ireland – which is important when we consider the risks associated with advancing age and coronavirus .
Asked what the official death toll figures tell us about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , Professor Spiegelhalter said : “ Even if I tried to adjust for all of these , I ’ d feel cautious about making conclusions.
” He told reporters : “ The whole league tabling thing is a complete waste of time ” .
It ’ s true that the UK ’ s official death toll from coronavirus is now the highest in Europe .
But it ’ s hard to know for sure whether we ’ ve actually suffered more fatalities , or whether the UK is better at recording deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did measure pandemic deaths in the same way as one another , the size of the population , the urban density , ethnic mix and average age of citizens are all significant factors that cloud the comparison .
Leading experts think it ’ s too soon to say whether the UK has been hit the hardest by coronavirus .
It may be months or years before we have a final reckoning .

The UK passed another grim milestone yesterday: the official death toll exceeded Italy’s, making ours the highest in Europe.
But experts warn we should be extremely careful about assuming that these figures are directly comparable between countries – and it could be some time before we know whether the UK really has suffered more fatalities than other nations.
Here’s why.
More deaths or different metrics?
There are various ways of calculating the UK death toll, each with their own strengths and limitations, as FactCheck has reported throughout the crisis.
What they don’t tell us is whether the UK has actually seen more coronavirus deaths than other countries – or whether we’re just better at counting them.
We know, for example, that as recently as 20 April, Spanish authorities were only including people who had tested positive for coronavirus in the national death toll.
In the UK, our definition of what counts as a coronavirus death is much broader. The Office for National Statistics includes any fatality where doctors mention covid-19 on the death certificate, whether or not the person was tested for the virus.
Spanish regions including Catalonia and Madrid have started to publish their own stats to take account of probable coronavirus deaths. These figures suggest the overall death toll in Spain could be much higher than the national government has so far announced.
The Spanish government has defended its approach on the grounds that it is in line with World Health Organisation guidance, and says suspected deaths should be analysed at a later stage. Dr Fernando Simon, a senior health official in charge of Spain’s response to the pandemic, has acknowledged that the “real number of deaths is hard to know”.
Meanwhile in France, the official tally includes hospital deaths and those who died in care homes (whether they were tested for covid or not). But unlike the UK, the national figure does not include people who died at home. French commentators have described the lack of data on these deaths as a “timebomb”. The government plans to add them to the official stats in June.
Even figures for “excess mortality” – how many more people are dying now compared to the same point in previous years – are difficult. The French statistical authority, INSEE, warns that their estimates are “very provisional” and will be revised with each new update. These stats are compiled based on filings from local town halls across the country – some of which are still completed on paper.
Different populations
Responding to yesterday’s ONS figures, Sir David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor of Risk at the University of Cambridge, pointed to several factors that make crude comparisons between official death tolls unhelpful.
We have to bear in mind the size of the population (for example, the UK is 10 per cent larger than Italy), the urban density, the ethnic mix, movement in and out of the country and the average age of citizens, he says.
Professor Spiegelhalter notes as an example that the median age in Italy is significantly higher than it is in Ireland – which is important when we consider the risks associated with advancing age and coronavirus.
Asked what the official death toll figures tell us about the success or failure of government policies between countries, Professor Spiegelhalter said: “Even if I tried to adjust for all of these, I’d feel cautious about making conclusions.”
He told reporters: “The whole league tabling thing is a complete waste of time”.
FactCheck verdict
It’s true that the UK’s official death toll from coronavirus is now the highest in Europe. But it’s hard to know for sure whether we’ve actually suffered more fatalities, or whether the UK is better at recording deaths associated with covid-19.
Even if countries did measure pandemic deaths in the same way as one another, the size of the population, the urban density, ethnic mix and average age of citizens are all significant factors that cloud the comparison.
Leading experts think it’s too soon to say whether the UK has been hit the hardest by coronavirus. It may be months or years before we have a final reckoning.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Meet the 100-year-old walking laps to fundraise for the NHS during Ramadan

Some more inspiration from 100-year-old British Muslim Dabirul Islam Choudhury .
He ’ s raised almost £90,000 so far for @ @ @ @ @ by coronavirus here and in Bangladesh , as well as those delivering aid to refugees @ @ @ @ @ his communal gardens whilst fasting during Ramadan .

Some more inspiration from 100-year-old British Muslim Dabirul Islam Choudhury.
He’s raised almost £90,000 so far for charities which help people affected by coronavirus here and in Bangladesh, as well as those delivering aid to refugees – by walking laps of his communal gardens whilst fasting during Ramadan.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--At least 13 dead and hundreds injured in gas leak at chemical plant in southern India

At least 11 people have been killed in a major gas leak at a chemical plant in southern India – @ @ @ @ @ to hospital .
Channel 4 News spoke to Mandakini Gahlot , who ’ s in @ @ @ @ @ her how much we know about the leak at the plant – a warning there @ @ @ @ @ the aftermath .

At least 11 people have been killed in a major gas leak at a chemical plant in southern India – with hundreds of others taken to hospital.
Channel 4 News spoke to Mandakini Gahlot, who’s in New Delhi, and asked her how much we know about the leak at the plant – a warning there are some distressing images of the aftermath.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--‘The pain and cost of rebuilding must be borne by those with the broadest shoulders not with another

‘The pain and cost of rebuilding must be borne by those with the broadest shoulders not with another 10 years of austerity’ -Justin Welby on dealing with aftermath of Covid-19

Tomorrow marks 75 since the nation celebrated VE day – the end of fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe .
@ @ @ @ @ to broadcast reflections on the hope which blossomed then after years of despair – and @ @ @ @ @ worldwide .
Earlier , Cathy Newman spoke to him about that , the lessons we @ @ @ @ @ battle with coronavirus , and his unseen work as a chaplain ministering to the sick @ @ @ @ @ s St Thomas ’ hospital .
She began by asking him how he made sense @ @ @ @ @ 75 years ago , and today .

Tomorrow marks 75 since the nation celebrated VE day – the end of fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is to broadcast reflections on the hope which blossomed then after years of despair – and more than 70 million deaths worldwide.
Earlier, Cathy Newman spoke to him about that, the lessons we can draw for the present battle with coronavirus, and his unseen work as a chaplain ministering to the sick and dying at London’s St Thomas’ hospital.
She began by asking him how he made sense of the scale of suffering 75 years ago, and today.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Concerns over privacy and data protection in NHS app trial on Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight has found itself on the cutting edge of technology – as islanders began downloading the new @ @ @ @ @ which ministers say is a vital tool to curb the spread of coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ has symptoms , the app can alert everyone with whom they had contact – so @ @ @ @ @ tested too .
But there have been issues raised about privacy and data protection .

The Isle of Wight has found itself on the cutting edge of technology – as islanders began downloading the new NHS track and trace app which ministers say is a vital tool to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The idea is that if someone has symptoms, the app can alert everyone with whom they had contact – so they can isolate and get tested too.
But there have been issues raised about privacy and data protection.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Carers in Scotland not eligible for death in service payment

Many health and care workers have sadly lost their lives during this pandemic .
Last week it was announced that @ @ @ @ @ families of both NHS and care workers may be eligible for a death in service @ @ @ @ @ , in Scotland , bereavement payments do not cover carers .
Six care workers have @ @ @ @ @ lost their lives in Scotland .
Our correspondent Ciaran Jenkins has been speaking to the @ @ @ @ @ died – he was just 34 years old .

Many health and care workers have sadly lost their lives during this pandemic.
Last week it was announced that in England and Wales the families of both NHS and care workers may be eligible for a death in service payment of £60,000.
However, in Scotland, bereavement payments do not cover carers. Six care workers have been officially confirmed to have lost their lives in Scotland.
Our correspondent Ciaran Jenkins has been speaking to the partner of a carer who died – he was just 34 years old.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--US unemployment claims hit 33 million

US unemployment claims hit 33 million

It ’ s been another day of terrible news for the US economy too – 33 million Americans have now @ @ @ @ @ pandemic began – with another three million people filing for unemployment benefit last week .
@ @ @ @ @ more than a quarter of the workforce is jobless .

It’s been another day of terrible news for the US economy too – 33 million Americans have now lost their jobs since the pandemic began – with another three million people filing for unemployment benefit last week.
In some states officials say more than a quarter of the workforce is jobless.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Bank of England warns UK faces deepest recession for centuries

The UK is facing the deepest recession not just in living memory but for centuries , the Bank of England @ @ @ @ @ the economy could shrink by 14 per cent over the course of this year .
@ @ @ @ @ the global shutdowns will see investment and household spending plummeting while unemployment soars .
The @ @ @ @ @ do think the economy will bounce back fairly rapidly next year – but not everyone @ @ @ @ @

The UK is facing the deepest recession not just in living memory but for centuries, the Bank of England has warned – predicting that the economy could shrink by 14 per cent over the course of this year.
The impact of coronavirus and the global shutdowns will see investment and household spending plummeting while unemployment soars.
The bank’s policymakers though do think the economy will bounce back fairly rapidly next year – but not everyone is convinced about that.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Boris Johnson to act with ‘maximum caution’ in easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions

Boris Johnson has insisted he will act with “ maximum caution ” in any measures aimed at easing the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ roadmap would be set out by the prime minister on Sunday , with clear conditions @ @ @ @ @ the way .
Downing Street has moved to dampen down speculations sparked by some newspaper @ @ @ @ @ start to change – insisting the Government would not risk a second peak .

Boris Johnson has insisted he will act with “maximum caution” in any measures aimed at easing the lockdown – as ministers said a roadmap would be set out by the prime minister on Sunday, with clear conditions for reaching each milestone along the way.
Downing Street has moved to dampen down speculations sparked by some newspaper headlines that many things might start to change – insisting the Government would not risk a second peak.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--‘There is a whole catalogue of errors when it comes to government procurement and PPE’ – Labour’s Ra

‘There is a whole catalogue of errors when it comes to government procurement and PPE’ – Labour’s Rachel Reeves

The pain and cost of rebuilding must be borne by those with the broadest shoulders not with another 10 years @ @ @ @ @ on dealing with aftermath of Covid-19

Labour Shadow Minister for the cabinet office Rachel Reeves has lead for the party on PPE procurement.
Earlier Jon Snow spoke to Labour Shadow Minister for the cabinet office Rachel Reeves, who has led for the party on PPE procurement.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Black Britons ‘twice as likely’ to die with coronavirus, says ONS

Shocking new official figures show that black people in England and Wales could be twice as likely to die from @ @ @ @ @ Shocking new official figures show that black people in England and Wales could be twice @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus as white people .
The Office for National Statistics said the disparity was not @ @ @ @ @ health differences – warning that the full causes were still unexplained .
A stark reminder @ @ @ @ @ foundation put it “ that although we are all weathering the same storm , we @ @ @ @ @ boat ” .

Shocking new official figures show that black people in England and Wales could be twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people.
Shocking new official figures show that black people in England and Wales could be twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people.
The Office for National Statistics said the disparity was not all down to socio-economic or health differences – warning that the full causes were still unexplained.
A stark reminder, as one social policy foundation put it “that although we are all weathering the same storm, we are not in the same boat”.


channel4uk--2020-05-07--Revealed: PPE stockpile was out-of-date when coronavirus hit UK

Channel 4 News obtains full inventory of the national pandemic stockpile – revealing vital safety gear was years out of date Almost 80 % of respirators in the national pandemic stockpile were out of date when coronavirus hit the UK .
Channel 4 News has obtained detailed stock lists that reveal exactly what was held , on the day coronavirus was declared an international emergency .
Around 200 million vital pieces of kit – including respirators , masks , syringes and needles – had all expired in the eight months before 30 January .
This included 20.9 million out-of-date respirators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The tightly-fitting mouth masks are vital for filtering the air that NHS workers breathe .
The documents also reveal that more than half of the national stockpile of surgical facemasks had also expired .
In total , 45 % of the 19,909 boxes holding PPE supplies had exceeded their use-by dates .
The documents suggest a failure by Public Health England and NHS Supply Chain ’ s management company , Supply Chain Coordination Limited , to maintain the stockpile in a state of readiness .
Expired stock is excluded from distribution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been delayed from being sent to hospitals and care homes – just as the virus began to spread .
Millions of expired respirators weren ’ t cleared for release until they were tested , between 10 March and 19 March .
By this time , the UK was already suffering a desperate shortage of PPE .
There are questions over whether expired PPE offers the same level of protection as equipment that is still within its use-by date .
More than three-quarters of the expired respirators were manufactured by US safety firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 News that said respirators past their shelf life should not be used .
The guidance , entitled ‘ Respirators Beyond Their Shelf Life – Considerations ’ , said : “ Most respirators have a limited shelf life , after which they are intended to be discarded .
The longer a respirator is stored beyond its shelf life , or stored outside the recommended conditions , the less likely it is to perform at its full potential.
” The guidance also links to a 3M blog about respirator shelf life that warns : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strap and nosefoam may degrade , which can affect the quality of the fit and seal.
” 3M has stated its FFP3 respirator models have a shelf-life of five years .
Channel 4 News has learned that a substantial number of the expired respirators in the pandemic stockpile were originally amassed between 2009 and 2010 and had already had their shelf life extended – sometimes twice before .
Other studies have also questioned whether out-of-date respirators offer the same levels of protection as in-date masks .
For instance , the US National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NIOSH ) tested expired batches of similar 3M N95 respirators .
It cleared them for use , but warned : “ Users provided with any of these products should be forewarned to avoid a false sense of confidence ; these devices may not provide the same level of protection as those that have not exceeded the designated shelf life.
” Photographs posted by medics on social media , and others sent directly to Channel 4 News , show boxes of respirators delivered to hospitals with use-by dates repeatedly extended .
Some showed original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , and then again to 2019 or 2020 .
Some medical staff took to social media to share complaints that they had received respirators showing evidence of degradation .
Public Health England has stated that all the expired and relabelled products distributed from the stockpile had passed “ stringent tests ” to ensure items including respirators and surgical masks “ remain fit for consumption ” .
However despite requests from Channel 4 News it has not provided the test results .
As pressure grew on vital PPE supplies , unions and healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chain Coordination Limited for the delays in distribution .
Channel 4 News understands both organisations received regular readouts of what the stockpile held .
Throughout 2019 hundreds of millions of products reached their use-by date .
But the timing of public procurement contracts suggests the organisations ’ attempts to renew them failed to stem the tide of expirations , apparently impairing the country ’ s ability to respond to a pandemic .
Expired stock is excluded from distribution , until tested and cleared , or replaced .
In all , 19.9 million FFP3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 January 2020 and therefore could have been delayed until tests confirmed they could be readmitted .
More than 84 million facemasks also expired over the same period .
They represented the majority of the stockpiled respirators and facemasks .
In November 2019 , Supply Chain Coordination Limited awarded a contract to test respirators and facemasks “ to provide evidence-based assurance that products are suitable for readmittance to the stock set aside for distribution in the event [ of ] a pandemic ” .
But the process appeared to take months .
Channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million masks made by Cardinal Health were finally readmitted to the stockpile months after expiring – and just weeks before the peak of the UK Covid-19 epidemic .
Warehouse workers were told how to relabel boxes , sticking new expiry dates over the old .
By March , more than 17 million respirators from manufacturer 3M were also out of date , and could not be distributed without being cleared .
On March 8 , when the UK government initiated the drawdown of the pandemic stockpile , expired 3M masks remained untested meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus spreading fast , a process that had previously taken months needed to happen in days .
Testing was carried out between 10 March and 19 March .
By this point , hospitals were facing a critical PPE shortage .
Five days later , on 24 March , the first public sign of the masks appeared , with soldiers rushing boxes of 3M respirators from the stockpile into hospitals that were already short of PPE .
To the dismay of medical staff , many displayed expired use-by dates .
Apparently , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Following an outbreak of Swine Flu in 2009 , the government established the UK ’ s national pandemic stockpile , as an epidemic was seen as the number one threat on the national risk register .
Half a billion pounds was spent on hundreds of millions of items to protect health workers in the case of an outbreak .
The documents obtained by Channel 4 News show the make-up of the stockpile on 30 January 2020 – the day the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus a Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it contained 48,998 pallets , and more than half a billion items .
The majority of the stock was held at a newly-built 373,000 square foot climate-controlled distribution centre in Merseyside , designed to house England ’ s pandemic supplies with products also held for use by other parts of the United Kingdom .
The stockpile was split into nine sections , with PPE the largest .
It comprised aprons , gloves , and eye protection that were all in date , as well as the largely expired respirators and facemasks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any gowns , despite the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Action Group ( NERVTAG ) recommending to Public Health England last year that they be bought .
A shortage of gowns has been a consistent hurdle for medics fighting the infection , with many forced to rely on the much flimsier plastic aprons .
Other stockpile sections include antibiotics , antivirals , and kit for administering drugs and vaccines .
Channel 4 News has also obtained evidence suggesting the stockpile had shrunk significantly over the last ten years , while the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ‘ Consumable Procurement Specification List ’ from 2009 stipulated what should be stored as part of a £500 million stockpile .
It recommended 28.1 million respirators , 190 million surgical masks , and 116.5 million combined needles and syringes .
However , by 30 January 2020 the stockpile held 10 % fewer respirators – at 26.3 million .
There were also 19 % fewer surgical masks at 154.5 million , and 28 % fewer combined needles and syringes at 84.2 million .
Aside from PPE , other areas of the stockpile had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,409 pallets consisting of the 84.2 million combined needles and syringes had all expired in the five months between June 2019 and November 2019 .
And another store of 4.5 million needles had also all expired , on 31 May 2019 .
An additional stockpile of 2.1 million sets of intravenous medical equipment had also exceeded its shelf life , within the six months between June and December last year .
Responding to the Channel 4 News investigation , a government spokesperson said : “ The UK is one of the most prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered more than 1 billion items of PPE since this global outbreak began.
” “ This is an unprecedented pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it , guided at all times by the best scientific advice , to protect the NHS and save lives.
” If you have information , or know something that should be investigated , you can contact the Channel 4 News Investigations Team confidentially , by emailing : c4investigations @ itn.co.uk There is also information about other ways to contact us @ @ @

Channel 4 News obtains full inventory of the national pandemic stockpile – revealing vital safety gear was years out of date
Almost 80% of respirators in the national pandemic stockpile were out of date when coronavirus hit the UK.
Channel 4 News has obtained detailed stock lists that reveal exactly what was held, on the day coronavirus was declared an international emergency.
Around 200 million vital pieces of kit – including respirators, masks, syringes and needles – had all expired in the eight months before 30 January.
This included 20.9 million out-of-date respirators, from a total of 26.3 million. The tightly-fitting mouth masks are vital for filtering the air that NHS workers breathe.
The documents also reveal that more than half of the national stockpile of surgical facemasks had also expired.
In total, 45% of the 19,909 boxes holding PPE supplies had exceeded their use-by dates.
The documents suggest a failure by Public Health England and NHS Supply Chain’s management company, Supply Chain Coordination Limited, to maintain the stockpile in a state of readiness.
Expired stock is excluded from distribution, meaning millions of boxes of kit could have been delayed from being sent to hospitals and care homes – just as the virus began to spread.
Millions of expired respirators weren’t cleared for release until they were tested, between 10 March and 19 March. By this time, the UK was already suffering a desperate shortage of PPE.
Protection
There are questions over whether expired PPE offers the same level of protection as equipment that is still within its use-by date.
More than three-quarters of the expired respirators were manufactured by US safety firm 3M, which provided guidance to Channel 4 News that said respirators past their shelf life should not be used.
The guidance, entitled ‘Respirators Beyond Their Shelf Life – Considerations’, said: “Most respirators have a limited shelf life, after which they are intended to be discarded. The longer a respirator is stored beyond its shelf life, or stored outside the recommended conditions, the less likely it is to perform at its full potential.”
The guidance also links to a 3M blog about respirator shelf life that warns: “Over time, components such as the strap and nosefoam may degrade, which can affect the quality of the fit and seal.”
3M has stated its FFP3 respirator models have a shelf-life of five years.
Channel 4 News has learned that a substantial number of the expired respirators in the pandemic stockpile were originally amassed between 2009 and 2010 and had already had their shelf life extended – sometimes twice before.
Other studies have also questioned whether out-of-date respirators offer the same levels of protection as in-date masks.
For instance, the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tested expired batches of similar 3M N95 respirators. It cleared them for use, but warned: “Users provided with any of these products should be forewarned to avoid a false sense of confidence; these devices may not provide the same level of protection as those that have not exceeded the designated shelf life.”
Photographs posted by medics on social media, and others sent directly to Channel 4 News, show boxes of respirators delivered to hospitals with use-by dates repeatedly extended. Some showed original expiry dates of 2012, extended to 2016, and then again to 2019 or 2020.
Some medical staff took to social media to share complaints that they had received respirators showing evidence of degradation.
Public Health England has stated that all the expired and relabelled products distributed from the stockpile had passed “stringent tests” to ensure items including respirators and surgical masks “remain fit for consumption”.
However despite requests from Channel 4 News it has not provided the test results.
Blocked
As pressure grew on vital PPE supplies, unions and healthcare professionals criticised Public Health England and Supply Chain Coordination Limited for the delays in distribution.
Channel 4 News understands both organisations received regular readouts of what the stockpile held.
Throughout 2019 hundreds of millions of products reached their use-by date. But the timing of public procurement contracts suggests the organisations’ attempts to renew them failed to stem the tide of expirations, apparently impairing the country’s ability to respond to a pandemic.
Expired stock is excluded from distribution, until tested and cleared, or replaced.
In all, 19.9 million FFP3 respirators expired between 1 June 2019 and 1 January 2020 and therefore could have been delayed until tests confirmed they could be readmitted.
More than 84 million facemasks also expired over the same period.
They represented the majority of the stockpiled respirators and facemasks.
In November 2019, Supply Chain Coordination Limited awarded a contract to test respirators and facemasks “to provide evidence-based assurance that products are suitable for readmittance to the stock set aside for distribution in the event [of] a pandemic”.
But the process appeared to take months. Channel 4 News understands that samples of 4.6 million masks made by Cardinal Health were finally readmitted to the stockpile months after expiring – and just weeks before the peak of the UK Covid-19 epidemic. Warehouse workers were told how to relabel boxes, sticking new expiry dates over the old.
By March, more than 17 million respirators from manufacturer 3M were also out of date, and could not be distributed without being cleared.
On March 8, when the UK government initiated the drawdown of the pandemic stockpile, expired 3M masks remained untested meaning they could not be distributed.
With the virus spreading fast, a process that had previously taken months needed to happen in days. Testing was carried out between 10 March and 19 March. By this point, hospitals were facing a critical PPE shortage.
Five days later, on 24 March, the first public sign of the masks appeared, with soldiers rushing boxes of 3M respirators from the stockpile into hospitals that were already short of PPE.
To the dismay of medical staff, many displayed expired use-by dates. Apparently, there had been no time to relabel them.
Stockpile
Following an outbreak of Swine Flu in 2009, the government established the UK’s national pandemic stockpile, as an epidemic was seen as the number one threat on the national risk register. Half a billion pounds was spent on hundreds of millions of items to protect health workers in the case of an outbreak.
The documents obtained by Channel 4 News show the make-up of the stockpile on 30 January 2020 – the day the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
In all, it contained 48,998 pallets, and more than half a billion items.
The majority of the stock was held at a newly-built 373,000 square foot climate-controlled distribution centre in Merseyside, designed to house England’s pandemic supplies with products also held for use by other parts of the United Kingdom.
The stockpile was split into nine sections, with PPE the largest. It comprised aprons, gloves, and eye protection that were all in date, as well as the largely expired respirators and facemasks.
The documents confirm it did not contain any gowns, despite the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Action Group (NERVTAG) recommending to Public Health England last year that they be bought.
A shortage of gowns has been a consistent hurdle for medics fighting the infection, with many forced to rely on the much flimsier plastic aprons.
Other stockpile sections include antibiotics, antivirals, and kit for administering drugs and vaccines.
Channel 4 News has also obtained evidence suggesting the stockpile had shrunk significantly over the last ten years, while the UK’s population continued to grow.
A ‘Consumable Procurement Specification List’ from 2009 stipulated what should be stored as part of a £500 million stockpile. It recommended 28.1 million respirators, 190 million surgical masks, and 116.5 million combined needles and syringes.
However, by 30 January 2020 the stockpile held 10% fewer respirators – at 26.3 million. There were also 19% fewer surgical masks at 154.5 million, and 28% fewer combined needles and syringes at 84.2 million.
Aside from PPE, other areas of the stockpile had also fallen out of date.
The 2,409 pallets consisting of the 84.2 million combined needles and syringes had all expired in the five months between June 2019 and November 2019. And another store of 4.5 million needles had also all expired, on 31 May 2019.
An additional stockpile of 2.1 million sets of intravenous medical equipment had also exceeded its shelf life, within the six months between June and December last year.
Responding to the Channel 4 News investigation, a government spokesperson said: “The UK is one of the most prepared countries in the world and we have delivered more than 1 billion items of PPE since this global outbreak began.”
“This is an unprecedented pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice, to protect the NHS and save lives.”
****
Reporters: Ed Howker, Job Rabkin, Guy Basnett and Heidi Pett
If you have information, or know something that should be investigated, you can contact the Channel 4 News Investigations Team confidentially, by emailing: c4investigations@itn.co.uk
There is also information about other ways to contact us securely here.


channel4uk--2020-05-08--Plagues to coronavirus: how pandemics have transformed history

For centuries , infectious diseases have spread across the world .
Their deadliness has been well documented – but have @ @ @ @ @ history ?
Coronavirus is nothing new .
For centuries , infectious diseases have spread across @ @ @ @ @ has been well documented – but have they altered the path of history ?
From @ @ @ @ @ the Black Death to the spread of cholera and the eventual eradication of smallpox , @ @ @ @ @ impact .
Did plague weaken the Byzantium Empire ?
Did the Black Death cause a @ @ @ @ @ And what role did smallpox play in the birth of the United States ?
We @ @ @ @ @ Richard J. Evans , Rebecca Rideal , Michael Bennett , Michael McCormick , Elizabeth Fenn @ @ @ @ @

For centuries, infectious diseases have spread across the world. Their deadliness has been well documented – but have they altered the path of history?
Coronavirus is nothing new. For centuries, infectious diseases have spread across the world. Their deadliness has been well documented – but have they altered the path of history?
From the Plague of Justinian to the Black Death to the spread of cholera and the eventual eradication of smallpox, pandemics have made a profound impact.
Did plague weaken the Byzantium Empire? Did the Black Death cause a social revolution in England? And what role did smallpox play in the birth of the United States?
We speak to the historians Sir Richard J. Evans, Rebecca Rideal, Michael Bennett, Michael McCormick, Elizabeth Fenn, and Andrew Bailey.


channel4uk--2020-05-08--Al Murray on WWII-coronavirus parallels: ‘It was exactly the debate that’s going on now’

We speak to the historian James Holland – and the comedian Al Murray – who together present the weekly World @ @ @ @ @ Ways of Making You Talk We speak to the historian James Holland – and the @ @ @ @ @ together present the weekly World War Two podcast , We Have Ways of Making You @ @ @ @ @ asking what parallels could be drawn between what the world went through during the war @ @ @ @ @ .

We speak to the historian James Holland – and the comedian Al Murray – who together present the weekly World War Two podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk
We speak to the historian James Holland – and the comedian Al Murray – who together present the weekly World War Two podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk – and start by asking what parallels could be drawn between what the world went through during the war and our current coronavirus reality.


channel4uk--2020-05-08--75th VE Day anniversary celebrated across UK in coronavirus lockdown

Fighter planes soared in blue skies above towns and cities across the UK to mark the VE Day anniversary Fighter @ @ @ @ @ above towns and cities across the UK to mark the VE Day anniversary – despite @ @ @ @ @ having to be cancelled .
Prince Charles in Balmoral led a two minute silence this @ @ @ @ @ celebrations echoing the street parties of 75 years ago .

Fighter planes soared in blue skies above towns and cities across the UK to mark the VE Day anniversary
Fighter planes soared in blue skies above towns and cities across the UK to mark the VE Day anniversary – despite public events on the ground having to be cancelled.
Prince Charles in Balmoral led a two minute silence this morning – before socially distant celebrations echoing the street parties of 75 years ago.


channel4uk--2020-05-08--How will the coronavirus lockdown change from Monday?

In Westminster , ministers said the public should expect only “ limited ” changes on Sunday night Scotland ’ s @ @ @ @ @ is Wales – with a few ‘ modest adjustments ’ .
While , when the @ @ @ @ @ out his roadmap towards easing lockdown restrictions in stages .
The four UK nations might @ @ @ @ @ different speeds – but all of them are warning that if things begin to get @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t hesitate to reimpose bans .

In Westminster, ministers said the public should expect only “limited” changes on Sunday night
Scotland’s staying in lockdown. So is Wales – with a few ‘modest adjustments’.
While, when the Prime Minister prepares to set out his roadmap towards easing lockdown restrictions in stages.
The four UK nations might appear to be moving at different speeds – but all of them are warning that if things begin to get out of control, they won’t hesitate to reimpose bans.


channel4uk--2020-05-08--‘If we felt there was a problem, we wouldn’t have issued it to frontline staff’: Chair of Health Car

‘If we felt there was a problem, we wouldn’t have issued it to frontline staff’: Chair of Health Care Supplies Association on PPE

Earlier Matt Frei spoke to Mark Roscrow , the Chair of Trustees for the Health Care Supplies Association Earlier Matt @ @ @ @ @ , the Chair of Trustees for the Health Care Supplies Association – the body representing @ @ @ @ @ been desperately trying to source PPE supplies .
He asked him about out-of-date PPE that @ @ @ @ @ to frontline workers .

Earlier Matt Frei spoke to Mark Roscrow, the Chair of Trustees for the Health Care Supplies Association
Earlier Matt Frei spoke to Mark Roscrow, the Chair of Trustees for the Health Care Supplies Association – the body representing the NHS buyers who have been desperately trying to source PPE supplies.
He asked him about out-of-date PPE that’s been handed out to frontline workers.


channel4uk--2020-05-08--Saving the VE Day generation from Covid-19

It was supposed to be a memorable street party across the nation to toast the victory that shaped modern Britain in 1945 .
But the party has been scaled down by the pandemic – and the heroes of then have had to stay in doors for their own safety as thousands have been felled by the invisible enemy within .
The Prime Minister has asked the nation to summon the same spirit of endeavour against the virus that we once summoned against Nazi Germany and the Queen will salute our lockdown self sacrifice in her address later this evening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid their lives on the line to preserve ours who have all too often succumbed to the virus in our care homes .
In a nation that loves to look back when it suits , we examine the parallels between then and now .
There have been 626 more deaths in the UK since yesterday – according to the Government ’ s official tally : as the Environment Secretary George Eustice said there would be no dramatic overnight change to the lockdown – stressing it was vital for people to stay at home @

It was supposed to be a memorable street party across the nation to toast the victory that shaped modern Britain in 1945.
But the party has been scaled down by the pandemic – and the heroes of then have had to stay in doors for their own safety as thousands have been felled by the invisible enemy within.
The Prime Minister has asked the nation to summon the same spirit of endeavour against the virus that we once summoned against Nazi Germany and the Queen will salute our lockdown self sacrifice in her address later this evening.
But it is the very generation that laid their lives on the line to preserve ours who have all too often succumbed to the virus in our care homes. In a nation that loves to look back when it suits, we examine the parallels between then and now.
There have been 626 more deaths in the UK since yesterday – according to the Government’s official tally: as the Environment Secretary George Eustice said there would be no dramatic overnight change to the lockdown – stressing it was vital for people to stay at home.


channel4uk--2020-05-09--View from the Window: how children are experiencing the coronavirus crisis

The playgrounds are cordoned off .
Football pitches and basketball courts are off-limits .
Soft play areas are closed for @ @ @ @ @ children across the UK , lockdown means they ’ re stuck at home , with @ @ @ @ @ no friends to play with .
We went to visit some children in East London @ @ @ @ @ experience of the coronavirus crisis .

The playgrounds are cordoned off. Football pitches and basketball courts are off-limits. Soft play areas are closed for business. For millions of children across the UK, lockdown means they’re stuck at home, with little to do, and no friends to play with.
We went to visit some children in East London to find out about their experience of the coronavirus crisis.


channel4uk--2020-05-09--Government announces £2 billion package to boost cycling and walking

If social distancing is observed , the Transport Secretary said today public transport in England would only have sufficient space @ @ @ @ @ the usual passengers .
Grant Shapps announced a major focus on increasing the number of @ @ @ @ @ There ’ ll be more pop-up bike lanes , wider pavements and streets where cars @ @ @

If social distancing is observed, the Transport Secretary said today public transport in England would only have sufficient space for one in ten of the usual passengers.
Grant Shapps announced a major focus on increasing the number of people cycling and walking. There’ll be more pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements and streets where cars are banned.


channel4uk--2020-05-09--US states ease lockdown restrictions

US states ease lockdown restrictions

In the US , more than 70,000 people have now died of COVID-19 , as significant areas of the country @ @ @ @ @ numbers .
But with 20 million people made unemployed by this pandemic , America is @ @ @ @ @ crisis since the Great Depression .
More than half of states have now started to @ @ @ @ @ an effort to boost business .
They ’ re being encouraged by President Trump – @ @ @ @ @ own guidelines for reopening safely .

In the US, more than 70,000 people have now died of COVID-19, as significant areas of the country continue to see rising case numbers. But with 20 million people made unemployed by this pandemic, America is also experiencing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
More than half of states have now started to ease lockdown restrictions, in an effort to boost business. They’re being encouraged by President Trump – despite many states flouting his own guidelines for reopening safely.


channel4uk--2020-05-09--Are businesses getting scammed by insurance companies?

Well , being closed down overnight isn ’ t the only problem facing the pub and restaurant sector .
While @ @ @ @ @ insurance policies that pay out the event of a pandemic , some say infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ and that the money could mean the difference between surviving and going bust .
The @ @ @ @ @ begun an investigation into the policies which could cost the insurance industry tens , if @ @ @ @ @ of pounds in payouts .

Well, being closed down overnight isn’t the only problem facing the pub and restaurant sector. While most don’t have insurance policies that pay out the event of a pandemic, some say infectious disease clauses do cover them, and that the money could mean the difference between surviving and going bust.
The financial watchdog the FCA has begun an investigation into the policies which could cost the insurance industry tens, if not hundreds, of millions of pounds in payouts.


channel4uk--2020-05-09--Lockdown in Weston-super-Mare: How are local businesses coping?

So what would the public like to hear from the Prime Minister tomorrow ?
And how are businesses coping while @ @ @ @ @ place ?
Just 24 hours until the Prime Minister sets out his revised lockdown strategy @ @ @ @ @ capital have seemingly been struggling to stick to the current rules .
Hackney police said @ @ @ @ @ “ fighting a losing battle in the parks today ” .
So what would the @ @ @ @ @ the Prime Minister tomorrow ?
And how are businesses coping while the lockdown restrictions remain @ @ @ @ @ affairs correspondent Andy Davies has spent the day in Weston-super-mare on the Somerset coast .

So what would the public like to hear from the Prime Minister tomorrow? And how are businesses coping while the lockdown restrictions remain in place?
Just 24 hours until the Prime Minister sets out his revised lockdown strategy.
And sun-worshippers in the capital have seemingly been struggling to stick to the current rules. Hackney police said in a Tweet they were “fighting a losing battle in the parks today”.
So what would the public like to hear from the Prime Minister tomorrow? And how are businesses coping while the lockdown restrictions remain in place? Our home affairs correspondent Andy Davies has spent the day in Weston-super-mare on the Somerset coast.


channel4uk--2020-05-09--Two-week quarantine for travellers ‘would devastate airline industry’

The papers have been briefed but nothing has officially been announced .
We ’ re led to believe though that @ @ @ @ @ the vast majority of passengers arriving in the UK earlier , the government will now @ @ @ @ @ as lockdown starts to ease .
The airline industry has demanded more clarity , warning @ @ @ @ @ consequences for an industry already reeling from the loss of passengers due to the current @ @ @ @ @ 340 deaths with coronavirus were announced in the UK .

The papers have been briefed but nothing has officially been announced. We’re led to believe though that, having refused to quarantine the vast majority of passengers arriving in the UK earlier, the government will now move to do so, as lockdown starts to ease.
The airline industry has demanded more clarity, warning that quarantining could have devastating consequences for an industry already reeling from the loss of passengers due to the current lockdown. As a further 340 deaths with coronavirus were announced in the UK.


channel4uk--2020-05-10--No immediate end to UK lockdown but some restrictions eased – PM says ‘We must stay alert’

A statement from the prime minister , Boris Johnson , setting out the first tentative steps out of the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ .

A statement from the prime minister, Boris Johnson, setting out the first tentative steps out of the lockdown he imposed seven weeks ago.


channel4uk--2020-05-10--PM urged to launch public inquiry into disproportionate impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities

The prime minister has been urged to launch an independent public inquiry into the reasons behind the disproportionate impact of @ @ @ @ @ Black , Asian and Minority Ethnic population of the UK .
There is an ongoing @ @ @ @ @ a joint letter today , a coalition of over 70 prominent signatories , including author @ @ @ @ @ Lawrence , said a wider investigation could “ help restore public confidence among the UK @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m joined by the Young Vic ’ s theatre ’ s artistic @ @ @ @ @ also put his name to the letter .

The prime minister has been urged to launch an independent public inquiry into the reasons behind the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic population of the UK.
There is an ongoing scientific review, but in a joint letter today, a coalition of over 70 prominent signatories, including author Malorie Blackman and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, said a wider investigation could “help restore public confidence among the UK’s BAME communities”.
I’m joined by the Young Vic’s theatre’s artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, who also put his name to the letter.


channel4uk--2020-05-10--Government warns hospitals and carers millions of eye protection goggles failed safety standards aft

Government warns hospitals and carers millions of eye protection goggles failed safety standards after distribution

The government has written to hospitals and carers warning them that millions of eye protection goggles distributed to frontline workers @ @ @ @ @ 19 have failed safety standards .
The goggles were part of the pandemic stockpile – @ @ @ @ @ .
Just days ago the government insisted to this programme that every item of PPE @ @ @ @ @ and safe to use .
Tonight we can reveal how experts warned the goggles should @ @ @ @ @ recommendation was rejected because it would be too expensive .

The government has written to hospitals and carers warning them that millions of eye protection goggles distributed to frontline workers to protect them from covid 19 have failed safety standards. The goggles were part of the pandemic stockpile – and were bought in 2009. Just days ago the government insisted to this programme that every item of PPE that was distributed was tested and safe to use.
Tonight we can reveal how experts warned the goggles should be replaced – but their recommendation was rejected because it would be too expensive.


channel4uk--2020-05-10--‘Stay at Home’ advice continues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

It is now 48 days since the lockdown was imposed .
And it was done across all 4 nations of @ @ @ @ @ for the public was – Stay Home , Save Lives .
Today that message has @ @ @ @ @ England .
For them the slogan is now to ‘ Stay Alert ’ .
For @ @ @ @ @ Wales or Northern Ireland the Stay at Home message remains the same .

It is now 48 days since the lockdown was imposed. And it was done across all 4 nations of the UK. The message for the public was – Stay Home, Save Lives.
Today that message has changed for people living in England. For them the slogan is now to ‘Stay Alert’. For those living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland the Stay at Home message remains the same.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--This man has chosen to be human guinea pig for a coronavirus vaccine

A Coronavirus vaccine – it ’ s what the whole world is hoping for – as it becomes clear that @ @ @ @ @ way out of this global crisis .
Among the many , frantic efforts by scientists @ @ @ @ @ one in record time – Oxford University , where human volunteers are now involved in @ @ @ @ @ Oxford Vaccine Group and the Jenner Institute .
One of those volunteers has been recording @ @ @ @ @ experiences for Channel 4 News .

A Coronavirus vaccine – it’s what the whole world is hoping for – as it becomes clear that it could be the only way out of this global crisis.
Among the many, frantic efforts by scientists around the world to find one in record time – Oxford University, where human volunteers are now involved in clinical trials run by the Oxford Vaccine Group and the Jenner Institute.
One of those volunteers has been recording a video diary of his experiences for Channel 4 News.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--France loosens lockdown after eight weeks

France too has come up with a new slogan for combating the virus .
France too has come up with @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
‘ Restez prudents ’ which also roughly translates as ‘ Stay Alert @ @ @ @ @ shops and businesses started to open today , easing the French lockdown for the first @ @ @ @ @ .

France too has come up with a new slogan for combating the virus.
France too has come up with a new slogan for combating the virus.
‘Restez prudents’ which also roughly translates as ‘Stay Alert’ or careful.
Many shops and businesses started to open today, easing the French lockdown for the first time in almost two months.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--Male security guards, taxi drivers and carers at higher risk of dying from Covid-19, says ONS

Men who work in social care , and in low-skilled jobs like taxi drivers , security guards and chauffeurs – @ @ @ @ @ risk of dying from Covid-19 than the general working age population .
The research by @ @ @ @ @ covering deaths in England and Wales is already causing widespread concern – Anja Popp reports @ @ @ @

Men who work in social care, and in low-skilled jobs like taxi drivers, security guards and chauffeurs – are at a far higher risk of dying from Covid-19 than the general working age population.
The research by the Office for National Statistics covering deaths in England and Wales is already causing widespread concern – Anja Popp reports from the newsroom.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--Care homes struggling to get testing for all residents amid “awful epidemic” of Covid-19 deaths

The Prime Minister has acknowledged what he called the “ awful epidemic ” in our care homes .
In Enfield @ @ @ @ @ know it all too well .
More than a third of care homes there have @ @ @ @ @ death , according to the local council .
They say many providers are struggling to @ @ @ @ @ and they blame the government .
Our reporter Inigo Gilmore has been speaking to the @ @ @ @ @ died at the same care home – victims at different ends of the age scale @

The Prime Minister has acknowledged what he called the “awful epidemic” in our care homes.
In Enfield, North London, they know it all too well. More than a third of care homes there have seen at least one Covid-related death, according to the local council.
They say many providers are struggling to obtain testing and PPE – and they blame the government.
Our reporter Inigo Gilmore has been speaking to the families of two people who died at the same care home – victims at different ends of the age scale.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--‘Maybe a little glimmer of light has been shone’ – Tory MP Mel Stride on lockdown easing

Maybe a little glimmer of light has been shone ’ – Tory MP Mel Stride on lockdown easing The Chair @ @ @ @ @ – the Conservative MP Mel Stride – joins us from Central London .

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‘Tourists getting in the way of wildfire recovery on Maui,’ says former state representative


channel4uk--2020-05-11--Construction and manufacturing workers in England ‘actively encouraged’ to return to work

Workers in areas like construction and manufacturing in England have been ‘ actively encouraged ’ to return to work .
@ @ @ @ @ and manufacturing in England have been ‘ actively encouraged ’ to return to work .
@ @ @ @ @ the next few days governing public transport – and firms have been advised how they @ @ @ @ @ hygiene in the workplace .
Unions have urged the government to enforce tough safety rules @ @ @ @

Workers in areas like construction and manufacturing in England have been ‘actively encouraged’ to return to work.
Workers in areas like construction and manufacturing in England have been ‘actively encouraged’ to return to work.
Details have been promised over the next few days governing public transport – and firms have been advised how they must enforce social distancing and hygiene in the workplace.
Unions have urged the government to enforce tough safety rules to reassure employees.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--UK government sets out new details of phased re-opening of English schools

The government has set out new details of the phased re-opening of English schools , colleges and nurseries The government @ @ @ @ @ of the phased re-opening of English schools , colleges and nurseries – saying numbers would @ @ @ @ @ in place .
That includes keeping children in small groups without mixing with others , @ @ @ @ @ cleaning .
And they ’ ve promised access to testing .
But many parents and @ @ @ @

The government has set out new details of the phased re-opening of English schools, colleges and nurseries
The government has set out new details of the phased re-opening of English schools, colleges and nurseries – saying numbers would stay limited with protective measures in place.
That includes keeping children in small groups without mixing with others, staggered breaks and more frequent cleaning.
And they’ve promised access to testing. But many parents and teachers remain concerned.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--‘Don’t do it’: Welsh first minister tells English people planning day trips into Wales

Don ’ t do it ’ : Welsh first minister tells English people planning day trips into Wales The First @ @ @ @ @ joins us from Cardiff .


channel4uk--2020-05-11--Sturgeon says ‘stay at home’ message remains in place in Scotland

There will be no such easing of restrictions in Scotland and Wales as we are to see in England .
@ @ @ @ @ lockdown the Kingdom does not seem united .
There will be no such easing of @ @ @ @ @ as we are to see in England .
Scotland ’ s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon @ @ @ @ @ still very much ‘ stay at home ’ : describing Boris Johnson ’ s new @ @ @ @ @ imprecise ” .

There will be no such easing of restrictions in Scotland and Wales as we are to see in England.
When it comes to ending lockdown the Kingdom does not seem united.
There will be no such easing of restrictions in Scotland and Wales as we are to see in England.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the message there was still very much ‘stay at home’: describing Boris Johnson’s new message as “vague and imprecise”.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--Johnson outlines ‘roadmap’ for Covid-19 lockdown exit in England

Boris Johnson faced MPs earlier this afternoon – many expressing grave doubts about the clarity of his message .
So what does the plan say ?
Boris Johnson is soon to be on his feet now explaining his road map to recovery – after facing MPs earlier this afternoon – many expressing grave doubts about the clarity of his message .
So what does the plan say ?
Step one on Wednesday 13th May will see permitted workplaces open and necessary travel to work encouraged .
The first changes are mostly ones of emphasis and restricted to England .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are allowed to be open , should be .
And people who need to travel to work should do so .
In step two , from the beginning of June primary schools in England could open for the youngest children and those preparing for secondary school .
More shops would be allowed to open and sporting events could take place in front of broadcast cameras only .
In the third step , the ambition by early July is to allow businesses like hairdressers , pubs and cinemas to open if they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Boris Johnson faced MPs earlier this afternoon – many expressing grave doubts about the clarity of his message. So what does the plan say?
Boris Johnson is soon to be on his feet now explaining his road map to recovery – after facing MPs earlier this afternoon – many expressing grave doubts about the clarity of his message. So what does the plan say?
Step one on Wednesday 13th May will see permitted workplaces open and necessary travel to work encouraged.
The first changes are mostly ones of emphasis and restricted to England. The Government says that from this Wednesday workplaces that are allowed to be open, should be. And people who need to travel to work should do so.
In step two, from the beginning of June primary schools in England could open for the youngest children and those preparing for secondary school. More shops would be allowed to open and sporting events could take place in front of broadcast cameras only.
In the third step, the ambition by early July is to allow businesses like hairdressers, pubs and cinemas to open if they can meet the government’s guidelines.


channel4uk--2020-05-11--FactCheck: the new coronavirus lockdown rules

The UK government has set out new rules for England on the coronavirus lockdown in a lengthy document following Boris Johnson ’ s TV address last night .
But key questions remain unanswered .
Here ’ s what we learned today about going outdoors , meeting family , schools reopening , face coverings and social distancing .
The new guidelines say that from Wednesday , people can exercise outdoors as many times as they like in a given day , and can drive for as long as they like to get to an open space .
That is , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t travel into Wales or Scotland , where stricter rules remain in place .
Previous guidance was that people should not go out for exercise more than once a day – although this was always a guideline in England , and not written into the law .
There was confusion until now about whether people were allowed to drive to beauty spots .
Several police forces reportedly cracked down on motorists making “ unnecessary ” trips to outdoor spaces , but senior officers and the Crown Prosecution Service clarified last month that driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was also no general provision to allow people to spend time outdoors that wasn ’ t for the “ essential ” purposes spelled out by the government ( exercising , buying food , helping a vulnerable person , or meeting a medical need ) .
From Wednesday , this will change and people will be allowed to sunbathe or picnic in outdoor spaces – though they ’ ll still need to stay two metres from other households .
Can you meet your family ?
This question caused a lot of confusion this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongly telling BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme that people could meet both their parents , as long as they maintained social distance .
The new guidance states that when you ’ re outside , you should not meet up “ with any more than one person from outside your household ” .
This has been seized upon today by commentators eager to know if it leaves open the possibility of meeting up with relatives one at a time – albeit at a safe distance .
In fact , the “ new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous UK government guideline on exercise , which stated : “ you must not gather in groups of more than two people in public spaces like parks ” .
The Department of Health told FactCheck that the “ previous guidance was that you should not meet with people you don ’ t live with ” .
In another radio interview this morning , Dominic Raab was asked whether people could drive to visit their parents , if they maintained social distance , and he advised against it .
We ’ ve asked Number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with one parent in the morning and another in the afternoon under the new rules .
We ’ ll update this article if we hear from them .
The government says it understands how hard it is to keep families separated and “ has asked [ the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies ] SAGE to examine whether , when and how it can safely change the regulations to allow people to expand their household group to include one other household in the same exclusive group ” .
In short : if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed to meet up with one other person from outside your household in a park or open space from Wednesday , provided you stay two metres apart .
What is not yet clear is whether you could meet different people one at a time in separate meetings throughout the day .
The government says “ the rate of infection remains too high to allow the reopening of schools for all pupils yet ” .
“ Step one ” of their strategy , which begins on Wednesday , will see local authorities encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come to class .
They are already eligible to go in to school – now the government wants to “ urge more children who would benefit from attending in person to do so ” .
Schools are now being told to prepare for increased attendance from 1 June .
That ’ s when the government says it “ expects children to be able to return to early years settings , and for Reception , Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school ” .
As for older children , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also prepare to begin some face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year ” .
The government says its “ ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible ” – though it stresses that , like all school plans , this depends on the risk posed by the virus .
The science on whether people should cover their faces in public is so complex that many experts completely disagree on whether the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government had long resisted calls to follow guidance issued in many other countries for people to cover up when out and about .
Today that changed .
The new guidance for England says : “ If you can , wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing isn ’ t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet .
This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas , for example on public transport or in some shops.
” This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not protect the wearer , but may protect others if you are infected but asymptomatic .
The advice is clear that the general public should wear face coverings made from cloths , not surgical masks , which are needed by healthcare professionals and other high-risk workers .
This is similar to guidance already issued in Scotland .
The government still recommends that people stay two metres apart when practicing social distancing .
But the document issued today admits that the two-metre gap is more of a rule of thumb than hard science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You are very unlikely to be infected if you walk past another person in the street .
Public Health England recommends trying to keep 2m away from people as a precaution .
“ However , this is not a rule and the science is complex .
The key thing is to not be too close to people for more than a short amount of time , as much as you can.
” The World Health Organisation recommends people maintain a distance of at least one metre .

by Patrick Worrall and Georgina Lee
The UK government has set out new rules for England on the coronavirus lockdown in a lengthy document following Boris Johnson’s TV address last night. But key questions remain unanswered.
Here’s what we learned today about going outdoors, meeting family, schools reopening, face coverings and social distancing.
Going outdoors
The new guidelines say that from Wednesday, people can exercise outdoors as many times as they like in a given day, and can drive for as long as they like to get to an open space. That is, as long as people in England don’t travel into Wales or Scotland, where stricter rules remain in place.
Previous guidance was that people should not go out for exercise more than once a day – although this was always a guideline in England, and not written into the law.
There was confusion until now about whether people were allowed to drive to beauty spots. Several police forces reportedly cracked down on motorists making “unnecessary” trips to outdoor spaces, but senior officers and the Crown Prosecution Service clarified last month that driving somewhere for exercise was not illegal.
There was also no general provision to allow people to spend time outdoors that wasn’t for the “essential” purposes spelled out by the government (exercising, buying food, helping a vulnerable person, or meeting a medical need).
From Wednesday, this will change and people will be allowed to sunbathe or picnic in outdoor spaces – though they’ll still need to stay two metres from other households.
Can you meet your family?
This question caused a lot of confusion this morning, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrongly telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that people could meet both their parents, as long as they maintained social distance.
The new guidance states that when you’re outside, you should not meet up “with any more than one person from outside your household”.
This has been seized upon today by commentators eager to know if it leaves open the possibility of meeting up with relatives one at a time – albeit at a safe distance.
In fact, the “new advice” is very similar to the previous UK government guideline on exercise, which stated: “you must not gather in groups of more than two people in public spaces like parks”. The Department of Health told FactCheck that the “previous guidance was that you should not meet with people you don’t live with”.
In another radio interview this morning, Dominic Raab was asked whether people could drive to visit their parents, if they maintained social distance, and he advised against it.
We’ve asked Number 10 to clarify whether someone could meet up with one parent in the morning and another in the afternoon under the new rules. We’ll update this article if we hear from them.
The government says it understands how hard it is to keep families separated and “has asked [the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies] SAGE to examine whether, when and how it can safely change the regulations to allow people to expand their household group to include one other household in the same exclusive group”.
In short: if you’re in England, you will be allowed to meet up with one other person from outside your household in a park or open space from Wednesday, provided you stay two metres apart. What is not yet clear is whether you could meet different people one at a time in separate meetings throughout the day.
When will schools reopen?
The government says “the rate of infection remains too high to allow the reopening of schools for all pupils yet”.
“Step one” of their strategy, which begins on Wednesday, will see local authorities encouraging vulnerable children and children of key workers to come to class. They are already eligible to go in to school – now the government wants to “urge more children who would benefit from attending in person to do so”.
Schools are now being told to prepare for increased attendance from 1 June. That’s when the government says it “expects children to be able to return to early years settings, and for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school”.
As for older children, “secondary schools and further education colleges should also prepare to begin some face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year”.
The government says its “ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible” – though it stresses that, like all school plans, this depends on the risk posed by the virus.
Face coverings
The science on whether people should cover their faces in public is so complex that many experts completely disagree on whether the public health benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
The UK government had long resisted calls to follow guidance issued in many other countries for people to cover up when out and about. Today that changed.
The new guidance for England says: “If you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas, for example on public transport or in some shops.”
This is based on evidence that wearing a covering does not protect the wearer, but may protect others if you are infected but asymptomatic.
The advice is clear that the general public should wear face coverings made from cloths, not surgical masks, which are needed by healthcare professionals and other high-risk workers.
This is similar to guidance already issued in Scotland.
The two-metre rule
The government still recommends that people stay two metres apart when practicing social distancing. But the document issued today admits that the two-metre gap is more of a rule of thumb than hard science.
The new guidance says: “You are very unlikely to be infected if you walk past another person in the street. Public Health England recommends trying to keep 2m away from people as a precaution.
“However, this is not a rule and the science is complex. The key thing is to not be too close to people for more than a short amount of time, as much as you can.”
The World Health Organisation recommends people maintain a distance of at least one metre.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--‘Fact we have worst outbreak in world damages perception of American competence’ – Jeremy Konyndyk,

‘Fact we have worst outbreak in world damages perception of American competence’ – Jeremy Konyndyk, Center for Global Development

We spoke to Jeremy Konyndyk , who is on the WHO Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ and Advisory Committee , which oversees the agency ’ s Health Emergencies Programme – and @ @ @ @ @ of the International Ebola response task force for the Obama Administration .
We asked him @ @ @ @ @ are serious question marks on whether the Chinese have been sufficiently honest on how the @ @ @

We spoke to Jeremy Konyndyk, who is on the WHO Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee.
We spoke to Jeremy Konyndyk.
He’s on the WHO Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee, which oversees the agency’s Health Emergencies Programme – and he also served as Head of the International Ebola response task force for the Obama Administration.
We asked him first if he thinks there are serious question marks on whether the Chinese have been sufficiently honest on how the outbreak began.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Undocumented immigrants in US left to cope without safety net

The United States is facing an economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression .
But for the millions of @ @ @ @ @ in essential roles , keeping the country going – there is no safety net , @ @ @ @ @ President Trump continues to impose more curbs on immigration , declaring he wants to take @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s left many of those without legal status living in constant fear @

The United States is facing an economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression.
But for the millions of undocumented immigrants – many working in essential roles, keeping the country going – there is no safety net, no government protection.
Yet President Trump continues to impose more curbs on immigration, declaring he wants to take care of American workers first.
It’s left many of those without legal status living in constant fear.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--N.I. sets out plans for gradual lifting of lockdown

Northern Ireland ’ s Executive has now announced its five-stage plan for relaxing the coronavirus lockdown , which has been @ @ @ @ @ than six weeks .
For many people across the region , the toll the virus @ @ @ @ @ livelihoods is unparalleled .

Northern Ireland’s Executive has now announced its five-stage plan for relaxing the coronavirus lockdown, which has been in place there for more than six weeks.
For many people across the region, the toll the virus has taken on businesses and livelihoods is unparalleled.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Countries experiencing coronavirus flare-ups after loosening lockdown

Coming out of a lockdown is a whole new process that governments across the world are trying to handle without @ @ @ @ @ A number of countries are now experiencing flare-ups of coronavirus , after loosening restrictions .
@ @ @ @ @ having handled the crisis well .

Coming out of a lockdown is a whole new process that governments across the world are trying to handle without causing a second wave.
A number of countries are now experiencing flare-ups of coronavirus, after loosening restrictions.
These include those hailed as having handled the crisis well.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Furlough job protection scheme extended

Furlough job protection scheme extended

The extension of the furlough scheme will be a lifeline for people whose workplaces have been shut down altogether – @ @ @ @ @ But there are concerns about the fact that employers will be asked to contribute to @ @ @ @ @ time when many can barely afford to keep things ticking over .

The extension of the furlough scheme will be a lifeline for people whose workplaces have been shut down altogether – like hospitality and travel.
But there are concerns about the fact that employers will be asked to contribute to the scheme, at a time when many can barely afford to keep things ticking over.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Drive, cycle or walk to work if possible, says UK government

The Government is pushing ahead with its plan to restart the economy – albeit gradually – describing transport as the @ @ @ @ @ to work in England .
There ’ s advice to wear face coverings , avoid @ @ @ @ @ cars , bikes or walk as much as possible .
But critics warn this could @ @ @ @ @ But for those whose workplaces can ’ t re-open , there was some relief : @ @ @ @ @ extended for another four months .

The Government is pushing ahead with its plan to restart the economy – albeit gradually – describing transport as the key to getting people back to work in England.
There’s advice to wear face coverings, avoid rush hour and to use cars, bikes or walk as much as possible. But critics warn this could just lead to confusion.
But for those whose workplaces can’t re-open, there was some relief: the furlough scheme is being extended for another four months.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Rail worker dies with Covid-19 after being spat at

Police are investigating the death of a railway worker who was assaulted by someone claiming to have Covid-19 .
Police @ @ @ @ @ a railway worker who was assaulted by someone claiming to have Covid-19 .
Belly Mujinga @ @ @ @ @ in London when she and a colleague were approached by a member of the public @ @ @ @ @ .
Both women subsequently fell ill with coronavirus .
Downing Street described the attack as @ @ @ @

Police are investigating the death of a railway worker who was assaulted by someone claiming to have Covid-19.
Police are investigating the death of a railway worker who was assaulted by someone claiming to have Covid-19.
Belly Mujinga was working at Victoria Station in London when she and a colleague were approached by a member of the public who spat in their faces. Both women subsequently fell ill with coronavirus.
Downing Street described the attack as ‘despicable’.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Has lack of testing made care homes more vulnerable to Covid-19?

As Boris Johnson put it : “ Coming down from the peak is the most dangerous bit ” .
And @ @ @ @ @ edge out of lockdown , thousands of people are still dying with coronavirus every week @ @ @ @ @ them in care homes .
There are also still huge problems over PPE and testing @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve had access to Britain ’ s largest care home provider HC1 , @ @ @ @ @ home outbreak identified in Scotland and where staff have come under significant physical and mental @ @

As Boris Johnson put it: “Coming down from the peak is the most dangerous bit”.
And even as we begin to edge out of lockdown, thousands of people are still dying with coronavirus every week, an increasing proportion of them in care homes.
There are also still huge problems over PPE and testing for residents and staff.
We’ve had access to Britain’s largest care home provider HC1, which had the first care home outbreak identified in Scotland and where staff have come under significant physical and mental strain.


channel4uk--2020-05-12--‘We want to see regular, routine testing’ – care homes boss Dr David Behan

We want to see regular , routine testing ’ – care homes boss Dr David Behan We speak to Sir @ @ @ @ @ s the Chief Executive of the UK ’ s largest care home chain , HC1 @


channel4uk--2020-05-12--Why coronavirus has spread in care homes

Why coronavirus has spread in care homes Why has the virus spread so significantly in care homes ?


channel4uk--2020-05-12--FactCheck: coronavirus in care homes

FactCheck: coronavirus in care homes

The Health Secretary , Matt Hancock , made a number of comments about the how Covid-19 is affecting Britain ’ s care homes in media interviews today .
He spoke after new figures from the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) shed light on how many people are dying in care homes .
What are the facts ?
How many deaths in care homes ?
Matt Hancock was asked about deaths in care homes in his BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme this morning and said : “ Some of our most vulnerable people live in care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deaths that have happened have been in care homes .
That ’ s much lower than most international comparators.
” It ’ s true that since the beginning of the outbreak , about a quarter ( 26 per cent ) of Covid-19 deaths registered in England and Wales have happened in care homes .
The total number of care home deaths registered since the beginning of March is just over 9,000 .
That ’ s according to ONS figures , based on registered deaths which mention Covid-19 on the death certificate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Figure 8 ” ) .
But that proportion of deaths in care homes ( the red bars on this ONS graph ) has been rising week by week , as deaths in hospitals fall more quickly than in the care sector : There ’ s a fairly clear trend in hospital deaths , with the peak occurring on April 8 and deaths falling steadily since then ( the blue bars ) .
In care homes , separate data sets from the ONS and the Care Quality Commission also suggest that deaths are falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be slower and more recent , with the peak arriving later in April .
This means that care home deaths are increasingly making up a bigger share of all deaths which mention Covid-19 on the death certificate .
In fact , the ONS says that in the most recent days , more than 40 per cent of all the coronavirus deaths it counts have been in care homes .
And care homes have not just had the coronavirus to deal with .
The statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter calculates that just under 11,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of year ) happened in care homes in the five weeks up to May 1 .
That means people are dying in large numbers in care facilities and the deaths are not being attributed to the coronavirus .
It has been suggested that this could partly be explained by doctors filling in death certificates incorrectly .
But Prof Spiegelhalter and other experts think it ’ s more likely that seriously ill people are staying away from hospitals and surgeries and dying in care homes instead .
What about those “ international comparators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths is hard , as various government ministers and officials have often said themselves in recent weeks .
But there is some evidence that other countries in western Europe have seen higher proportions of Covid-19 deaths in their care sectors than the UK .
A research team hosted by the LSE found last month that more than half of all reported Covid-19 deaths in Belgium , France , Ireland , Norway and some Spanish regions were happening in care homes .
The study takes in countries with different age structures and different numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also a time lag , so it may be hard to make fair comparisons with the latest ONS data for England and Wales .
There are also issues with how deaths are recorded and reported in various countries : Germany doesn ’ t separate deaths in care homes from other “ communal settings ; Spain doesn ’ t publish a national total .
The researchers noted : “ Due to differences in testing availabilities and policies , and to different approaches to recording deaths , international comparisons are difficult.
” Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people dying in various settings .
The actual numbers of deaths are wildly different in different countries .
Some countries included in the study have only seen handfuls or hundreds of deaths in care homes , compared to more than 9,000 in England and Wales .
Matt Hancock was also asked about increased Covid-19 death rates among care home workers this morning .
He didn ’ t address the point directly but said the government had put in measures to protect people who work in care homes .
There is evidence this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the care sector : this ONS study of Covid-19 death rates by occupation found significantly increased death rates among male and female social care workers , compared to the general population .
Female social care workers were almost twice as likely to die as women of the same age .
For men working in the sector , the death rate was more than double the average for all men , adjusted for age .
The same study shows that doctors , nurses and other health workers did not have higher Covid death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for differences in age and sex .
So this is positive news for the NHS , and goes some way to allaying fears of frontline staff being exposed to greater risk .
The study shows , for example , that the death rate in female nurses is no greater than among women of the same age in the general population .
But the same evidence suggests people working in care homes may be at greater risk .
The ONS study did not adjust for the possible effects of ethnicity , where people live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t prove conclusively that occupation is the main risk factor .

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, made a number of comments about the how Covid-19 is affecting Britain’s care homes in media interviews today.
He spoke after new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shed light on how many people are dying in care homes.
What are the facts?
How many deaths in care homes?
Matt Hancock was asked about deaths in care homes in his BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning and said: “Some of our most vulnerable people live in care homes, yet only around a quarter of the deaths that have happened have been in care homes. That’s much lower than most international comparators.”
It’s true that since the beginning of the outbreak, about a quarter (26 per cent) of Covid-19 deaths registered in England and Wales have happened in care homes. The total number of care home deaths registered since the beginning of March is just over 9,000.
That’s according to ONS figures, based on registered deaths which mention Covid-19 on the death certificate, which can be viewed here (“Figure 8”).
But that proportion of deaths in care homes (the red bars on this ONS graph) has been rising week by week, as deaths in hospitals fall more quickly than in the care sector:
There’s a fairly clear trend in hospital deaths, with the peak occurring on April 8 and deaths falling steadily since then (the blue bars).
In care homes, separate data sets from the ONS and the Care Quality Commission also suggest that deaths are falling now, but the decline appears to be slower and more recent, with the peak arriving later in April.
This means that care home deaths are increasingly making up a bigger share of all deaths which mention Covid-19 on the death certificate.
In fact, the ONS says that in the most recent days, more than 40 per cent of all the coronavirus deaths it counts have been in care homes.
And care homes have not just had the coronavirus to deal with. The statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter calculates that just under 11,500 non-Covid excess deaths (unexpected for the time of year) happened in care homes in the five weeks up to May 1.
That means people are dying in large numbers in care facilities and the deaths are not being attributed to the coronavirus. It has been suggested that this could partly be explained by doctors filling in death certificates incorrectly.
But Prof Spiegelhalter and other experts think it’s more likely that seriously ill people are staying away from hospitals and surgeries and dying in care homes instead.
What about those “international comparators”?
Making international comparisons of Covid-19 deaths is hard, as various government ministers and officials have often said themselves in recent weeks.
But there is some evidence that other countries in western Europe have seen higher proportions of Covid-19 deaths in their care sectors than the UK.
A research team hosted by the LSE found last month that more than half of all reported Covid-19 deaths in Belgium, France, Ireland, Norway and some Spanish regions were happening in care homes.
The study takes in countries with different age structures and different numbers of care home residents, and there is also a time lag, so it may be hard to make fair comparisons with the latest ONS data for England and Wales.
There are also issues with how deaths are recorded and reported in various countries: Germany doesn’t separate deaths in care homes from other “communal settings; Spain doesn’t publish a national total.
The researchers noted: “Due to differences in testing availabilities and policies, and to different approaches to recording deaths, international comparisons are difficult.”
Of course this comparison is all about the proportion of people dying in various settings. The actual numbers of deaths are wildly different in different countries. Some countries included in the study have only seen handfuls or hundreds of deaths in care homes, compared to more than 9,000 in England and Wales.
Care home workers
Matt Hancock was also asked about increased Covid-19 death rates among care home workers this morning.
He didn’t address the point directly but said the government had put in measures to protect people who work in care homes.
There is evidence this week that coronavirus death rates are higher in the care sector: this ONS study of Covid-19 death rates by occupation found significantly increased death rates among male and female social care workers, compared to the general population.
Female social care workers were almost twice as likely to die as women of the same age. For men working in the sector, the death rate was more than double the average for all men, adjusted for age.
The same study shows that doctors, nurses and other health workers did not have higher Covid death rates than average, when you allow for differences in age and sex.
So this is positive news for the NHS, and goes some way to allaying fears of frontline staff being exposed to greater risk. The study shows, for example, that the death rate in female nurses is no greater than among women of the same age in the general population.
But the same evidence suggests people working in care homes may be at greater risk.
The ONS study did not adjust for the possible effects of ethnicity, where people live or deprivation, so it doesn’t prove conclusively that occupation is the main risk factor.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--Pollution has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic – but will it last?

Coronavirus has brought the biggest emissions drop since records began .
But will it actually make a difference in the @ @ @ @ @ for music to Ailia Coila ( GLARC )

Coronavirus has brought the biggest emissions drop since records began.
But will it actually make a difference in the long run?
Special thanks for music to Ailia Coila (GLARC)


channel4uk--2020-05-13--‘No-one is engineering viruses to release to wipe out the global population’ – diseases expert Peter

‘No-one is engineering viruses to release to wipe out the global population’ – diseases expert Peter Daszak

From the United States , a stark warning from a former top administration official that the country faces its darkest @ @ @ @ @ To talk about that and much more I ’ m joined by Peter Daszak – @ @ @ @ @ US to help find a cure for Covid-19 .
He ’ s an expert in @ @ @ @ @ wildlife to humans and even warned a pandemic was coming back in 2003 .
But @ @ @ @ @ had his US funding cut because of his links with Chinese scientists .

From the United States, a stark warning from a former top administration official that the country faces its darkest winter in modern history. To talk about that and much more I’m joined by Peter Daszak – a scientist working in the US to help find a cure for Covid-19. He’s an expert in how diseases can jump from wildlife to humans and even warned a pandemic was coming back in 2003.
But now the British-born scientist has had his US funding cut because of his links with Chinese scientists.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--Street children left struggling to survive during Nigeria lockdown

Nigeria has recorded nearly 5,000 cases of coronavirus and 158 deaths .
These relatively low figures are due in part @ @ @ @ @ early – and strict lockdown measures .
But with nearly half of the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ for them lockdown has had a particularly high price .
And no group is more @ @ @ @ @ children – who call the streets their home .
Many of them live in Lagos @ @ @ @ @ largest city and the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak .

Nigeria has recorded nearly 5,000 cases of coronavirus and 158 deaths. These relatively low figures are due in part to the government there introducing early – and strict lockdown measures.
But with nearly half of the country’s population living hand-to-mouth, for them lockdown has had a particularly high price. And no group is more vulnerable than the millions of children – who call the streets their home. Many of them live in Lagos, the country’s largest city and the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--‘We have a postcode lottery in relation to domestic abuse’ – UK’s Domestic Abuse Commissioner

We have a postcode lottery in relation to domestic abuse ’ – UK ’ s Domestic Abuse Commissioner Channel 4 @ @ @ @ @ , the CEO of Reigate and Banstead Women ’ s Aid , and the government @ @ @ @ @ , Nicole Jacobs .

4m
‘Tourists getting in the way of wildfire recovery on Maui,’ says former state representative


channel4uk--2020-05-13--Life in a women’s refuge in the time of Covid-19

We have had access to one women ’ s refuge which has been inundated with calls from women desperate to @ @ @ @ @ their abuser .
An emergency summit , led by the Prime Minister himself , will @ @ @ @ @ on the agenda , the devastation caused by domestic violence .
In the first three @ @ @ @ @ been reported that 14 women and two children have been killed .
The government says @ @ @ @ @ action plan to protect and support victims – and there ’ s no doubting the @ @ @ @ @ are soaring .
We have had access to one women ’ s refuge which has @ @ @ @ @ women desperate to escape living in lockdown with their abuser .

We have had access to one women’s refuge which has been inundated with calls from women desperate to escape living in lockdown with their abuser.
An emergency summit, led by the Prime Minister himself, will take place next week – on the agenda, the devastation caused by domestic violence. In the first three weeks of lockdown it has been reported that 14 women and two children have been killed.
The government says their summit will deliver an action plan to protect and support victims – and there’s no doubting the need. Calls to helplines are soaring.
We have had access to one women’s refuge which has been inundated with calls from women desperate to escape living in lockdown with their abuser.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--Dr Liz Whittaker on rare inflammatory syndrome linked to Covid-19

A new analysis of cases of a rare inflammatory syndrome linked to Covid-19 that up to 100 children in the @ @ @ @ @ developed .
The condition has also been detected in the United States as well as @ @ @ @ @ Countries .
Channel 4 News spoke to Dr Liz Whittaker from the Royal College of @ @ @ @ @

A new analysis of cases of a rare inflammatory syndrome linked to Covid-19 that up to 100 children in the UK are thought to have developed. The condition has also been detected in the United States as well as in a number of European Countries.
Channel 4 News spoke to Dr Liz Whittaker from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--England’s lockdown eased – with social distancing at garden centres and tennis courts

Springing back into life – garden centres .
But only if you live in England or Wales .
And if @ @ @ @ @ fishing and tennis type , you were also in luck today as you are free @ @ @ @ @ but only if you maintain social distancing in England .
Our reporter Minnie Stephenson joined @ @ @ @ @ in what has been the best springtime weather in years .

Springing back into life – garden centres. But only if you live in England or Wales. And if you are the golfing, fishing and tennis type, you were also in luck today as you are free to play once again – but only if you maintain social distancing in England.
Our reporter Minnie Stephenson joined the queues picking some blooms in what has been the best springtime weather in years.