channel4uk--2020-05-13--‘It is now very likely that the UK economy is facing a significant recession’ – Chancellor Rishi Sun

‘It is now very likely that the UK economy is facing a significant recession’ – Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Prepare for a recession , that seems the inevitable conclusion after official figures showed output falling at the fastest rate @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis more than a decade ago .
Prepare for a recession .
That seems @ @ @ @ @ figures showed output falling at the fastest rate since the depths of the financial crisis @ @ @ @ @ .
But it looks like the worst is yet to come .
Our Business and @ @ @ @ @ spoke to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak .

Prepare for a recession, that seems the inevitable conclusion after official figures showed output falling at the fastest rate since the depths of the financial crisis more than a decade ago.
Prepare for a recession. That seems the inevitable conclusion after official figures showed output falling at the fastest rate since the depths of the financial crisis more than a decade ago.
But it looks like the worst is yet to come. Our Business and Global Trade Correspondent Paul McNamara spoke to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--Care homes left confused over testing

Care homes left confused over testing

The Prime Minister did announce that the government is making an additional £600 million available for infection control in care @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister did announce that the government is making an additional £600 million available for @ @ @ @ @ in England .
The government has also launched a new website for care homes to @ @ @ @ @ this programme has been speaking to care homes across the country , where they say @ @ @ @ @ to when any tests might be delivered and over who has responsibility for them .

The Prime Minister did announce that the government is making an additional £600 million available for infection control in care homes in England.
The Prime Minister did announce that the government is making an additional £600 million available for infection control in care homes in England. The government has also launched a new website for care homes to apply for tests.
But this programme has been speaking to care homes across the country, where they say there is still confusion as to when any tests might be delivered and over who has responsibility for them.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--Starmer attacks Johnson over care homes deaths

The outbreak in care homes is putting the consensus over the government ’ s handling of the crisis under severe @ @ @ @ @ care homes is putting the consensus over the government ’ s handling of the crisis @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister ’ s Questions , the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the Government @ @ @ @ @ to protect people in care homes ” .

The outbreak in care homes is putting the consensus over the government’s handling of the crisis under severe strain.
The outbreak in care homes is putting the consensus over the government’s handling of the crisis under severe strain.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the Government of being “too slow to protect people in care homes”.


channel4uk--2020-05-13--FactCheck: how helpful are coronavirus ‘excess deaths’ figures?

In recent weeks , commentators and statisticians have started to focus on “ excess mortality ” or “ excess deaths ” to work out how many people have lost their lives as a result of the coronavirus .
This measure looks at how many more people are dying now – from all causes – compared to the same point in the previous five years on average .
The head of the ONS , Sir Ian Diamond , has described excess mortality as a “ really important statistic ” .
It currently stands at 47,000 in the UK over the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Prime Minister ’ s Questions , new Labour leader Keir Starmer also raised the question of unexplained excess deaths in care homes .
We ’ re going to look at what “ excess deaths ” figures tell us about the coronavirus crisis – and their limits .
One thing that ’ s become clear during this crisis is that the way different countries count their coronavirus dead varies wildly .
As FactCheck reported last week , the Spanish government only includes people who tested positive for the virus in its official tally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Statistics uses death certificates , which allows it to count people even if they weren ’ t tested for the virus – but its figure still depends on doctors establishing covid-19 as a cause of death .
Meanwhile in France , the national tallies do not account for people who died at home – which commentators have described as a “ timebomb ” ( the government plans to add these to the figures in June ) .
Part of the reason the excess mortality metric is attractive is that it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , on doctors making their best assessment of the cause ( s ) of death , nor on the rules that different governments use to decide what counts as a coronavirus death and what doesn ’ t .
In theory , that makes it far better as a basis for international comparisons than official death tolls produced by governments .
Though we should remember that even excess mortality figures are not always entirely reliable .
For example , the French statistical agency , INSEE , produces estimates of excess mortality based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many thousands of “ communes ” – districts that report local deaths to the central authorities each week .
Some communes still send their updates on paper – and others , including France ’ s second-largest city , Marseille , have suffered “ technical problems ” getting their data to INSEE at times during the pandemic .
The agency describes its excess deaths figures as “ very provisional ” .
ONS estimates for the UK are also billed as “ provisional ” .
And even if reporting differences between countries were eliminated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparable : average age , population density , ethnic mix and movement across borders are all significant factors that affect overall death rates .
We should keep these in mind when looking at other nations .
The true toll of the epidemic The headline excess deaths figure does not differentiate between people who died because they caught the virus and “ indirect deaths ” from the epidemic .
In many ways , this gives it an advantage over those that focus solely on direct deaths .
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter , Chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Cambridge , told FactCheck that excess mortality “ is currently a reasonable measure of the total impact of the epidemic , both the virus and the measures taken against it ” .
Professor Spiegelhalter told us : “ I believe a ‘ substantial proportion ’ [ of excess deaths ] are indirect deaths caused by collateral damage of the massive disruption in the health system and people just not going to their doctor or hospitals.
” How many excess deaths are ‘ indirect ’ ?
Working out how many excess deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important .
If direct excess deaths are increasing , it might suggest that tougher measures are needed to control the virus , or that existing policies should be maintained for longer .
Conversely , rising indirect deaths could indicate that strict measures need relaxing – or that authorities should take other steps to make sure people get medical treatment when they ’ re ill .
But it ’ s hard to put a reliable number on these indirect excess deaths .
In the latest week for which ONS data is available , 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK did not mention coronavirus on the death certificate .
So is that the indirect deaths figure ?
Not necessarily .
As Professor Spiegelhalter tells FactCheck , we can not be certain that all the deaths in that category definitely did not involve covid-19 .
It is possible that some are the result of doctors under-diagnosing coronavirus when writing death certificates .
But , as he points out , other experts say that under-diagnosis is increasingly unlikely to be the whole story .
Professor Carl Heneghan of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yesterday that the proportion of excess deaths that were not recorded as covid-related on a death certificate has remained roughly stable at around 25 per cent throughout the epidemic .
Professor Heneghan said that if there were significant under-diagnosis of coronavirus , we ’ d expect the proportion of deaths not attributed to covid-19 to decline over time .
In theory , doctors should become more confident in diagnosing the disease and putting it on the death certificate as the epidemic progresses and they learn more about the condition .
Yet that decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excess deaths not attributed to covid-19 has remained pretty much constant throughout .
This could indicate that doctors have been getting it about right all along and that the 25 per cent figure is a reasonable approximation of the indirect deaths caused by the epidemic .
But we simply don ’ t know for certain either way .
The ONS says it is “ continuing to investigate the number of non-covid-19 related deaths and will publish detailed analysis on this in the future.
” “ Excess mortality ” tells us how many more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this time of year , based on the last five years of mortality data .
It ’ s a helpful metric that allows us to make comparisons between countries more easily and may avoid some of the pitfalls of relying on official covid-19 tallies .
One feature of excess mortality is that it includes deaths from all causes – including people who didn ’ t die directly as a result of the virus itself , but who died of other things because they didn ’ t seek , or couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason , excess mortality figures can give us a fuller picture of the true impact of the epidemic .
Nevertheless , it ’ s important to differentiate between the direct and indirect excess deaths from covid-19 – because those figures have very different implications for what policymakers do next .
It ’ s hard to say exactly how many excess deaths were caused indirectly from the virus in the UK , but we know that about 25 per cent of excess deaths registered here did not mention covid-19 on the death certificate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these people did die from the virus , but that doctors didn ’ t diagnose it properly – though experts consider that less and less likely as more data comes in .
The Office for National Statistics says it will publish further analysis on these non-coronavirus excess deaths in the coming weeks .

In recent weeks, commentators and statisticians have started to focus on “excess mortality” or “excess deaths” to work out how many people have lost their lives as a result of the coronavirus.
This measure looks at how many more people are dying now – from all causes – compared to the same point in the previous five years on average.
The head of the ONS, Sir Ian Diamond, has described excess mortality as a “really important statistic”. It currently stands at 47,000 in the UK over the course of the pandemic.
At today’s Prime Minister’s Questions, new Labour leader Keir Starmer also raised the question of unexplained excess deaths in care homes.
We’re going to look at what “excess deaths” figures tell us about the coronavirus crisis – and their limits.
International comparisons
One thing that’s become clear during this crisis is that the way different countries count their coronavirus dead varies wildly.
As FactCheck reported last week, the Spanish government only includes people who tested positive for the virus in its official tally.
Here, the Office for National Statistics uses death certificates, which allows it to count people even if they weren’t tested for the virus – but its figure still depends on doctors establishing covid-19 as a cause of death.
Meanwhile in France, the national tallies do not account for people who died at home – which commentators have described as a “timebomb” (the government plans to add these to the figures in June).
Part of the reason the excess mortality metric is attractive is that it doesn’t rely on people having been tested for the virus, on doctors making their best assessment of the cause(s) of death, nor on the rules that different governments use to decide what counts as a coronavirus death and what doesn’t.
In theory, that makes it far better as a basis for international comparisons than official death tolls produced by governments.
Though we should remember that even excess mortality figures are not always entirely reliable.
For example, the French statistical agency, INSEE, produces estimates of excess mortality based on filings from the country’s many thousands of “communes” – districts that report local deaths to the central authorities each week.
Some communes still send their updates on paper – and others, including France’s second-largest city, Marseille, have suffered “technical problems” getting their data to INSEE at times during the pandemic. The agency describes its excess deaths figures as “very provisional”.
ONS estimates for the UK are also billed as “provisional”.
And even if reporting differences between countries were eliminated, the populations themselves are not always directly comparable: average age, population density, ethnic mix and movement across borders are all significant factors that affect overall death rates. We should keep these in mind when looking at other nations.
The true toll of the epidemic
The headline excess deaths figure does not differentiate between people who died because they caught the virus and “indirect deaths” from the epidemic.
In many ways, this gives it an advantage over those that focus solely on direct deaths.
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Chair of the Winton Centre of Risk at the University of Cambridge, told FactCheck that excess mortality “is currently a reasonable measure of the total impact of the epidemic, both the virus and the measures taken against it”.
Professor Spiegelhalter told us: “I believe a ‘substantial proportion’ [of excess deaths] are indirect deaths caused by collateral damage of the massive disruption in the health system and people just not going to their doctor or hospitals.”
How many excess deaths are ‘indirect’?
Working out how many excess deaths are caused indirectly by the epidemic is important.
If direct excess deaths are increasing, it might suggest that tougher measures are needed to control the virus, or that existing policies should be maintained for longer.
Conversely, rising indirect deaths could indicate that strict measures need relaxing – or that authorities should take other steps to make sure people get medical treatment when they’re ill.
But it’s hard to put a reliable number on these indirect excess deaths.
In the latest week for which ONS data is available, 25 per cent of excess deaths in the UK did not mention coronavirus on the death certificate.
So is that the indirect deaths figure? Not necessarily.
As Professor Spiegelhalter tells FactCheck, we cannot be certain that all the deaths in that category definitely did not involve covid-19. It is possible that some are the result of doctors under-diagnosing coronavirus when writing death certificates.
But, as he points out, other experts say that under-diagnosis is increasingly unlikely to be the whole story.
Professor Carl Heneghan of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at the University of Oxford told journalists yesterday that the proportion of excess deaths that were not recorded as covid-related on a death certificate has remained roughly stable at around 25 per cent throughout the epidemic.
Professor Heneghan said that if there were significant under-diagnosis of coronavirus, we’d expect the proportion of deaths not attributed to covid-19 to decline over time.
In theory, doctors should become more confident in diagnosing the disease and putting it on the death certificate as the epidemic progresses and they learn more about the condition.
Yet that decline did not happen – the proportion of excess deaths not attributed to covid-19 has remained pretty much constant throughout.
This could indicate that doctors have been getting it about right all along and that the 25 per cent figure is a reasonable approximation of the indirect deaths caused by the epidemic. But we simply don’t know for certain either way.
The ONS says it is “continuing to investigate the number of non-covid-19 related deaths and will publish detailed analysis on this in the future.”
FactCheck verdict
“Excess mortality” tells us how many more people are dying than would be expected at this time of year, based on the last five years of mortality data.
It’s a helpful metric that allows us to make comparisons between countries more easily and may avoid some of the pitfalls of relying on official covid-19 tallies.
One feature of excess mortality is that it includes deaths from all causes – including people who didn’t die directly as a result of the virus itself, but who died of other things because they didn’t seek, or couldn’t get, medical treatment.
For this reason, excess mortality figures can give us a fuller picture of the true impact of the epidemic.
Nevertheless, it’s important to differentiate between the direct and indirect excess deaths from covid-19 – because those figures have very different implications for what policymakers do next.
It’s hard to say exactly how many excess deaths were caused indirectly from the virus in the UK, but we know that about 25 per cent of excess deaths registered here did not mention covid-19 on the death certificate. It’s possible that some of these people did die from the virus, but that doctors didn’t diagnose it properly – though experts consider that less and less likely as more data comes in.
The Office for National Statistics says it will publish further analysis on these non-coronavirus excess deaths in the coming weeks.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus explained: does wearing a face mask protect you from Covid-19?

Will a face covering really protect you from Covid-19 ?
Many countries around the world are either advising people to @ @ @ @ @ or even making it mandatory .
But what is the science behind mass mask wearing @ @ @ @ @ you from Covid-19 ?
Or is it something that adds a sense of security without @ @ @ @ @ ?
In this video , we look at the debate around face mask wearing among @ @ @ @ @ to a range of voices to get to the bottom of this seemingly simple but @ @ @ @ @

Will a face covering really protect you from Covid-19?
Many countries around the world are either advising people to wear face masks in public or even making it mandatory.
But what is the science behind mass mask wearing?
Will it really protect you from Covid-19? Or is it something that adds a sense of security without any of the actual benefits?
In this video, we look at the debate around face mask wearing among the public – and talk to a range of voices to get to the bottom of this seemingly simple but actually rather complex topic.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus explained: How and when to end a lockdown

Is there a clear path to normality – or a new normal ?
As countries begin to slowly ease their @ @ @ @ @ a clear path to normality – or a new normal ?
This is all uncharted @ @ @ @ @ , we speak to a range of experts to discuss what the best forward forward @ @ @ @ @ countries .

Is there a clear path to normality – or a new normal?
As countries begin to slowly ease their lockdown restrictions, is there a clear path to normality – or a new normal?
This is all uncharted territory.
In this video, we speak to a range of experts to discuss what the best forward forward is for a range of countries.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--The Spanish Flu of 1918: the history of a deadly pandemic and lessons for coronavirus

The Spanish Flu pandemic hit the world 100 years ago .
Are there any lessons for today as countries try @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 ?
What was the Spanish Flu , why was it so deadly – and @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s world as countries try to stem the spread of Covid-19 ?
100 @ @ @ @ @ was hit by a deadly pandemic during the last months of World War I : @ @ @ @ @ to kill millions of people around the globe .
We spoke to Professor Howard Phillip @ @ @ @ @ the writer Laura Spinney – all of whom have studied and written about the Spanish @ @ @

The Spanish Flu pandemic hit the world 100 years ago. Are there any lessons for today as countries try to stem the spread of Covid-19?
What was the Spanish Flu, why was it so deadly – and are there any lessons for today’s world as countries try to stem the spread of Covid-19?
100 years ago, the world was hit by a deadly pandemic during the last months of World War I: the Spanish Flu went on to kill millions of people around the globe.
We spoke to Professor Howard Phillip, Professor Nancy Bristow and the writer Laura Spinney – all of whom have studied and written about the Spanish Flu crisis.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--‘Another 36 months of global suffering’ – science journalist Laurie Garrett

As we desperately try to see a way out of these very difficult and sad times we look for the @ @ @ @ @ informed prediction .
We are now joined live from New York City by Laurie Garrett @ @ @ @ @ author who in her book The Coming Plague warned about a pandemic just like this @ @

As we desperately try to see a way out of these very difficult and sad times we look for the people who can make an informed prediction.
We are now joined live from New York City by Laurie Garrett, a science journalist and author who in her book The Coming Plague warned about a pandemic just like this one.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--UK public pays tribute to key workers for eighth week in a row

In east London 100-year-old Dabirul Choudary is walking laps of his garden to raise money for charities dealing with coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ with the rest of the UK , his friends and neighbours join him to honour @ @ @ @ @ workers in the weekly clap for our carers .

In east London 100-year-old Dabirul Choudary is walking laps of his garden to raise money for charities dealing with coronavirus.
Every Thursday, along with the rest of the UK, his friends and neighbours join him to honour the hard work of frontline workers in the weekly clap for our carers.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Firefighters set up foodbank and support mortuaries during coronavirus pandemic

People will take to the streets again to show their support for those on the front line .
Among those @ @ @ @ @ service .
During the pandemic many have taken on very different roles .
Our North @ @ @ @ @ is live in Skelmanthorpe in West Yorkshire .

People will take to the streets again to show their support for those on the front line.
Among those being clapped – the fire service. During the pandemic many have taken on very different roles.
Our North of England correspondent Clare Fallon is live in Skelmanthorpe in West Yorkshire.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--US unemployment rivals Great Depression with 36m jobless

The total is more than 36 million – numbers now rivalling the figures of the Great depression in the 1930s @ @ @ @ @ people have started claiming unemployment benefits in the United States , taking the total to @ @ @ @ @ numbers now rivalling the figures of the Great depression in the 1930s .
And as @ @ @ @ @ , one of the worst hit states economically and a crucial battle ground for the @ @ @ @ @ Correspondent Siobhan Kennedy has travelled to the town of Carlisle to see how people are @ @

The total is more than 36 million – numbers now rivalling the figures of the Great depression in the 1930s.
Nearly three million more people have started claiming unemployment benefits in the United States, taking the total to more than 36 million – numbers now rivalling the figures of the Great depression in the 1930s.
And as President Trump arrives in Pennsylvania, one of the worst hit states economically and a crucial battle ground for the upcoming election, our Washington Correspondent Siobhan Kennedy has travelled to the town of Carlisle to see how people are coping.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--‘Biggest health crisis that has happened in yours or my lifetime and we need an inquiry’- Former Hea

‘Biggest health crisis that has happened in yours or my lifetime and we need an inquiry’- Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt

Channel 4 News spoke to the former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who now chairs the Health Select Committee .
We @ @ @ @ @ the tragedy unfolding in Britain ’ s care homes could have been averted and , @ @ @ @ @ homes weren ’ t prepared for a pandemic , were ministers negligent .
Plus , @ @ @ @ @ Editor Victoria Macdonald reported from the newsroom .

Channel 4 News spoke to the former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who now chairs the Health Select Committee.
We began by asking him whether the tragedy unfolding in Britain’s care homes could have been averted and, given the warnings that care homes weren’t prepared for a pandemic, were ministers negligent.
Plus, our Health and Social Care Editor Victoria Macdonald reported from the newsroom.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--‘Step in the right direction’ with antibody tests, says Oxford professor

Sir John Bell is Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University and a non-executive director of Roche and spoke to @ @ @ @ @ .

Sir John Bell is Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University and a non-executive director of Roche and spoke to Channel 4 News from Oxford.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Lessons for the world from Italy’s coronavirus epicentre

Optimism about a further easing of lockdown on Monday has been tempered by fear of a second wave .
The @ @ @ @ @ risen again in the northern Italian region of Lombardy .
Optimism about a further easing @ @ @ @ @ been tempered by fear of a second wave , and questions about why this wealthy @ @ @ @ @ .
Our international editor , Lindsey Hilsum is in Bergamo , the worst hit province @ @ @ @ @ there were any lessons they ’ re learning that could be relevant to the UK @

Optimism about a further easing of lockdown on Monday has been tempered by fear of a second wave.
The number of Covid-19 deaths has risen again in the northern Italian region of Lombardy.
Optimism about a further easing of lockdown on Monday has been tempered by fear of a second wave, and questions about why this wealthy area was so badly hit.
Our international editor, Lindsey Hilsum is in Bergamo, the worst hit province. She told us if there were any lessons they’re learning that could be relevant to the UK.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Charities demand care home workers are paid a living wage

They are on the frontline – some have even given their lives .
Yet the majority of care workers must @ @ @ @ @ .
They are dying at roughly twice the rate of the general population and are @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment putting them in harm ’ s way every day they go to work @ @ @ @ @ conditions often mean it ’ s near impossible for them to socially distance .
Now @ @ @ @ @ is demanding they be given a wage they can live on .

They are on the frontline – some have even given their lives. Yet the majority of care workers must survive on the minimum wage.
They are dying at roughly twice the rate of the general population and are struggling with a lack of protective equipment putting them in harm’s way every day they go to work.
And their cramped living conditions often mean it’s near impossible for them to socially distance.
Now a coalition of 100 charities is demanding they be given a wage they can live on.
Our Social Affairs editor Jackie Long reports.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--A&E visits in England fall by 57 per cent to record low during coronavirus peak

Hospital accident and emergency departments usually make headlines when they have unacceptable waiting times and are packed with patients .
@ @ @ @ @ true .
Figures for April reveal that the number of people going into A & @ @ @ @ @ more than halved , raising concerns about the “ collateral damage ” from the virus @ @ @ @ @ help are too scared to seek it .

Hospital accident and emergency departments usually make headlines when they have unacceptable waiting times and are packed with patients.
But now the opposite is true.
Figures for April reveal that the number of people going into A&Es in English hospitals have more than halved, raising concerns about the “collateral damage” from the virus as people who need medical help are too scared to seek it.
Our health and social care editor Victoria Macdonald reports.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--‘Heartbreaking and outrageous’ that care workers are underpaid, says Labour MP Helen Hayes

Biggest health crisis that has happened in yours or my lifetime and we need an inquiry ’ - Former Health @ @ @

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


channel4uk--2020-05-14--FactCheck: what are the coronavirus risks to children?

The UK government says schools in England could start to welcome some year groups back from 1 June , as long as five “ key tests ” have been met .
Perhaps the only corner of comfort to be found so far in the covid-19 crisis is that children appear to be less vulnerable to serious complications from the virus .
Nevertheless , a letter from a Kent headteacher telling families he would “ rather any child repeats a year than go back too soon and have to lose a child ” has been shared widely on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks kids might face once they return to class .
Let ’ s take a look at what we know .
How many children have died with coronavirus ?
Since the outbreak began , two children aged under 15 have died after testing positive for coronavirus in England and Wales .
These are , of course , tragedies for the children and families involved .
But if we ’ re thinking about the risks posed overall to children , it is important to consider them in context .
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk to children of catching and then dying from coronavirus is one in 5.3 million .
It means that on average , under-15s face the lowest coronavirus fatality risk of any age group .
The over-90s face the highest risk , with a one in 81 chance of catching and dying from the disease , according to Professor Spiegelhalter ’ s calculations .
What about this new inflammatory syndrome ?
In recent days , more reports have emerged about what seems to be a new inflammatory syndrome that doctors in Europe and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the coronavirus outbreak began .
As FactCheck reported last month , the condition was the subject of an alert sent out to clinicians in England in late April .
It ’ s now believed up to 100 children in the UK have been treated for the condition , with a small number needing intensive treatment .
This is clearly concerning for the families involved – but experts say the syndrome is “ exceptionally rare ” .
100 cases out of 12.7 million children in the UK suggests the chance of a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average , around one in 127,000 .
In an interview with Channel 4 News last night , Dr Liz Whittaker of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said there is “ a spectrum ” of severity among patients with the inflammatory syndrome .
“ Unfortunately some of the children have been extremely unwell and have required intensive care support ” .
Though she said that out of three children who had needed ECMO – a treatment for extremely ill patients – two “ have done very well , despite being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the syndrome .
Dr Whittaker said “ the majority [ of children with the syndrome ] get better within four to six days , and we have a cohort of them who are already at home with their parents and being closely monitored ” .
“ We would encourage any parent who ’ s worried about their child to take them to either their GP or to A & E if they ’ re worried , because it ’ s more likely they ’ re unwell with another condition rather than this inflammatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s not yet certain that the new syndrome is caused by the coronavirus , as not all those presenting with symptoms tested positive for the virus .
Scientists are therefore “ being cautious and we ’ re saying that it ’ s associated with the pandemic while we get more information ” , Dr Whittaker says .
But in the meantime , it ’ s “ reasonable to assume ” that the two “ might be related ” .
How does the coronavirus compare with other risks children face ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive outbreak of flu take hold in the UK and other countries .
Over 50,000 excess deaths were reported here , according to the Office for National Statistics – slightly more than the equivalent figure for the coronavirus outbreak so far .
Of those who died in the flu season of 2017-18 , there were 16 “ influenza-related deaths ” among children aged under 18 , according to government data for England .
Using the same methods as Professor Spiegelhalter , we might therefore estimate that the fatality risk children faced from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 742,000 .
( That ’ s based on 16 deaths out of 11.9 million under-18s in England in 2017 ) .
On this basis , we tentatively estimate the mortality risk to children from the 2017-18 flu outbreak was around seven times greater than the risk they currently face from coronavirus .
Now , there are important caveats to bear in mind here .
Coronavirus appears to be much more contagious than flu .
And unlike flu , it has prompted near-total lockdown of societies across the world .
The threat of covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for children precisely because we ’ ve taken more robust steps to control it .
So where does that leave schools ?
Asked about the factors policymakers should consider when reopening schools , Professor Russell Viner of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health said yesterday : “ Well how do we balance risks in normal life ?
The total numbers of children who get this [ new inflammatory ] syndrome are very small.
” He considers how we mitigate the risk of other causes of death in children : “ 160-170 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
Those deaths are tragic but also rare .
How do we manage those ?
We take steps to prevent these deaths .
We buy child seats , we use seat belts , we sometimes buy better cars .
But we don ’ t stop driving.
” “ This [ inflammatory , coronavirus-associated ] syndrome is much , much more rare than car accidents involving children .
So it should not stop parents sending their children back to school when schools are ready to re-open ” Professor Viner said .
And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there are many harms for children of lockdown as well.
” What ’ s happened in countries where schools have reopened ?
Schools in Israel were told to allow pupils back from 3 May – though uptake has been patchy , with just 60 per cent of eligible pupils returning to class , and individual cities deciding to stay shut .
Dr Hagai Levine , an epidemiologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the head of the Israel Association of Public Health Physicians , told the Times of Israel that based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the balance is very clear in favour of opening ” .
As for why so few students have returned , Dr Levine speculates : “ Unfortunately , in Israel , the decision on opening of the schools was not handled very well ” , which led , he said , to a “ confused ” system .
In schools that have opened there , class sizes are capped at 15 , with children aged 7 and over required to wear face masks .
In Denmark , some primary school children were allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregated into groups of no more than 12 throughout the day and can ’ t mix with others .
Hygiene also plays a significant role : “ there is pretty much hourly hand-washing going on ” , says one Danish teacher .
The leader of the Danish Union of Teachers says “ We are glad to say the re-opening up to now has been quite successful ” – though some parents remain concerned .
Given the time it takes for coronavirus infections to develop into symptoms – and the fact that the rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even longer to manifest – we don ’ t yet know if there have been more infections among children as a result of schools reopening .
We will have to wait for data to arrive .
What about children passing the virus to others ?
The decision to open up schools is not just a matter of working out the risk to children .
We also have to consider the risks to staff who look after them , and whether – even if they don ’ t develop symptoms – kids might help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unions in the UK published a joint statement this week saying “ it appears , school staff will not be protected by social distancing rules ” and calling on the government to “ step back from the 1 June [ potential reopening date for England ] and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools ” .
Like many things linked to coronavirus , the science is not yet settled on children ’ s capacity to pass it on .
A recent study from Germany of nearly 4,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as infectious as adults ” .
Based on these results , the authors wrote : “ we have to caution against an unlimited re-opening of schools and kindergartens in the present situation ” .
But the UK government ’ s chief pandemic modeller , Professor Graham Medley , said this week that the “ current understanding ” is that children are “ not playing a key role ” in transmitting the disease .
And in Denmark , the “ R0 ” value – how many people someone with the virus goes on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partially reopened .
England ’ s Education Secretary , Gavin Williamson , told MPs : “ schools have started to return in Denmark and have not seen a negative impact as a result of that .
This has reconfirmed this approach is the right approach .
”

The UK government says schools in England could start to welcome some year groups back from 1 June, as long as five “key tests” have been met.
Perhaps the only corner of comfort to be found so far in the covid-19 crisis is that children appear to be less vulnerable to serious complications from the virus.
Nevertheless, a letter from a Kent headteacher telling families he would “rather any child repeats a year than go back too soon and have to lose a child” has been shared widely on social media.
Understandably, parents are worried about the risks kids might face once they return to class.
Let’s take a look at what we know.
How many children have died with coronavirus?
Since the outbreak began, two children aged under 15 have died after testing positive for coronavirus in England and Wales.
These are, of course, tragedies for the children and families involved. But if we’re thinking about the risks posed overall to children, it is important to consider them in context.
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter at the University of Cambridge estimates that the risk to children of catching and then dying from coronavirus is one in 5.3 million.
(That’s based on two deaths out of a population of 10.7 million under-15s in England and Wales.)
It means that on average, under-15s face the lowest coronavirus fatality risk of any age group. The over-90s face the highest risk, with a one in 81 chance of catching and dying from the disease, according to Professor Spiegelhalter’s calculations.
What about this new inflammatory syndrome?
In recent days, more reports have emerged about what seems to be a new inflammatory syndrome that doctors in Europe and the US have started to report in children since the coronavirus outbreak began.
As FactCheck reported last month, the condition was the subject of an alert sent out to clinicians in England in late April.
It’s now believed up to 100 children in the UK have been treated for the condition, with a small number needing intensive treatment.
This is clearly concerning for the families involved – but experts say the syndrome is “exceptionally rare”.
100 cases out of 12.7 million children in the UK suggests the chance of a child developing the inflammatory syndrome is, on average, around one in 127,000.
In an interview with Channel 4 News last night, Dr Liz Whittaker of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said there is “a spectrum” of severity among patients with the inflammatory syndrome.
“Unfortunately some of the children have been extremely unwell and have required intensive care support”.
Though she said that out of three children who had needed ECMO – a treatment for extremely ill patients – two “have done very well, despite being the most severely unwell” of those with the syndrome.
Dr Whittaker said “the majority [of children with the syndrome] get better within four to six days, and we have a cohort of them who are already at home with their parents and being closely monitored”.
“We would encourage any parent who’s worried about their child to take them to either their GP or to A&E if they’re worried, because it’s more likely they’re unwell with another condition rather than this inflammatory condition”, she said.
Indeed, it’s not yet certain that the new syndrome is caused by the coronavirus, as not all those presenting with symptoms tested positive for the virus. Scientists are therefore “being cautious and we’re saying that it’s associated with the pandemic while we get more information”, Dr Whittaker says.
But in the meantime, it’s “reasonable to assume” that the two “might be related”.
How does the coronavirus compare with other risks children face?
The winter of 2017-18 saw an unusually aggressive outbreak of flu take hold in the UK and other countries.
Over 50,000 excess deaths were reported here, according to the Office for National Statistics – slightly more than the equivalent figure for the coronavirus outbreak so far.
Of those who died in the flu season of 2017-18, there were 16 “influenza-related deaths” among children aged under 18, according to government data for England.
Using the same methods as Professor Spiegelhalter, we might therefore estimate that the fatality risk children faced from the 2017-18 flu outbreak was around one in 742,000.
(That’s based on 16 deaths out of 11.9 million under-18s in England in 2017).
On this basis, we tentatively estimate the mortality risk to children from the 2017-18 flu outbreak was around seven times greater than the risk they currently face from coronavirus.
Now, there are important caveats to bear in mind here.
Coronavirus appears to be much more contagious than flu. And unlike flu, it has prompted near-total lockdown of societies across the world. The threat of covid-19 right now might be lower than flu for children precisely because we’ve taken more robust steps to control it.
So where does that leave schools?
Asked about the factors policymakers should consider when reopening schools, Professor Russell Viner of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health said yesterday: “Well how do we balance risks in normal life? The total numbers of children who get this [new inflammatory] syndrome are very small.”
He considers how we mitigate the risk of other causes of death in children: “160-170 die in car crashes [each year]. Those deaths are tragic but also rare. How do we manage those? We take steps to prevent these deaths. We buy child seats, we use seat belts, we sometimes buy better cars. But we don’t stop driving.”
“This [inflammatory, coronavirus-associated] syndrome is much, much more rare than car accidents involving children. So it should not stop parents sending their children back to school when schools are ready to re-open” Professor Viner said.
And he points out that “we all know that there are many harms for children of lockdown as well.”
What’s happened in countries where schools have reopened?
Schools in Israel were told to allow pupils back from 3 May – though uptake has been patchy, with just 60 per cent of eligible pupils returning to class, and individual cities deciding to stay shut.
Dr Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the head of the Israel Association of Public Health Physicians, told the Times of Israel that based on what we know about covid-19 “the balance is very clear in favour of opening”.
As for why so few students have returned, Dr Levine speculates: “Unfortunately, in Israel, the decision on opening of the schools was not handled very well”, which led, he said, to a “confused” system.
In schools that have opened there, class sizes are capped at 15, with children aged 7 and over required to wear face masks.
In Denmark, some primary school children were allowed to return from 14 April. Pupils are segregated into groups of no more than 12 throughout the day and can’t mix with others. Hygiene also plays a significant role: “there is pretty much hourly hand-washing going on”, says one Danish teacher.
The leader of the Danish Union of Teachers says “We are glad to say the re-opening up to now has been quite successful” – though some parents remain concerned.
Given the time it takes for coronavirus infections to develop into symptoms – and the fact that the rare inflammatory syndrome associated with it may take even longer to manifest – we don’t yet know if there have been more infections among children as a result of schools reopening. We will have to wait for data to arrive.
What about children passing the virus to others?
The decision to open up schools is not just a matter of working out the risk to children. We also have to consider the risks to staff who look after them, and whether – even if they don’t develop symptoms – kids might help transmit the virus between households.
Education unions in the UK published a joint statement this week saying “it appears, school staff will not be protected by social distancing rules” and calling on the government to “step back from the 1 June [potential reopening date for England] and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools”.
Like many things linked to coronavirus, the science is not yet settled on children’s capacity to pass it on.
A recent study from Germany of nearly 4,000 covid-19 patients concluded “children may be as infectious as adults”. Based on these results, the authors wrote: “we have to caution against an unlimited re-opening of schools and kindergartens in the present situation”.
But the UK government’s chief pandemic modeller, Professor Graham Medley, said this week that the “current understanding” is that children are “not playing a key role” in transmitting the disease.
And in Denmark, the “R0” value – how many people someone with the virus goes on to infect – has actually fallen since schools partially reopened. England’s Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, told MPs: “schools have started to return in Denmark and have not seen a negative impact as a result of that. This has reconfirmed this approach is the right approach.”


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Government announces fund for ‘infection control’ in care homes in England – but is system working?

One area the government has prioritised is making sure that patients are tested negative for Covid-19 before being discharged from @ @ @ @ @ How do we protect care home workers and residents ?
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced @ @ @ @ @ “ infection control ” in care homes in England .
One area the government has @ @ @ @ @ patients are tested negative for Covid-19 before being discharged from hospital to care homes .
@ @ @ @ @ as it should ?

One area the government has prioritised is making sure that patients are tested negative for Covid-19 before being discharged from hospital to care homes.
How do we protect care home workers and residents?
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced a £600 million fund for “infection control” in care homes in England.
One area the government has prioritised is making sure that patients are tested negative for Covid-19 before being discharged from hospital to care homes.
But is that system working as it should?
Our Chief Correspondent Alex Thomson reports.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--FactCheck: Conservatives share misleading video of Keir Starmer talking about sex abuse

Health minister Nadine Dorries and fellow Conservative MPs Lucy Allan and Maria Caulfield all retweeted a short section of video posted by the anonymous Twitter account “ Njames World ” .
The video was a selectively edited clip of a 2013 media interview with Labour leader Keir Starmer .
Mr Starmer was the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time , and he had just announced changes in guidelines on how police and prosecutors deal with victims of sexual abuse .
It came after intense scrutiny of how networks of men in the north of England and elsewhere were able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many years without facing prosecution .
The “ Njames World ” video , which was viewed more than 200,000 times , featured a short section of the interview in which Mr Starmer laid out reasons why victims might have been treated as unreliable in the past .
The full interview is available here .
If we book-end the quote featured in the misleading video with what Mr Starmer says immediately before and afterwards ( in bold ) , he is clearly saying that the previous approach was wrong and had to change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the approach that ’ s been taken in the past was the wrong approach .
“ It was based on a number of assumptions which don ’ t withstand scrutiny .
The guidelines change that , and they require the police and prosecutors to focus intensely on the allegation actually being made , and not so much on the weaknesses or vulnerabilities that are invariably there in some of the victims who come forward .
“ The assumptions that were made included the assumption that a victim of child sexual abuse will swiftly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the police , will be able to give a coherent , consistent account the first time ; that they will not themselves have engaged in any offending or other behaviour , and that they will not have misused drugs or alcohol at any stage .
“ Those assumptions do not withstand scrutiny .
They ’ ve got to change .
The guidelines make that clear .
And so this is a clear break with the past.
” The video carried the misleading title : “ Keir Starmer explains why he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head if ( sic ) the Crown Prosecution Service.
” In fact , while Mr Starmer acknowledges previous working practices were wrong in the interview , he doesn ’ t focus specifically on cases that were prosecuted during his term of office as head of the CPS from 2008 to 2013 .
Indeed , many of the most notorious “ grooming gang ” cases featured historic abuse that went back decades .
Ms Dorries retweeted the short clip along with a single word : “ Revealing ” .
The tweet was deleted later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms Allan , the MP for Telford , shared the original misleading post with the comment : “ This… suggests a total failure to understand grooming , a dismissive attitude towards # CSE victims and a belief that the victims brought it on themselves.
” This tweet has also been deleted .
Lucy Allan later posted another tweet , saying : “ There was a total failure by the authorities to understand # cse # grooming , a dismissive attitude towards victims , and a belief that victims brought it on themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video and added the comment : “ True face of the Labour leader .
# shameful.
” Both the Maria Caulfield and “ Njames World ” Twitter accounts appear to have been deleted .
All three MPs were contacted for comment .
A Downing Street spokesman later said : “ These tweets have rightly been deleted .
“ The MPs involved have been spoken to by the whips ’ office and reminded of their responsibility to check the validity of information before they post on social media sites .
”

Health minister Nadine Dorries and fellow Conservative MPs Lucy Allan and Maria Caulfield all retweeted a short section of video posted by the anonymous Twitter account “Njames World”.
The video was a selectively edited clip of a 2013 media interview with Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Mr Starmer was the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, and he had just announced changes in guidelines on how police and prosecutors deal with victims of sexual abuse.
It came after intense scrutiny of how networks of men in the north of England and elsewhere were able to groom young girls for sex for many years without facing prosecution.
The “Njames World” video, which was viewed more than 200,000 times, featured a short section of the interview in which Mr Starmer laid out reasons why victims might have been treated as unreliable in the past.
The full interview is available here. If we book-end the quote featured in the misleading video with what Mr Starmer says immediately before and afterwards (in bold), he is clearly saying that the previous approach was wrong and had to change.
“These guidelines are a recognition that the approach that’s been taken in the past was the wrong approach.
“It was based on a number of assumptions which don’t withstand scrutiny. The guidelines change that, and they require the police and prosecutors to focus intensely on the allegation actually being made, and not so much on the weaknesses or vulnerabilities that are invariably there in some of the victims who come forward.
“The assumptions that were made included the assumption that a victim of child sexual abuse will swiftly report what’s happened to them to the police, will be able to give a coherent, consistent account the first time; that they will not themselves have engaged in any offending or other behaviour, and that they will not have misused drugs or alcohol at any stage.
“Those assumptions do not withstand scrutiny. They’ve got to change. The guidelines make that clear. And so this is a clear break with the past.”
The video carried the misleading title: “Keir Starmer explains why he didn’t prosecute grooming gangs when he was head if (sic) the Crown Prosecution Service.”
In fact, while Mr Starmer acknowledges previous working practices were wrong in the interview, he doesn’t focus specifically on cases that were prosecuted during his term of office as head of the CPS from 2008 to 2013.
Indeed, many of the most notorious “grooming gang” cases featured historic abuse that went back decades.
Ms Dorries retweeted the short clip along with a single word: “Revealing”. The tweet was deleted later, amid criticism from other Twitter users.
Ms Allan, the MP for Telford, shared the original misleading post with the comment: “This… suggests a total failure to understand grooming, a dismissive attitude towards #CSE victims and a belief that the victims brought it on themselves.” This tweet has also been deleted.
Lucy Allan later posted another tweet, saying: “There was a total failure by the authorities to understand #cse #grooming, a dismissive attitude towards victims, and a belief that victims brought it on themselves.
Ms Caulfield shared the Njames World video and added the comment: “True face of the Labour leader. #shameful.”
Both the Maria Caulfield and “Njames World” Twitter accounts appear to have been deleted.
All three MPs were contacted for comment.
A Downing Street spokesman later said: “These tweets have rightly been deleted.
“The MPs involved have been spoken to by the whips’ office and reminded of their responsibility to check the validity of information before they post on social media sites.”


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Ramadan under Lockdown: How one Muslim family are observing the holy month

We join Hafsah Habiri from London , in conversation with her parents , to find out how they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re fasting and we ’ re stuck in quarantine… you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ the place.
” For millions of Muslims across Britain and beyond , the holy month @ @ @ @ @ with family , food and congregational prayers – a time of spiritual and physical togetherness @ @ @ @ @ has seen countries impose restrictions to stop the spread of the outbreak – including closing @ @ @ @ @ .
So this year , practising Muslims have had to find new ways to celebrate @ @ @ @ @ .
We join Hafsah Habiri from London , in conversation with her parents , to @ @ @ @ @ re spending Ramadan under lockdown .

We join Hafsah Habiri from London, in conversation with her parents, to find out how they’re spending Ramadan under lockdown.
“We’re fasting and we’re stuck in quarantine… you’ve got hangry people all over the place.”
For millions of Muslims across Britain and beyond, the holy month of Ramadan is usually marked with family, food and congregational prayers – a time of spiritual and physical togetherness.
But the coronavirus pandemic has seen countries impose restrictions to stop the spread of the outbreak – including closing mosques and banning mass gatherings.
So this year, practising Muslims have had to find new ways to celebrate the holy month at home.
We join Hafsah Dabiri from London, in conversation with her parents, to find out how they’re spending Ramadan under lockdown.


channel4uk--2020-05-14--Is south Wales the new epicentre of Covid-19?

On the face of it , statistics suggest that Wales could be the new hotspot for coronavirus infections .
But how reliable are the figures ?
The latest data suggests that Wales does have more Covid-19 cases per capita than any other country in the UK .
For every 100,000 people , there were more than 373 positive test results .
That compares to 248.5 in neighbouring England .
Looking at local authorities in England and Wales , the five places with the highest rates are all in south Wales : Rhondda Cynon Taf , Merthyr Tydfil , Newport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south Wales are also high on the list , such as Blaenau Gwent and the Vale of Glamorgan .
But how much can we read into this ?
It ’ s difficult to know for sure – because of gaps in the data published by the UK government .
The big question is how much testing is being done locally .
If one area has done twice as many tests as another , you ’ d expect it to have more positive results .
Likewise , some areas may be doing more contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing people who have been in contact with known cases .
This might cause the number of positive test results to be raised above what you would otherwise expect .
So , in order to compare the data fairly , we need to build up as much detail about testing in each area .
In Wales , this data is published for each local authority .
For instance , we know that roughly 1.7 % of local people have been tested in Rhondda Cynon Taf – compared to just 0.7 % in Powys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in England .
We know that 1,593,902 people have been tested across the whole of the UK , as of 14 May , which works out at around 2.4 % of the total population .
But we can ’ t break this down by every council area .
Death statistics may paint a more accurate picture of what has happened – because they are not affected by the number of tests being done .
However , there is a time-lag with these figures , because there could be several weeks between someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , death statistics may not tell us about the current spread of the virus – but they might help us spot previous flare-ups .
Various media reports have emerged since March , saying that south Wales is an infection hotspot .
So the question is : was this followed by a spike in the number of coronavirus deaths ?
According to figures from the UK Department of Health , there have been 1,154 recorded Covid-19 deaths in Wales since the pandemic began .
That compares to 29,637 deaths in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this works out at around 36.6 deaths per 100,000 people in Wales .
But the proportion is actually higher in England – at 52.7 deaths per 100,000 people .
In other words , concerns over previous flare-ups in Wales do not appear to be reflected in subsequent death statistics .
This suggests there could be alternative reasons why positive test results are particularly high in the area .
Public Health Wales agreed that a range of different factors may be influencing the numbers – creating the impression that there is an infection hotspot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high local rates can be partly explained by the way testing has been carried out in the area .
A spokesperson said : “ In Wales , we have been testing healthcare workers since 18 March , and other key workers since 6 April .
Although it is impossible to say for sure , it is reasonable to assume that the increased identification of cases , and the lower case mortality rate in this analysis , is linked with our approach to testing in Wales.
” The issue has also been addressed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking in March he said that an apparent surge of infections within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board ( covering a large area of south Wales ) could be partly explained “ because we ’ ve tested more people than elsewhere ” .
Reports also say that the Aneurin Bevan trust was the first in Wales to start testing its staff for coronavirus .
Mr Drakeford gave another “ note of caution ” about the statistics on Monday , saying : “ [ The statistics ] rely on testing – and testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So they may not be telling us everything we need to know.
” But he added : “ If you are older and sicker and poorer then you are more vulnerable to the disease than you are if you don ’ t share those characteristics .
And Wales has a population that is older and sicker and poorer than the United Kingdom as a whole .
So you are seeing some reflection of that in these figures as well.
” Clearly , there is a lot more to these figures than first meets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make definitive conclusions .
However , based on the death statistics – and the knowledge that testing may have been carried out differently in south Wales – it seems likely that previous claims of a major flare-up in south Wales can be largely accounted for by local differences in testing .
Of course , this does not rule out a real flare-up of cases now or in the future in Wales .
Because full testing data is not published in England , it ’ s impossible to identify local hotspots across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , we will have to wait several weeks for death statistics that will reflect how the disease is spreading at the moment .

On the face of it, statistics suggest that Wales could be the new hotspot for coronavirus infections. But how reliable are the figures?
The latest data suggests that Wales does have more Covid-19 cases per capita than any other country in the UK.
For every 100,000 people, there were more than 373 positive test results. That compares to 248.5 in neighbouring England.
Looking at local authorities in England and Wales, the five places with the highest rates are all in south Wales: Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.
Other parts of south Wales are also high on the list, such as Blaenau Gwent and the Vale of Glamorgan.
But how much can we read into this? It’s difficult to know for sure – because of gaps in the data published by the UK government.
How much testing?
The big question is how much testing is being done locally. If one area has done twice as many tests as another, you’d expect it to have more positive results. Likewise, some areas may be doing more contact tracing than others – tracking down and testing people who have been in contact with known cases.
This might cause the number of positive test results to be raised above what you would otherwise expect.
So, in order to compare the data fairly, we need to build up as much detail about testing in each area.
In Wales, this data is published for each local authority. For instance, we know that roughly 1.7% of local people have been tested in Rhondda Cynon Taf – compared to just 0.7% in Powys.
However, similar figures are not published in England. We know that 1,593,902 people have been tested across the whole of the UK, as of 14 May, which works out at around 2.4% of the total population. But we can’t break this down by every council area.
Deaths
Death statistics may paint a more accurate picture of what has happened – because they are not affected by the number of tests being done. However, there is a time-lag with these figures, because there could be several weeks between someone catching the virus and then dying.
In other words, death statistics may not tell us about the current spread of the virus – but they might help us spot previous flare-ups.
Various media reports have emerged since March, saying that south Wales is an infection hotspot. So the question is: was this followed by a spike in the number of coronavirus deaths?
According to figures from the UK Department of Health, there have been 1,154 recorded Covid-19 deaths in Wales since the pandemic began. That compares to 29,637 deaths in England.
When adjusted to population size, this works out at around 36.6 deaths per 100,000 people in Wales. But the proportion is actually higher in England – at 52.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
In other words, concerns over previous flare-ups in Wales do not appear to be reflected in subsequent death statistics. This suggests there could be alternative reasons why positive test results are particularly high in the area.
Public Health Wales agreed that a range of different factors may be influencing the numbers – creating the impression that there is an infection hotspot. Instead, the organisation suggested the high local rates can be partly explained by the way testing has been carried out in the area.
A spokesperson said: “In Wales, we have been testing healthcare workers since 18 March, and other key workers since 6 April. Although it is impossible to say for sure, it is reasonable to assume that the increased identification of cases, and the lower case mortality rate in this analysis, is linked with our approach to testing in Wales.”
The issue has also been addressed by the Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford. Speaking in March he said that an apparent surge of infections within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (covering a large area of south Wales) could be partly explained “because we’ve tested more people than elsewhere”.
Reports also say that the Aneurin Bevan trust was the first in Wales to start testing its staff for coronavirus.
Mr Drakeford gave another “note of caution” about the statistics on Monday, saying: “[The statistics] rely on testing – and testing regimes are different in different places. So they may not be telling us everything we need to know.”
But he added: “If you are older and sicker and poorer then you are more vulnerable to the disease than you are if you don’t share those characteristics. And Wales has a population that is older and sicker and poorer than the United Kingdom as a whole. So you are seeing some reflection of that in these figures as well.”
Verdict
Clearly, there is a lot more to these figures than first meets the eye. It is very difficult to make definitive conclusions.
However, based on the death statistics – and the knowledge that testing may have been carried out differently in south Wales – it seems likely that previous claims of a major flare-up in south Wales can be largely accounted for by local differences in testing.
Of course, this does not rule out a real flare-up of cases now or in the future in Wales.
Because full testing data is not published in England, it’s impossible to identify local hotspots across the wider UK in a meaningful way. Instead, we will have to wait several weeks for death statistics that will reflect how the disease is spreading at the moment.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--New Orleans: the city of noise silenced by coronavirus

So how does a city renowned for its noise and celebration , cope with a disease that ’ s brought @ @ @ @ @ and loss ?
New Orleans – home of jazz and the world famous Mardi Gras @ @ @ @ @ , extravagant place .
Music , culture and prayer have always fused here .
But @ @ @ @ @ New Orleans area hard , recently claiming the life of jazz legend Ellis Marsalis Jr @ @ @ @ @ city renowned for its noise and celebration , cope with a disease that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ sobriety and loss ?

So how does a city renowned for its noise and celebration, cope with a disease that’s brought so much silence, sobriety and loss?
New Orleans – home of jazz and the world famous Mardi Gras – is usually a joyous, extravagant place. Music, culture and prayer have always fused here. But the virus has hit the New Orleans area hard, recently claiming the life of jazz legend Ellis Marsalis Jr.
So how does a city renowned for its noise and celebration, cope with a disease that’s brought so much silence, sobriety and loss?
Produced by: Teresa Smith and Agnieszka Liggett.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--‘This is opportunity to create more just and better world’ – writer Rutger Bregman on coronavirus af

‘This is opportunity to create more just and better world’ – writer Rutger Bregman on coronavirus aftermath

The Dutch writer Rutger Bregman is known for shaking up social norms .
Last year , he attracted global attention @ @ @ @ @ in Davos when he turned on his wealthy audience and called out those who avoid @ @ @ @ @ also argued for a universal basic income .
His latest work – Humankind – offers @ @ @ @ @ might organise society differently , based on the idea that deep down most people are @ @ @ @ @ Krishnan Guru-Murthy spoke to him earlier and asked how that premise has played out during @ @ @ @

The Dutch writer Rutger Bregman is known for shaking up social norms. Last year, he attracted global attention at the World Economic Forum in Davos when he turned on his wealthy audience and called out those who avoid paying taxes.
He has also argued for a universal basic income. His latest work – Humankind – offers a roadmap for how we might organise society differently, based on the idea that deep down most people are actually decent human beings.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy spoke to him earlier and asked how that premise has played out during the coronavirus lockdown.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--Relief agencies fear coronavirus spread in Rohingya camps

The United Nations Refugee Agency has appealed for international assistance for the crowded Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh , @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus have been recorded .
The World Health Organization has deployed rapid investigation teams to @ @ @ @ @ in the camps , but relief agencies have told Channel 4 News it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ already spread widely .
If true , the impact could be devastating .

The United Nations Refugee Agency has appealed for international assistance for the crowded Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh, where the first cases of coronavirus have been recorded.
The World Health Organization has deployed rapid investigation teams to conduct testing and contact tracing in the camps, but relief agencies have told Channel 4 News it’s highly likely the disease has already spread widely. If true, the impact could be devastating.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--‘If you have 15 four or five-year-olds in the class it is impossible to social distance’ – National

‘If you have 15 four or five-year-olds in the class it is impossible to social distance’ – National Education Union’s Mary Bousted

Teachers ’ unions today met the government ’ s scientific advisers to discuss their concerns about plans to reopen schools @ @ @ @ @ June .
Some teachers have said that social distancing will be difficult to implement and @ @ @ @ @ given personal protective equipment .
The Education Secretary has said safety is paramount but that @ @ @ @ @ is “ vital ” for their educational development .
Channel 4 News spoke to Mary @ @ @ @ @ the National Education Union and Steve Chalke , founder of the Oasis trust , one @ @ @ @ @ in England .

Teachers’ unions today met the government’s scientific advisers to discuss their concerns about plans to reopen schools in England on the 1 June.
Some teachers have said that social distancing will be difficult to implement and questioned whether staff should be given personal protective equipment.
The Education Secretary has said safety is paramount but that getting children back to school is “vital” for their educational development.
Channel 4 News spoke to Mary Bousted, Joint General-Secretary of the National Education Union and Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis trust, one of the biggest academy chains in England.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--‘Rapid ability to identify contacts and stringent quarantine’ are lessons UK can learn from Asian co

‘Rapid ability to identify contacts and stringent quarantine’ are lessons UK can learn from Asian countries – epidemiologist

Channel 4 News spoke to Adam Kucharski , an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , @ @ @ @ @ of infectious disease outbreaks .

Channel 4 News spoke to Adam Kucharski, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he works on analysis of infectious disease outbreaks.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--What lessons can the UK learn from Ireland’s coronavirus testing operation?

The Republic of Ireland will begin its first phase of easing the lockdown on Monday .
More than 1,500 people @ @ @ @ @ there with almost 24,000 confirmed cases .
Ireland ’ s testing and tracing policy was @ @ @ @ @ a vital role in allowing the country to take some small steps back to a @ @ @ @ @ thousand contact tracers have been hired and the aim is to reach 15,000 tests a @ @ @ @ @ what lessons can the UK take from the Irish testing operation ?

The Republic of Ireland will begin its first phase of easing the lockdown on Monday.
More than 1,500 people have died from the virus there with almost 24,000 confirmed cases. Ireland’s testing and tracing policy was established early and has played a vital role in allowing the country to take some small steps back to a kind of normality.
Two thousand contact tracers have been hired and the aim is to reach 15,000 tests a day by Monday.
So what lessons can the UK take from the Irish testing operation?


channel4uk--2020-05-15--The reality of coronavirus intensive care in Wales – and long road to recovery

For the many thousands of people with coronavirus who have ended up in intensive care units , surviving is only @ @ @ @ @ periods of ventilation and the extreme fatigue caused by Covid-19 are just some of the @ @ @ @ @ begin to recover .
The bodies representing occupational therapists and physiotherapists have warned of a @ @ @ @ @ their services – as people make their way out of hospital and back into the @ @

For the many thousands of people with coronavirus who have ended up in intensive care units, surviving is only the first battle.
Prolonged periods of ventilation and the extreme fatigue caused by Covid-19 are just some of the challenges patients face as they begin to recover.
The bodies representing occupational therapists and physiotherapists have warned of a tidal wave of demand for their services – as people make their way out of hospital and back into the community.


channel4uk--2020-05-15--Care home residents under 65 still not qualifying for coronavirus tests

New figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed thousands of extra deaths in care homes in England and @ @ @ @ @ and other causes .
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised that all care home residents @ @ @ @ @ being tested for coronavirus , pledging every resident and staff member will have been tested @ @ @ @ @ families of younger care home residents – those aged under 65 , with learning disabilities @ @ @ @ @ about access to testing for their loved ones .
Channel 4 News also spoke to @ @ @ @ @ mother is in a care home where 23 residents have already died from suspected Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ her what she thought of Matt Hancock ’ s promise .

New figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed thousands of extra deaths in care homes in England and Wales – both from Covid-19 and other causes.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised that all care home residents and staff in England are being tested for coronavirus, pledging every resident and staff member will have been tested by early June.
But families of younger care home residents – those aged under 65, with learning disabilities – have also raised concerns about access to testing for their loved ones.
Channel 4 News also spoke to Mona Da Gama – whose mother is in a care home where 23 residents have already died from suspected Covid-19. We began by asking her what she thought of Matt Hancock’s promise.


channel4uk--2020-05-16--Rwandan millionaire accused of financing genocide arrested after 23 years

A Rwandan millionaire accused of financing the genocide against the Tutsis in 1994 has been arrested after 23 years on @ @ @ @ @ , who ’ s 84 , was detained early this morning in a Paris suburb @ @ @ @ @ staying under a false identity .
He ’ s been indicted by the International Crimininal @ @ @ @ @ charges of genocide .

A Rwandan millionaire accused of financing the genocide against the Tutsis in 1994 has been arrested after 23 years on the run.
Felicien Kabuga, who’s 84, was detained early this morning in a Paris suburb where he’d been staying under a false identity. He’s been indicted by the International Crimininal Tribunal for Rwanda on several charges of genocide.
Our international editor Lindsey Hilsum reports.


channel4uk--2020-05-16--“The government needs to show the support that the public has been showing to nurses” – Dame Donna K

“The government needs to show the support that the public has been showing to nurses” – Dame Donna Kinnair

The Royal College of Nursing says more than one in three nurses and health care assistants who are looking after @ @ @ @ @ t have adequate PPE .
The Royal College of Nursing says more than one in @ @ @ @ @ assistants who are looking after Covid patients still don ’ t have adequate PPE .
@ @ @ @ @ cent didn ’ t have the right protection – including gowns .
Almost half said @ @ @ @ @ single use equipment .
Earlier we spoke to Dame Donna Kinnair , who ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .

The Royal College of Nursing says more than one in three nurses and health care assistants who are looking after Covid patients still don’t have adequate PPE.
The Royal College of Nursing says more than one in three nurses and health care assistants who are looking after Covid patients still don’t have adequate PPE.
Their survey found 34 per cent didn’t have the right protection – including gowns. Almost half said they were having to reuse single use equipment.
Earlier we spoke to Dame Donna Kinnair, who’s chief executive of the RCN.


channel4uk--2020-05-16--Police urge public in England to ‘think twice’ on the first weekend of eased lockdown measures

On the first weekend since the lockdown was eased in England – it appears most people have been behaving responsibly @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown was eased in England – it appears most people have been behaving responsibly @ @ @ @ @ public to ‘ think twice ’ – maintain social distancing and try to use open @ @ @ @ @ .
Our home affairs correspondent Darshna Soni has been spending the day in Skegness to @ @ @ @ @ still being observed .

On the first weekend since the lockdown was eased in England – it appears most people have been behaving responsibly
On the first weekend since the lockdown was eased in England – it appears most people have been behaving responsibly – as police urged the public to ‘think twice’ – maintain social distancing and try to use open spaces near to their homes.
Our home affairs correspondent Darshna Soni has been spending the day in Skegness to see if the rules are still being observed.


channel4uk--2020-05-16--Nurse raises concern about staff training for test, track and trace

The Government wants schools in England to begin their phased opening next month in conjunction with track and trace – @ @ @ @ @ dramatic rise in cases .
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said the approach was based “ @ @ @ @ @ ” – but one tracer has told us they have doubts over how ready the @ @ @ @ @ its track and trace strategy nationwide .

The Government wants schools in England to begin their phased opening next month in conjunction with track and trace – saying that would prevent any dramatic rise in cases.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said the approach was based “on the best scientific advice” – but one tracer has told us they have doubts over how ready the Government is to roll out its track and trace strategy nationwide.


channel4uk--2020-05-16--Coronavirus risk to young people “like a weeks’ worth of driving” – Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter

“ A nurse who selflessly put herself on the front line and died in combat.
” – the niece of @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus

Coronavirus risk to young people “like a weeks’ worth of driving” – Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter
Earlier we spoke to Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter – who chairs the Winton centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge.


channel4uk--2020-05-16--“A nurse who selflessly put herself on the front line and died in combat.” – the niece of 51-year-ol

“A nurse who selflessly put herself on the front line and died in combat.” – the niece of 51-year-old nurse who died with coronavirus

She ’ s been described as a popular , and much-loved nurse by one of the hospitals in which she @ @ @ @ @ 51 in April .
But at the time she was in ICU on a ventilator @ @ @ @ @ sadly died a month later .
Anja Popp has been to meet her only child @ @ @ @ @ special needs , and her niece Ijeoma .
She ’ s been described as a @ @ @ @ @ by one of the hospitals in which she worked .
She ’ s been described @ @ @ @ @ much-loved nurse by one of the hospitals in which she worked .
Onyenachi Obasi turned @ @ @ @ @ at the time she was in ICU on a ventilator after catching coronavirus , and @ @ @ @ @ .
Anja Popp has been to meet her only child , Omega , who has @ @ @ @ @ niece Ijeoma .
Anja Popp has been to meet her only child , Omega , @ @ @ @ @ and her niece Ijeoma .

She’s been described as a popular, and much-loved nurse by one of the hospitals in which she worked. Onyenachi Obasi turned 51 in April. But at the time she was in ICU on a ventilator after catching coronavirus, and sadly died a month later. Anja Popp has been to meet her only child, Omega, who has special needs, and her niece Ijeoma.
She’s been described as a popular, and much-loved nurse by one of the hospitals in which she worked.
She’s been described as a popular, and much-loved nurse by one of the hospitals in which she worked. Onyenachi Obasi turned 51 in April. But at the time she was in ICU on a ventilator after catching coronavirus, and sadly died a month later. Anja Popp has been to meet her only child, Omega, who has special needs, and her niece Ijeoma.
Anja Popp has been to meet her only child, Omega, who has special needs, and her niece Ijeoma.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Communities battling dual enemies of poverty and coronavirus

The lockdown has forced many of us to reflect on what it is that really matters to us .
With @ @ @ @ @ could be family , neighbourliness perhaps or even a sense of community .
Across the @ @ @ @ @ time and support to those most in need .
When the NHS sought volunteers , @ @ @ @ @ .
In Chorley , Lancashire , a dedicated hub has been set up by the @ @ @ @ @ spirit .

The lockdown has forced many of us to reflect on what it is that really matters to us. With work taking a backseat it could be family, neighbourliness perhaps or even a sense of community.
Across the country people have been offering time and support to those most in need. When the NHS sought volunteers, hundreds of thousands quickly applied.
In Chorley, Lancashire, a dedicated hub has been set up by the council to channel a new spirit.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Outcome of coronavirus ‘likely to be worse than Great Depression of 1930s’ – economist Paul Romer

So , how will the world ’ s economy manage to bounce back from this ?
How will the world @ @ @ @ @ economies in freefall and the health emergency ?
Joining me now from Connecticut is Nobel @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s also the former Chief Economist of the World Bank .

So, how will the world’s economy manage to bounce back from this? How will the world find a balance between re-invigorating economies in freefall and the health emergency? Joining me now from Connecticut is Nobel laureate for economics Paul Romer who’s also the former Chief Economist of the World Bank.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--‘Within Washington there is bipartisan consensus China is a threat’ – RUSI’s Karin von Hippel

I spoke to Dr Karin von Hippel , Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute – the defence and security @ @ @ @ @ by asking her if she thought it was inevitable there would be a reckoning between @ @ @ @ @

I spoke to Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute – the defence and security think tank. I started by asking her if she thought it was inevitable there would be a reckoning between China and the US.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--World health summit becomes arena for new Cold War between US and China

In normal times , when the World Health Assembly meets in Geneva each year the direction it sets for the @ @ @ @ @ ) does not exactly make the front pages .
This year is very different .
@ @ @ @ @ The topic is the worst pandemic in a century and the meeting has become the @ @ @ @ @ War , fought between America and China over how to deal with Covid-19 .
With @ @ @ @ @ the WHO , the Chinese are keen to fire as much funding as possible at @ @ @ @ @ pitch to be the new benevolent superpower .

In normal times, when the World Health Assembly meets in Geneva each year the direction it sets for the World Health Organization (WHO) does not exactly make the front pages.
This year is very different. The assembly is virtual. The topic is the worst pandemic in a century and the meeting has become the arena for a new Cold War, fought between America and China over how to deal with Covid-19.
With the US withholding money from the WHO, the Chinese are keen to fire as much funding as possible at the organisation – a sales pitch to be the new benevolent superpower.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Scotland looks to ease lockdown restrictions from end of May

Matt Hancock ’ s announcement about testing anyone over five years old covers the whole of the UK .
Let @ @ @ @ @ picture is like in Northern Ireland , Wales and Scotland .

Matt Hancock’s announcement about testing anyone over five years old covers the whole of the UK. Let’s see what the picture is like in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Majority of care homes in one part of England have no coronavirus tests, survey suggests

While the government has insisted that there has not been a large scale transfer of infected patients from hospitals into @ @ @ @ @ confirmed today that more than a third of homes in England – nearly 6,000 of @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 outbreaks .
This programme has carried out a survey of care home managers in @ @ @ @ @ This shows that the majority of them have not been able to access tests for @ @ @

While the government has insisted that there has not been a large scale transfer of infected patients from hospitals into care homes, it has confirmed today that more than a third of homes in England – nearly 6,000 of them – have reported suspected Covid-19 outbreaks.
This programme has carried out a survey of care home managers in one part of England. This shows that the majority of them have not been able to access tests for new residents.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Government immigration bill ‘values strawberries above people’ – Karolina Gerlich, Care Workers’ Cha

Government immigration bill ‘values strawberries above people’ – Karolina Gerlich, Care Workers’ Charity

Channel 4 News spoke to the Conservative MP Caroline Nokes , who was an immigration minister until last year , @ @ @ @ @ director of The Care Workers ’ Charity Channel 4 News spoke to the Conservative MP @ @ @ @ @ an immigration minister until last year and helped draw up the immigration bill , and @ @ @ @ @ of The Care Workers ’ Charity – herself still a care worker – joined us @ @ @ @

Channel 4 News spoke to the Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who was an immigration minister until last year, and Karolina Gerlich, executive director of The Care Workers’ Charity
Channel 4 News spoke to the Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who was an immigration minister until last year and helped draw up the immigration bill, and Karolina Gerlich, executive director of The Care Workers’ Charity – herself still a care worker – joined us from east London.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Everyone over five in UK with Covid-19 symptoms eligible for test

The government has announced a significant expansion of the coronavirus testing programme .
Now anybody aged five or older across @ @ @ @ @ symptoms can get a test .
It is all part of the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ track and trace operation .
Ministers hope that will make it possible to ease the @ @ @ @ @ in England to start work again .
We did ask for any minister from the @ @ @ @ @ but no one was available .

The government has announced a significant expansion of the coronavirus testing programme. Now anybody aged five or older across the whole country who shows symptoms can get a test.
It is all part of the government’s plan to scale up its track and trace operation. Ministers hope that will make it possible to ease the lockdown and allow more people in England to start work again.
We did ask for any minister from the Home Office to come on but no one was available.


channel4uk--2020-05-18--Inside a hospital unit fighting to save sickest Covid-19 patients

For those Covid-19 patients for whom ventilation is no longer enough to keep them alive there is one final hope @ @ @ @ @ As a patient ’ s lungs fail – the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine pumps the @ @ @ @ @ and reoxygenates it .
Our health and social care editor Victoria Macdonald has had exclusive @ @ @ @ @ six ECMO units in the country at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where some @ @ @ @ @ sickest Covid patients are fighting for their lives .

For those Covid-19 patients for whom ventilation is no longer enough to keep them alive there is one final hope – an ECMO machine. As a patient’s lungs fail – the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine pumps the blood out of the body and reoxygenates it.
Our Health and Social Care Editor Victoria Macdonald has had exclusive access to one of just six ECMO units in the UK at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where some of the country’s sickest Covid patients are fighting for their lives.


channel4uk--2020-05-17--Pop star Charli XCX writes lockdown album in just six weeks

Now while most musicians have postponed making any new albums during lockdown , the British pop star Charli XCX has @ @ @ @ @ ‘ How I ’ m Feeling ’ in just six weeks .
The singer ’ @ @ @ @ @ in quarantine – and she ’ s asking fans to contribute by sharing their videos @ @ @ @

Now while most musicians have postponed making any new albums during lockdown, the British pop star Charli XCX has written and recorded her fourth ‘How I’m Feeling’ in just six weeks.
The singer’s work reflects on life in quarantine – and she’s asking fans to contribute by sharing their videos and experiences online.
Minnie Stephenson spoke to Charli who’s isolated in LA.


channel4uk--2020-05-17--Tanzania’s President dubbed Africa’s Trump claims non-human samples tested positive for coronavirus

Tanzania ’ s President is often described as Africa ’ s Trump – not least because of his bizarre pronouncements @ @ @ @ @ s President is often described as Africa ’ s Trump – not least because of @ @ @ @ @ .
President John Magufuli says he secretly sent a range of non human samples to @ @ @ @ @ – claiming a quail , a goat and a pawpaw came back positive .
His @ @ @ @ @ the latest move by a leader who ’ s been trying to play down the @ @ @ @ @

Tanzania’s President is often described as Africa’s Trump – not least because of his bizarre pronouncements on coronavirus.
Tanzania’s President is often described as Africa’s Trump – not least because of his bizarre pronouncements on coronavirus.
President John Magufuli says he secretly sent a range of non human samples to be tested for the virus – claiming a quail, a goat and a pawpaw came back positive.
His opponents say this is just the latest move by a leader who’s been trying to play down the seriousness of the virus.


channel4uk--2020-05-17--President Trump hits back at Barack Obama for criticism of his pandemic response

The former US president Barack Obama has condemned the country ’ s lack of leadership during the pandemic – declaring @ @ @ @ @ them aren ’ t even pretending to be in charge ’ .
The former US @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s lack of leadership during the pandemic – declaring that ‘ a @ @ @ @ @ t even pretending to be in charge ’ .
Mr Obama has largely refrained from @ @ @ @ @ but a leaked call from last week reveals he called the White House coronavirus strategy @ @ @ @ @ ” .

The former US president Barack Obama has condemned the country’s lack of leadership during the pandemic – declaring that ‘a lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge’.
The former US president Barack Obama has condemned the country’s lack of leadership during the pandemic – declaring that ‘a lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge’.
Mr Obama has largely refrained from criticising the current administration – but a leaked call from last week reveals he called the White House coronavirus strategy “an absolute chaotic disaster”.
Mr Trump isn’t taking it quietly – as Inigo Gilmore reports.


channel4uk--2020-05-17--Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham accuses Boris Johnson of a London centric lockdown easing measures

Boris Johnson is facing a growing revolt in northern England over his strategy for easing the lockdown Boris Johnson is @ @ @ @ @ northern England over his strategy for easing the lockdown – some councils are refusing to @ @ @ @ @ while the greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham compared the measures to an exercise in ‘ @ @ @ @ @ , as a poll shows public approval for the government ’ s handling of the @ @ @ @ @ points over the last week .
Our home affairs correspondent Darshna Soni has been to @ @ @ @ @ communities voted Tory for the first time to get their opinion

Boris Johnson is facing a growing revolt in northern England over his strategy for easing the lockdown
Boris Johnson is facing a growing revolt in northern England over his strategy for easing the lockdown – some councils are refusing to reopen schools in June – while the greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham compared the measures to an exercise in ‘chaos theory’.
This, as a poll shows public approval for the government’s handling of the crisis has plummeted by nine points over the last week.
Our home affairs correspondent Darshna Soni has been to Nottinghamshire, where former mining communities voted Tory for the first time to get their opinion


channel4uk--2020-05-17--“Please make sure they’re safe and please make sure they work” – Dr David Nabarro on the coronavirus

“ Please make sure they ’ re safe and please make sure they work ” – Dr David Nabarro on @ @ @ @ @ were joined from eastern France by Dr David Nabarro , who ’ s special envoy @ @ @ @ @ the World Health organisation working on the Covid-19 pandemic .

“Please make sure they’re safe and please make sure they work” – Dr David Nabarro on the coronavirus vaccine
Earlier we were joined from eastern France by Dr David Nabarro, who’s special envoy for the director general of the World Health organisation working on the Covid-19 pandemic.


channel4uk--2020-05-17--Teachers fear for their safety over reopening of schools next month

The number of daily deaths in the UK has dropped , hospital admissions are falling too – as the Government @ @ @ @ @ following social distancing rules and keep it that way .
But days after lockdown measures @ @ @ @ @ there are still strong concerns about the plan to begin re-opening schools next month – @ @ @ @ @ would not be without risk .

The number of daily deaths in the UK has dropped, hospital admissions are falling too – as the Government urged the public to continue following social distancing rules and keep it that way.
But days after lockdown measures were eased in England – there are still strong concerns about the plan to begin re-opening schools next month – as Michael Gove admitted it would not be without risk.


channel4uk--2020-05-19--Charities warn school closures could have lasting impact on neediest children

More councils have expressed concern about the phased reopening of schools in England .
The government wants to begin re-opening @ @ @ @ @ .
Currently schools are only open for the children of key workers and the vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ at home .
Meanwhile charities have warned that prolonged school closures could have a lasting @ @ @ @ @ neediest children .
How are kids coping at home ?
Ayshah Tull reports .

More councils have expressed concern about the phased reopening of schools in England.
The government wants to begin re-opening in stages from 1 June. Currently schools are only open for the children of key workers and the vulnerable, with millions being schooled at home.
Meanwhile charities have warned that prolonged school closures could have a lasting impact on some of the neediest children.
How are kids coping at home? Ayshah Tull reports.


channel4uk--2020-05-19--‘We are part of nature and if we don’t respect nature and look after it won’t look after us in the f

‘We are part of nature and if we don’t respect nature and look after it won’t look after us in the future’ – naturalist Chris Packham

Joining me now from New Forest is environmental campaigner , naturalist and TV presenter , Chris Packham


channel4uk--2020-05-19--Stork chicks hatch in UK for first time in centuries

Something unusual has just happened in West Sussex .
In fact the last time such a thing was documented was @ @ @ @ @ had just defeated the French at Agincourt .
We first brought you news two weeks @ @ @ @ @ eggs had been laid for the first time in Britain in nearly 600 years .
@ @ @ @ @ chief twitcher – Alex Thomson has this exclusive report .

Something unusual has just happened in West Sussex. In fact the last time such a thing was documented was in 1416, Henry V had just defeated the French at Agincourt.
We first brought you news two weeks ago that wild white storks eggs had been laid for the first time in Britain in nearly 600 years.
Our chief correspondent – and chief twitcher – Alex Thomson has this exclusive report.


channel4uk--2020-05-19--One family’s 250 mile walk home – as Colombia’s lockdown forces Venezuelan migrants to return

Before the pandemic , few countries were more vulnerable than Venezuela .
With its economy in freefall , food shortages @ @ @ @ @ collapsed health system drove millions of Venezuelans from their country .
Many settled in neighbouring @ @ @ @ @ virus struck , a strict lockdown came into force there , meaning Venezuelan migrants in @ @ @ @ @ option but to return home .
We have followed one family who lost their rented @ @ @ @ @ Colombian capital Bogota , and were forced to begin their way home by foot .
@ @ @ @ @ 250-mile walk over mountains to Bucaramanga from where they hoped to edge their way back @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela .

Before the pandemic, few countries were more vulnerable than Venezuela.
With its economy in freefall, food shortages, rising crime and a collapsed health system drove millions of Venezuelans from their country. Many settled in neighbouring Colombia.
But once the virus struck, a strict lockdown came into force there, meaning Venezuelan migrants in low paid jobs had little option but to return home.
We have followed one family who lost their rented flat and livelihoods in the Colombian capital Bogota, and were forced to begin their way home by foot. Their journey began with a 250-mile walk over mountains to Bucaramanga from where they hoped to edge their way back to their home town in Venezuela.
Our Latin America correspondent Guillermo Galdos reports.