channel4uk--2020-02-03--Iowa Democrats choosing candidate to take on Trump

In the United States all eyes are on Iowa , where the Democrats are getting ready to hold their first @ @ @ @ @ start the process of choosing the candidate who will face Donald Trump in November ’ @ @ @ @ @ does well in Iowa will have a huge advantage in the Democratic race .
At @ @ @ @ @ talking about is the Bernie Bounce – but the real issue is , who can @ @ @ @

In the United States all eyes are on Iowa, where the Democrats are getting ready to hold their first caucus.
This will kick start the process of choosing the candidate who will face Donald Trump in November’s Presidential election.
Whoever does well in Iowa will have a huge advantage in the Democratic race.
At the moment all anyone is talking about is the Bernie Bounce – but the real issue is, who can beat President Trump?


channel4uk--2020-02-03--More than 400 airstrikes on Idlib launched by Russia and Syria, as hundreds of thousands try to flee

Hundreds of airstrikes and barrel bombs have been launched by Syria and its Russian allies on rebel-held areas of Idlib @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours .
The provinces in the north-west of the country are the last remaining @ @ @ @ @ .
As the Assad regime pushes to reclaim it – hundreds of thousands of civilians @ @ @ @ @ Turkish border .
The targeted attacks of hospitals and the desperate plight of those trying @ @ @ @ @ in a village near the front line are the focus of our new series going @ @ @ @ @ horror of daily life .

Hundreds of airstrikes and barrel bombs have been launched by Syria and its Russian allies on rebel-held areas of Idlib and Aleppo in the last 24 hours.
The provinces in the north-west of the country are the last remaining areas held by rebel forces.
As the Assad regime pushes to reclaim it – hundreds of thousands of civilians are fleeing north to the Turkish border.
The targeted attacks of hospitals and the desperate plight of those trying to survive airstrikes and shelling in a village near the front line are the focus of our new series going inside Idlib to uncover the horror of daily life.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--‘No-one needs to cut down any rainforest to keep planes flying’ – Heathrow CEO

The UK ’ s aviation industry has announced plans to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050 .
@ @ @ @ @ so through cleaner biofuels and electric planes rather than reducing the number of flights .
@ @ @ @ @ industry has announced plans to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050 .
@ @ @ @ @ so through cleaner biofuels and electric planes rather than reducing the number of flights .
@ @ @ @ @ Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport , John Holland-Kaye .
I began by asking him whether @ @ @ @ @ by some environmentalists about biofuels – the airline industry should be relying on them to @ @ @ @ @

The UK’s aviation industry has announced plans to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. It says it will do so through cleaner biofuels and electric planes rather than reducing the number of flights.
The UK’s aviation industry has announced plans to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. It says it will do so through cleaner biofuels and electric planes rather than reducing the number of flights.
Jon Snow spoke to the Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye. I began by asking him whether – given the concern expressed by some environmentalists about biofuels – the airline industry should be relying on them to make itself carbon neutral.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--‘You have to have reconciliation before you’re going to get unity’ – Fintan O’Toole

You have to have reconciliation before you ’ re going to get unity ’ – Fintan O ’ Toole From @ @ @ @ @ Fintan O ’ Toole speaks to Jon Snow about what the upcoming election spells for @ @

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


channel4uk--2020-02-04--Technical chaos delays result as Iowa Democrats attempt to choose Trump challenger

In Iowa , the Democratic fight to oust Donald Trump in presidential elections later this year has got off to @ @ @ @ @ melt-down with the vote counting app meant that no winner was declared – leaving all @ @ @ @ @ to claim victory in the mid-western state .
President Trump has been delighting in the @ @ @ @ @ an “ unmitigated disaster ” on Twitter – as he prepares for his third State @ @ @ @ @ evening .

In Iowa, the Democratic fight to oust Donald Trump in presidential elections later this year has got off to a disastrous start.
A melt-down with the vote counting app meant that no winner was declared – leaving all of the candidates a chance to claim victory in the mid-western state.
President Trump has been delighting in the shambles – describing it as an “unmitigated disaster” on Twitter – as he prepares for his third State of the Union address this evening.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--‘You cannot defeat Islamism without Islam’ – Prof Ian Acheson

Professor Ian Acheson , a former prison governor , who is a senior advisor to the Government ’ s Counter-Extremism @ @ @ @ @ on islamist extremism in jails and Usama Hasan – an Imam and counter-extremism consultant , @ @ @ @ @ the emergency legislation the government is preparing which would end automatic early release for terrorists @

Professor Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, who is a senior advisor to the Government’s Counter-Extremism project and wrote a report on islamist extremism in jails and Usama Hasan – an Imam and counter-extremism consultant, speak to Cathy Newman about the emergency legislation the government is preparing which would end automatic early release for terrorists.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--Government preparing emergency legislation to end automatic early release for terrorists

Emergency legislation to end automatic early release of terror offenders has been labelled a knee-jerk reaction by human rights campaigners @ @ @ @ @ people were stabbed in a south London street by Sudesh Amman – just days after @ @ @ @ @ The government aims to replace the current system with discretionary release decided by the Parole @ @ @ @ @ over whether keeping terrorists in prison for longer will stop them posing a danger to @ @

Emergency legislation to end automatic early release of terror offenders has been labelled a knee-jerk reaction by human rights campaigners.
It comes after two people were stabbed in a south London street by Sudesh Amman – just days after his release from prison.
The government aims to replace the current system with discretionary release decided by the Parole Board. But questions remain over whether keeping terrorists in prison for longer will stop them posing a danger to society.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--Sinn Fein leads in poll for first time ahead of Irish elections

As Ireland prepares to vote in Saturday ’ s general election , polls suggest a groundswell of support for Sinn @ @ @ @ @ party is leading popularity polls for the first time ever – and its leader Mary @ @ @ @ @ part in tonight ’ s leaders ’ election debate on TV .
The party ’ @ @ @ @ @ United Ireland – but is that the issue that is shifting the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ does it mean for the future of the UK ?

As Ireland prepares to vote in Saturday’s general election, polls suggest a groundswell of support for Sinn Féin.
The left-wing nationalist party is leading popularity polls for the first time ever – and its leader Mary Lou McDonald will now take part in tonight’s leaders’ election debate on TV.
The party’s signature demand is a United Ireland – but is that the issue that is shifting the country’s political landscape? And what does it mean for the future of the UK?


channel4uk--2020-02-04--Johnson comes under fire from sacked climate conference boss

Boris Johnson has been accused of a lack of leadership on climate change , on the day he launched plans @ @ @ @ @ conference in Glasgow .
Former Conservative minister Claire O ’ Neill – who on Friday @ @ @ @ @ the event – warned that the government was “ miles off track ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ the COP26 summit was “ an important opportunity for the UK and nations across the @ @ @ @ @ the fight against climate change ” .

Boris Johnson has been accused of a lack of leadership on climate change, on the day he launched plans for the upcoming UN climate conference in Glasgow.
Former Conservative minister Claire O’Neill – who on Friday was sacked as president of the event – warned that the government was “miles off track”.
The Prime Minister insisted that hosting the COP26 summit was “an important opportunity for the UK and nations across the globe to step up in the fight against climate change”.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--Manchester Arena bomber’s brother ‘just as guilty’, court told

The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has gone on trial at the Old Bailey in London .
The @ @ @ @ @ was “ just as guilty ” as his brother – who killed himself and 22 @ @ @ @ @ bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017 .
Hashem Abedi denies all the charges @

The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has gone on trial at the Old Bailey in London.
The court was told Hashem Abedi was “just as guilty” as his brother – who killed himself and 22 others when he detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017. Hashem Abedi denies all the charges.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--UK government advises Britons in China to leave ‘to minimise virus risks’

All Britons still in mainland China have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave , as coronavirus continues to @ @ @ @ @ country .
More than 400 people in China have now died from the flu-like illness @ @ @ @ @ of cases is well over 20,000 .
In a rare admission of failings , China @ @ @ @ @ confessed to “ shortcomings and deficiencies ” in the country ’ s response to the @ @ @

All Britons still in mainland China have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave, as coronavirus continues to claim more lives in the country. More than 400 people in China have now died from the flu-like illness, and the total number of cases is well over 20,000.
In a rare admission of failings, China’s top leadership has confessed to “shortcomings and deficiencies” in the country’s response to the deadly outbreak.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--‘All he told me about having to have emergency surgery… was complete and utter lie’ – Ian Paterson p

‘All he told me about having to have emergency surgery… was complete and utter lie’ – Ian Paterson patient

Sarah Jane Downing runs a support group for around a hundred Paterson survivors and family members .
She told Cathy @ @ @ @ @ under the care of Ian Paterson

Sarah Jane Downing runs a support group for around a hundred Paterson survivors and family members.
She told Cathy Newman about her own experience under the care of Ian Paterson


channel4uk--2020-02-04--‘Culture of denial’ allowed breast surgeon to carry out hundreds of unnecessary operations, says inq

‘Culture of denial’ allowed breast surgeon to carry out hundreds of unnecessary operations, says inquiry

A healthcare system “ dysfunctional at almost every level ” .
That ’ s the conclusion of an inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ surgeon .
Ian Paterson carried out hundreds of unnecessary operations , exaggerating cancer risks and @ @ @ @ @ expensive procedures .
He was eventually jailed for 20 years in 2017 – the Government @ @ @ @ @ protect patients .
The inquiry has demanded that all 11 thousand of Paterson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ be reviewed .

A healthcare system “dysfunctional at almost every level”. That’s the conclusion of an inquiry into malpractice by a jailed breast surgeon.
Ian Paterson carried out hundreds of unnecessary operations, exaggerating cancer risks and then claiming payments for more expensive procedures.
He was eventually jailed for 20 years in 2017 – the Government today apologised for failing to protect patients.
The inquiry has demanded that all 11 thousand of Paterson’s NHS and private patients now be reviewed.


channel4uk--2020-02-04--‘Patients at risk’ if NHS and private sector standards not harmonised – Royal College of Surgeons pr

‘Patients at risk’ if NHS and private sector standards not harmonised – Royal College of Surgeons president

President of the Royal College of Surgeons , Professor Derek Alderson , responds to the conclusions of the inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ Ian Paterson .

President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Professor Derek Alderson, responds to the conclusions of the inquiry into malpractice by jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Homeless and those without health insurance will be hit the hardest by coronavirus, says US professo

Homeless and those without health insurance will be hit the hardest by coronavirus, says US professor

Dr Nirav Shah , from Stanford University ’ s Clinical Excellence Research Center , revealed what he made of the @ @ @ @ @ House that projected between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths in America by the end of this @ @

Dr Nirav Shah, from Stanford University’s Clinical Excellence Research Center, revealed what he made of the numbers released by the White House that projected between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths in America by the end of this outbreak.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Trump extends social distancing guidelines amid warnings of up to 200,000 deaths

President Trump has extended US social distancing guidelines for the hole of April – citing warnings from public health officials @ @ @ @ @ could die .
President Trump has extended US social distancing guidelines for the hole of @ @ @ @ @ public health officials that up to 200,000 Americans could die .
Mr Trump , who @ @ @ @ @ country back to work by Easter , said this morning that “ the worst that @ @ @ @ @ it too early and all of a sudden it comes back ” .

President Trump has extended US social distancing guidelines for the hole of April – citing warnings from public health officials that up to 200,000 Americans could die.
President Trump has extended US social distancing guidelines for the hole of April – citing warnings from public health officials that up to 200,000 Americans could die. Mr Trump, who had spoken about getting the country back to work by Easter, said this morning that “the worst that could happen is you do it too early and all of a sudden it comes back”.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Hungary’s Orban granted powers to rule by decree during coronavirus crisis

Hungary ’ s Prime Minister has secured sweeping new powers giving his government the unlimited right to rule by decree @ @ @ @ @ Opposition figures said it means Hungarian democracy is now in quarantine .
Meanwhile , Spain @ @ @ @ @ , but the World Health Organisation chief has said there should start to be a @ @ @ @ @ ’ s epidemic – as a result of the lockdown and stringent measures now in @ @

Hungary’s Prime Minister has secured sweeping new powers giving his government the unlimited right to rule by decree during the coronavirus crisis. Opposition figures said it means Hungarian democracy is now in quarantine.
Meanwhile, Spain has reported hundreds more deaths, but the World Health Organisation chief has said there should start to be a stabilisation in Spain and Italy’s epidemic – as a result of the lockdown and stringent measures now in place.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Indian journalist: ‘What is social distancing when you live in a tiny room with 7-10 people?’

Indian journalist : ‘ What is social distancing when you live in a tiny room with 7-10 people ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s based in New Delhi , described how the lockdown in India has been @ @ @ @ @ – and now have even less .

Indian journalist: ‘What is social distancing when you live in a tiny room with 7-10 people?’
Cathy Newman Presenter
Journalist Mandakini Gahlot, who’s based in New Delhi, described how the lockdown in India has been affecting people who had little – and now have even less.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--MPs seek clarity from government on essential workers

A group of MPs has written to the government urging clarity on which employees should and shouldn ’ t keep @ @ @ @ @ saying that non-essential workers were being put at risk by some employers .
A group @ @ @ @ @ the government urging clarity on which employees should and shouldn ’ t keep on going @ @ @ @ @ non-essential workers were being put at risk by some employers .
But factory bosses are @ @ @ @ @ danger of being vilified for keeping operations running .
Meanwhile , the coronavirus is causing @ @ @ @ @ operations or ask for a government bailout .

A group of MPs has written to the government urging clarity on which employees should and shouldn’t keep on going to work – saying that non-essential workers were being put at risk by some employers.
A group of MPs has written to the government urging clarity on which employees should and shouldn’t keep on going to work – saying that non-essential workers were being put at risk by some employers.
But factory bosses are warning that they are in danger of being vilified for keeping operations running.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus is causing more airlines to scale back operations or ask for a government bailout.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Prof Hugh Montgomery says Covid-19 cases ‘not moving up exponentially’ – which ‘has to be good sign

Prof Hugh Montgomery says Covid-19 cases ‘not moving up exponentially’ – which ‘has to be good sign’

Homeless and those without health insurance will be hit the hardest by coronavirus , says US professor


channel4uk--2020-03-30--UK coronavirus crisis expected to deepen in next few weeks

9,000 people have already been admitted to hospital in England since mid-March , and the Government ’ s scientific advisor @ @ @ @ @ likely to deepen over the next few weeks .
Emergency field hospitals are being hastily @ @ @ @ @ London which is due to open this week with up to 5,000 beds .
But @ @ @ @ @ staffing levels and equipment , like ventilators and protective gear , which front line medical @ @ @ @

9,000 people have already been admitted to hospital in England since mid-March, and the Government’s scientific advisor warned the coronavirus pandemic is likely to deepen over the next few weeks.
Emergency field hospitals are being hastily created, like NHS Nightingale London which is due to open this week with up to 5,000 beds.
But there are still questions about staffing levels and equipment, like ventilators and protective gear, which front line medical staff desperately need.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--FactCheck: how many people are dying from Covid-19 in the UK?

The UK government is publishing a daily figure showing coronavirus deaths across the country .
There has been criticism that this number does not capture the true death toll from the illness .
Here ’ s what we know and what we don ’ t know about who is dying from Covid-19 .
The numbers of deaths from the English NHS and the devolved health authorities are published together on this website .
It is updated every day .
These aren ’ t exactly “ deaths caused by coronavirus ” .
It ’ s a bit more complicated than that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The figures shown are deaths in NHS services of patients who have had a positive test result for Covid-19… deaths of people who have had a positive test for Covid-19 could in some cases be due to a different cause.
” The numbers announced in this way only relate to hospitals , and always have done .
Channel 4 News has reported on internal emails within a hospital trust raising concerns that the numbers of deaths staff are seeing each day are not reflected in the daily update .
NHS England ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time lag in the collection of data on deaths .
If someone dies in hospital , there is a certification process , there might be a delay for a post-mortem , and staff will try to notify family members of the death .
Relatives might not always be easy to track down .
These delays mean the news of a death may not feed into the numbers for several days .
This fact is not made obvious on Public Health England ’ s coronavirus tracker website .
But the NHS does break down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death in figures circulated to journalists .
So far , we have been talking about deaths in hospitals .
An obvious question is : how many people are dying without making it to hospital ?
It ’ s possible that elderly and frail patients with coronavirus symptoms might decide , perhaps with input from relatives and doctors , to die at home or in a care facility without going to hospital .
But if few patients outside hospitals are being tested , the diagnosis will be unconfirmed .
Until now , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these deaths , but the Department of Health and Social Care has told FactCheck it plans to publish data on Covid-19 related deaths in the community from tomorrow ( Tuesday ) .
The independent ONS will publish weekly Covid-19 data from death registrations .
This will hopefully give us more insight into coronavirus mortality outside hospitals , although we will have to wait until tomorrow to see what the limitations are .
Anecdotally , we ’ ve heard about a potential problem in counting deaths in the community .
GPs who attend deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsure about what to put as the cause of death on the patient ’ s death certificate .
If GPs do not have access to coronavirus testing kits , how can they be sure the patient died of the illness ?
Should they put Covid-19 down as the cause of death ?
It ’ s not clear to FactCheck how big an issue this is around the country , and the government has told us that “ death certificates can also indicate suspected Covid-19 as well as confirmed cases ” .
The chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 “ is an acceptable direct or underlying cause of death for the purposes of completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death ” .
The advice ( which applies in England and Wales ) does not say what GPs should do if they can not test patients .
Doctors working in the community also have a statutory duty to report Covid-19 cases – even suspected ones – to Public Health England .
This comes after the government added coronavirus to the list of “ notifiable diseases ” .
We ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll under-reports the numbers of deaths from Covid-19 in the UK .
The numbers updated daily related to deaths in hospital .
The daily tally might not match what staff in hospitals are seeing on that day , but there are a number of reasons why there is a lag in the reporting .
We ’ ve seen no evidence that a large number of hospital deaths from coronavirus are going unreported by NHS authorities .
It ’ s true that some people may be dying at home or in care homes without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t make it into official death toll .
The government intends to start including publishing data on deaths in the community from tomorrow , and we will see what effect it has on overall mortality .

The UK government is publishing a daily figure showing coronavirus deaths across the country.
There has been criticism that this number does not capture the true death toll from the illness.
Here’s what we know and what we don’t know about who is dying from Covid-19.
The daily death toll
The numbers of deaths from the English NHS and the devolved health authorities are published together on this website. It is updated every day.
These aren’t exactly “deaths caused by coronavirus”. It’s a bit more complicated than that.
The small print reads: “The figures shown are deaths in NHS services of patients who have had a positive test result for Covid-19… deaths of people who have had a positive test for Covid-19 could in some cases be due to a different cause.”
The numbers announced in this way only relate to hospitals, and always have done.
Time lag
Channel 4 News has reported on internal emails within a hospital trust raising concerns that the numbers of deaths staff are seeing each day are not reflected in the daily update.
NHS England’s explanation is that there is an inevitable time lag in the collection of data on deaths. If someone dies in hospital, there is a certification process, there might be a delay for a post-mortem, and staff will try to notify family members of the death. Relatives might not always be easy to track down.
These delays mean the news of a death may not feed into the numbers for several days. This fact is not made obvious on Public Health England’s coronavirus tracker website. But the NHS does break down the daily numbers by the actual date of death in figures circulated to journalists.
Deaths in the community
So far, we have been talking about deaths in hospitals. An obvious question is: how many people are dying without making it to hospital?
It’s possible that elderly and frail patients with coronavirus symptoms might decide, perhaps with input from relatives and doctors, to die at home or in a care facility without going to hospital. But if few patients outside hospitals are being tested, the diagnosis will be unconfirmed.
Until now, we haven’t been able to track these deaths, but the Department of Health and Social Care has told FactCheck it plans to publish data on Covid-19 related deaths in the community from tomorrow (Tuesday).
The independent ONS will publish weekly Covid-19 data from death registrations. This will hopefully give us more insight into coronavirus mortality outside hospitals, although we will have to wait until tomorrow to see what the limitations are.
Cause of death
Anecdotally, we’ve heard about a potential problem in counting deaths in the community. GPs who attend deaths have told @FactCheck that they are unsure about what to put as the cause of death on the patient’s death certificate.
If GPs do not have access to coronavirus testing kits, how can they be sure the patient died of the illness? Should they put Covid-19 down as the cause of death?
It’s not clear to FactCheck how big an issue this is around the country, and the government has told us that “death certificates can also indicate suspected Covid-19 as well as confirmed cases”.
The chief coroner issued guidance last week saying that Covid-19 “is an acceptable direct or underlying cause of death for the purposes of completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death”. The advice (which applies in England and Wales) does not say what GPs should do if they cannot test patients.
Doctors working in the community also have a statutory duty to report Covid-19 cases – even suspected ones – to Public Health England. This comes after the government added coronavirus to the list of “notifiable diseases”.
The verdict
We’ve seen people raising concerts that the official death toll under-reports the numbers of deaths from Covid-19 in the UK.
The numbers updated daily related to deaths in hospital. The daily tally might not match what staff in hospitals are seeing on that day, but there are a number of reasons why there is a lag in the reporting. We’ve seen no evidence that a large number of hospital deaths from coronavirus are going unreported by NHS authorities.
It’s true that some people may be dying at home or in care homes without being tested, and so don’t make it into official death toll.
The government intends to start including publishing data on deaths in the community from tomorrow, and we will see what effect it has on overall mortality.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--FactCheck: confusion over NHS England testing numbers

Government ministers have made confusing comments on the key issue of coronavirus testing in England in recent days .
On Sunday morning , Michael Gove was asked what proportion of NHS staff in England are currently self-isolating because of the coronavirus .
The Surrey Heath MP , one of several senior cabinet ministers leading the government ’ s response to the crisis , said he couldn ’ t “ give an exact percentage ” but that the number was “ significant ” .
In the same answer , he began to talk about increasing the rate of testing , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ How many are being tested ?
” .
Mr Gove replied : “ Well , we had 10,000 tests yesterday ” , adding that Boots has now introduced drive-through facilities that “ allow NHS workers , if they have symptoms , to get tested in real time ” .
Given the context in which Mr Gove was talking – a discussion about healthcare workers in which he himself introduced the topic of testing – viewers may have been left with the impression that the “ 10,000 tests ” figure referred to NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
Public Health England ( PHE ) tweeted this morning that “ NHS / PHE testing capacity for patient care stands at 10,949 a day .
Latest figure for number of tests conducted is 9114.
” These stats , they said , were “ accurate as of 9am 28th March ” .
When Mr Gove said “ we had 10,000 tests yesterday ” , he was talking about patients being tested , not healthcare workers – though he didn ’ t clarify this to viewers .
So how many NHS staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
A Downing Street spokesperson told reporters today that the true figure for England is 900 .
Testing for healthcare workers in Wales was rolled out ten days earlier than in England , and began in Scotland before then .
The Welsh first minister , Mark Drakeford , said today that 1,000 healthcare workers had been tested in Wales since March 18 .
We don ’ t have figures from Scotland and Northern Ireland .
There was further confusion this morning as junior health minister Helen Whately sought to clarify the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Today programme ’ s Nick Robinson asked the MP for Faversham to explain why Michael Gove and Matt Hancock said 10,000 people had been tested when a tweet from the Department of Health put the figure at 7,000 .
Ms Whately replied : “ We ’ ve achieved the capacity to have 10,000 people a day tested ; the actual number that were tested on the day in question was around 7,000 ” .
But it was shortly after that interview this morning that Public Health England tweeted to say testing capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people had been tested as of 28 March .
According to those figures , it was true to say on Sunday that about 10,000 people had been tested the previous day , not “ around 7,000 ” .
How many people are being tested for coronavirus ?
On 18 March , the UK government announced that it planned to test 25,000 hospital patients a day in England within four weeks .
Health Secretary , Matt Hancock , says they are on track to achieve that ambition – we ’ ll have to wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s right .
Separately , the government has also bought 3.5 million “ antibody ” tests , which tell users whether they have previously been infected with the novel coronavirus .
We ’ re still waiting to see if those tests work .

Government ministers have made confusing comments on the key issue of coronavirus testing in England in recent days.
Let’s take a look.
Michael Gove
On Sunday morning, Michael Gove was asked what proportion of NHS staff in England are currently self-isolating because of the coronavirus.
The Surrey Heath MP, one of several senior cabinet ministers leading the government’s response to the crisis, said he couldn’t “give an exact percentage” but that the number was “significant”.
In the same answer, he began to talk about increasing the rate of testing, at which point interviewer Andrew Marr interjected: “How many are being tested?”.
Mr Gove replied: “Well, we had 10,000 tests yesterday”, adding that Boots has now introduced drive-through facilities that “allow NHS workers, if they have symptoms, to get tested in real time”.
Given the context in which Mr Gove was talking – a discussion about healthcare workers in which he himself introduced the topic of testing – viewers may have been left with the impression that the “10,000 tests” figure referred to NHS staff.
But that’s not the case.
Public Health England (PHE) tweeted this morning that “NHS / PHE testing capacity for patient care stands at 10,949 a day. Latest figure for number of tests conducted is 9114.” These stats, they said, were “accurate as of 9am 28th March”.
When Mr Gove said “we had 10,000 tests yesterday”, he was talking about the number of tests on patients, not healthcare workers – though he didn’t clarify this to viewers.
So how many NHS staff have been tested this weekend for coronavirus? A Downing Street spokesperson told reporters today that the true figure for England is 900.
Testing for healthcare workers in Wales was rolled out ten days earlier than in England, and began in Scotland before then.
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, said today that 1,000 healthcare workers had been tested in Wales since March 18. We don’t have figures from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Helen Whately
There was further confusion this morning as junior health minister Helen Whately sought to clarify the total number of tests taking place in England.
The Today programme’s Nick Robinson asked the MP for Faversham to explain why Michael Gove and Matt Hancock said 10,000 people had been tested when a tweet from the Department of Health put the figure at 7,000.
Ms Whately replied: “We’ve achieved the capacity to have 10,000 people a day tested; the actual number that were tested on the day in question was around 7,000”.
But it was shortly after that interview this morning that Public Health England tweeted to say testing capacity was 10,949 a day and some 9,114 test had taken place as of 28 March.
Update: 31 March: We now understand from Public Health England that the number of tests does not equate to the number of people tested.
PHE tweeted yesterday afternoon that: “Latest figure for number of tests conducted is 8,278, on 4908 individuals in England (accurate as of 9am 29th March).”
How many people are being tested for coronavirus?
On 18 March, the UK government announced that it planned to test 25,000 hospital patients a day in England within four weeks.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, says they are on track to achieve that ambition – we’ll have to wait until mid-April to see if he’s right.
Separately, the government has also bought 3.5 million “antibody” tests, which tell users whether they have previously been infected with the novel coronavirus. We’re still waiting to see if those tests work.
This article was updated on 31 March to reflect new information.


channel4uk--2020-03-29--Donald Trumps backs away from New York quarantine as cases soar in the region

Donald Trump has backed away from putting New York state and neighbouring areas under quarantine .
But millions of residents @ @ @ @ @ have been urged to avoid non-essential travel in a region that has become the deadliest @ @ @ @ @ the US .
So far more than 800 people have died and 52 thousand cases @ @ @ @ @ York state alone .

Donald Trump has backed away from putting New York state and neighbouring areas under quarantine.
But millions of residents in its three neighbouring states have been urged to avoid non-essential travel in a region that has become the deadliest hotspot of the outbreak in the US.
So far more than 800 people have died and 52 thousand cases have been reported in New York state alone.


channel4uk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: Coping with grief and loss during lockdown

When Leonard Gibson died twelve days ago , he was one of only 71 people in the UK who ’ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Today , that figure stands at more than twelve hundred .
As @ @ @ @ @ across the country , the families of those victims are often left isolated in their @ @ @ @ @ the loss of a loved one , while also trying to organise a fitting farewell @

When Leonard Gibson died twelve days ago, he was one of only 71 people in the UK who’d had been killed by the virus. Today, that figure stands at more than twelve hundred.
As coronavirus continues to disrupt life across the country, the families of those victims are often left isolated in their grief – struggling to comprehend the loss of a loved one, while also trying to organise a fitting farewell.


channel4uk--2020-03-29--Lockdown will continue for ‘weeks and weeks into the future’ – Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething

Lockdown will continue for ‘ weeks and weeks into the future ’ – Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething The Welsh @ @ @ @ @ Gove in saying coronavirus restrictions would last “ weeks and weeks into the future ” @ @ @ @ @ been addressing concerns over protective equipment for NHS staff .

Lockdown will continue for ‘weeks and weeks into the future’ – Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething
The Welsh health minister has echoed Michael Gove in saying coronavirus restrictions would last “weeks and weeks into the future”.
Vaughan Gething has also been addressing concerns over protective equipment for NHS staff.


channel4uk--2020-03-29--‘Up to 6 months’ before life returns to normal: UK government on coronavirus measures

The the official death toll in UK hospitals reached 1,228 today – a rise of 209 .
But it was @ @ @ @ @ one we saw yesterday .
The NHS also announced the first confirmed death of a @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the coronavirus – a 55-year-old doctor working in the Midlands .

The the official death toll in UK hospitals reached 1,228 today – a rise of 209. But it was a smaller increase than the one we saw yesterday.
The NHS also announced the first confirmed death of a frontline health worker who had tested positive for the coronavirus – a 55-year-old doctor working in the Midlands.


channel4uk--2020-03-28--Hundreds of Britons stranded in Pakistan desperately trying to return

The Foreign Office estimates that up to a million British nationals are currently travelling abroad and many of them are @ @ @ @ @ .
In Pakistan alone , hundreds of vulnerable British citizens are stranded with many of @ @ @ @ @ vital medication they need to treat serious health conditions .
A cross-party group of more @ @ @ @ @ the government to arrange flights to them home as more and more stories of people @ @ @ @ @ .

The Foreign Office estimates that up to a million British nationals are currently travelling abroad and many of them are desperately trying to get home.
In Pakistan alone, hundreds of vulnerable British citizens are stranded with many of them running short of the vital medication they need to treat serious health conditions.
A cross-party group of more than sixty MPs has urged the government to arrange flights to them home as more and more stories of people stuck in dire circumstances emerge.


channel4uk--2020-03-28--More than a hundred self-isolating NHS staff return to work in Wales after being tested

In Wales , where there have now been 38 coronavirus deaths , testing of self-isolating NHS staff has already been @ @ @ @ @ has heard from one health board area that the tests have already allowed more than @ @ @ @ @ come back to work .
But as in England there has been criticism of the @ @ @ @ @ roll-out of testing .

In Wales, where there have now been 38 coronavirus deaths, testing of self-isolating NHS staff has already been taking place.
This programme has heard from one health board area that the tests have already allowed more than a hundred NHS staff to come back to work.
But as in England there has been criticism of the speed and scale of the roll-out of testing.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Care workers thrust into frontline – protecting most vulnerable

Care workers have been thrust into the front-line protecting the most vulnerable in society – taking extreme measures to try @ @ @ @ @ bay .
Channel 4 News visited one care home in Renfrewshire , Scotland , which @ @ @ @ @ more than a fortnight ago .

Care workers have been thrust into the front-line protecting the most vulnerable in society – taking extreme measures to try and keep the virus at bay. Channel 4 News visited one care home in Renfrewshire, Scotland, which closed its doors to outsiders more than a fortnight ago.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--How do you self-isolate in a multi-generational household?

Millions of people aged 70 and above have been told to self isolate for at least three months .
But @ @ @ @ @ in multi-generational households ?
It ’ s a particularly tricky issue for Asian communities , @ @ @ @ @ aged over 70 live with extended families .
Millions of people aged 70 and above @ @ @ @ @ isolate for at least three months .
But what about those who live in multi-generational @ @ @ @ @ a particularly tricky issue for Asian communities , where 80 % of those aged over @ @ @ @ @ .

Millions of people aged 70 and above have been told to self isolate for at least three months. But what about those who live in multi-generational households? It’s a particularly tricky issue for Asian communities, where 80% of those aged over 70 live with extended families.
Millions of people aged 70 and above have been told to self isolate for at least three months. But what about those who live in multi-generational households?
It’s a particularly tricky issue for Asian communities, where 80% of those aged over 70 live with extended families.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Joanna Midgley on losing her mother to coronavirus: ‘This is a completely different way of people en

Joanna Midgley on losing her mother to coronavirus: ‘This is a completely different way of people ending their lives’

Pat Midgley died of the Covid-19 virus in a hospital in Sheffield yesterday .
Despite being 82 years old , @ @ @ @ @ a Labour councillor in the city .
She and her husband had celebrated their 60th @ @ @ @ @ Her daughter Joanna Midgely described how suddenly the illness came on .
The trauma of @ @ @ @ @ struggle to say goodbye in the age of coronavirus – an experience which is sadly @ @ @ @ @ the UK and throughout the rest of the world .
Pat Midgley died of the @ @ @ @ @ in Sheffield yesterday .
Despite being 82 years old , she was still active as @ @ @ @ @ city .
She and her husband had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year .
@ @ @ @ @ how suddenly the illness came on .

Pat Midgley died of the Covid-19 virus in a hospital in Sheffield yesterday. Despite being 82 years old, she was still active as a Labour councillor in the city. She and her husband had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. Her daughter Joanna Midgely described how suddenly the illness came on.
The trauma of losing loved ones, the struggle to say goodbye in the age of coronavirus – an experience which is sadly becoming all too common across the UK and throughout the rest of the world.
Pat Midgley died of the Covid-19 virus in a hospital in Sheffield yesterday. Despite being 82 years old, she was still active as a Labour councillor in the city. She and her husband had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. Her daughter Joanna Midgely described how suddenly the illness came on.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Highlands and Islands communities come together amid coronavirus tourism downturn

Just a week into Britain ’ s lockdown – and normal life is anything but .
Livelihoods too have vanished @ @ @ @ @ – with areas which once relied on visitors now relying on the Government bailout instead @ @ @ @ @ to keep their communities going .
Chief correspondent Alex Thomson travelled from Fort William to @ @ @ @ @ see how people are coping .

Just a week into Britain’s lockdown – and normal life is anything but. Livelihoods too have vanished – not least in tourism – with areas which once relied on visitors now relying on the Government bailout instead – and helping each other to keep their communities going.
Chief correspondent Alex Thomson travelled from Fort William to the Isle of Skye to see how people are coping.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Co-op CEO Steve Murrells: ‘No need to panic, there is enough food to go round’

From panic buying and empty shelves to the queues outside supermarkets and the problems trying to get anything delivered – @ @ @ @ @ great deal of concern about food supplies and how to get it to those in @ @ @ @ @ spoke to Steve Murrells , the Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group .

From panic buying and empty shelves to the queues outside supermarkets and the problems trying to get anything delivered – there’s still a great deal of concern about food supplies and how to get it to those in need. Channel 4 News spoke to Steve Murrells, the Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Questions over apparent collapse of deal to provide extra coronavirus tests in Wales

In Wales , there are growing questions over the apparent collapse of a deal to provide additional coronavirus testing capacity @ @ @ @

In Wales, there are growing questions over the apparent collapse of a deal to provide additional coronavirus testing capacity in the country.


channel4uk--2020-03-30--Fifteen-year-old’s teenage killers jailed via video link

Covid-19 has shut down almost half the criminal courts in England and Wales .
Trials have been put on hold @ @ @ @ @ .
Today , one family listened from their living room as their son ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Old Bailey .
Fifteen-year-old Tashaun Aird was one of 149 victims of knife crime last @ @ @ @ @ had warned his parents months earlier and his murder has led to a safeguarding review @

Covid-19 has shut down almost half the criminal courts in England and Wales. Trials have been put on hold. Hearings are operating remotely.
Today, one family listened from their living room as their son’s killers were jailed at the Old Bailey. Fifteen-year-old Tashaun Aird was one of 149 victims of knife crime last year in London. He had warned his parents months earlier and his murder has led to a safeguarding review.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--There could be ‘on and off lockdowns over course of next year’ –  Prof Devi Sridhar

We spoke to Professor Devi Sridhar , who ’ s an international expert on global pandemic management and says the @ @ @ @ @ lack of transparency in its approach will cost thousands of lives .
We asked her @ @ @ @ @ government is on track with this .

We spoke to Professor Devi Sridhar, who’s an international expert on global pandemic management and says the government’s dithering and lack of transparency in its approach will cost thousands of lives.
We asked her whether she now feels the government is on track with this.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--Carers on frontline say they feel scared and anxious

Home carers on the frontline of the coronavirus in central Scotland have told Channel 4 News that they feel scared @ @ @ @ @ the guidance on personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for their sector should be changed @ @ @ @

Home carers on the frontline of the coronavirus in central Scotland have told Channel 4 News that they feel scared and anxious.
Some think the guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) for their sector should be changed and changed now.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--Government message on coronavirus: ‘We’re not out of woods’

Today ’ s Cabinet meeting was a first : not a single minister in the room .
They all called @ @ @ @ @ .
At this afternoon ’ s Downing Street press conference , the government released more @ @ @ @ @ of new cases could be reaching a plateau .
But the message was : “ @ @ @ @ @ of the woods yet ” .

Today’s Cabinet meeting was a first: not a single minister in the room. They all called in for a teleconference instead.
At this afternoon’s Downing Street press conference, the government released more data indicating that the number of new cases could be reaching a plateau. But the message was: “we’re not out of the woods yet”.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--Welsh government’s coronavirus test deal collapses

In Wales , the government has again expressed its disappointment over the apparent collapse of a deal to deliver extra @ @ @ @ @ a press conference in Cardiff today , the health minister Vaughan Gething said “ there @ @ @ @ @ from the fact the tests “ would have made an earlier difference ” in Wales @ @ @ @ @ be drawn on why the deal had not gone .

In Wales, the government has again expressed its disappointment over the apparent collapse of a deal to deliver extra coronavirus testing capacity.
In a press conference in Cardiff today, the health minister Vaughan Gething said “there was no getting away” from the fact the tests “would have made an earlier difference” in Wales.
But he refused to be drawn on why the deal had not gone.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--‘There’s no question we’re behind the eight ball’ – Maryland Governor Larry Hogan

We ’ re joined from Annapolis by the Governor of Maryland , Larry Hogan .
We ’ re joined from @ @ @ @ @ Maryland , Larry Hogan .
He issued a stay at home order yesterday in order @ @ @ @ @ the virus in the state .

We’re joined from Annapolis by the Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan.
We’re joined from Annapolis by the Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan.
He issued a stay at home order yesterday in order to slow the spread of the virus in the state.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--New York at centre of rise in US coronavirus cases

In America , cases of Covid-19 continue to rise exponentially .
Now at over 164,000 , they are double that @ @ @ @ @ China – with New York City at the epicenter of the pandemic .

In America, cases of Covid-19 continue to rise exponentially.
Now at over 164,000, they are double that of the total number in China – with New York City at the epicenter of the pandemic.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--25,000 tests a day in UK ‘not going to be adequate’ – FIND’s Dr Rangarajan Sampath

We spoke to Dr Rangarajan Sampath , from the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics ( FIND ) , who ’ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization on diagnostics for Covid-19 .
We spoke to Dr Rangarajan Sampath , from @ @ @ @ @ Diagnostics ( FIND ) , who ’ s working with the World Health Organization on @ @ @ @ @ began by asking him if the UK government ’ s ambition to test up to @ @ @ @ @ a population of 65 million .

We spoke to Dr Rangarajan Sampath, from the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), who’s working with the World Health Organization on diagnostics for Covid-19.
We spoke to Dr Rangarajan Sampath, from the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), who’s working with the World Health Organization on diagnostics for Covid-19.
We began by asking him if the UK government’s ambition to test up to 25,000 people was enough for a population of 65 million.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--Inside a coronavirus testing lab

Inside a coronavirus testing lab

With the speed of testing for coronavirus being deemed an absolute priority , scientists in Liverpool are among those working @ @ @ @ @ tests are accurate and can be rolled out for widespread use .
With the speed @ @ @ @ @ deemed an absolute priority , scientists in Liverpool are among those working to establish whether @ @ @ @ @ and can be rolled out for widespread use .
But they say it ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ before the tests can be properly validated .
It comes as academics at other universities @ @ @ @ @ and resources to increase current testing .
We asked the government to come on the @ @ @ @ @ available .

With the speed of testing for coronavirus being deemed an absolute priority, scientists in Liverpool are among those working to establish whether new 10-minute tests are accurate and can be rolled out for widespread use.
With the speed of testing for coronavirus being deemed an absolute priority, scientists in Liverpool are among those working to establish whether new 10-minute tests are accurate and can be rolled out for widespread use.
But they say it’ll be weeks rather than days before the tests can be properly validated.
It comes as academics at other universities are offering the government space and resources to increase current testing.
We asked the government to come on the programme but no one was available.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--UK death toll rises by 381 – as government faces pressure over testing

“ Test , test , test ” .
That was the World Health Organization advice .
But although the Deputy @ @ @ @ @ at one point today said they were up to testing 12,700 people – in fact @ @ @ @ @ it was 8,240 .
That still falls far behind testing in other countries and way @ @ @ @ @ target .
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said testing is being constrained by the supply @ @ @ @ @ we need to go “ further , faster ” .
Testing is crucial to understand @ @ @ @ @ and to establish who has had it , particularly among frontline NHS staff , so @ @ @ @ @ .

“Test, test, test”. That was the World Health Organization advice. But although the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England at one point today said they were up to testing 12,700 people – in fact, the official figures say it was 8,240.
That still falls far behind testing in other countries and way short of our own 25,000-a-day target. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said testing is being constrained by the supply of chemical reagents and that we need to go “further, faster”.
Testing is crucial to understand the spread of the infection and to establish who has had it, particularly among frontline NHS staff, so they can carry on working.


channel4uk--2020-03-31--FactCheck: caution advised on Covid-19 death toll

There was a large rise in reported deaths today among hospital patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus .
The Department of Health and Social Care reported more than 380 more deaths across the UK today , compared to a rise of 180 yesterday .
But experts have long warned not to put too much weight on deaths reported on a single day .
While the UK government is putting out a daily number based on people dying in hospital , that doesn ’ t mean all those people died in that 24-hour period .
There ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death being reported .
Doctors need to fill in death certificates , family members need to be contacted , and post-mortem examinations are sometimes done .
That means that some deaths from a few days ago are only being reported now .
The latest figure does not mean that 200 more deaths took place on one day than on the previous day .
This is why experts consistently warn people not to celebrate if the number is low one day or panic when it is high the next .
The important thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter from Cambridge University said : “ The extreme day-to-day variation in reported Covid-19 deaths is far more than we would expect from chance variability and must be due to reporting practices .
“ Some deaths occurred many days ago , and there seems to be fewer reported over the weekend .
So great caution is required in interpreting daily figures .
“ Over the last week , reported deaths rose on average by an estimated 21 per cent each day , similar to Italy at the same stage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Italy ’ s death rate appears to have now levelled off at around 900 a day , and we can hope that our death rate will also flatten off due to the measures started a few weeks ago .
It is a good sign that the number of new cases per day is now stable .
But this will be a very tough time.
” As FactCheck reported yesterday , the independent ONS is also now publishing new data on registered deaths in England and Wales where Covid-19 is mentioned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Importantly , this new weekly figure also includes people dying outside hospital – in care homes , for example .
It may also include people who have not tested positive for the coronavirus .
This might sound strange , but doctors outside hospitals who do not have access to testing kits are able to record suspected cases of Covid-19 on death certificates without having their diagnosis confirmed by a test .
The ONS data inevitably captures more deaths .
We learned today that ONS is aware of 210 deaths involving Covid-19 occurring before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 170 announced by @ DHSC by that date .
But there is an even longer time lag between someone dying and the death showing up in the ONS statistics , so the number will always be behind the daily death toll figures published by the UK government .
The daily deaths in hospitals and the weekly figures from registered deaths both carry the same warning : Covid-19 may not always be the main cause of death .
You ’ ve probably seen the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK reported every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now might have happened days earlier , so experts say we shouldn ’ t overreact if the number is particularly low or high on a given day : it ’ s the overall trend that matters .
The daily death toll only covers people who have died in hospital .
They have tested positive for Covid-19 but it ’ s not necessarily the cause of death .
We also now have a weekly figure that takes in people who have died in the community too .
But the time lag between death and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we may not even be able to say for sure whether the patient had coronavirus , let alone that it was the cause of death .

There was a large rise in reported deaths today among hospital patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Department of Health and Social Care reported more than 380 more deaths across the UK today, compared to a rise of 180 yesterday.
But experts have long warned not to put too much weight on deaths reported on a single day.
Time lag
While the UK government is putting out a daily number based on people dying in hospital, that doesn’t mean all those people died in that 24-hour period.
There’s a time lag between someone dying and the death being reported. Doctors need to fill in death certificates, family members need to be contacted, and post-mortem examinations are sometimes done.
That means that some deaths from a few days ago are only being reported now. The latest figure does not mean that 200 more deaths took place on one day than on the previous day.
This is why experts consistently warn people not to celebrate if the number is low one day or panic when it is high the next. The important thing is the trend over time.
The statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter from Cambridge University said: “The extreme day-to-day variation in reported Covid-19 deaths is far more than we would expect from chance variability and must be due to reporting practices.
“Some deaths occurred many days ago, and there seems to be fewer reported over the weekend. So great caution is required in interpreting daily figures.
“Over the last week, reported deaths rose on average by an estimated 21 per cent each day, similar to Italy at the same stage of the epidemic, around two weeks ago.
“Italy’s death rate appears to have now levelled off at around 900 a day, and we can hope that our death rate will also flatten off due to the measures started a few weeks ago. It is a good sign that the number of new cases per day is now stable. But this will be a very tough time.”
New data
As FactCheck reported yesterday, the independent ONS is also now publishing new data on registered deaths in England and Wales where Covid-19 is mentioned by a doctor on the death certificate.
Importantly, this new weekly figure also includes people dying outside hospital – in care homes, for example.
It may also include people who have not tested positive for the coronavirus. This might sound strange, but doctors outside hospitals who do not have access to testing kits are able to record suspected cases of Covid-19 on death certificates without having their diagnosis confirmed by a test.
The ONS data inevitably captures more deaths. We learned today that ONS is aware of 210 deaths involving Covid-19 occurring before 20 March, 40 more than the 170 announced by @DHSC by that date.
But there is an even longer time lag between someone dying and the death showing up in the ONS statistics, so the number will always be behind the daily death toll figures published by the UK government.
The daily deaths in hospitals and the weekly figures from registered deaths both carry the same warning: Covid-19 may not always be the main cause of death.
FactCheck verdict
You’ve probably seen the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK reported every day.
Some of the deaths being reported now might have happened days earlier, so experts say we shouldn’t overreact if the number is particularly low or high on a given day: it’s the overall trend that matters.
The daily death toll only covers people who have died in hospital. They have tested positive for Covid-19 but it’s not necessarily the cause of death.
We also now have a weekly figure that takes in people who have died in the community too. But the time lag between death and reporting is even longer here, and we may not even be able to say for sure whether the patient had coronavirus, let alone that it was the cause of death.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--13-year-old boy among victims of coronavirus

A 13-year-old boy , from south London , described by his family as a “ loving son ” with a @ @ @ @ @ a 19-year-old chef who had moved to the UK from Italy and an NHS nurse @ @ @ @ @ always went beyond the call of duty ” – these are some of the people @ @ @ @ @ positive for Covid-19 .

A 13-year-old boy, from south London, described by his family as a “loving son” with a “heartwarming” smile, a 19-year-old chef who had moved to the UK from Italy and an NHS nurse whose relatives say he “always went beyond the call of duty” – these are some of the people who have died after testing positive for Covid-19.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--‘There will be an increased number of cases over the next week or maybe two weeks’ – Sir Robert Lech

‘There will be an increased number of cases over the next week or maybe two weeks’ – Sir Robert Lechler

The vulnerable people who say they are not getting the food they were promised by the government

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


channel4uk--2020-04-01--The vulnerable people who say they are not getting the food they were promised by the government

A million and a half people in England were ordered by the government to stay at home for 12 weeks @ @ @ @ @ food and medicines .
But many have told this programme that they have either been @ @ @ @ @ or haven ’ t been able to secure sufficient food from government parcels or supermarkets @

A million and a half people in England were ordered by the government to stay at home for 12 weeks and register for deliveries of food and medicines.
But many have told this programme that they have either been unable to sign up, or haven’t been able to secure sufficient food from government parcels or supermarkets.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--UK coronavirus hospital deaths rise by 563 in a day, as government urged to increase testing

Two thousand frontline staff in NHS England have been tested for coronavirus .
Now , under increasing pressure to get @ @ @ @ @ wards , the government insisted that increasing test capacity was its “ top priority ” @ @ @ @ @ promise that within weeks there would be capacity to test hundreds of thousands more .

Two thousand frontline staff in NHS England have been tested for coronavirus.
Now, under increasing pressure to get more NHS workers back into wards, the government insisted that increasing test capacity was its “top priority”.
And there was a promise that within weeks there would be capacity to test hundreds of thousands more.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--Farmers fear crops could be left to rot without seasonal workers to pick them

We have all seen the empty supermarket shelves and the promises that the UK ’ s food supply chain will @ @ @ @ @ But for fresh produce to reach the shelves – farmers need to pick it .
@ @ @ @ @ workers who come here from abroad – many fear that vitally needed crops could be @ @ @ @ @ fields .

We have all seen the empty supermarket shelves and the promises that the UK’s food supply chain will be able to cope.
But for fresh produce to reach the shelves – farmers need to pick it. And without the usual seasonal workers who come here from abroad – many fear that vitally needed crops could be left to rot in the fields.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--Swedish government under pressure to impose tougher restrictions to combat coronavirus

With most of the world in lockdown , Sweden has been forging its own path , letting much of life @ @ @ @ @ most of the world in lockdown , Sweden has been forging its own path , @ @ @ @ @ as normal .
Although today , Swedes were told to avoid public transport during rush @ @ @ @ @ cancelled .
After 239 deaths , pressure is rising on the government to do more @

With most of the world in lockdown, Sweden has been forging its own path, letting much of life continue as normal.
With most of the world in lockdown, Sweden has been forging its own path, letting much of life continue as normal.
Although today, Swedes were told to avoid public transport during rush hour and sports events were cancelled. After 239 deaths, pressure is rising on the government to do more.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--Coronavirus lockdown leaves millions of Indian workers unemployed

When India was plunged into a strict lockdown – it left the country ’ s internal migrant workers stranded , @ @ @ @ @ home .
When India was plunged into a strict lockdown – it left the country @ @ @ @ @ stranded , many hundreds of miles from home .
Tens of millions of people who @ @ @ @ @ India ’ s major cities are suddenly unemployed with some taking to the roads for @ @ @ @ @ , while others crowded inside shelters or slums , relying on charity food parcels to @ @

When India was plunged into a strict lockdown – it left the country’s internal migrant workers stranded, many hundreds of miles from home.
When India was plunged into a strict lockdown – it left the country’s internal migrant workers stranded, many hundreds of miles from home.
Tens of millions of people who worked as casual labourers in India’s major cities are suddenly unemployed with some taking to the roads for the impossibly long walk home, while others crowded inside shelters or slums, relying on charity food parcels to survive.
This piece was filmed by Adil Bhat, Suhel Khan and Yannis Grenier.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--How will UK doctors decide which Covid-19 patients get life-saving treatment?

Intensive care treatment could be prioritised for those most likely to survive – under new ethical guidelines published by the @ @ @ @ @ care treatment could be prioritised for those most likely to survive – under new ethical @ @ @ @ @ Medical Association .
They have warned that as the crisis develops doctors could be making @ @ @ @ @ of patients receive life saving treatment or not .

Intensive care treatment could be prioritised for those most likely to survive – under new ethical guidelines published by the British Medical Association.
Intensive care treatment could be prioritised for those most likely to survive – under new ethical guidelines published by the British Medical Association.
They have warned that as the crisis develops doctors could be making decisions about whether large numbers of patients receive life saving treatment or not.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--‘If resources are overwhelmed, questions about how to prioritise become urgent’ – BMA adviser Julian

‘If resources are overwhelmed, questions about how to prioritise become urgent’ – BMA adviser Julian Sheather


channel4uk--2020-04-01--Coronavirus patients ‘coming in higher and higher numbers’ – New York doctor Chidubem Iloabachie

Coronavirus patients ‘coming in higher and higher numbers’ – New York doctor Chidubem Iloabachie
Cathy Newman Presenter
Earlier we were joined by Dr Chidubem Iloabachie, the Associate Chair of Emergency Medicine at the Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital in New York.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--Trump warns 240,000 people in the US could die as result of coronavirus

‘ Look at us today and you ’ ll see yourselves tomorrow ’ – the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ the United States , as he warned 16,000 New York residents could lose their lives @ @ @ @ @ at us today and you ’ ll see yourselves tomorrow ’ – the New York @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the United States , as he warned 16,000 New York residents could @ @ @ @ @ .
This after the White House said up to 240,000 Americans could die in the @ @ @ @ @ declaring that adhering to social distancing guidelines had become “ a matter of life and @ @ @

‘Look at us today and you’ll see yourselves tomorrow’ – the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has warned the rest of the United States, as he warned 16,000 New York residents could lose their lives to coronavirus.
‘Look at us today and you’ll see yourselves tomorrow’ – the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has warned the rest of the United States, as he warned 16,000 New York residents could lose their lives to coronavirus.
This after the White House said up to 240,000 Americans could die in the coming weeks – President Trump declaring that adhering to social distancing guidelines had become “a matter of life and death”.


channel4uk--2020-04-01--FactCheck: is social distancing working?

Ordinary life has been turned on its head for most of us in recent weeks thanks to government measures to keep people apart to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
But how do we know if these social distancing measures are working ?
Are people sticking to the rules , and if they are , will this reduce transmission ?
As with so many questions relating to Covid-19 , we don ’ t have definitive answers yet .
But there is new research that has sparked cautious optimism on both those fronts .
It ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing will only work if enough people obey the rules .
The modelling from Imperial College which informed the government ’ s decision to tighten social distancing rules on March 16 said there would be a dramatic drop in new infections if we cut contact with people outside the household , school or workplace by 75 per cent .
This raises an important question : how are officials checking whether people are observing these social distancing guidelines in sufficient numbers ?
The government has never given us an answer to this , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser , Sir Patrick Vallance , said on Monday that there had been a dramatic drop in the use of public transport , footfall in high streets and visits to bars and restaurants , so we know that this is the kind of data officials are looking at .
Now we have a new insight into how people may have reacted to the changes , courtesy of the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM ) .
The researchers got the polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1,356 UK adults about changes to their lifestyles .
The sample was representative of the wider population in terms of age , gender , and place of residence .
The surveys were sent out a week ago , after the lockdown was announced .
The first results suggest people have cut social contacts by 73 per cent .
That means that on average , we are coming into contact with three people a day instead of about ten , and most of the contact is in the home .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peer-reviewed – study to present evidence of a high level of compliance with the social distancing guidelines ( this Savanta survey also finds that most of us are following government advice and are increasingly likely to self-isolate ) .
The apparently high level of compliance leads the LSHTM researchers to predict that there could be a substantial decline in coronavirus cases in the UK over the coming weeks .
In fact , they estimate that the number of people each contagious person will infect ( which scientists call the “ R-zero ” number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scientists say that is the point at which the virus will no longer be able to sustain itself in a population and will gradually die out .
It ’ s important to note that this is based purely on mathematical modelling – it has not yet been confirmed by real-world results like the number of positive tests for Covid-19 .
We are not likely to get proof of whether the latest distancing measures have really worked for weeks , because there are delays between people becoming infected and getting into hospital – which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place .
That means recorded Covid-19 cases and deaths reported today usually involve people who caught the disease several weeks ago .
Nevertheless , expert reaction to the study has been cautiously positive , and this adds to the optimism some scientists already feel about an apparent slowdown in the rate of new confirmed coronavirus cases being added to the tally each day in the UK .
Responding to the LSHTM study , Professor Keith Neal , Emeritus Professor of the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nottingham , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and ( the fact that ) we have some measures in place now for over two weeks and a type of lockdown for over two weeks , their conclusion that R-zero may be below 1 is credible .
“ Once R-zero is below 1 the epidemic can not sustain itself as each case produces less than one new case and the epidemic eventually ceases .
“ This does not provide any evidence for how long we need to continue lockdown but similar studies could be done to look at the social mixing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Ordinary life has been turned on its head for most of us in recent weeks thanks to government measures to keep people apart to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
But how do we know if these social distancing measures are working? Are people sticking to the rules, and if they are, will this reduce transmission?
As with so many questions relating to Covid-19, we don’t have definitive answers yet. But there is new research that has sparked cautious optimism on both those fronts.
Compliance
It’s been made clear from the outset that social distancing will only work if enough people obey the rules.
The modelling from Imperial College which informed the government’s decision to tighten social distancing rules on March 16 said there would be a dramatic drop in new infections if we cut contact with people outside the household, school or workplace by 75 per cent.
This raises an important question: how are officials checking whether people are observing these social distancing guidelines in sufficient numbers?
The government has never given us an answer to this, despite repeated inquiries.
But the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said on Monday that there had been a dramatic drop in the use of public transport, footfall in high streets and visits to bars and restaurants, so we know that this is the kind of data officials are looking at.
Now we have a new insight into how people may have reacted to the changes, courtesy of the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The researchers got the polling company Ipsos to do an email survey of 1,356 UK adults about changes to their lifestyles. The sample was representative of the wider population in terms of age, gender, and place of residence.
The surveys were sent out a week ago, after the lockdown was announced.
The first results suggest people have cut social contacts by 73 per cent. That means that on average, we are coming into contact with three people a day instead of about ten, and most of the contact is in the home.
It’s the first academic – though not yet peer-reviewed – study to present evidence of a high level of compliance with the social distancing guidelines (this Savanta survey also finds that most of us are following government advice and are increasingly likely to self-isolate).
Fewer cases?
The apparently high level of compliance leads the LSHTM researchers to predict that there could be a substantial decline in coronavirus cases in the UK over the coming weeks.
In fact, they estimate that the number of people each contagious person will infect (which scientists call the “R-zero” number) has already dropped below 1.
Scientists say that is the point at which the virus will no longer be able to sustain itself in a population and will gradually die out.
It’s important to note that this is based purely on mathematical modelling – it has not yet been confirmed by real-world results like the number of positive tests for Covid-19.
We are not likely to get proof of whether the latest distancing measures have really worked for weeks, because there are delays between people becoming infected and getting into hospital – which is where nearly all the coronavirus tests take place.
That means recorded Covid-19 cases and deaths reported today usually involve people who caught the disease several weeks ago.
Nevertheless, expert reaction to the study has been cautiously positive, and this adds to the optimism some scientists already feel about an apparent slowdown in the rate of new confirmed coronavirus cases being added to the tally each day in the UK.
Responding to the LSHTM study, Professor Keith Neal, Emeritus Professor of the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: “Given the flattening in new cases and (the fact that) we have some measures in place now for over two weeks and a type of lockdown for over two weeks, their conclusion that R-zero may be below 1 is credible.
“Once R-zero is below 1 the epidemic cannot sustain itself as each case produces less than one new case and the epidemic eventually ceases.
“This does not provide any evidence for how long we need to continue lockdown but similar studies could be done to look at the social mixing patterns if they are partially relaxed.”


channel4uk--2020-04-02--Where does Coronavirus leave the fight against climate change? COP26 delayed until 2021

COP 26 , the global climate summit in Glasgow , has been postponed .
The two-week summit had been intended @ @ @ @ @ accord brokered in Paris in 2015 .
But many campaigners have welcomed the postponement , @ @ @ @ @ real climate action after the pandemic – and maybe after the US election too .

COP 26, the global climate summit in Glasgow, has been postponed. The two-week summit had been intended to build on the historic accord brokered in Paris in 2015.
But many campaigners have welcomed the postponement, saying it buys time for real climate action after the pandemic – and maybe after the US election too.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--Welsh health minister pledges to double the number of hospital beds

In Wales the number of hospital beds will effectively be doubled , the health minister said today .
Six thousand @ @ @ @ @ field hospitals in converted leisure centres and stadiums .
So far , 117 people who @ @ @ @ @ have died in Wales .
Channel 4 News spoke to some those at the heart @ @ @ @ @ Swansea , Llanelli and Neath .

In Wales the number of hospital beds will effectively be doubled, the health minister said today. Six thousand of them will be in field hospitals in converted leisure centres and stadiums.
So far, 117 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Wales. Channel 4 News spoke to some those at the heart of the NHS response in Swansea, Llanelli and Neath.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--We thank you: UK erupts to clap our carers once again

All over the country people have been getting ready to clap their appreciation for carers .
Channel 4 News spoke @ @ @ @ @ works in Acute and Emergency Medicine at the Lewisham and Greenwich Hospitals Trust and Junior @ @ @ @ @ works in elderly care , and is a member of the executive committee of the @ @ @ @

All over the country people have been getting ready to clap their appreciation for carers.
Channel 4 News spoke to Dr Raphael Olaiya who works in Acute and Emergency Medicine at the Lewisham and Greenwich Hospitals Trust and Junior Doctor Tom Gardiner, who works in elderly care, and is a member of the executive committee of the left-wing Fabian Society.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--The race to trace: Has the UK abandoned coronavirus contact tracing?

“ Contact tracing is the most important thing you could be doing right now , ” says an expert helping @ @ @ @ @ fight against the coronavirus pandemic .
But it is not something that is being routinely @ @ @ @ @ although early last month the Scottish government published a note saying that contact tracing was @ @ @ @ @ Days later that strategy was dropped .

“Contact tracing is the most important thing you could be doing right now,” says an expert helping to lead Ireland’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
But it is not something that is being routinely done across the UK – although early last month the Scottish government published a note saying that contact tracing was “highly effective”.
Days later that strategy was dropped.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--PPE shortage: Frontline GP say charities and schools are supplying protective equipment

Those front line staff being applauded are continuing to put themselves at risk across the country .
But it ’ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals as an increasing number of people are being treated by GPs in their own @ @ @ @ @ Stockport say they ’ ve been relying on charities and schools to supply their Personal @ @ @

Those front line staff being applauded are continuing to put themselves at risk across the country.
But it’s not just medics in hospitals as an increasing number of people are being treated by GPs in their own homes.
One team in Stockport say they’ve been relying on charities and schools to supply their Personal Protective Equipment.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--EU response restricted because some countries won’t ‘let the EU do what she could be doing’ – former

EU response restricted because some countries won’t ‘let the EU do what she could be doing’ – former EU Commission president

We thank you : UK erupts to clap our carers once again


channel4uk--2020-04-02--Graves for coronavirus victims dug in Northern Ireland as country braces itself for epidemic

The total number of virus-related deaths in Northern Ireland jumped by six today to a total of 36 .
Even @ @ @ @ @ 774 people testing positive , Northern Ireland faces a surge in cases , and now @ @ @ @ @ communities despite their differences are uniting in their response .

The total number of virus-related deaths in Northern Ireland jumped by six today to a total of 36.
Even though it has had only 774 people testing positive, Northern Ireland faces a surge in cases, and now politicians, health workers and communities despite their differences are uniting in their response.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--“It could last for a year, or one and a half, until we have a vaccine”: Former WHO Director-General

“It could last for a year, or one and a half, until we have a vaccine”: Former WHO Director-General Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland


channel4uk--2020-04-02--One million coronavirus cases confirmed: How are global leaders responding?

Before the coronavirus outbreak the Europe Union looked like a place where the leaders were united .
Now it seems @ @ @ @ @ .
The head of the EU commission today said member states handling the crisis in @ @ @ @ @ ‘ harmful ’ .
Ursula von der Leyen ’ s words come as the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ which might in previous times have been expected to take a lead in coordinating a @ @ @

Before the coronavirus outbreak the Europe Union looked like a place where the leaders were united.
Now it seems the pandemic is causing division. The head of the EU commission today said member states handling the crisis in their own way could be ‘harmful’.
Ursula von der Leyen’s words come as the outbreak worsens in the USA, which might in previous times have been expected to take a lead in coordinating a global response.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--New York hospitals under intense pressure as coronavirus epidemic grows in USA

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the United States has doubled in a week .
More than 10 @ @ @ @ @ work because of the pandemic .
As the country is pushed to its limit , @ @ @ @ @ the epicentre of the outbreak , illustrate the devastation .

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the United States has doubled in a week.
More than 10 million people are out of work because of the pandemic. As the country is pushed to its limit, stories from New York, the epicentre of the outbreak, illustrate the devastation.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--Business reeling as extent of job losses become clear

There were more signs today of the very large numbers of workers who will be temporarily laid off with their @ @ @ @ @ .
There were more signs today of the very large numbers of workers who will @ @ @ @ @ their pay subsidised by the Government .
British Airways and Nissan have both announced today @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of workers on 80 % salaries .

There were more signs today of the very large numbers of workers who will be temporarily laid off with their pay subsidised by the Government.
There were more signs today of the very large numbers of workers who will be temporarily laid off with their pay subsidised by the Government.
British Airways and Nissan have both announced today that they are furloughing tens of thousands of workers on 80% salaries.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--WHO official says UK government ‘uncertainty’ about virus has ‘slightly hampered’ response

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


channel4uk--2020-04-02--How NHS staff across the country are coping with the coronavirus

How NHS staff across the country are coping with the coronavirus Channel 4 News has been speaking to NHS workers @ @ @ @ @ fight against Covid-19 .

How NHS staff across the country are coping with the coronavirus
Victoria Macdonald Health and Social Care Editor
Channel 4 News has been speaking to NHS workers on the frontline of the fight against Covid-19.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--Government pledges to carry out 100,000 tests a day by April after criticism over coronavirus testin

Government pledges to carry out 100,000 tests a day by April after criticism over coronavirus testing

One hundred thousand tests by the end of this month – that ’ s the commitment the Health Secretary Matt @ @ @ @ @ criticism that there wasn ’ t enough testing to get a grip on the pandemic @

One hundred thousand tests by the end of this month – that’s the commitment the Health Secretary Matt Hancock made today after intense criticism that there wasn’t enough testing to get a grip on the pandemic.


channel4uk--2020-04-02--FactCheck: how reliable are the UK’s coronavirus tests?

The government continues to face criticism over the rate of testing for coronavirus in the UK .
On 18 March , the Department of Health announced it planned to increase capacity to 25,000 a day by the middle of this month .
On Tuesday , the government said it wouldn ’ t meet this deadline , and now expects to reach the target at the end of April .
As FactCheck reported this week , there ’ s also been confusion from ministers over how many tests are currently happening .
And amid all this , there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent days : how reliable are the results from the current coronavirus tests ?
We ’ re going to look at what we know , and what we ’ ve yet to discover .
Dr James Gill , a locum GP and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at Warwick Medical School , explains : “ Currently there are two tests in use , a PCR [ polymerase chain reaction ] lab test looking directly for the virus , and the newer antibody test which is looking for evidence that the body has been exposed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who show up in the government ’ s official figures for coronavirus testing have had the PCR laboratory test .
Anthony Woodcock , who ’ s a Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester , describes this type of test as the “ gold standard ” – but he and Dr Gill both point out some of the problems that come with it .
For one thing , PCR tests are labour-intensive and take some time to complete – which , as Professor Woodcock says , can leave patients “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their infectivity for 24 hours ” .
And it ’ s not just waiting for the results .
Both point to the issue of “ false negatives ” – where the test says a patient has not got coronavirus when in fact they have .
Professor Woodcock and Dr Gill both estimate that the rate of false negatives could be around 30 per cent .
Professor Woodcock suggests that these could be caused by “ low levels of the virus in the early stages of the disease ” or “ especially poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
He describes the dangers of these “ many ” false negatives : “ potentially infectious patients could be nursed in COVID negative areas , or sent home thinking they are non-infectious ” .
Dr Gill says that as the UK ’ s lab testing rates expand , there will be more automation in the process , which should in theory reduce the chance of errors and incorrect results .
Patients are being tested more than once Some patients are receiving more than one coronavirus test in the course of a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures tweeted out by Public Health England earlier in the week that show some 8,278 tests were carried out on one particular day on just 4,908 individuals .
The latest stats show 10,657 tests were carried out yesterday on 7,771 patients .
We don ’ t know exactly why each of these patients would have had the number of tests they did .
But as Professor Woodcock points out , if the current tests can only detect the presence of the virus 70 per cent of the time , “ we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus testing/diagnosis ” .
In other words , it ’ s possible that some of those repeat tests are happening to confirm what doctors believe to be a case of coronavirus that just hasn ’ t been picked up by the first or second tests .
A spokesperson for Public Health England told FactCheck : “ ‘ It would be unfair to say that the test is not very reliable , there will be numerous reasons patients in inpatient settings will need to be retested throughout their patient journey.
” What about other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current process of PCR testing will “ continue to be needed ” , but that in the next two to four weeks , we could move towards “ point of care ” testing .
This could see patients getting results at their bedsides within 15 minutes , rather than waiting hours or days for central labs to report back .
For that to work , PCR machines would probably need to be moved into hospital emergency departments , he says – “ however , local PCR machines are not yet widely available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bioveterinary Science at the University of Lincoln says the PCR test was the “ correct first step ” in terms of the world ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak , but that “ a much better and faster test would be one that detects a viral protein ” .
This , he says , involves making a “ monoclonal antibody against the relevant protein ” – a process that he estimates would take about two or three months .
Once developed , you would not need any specialist machinery and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So far we ’ ve looked at tests that try to establish whether a patient currently has the virus .
There is another category of test – sometimes called an “ antibody ” or a “ serology ” test – which can reveal if the person being tested has ever had coronavirus .
Eleanor Riley , Professor of Immunology and Infectious Disease at the University of Edinburgh , explains that these tests “ use viral proteins as ‘ glue ’ to trap the antibodies present in serum ” .
Professor Woodcock says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ the ‘ stick ’ test will be invaluable ” to help with fast diagnosis , and to allow healthcare staff to return to work if they can confirm they ’ ve already had the virus .
The UK government has ordered millions of these tests – though there ’ s some uncertainty around exactly when they could be rolled out .

The government continues to face criticism over the rate of testing for coronavirus in the UK.
On 18 March, the Department of Health announced it planned to increase capacity to 25,000 a day by the middle of this month. On Tuesday, the government said it wouldn’t meet this deadline, and now expects to reach the target at the end of April.
As FactCheck reported this week, there’s also been confusion from ministers over how many tests are currently happening.
And amid all this, there’s a further question that experts have raised in recent days: how reliable are the results from the current coronavirus tests? We’re going to look at what we know, and what we’ve yet to discover.
Limits of the current tests
Dr James Gill, a locum GP and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at Warwick Medical School, explains: “Currently there are two tests in use, a PCR [polymerase chain reaction] lab test looking directly for the virus, and the newer antibody test which is looking for evidence that the body has been exposed and reacted to the virus”.
The people who show up in the government’s official figures for coronavirus testing have had the PCR laboratory test.
Anthony Woodcock, who’s a Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, describes this type of test as the “gold standard” – but he and Dr Gill both point out some of the problems that come with it.
For one thing, PCR tests are labour-intensive and take some time to complete – which, as Professor Woodcock says, can leave patients “sat on wards without a firm position on their infectivity for 24 hours”.
And it’s not just waiting for the results. Both point to the issue of “false negatives” – where the test says a patient has not got coronavirus when in fact they have.
Professor Woodcock and Dr Gill both estimate that the rate of false negatives could be around 30 per cent.
Professor Woodcock suggests that these could be caused by “low levels of the virus in the early stages of the disease” or “especially poor technique in sampling or conducting the test”.
He describes the dangers of these “many” false negatives: “potentially infectious patients could be nursed in COVID negative areas, or sent home thinking they are non-infectious”.
Dr Gill says that as the UK’s lab testing rates expand, there will be more automation in the process, which should in theory reduce the chance of errors and incorrect results.
Patients are being tested more than once
Some patients are receiving more than one coronavirus test in the course of a single day.
We can see this in figures tweeted out by Public Health England earlier in the week that show some 8,278 tests were carried out on one particular day on just 4,908 individuals.
The latest stats show 10,657 tests were carried out yesterday on 7,771 patients.
We don’t know exactly why each of these patients would have had the number of tests they did.
But as Professor Woodcock points out, if the current tests can only detect the presence of the virus 70 per cent of the time, “we have a lot of patients waiting for a repeat virus testing/diagnosis”.
In other words, it’s possible that some of those repeat tests are happening to confirm what doctors believe to be a case of coronavirus that just hasn’t been picked up by the first or second tests.
A spokesperson for Public Health England told FactCheck: “‘It would be unfair to say that the test is not very reliable, there will be numerous reasons patients in inpatient settings will need to be retested throughout their patient journey.”
What about other types of test?
Professor Woodcock says the current process of PCR testing will “continue to be needed”, but that in the next two to four weeks, we could move towards “point of care” testing. This could see patients getting results at their bedsides within 15 minutes, rather than waiting hours or days for central labs to report back.
For that to work, PCR machines would probably need to be moved into hospital emergency departments, he says – “however, local PCR machines are not yet widely available”.
Colin Butter, Associate Professor of Bioveterinary Science at the University of Lincoln says the PCR test was the “correct first step” in terms of the world’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, but that “a much better and faster test would be one that detects a viral protein”.
This, he says, involves making a “monoclonal antibody against the relevant protein” – a process that he estimates would take about two or three months. Once developed, you would not need any specialist machinery and the results could be available within 15 minutes.
So far we’ve looked at tests that try to establish whether a patient currently has the virus. There is another category of test – sometimes called an “antibody” or a “serology” test – which can reveal if the person being tested has ever had coronavirus.
Eleanor Riley, Professor of Immunology and Infectious Disease at the University of Edinburgh, explains that these tests “use viral proteins as ‘glue’ to trap the antibodies present in serum”.
Professor Woodcock says that among the range of antibody tests, “the ‘stick’ test will be invaluable” to help with fast diagnosis, and to allow healthcare staff to return to work if they can confirm they’ve already had the virus.
The UK government has ordered millions of these tests – though there’s some uncertainty around exactly when they could be rolled out.


channel4uk--2020-04-03--‘You start with such high hopes’: The incredible struggle of hospital staff in Italy

In Italy , the death toll from Covid-19 is now more than 14,500 .
It is the hardest hit European @ @ @ @ @ the death toll from Covid-19 is now more than 14,500 .
It is the hardest @ @ @ @ @ Bergamo , which is close to the Alps , it ’ s thought fatalities could @ @ @ @ @ The reason – because so many elderly patients died untested at home .
The outbreak @ @ @ @ @ town of Alzano Lombardo , where filmmaker Francesca Tosarelli has been documenting the struggle facing @ @ @ @ @ who have been unable to say goodbye properly to their loved ones .

In Italy, the death toll from Covid-19 is now more than 14,500. It is the hardest hit European country.
In Italy, the death toll from Covid-19 is now more than 14,500. It is the hardest hit European country.
In Bergamo, which is close to the Alps, it’s thought fatalities could be double previous estimates. The reason – because so many elderly patients died untested at home.
The outbreak was first detected in the town of Alzano Lombardo, where filmmaker Francesca Tosarelli has been documenting the struggle facing hospital staff and grieving families who have been unable to say goodbye properly to their loved ones.


channel4uk--2020-04-03--Tens of thousands of Britons remain stranded abroad

Thousands of British citizens remain stranded abroad , and are still battling to make their way back to the UK @ @ @ @ @ globe .
Earlier this week , the Foreign Office commited £75m to bring them back @ @ @ @ @ struggling to find a way home .

Thousands of British citizens remain stranded abroad, and are still battling to make their way back to the UK as lockdowns continue across the globe.
Earlier this week, the Foreign Office commited £75m to bring them back, but many are still struggling to find a way home.


channel4uk--2020-04-03--What will happen to rough sleepers when pandemic is over?

When every council in England was told to give rough sleepers a roof over their heads to protect them from @ @ @ @ @ it was welcomed .
Now homelessness charities are wondering what will happen once the bed @ @ @ @ @ taken from those who have been given shelter .
Channel 4 News ’ Jane Deith @ @ @ @ @ a city where 41 people have died , to speak to two rough sleepers about @ @ @ @ @ the street , and the worry of what happens after the pandemic is over .

When every council in England was told to give rough sleepers a roof over their heads to protect them from the spread of Covid-19, it was welcomed. Now homelessness charities are wondering what will happen once the bed and the door key is taken from those who have been given shelter.
Channel 4 News’ Jane Deith has been to Liverpool, a city where 41 people have died, to speak to two rough sleepers about the relief of being off the street, and the worry of what happens after the pandemic is over.