bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Fall in weekly care home deaths

The number of Covid-19 related deaths in care homes in the week to 8 May was about 50 % fewer than the previous week .
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) has published its weekly statistical bulletin .
In the week up to 8 May , 36 deaths happened in care homes .
In the previous week , by 1 May , that figure was 72 .
However , almost half of the 599 coronavirus-related deaths recorded by Nisra in total have so far happened in care homes .
The bulletin says by last Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hospital ; 269 , or 44.9 % , occurred in care homes , and five ( 0.8 % ) occurred in hospices .
Thirty-one ( 5.2 % ) took place at residential addresses or another location .
The deaths in care homes and hospices involved 71 separate establishments , Nisra reported .
People aged over 75 accounted for more than three-quarters of all Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland .
In the week up to 8 May , the number of people who died in hospital settings , 37 , was similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in care homes , 36 .
The previous two weeks showed that more people had died in care homes than in hospitals .
The Department of Health had reported 432 Covid-19 related deaths in its total by 8 May - but its figures are mostly comprised of hospital deaths .
Two sets of Covid-19 figures are published in Northern Ireland : • A daily set produced by the Department of Health , which counts mostly hospital deaths and where a patient tested positive for the virus • The weekly statistics from Nisra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been recorded on the death certificate The department said there is always a time lag for registering deaths in the community , with the process taking up to five days , and that the Nisra report could not feasibly be linked to the daily figures .
The total death toll is ultimately set to be higher .
The latest figures from Nisra also include a breakdown of all Covid-19 related deaths by council area , for the first time .
Of the 11 councils , Belfast had recorded the most deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fewest deaths , recording 16 by 8 May .
On Thursday , Health Minister Robin Swann said a request he placed to Nisra to release figures twice a week had been rejected .
He also asked if the Department of Health 's dashboard output could be extended to include a breakdown of the daily fatalities by setting .
But Nisra said it was `` committed to publishing as much information as it can about Covid-19 related deaths as quickly as possible '' .
`` In doing so we must not compromise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , '' said a spokesperson .
What do we know about the situation in NI 's care homes ?
Three separate care homes in Northern Ireland have publicly reported deaths in double figures , including : • Ten deaths at Parkview Care Home in Glencairn , west Belfast , out of 59 residents ; • Fourteen deaths at Ringdufferin Nursing Home in Killyleagh , County Down ; Currently , residents and staff are only tested for coronavirus in care homes where there is a suspected outbreak , or if they are new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the Republic of Ireland , testing of all care home staff and residents is expected to be completed this week .
The total number of all deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending 8 May was 336 ; falling from 427 in the previous week - but still higher than what would be expected at this time of year .
Nisra said there had been 766 `` excess deaths '' registered in Northern Ireland over the last six weeks .
This measure captures all deaths caused by the coronavirus : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the daily figures ; as well as the suspected cases that were mentioned on the death certificate .
It also captures the deaths caused indirectly by the epidemic : people who died because of the strain on hospitals and care homes or people affected by the lockdown .
How does Northern Ireland compare to the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland ?
Although comparisons between countries and regions are difficult due to differences in how statistics are compiled , Northern Ireland 's death rate ( 27 per 100,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Republic of Ireland ( 29 per 100,000 ) and significantly lower than that of Great Britain ( 43 per 100,000 ) .
Across the UK , the total death toll stands at 33,614 , while in the Republic of Ireland there have been 1,508 deaths recorded so far .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WHAT WE DO N'T KNOW How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus @

Coronavirus: Fall in weekly NI care home deaths Published 15 May 2020
Image source, Getty Images
The number of Covid-19 related deaths in care homes in the week to 8 May was about 50% fewer than the previous week.
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) has published its weekly statistical bulletin.
In the week up to 8 May, 36 deaths happened in care homes. In the previous week, by 1 May, that figure was 72.
However, almost half of the 599 coronavirus-related deaths recorded by Nisra in total have so far happened in care homes.
Two sets of Covid-19 figures are published in Northern Ireland:
A daily set produced by the Department of Health, which counts mostly hospital deaths and where a patient tested positive for the virus
The weekly statistics from Nisra, which cover all fatalities where coronavirus has been recorded on the death certificate
On Friday, the Department of Health reported a further 15 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing its total to 469.
Nine deaths happened since Thursday, six had occurred earlier but have only now been added to the department's figures.
Meanwhile, Nisra's report says that by last Friday - out of 599 Covid-19 related deaths in total - 294 (49.1%) occurred in hospital; 269, (44.9%), occurred in care homes and five (0.8%) occurred in hospices.
Image caption, The Department of Health's figures mostly count hospital deaths, and where a patient tested positive for the virus
Thirty-one (5.2%) took place at residential addresses or another location.
The deaths in care homes and hospices involved 71 separate establishments, Nisra reported.
In the week up to 8 May, the number of people who died in hospital settings, 37, was similar to the number of deaths that took place in care homes, 36.
The previous two weeks showed that more people had died in care homes than in hospitals.
People aged over 75 accounted for more than three-quarters of all Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland.
The department said there is always a time lag for registering deaths in the community, with the process taking up to five days, and that the Nisra report could not feasibly be linked to the daily figures.
The total death toll is ultimately set to be higher.
The latest figures from Nisra also include a breakdown of all Covid-19 related deaths by council area, for the first time.
Of the 11 councils, Belfast had recorded the most deaths, 173, while Fermanagh and Omagh had the fewest deaths, recording 16 by 8 May.
On Thursday, Health Minister Robin Swann said a request he placed to Nisra to release figures twice a week had been rejected.
He also asked if the Department of Health's dashboard output could be extended to include a breakdown of the daily fatalities by setting.
But Nisra said it was "committed to publishing as much information as it can about Covid-19 related deaths as quickly as possible".
"In doing so we must not compromise the accuracy, quality and integrity of this information," said a spokesperson.
What do we know about the situation in NI's care homes?
Three separate care homes in Northern Ireland have publicly reported deaths in double figures, including:
Currently, residents and staff are only tested for coronavirus in care homes where there is a suspected outbreak, or if they are new entrants to the care home sector.
In the Republic of Ireland, testing of all care home staff and residents is expected to be completed this week.
Northern Ireland's excess deaths
The total number of all deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending 8 May was 336; falling from 427 in the previous week - but still higher than what would be expected at this time of year.
Northern Ireland's five-year average rate is 274 deaths per week.
Nisra said there had been 766 "excess deaths" registered in Northern Ireland over the last six weeks.
This measure captures all deaths caused by the coronavirus: the infections that were confirmed and feature in the daily figures; as well as the suspected cases that were mentioned on the death certificate.
It also captures the deaths caused indirectly by the epidemic: people who died because of the strain on hospitals and care homes or people affected by the lockdown.
How does Northern Ireland compare to the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland?
Although comparisons between countries and regions are difficult due to differences in how statistics are compiled, Northern Ireland's death rate (27 per 100,000 of the population) is similar to that of the Republic of Ireland (29 per 100,000) and significantly lower than that of Great Britain (43 per 100,000).


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Wales hospital 'a week away' from being overrun

A critical care consultant at Wales ' largest hospital said it was a week away from being overrun by coronavirus .
Dr Chris Hingston said as people heeded `` stay at home '' advice , Cardiff 's University Hospital of Wales just avoided breaching its critical care capacity at the pandemic 's peak .
The Intensive Care Unit is now gearing up for a second wave of infections .
Dr Hingston said `` the really big fear '' was that it may struggle to deal with a bigger peak .
`` We were very much on the verge of not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales ' health correspondent Owain Clarke was given rare access to the unit , where 755 patients who have tested positive for the outbreak have been admitted and 228 have died .
While 477 patients have been discharged , the road to recovery can still be a long one .
Geoff Bodman , 56 , from Tremorfa in Cardiff , spent eight-and-a-half weeks on the hospital 's intensive care unit .
He is now undergoing intensive rehabilitation therapy on the hospital 's step-down ward , re-learning basic skills such as walking and brushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family .
`` I was on a ventilator .
My brother thought I was a goner , bless him .
`` I find it difficult to recall a lot of it and I find it quite embarrassing sometimes that I 'm trying to recall information that I should know .
`` The other day I wanted to write my name and I could n't even do that .
I know they say it 's a long way to go and it 's going to take a hell of a journey . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ painting and decorating business , said his illness affected his memory and he can not remember being admitted to hospital .
`` My last memory was going to Cheltenham races .
I probably caught the damn thing there .
`` That was the last memory I had , up until then it 's pretty much wiped .
`` And that in itself is upsetting and frightening because those are memories that I 'm going to have to try to claw back . ''
• A third of Covid-19 intensive care patients do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care and which patients need it ?
Emma Thomas , a critical care research nurse who has been helping with some of the hospital 's most gravely ill patients , said the worst thing was seeing patients dying without their families by their side .
`` I ca n't say that any nurse has n't cried here .
`` The worst thing is patients dying without families and knowing that [ their ] family 's at home longing to be with their dying relative and just not being allowed that .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus with at the moment is lockdown , there is no vaccine , that is our only defence .
`` You can deal with something when you know what the plan is , there is no plan with Covid-19 , it 's a brand new unprecedented virus that we just do n't know if it 'll end and when it 'll end . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after @ @ @

"You can deal with something when you know what the plan is, there is no plan with Covid-19, it's a brand new unprecedented virus that we just don't know if it'll end and when it'll end."


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus infection 'R' rate in UK creeps up

The infection rate in the UK has gone up and is close to the point where the virus starts spreading rapidly , government scientific advice says .
The so-called `` R-number '' is now between 0.7 and 1.0 - it needs to be kept below one in order to stay in control .
The rise in the figures is thought to be driven by the virus spreading in care homes and hospitals .
The effect of the changes to lockdown announced by the prime minister on Sunday is still unknown .
R is the number of people each infected person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average .
If it is 2 then 10 infected people would pass it onto 20 others .
But if is 0.5 then 10 infected people pass it onto 5 others .
The R-number had been sitting between 0.5 and 0.9 .
Any increase limits the ability of politicians to lift lockdown measures .
Health secretary Matt Hancock said the R-number was an `` incredibly important figure '' and it was important to note `` we do n't think that it is above one '' .
The number of new cases is still falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly as in the past .
Sources said that progress was `` getting closer to flat '' .
This could cause problems as low numbers of cases are needed to make it easier to perform mass testing and find the people anyone carrying the virus have come into contact with .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What the virus does to the body • RECOVERY : How long does it take ?
• LOCKDOWN : How can we lift restrictions ?
• ENDGAME : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mess ?
The latest analysis takes account of the spread of coronavirus in care homes , hospitals and more widely in society .
As the figures are based on patients ending up in hospital , they actually give a sense of the R-number from around three weeks ago .
That predates Boris Johnson 's shift in England from `` stay at home '' to `` stay alert '' , alongside encouraging some people back to work and allowing people to meet one person from outside their household outdoors .
The increase in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with '' a significant fall in cases in the community and the epidemic and in turn the R-number being driven by care homes .
Sir Patrick Vallance , the government chief scientific adviser said : `` To keep R below one and control the virus , it is vital that people stay alert and continue to follow the latest government guidelines to the letter . ''
Meanwhile , the Department of Health said it recorded another 384 deaths of people in the UK , bringing the total number to have died following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What does this mean for me ?
The big question is how the rise in the R number will affect plans to lift lockdown .
If R goes above 1 then there could be a `` second peak '' in cases and this is what politicians are trying to avoid .
The rise could mean the government has less wiggle room to lift restrictions and we 'll have to live with them for longer .
But it is important to understand why the infection rate has increased .
One explanation is a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means the R-number is reflecting what is happening in care homes in hospitals .
That could mean there is still capacity to lift parts of lockdown in most parts of society .
Coronavirus disease modelling , published by the University of Cambridge , has also given a picture of how different regions of England are coping .
The figures do not perfectly match those from the SAGE group of government scientific advisors because it assesses multiple models to reach its conclusions .
The Cambridge study , backed by Public Health England , shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppressing the virus , while it is proving far more stubborn in the north-east of England .
Those figures are more optimistic than other groups ' calculations .
The Cambridge team calculated the figures by working backwards from the number of deaths .
However , they have looked only at deaths confirmed with a genetic test rather than all deaths .
Similar work by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine puts the number for London at 0.6 and the South West at 0.9 .
They also showed the R-values were 0.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scotland and Northern Ireland .
However , claims there are now just 24 cases a day in the capital and that it could soon be free of the virus have been criticised .
There were in fact 49 people admitted to London hospitals with Covid-19 yesterday and probably hundreds of cases that did not need hospital treatment .
`` I am extremely worried about the media message that London could be coronavirus free in days , '' said Prof Matt Keeling , from the University of Warwick .
He added : `` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be dangerous , and could lead to complacency , undermining all the struggles and sacrifices that everyone has made so far .
A relaxation of vigilance could easily see R increasing above 1 , and a second epidemic wave . ''

R is the number of people each infected person passes the virus on to, on average. If it is 2 then 10 infected people would pass it onto 20 others. But if is 0.5 then 10 infected people pass it onto 5 others.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Doctors' union says it's too soon to reopen schools

Doctors have backed teachers ' unions by saying Covid-19 infection rates are too high for England 's schools to reopen .
The British Medical Association said teachers and heads were `` absolutely right '' to urge caution and prioritise testing to avoid a second spike .
It comes after teachers ' unions met the government 's scientific and medical advisers to express concerns about the planned phased reopening from 1 June .
The NASUWT union said no school should reopen until it could show it was safe .
England is the only UK nation to set a date for schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Williamson has insisted schools would only open their doors more widely when the conditions were right to do so , with the earliest date being 1 June .
He said he had wanted to give head teachers and parents several weeks to plan for the event .
The governments in Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland have stepped back from setting a firm date .
But since the prime minister announced there was to be a gradual lifting of lockdown measures , plans for the phased reopening from the beginning of next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meeting between the National Education Union and other teaching unions , and the government 's top scientific advisers , Mr Williamson said schools would have all the `` guidance and support they will need '' .
However , teachers ' unions say they still have `` unanswered questions '' about how pupils can be invited back and managed safely .
NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach said : `` No information was provided to change the widely held view that the evidence base for opening schools from 1 June is weak . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided at the meeting and there was no clarity about when it will be provided . ''
The British Medical Association said with so much `` conflicting '' evidence on opening schools , it was `` completely aligned '' with teachers ' union calls to delay reopening .
`` Until we have got case numbers much lower , we should not consider reopening schools , '' said a letter from the BMA 's council chair .
It added there was still too little clear evidence on the extent to which children were carriers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually got fewer and less serious symptoms than adults .
• Calls to publish scientific evidence for return to school • Class sizes of no more than 15 when schools reopen • How England is following Denmark 's model for opening schools Speaking after the meeting NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney welcomed a promise to publish the scientific evidence on school reopening plans .
But he called for a clarification over what thresholds would be used to judge if it was safe to open up .
And he asked how it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection in the wider community .
His union is one of nine opposed to reopening schools on 1 June .
But Mr Williamson said : `` I want to reassure parents and families that we are giving schools , nurseries and other providers all the guidance and support they will need to welcome more children back in a phased way and no earlier than 1 June . ''
The DfE proposed teaching pupils in small groups of 15 or fewer and keeping them apart from other children during the school day to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as maintaining good hygiene and hand washing .
• How do you social distance in schools ?
• Coronavirus : How much do children spread it ?
• Do I have to send my children back to school ?
But one of England 's biggest academy trusts has become one of the first school groups to say it will reopen from 1 June .
Steve Chalke , founder of the Oasis trust which has 35 primary schools , says opposition to reopening fails to recognise the harm to disadvantaged children from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools on average have 45 % of children eligible for free school meals , said : `` The greatest risks for many of our children are being stuck in a council block , with no fresh air , no exercise , little or no nutritious food . ''
Mr Chalke said the schools would not be `` forcing anyone to attend '' , either pupils or staff , adding safety measures would be in place .
But he stressed that the `` long-term social cost '' of not opening would `` outweigh any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view : 'Our children need space to learn' Graham Gallagher and his wife Leanne have three young children with special needs .
He says schools reopening on 1 June would `` benefit the whole family '' , who live in a two-bedroom flat in Walsall in the West Midlands .
He feels their children are n't getting a `` valuable learning experience '' at home and worry they could regress from the `` solid progress '' they have made during this school year .
At home , the children struggle to concentrate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Leanne is struggling to manage the learning of all three children at once .
Schools reopening would allow the children to learn and socialise in a distraction-free environment with more space and access to an outdoor area .
He says the couple share teachers ' concerns that they need to be `` properly protected '' , and hopes `` plans will be put in place '' to alleviate their worries .
• EVERYDAY HEROES : Stacey Dooley is on the hunt Primary school teacher Mary Newton , 49 , says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` far too early '' to reopen schools .
Her husband John , 56 , who runs an educational books company , has been shielding at home after a recent heart attack and Mary says their children returning to school would be a concern for his health .
They plan to keep their two children - who are in Years 4 and 6 - at home for as long as they can .
She says it could be `` catastrophic '' for a child 's mental health if they contracted the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who became very ill from it .
Children could be `` traumatised '' by the new rules that would have to be adhered to and staff would be anxious , she adds .
`` I believe schools should continue to support children of key workers and those most vulnerable '' , she says , `` but I certainly wo n't be sending my Year 6 child back to school in June '' .
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How exposed is your job ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it means and why it matters • UK SPREAD : How many cases in your area ?

But Mr Williamson said: "I want to reassure parents and families that we are giving schools, nurseries and other providers all the guidance and support they will need to welcome more children back in a phased way and no earlier than 1 June."


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Tests for all care home residents and staff by June, says Hancock

All residents and members of staff in care homes in England will have been tested for coronavirus by early June , Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said .
He said the crisis had demonstrated the `` imperative '' need for reforming the sector - and local councils would now be required to carry out a daily review of all care homes in their area .
More than a third of England 's care homes have had cases of the virus .
The government is spending £600m to improve infection control in the homes .
There were 8,312 deaths in care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was written on the death certificate up to 1 May , according to the Office for National Statistics .
Speaking during the government 's daily briefing , Mr Hancock said 64 % of care homes in England have not had any cases .
Since late April , tests have been made available to any care home resident or staff member who requested one , whether they have coronavirus symptoms or not .
Before that access to testing was more limited .
But Mr Hancock said that now every single resident and worker in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a matter of routine - and that process would be completed by early June .
• How many people have died in care homes ?
In Scotland , staff and residents are tested for Covid-19 if there is at least one confirmed case .
Testing is also carried out in homes that belong to the same chain , and there is some sample testing in homes with no cases .
The government is assigning `` clinical leads '' to assess and advise all facilities in England , Mr Hancock added , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see GPs via video link .
And local authorities are now being required to carry out daily reviews of the situation in care homes , while care homes have to supply `` timely and accurate '' data so that `` local and national government can support and , where necessary , challenge and act '' .
There are more than 15,000 residential and nursing homes providing support for older and disabled people in England , according to the Care Quality Commission .
One family 's story : ' I believe an error @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's father Thomas served in the Navy as a younger man .
At 101 , he was frail , but still determined - even in a pandemic .
`` His reaction was : ' I picked up survivors on the Arctic and Atlantic convoys - I survived all that so I 'm going to survive this ' , '' Peter told the BBC .
But Thomas , who lived in a nursing home , died in April .
Peter believes coronavirus arrived in the home with a patient discharged from hospital , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect residents .
`` I believe that… there was a fundamental error made at the beginning that care homes either were n't going to suffer the coronavirus , because of their enclosed environment , or alternatively they did n't really care about it or even think about it , '' he said .
During the news conference , Mr Hancock revealed that he is among those with a `` loved one in a care home '' , saying : `` I know it 's been worrying . ''
He added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' for greater integration between health and social care services , claiming `` too often in the past bureaucracy has held them apart '' .
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
Responding to the government 's pledges , Ian Hudspeth of the Local Government Association said councils would `` be reviewing their existing plans '' to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and work in social care are able to stay safe and well '' .
However , he added that the government would need to address things that councils `` do not have direct control over , such as the long-term future of the care home market '' .
`` In particular , we know that some of these new measures will need ongoing funding and resources beyond what has already been made available to councils and providers , '' he said .
`` It is good news that government has committed to working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this needs to be made available as soon as possible to help meet increasing demand and costs . ''
Last week , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he `` bitterly regrets '' the coronavirus crisis in care homes as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused him of failing to get a grip on the issue .

In Scotland, staff and residents are tested for Covid-19 if there is at least one confirmed case. Testing is also carried out in homes that belong to the same chain, and there is some sample testing in homes with no cases.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Baby's life-threatening reaction to Covid-19

A mother has described the agony of being left to just `` watch and wait '' as her baby developed a rare illness linked to coronavirus .
At first medics feared baby Leia had meningitis or sepsis , but it emerged she was fighting an inflammatory reaction to Covid-19 .
It has taken doctors three weeks to stabilise the infant , from Risca in south Wales .
It came as a global alert was issued about the condition in children .
Leia 's mother Hannah said she was told her daughter - an identical twin to sister Thea - was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole of the UK who had developed symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease , when she was first taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport at the end of April .
It is thought there are now about 100 cases of the syndrome , and doctors are still trying to find out why the reaction to Covid-19 affects some children in this way .
`` We decided to take her into out-of-hours ( GP surgery ) to make sure , you know , there was nothing I 've missed , but while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leia 's mother .
`` That 's when they found the pin prick rash on her feet , which was what concerned them at the start .
`` They were n't worried about anything like Kawasaki or Covid - it was far from their minds - they started treating straight away for sepsis and meningitis .
`` And then , over the next few days , then it got really difficult for her to breathe , she got transferred to critical care . ''
`` She went through a really , really scary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hand , really quickly , '' said her mother .
• Are children at risk of coronavirus - and do they spread it ?
It was the next day when the world was warned about the mysterious syndrome affecting children with suspected coronavirus .
`` As we sat down and had our first meeting with the consultant and the special disease consultant , they sat down and they said 'we do n't know if this is gon na work , this is our line of attack , this is what we think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Straight away they were liaising with everyone who was going through similar cases . ''
As well as the rash spreading across Leia 's body , the baby 's arteries began to swell .
The family were told some had a reached life-threatening size .
`` The consultant was very , very honest with me and said : 'If there 's a rupture she 's not going to survive ' .
They 're trying to get them back down , she 's on all types of medication to stop any clotting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like that .
`` We just watch and wait , that 's the phrase with Leia . ''
After initial treatment in Newport , Leia was moved to the Noah 's Ark Children 's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff .
She tested positive for antibodies to Covid-19 , and has been treated in isolation .
`` All she sees is masks .
It 's the worst time , you 're not allowed your partner with you , you 're not allowed any family visiting .
You 're on your own going through it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hannah .
She has been sharing the bedside vigils with father Simon , while they also juggle parenting duties for Leia 's twin sister , and older sisters Nia , 12 , and Gracie , 9 .
They now hope Leia will be allowed home in the next few days - but she faces a long road to recovery , and will need her heart monitored for the rest of her life .
Leia 's mother said other parents should be aware of the risk coronavirus poses to younger children - and seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take them , you can not be scared of picking up the virus .
I mean you might have already been in contact with it , '' she said .
`` You have to take them to the doctor 's , if you think there 's something wrong with them .
`` God knows what could have happened if she had n't had the treatment she had early on . ''
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• CONTAINMENT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

"As we sat down and had our first meeting with the consultant and the special disease consultant, they sat down and they said 'we don't know if this is gonna work, this is our line of attack, this is what we think is best'," added Hannah.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: 14,000 lockdown-breach fines imposed

Police in England and Wales have issued more than 14,000 fines for alleged breaches of lockdown laws .
The figures , from 27 March to 11 May , show the most fixed penalty notices - 906 - were handed out in London , by the Metropolitan Police .
The data covers the period before the penalty rose from £60 to £100 in England after the rules were eased .
It has also been disclosed that 56 people have been wrongly charged with offences relating to the pandemic .
The National Police Chiefs ' Council says 13,445 fines were issued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for breaches of social distancing rules brought in to fight the coronavirus outbreak .
These include restrictions on people 's right to move around or be part of a gathering .
After the Met Police , the Thames Valley force imposed the next highest number of notices ( 866 ) , followed by North Yorkshire ( 843 ) and Devon and Cornwall ( 799 ) .
By contrast , Warwickshire Police issued only 31 , the Staffordshire force just 52 and Gwent 71 .
• Coronavirus : What powers do the police have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about new lockdown measures There were 862 repeat offenders , including one person who has been fined nine times .
The times when the most fines were imposed were during sunny weather at Easter , with almost 600 handed out on Saturday 11 April and another 500 the following day .
But the National Police Chiefs ' Council says its figures show officers are taking a `` proportionate '' approach - with only one in 5,000 people across England and Wales fined .
It comes as the Department of Health said it recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , bringing the total number to have died following a positive coronavirus test to 33,998 , as of 17:00 BST on 14 May .
The coronavirus laws were drawn up and implemented at such pace that problems were inevitable .
When the measures came into force in March , police did n't have any bespoke tickets for lockdown fines because they had not yet been printed , so they had to improvise by scribbling details on other penalty notices .
Then it emerged that children had been fined - even though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now we 've learned that all 44 of those charged under the Coronavirus Act should not have been prosecuted at all under the emergency legislation .
It seems , from what the CPS and police have said , that the errors have caused no great injustice to those involved .
Nevertheless , the number of mistakes suggests there 's been a serious failure to explain the purpose and reach of the new laws to those who have to apply it .
There are separate rules for managing the threat of coronavirus in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first fine someone could receive if police believed they were flouting restrictions in England rose from £60 to £100 on Wednesday .
This will be lowered to £50 if paid within 14 days but fines will double for each repeat offence , up to a maximum of £3,200 .
The fine imposed in Wales is £60 , reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks .
It can be doubled for each repeat offence up to a £960 maximum .
The rules in England were loosened this week , and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors for recreation or exercise as long as they do so alone , with members of their own household .
- or with one person from another household .
Social distancing of two metres still has to be observed , although police do not enforce this guidance because it has not been written into the law .
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Separate figures show that 231 people have been brought to court for offences relating to coronavirus .
But a review by the Crown Prosecution Service found that 56 suspects had been charged incorrectly .
All 44 charges brought under the Coronavirus Act , allowing police to detain a `` suspected infectious person '' for assessment , were incorrect .
And 12 charges under the Health Protection Regulations 2020 , which give powers to break up gatherings and restrict movement , were brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now been put in place .
It added that many of the mistakes had come about because of Welsh regulations being used in England , or vice versa .

Then it emerged that children had been fined - even though the regulations don't allow it; and now we've learned that all 44 of those charged under the Coronavirus Act should not have been prosecuted at all under the emergency legislation.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Havant missing teenager: Pair arrested on suspicion of kidnap

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a 16-year-old girl , who has not been seen for seven days .
The teenager , named by police only as Louise , was last seen on Friday 8 May in Havant , Hampshire , and has not made contact with friends or family since .
Police said searches would continue over the weekend in the Leigh Park area .
The arrested pair , both aged 29 , remain in custody .
Ch Insp Alex Reading said : `` We 'd like to reassure people that this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our priority is to find Louise and make sure she is safe . ''
He appealed to Louise to contact the police or a loved one if she was able to .
The teenager was last seen at around midday in Somborne Drive , police said .
On Sunday , detectives said they were `` growing increasingly concerned for her welfare '' .
Detectives have conducted searches , house-to-house inquiries and have collected CCTV from addresses in Havant .
Louise is described as white , about 5ft 2in tall and slim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last seen wearing black jeans , a black and white striped t-shirt , black trainers and a black coat with a fur hood .

Ch Insp Alex Reading said: "We'd like to reassure people that this is still very much a missing person investigation and our priority is to find Louise and make sure she is safe."


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: 'No lifeguards on beaches', coastguard warns

Coastal towns around England have urged visitors to stay away this weekend , as lifeguards warned the `` majority '' of beaches would not be patrolled .
With warm weather expected in many places , there are fears people will flock to the seaside after updated government guidance was published .
Tourism bosses in seaside towns have warned attractions will remain closed .
HM Coastguard urged those heading to the beach this weekend to `` respect the sea and the coast '' .
In a social media post , it warned that most beaches `` would not be lifeguarded '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care '' regardless of `` ability or experience '' .
Sea swimming is now allowed as daily exercise in England , as well as paddle boarding , surfing , windsurfing , rowing , kayaking and canoeing .
Sailing and the use of private boats are also permitted under the changes .
In Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales , where lockdown rules remain in place , people should continue to remain at home , the coastguard said .
The reminder came alongside calls for people to avoid visiting the country 's coastal regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornwall and Devon told visitors to `` stay away '' • Blackpool council reminding tourists `` traditional attractions that you want to see '' would not be open • The leader of Brighton and Hove City Council warning people that their `` favourite places '' were closed • Mayors of three North Yorkshire seaside towns expressed concern they could be overwhelmed HM Coastguard director Claire Hughes said : `` In England , now more than ever , people need to respect the sea and the coast .
`` Whether you 're local or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your chosen sport or leisure activity , the sea can still catch you out and be unmerciful when it does . ''
Ms Hughes stressed people who get into trouble should still call 999 and they would `` come to your aid '' .
She said : `` Remember your choices might put people , including yourself and front-line responders , at risk .
`` Take extra care in these extraordinary times '' .
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"Whether you're local or not, whatever your ability or experience in your chosen sport or leisure activity, the sea can still catch you out and be unmerciful when it does."


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Government denies ending rough sleepers' fund

The government has denied it is ending funding to help rough sleepers in England stay off the streets amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Councils were given £3.2m in March to provide emergency shelter for homeless people , with many housed in hotels .
The Manchester Evening News said a leaked report showed ministers `` quietly pulled the plug on the programme '' .
The government said it was `` wrong '' to suggest it had ended funding to keep rough sleepers off the street .
Instead , councils have been given £3.2bn to help with the additional costs of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Housing , Communities and Local Government ( MHCLG ) said .
`` It is simply wrong and misleading to suggest that we have stopped funding to keep rough sleepers off the street , '' the spokesperson said .
`` We gave councils an initial payment of £3.2m at the start of the pandemic so they could take immediate action and help rough sleepers off the street .
`` We have since given councils a further £3.2bn to deal with the immediate pressures they are facing , including supporting rough sleepers . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story .
Labour leader Keir Starmer said it was `` simply wrong to send homeless people back onto the streets , '' adding `` the coronavirus crisis is far from over '' .
`` Right now they need emergency support .
But after this crisis we ca n't forget we all but ended rough sleeping overnight .
We can end it for good , '' he said .
Dame Louise Casey , who is responsible for the government 's Covid-19 rough sleeping response taskforce , told Radio 4 's PM programme `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't running out '' .
`` No-one is going to be tipped out , that 's the key thing here , that would be reckless , irresponsible and wrong . ''
This scheme was seen as being hugely successful , almost , as one expert told me , ending rough sleeping overnight .
About 5,400 people had been given temporary accommodation and despite widespread fears about Covid-19 's impact on rough sleepers , the `` Everyone In '' scheme was credited with largely protecting the homeless .
It also allowed healthcare and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with people who had long refused any help .
The government is keen to highlight it increased funding to help rough sleepers before the pandemic and that just because it 's not extending this particular scheme , it remains committed to tackling a problem that has exploded in England since 2010 .
But homeless charities will be closely watching what happens next .
Why , they ask , end a scheme that was working , that was costing little more than a rounding error in the context of the overall costs of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Louise Casey .
And while specific funding for England is ending , the governments in Scotland and Wales will continue to support their own rough sleeper schemes .
Homeless charity Crisis described the decision as `` completely unacceptable . ''
Its chief executive , Jon Sparkes , said : `` There is still a deadly virus out there and , while it 's to be commended that over 5,400 people have been given safe temporary accommodation , the job simply is n't finished . ''
Polly Neate , chief executive of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` We can not allow all the progress made or that safety net to be quietly stripped back now with councils left to pick up the pieces on their own . ''
Dame Louise Casey will `` spearhead '' the next phase of government support for rough sleepers during the pandemic , the MHCLG spokesperson said .
`` While councils continue to provide accommodation to those that need it , it is only responsible that we work with partners to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term , safe accommodation once the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

But homeless charities will be closely watching what happens next. Why, they ask, end a scheme that was working, that was costing little more than a rounding error in the context of the overall costs of the pandemic? All eyes will now be on Louise Casey.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Ten deaths at Haslingden Hall Care Home

Ten residents at a Lancashire care home have died after a coronavirus outbreak .
More than 20 members of staff at Haslingden Hall Care Home in Helmshore have also caught the virus and have been replaced by agency staff .
The first coronavirus-related death was reported on 5 April .
A spokesman for the care home said : “ Everyone was much loved by our team and will be sadly missed , and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this very difficult time . ''
Haslingden Hall said it started restricting “ non-essential ” visits on 13 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later on government advice .
In a message posted on Facebook on 23 April , it said : “ We are currently experiencing a Covid-19 outbreak and the home is in full lockdown .
Rest assured our residents are being looked after as a priority.
” There have been 18 deaths in total at the 70-bedroom home since 1 April .
“ A number of residents have sadly passed away recently , many of whom were confirmed to have Covid-19 , ” the spokesman added .
“ More than 90 % of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus and everyone in the home has worked extremely hard to maintain services to the highest standard through this hugely challenging period .
“ We are keeping in regular contact with all residents ’ families to keep them updated on our strict hygiene procedures and appropriate use of PPE by staff . ''
The Office for National Statistics reports there were 230 Covid-19 deaths in Lancashire care homes up to 1 May .
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A spokesman for the care home said: “Everyone was much loved by our team and will be sadly missed, and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this very difficult time."


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Pretty Things frontman Phil May dies aged 75

Phil May , the frontman of The Pretty Things , has died aged 75 after suffering complications from emergency hip surgery .
A representative of the rock ' n ' roll band confirmed he died on Friday morning at a Kings Lynn hospital .
May had fallen off his bicycle earlier in the week .
`` Very sad news , he was a very talented guy and he will be sorely missed .
I 'm shocked , '' tweeted Kinks guitarist Dave Davies .
The Pretty Things ' 1968 album SF Sorrow is credited as one of the first real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited as an influence by a wide range of artists from David Bowie to Jimi Hendrix to Kasabian .
Originally from Dartford , Kent , May formed the band in 1963 with guitarist Dick Taylor , a former bass player with an early incarnation of The Rolling Stones , and both bands were an integral part of the London blues-rock explosion .
As his music developed in a more progressive psych-rock direction in the late 60s , singer and lyricist May became a leading countercultural figure , known for his long hair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time The Pretty Things hit the TV screens , I was used to being abused and spat at and getting into punch-ups , because it had happened when we were art students , '' he recalled to The Guardian in 2018 .
`` We 'd done our apprenticeship at being outsiders . ''
In 1969 , the band appeared in What 's Good for the Goose , a bizarre sex comedy film , starring Norman Wisdom .
Blur guitarist Graham Coxon paid tribute to May on Friday afternoon , directing his Twitter followers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track Cries From The Midnight Circus .
Singer Edwyn Collins pointed to their aforementioned seminal album , which he described as `` so great '' .
DJ Gary Crowley also said he was `` blasting Rosalyn across the flat in memory '' of May .
He had been in poor health when The Pretty Things played a `` Final Bow '' farewell concert in December 2018 , where they were joined on-stage by the likes of Pink Floyd 's David Gilmour and Sir Van Morrison .
Their last album , Sweet Pretty Things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Course ... ) arrived in 2015 .
May is survived by his son , Paris May , his daughter , Sorrel May , and his partner , Colin Graham .
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"By the time The Pretty Things hit the TV screens, I was used to being abused and spat at and getting into punch-ups, because it had happened when we were art students," he recalled to The Guardian in 2018.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Dame Vera Lynn breaks her own chart record

Dame Vera Lynn has become the oldest singer to score a UK top 40 album , beating her own record .
The 103-year-old star 's greatest hits collection , titled 100 , re-entered the chart at number 30 on Friday .
Dame Vera became the first centenarian to chart when it was first released in 2017 , reaching number three .
The upsurge in popularity for the album coincided with the 75th anniversary of VE Day , which marked the end of World War Two in Europe .
The BBC 's anniversary programme ended with key workers and singers like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording of Dame Vera performing We 'll Meet Again .
Dame Vera , who became known as `` the forces ' sweetheart '' for entertaining troops during the conflict , also sent a message that while people may apart due to lockdown measures , `` hope remains even in the most difficult of times '' .
• Captain Tom tops the charts at the age of 99 It 's been quite a time of late for elderly chart stars , following the success of Captain Tom Moore , who became the oldest person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK in April .
At the age of 99 , his cover of You 'll Never Walk Alone , alongside crooner Michael Ball , raised money for the NHS Charities Together fund .
This week , The D-Day Darlings , a wartime-style act who found fame on Britain 's Got Talent in 2018 , are at number five on the album chart .
Dua Lipa 's Future Nostalgia remained the number one album for a fourth consecutive week .
In the singles chart , US rapper DaBaby came of age by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The track , which features Roddy Ricch , knocked Drake 's Toosie Slide off top spot , thanks largely to its use in a viral dance challenge on TikTok .
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bbcuk--2020-05-15--Maya Jama leaves her job as Radio 1 presenter

Radio 1 has revealed its presenter Maya Jama has left the station .
In a statement , it said she 'd made `` the difficult decision not to continue her Radio 1 contract '' and her final show was already broadcast on May 3 .
She joined the weekend line-up in 2018 , presenting shows on Friday and Saturday mornings .
In a statement , Maya said : `` Thanks to all you cuties that turned into the show .
Love you . ''
Explaining the decision , Radio 1 added `` exciting commitments later in the year '' meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time needed to her show '' .
Lorna Clarke , BBC Controller of Popular Music , thanked the presenter for `` all her commitment and hard work '' and wished her the best for the future .
Over the last few years , Maya has hosted shows such as ITV 's Cannonball and Channel 4 's The Circle , and been a team captain on panel show Do n't Hate The Playaz .
She joined Radio 1 when the station revamped its weekend schedule , extending the weekend breakfast show from Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

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bbcuk--2020-05-15--Canary Wharf financial centre prepares for new way of working

London 's Canary Wharf has drawn up detailed plans to bring back tens of thousands of bankers , lawyers and accountants to the financial district as the coronavirus pandemic eases .
Rules on lift capacity , one-way routes around the Manhattan-style towers , and staggered working will be put in place .
The Docklands complex , the European home of HSBC , Barclays and Citigroup , has a working population of 120,000 .
Canary Wharf expects a tenth of that to return over the next couple of weeks .
Like vast swathes of the population , many employees at Canary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , as first reported in the Financial Times , with signs that the national lockdown is starting to ease , Canary Wharf has been talking to firms about measures to improve safety and social distancing .
Howard Dawber managing director of strategy at Britain 's single biggest office complex , told the BBC that the company was assuming that social distancing would be `` kept in place for some time '' by the government .
`` We are talking about a new way of working , and we 've had to re-think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A lot of office and soft furnishings have been removed from the 16.5 million sq .
ft. of office and retail space to enable greater social distancing .
There will also be restrictions on numbers using lifts .
The company has calculated that with four people in each lift , its office tower at One Canada Square - the second highest building in the UK behind the Shard - can move 56 people every five minutes per lift bank .
This equates to almost 2,700 per hour over the four banks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After talks with Canary Wharf 's tenants , Mr Dawber expects between 10 % and 20 % of employees to return in the next few weeks .
But he says a lot will depend on public transport availability and the re-opening of schools .
But the return to work comes amid debate about the future of office working and if the rise in video-conferencing during the lockdown will continue .
Last month , the chief executive of Barclays , Jes Staley , said that having thousands of bank workers in big , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing of the past '' .
This had led to a rethink of the bank 's long term `` location strategy '' , Mr Staley said .
Mr Dawber said : `` May be home working during lockdown will accelerate trends , but big companies will still need a central hub . ''
`` It 's possible our next generation of interior design may be different , may involve more collaborative space like tech hubs , '' he said .
In addition to the workforce , Canary Wharf was getting 40,000 daily visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chartered Management Institute suggests 60 % of its members want to split their working week between home and office after the pandemic .
Occupational psychologists call it blended working and suggest it can improve productivity , motivation and job satisfaction .
They say blended work suits people who are motivated and organised .
It does not suit employees who need more structure and guidance - or those who do n't have space at home .
A substantial percentage of workers staying at home for half of the week would have unpredictable but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more room on buses and trains , and traffic would be eased - meaning fewer emissions and cleaner air , and less spending on new roads .
Car parks in city centres could become green space instead .
There would implications for commercial property prices as companies shrink their office space , and for residential property too , because statistics suggest that if people work partly at home , some choose to live even further from the office .

There will also be restrictions on numbers using lifts. The company has calculated that with four people in each lift, its office tower at One Canada Square - the second highest building in the UK behind the Shard - can move 56 people every five minutes per lift bank.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: The home school pupils putting on their uniforms

Children across Scotland have put on their school uniforms despite having lessons at home due to the lockdown .
The `` school uniform day '' idea was started by an Edinburgh pupil who was missing going to class so he decided to put on his uniform for home schooling .
Six-year-old Daniel Park 's parents say on the first morning after the Easter break he surprised them by getting himself dressed in full school clothes .
They think the ritual has helped bring structure to lockdown days .
Schools in Scotland have been closed since the last week of March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not look like they will be returning before August .
So Daniel 's idea for a `` School Uniform Friday '' has been taken up by primary school pupils across Scotand .
Daniel 's mum and dad , Wendy and Stephen Park , said they think their son feels `` more connected '' to school by wearing his uniform .
Wendy says it gets harder as lockdown goes on to keep Daniel motivated but the uniform days keep things fun and focused .
Dad Stephen thinks wearing the uniform is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sets him up for the day .
Marie Conway , acting principal of Daniel 's school , Wardie Primary , said the staff felt `` really emotional '' when Daniel 's dad sent in a picture of him dressed up .
She told Good Morning Scotland that having a `` school uniform day '' like this will help pupils who are missing school .
Ms Conway said the idea of turning it into an initiative that the whole school could participate in would help children feel connected .
She said : `` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some children to feel connected to their school more , so that 's how the idea of having a school uniform day event , where children can put on their uniform and have a fun day [ came about ] . ''
`` We are trying to put aspects of normality that we would usually be doing through school events to our pupils - we 've tried to do a virtual assembly , we 've got a virtual sports day on Tuesday , it 's just trying to have fun and do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the year . ''

"We are trying to put aspects of normality that we would usually be doing through school events to our pupils - we've tried to do a virtual assembly, we've got a virtual sports day on Tuesday, it's just trying to have fun and do our usual school events we would do throughout the year."


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Macclesfield grandad, 84, survives Covid-19 and heart failure

The family of an 84-year-old man who has survived both coronavirus and heart failure have praised NHS staff for their `` amazing and compassionate '' care .
Frank Beaden , from Macclesfield , was admitted to the Cheshire town 's district general hospital with serious heart problems on 16 April .
His wife of 62 years Gail , 81 , said she `` could not be more grateful '' for the quality of care he had received .
Mr Beaden was discharged from the hospital to rapturous applause from staff .
He will now spend some time convalescing at Congleton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` When we heard he was being discharged we all wept for joy .
`` The hospital filmed the guard of honour to celebrate Frank 's discharge and shared it with us .
`` They have so much work to do and are rushed off their feet but they still find time for this gesture which meant so much to Frank , myself and the whole Beaden family .
`` We can not thank them enough for sending him home .
`` We could not be more grateful to all the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing and compassionate care for my husband . ''
The couple have three grown-up children and eight grandchildren .
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"They have so much work to do and are rushed off their feet but they still find time for this gesture which meant so much to Frank, myself and the whole Beaden family.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Three Wombwell food factory workers die

Three workers at a food factory that supplies supermarkets have died with coronavirus .
The un-named staff members worked at food supplier Cranswick , which is based in Wombwell , Barnsley .
They were part of the 1,200-strong workforce at the site `` maintaining vital supplies of fresh food into the supermarkets '' , Cranswick said .
In a statement , the company said that health and safety of staff was its `` number one priority '' .
A company spokesman said their `` thoughts and condolences '' were with the workers ' families , who were being provided with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from across Yorkshire The food supplier said that from the start of the pandemic it had implemented `` additional measures to protect both the physical and mental wellbeing '' of staff .
The statement said that `` additional cleaning and hygiene measures '' had been in place at the site .
It added : `` Cranswick employees are designated key workers and are at the forefront of maintaining vital supplies of fresh food into the supermarkets .
`` We are doing everything we can to protect them while they carry out this critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised not to attend work if they have any symptoms . ''
On the company 's website it says the site supplies fresh and cooked food products `` from farm to fork '' .
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• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
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The food supplier said that from the start of the pandemic it had implemented "additional measures to protect both the physical and mental wellbeing" of staff.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--League Two clubs vote to end season, but League One teams fail to decide

League Two 's season has been brought to an early conclusion following discussions between clubs and the English Football League on Friday .
The EFL said clubs `` unanimously indicated '' they wished to end the season via a `` framework '' that included tables being decided on points per game and the play-offs remaining as planned .
Any move still needs to be ratified by the EFL and Football Association .
But League One sides face further talks after failing to come to an agreement .
Six third-tier clubs had said prior to the meeting that they were determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now set to meet again on Monday in an attempt to find a resolution .
Peterborough United , Oxford United , Sunderland , Fleetwood , Portsmouth and Ipswich Town released a joint statement saying they had `` no desire for voiding the season , points-per-game scenarios or letting a computer decide our footballing fate '' .
• Follow updates from Friday 's League One and League Two meetings Although it is understood some League Two sides wanted to use a weighted points-per-game system to finalise the table , the EFL has confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both of those methods would have seen Stevenage stay bottom - yet clubs have also requested that relegation from the fourth tier is removed this season .
`` Clubs asked for consideration to be given to suspending relegation to the National League for 2019-20 as a result of circumstances created where fixtures can not be completed , '' said the EFL in a statement .
`` No commitments were made in this respect and the board will now consider the implications of the division 's preferred approach at their next meeting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sport : `` My preference is to finish the league so we have the opportunity to play our way out of trouble .
`` We have 10 games to play and are three points behind , with a game in hand .
Why should I think it was not possible to get out of it ?
`` The League Two clubs can not decide this .
We can only tell the EFL of their indicative position but that is the collective view .
`` It would cost us £140,000 for the tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of furlough and comply with a 47-page health and safety document regarding sterilisation of stadiums etc .
`` I do n't know what this would mean for the National League . ''
Who would make up the places at the top ?
The EFL is set to discuss Friday 's recommendations at a board meeting next Wednesday .
Swindon Town would overtake Crewe Alexandra to claim the title using the points-per-game method , with Plymouth Argyle staying in the third and final automatic promotion spot .
The four teams currently in the play-offs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colchester United and Northampton Town - would remain there , but Cheltenham would move above Exeter and into fourth .
Why ca n't they restart ?
Attempting to resume the League One and League Two campaigns was always likely to to be more difficult than in the Championship and Premier League , which could begin again in mid-June behind closed doors .
Many clubs in the third and fourth tiers have furloughed their players and , with no crowds allowed into stadiums for the foreseeable future , it would cost them money to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also said 1,400 players across the league 's three divisions are out of contract on 30 June .
The majority of those players are in League One and League Two .
The National League decided to end its three divisions immediately on 22 April but was waiting on the EFL to announce an outcome before deciding on promotion and relegation .
Timeline : How did we get to this point ?
• 10 March - Last games played in Leagues One & Two • 13 March - EFL suspended until at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'can be finished in 56 days' • 15 May - League Two season ended , League One undecided

Last updated on .From the section League Two
An unweighted points-per-game system would see Swindon leapfrog Crewe into first place in League Two
League Two's season has been brought to an early conclusion following discussions between clubs and the English Football League on Friday.
The EFL said clubs "unanimously indicated" they wished to end the season via a "framework" that included tables being decided on points per game and the play-offs remaining as planned.
Any move still needs to be ratified by the EFL and Football Association.
But League One sides face further talks after failing to come to an agreement.
Six third-tier clubs had said prior to the meeting that they were determined to complete their remaining fixtures - and are now set to meet again on Monday in an attempt to find a resolution.
Peterborough United, Oxford United, Sunderland, Fleetwood, Portsmouth and Ipswich Town released a joint statement saying they had "no desire for voiding the season, points-per-game scenarios or letting a computer decide our footballing fate".
Could Stevenage avoid relegation?
Although it is understood some League Two sides wanted to use a weighted points-per-game system to finalise the table, the EFL has confirmed an unweighted points-per-game system was agreed upon.
Both of those methods would have seen Stevenage stay bottom - yet clubs have also requested that relegation from the fourth tier is removed this season.
"Clubs asked for consideration to be given to suspending relegation to the National League for 2019-20 as a result of circumstances created where fixtures cannot be completed," said the EFL in a statement.
"No commitments were made in this respect and the board will now consider the implications of the division's preferred approach at their next meeting."
Stevenage owner Phil Wallace told BBC Sport: "My preference is to finish the league so we have the opportunity to play our way out of trouble.
"We have 10 games to play and are three points behind, with a game in hand. Why should I think it was not possible to get out of it?
"The League Two clubs cannot decide this. We can only tell the EFL of their indicative position but that is the collective view.
"It would cost us £140,000 for the tests, we would have to bring players out of furlough and comply with a 47-page health and safety document regarding sterilisation of stadiums etc.
"I don't know what this would mean for the National League."
Who would make up the places at the top?
The EFL is set to discuss Friday's recommendations at a board meeting next Wednesday.
Swindon Town would overtake Crewe Alexandra to claim the title using the points-per-game method, with Plymouth Argyle staying in the third and final automatic promotion spot.
The four teams currently in the play-offs - Exeter City, Cheltenham Town, Colchester United and Northampton Town - would remain there, but Cheltenham would move above Exeter and into fourth.
Why can't they restart?
Attempting to resume the League One and League Two campaigns was always likely to to be more difficult than in the Championship and Premier League, which could begin again in mid-June behind closed doors.
Many clubs in the third and fourth tiers have furloughed their players and, with no crowds allowed into stadiums for the foreseeable future, it would cost them money to stage games.
EFL chairman Rick Parry has also said 1,400 players across the league's three divisions are out of contract on 30 June. The majority of those players are in League One and League Two.
The National League decided to end its three divisions immediately on 22 April but was waiting on the EFL to announce an outcome before deciding on promotion and relegation.
Timeline: How did we get to this point?


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Nurse spends 'wedding day' on front line

A nurse has spent what should have been her wedding day treating coronavirus patients in a London hospital .
Olivia Hall and Alex Violaris were meant to get married on Saturday but had to postpone their big day due to the lockdown .
Instead of walking down the aisle , Ms Hall spent the day working at University College Hospital .
She said she was `` disappointed '' it had been cancelled but felt `` very proud to be working on the front line '' .
`` In the grand scheme of things , rearranging a wedding is insignificant in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through at the moment , '' the 29-year-old added .
The couple has been living apart and has seen very little of each other in the past eight weeks .
Ms Hall is living by herself in a house owned by Mr Violaris ' cousin so that she is able to self isolate .
Mr Violaris said they were speaking daily via FaceTime but had only seen each other three times while socially distanced .
That included on Saturday when he drove to her house to deliver flowers and brownies , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arranged for lots of our friends and family to record a video message of themselves thanking Olivia for her hard work and saying how excited they were for when we are actually able to get married , '' the 30-year-old said .
The couple , who also had to cancel their honeymoon in the US , are now due to get married in October .
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?

"I had arranged for lots of our friends and family to record a video message of themselves thanking Olivia for her hard work and saying how excited they were for when we are actually able to get married," the 30-year-old said.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Your pictures of working at home

Your pictures of working at home

We asked our readers to send in their pictures on the theme of `` working at home '' during lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus .
Here are some of the pictures sent to us from around the world .
Usha Venkat : `` I work in my study at home .
I use the ironing board as a make-shift stand-up desk to stretch while working .
I took a selfie while I was multi-tasking , with the backdrop of an antique telephone booth , and enjoying the outside . ''
Gemma Lawrence : `` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home but this one shows all the equipment I need .
Do n't ask why I need two set of headphones and two mice !
Also note the coffee mug is usually full . ''
Sue Searle : `` This is my current place of work during lockdown - caring for , entertaining and generally trying to keep happy my 96-year-old mother , Florence .
Before lockdown , we had carers but currently , no-one can visit us as it 's too risky .
Therefore , I have undertaken the task of looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 'm happy to do it if it means keeping Mum safe . ''
Clare Lawson : `` One of the many Minions who is working from home .
with our cat helping me to not get stressed by the new way of working - and excellent company .
I have to add there was no desk - or video calls , thank goodness . ''
The next theme is `` The view from my window '' and the deadline for entries is 21 May 2020 .
Send pictures to yourpics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Upload your pictures here '' below .
Further details and terms can be found by following the link to `` We set the theme , you take the pictures , '' at the bottom of the page .

Image caption,
Sue Searle: "This is my current place of work during lockdown - caring for, entertaining and generally trying to keep happy my 96-year-old mother, Florence. Before lockdown, we had carers but currently, no-one can visit us as it's too risky. Therefore, I have undertaken the task of looking after Mum 24/7. Not a problem and I'm happy to do it if it means keeping Mum safe."


bbcuk--2020-05-14--Chennai Six: Nick Dunn reveals what Indian prison life was like

Nick Dunn was one of six British ex-servicemen who spent years imprisoned in India for a crime they did not commit .
They faced the daily threat of violence , a scramble for food , and encountered rats the size of cats .
How did the former paratrooper , who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan , cope with incarceration ?
A thin mattress on a filthy stone floor for a bed .
A hole in the ground for a toilet .
Scavenged carrots and potatoes for a meal .
The photographs Nick Dunn snapped on a spy-pen are grainy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his fellow members of the Chennai Six ( named after the Indian city where they were incarcerated ) , what they depict was their everyday reality for two and a half years .
`` The conditions were bleak , basic and dirty , '' recalls Nick , from Ashington in Northumberland , adding : `` Every day was like Groundhog Day . ''
Nick and the other five men were working as armed security guards , employed to protect against Somali pirates , when they were intercepted on the merchant ship MV Seaman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 2013 .
They were accused of being illegally armed in Indian waters - they were n't , as a court ruled some four years later .
They had all the required documentation for their weapons , and their presence in Indian waters was justified because they needed to pick up emergency supplies amid stormy weather .
From Nick 's point of view it was a misunderstanding , one that would no doubt be cleared up after a brief period of confusion .
But Indian prosecutors persisted with the case .
Days turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and months into years as it limped through the courts .
Some of their time was spent in hostels and hotels , thanks to a 130,000-signature petition collected by the men 's families and submitted to the UK government calling on the Indian authorities to grant them bail .
But much of it was spent in prison , sometimes four of them in a cell , other times more than 20 of them - the six Brits and their fellow crew .
They were the only westerners in a prison full of Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were targeted from day one ; stones were thrown at them and they had to walk around in groups , ready to fight off any attack .
Their would-be attackers , stirred up by the official narrative that these newcomers were terrorists , were usually deterred by the size of these ex-military men .
But one day a brawl did break out .
`` All hell broke loose '' , Nick recalls in his new book Surviving Hell .
The Brits were set upon by a group of inmates while visiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being used as weapons .
`` Punches were thrown , prisoners were grappling with each other , and a number of bodies hit the ground , '' Nick said .
`` It was complete pandemonium all around , with bodies being thrown about and fists flying . ''
The intervention of the guards brought the battle to an end , and the fight actually worked to the benefit of the men .
The other prisoners `` must have looked at this group of big blokes , and the damage we had caused and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keen on a scrap '' , Nick wrote .
`` They must have got the message because we never had any more trouble after that , at least not from the inmates . ''
Any diversion from the grimness of prison life had to be organised by the men themselves .
Gym equipment was fashioned from the stones that littered the prison yard , a lifting weight made from a metal bar and rocks .
`` The guards would always dismantle our makeshift gym , but every time they did , we rebuilt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In the end , we pleaded with them to leave our equipment alone .
Surely , we said , they could recognise we were setting a good example to other prisoners . ''
On 10 September 2017 , while his sister Lisa ran the Great North Run to raise legal funding and awareness of her brother 's plight , Nick completed his own half-marathon around the prison yard .
It was 27 laps in near 40C heat , much to the bewilderment of his guards and fellow inmates .
Some of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him , while another managed to secure some oranges to provide a much-needed energy boost .
Food was generally scavenged from the scant supplies on offer , a rota being drawn up to decide who would go and cook in the prison 's kitchen for the rest of the group .
A bit of old pipe was rigged to a tap to create a rudimentary shower , an improvement from washing in a bucket .
`` We were forever trying to make up for losing the comforts we took for granted when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We just did what we had to do to make out lives a bit easier with what we had available , which was n't a lot .
`` You 've got to keep on top of our hygiene .
In that situation it 's so easy to fall ill because it 's just not a clean place . ''
They bartered with Indian cigarettes called bidis and ate eggs , chapatis and stews fashioned from whatever they could source .
`` Every day in that cookhouse was a battle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were coming to blows just to get hold of a pan , and we would have to kick off to make sure we had enough food to survive . ''
• 6 October 2013 - Nick boards the MV Seaman Guard Ohio in Sri Lanka to await deployment • 12 October 2013 - MV Seaman Guard Ohio brought into port of Tuticorin by the Indian coastguard • 18 October 2013 - Ten crew and 25 guards arrested and placed in prison • February 2014 - Charge sheet containing 2,158 pages given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed by 136,000 people given to British government calling for the men to be given bail • 26 March 2014 - Bail granted to 33 of the 35 men , including Nick • July 2014 - Madras High Court throws out the charges , but the men must stay in India pending an appeal • 11 January 2016 - Crew members found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison • 27 November 2017 - Chennai appeal court acquits them , they are released from prison and free to return home While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigned relentlessly for their release .
Nick 's sister Lisa , who had slipped him the spy-pen during one of her visits , harangued the UK authorities , appealing for them to intervene , but the men 's appeal limped on through the courts and showed no signs of making any progress .
`` I would say that it would take the death of one of us to end the ordeal for all of us , '' Nick said .
He was scarily close to the truth .
In the autumn of 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a five-year sentence , the tide started to turn .
Their ship 's Ukrainian captain became seriously ill and `` it became clear to everyone that he might be dying '' , Nick said .
`` As I predicted , suddenly , the sluggish judicial system started to take notice of our case again .
`` The death or serious illness of one of our number while we were in an Indian prison would be a serious embarrassment to the authorities . ''
The case swiftly reached the country 's chief justice Dipak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Judgement day was 27 November 2017 , a Monday , the men staying in prison to await news of their fate .
After hours of nothing , the message came through - they had been acquitted .
`` My knees just crumpled , '' Nick said , adding : `` I was exploding inside . ''
They walked free from prison the following day and returned to the UK six days later .
Loud cheers reverberated through the arrivals hall at Newcastle International Airport when Nick finally emerged , his hair long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a throng of family and friends .
Several years on and Nick still works in security , although he is less keen to do so abroad .
`` Things have changed in my life after going through what I went through , '' he said .
`` I take each day as it comes now .
`` There are days when I can feel a bit down and out , but I know I 've been through a lot worse . ''
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter , Facebook and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeastandcumbria @ bbc.co.uk .

Nick Dunn was one of six British ex-servicemen who spent years imprisoned in India for a crime they did not commit. They faced the daily threat of violence, a scramble for food, and encountered rats the size of cats. How did the former paratrooper, who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, cope with incarceration?


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Katherine Ryan says miscarriage made her feel 'shameful'

Katherine Ryan has said her miscarriage in February made her feel `` embarrassed and shameful '' , adding women and girls need more information on losing a baby .
`` I think it needs to be on the curriculum , I think girls need to know that you can have this secret , silent miscarriage , '' she told Love Island host Laura Whitmore 's Castaway podcast .
`` I felt embarrassed for getting excited before the loss , '' said the Canadian comedian and actress .
She had been 10 weeks pregnant .
Ryan told Whitmore : `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience , and it 's shrouded in all this embarrassment ...
I felt all these things , and I looked for stories and I really could n't find many of them .
`` I felt like a walking tomb and it took me a month to sort it out to get it out .
It 's crazy , they do n't teach us this in school . ''
• ' I thought I was losing my mind after miscarriage' The Department for Education told the BBC : `` We want to support all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safe .
The introduction of compulsory Relationships and Sex Education from September will ensure that secondary aged pupils will be taught the facts in relation to pregnancy , including miscarriage . ''
The performer found out about her pregnancy loss earlier this year during a routine scan , and said : `` I 'm 36 , I thought I was very well-versed on women 's issues .
I genuinely did n't know that a miscarriage can happen in this way . ''
She is in a civil partnership with her childhood sweetheart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Violet , from a previous relationship .
On her own podcast , called Katherine Ryan : Telling Everybody Everything , she explained what happened .
`` So I was having a scan , and was then told I needed an internal scan , and I thought 'something 's weird ' , but by now the doctor had turned the screen to herself so I could n't see it and I just knew something was wrong .
`` The doctor said 'oh I 'm sorry , we would expect to see a heartbeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to have to have a very different conversation here ' , and then I thought 'well that 's done ' .
`` I think I was really embarrassed , I do n't want anyone to see when I 'm upset , so I was happy , smiley , she must have thought who is this psycho ... ?
`` I had a gig in Liverpool that evening , so I said ' I 'm sorry I have to go to work ' . ''
She said she carried on working , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something wrong but you keep it to yourself . ''
Ryan 's body continued to carry the embryo , and she explained : `` Basically my mind knew I had lost the baby , my body just would not recognise it had lost this baby .
`` So three weeks passed and I tried the medical management three times , and it did n't work .
That was was the hardest part of it - remaining pregnant with a deceased embryo for that long .
`` And having to work , doing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I was just not the same human being , it was crazy to me , the most nuts thing .
I would not recommend it to anyone .
`` I had surgery , but in that three weeks you ca n't be positive , you do n't have that part of your brain that says carry on - it 's like this terrible dark , deep feeling .
`` People recover and they do n't mention it again , they start to forget the hardest part , but right now I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim and I felt like a bad mom , I could n't get it out - 'maybe this little soul is scared and does n't want to be alone ' . ''
At this moment on the podcast , Ryan became emotional and paused , before adding : `` It 's fine now , that 's just always the bit that gets me .
`` So if that should be a story that touches your own life , I really hope it does n't .
The last thing I would want is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'keep it to yourself , do n't upset anyone , be a good girl and take it on the chin and keep it moving .
I have felt this collective grief . ''
Whitmore said this echoed her own miscarriage in 2018 , adding : `` It 's crazy you said that , because I 've never told you this , but I remember in my situation about two years ago when we went for our scan , it was supposed to be the first proper scan , and there was no heartbeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it happens so much that they 're quite used to it , I did n't realise the figures until afterwards .
So I did n't know how I was supposed to react , was I supposed to be upset , was I supposed to be 'oh , ok ' and move on .
`` I remember being all over the place , and I remember [ my partner ] Ian saying to me , 'shall we just go home ' , and I said ' I want to have a little bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have a glass of wine , I want to laugh , I want to watch a show and then I want to deal with this - everyone reacts differently '' .
They went on to see Ryan performing stand-up at a live gig that evening , and Whitmore said she carried on working afterwards , including at the MTV Awards .
`` I was on stage doing a show - people do n't know the secrets woman are carrying around because people are afraid to share them , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` When it happens to you , that 's when you realise how traumatic it is .
Women historically have been expected to get on with things .
`` The reason we do n't talk about miscarriage more is not for the sufferer of the miscarriage , not for the mom and family , it 's for everyone else .
It 's a way of being polite - nobody wants you to say you found out you lost a baby.
`` She told Whitmore : `` I think the more women that tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important for me to share it , even if it helps just one person . ''
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"I remember being all over the place, and I remember [my partner] Ian saying to me, 'shall we just go home', and I said 'I want to have a little bit of escapism, I want to go out, have a glass of wine, I want to laugh, I want to watch a show and then I want to deal with this - everyone reacts differently".


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: How much will it cost the UK?

Coronavirus has brought large parts of the economy to a standstill , and the government has had to spend billions to support workers , businesses and the NHS .
So where is all the money going to come from ?
How much will coronavirus cost the UK ?
It 's still very early in the crisis , so it 's impossible to tell how big the final bill will be .
It could be as much as £298bn just for this financial year ( April 2020 to April 2021 ) , according to the Office for Budget Responsibility ( OBR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending .
To put it into context : before the crisis , the government was expecting to borrow around £55bn .
Schemes to support public services , businesses and individuals , such as the Job Retention Scheme ( furloughing ) will cost £123bn , the OBR estimates .
The government will also raise less tax than it hoped .
Unemployed or furloughed workers pay less income tax , businesses pay less tax if their profits are lower , and shoppers pay less VAT if they buy less .
The final bill could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the figure this year could be as much as £337bn .
Even if the pandemic ends quickly , the government will have to borrow more money in future years too .
How will the money be raised ?
At first the government will raise money by borrowing from investors .
They could be individuals , companies , pension funds , or foreign governments who lend the money to the UK government by buying bonds .
A bond is a promise to pay the money back in the future , and pay interest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will buy some of those bonds , which will make raising the money easier .
Can the UK afford all this debt ?
In recent years , the government has been able to borrow easily at very low interest rates , which makes that debt more affordable .
There is a limit to how much the government can borrow , before interest payments become so great it ca n't afford them .
No-one knows quite where that limit is .
Even if the economy bounces straight back once lockdown is lifted , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more interest to pay .
But many commentators fear the recovery will take much longer than that .
So the government will be bringing in less money in taxes than it expected , and spending more to support people and the economy .
That will leave it with a gap between its spending plans , and the money coming in to pay for them - that 's known as the deficit .
Will I have to pay more tax ?
The deficit leaves the government with a choice : increase borrowing , raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , it may well do a mixture of the three - but those decisions have n't been taken yet .
Some economists argue that all the costs of the crisis could be easily covered by borrowing alone , but many disagree .
Raising taxes would be politically awkward , because the Conservative 2019 manifesto promised not to raise the three biggest taxes .
These are income tax , national insurance and VAT - which together bring in more than half of government revenue .
Increasing taxes means people have less money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy down .
Cutting spending will also be difficult .
There have been big cuts over the past decade , and many of the easy savings have already been made .
Some areas have long been protected , such as healthcare - but it would be difficult to reduce health spending after a big pandemic .
State pensions , another big spending item , are protected by a system called the `` triple lock '' , which guarantees at least a 2 % increase every year .
This was also guaranteed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic makes these promises impossible to keep .
But difficult choices will certainly have to be made .
So how will this affect my life ?
If taxes go up , people will soon realise they have less money to spend .
Likewise , people would notice if lower public spending resulted in worse public services , such as longer waiting times in hospitals or fewer police on the streets .
But if doctors and nurses have their wages frozen , or benefits rise more slowly , that will be noticed by those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of its ambitious infrastructure plans such as road and railway improvements need to be postponed or cancelled .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?

How much is Covid costing the UK and how will we pay? Published 22 June 2021
comments Comments
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Queuing for a vaccination in London
As the country starts to emerge from lockdown, the impact it has had on the economy is becoming clearer.
The damage is enormous, but not as bad as feared last year, partly because the vaccines have been so effective.
How much will coronavirus cost the UK?
The government has had to spend many billions of pounds to fight coronavirus and protect the economy. The lockdown has reduced the amount of money the government raises in taxes.
This has meant the government has had to borrow huge sums of money.
In the first year of the pandemic, from April 2020 to 2021, it borrowed £299bn, the highest figure since records began in 1946.
The government is expected to borrow less in the current year, April 2021 to 2022, though the figure could still be more than £200bn.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Fighting Covid-19 has cost hundreds of billions of pounds
Where did the money go?
Over £100bn is being spent on support for jobs, such as the furlough scheme, where the government steps in to pay most of workers' wages.
The NHS and other public services have been given extra money to pay for the costs of fighting the pandemic.
However, the pandemic has reduced the amount the government raises in tax.
Unemployed or furloughed workers pay less income tax, businesses pay less tax if their profits are lower, and shoppers pay less VAT if they buy fewer things.
With more money going out and less coming in, the government has only one option - to borrow.
The pandemic will still mean more government spending and less tax coming in for years to come.
All of this means more borrowing.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, As the economy reopens the government is spending less on support measures
Is the impact of the pandemic as bad as expected?
No-one knew how the pandemic would affect the economy so all predictions were full of uncertainty.
In recent months, however, the government has been borrowing less than expected as the economy starts to reopen. It has borrowed £53bn this year, £14bn less than forecast in March.
Also far fewer people will lose their jobs in the pandemic than had been feared.
Will taxes go up?
The government cannot keep borrowing at this level forever, so it must find a way to cut spending or increase taxes.
Before it was elected in 2019, the government promised not to raise the rates of the three biggest taxes - income tax, National Insurance or value added tax.
However, in March the chancellor announced measures which will increase most people's tax bills next year.
The amount you can earn without paying tax - known as the personal allowance - will stay the same from 2022 to 2026, instead of the usual small increases.
The amount people can earn before paying 40% instead of 20% will also be frozen.
Businesses will also pay more tax, as the rate of tax on their profits - corporation tax - will rise from 19% to 25% in 2023.
Image source, Getty Images
Will the government cut spending?
Spending in some areas, such as schools and the NHS, has been protected - and it would be difficult to reduce health spending after a pandemic.
State pensions, another big spending item, are protected by the so-called triple lock, which guarantees they rise with workers' earnings, prices, or 2.5% every year - whichever is highest.
The Conservatives promised to keep this, but earnings are rising very fast as they bounce back after the pandemic, which could make it a very expensive pledge to honour next year.
Last year, the chancellor announced some measures to reduce public spending, such as a controversial decision to freeze pay for many public sector workers.
He also cut the amount the UK spends on overseas aid, despite an election pledge to keep it at 0.7% of national income.
Can the UK afford all this debt?
Until recently, the government has been able to borrow easily at very low interest rates, which has made its debt more affordable.
At the moment it pays just 0.77% interest to borrow for 10 years.
It's still low but interest rates have been rising recently - and the higher they go, the harder it will be to support the UK's debt burden.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Grieving together with a yellow heart

The placing of a yellow heart in the window is allowing grieving families to celebrate the life of their loved @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .

A family who lost their grandma, Sheila, has come up with a new and poignant way of remembering those who’ve died with Covid-19 - and it’s being replicated across the UK.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Covid-19: Inside the UK's top-secret military lab

Their work is normally highly classified , but military scientists at Porton Down in Wiltshire are now fighting coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ who identified Novichok , the nerve agent used in the Salisbury poisoning , have been @ @ @ @ @ finding ways to protect NHS staff .
The BBC 's Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale has @ @ @ @ @ the site .

Their work is normally highly classified, but military scientists at Porton Down in Wiltshire are now fighting coronavirus.
Some of the same scientists who identified Novichok, the nerve agent used in the Salisbury poisoning, have been helping to analyse Covid-19 and finding ways to protect NHS staff.
The BBC's Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale has been given exclusive access to the site.


bbcuk--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: 'Lockdown is opportunity of a lifetime for bike lanes'

London has announced plans to create the largest car-free zones in Europe .
It wants to encourage cycling , so @ @ @ @ @ also social distancing .
Several European cities are taking similar measures .
Gil Penalosa of @ @ @ @ @ Cities says lockdown measures during the coronavirus outbreak represent an `` opportunity of a lifetime @ @ @ @ @ bike-friendly .
But some industry groups disagree and many city residents have resisted these policies @ @ @ @ @ more on the impact of lockdown on cities here .

London has announced plans to create the largest car-free zones in Europe. It wants to encourage cycling, so that people can commute while also social distancing. Several European cities are taking similar measures.
Gil Penalosa of urban reform group 8 80 Cities says lockdown measures during the coronavirus outbreak represent an "opportunity of a lifetime" to make cities more bike-friendly.
But some industry groups disagree and many city residents have resisted these policies in the past.
Video by Dougal Shaw
Read more on the impact of lockdown on cities here.