bbcuk--2020-06-01--UK soldiers unlikely to be prosecuted over Iraq war crime claims

British soldiers who have been accused of committing war crimes in Iraq are unlikely to face criminal prosecution .
Independent investigators were asked to look at thousands of allegations made against the British military after the invasion of Iraq in 2003 .
But the director of the Service Prosecution Authority ( SPA ) said just one remaining case was being examined .
Andrew Cayley said the `` low level '' of offending and lack of credible evidence had led most cases to be dismissed .
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 's Law in Action programme , Mr Cayley said most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very early stage because of the lack of credible evidence or because the offending was `` at such a very low level '' .
More than 1,000 cases were made by former lawyer Phil Shiner and his firm Public Interest Lawyers ( PIL ) .
In 2017 he was struck off as a solicitor after a tribunal found him guilty of misconduct and dishonesty , including false accounts about the actions of UK soldiers .
Mr Cayley said seven remaining cases had been referred to the SPA , but in six of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges should be brought .
One case is still being considered , but Mr Cayley admitted that it is now `` quite possible '' that none of the original allegations will lead to a prosecution .
Mr Cayley also said he is confident a separate investigation being conducted by the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) in the Hague will conclude this year without further action being taken .
In 2014 , ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda re-opened a preliminary examination of cases involving alleged British abuses in Iraq .
Mr Cayley said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon be completed without any further action .
He said : `` My sense is these matters are coming to a conclusion ; she will close the preliminary examination this year in respect of Iraq and the United Kingdom . ''
The cloud hanging over British service personnel accused of wrongdoing has already left a bitter taste and contributed to political pressure to do more to protect soldiers on the battlefield from criminal and civil prosecution for alleged actions which took place years ago .
Earlier this year the government presented a bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it calls `` vexatious claims '' against armed forces deployed overseas .
The bill proposes a five-year time limit on any criminal prosecution unless compelling new evidence is brought to light .
In a statement , the Ministry of Defence said it was strongly opposed to service personnel and veterans being subjected to the threat of repeated investigations and potential prosecutions .
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said the bill was introduced `` to reduce the uncertainty currently faced by service personnel and veterans in relation to historic allegations '' - and aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end up in a situation like this again '' .
But human rights groups and some lawyers have already expressed concern - saying the legislation could place the military above the law , and undermine existing international conventions .
David Greene , vice-president of the Law Society , said a balance must be struck to ensure charges are only brought when warranted .
But he added : `` The argument behind time limits for British service personnel deployed overseas is that there has been a rise in historic prosecutions .
Based on Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an assertion is lacking . ''

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Law in Action programme, Mr Cayley said most of those cases were sifted out at a very early stage because of the lack of credible evidence or because the offending was "at such a very low level".


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Staying away from home now a lockdown crime

Police in England can order people to leave a property if they are breaking new coronavirus laws - but do not have powers to forcibly remove them .
It is now a crime to stay at someone else 's home overnight , or to hold gatherings of two or more people indoors or more than six people outdoors , under new legislation .
Officers can fine rule-breakers and arrest them if they do not co-operate .
The laws came into force to coincide with lockdown restrictions being eased .
Gatherings of as many as six people from different households can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in parks or gardens - in England , so long as people remain 2m apart .
In Wales , people from two different households can meet each other outdoors .
Groups of four to six people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors in Northern Ireland .
And in Scotland members of two different households are already allowed to meet outdoors .
• What are the latest social distancing rules ?
• What powers do the police have ?
The changes to the English law were made through a statutory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to amend rules quickly without them needing to be scrutinised and debated in Parliament .
The chair of the National Police Chiefs ' Council ( NPCC ) , Martin Hewitt , said personal responsibility was `` key '' as members of the public `` enjoy these new freedoms '' .
He added that officers would use continue to use common sense and discretion and would only issue fines or arrest people as a last resort .
There is a a short list of exceptions to the gathering-size limits , including that everyone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last week Downing Street said police did not have the power to enter gardens to check how many people were in them .
And the UK government 's chief medical adviser , Prof Chris Whitty , said people were allowed to go inside other people 's homes to use the bathroom but it was `` absolutely critical '' that they wiped everything down and washed their hands .
Permitted reasons for staying away from home overnight include : • for a child to stay with a parent/parents they do not live with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue existing arrangements '' Guidance issued to English police forces by the NPCC and the College of Policing says officers `` may only direct a person to return home '' if they are found to have illegally stayed overnight somewhere , with `` no powers in the regulations to remove someone or use force '' .
• SCHOOLS : Which schools are reopening for pupils ?
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Matt Hancock said the government had been able to `` flip the basis of the law back to specifically outlining things that you can not do , as opposed to saying you ca n't do anything unless it 's specifically provided for '' .
Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing at Downing Street , he added : `` I 'm very glad we 've been able to change the basis of the law - and get away from what was essentially the most authoritarian part of the system . ''
Scotland 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the border could be enforced by new laws if `` even a minority '' continued to flout them .
Nicola Sturgeon said it was clear that not everyone had complied with her recently relaxed restrictions , with police dispersing hundreds of gatherings over the weekend and car traffic trebling at some beauty spots .

In Wales, people from two different households can meet each other outdoors. Groups of four to six people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors in Northern Ireland. And in Scotland members of two different households are already allowed to meet outdoors.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: Oxfam to start reopening in England from 15 June

Oxfam has announced that it will begin reopening its network of charity shops in England from 15 June .
The charity said it could not yet confirm which stores would open in the first phase , nor how many of them .
However , it said there would be space for social distancing , while staff and volunteers would have the necessary personal protective equipment .
All surfaces , doors and equipment will be regularly cleaned and donated items will be isolated for 72 hours .
All Oxfam shops have been closed since 21 March in response to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that non-essential retailers would be able to reopen in England .
Oxfam shops in Scotland and Wales will remain closed at this stage , as no dates have yet been set for retailers to reopen there .
Oxfam has the third-largest network of charity shops in the UK , with 595 High Street outlets around the country .
Other charities , including British Heart Foundation and Barnardo 's , have already announced their own plans to resume operations at a limited number of shops .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen all English branches , as they varied in size and shape .
Arrangements to curb the spread of the virus had to be made on a completely individual , shop-by-shop basis , it said .
Oxfam GB chief executive Danny Sriskandarajah said : `` Our shops are a much-loved part of their communities and , at this difficult time , we ca n't wait to reopen our doors and reconnect with our supporters and shoppers .
`` Our shop staff and volunteers are working hard to make sure we can welcome the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mr Sriskandarajah said Oxfam was aware that many people had been `` busy decluttering under lockdown '' and the charity was excited about receiving the resulting donations .
However , the charity also pointed out that with the need to quarantine donated items , storage space might be limited , so it asked people to call ahead to check beforehand .
It also said it was appealing for volunteers to help shops get back to business over the summer .
Each shop typically has a team of 30 dedicated volunteers and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20,000 volunteers required in all .
The UK 's 11,000 charity shops help raise almost £300m for good causes each year and the people who run them are expecting a surge of donations when they open their doors again , Robin Osterley , chief executive of the Charity Retail Association , said that shops were expecting to be `` full to bursting '' .
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• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What it means and why it matters

The charity also said it was appealing for volunteers to help shops get back to business over the summer. Each shop typically has a team of 30 dedicated volunteers and one or two staff, with more than 20,000 volunteers required in all.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Football and dementia: Alan Jarvis inquest to explore heading link

The death of a former Wales international footballer may have been linked to heading a football and could be regarded as an `` industrial disease , '' a coroner has said .
Alan Jarvis played for Everton and Hull City in the 1960s and 1970s , winning three caps for his country .
The 76-year-old , who was thought to have dementia , died at a nursing home in Mold , Flintshire , in December .
Coroner John Gittins has opened his inquest at Ruthin .
He said neuropathology had been undertaken and that Mr Jarvis ' death and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be explored further at a full hearing .
Mr Jarvis , a midfielder , played for Wales against England 's 1966 World Cup winning squad , earning his other caps against Scotland and Northern Ireland .
His daughter , Sarah Jarvis , of Northop , Flintshire , said his family had arranged to have his brain donated to researchers at the University of Glasgow after his death .
Ms Jarvis said Dr Willie Stewart , who is studying the possible link between heading a football and brain damage , examined it in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said she believed heading had been to blame for the difficulties her father faced in later life - including the loss of his speech .
Ms Jarvis said the family hoped his inquest would increase `` knowledge '' and that , while heading has been banned for children under 12 during training , changes in the adult game might not be necessary .
`` My family loves watching football , so it 's nothing I would want to change , it 's more awareness , '' she said .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it , is to look after these players .
`` I know they say the football was heavy back then , but now it 's lighter and faster , so who 's to say there 's not still going to be the same amount of people coming through with dementia . ''
Dr Stewart 's research featured in the 2018 BBC documentary Alan Shearer : Dementia , Football and Me .
In 2019 , a study he led found former professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of dementia than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general population .
The study began after claims former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle died because of repeated head trauma .
There remains , however , no definitive evidence that heading a ball causes dementia .
Football authorities have said more research is needed , with the FA saying it is `` committed to doing all it can '' to help provide greater understanding of the issue .

"I know they say the football was heavy back then, but now it's lighter and faster, so who's to say there's not still going to be the same amount of people coming through with dementia."


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Bristol mayor to review footage of black man's arrest

Bristol 's mayor Marvin Rees and other community leaders are set to review footage showing a black man being pinned down by police in the city .
Officers were called to reports of a disorder involving a number of people in Winkworth Place and Argyle Road , St Pauls , on Friday evening .
One of the officers ' left cheekbone was fractured in three places .
Avon and Somerset Police says it will share the `` full facts '' and the footage will be reviewed on Wednesday .
A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An 18-year-old man was held on suspicion of affray in connection with the disorder .
Both were released on conditional bail .
Ch Insp Paul Wigginton said : `` On arrival officers found a large number of people in the streets and a man who had suffered a head injury .
`` He received treatment at the scene but was taken to hospital by paramedics .
`` One of our officers present at the scene suffered a nasty injury and received several blows to the face , requiring emergency treatment . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Bristol City Council , said there were `` race tensions '' .
`` There is a need for more representation within the workforce .
`` More conversations need to be had between people in the community and the police force which is what I have been trying to create . ''
On social media , Mr Rees linked the incident to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
He called it `` a complicated local incident compounded by wider tensions brought upon us by the racial inequalities being exposed by Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

"More conversations need to be had between people in the community and the police force which is what I have been trying to create."


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Man run over and stabbed in Harrow 'in critical condition'

A man was seriously injured when he was run over and stabbed in north-west London , police have said .
@ @ @ @ @ be in his late teens , is in a critical condition in hospital after the @ @ @ @ @ Harrow , at about 21:00 BST on Monday .
The vehicle involved has yet to @ @ @ @ @ have been made , the Met Police said .
The area has been cordoned off @ @ @ @ @ witnesses .

The victim, thought to be in his late teens, is in a critical condition in hospital after the attack in Weald Lane, Harrow, at about 21:00 BST on Monday.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--No early return for UK tourists, says Spain

Spain 's tourism minister has cast doubt on the prospect of an early return by UK holidaymakers to Spanish beaches .
María Reyes Maroto said British coronavirus figures `` still have to improve '' before Spain could receive tourists from the UK .
Last week , the Spanish government said foreign visitors would no longer have to undergo a two-week quarantine from 1 July .
But Ms Reyes Maroto said tourist activity would be resumed `` gradually '' .
`` For Spain , it is very important that the first tourists are tourists who are in the same epidemiological situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to fly safely , '' she said in a statement .
`` Regarding the United Kingdom , there have been talks with tour operators but British data still have to improve , because it 's important to ensure that the person comes well and then returns well . ''
The tourism minister said that as soon as conditions improved in the UK , Spain would be ready to receive British citizens `` with the same hospitality as ever '' .
• How safe is it to get on a plane ?
Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the sector providing more than 12 % of the country 's GDP .
Opening up the holiday market again before the summer season is over is seen as crucial to the Spanish economy .
However , just as Spain prepares to end its quarantine policy , the UK is set to impose a 14-day quarantine of its own for arrivals from 8 June , including returning holidaymakers .
That would mean that any tourists coming home after taking holidays in most foreign destinations would have to spend two weeks in self-isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open up , with Greece announcing that flights to Athens and Thessaloniki airports will resume on 15 June - but only from those parts of Europe that have escaped the worst of the pandemic .
Other Greek airports are due to reopen on 1 July .
At the same time , tourism authorities in the Algarve region of Portugal have said its beaches will be open for tourists on 6 June , with flights resuming to the region 's international airport , Faro , from the UK and Ireland .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to advise against all non-essential foreign travel .
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• GLOBAL TAKE : Which country has the most generous bailout ?
• THE LOST SIX WEEKS : Missed chances for US to contain outbreak

"For Spain, it is very important that the first tourists are tourists who are in the same epidemiological situation as us, and that they are able to fly safely," she said in a statement.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Visitors to former quarry in Chinnor told to stay away

People have been trespassing on a former quarry and swimming in its `` highly toxic '' water pools .
Residents complained to Henley MP John Howell about antisocial behaviour and parking obstructions near Old Kiln Lakes in Chinnor , Oxfordshire .
Mr Howell said `` gangs '' had visited the fenced off site `` without any concern for social distancing '' .
Owners of the former quarry Taylor Wimpey said it had deployed security guards with dogs to patrol the site .
A spokesperson told the BBC it shared concerns with residents that people were `` illegally accessing '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out daily fence repairs '' .
They said a small part of the site , which has been owned by Taylor Wimpey since 2010 , is a publicly accessible nature reserve and the remainder is fenced off with warning signs .
The quarry 's steep edges and deep water in its fenced-off section , named by locals as the `` blue lagoon '' , presented a `` number of health and safety risks '' , a statement said .
Thames Valley Police warned the water , which contains high alkaline substances , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health issues '' .
Mr Howell said it was `` absolutely appalling '' that `` gangs of people were out trying to make merry without any concern for social distancing '' following the easing of the coronavirus lockdown measures .
A police spokesman said it was working with the landowner to `` disperse those who have accessed the site '' .
`` A Section 34 dispersal order is in place and will be enforced where necessary to tackle anti-social behaviour , '' the spokesman said .

Mr Howell said it was "absolutely appalling" that "gangs of people were out trying to make merry without any concern for social distancing" following the easing of the coronavirus lockdown measures.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: Customers queue for hours as Ikea reopens 19 shops

Thousands of shoppers have queued for hours to get into Ikea stores after the furniture giant reopened 19 shops in England and Northern Ireland on Monday .
They had been warned that only a limited number of shoppers would be welcomed with only one adult and one child from a household allowed in .
But Ikea was forced to shut car parks at some stores to help ease pressure .
In Warrington , people arrived at 05:40 to start queuing for the Ikea store to reopen at 09 ; 00 .
The company praised shoppers for their patience .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've taken appropriate decisions to open early for browsing and to temporarily close our car parks to help ease pressure and reduce waiting times , '' Ikea said .
`` We 're incredibly grateful to the public in playing their part to help keep everyone safe . ''
In Warrington , a line of more than 1,000 people snaked around the car park with similar scenes at Ikea 's Wembley store .
On Twitter , shoppers complained of `` five-mile queues '' in Croydon , Wembley and outside of London .
Law student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desk but was shocked at the long waits .
West Midlands police took to Twitter to warn people of large queues at Ikea 's Wednesbury branch .
The police urged : `` Please consider if you need to go there today as you may be in for a very long wait . ''
There were long queues outside the Belfast branch , noted BBC reporter Mark Simpson .
In Manchester one shopper ( who did n't want to be named ) told the BBC that despite queues outside , inside the shop it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's very busy with every entrance manned by staff with walkie talkies who were managing the long queues that had formed , '' the shopper said .
`` We arrived just after 11:00 and had to queue for about an hour and a half before we were allowed into the store .
`` However , once inside though the store was much emptier than usual , so it was very easy to stay a safe distance from the other shoppers . ''
But some criticized the long queues as a sign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Do n't understand how a person sees this Ikea queue and actually joins it , rather than… heading home for a beer . ''
Others warned that people queuing were risking catching coronavirus .
One said : `` People shopping at Ikea moaning about the people in the queue at Ikea today .
It 's the 'it 's not me , it 's everyone else ' attitude that will cause the inevitable second wave .
`` Wear a mask and only go out if you have to .
It 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ikea spokesperson said : `` The health and safety of our customers and co-workers remains our top priority , which is why we put extensive and enhanced measures in place to create a safe and comfortable experience . ''
The measures include limiting numbers of customers in stores , a staggered entry system , screens in key areas and social-distancing wardens .
All play areas and the restaurants have remained closed .
`` We ask that these measures are respected at all times , '' Ikea said .
It had asked customers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own bags to help ease waiting times '' .
It also pleaded with customers wishing to return items , `` to do so at a later date '' .
`` While frustrating , these planned measures are in place to ensure everyone 's safety , '' Ikea said .
`` To avoid queues , we 'd ask those purely wishing to browse , to visit us in the coming weeks . ''
Meanwhile , new footfall data from retail analyst Springboard has shown a sharp rise in the number of shoppers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being eased .
Overall , shopper numbers were up 36 % on last week 's Bank Holiday Monday and 21 % on the week before that .
High Streets saw the largest increase , with footfall up 44 % on last week and 24 % on the week before .
The increases have come despite only limited reopening allowed in England .
Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales have not yet allowed similar shops to open again .

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bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: What might swimming pools be like after lockdown?

Swimmers may have to arrive in their costumes and the number of people in lanes be limited when pools reopen , to allow for social distancing .
For the time being indoor and outdoor pools must remain shut , despite the easing of some lockdown restrictions , It 's thought chlorine in swimming pools will kill coronavirus but Swim England has warned a `` stricter regime '' will still be needed when they do reopen .
The body has warned 500 pools in England could close permanently .
Pools can not reopen before 4 July under the government 's current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice also says people should not swim at the beach without a lifeguard present .
But as the weather has warmed up , people have headed to beaches , with three people seriously injured while jumping off a cliff into the sea at Durdle Door in Dorset on Saturday .
In London , the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park was forced to close after attempting to reopen last week because it became too crowded , while police also reported crowds at Ruislip Lido .
Chlorinated water should kill the virus , but preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other areas around pools remains a concern .
Swim England chief executive Jane Nickerson said guidance was still being finalised but that people might be asked not to use changing rooms , and pools could be told to limit how many people could be in the water at a time .
She told The Times people might have to arrive `` beach ready '' in their costumes .
Olympic gold-medallist Duncan Goodhew , who is president of the Swimathon charity , told Radio 4 's Today programme there were 5,000 public pools in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be able to reopen with social-distancing measures as they were `` old , inefficient and expensive to run '' .
He said : `` A little like a restaurant , it becomes very difficult economically to make it work because you 're just not getting the volume of people through . ''
• 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 ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this mess ?
Swim England has called for financial support from the government to help ensure pools are financially viable as the lockdown eases .
Ms Nickerson said : `` We know there will be major financial challenges for pool operators , all of whom saw their income disappear overnight , and who will be faced with the dilemma of opening pools against the backdrop of less footfall and increased environmental costs . ''
Mr Goodhew , who won gold at 100m breaststroke gold in Moscow in 1980 , added : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there are many , many people out there , some people who are disabled or have bad hips , etc , who can not do any other exercise .
`` From a point of view of quality of life , we 've got to get them open . ''
Prof Keith Neal , emeritus professor of epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham , said chlorine was `` very easily able to inactivate most viruses including Covid-19 '' , but `` the main problem will be the social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England is working with Public Health England on advice for pools reopening , which will be published on 15 June .
Among the issues which will be covered are water treatment , air circulation and social distancing .
The Swimming Teachers ' Association is also liaising with the government on measures for after the lockdown .
Chief executive Dave Candler said there was no `` one-size fits all '' answer to personal hygiene and social distancing measures for the industry - which would `` most likely mean smaller classes in the interim '' @

Ms Nickerson said: "We know there will be major financial challenges for pool operators, all of whom saw their income disappear overnight, and who will be faced with the dilemma of opening pools against the backdrop of less footfall and increased environmental costs."


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coventry electrician hopes to realise boyhood dream with £1m win

An electrician who has been unable to work for a year through ill health has won £1m on the Euromillions lottery .
Simon Waddup , 31 , of Coventry , said he hoped the win meant he could realise his `` dream '' of buying and doing up old properties .
He said a rare blood disorder and faulty heart valve had `` constantly held me back '' .
Mr Waddup added his daughter , 10 , hoped the win meant she could go on holiday abroad for the first time .
`` For as long as I can remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , do them up and build my own portfolio , '' he said .
`` Friends and family laughed at my dream , especially when I was a teenager . ''
He studied Design Technology , worked on building sites and trained to become an electrician with this ambition in mind .
However , he said ill health had meant he had `` been in and out of hospital a lot over the last few years '' and had been unable to work since last summer .
• News and updates from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played the Euromillions game for the first time this month and had been in `` a bit of a daze '' since the win .
`` Due to coronavirus , I ca n't celebrate with my family and I ca n't wait to see people and talk about the win - I will definitely be treating my family , '' he said .
`` I will also get a passport for my daughter and , when we can , take a trip abroad - she has already told me that she wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Midlands on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Send your story ideas to : newsonline.westmidlands @ bbc.co.uk

However, he said ill health had meant he had "been in and out of hospital a lot over the last few years" and had been unable to work since last summer.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: How dangerous is lifting lockdown?

Across the UK we can meet more people , while in England some children are back in school and car showrooms and open-air markets have reopened .
But some scientists , even those advising government , have been in mutinous mood - saying ministers are acting too soon .
And the lifting of restrictions has been described as a `` dangerous moment '' even by England 's deputy chief medical officer .
So how perilous a position are we in ?
Things are far better than when lockdown came in .
There were an estimated 100,000 new infections every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day when Boris Johnson announced strict curbs on our daily lives .
That compares with around 8,000 daily infections at the moment .
`` It 's somewhere in the range of 10-fold fewer , but that 's still considerable , '' Dr Adam Kurcharski from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told the BBC .
The speed at which the virus is spreading is also much slower .
The R number - the average number of people each infected person passes the virus onto - was around three when lockdown came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing coronavirus onto 30 others .
Now the R is around 0.7-0.9 , meaning 10 people would be expected to pass it onto around eight others .
However , a comparison by the University of Oxford suggests the UK is in one of the worst positions globally for exiting lockdown .
And it is notable the government 's own coronavirus alert system for England remains at `` Level 4 '' rather than `` Level 3 '' when social distancing restrictions would be relaxed .
• How will the Covid-19 alert system work ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vallance , warns there is `` not a lot of room '' for manoeuvre and the data `` urges caution '' .
R is close to one - the tipping point where cases increase again and `` we are still seeing new infections every day at quite a significant rate '' .
Relaxing lockdown means we will come into contact with more people and that increases the opportunity for the virus to spread .
The restrictions being eased are expected to have a small role in spreading coronavirus , but their precise impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue with schools .
The government 's evidence on reopening them could not put a figure on the impact .
There is also uncertainty about how we will react to the loosening of the rules .
Behavioural scientists advising the government already estimate only half of people are isolating for seven days when they become sick .
Throughout the pandemic , the scientists and politicians have been following the same script .
But there is now a clear , loud and public split between some of those advising government and those `` following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen Sage committee members , who advise government , have spoken out , saying we should wait until test and trace is fully working and cases have come down .
`` Essentially , we 're lifting the lid on a boiling pan and it 's just going to bubble over , '' argued Prof Calum Semple .
There is a significant consequence to lifting lockdown now - it may lock us into the current number of cases .
There are approximately 8,000 infections a day .
If easing restrictions raises the R number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to have around 8,000 infections every day .
Waiting until cases fall further would make the virus easier to control and give more time to react if there was a `` second wave '' .
However , that requires keeping a painful lockdown for longer .
• 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 : How do we get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also uncertainty about how effective contact tracing will be in the UK .
The aim is to replace lockdown for all with isolation for some , by rapidly identifying and quarantining anyone who comes into close contact with someone infected .
The strategy is seen as one of the key reasons some Asian countries have excelled at controlling coronavirus ( South Korea has around 270 deaths compared with more than 39,000 in the UK ) .
However , there is a danger in expecting identical results .
The UK is not using GPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are told , like South Korea , or taking people to quarantine centres as they do in Hong Kong .
Speed is crucial in order to find contacts before they become infectious , yet there are concerns about how long home testing takes in the UK .
And an analysis of South Korea 's strategy , by Imperial College London , suggests mass testing when a cluster of cases appears in one area was more influential than tracing contacts .
Estimates of the effectiveness of test and trace vary widely , from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in infections , depending on how optimistic the number crunching .
Will we get a second wave ?
The number of people that have been infected remains low , so any immunity is also low .
That means there is the potential for a second wave , but whether it happens depends on both government decisions and how we react .
The plan is to gradually introduce measures and then monitor what happens .
`` With a cautious , piecemeal approach , I think the risk of a major increase is not particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second wave , let 's call it a second bump , '' said Prof Mark Woolhouse from the University of Edinburgh .
A sudden surge in cases is considered unlikely .
Dr Kucharski said : `` I do n't think we 'll see a huge , exponential increase in numbers in a couple of weeks .
`` It may take some time for that to happen if transmission is in clusters ; it will be late summer or autumn or even winter , depending on what happens .
It may be we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

"It may take some time for that to happen if transmission is in clusters; it will be late summer or autumn or even winter, depending on what happens. It may be we're in for a long haul."


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: What powers do the police have?

The lockdown rules have changed across all parts of the UK - with the most relaxed regime now operational in England .
The devolved administrations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland set their own rules - and in each part of the UK , the police must enforce them .
Wherever you live in the UK , the police can : • Detain someone to be tested if they are believed to be infectious • Restrict someone 's right to move around or to take part in a gathering There are now at least 17 laws , known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK - here are the links to the most important : • English regulations are here and here • Main Welsh regulations are here and here • The Scottish regulations are here and here • The Northern Ireland regulations are here and here Originally , it was against the law in every part of the UK to be outside the place where you live `` without reasonable excuse '' , or to be part of a public gathering .
Today , the picture is really complicated .
So let 's start with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in England can be outside without needing a reasonable excuse .
If someone wants to take a long car journey , they no longer need to explain themselves - providing they 're returning home that day .
Once outside , be it in public or a back garden , they can gather in groups of up to six people and the police wo n't intervene .
For the first time since the lockdown began , people in England can stay overnight away from home for a range of specific reasons that include : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide care , or to avoid injury or harm .
Crucially , there is a still a general ban on any indoor meetings of more than two people , unless they have a similar reason , defined in law , for doing so .
The latest guidance to police in England tells officers they can order people to leave a home if they find an illegal indoor meeting .
These changes have created some rather unusual legal anomalies .
Today in England , it 's an offence for a couple who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors .
However , there is no actual legal requirement to remain 2m ( 6ft ) apart in a back garden - although it remains a key part of the government guidance .
What about the rest of the UK ?
In Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , people still need a reasonable excuse to be outside .
The law across the UK has never been explicitly clear on what this means ( see the Dominic Cummings row ) , but it does give examples which include : • Travelling to and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who is vulnerable The law stresses that if you 're on your own property , including a yard , garage or alley which is part of where you live , the police have no power to tell you what to do , unless you 're having a gathering that 's breaking the lockdown .
In Northern Ireland , groups of up to six people who do not share a household can meet outdoors under a relaxation of the law .
In Scotland and Wales , the law now allows `` two households @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specify numbers .
However Scottish guidance is to keep it to maximum of eight people .
What are the penalties ?
If someone fails to follow any of the regulations that apply in their part of the UK , police officers could give them an on-the-spot penalty .
This is basically an instant fine , like a parking ticket , without the involvement of a court , unless the recipient wants to challenge it .
In England those penalties now start at £100 for a first offence - reduced to £50 if paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalties that will reach a maximum of £3,200 .
These penalties are lower in the rest of the UK .
Police could ultimately charge anyone , anywhere in the UK , with the offence of breaching coronavirus regulations .
That power would lead to court , possible conviction - and therefore a criminal record - and even greater fines .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• TRAVEL PLANS : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel from one part of the UK to the other ?
The ban on holidays remains in force in all parts of the UK - but the prime minister says you can travel .
However , he has no say over how the coronavirus regulations should be enforced by police outside England - and any driving into Scotland or Wales needs a good reason to do so .
If a family from Bristol drives about 70 miles , within England , for a day 's country walking on Exmoor , they wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same family drives a similar distance to the Brecon Beacons in Wales , they run the risk of arrest .
This is not hypothetical .
South Wales Police has previously announced that people from England are to appear in court for travelling to paraglide off Nash Point in Glamorgan .
Front-line police may need to work very hard to decide whether someone is wilfully breaking the rules , has a genuine defence or has misunderstood them because of the differences across the UK .
Officers across all four parts of the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow `` Four Es '' : • Engage with people - ask them why they are out • Explain the law and if necessary set out the reason why they need to be inside , stressing the risks to public health • Encourage them to go home if they have no reasonable excuse • Enforce only as a last resort

Coronavirus: What powers do police have if people break Covid rules? Published 12 January 2021
Image source, Getty Images
The police's role in the coronavirus pandemic is simple: to ensure we follow national lockdown restrictions.
But in practice, that is a huge challenge for officers who are being asked to monitor behaviour that, until March last year, was perfectly legal.
How do police enforce Covid rules?
Police chiefs have followed a system called "The Four Es". Before fines are issued to rule-breakers, police will first:
Engage with people, to ask why they appear to be breaking the rules
Explain the law, stressing the risks to public health and the NHS
Encourage them to change their behaviour
The fourth "E" is "Enforce" by issuing penalty notices, as a last resort.
Covid rule-breakers are now "increasingly likely" to be fined by officers, the Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has said.
What are the fines for breaking Covid rules?
The police have a legal duty to make sure the rules are enforced, alongside council, environmental health and trading standards officers.
If you break coronavirus regulations, you could get a fixed penalty notice , the Covid equivalent of a traffic offence like speeding.
Since March, 32,000 have been issued in England and Wales. Penalties rose sharply during England's November lockdown. Almost 6,500 penalty tickets were handed out as police moved more quickly to enforcement.
In England and Northern Ireland fines start at £200. Fines start at £60 in Wales, and in Scotland, although this is reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days.
Large parties can also be shut down by the police - with fines of up to £10,000.
In extreme circumstances, you could be prosecuted and face an even greater fine imposed by a court.
Image source, West Midlands Police Image caption, Hundreds of people were caught on a drone camera at an illegal party by West Midlands Police
Can police fine me for being in the street?
Yes. All of England is now in a "tier four" national lockdown, with similar measures in place across the rest of the UK.
Under the new lockdown law, you must stay at home unless you have a "reasonable excuse" to be outside. Your home includes property such as a garden, shed or garage - and also access to it.
The government's lockdown guidance sets out examples of reasonable excuses. Police won't fine you for leaving home to go shopping for essential goods, or to use a business that can remain open, or for going to work or education, training or childcare.
There are other reasonable excuses - such as helping other people in their moment of need. Police chiefs are telling frontline officers to use their judgement if they come across a situation not defined in the regulations.
If you want to take part in a protest, the law does not define that as a reasonable excuse to leave home. There is, however, an exception for joining a picket as part of lawful industrial action.
Will police arrest me for exercising?
Exercise is one of the reasonable excuses for being outside in a public space. You cannot be fined for exercising.
But there has been enormous confusion since last March over how long people could exercise for. Cabinet Minister Michael Gove pronounced that spring that he thought half an hour was enough.
There are also questions over how far you can go to exercise. Boris Johnson has been criticised for travelling seven miles from Downing Street to go cycling during lockdown.
There are no restrictions in law in England on how you exercise and for how long. You cannot exercise in groups, but you can run or go on a wander with someone else from your household, support bubble or one person you don't live with.
The government's Covid guidance for exercise explains that law - and mixes it with a non-legal recommendation to only go out once a day - and to stay local.
It says local "means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live", but that has no legal force.
Image source, Getty Images
Derbyshire Police have been taking the "stay local" principle seriously. Officers have issued tickets to people who drive five miles to their local beauty spot - including two women accused of an illegal picnic because they were carrying takeaway cups of tea.
Will the police fine me for mingling?
They might. This refers to the ban on "gatherings".
The last-but-one version of the restrictions made it a potential crime to "mingle". That language has now gone from the law - but the rules are far stricter.
While the law in England doesn't criminalise bumping into someone in the street, you can no longer meet anyone socially - other than those in your household, support bubble or people you care for.
How likely am I to be fined?
The Home Office has given the police an extra £30m to pay for Covid patrols in England and Wales.
Over Christmas there were more than 800 fines for what Home Secretary Priti Patel says were "egregious" breaches of the rules.
The National Police Chiefs' Council hasn't abandoned the Four Es - but expect more fines and more officers asking people what they are doing.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Police patrols were stepped up around the Scotland-England border around Christmas
For instance, the Metropolitan Police has told officers to issue fines "more quickly" to anyone committing obvious, wilful and serious breaches.
Derbyshire Police, who famously put a drone up over hikers in the first lockdown, has issued a similar warning.
Can police make me cover my face?
Yes - while in shops and on public transport. You could face a fixed penalty notice if you don't.
Image source, Reuters
Can police check whether I'm isolating?
If you have returned from an overseas Covid hotspot, or have been told by the NHS Test and Trace system to stay at home, you must quarantine for 10 days.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: What is the future of religious worship in the UK?

For almost two months , religious groups have been unable to attend their normal places of worship , as mosques , churches , synagogues and temples remain shut under government coronavirus rules .
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick warned at Sunday 's No 10 briefing that `` large gatherings in places of worship , particularly because of the demographic in some faiths , because of singing hymns and so on - which can lead to exhalation - can create particular problems . ''
And the government 's scientific advisers say some form of social distancing is likely to be in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is the future of religious worship in the UK with ongoing social distancing ?
As faith leaders consider a return to their religious buildings , some fear their returning communities will be traumatised by the ban on communal worship .
`` Emotionally we will be broken , without a shadow of a doubt , '' says Sheikh Nuru Mohammed , one of the UK 's most senior imams , who is planning his return to the KSIMC Shi'ite mosque in Birmingham .
• Churches may not be back to normal by end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a theological requirement that certain rituals are performed communally .
Sheikh Muhammed says Friday prayers - the most significant of the week for both Sunni and Shia Muslims - can only fully take place communally in the mosque .
Meanwhile in Catholicism , the Mass is central to worship and involves the physical consumption of bread and wine .
Cardinal Vincent Nichols , the most senior Catholic in England and Wales , has spoken of the `` pain '' and `` deep spiritual sacrifice being made '' in withholding Holy Communion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-stage plan to ease its lockdown , drive-in church services can now be held and churches can open for private prayer with appropriate social distancing .
Dr Mehrunisha Suleman , an Islamic academic at the University of Oxford , says Muslim tradition and teaching allows for changes to be made .
`` There 's a lot of flexibility within the theological , the ethical and the legal tradition , about being able to adapt practices to be able to accommodate for circumstances like this , '' she says .
The suggestion of flexibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and adapt to new coronavirus regulations is being seen in other faiths as well .
Tilak Parekh , an academic and expert in Hindu theology , says he is seeing an increasing amount of innovation in how traditional ceremonies are allowed to happen .
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir , commonly known as the `` Neasden Temple '' , in north-west London , is enabling families to carry out the funeral rituals at home which were traditionally done by a swami , or priest , with a large crowd attending .
`` All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we see adaptations , we see innovations , '' he says .
`` If one was to suggest this a year ago there would have been protests ; 'Oh no , this is how we 've always done it .
This is the traditional way . '
`` People have changed the way they practise . ''
Across different faiths , religious leaders are exploring the implications of having to change long-held beliefs and practices .
Communal singing is a common aspect of worship across religions , particularly in Christian denominations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with social distancing , singing remains banned due to the fear it could cause infected droplets from people 's mouths to remain in the air for longer and travel further .
The Rt Rev Sarah Mullally , Bishop of London , is leading Church of England planning on how to reopen its buildings after lockdown .
`` Our future is going to be very different for a very long time , '' she says .
`` There are some very challenging questions that we will have to face , not least about singing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And what about the Islamic pilgrimage - Hajj - which is due to take place in the summer ?
Typically more than two million pilgrims attend the rituals , which are spread over five days in and around Makkah , the main holy city in Saudi Arabia .
There are several aspects of Hajj that public health experts worry could cause a surge in infections .
For example , the mosque in Makkah as well as Hajj sites in Mina , Muzdalifah and Arafat , have shared washing facilities so pilgrims can prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible , experts warn , unless there was a drastic reduction in numbers .
Similarly , pilgrims are banned from covering their face or head during the prayers , making face masks impossible unless there is an edict to change Islamic law .
Dr Suleman warns that , if Saudi Arabia reduces the numbers allowed to attend Hajj , there will be long-term implications for Muslims ' ability to fulfil their pilgrimage duties , especially those who have waited a long time to go or who might struggle to afford it allowing fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expensive .
She adds that Islamic scholars will be exploring ways to adapt Hajj requirements to allow for stricter public health measures .
Despite the sadness and widespread concern , there are some positives for religious communities .
The Rt Rev Justin Welby , the Archbishop of Canterbury , said the virus offered an opportunity to address inequalities in society .
`` Just because we 're in the middle of a crisis , it does n't mean that we ca n't have a vision for a future where justice and righteousness are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` We can do it now in a way we 've never been able to [ before ] .
We must be brave and courageous in setting our vision for what society will be . ''

"All of a sudden now we see concessions, we see adaptations, we see innovations," he says. "If one was to suggest this a year ago there would have been protests; 'Oh no, this is how we've always done it. This is the traditional way.'


bbcuk--2020-06-01--NHS test & trace: Does contact tracing stop coronavirus?

The NHS has introduced a test and trace schemes to help the UK lift lockdown measures and stop the spread @ @ @ @ @ contact tracers have been recruited to notify people - by email , text or by @ @ @ @ @ come into contact with someone with Covid-19 .
Wales launched their system on 1 June @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland have systems up and running .
The UK 's test and trace app @ @ @ @ @ the Isle of Wight but is n't ready yet to be rolled out elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ , Laura Foster , explains what is meant by track and trace , how it @ @ @ @ @ keep the R number low .

The NHS has introduced a test and trace schemes to help the UK lift lockdown measures and stop the spread of coronavirus.
Thousands of contact tracers have been recruited to notify people - by email, text or by phone - if they've come into contact with someone with Covid-19.
Wales launched their system on 1 June and England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have systems up and running.
The UK's test and trace app is currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight but isn't ready yet to be rolled out elsewhere.
BBC Health and Science correspondent, Laura Foster, explains what is meant by track and trace, how it works and how it can keep the R number low.
Video by Laura Foster, Terry Saunders, Tobias Chapple and Ameer Ahmed


bbcuk--2020-06-01--'Some anxiety' for returning Bury St Edmunds primary school pupils

A Suffolk headteacher said there was `` some anxiety and nervousness '' among pupils returning to her primary school .
@ @ @ @ @ been allowed back into classrooms for the first time since they were closed 10 weeks @ @ @ @ @ Those in reception and years one and six were the first to return , in @ @ @ @ @ `` phased and very cautious '' easing of lockdown .
Maria Kemble , executive head @ @ @ @ @ Primary School in Bury St Edmunds , said : `` They were n't the bubbly @ @ @ @ @ expect .
`` You could see there was some anxiety there and some nervousness , @ @ @ @ @ going to be like . ''
• Latest coronavirus updates in the East of England

A Suffolk headteacher said there was "some anxiety and nervousness" among pupils returning to her primary school.
Some children in England have been allowed back into classrooms for the first time since they were closed 10 weeks ago due to coronavirus.
Those in reception and years one and six were the first to return, in what the government called a "phased and very cautious" easing of lockdown.
Maria Kemble, executive head of St Edmund's Catholic Primary School in Bury St Edmunds, said: "They weren't the bubbly, lively children I'd expect.
"You could see there was some anxiety there and some nervousness, the wondering what it was going to be like."


bbcuk--2020-06-01--England lockdown eases: First meeting for grandparents and new grandchild

This is the first time Christine and David Passmore have met their new grandchild , baby Amari .
The couple @ @ @ @ @ able to see the six-week-old until lockdown eased in England on 1 June .

This is the first time Christine and David Passmore have met their new grandchild, baby Amari.
The couple from Durham hadn't been able to see the six-week-old until lockdown eased in England on 1 June.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: Royal Papworth Hospital patient walks after 54 days

A 42-year-old man is walking again after spending 54 days in intensive care with coronavirus .
Dan Ridlington , from @ @ @ @ @ four weeks on a ventilator while being cared for at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge @ @ @ @ @ he began walking once more , having fought off the worst of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ be moved to a ward to continue his recovery soon .
Mr Ridlington 's family @ @ @ @ @ put into words just how grateful we are '' to staff .
• Latest coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ England

A 42-year-old man is walking again after spending 54 days in intensive care with coronavirus.
Dan Ridlington, from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, spent four weeks on a ventilator while being cared for at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.
Staff filmed him as he began walking once more, having fought off the worst of the virus.
It is hoped he can be moved to a ward to continue his recovery soon.
Mr Ridlington's family said they "cannot put into words just how grateful we are" to staff.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Ashley Banjo: 'I looked at George Floyd and I saw my dad'

Diversity 's Ashley Banjo has spoken out about the death of George Floyd , saying the arrest footage made him @ @ @ @ @ stomach '' .
Speaking to the BBC , he reflected on his personal experiences of @ @ @ @ @ race family in the UK .
`` It brought up ... times of being pulled @ @ @ @ @ , being questioned , '' he said .

Diversity's Ashley Banjo has spoken out about the death of George Floyd, saying the arrest footage made him feel "sick to my stomach".
Speaking to BBC Two's Victoria Derbyshire programme, he reflected on his personal experiences of growing up in a mixed race family in the UK.
"It brought up... times of being pulled over, being wrongly detained, being questioned," he said.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--The Papers: 'Revolt' over plan to quarantine arrivals to UK

The Guardian also focuses on the government 's draft plans for quarantining travellers .
The paper picks up on criticism @ @ @ @ @ that under the rules those arriving in the UK will still be allowed to go @ @ @ @ @ transport from airports during the quarantine period .
New arrivals will also be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ where they can stay during the 14 days , sources told the paper .
It @ @ @ @ @ raised over the impact on public health and the travel industry .

The authors found a man in his 30s saw his hair go back to being dark again, when he went on holiday for a couple weeks; while a 30-year-old woman who went grey when her marriage was ending returned to her normal colour once it was over. It prompts the paper to ask: "Could a divorce make your greys go away?"


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: Government urged to change advice to 'stay local'

Coronavirus guidelines on travel should be changed to `` stay local '' , Dorset 's two council leaders have urged .
Thousands of people flocked to Durdle Door beach on the Jurassic Coast at the weekend and Bournemouth beach was also packed .
Dorset and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole ( BCP ) councils warned crowds could lead to a rise in Covid-19 cases .
Current rules state that households can drive any distance in England to destinations such as parks and beaches .
In a statement , Dorset Council leader Spencer Flower said there had been `` extremely disappointing behaviour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beaches in the county .
On Saturday three people were airlifted to hospital after tombstoning from the limestone arch at Durdle Door Beach .
Mr Flower said : `` My plea to the government is to review the unrestricted travel guidelines currently in place and require people instead to 'stay local ' '' .
`` The current guidelines have a disproportionately negative effect on areas like ours which are popular with visitors but do not have the infrastructure to cope right now .
`` I am worried that we will see a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of the high number of visitors to the area over recent days . ''
His counterpart at BCP Vicki Slade said she had witnessed a number of cases of `` people failing to adhere to social distancing rules and of illegal parking , widespread barbecues and council staff being abused when going about their work '' .
She said local MPS should press for a five-mile travel limit for non-work purposes , or risk fines .
Bournemouth 's official tourist board posted a picture on social media of a crowded beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people , too little respect ... Have some humanity ... Stay away .
``  It follows Brighton City Council arguing for more powers from government to implement its own lockdown , after huge crowds have filled its parks and beaches .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise

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bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: Tackling obesity 'must be part of recovery plan'

Tackling obesity and improving the nation 's diet must be central to the Scottish government 's coronavirus recovery plans , a charity has said .
Obesity Action Scotland said the pandemic had sparked a `` positive shift '' in the country 's food culture .
This included more people cooking at home and eating more fruit and vegetables .
However , it warned alcohol consumption and `` boredom eating '' had also gone up .
The charity said a survey which it had commissioned suggested 44 % of people were eating fewer takeaways and 28 % eating fewer ready meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of people in Scotland also reported increasing the amount of indoor physical activity they do .
But 49 % reported eating more cakes and biscuits , 47 % to eating more sweets and 38 % eating more savoury snacks .
Over a third of the respondents ( 34 % ) said they were drinking more alcohol than before the outbreak .
Obesity Action Scotland said the study showed the positive lifestyle outcomes of the lockdown had `` clearly been outweighed '' by the negatives .
The charity 's Lorraine Tulloch said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have allowed us to find more time and value for food whilst addressing the negative consequences of an increased intake of sugary snacks .
`` We need to re-double our efforts to improve the diet of the people of Scotland and ensure everyone has access to affordable healthy food .
`` Actions to achieve healthy weight need to be central to the Scottish government 's recovery plans . ''

The charity's Lorraine Tulloch said: "We must harness the positive changes that have allowed us to find more time and value for food whilst addressing the negative consequences of an increased intake of sugary snacks.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: People shielding allowed outdoors from 8 June

Vulnerable people in Northern Ireland advised to shield during the coronavirus lockdown could be able to go outdoors again from Monday , 8 June , the executive has agreed .
The move will be permitted if the R-number is below one when ministers meet on Thursday , said Arlene Foster .
It will allow those shielding to go out with members of their household .
Those living alone will be able to meet with one person from another household , while maintaining social distancing .
Those shielding in England and Wales are already able to go outdoors .
Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or reproduction number , in Northern Ireland was sitting at 0.9 and that it would only allow some more restrictions to be eased , if it remained below one when it meets again on Thursday .
About 80,000 people in Northern Ireland received Department of Health letters advising them to remain indoors for 12 weeks at the start of the lockdown .
Speaking at the daily press conference at Stormont on Monday , the first minister said the executive felt it was a `` reasonable and proportionate first step '' to allow people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while minimising risks .
`` All of the announcements are consequential on R-number being in a good place on Thursday , but we are listening to people 's concerns , we want to give them hope , '' Mrs Foster added .
`` That does n't mean we ca n't indicate a direction of travel , so if everything goes according to plan on Thursday , those shielding will be able to go outside . ''
• Coronavirus : What 's it like to be shielding during pandemic ?
• Adapting to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated guidance will be issued in the coming days , added Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill .
However , she urged vulnerable people to adhere to public health advice .
`` You have come this far so make sure you protect yourself as best you can until we 're out the other side of this , '' said Ms O'Neill .
`` We have to always keep things under review and whenever any easements are made , it takes a number of weeks for that to come through . ''
Both ministers accepted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the lockdown has been incredibly challenging .
Dr Alan Stout , chair of the British Medical Association NI GP committee , said that announcement will be welcomed by many .
`` Being able to go outside and enjoy the fresh air , and see another friend , will benefit their physical and importantly their mental health , '' he said .
One more Covid-19 related death has been recorded in the past 24-hours by Northern Ireland 's Department of Health , bringing its total to 524 .
The department 's daily figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where a patient had previously tested positive for the virus .
The latest figures on the department 's dashboard show a further 12 confirmed positive cases of the virus , bringing that total to 4,728 .
Six people are receiving intensive care treatment because they have the virus or are suspected to have it .
One further person has also died in the Republic of Ireland , bringing its total to 1,650 .
Mrs Foster also criticised reports of complacency and a `` flagrant disregard '' for the lockdown restrictions .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she added .
`` You prolong that journey if you break rules and create conditions where Covid-19 can thrive . ''
Why does the R-number matter ?
As R refers to the average number of people that someone with Covid-19 is expected to infect , the goal is to keep R below one to prevent the spread of the virus .
Prof Ian Young , the Chief Scientific Adviser , said there are a number of other factors guiding officials .
For example , the number of daily new cases needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing , testing and isolating to work properly , he said .
The number of hospital admissions and critical care patients is being closely monitored as well , to ensure the R-number is kept low .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• CONTAINMENT : What it means to self-isolate • HEALTH MYTHS : The fake advice you should ignore • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

Last week, the executive said the R-number, or reproduction number, in Northern Ireland was sitting at 0.9 and that it would only allow some more restrictions to be eased, if it remained below one when it meets again on Thursday.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Coronavirus: Tooth decay fears over dentist wait until 2021

Concerns have been raised that routine dentistry such as fillings will not be available to patients until next year .
Lowri Leeke , who runs a practice in Merthyr Tydfil , said that it was `` too long '' , with holes in teeth getting `` bigger and worse '' .
Senior dentists across Wales want plans for allowing practices to offer more than just urgent care to be sped up .
Wales ' Chief Dental Officer Dr Colette Bridgman said she was taking a `` phased and careful approach '' .
• 'Keep dentists from poorer areas ' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deintyddfa Hapus ( the Happy Dental Practice ) in Troedyrhiw have gone from seeing 30 to 40 patients a day before coronavirus to eight or nine now .
`` It 's been like this for 11 weeks - we can triage emergencies over the phone but the only treatment we 're allowed to provide is extracting teeth , which not everyone wants but unfortunately there 's no other option available for us , '' she said .
`` It 's very strange times , very sad - we miss our patients and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to become the new norm .
`` I think routine dentistry - just fillings - wo n't be available until January which is a long time for both patients and for us . ''
She said many patients have been waiting since February for treatment and may not be seen until next year , adding : `` We 're used to wearing our visors , masks , gloves and scrubs and keeping everything sterile - I do n't see why we ca n't start working as normal sooner than January . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` big financial impact '' for practices such as hers that see both NHS and private patients .
`` We 've got the NHS element that we 're still being funded for , but the private element is 50 % - a big chunk of my business income coming from private patients so I 'm losing that , '' she added .
The British Dental Association said there was a `` great , growing demand '' for swifter action before 2021 .
Dr Bridgman said the Welsh Government was `` absolutely alive '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timelines would be kept under constant review .
When can people go to the dentist ?
Under her plans , revealed in a letter to Welsh practices , a wider range of dental provision would return in three phases .
Due to the threat from coronavirus , dentists have been prevented from carrying out all but essential treatment since 17 March , with patients requiring riskier aerosol-generating procedures - such as high speed drilling - referred to urgent dental centres ( UDCs ) that have been set up across the country .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - would see more of a role for UDCs but with patients re-assessed in the practices they normally attend .
In the second phase - from October to December - practices would be allowed to address the backlog of need from patients who require regular dental work , as well as those who have had non-urgent treatment delayed or postponed .
Only during the third phase - from January to March 2021 - would routine assessment and care be reinstated .
Tom Bysouth , chairman of the Welsh General Dental Practice Committee at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great concern '' to some in the profession .
`` It 's important to reassure people that dentists have always been very good at cross-infection control , '' he said .
`` There are very good , robust policies in place to make sure patients and the team are protected . ''
Routine appointments are particularly important , he added , for screening patients for a wide variety of conditions - including tooth decay , gum disease and mouth cancer .
In England , dentists have been told they can start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are at a different starting point to Welsh practices who have been allowed to keep seeing some patients face-to-face throughout the coronavirus restrictions .
Dr Bridgman said she felt Wales was `` further ahead '' , adding : `` Dental practices are open and have been open , providing advice remotely .
They 've also been open to consultation already and have seen 8,500 patients since March , with a further 2,500 seen in UDCs across Wales . ''
She stressed that the timelines she had set out were indicative , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare .
`` At any stage if the first minister announces further easement of the lockdown we 'll take them forward and we 'll allow more central services to come online , '' she added .

"It's been like this for 11 weeks - we can triage emergencies over the phone but the only treatment we're allowed to provide is extracting teeth, which not everyone wants but unfortunately there's no other option available for us," she said.


bbcuk--2020-06-01--Severn Trent: 'High demand' leaves thousands without water

Thousands of people have been left without water because lockdown and the warm weather have led to a surge in demand , a supplier has said .
Severn Trent Water said its reservoirs were 85 % full but it could not treat and pump the water out fast enough to meet demand .
About 2,000 homes across the Midlands have been affected .
The firm urged customers to stop using sprinklers and pressure washers to ensure there is water for hand washing .
People in Wolverhampton and Stafford reported being without water or having low water pressure since Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leicestershire , Warwickshire and Shropshire .
Severn Trent said the combination of the weather , low rainfall , and more people working from home had led to a `` big increase in demand '' .
Across the Midlands households were `` using hundreds of millions of litres more than they usually do '' , the firm said .
A Severn Trent spokesman said : `` Last week we hit our biggest ever demand which was about 20 % more than the week before .
He added : `` We 've ramped up production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response , but we 'd love it if everyone could ditch the sprinklers and the pressure washers to make sure there 's enough water for the great hygiene we all need at the moment . ''
Kelly Beach , who has a six-day-old baby , said she had struggled with water supply in Essington , south Staffordshire .
She said : `` It 's been hard to sterilise the bottles and to feed , I 've had to get my mum up to bring water up because the shops are running out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I need to keep clean for infections , it 's been hard , very hard .
Her partner and Josh Davis said : `` It 's been the last four days , when five or six comes round it [ water ] shuts off and that 's it for the whole night . ''
Chief executive of Severn Trent , Liv Garfield , said customers living on `` high elevations '' would struggle with low pressure .
`` We 've got unprecedented demand in 30 years where water is being used at levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 , also from Essington , said his supply had been intermittent since Thursday with no water available at all in the evenings .
`` You turn the tap on and it 's just air , '' he said .
`` We can manage , but we 're more concerned about the vulnerable . ''
Cllr Adam Hicken , from Walsall , said his entire ward area had been affected .
`` The local Aldi store has run out of water as it did on Friday night because everyone 's buying bottled water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reporting Service .
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He added: "We've ramped up production of treated water to record levels in response, but we'd love it if everyone could ditch the sprinklers and the pressure washers to make sure there's enough water for the great hygiene we all need at the moment."


bbcuk--2020-06-02--Coronavirus: Ministers 'looking at ways to relax travel quarantine rule'

The government is looking at ways to relax the 14-day quarantine rule for people entering the UK over the coming months , BBC Newsnight has learnt .
From Monday , most people arriving by plane , ferry or train - including UK nationals - must self-isolate .
But some MPs and businesses have expressed concern at the plan , warning it will damage the travel industry .
One government source told Newsnight that ministers were looking at ways around the coronavirus quarantine .
This could include expanding the list of workers who are exempt from the 14-day rule , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates , which the government has previously said it was considering .
Any changes would be guided by the science but one possible date for a relaxation to the rule could be 20 July , coinciding with school holidays , Newsnight was told .
Meanwhile , the latest Office for National Statistics figures show the number of deaths each week linked to coronavirus has dropped to its lowest levels in England and Wales since March .
The ONS figures show there were 2,589 deaths in the week ending 22 May , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The figures show that overall , there have been around 286,700 deaths this year - some 43,800 have been attributed to coronavirus .
• What are the new quarantine rules for passengers ?
• Will I be able to go on holiday this year ?
The quarantine measures come into force on 8 June , although some professions are exempt , such as lorry drivers , police officers , seasonal farm workers , and healthcare professionals .
Also exempt will be people coming from the Irish Republic , the Channel Islands and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to tell the UK government where they will be staying and if they do not provide an address , officials will arrange accommodation .
In England , there will be random spot checks and £1,000 fines , while governments in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland can impose their own penalties .
Housing minister Simon Clarke told BBC Breakfast that the quarantine policy was `` a proportionate step '' which would minimise the risk of new cases coming into the UK `` just at the time that we are getting a grip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a `` temporary , time-limited measure '' , but added that it was `` vital '' it was introduced for as long as required .
The plan is expected to be set out in more detail when it is laid before Parliament this week .
MPs are returning to Westminster on Tuesday after weeks of proceedings taking place virtually .
Extra guidance about what arrivals would be allowed to do is also expected to be set out , including that travellers will be allowed to take public transport if they are unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other means .
The quarantine plan is due to be reviewed every three weeks , with the first review due at the end of June .
Announcing the plan last month , Home Secretary Priti Patel said the measure would `` reduce the risk of cases crossing our border '' .
But there has been criticism from some of the government 's own MPs as well as the travel and aviation industry .
One former cabinet minister told Newsnight the idea was `` daft '' and suggested the government will not `` go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , more than 200 business leaders have called on the government to scrap the policy , saying it was `` deeply worrying for our economy and our country '' .
The group of firms - including hotel The Ritz and upmarket travel agent Kuoni - want the government to instead introduce `` air bridges '' , an arrangement which would allow visitors from low-risk countries into the UK without having to quarantine for 14 days .
Last month , the bosses of airlines including EasyJet , Tui , Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' about a `` blanket approach '' to all arrivals into Britain .
The idea of `` air bridges '' has been around since 18 May , when Transport Secretary Grant told MPs that the government was looking at striking exemption deals with countries with low infection rates .
If the government can agree a series of `` air bridge '' agreements , then they would n't necessarily replace the quarantine altogether .
This is about moving from a blanket travel quarantine - only the Republic of Ireland will be exempt initially - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a few weeks ' time .
One government source told the BBC that `` a lot of work '' was currently being done on securing safe travel corridors from certain low-risk countries .
The ambition from certain people in government is that some of these will be in place by the first review date of 29 June .
Testing people for coronavirus when they arrive into the UK from higher risk countries is also being considered .
At the weekend , former environment secretary Theresa Villiers told BBC Radio 4 's Westminster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted on flights `` from Covid hotspots '' .
She also said the government was `` actively looking at air bridges '' .
BBC transport correspondent Tom Burridge said reports in the Portuguese media `` suggest an air bridge with Portugal is on the cards '' .
But , he added , the UK is behind other countries in Europe in terms of controlling the virus and so , in negotiations , `` the ball might not be in the UK 's court '' .
Spain 's tourism minister said British coronavirus figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country would receive tourists from the UK , while Greece will not allow UK visitors when it opens up later this month .
• THE ISOLATION TAPES : Elis and John take on yoga A UK government spokesman previously said : `` These cross-government public health measures are designed to keep the transmission rate down , stop new cases being brought in from abroad and help prevent a devastating second wave of coronavirus .
`` All of our decisions have been based on the latest scientific evidence .
`` The list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments in consultation with their stakeholders which will ensure critical supplies and services can continue and will be kept under review . ''
It comes as the number of people who have died after testing positive for the virus in the UK reached 39,045 .
• MPs will vote on the future of virtual proceedings later , amid a row over how Commons business can take place safely • Demand for lettings in Great Britain is up by 22 % compared to last year , according to property giant Rightmove , with experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosted the market • House prices fell 1.7 % in May from the previous month - the largest monthly fall for 11 years - after the coronavirus outbreak hit market activity • The Royal Shakespeare Company has postponed or cancelled all performances and events until at least the end of year • Oxfam will begin reopening its network of charity shops in England from 15 June - although it has not yet confirmed which stores would open • Hotels and tourist accommodation in Northern Ireland will be allowed to reopen on 20 July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxing of the UK travel quarantine rule ?
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Extra guidance about what arrivals would be allowed to do is also expected to be set out, including that travellers will be allowed to take public transport if they are unable to get to their accommodation by any other means.


bbcuk--2020-06-02--Coronavirus: Government criticised over use of testing data

The UK 's statistics watchdog has criticised the government over its handling of coronavirus testing data .
The chairman of the UK Statistics Authority says presentation of figures appeared to be aimed at showing `` the largest possible number of tests , even at the expense of understanding '' .
Sir David Norgrove has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying the information is `` far from complete '' .
The government says it releases full data .
A spokesman said the government was working with statisticians and that the approach throughout had been to `` increase transparency around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Sunday Mr Hancock announced that the UK had exceeded its target to increase coronavirus testing capacity to 200,000 a day by the end of May .
He described it as `` an important milestone on our journey to control the spread of the virus '' .
While capacity for testing is over 200,000 , around 115,000 tests were carried out in the 24 hours up to 09:00 BST on Sunday .
The headline total of tests adds together tests carried out with tests posted out .
There are no data on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then successfully completed .
It is not clear how many people were tested , however , and a person may need to have a few tests in order to get a result .
The government says reporting on the number of people tested has been `` temporarily paused to ensure consistent reporting across all pillars '' - by pillars it means tests carried out in the community as well as on staff and patients in hospitals or care homes .
In a letter to Mr Hancock , Sir David said there were two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help understand the epidemic and to support the management of the testing programme .
`` The way the data are analysed and presented currently gives them limited value for the first purpose .
`` The aim seems to be to show the largest possible number of tests , even at the expense of understanding .
It is also hard to believe the statistics work to support the testing programme itself .
The statistics and analysis serve neither purpose well . ''
Official correspondence on statistics can be dry and opaque .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK stats watchdog pulls no punches and makes it abundantly clear that he thinks the presentation of testing numbers in England is unacceptable .
The Government has not so far explained how many home test kits sent out to the public have actually been returned .
Figures for the number of people tested as opposed to the number of tests carried out are not currently available .
There has been a dramatic increase in laboratory capacity to process tests which has helped make testing more widely available .
But the message from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be undermined if the numbers are not transparent .
And that is a vital issue with the Government arguing that the new testing and contact tracing programme is a key weapon in the battle to suppress the virus .

The government has not so far explained how many home test kits sent out to the public have actually been returned. Figures for the number of people tested as opposed to the number of tests carried out are not currently available.


bbcuk--2020-06-02--Coronavirus: Deaths at lowest level since March

The number of people dying each week linked to coronavirus has dropped to its lowest levels in England and Wales @ @ @ @ @ .
The Office for National Statistics review of death certificates showed 2,589 cases where the @ @ @ @ @ week ending 22 May .
Overall there were nearly 12,300 deaths in that week - @ @ @ @ @ this time of the year .
At the peak of the pandemic double the number @ @ @ @ @ Overall , there have been 286,700 deaths this year - 51,400 above what would be @ @ @ @ @ been attributed to coronavirus .
Nick Stripe , of the ONS , said despite the @ @ @ @ @ , we were effectively seeing the same number of deaths we would expect in winter @ @ @ @ @ were considerable regional variations with the north east currently seeing the highest rates of excess @ @

This is known as the excess death rate and is said to be the best guide to the impact of the virus as it takes into account deaths linked to infections and indirect deaths that maybe related to the lockdown from factors such as lack of access to care for other conditions and mental health problems.


bbcuk--2020-06-02--George Floyd death: TV, radio and music industries mark 'Blackout Tuesday'

Radio stations and TV channels have changed their programmes to mark `` Blackout Tuesday '' , reflecting on George Floyd 's death in police custody .
BBC Radio 1Xtra is hosting a series of discussions and debates in support of the black community , with song choices that reflect black pride and identity .
Many record labels and music stars have gone quiet to observe the initiative .
MTV will go silent for eight minutes - the length of time a white police officer knelt on Mr Floyd 's neck .
The gesture will be replicated on other channels including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Music will pause its output once an hour throughout the day .
• Live updates from around the US • Trump threatens to send in army to end unrest There will also be moments of reflection on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 , while commercial radio stations including Kiss , Magic and Absolute Radio are observing a social media blackout `` to show that racism of any kind can not be tolerated '' .
ITV daytime show This Morning briefly went dark , showing a black screen with the words `` Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zane Lowe tweeted that he would n't host his radio show , saying he stands `` united with his black and brown friends and colleagues '' .
`` I will not be on radio .
I will be taking part in Blackout Tuesday , listening , learning and looking for solutions to fight racial inequality , '' the DJ added .
Apple 's iTunes store and its streaming service Apple Music have replaced their usual carousels of new music and playlists with a slide stating : `` This moment calls upon us all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injustice of all kinds . ''
Listeners are then directed to a livestream of the Beats 1 radio station , where the music is focusing on themes of black empowerment and civil rights .
All of the service 's usual tracks are still available through the search function , however .
Spotify , meanwhile , has blacked out the artwork for several of its most prominent playlists , including Today 's Hits and Rap Caviar , and has inserted a silence of eight minutes and 46 seconds into select podcasts and playlists `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time that George Floyd was suffocated '' .
Music companies and musicians around the world have adopted Tuesday as a day of reflection and protest in the wake of Mr Floyd 's death last week in Minneapolis .
Katy Perry posted a plain black square and wrote : `` I hope that # BlackoutTuesday gives us all ( especially in the music industry ) an opportunity to take what we 're learning and put it into action on Wednesday , and every day going forward . ''
Rihanna said her Fenty beauty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
On Friday , a number of companies and artists began sharing a statement posted under the hashtag # TheShowMustBePaused , calling for `` a day to disconnect from work and reconnect with our community '' and `` an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change '' .
The initiative was started by Atlantic Records marketing executives Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas , then shared by hundreds of artists including Billie Eilish , Britney Spears , the Rolling Stones , Radiohead , producer Quincy Jones and Eminem .
`` Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupt the work week , '' wrote Agyemang and Thomas .
`` The music industry is a multi-billion dollar industry .
An industry that has profited predominantly from Black art .
Our mission is to hold the industry at large , including major corporations + their partners who benefit from the efforts , struggles and successes of black people accountable . ''
They have subsequently posted several calls to action , including a reading list called Anti-Racism Resources and links to community action groups .
All three major record labels - Universal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual revenues exceed $ 16bn ( £12.75bn ) - signed up to the initiative , as did many independent labels , the Glastonbury Festival and event organisers Live Nation .
Interscope Records also vowed to stop releasing new music for a week , while many others donated money to the George Floyd Memorial Fund .
But some people in the music industry criticised the initiative 's lack of clarity and direction , dismissing it as `` virtue signalling '' .
`` I love you all , but this music industry shutdown thing feels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indie musician Bon Iver on Twitter , although he later apologised for `` calling out people when they are on the same side as you '' .
Indie labels Father/Daughter Records and Don Giovanni also said they did not plan to observe the blackout .
`` If BLM [ Blacks Lives Matter ] calls for the music industry to take action , we will , '' wrote the latter on its Twitter page .
`` But I have no interest in supporting major label record executive white guilt day . ''
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just the beginning of a larger campaign .
`` This is not just a 24-hour initiative , '' they wrote .
`` We are and will be in this fight for the long haul .
A plan of action will be announced . ''
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If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

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bbcuk--2020-06-02--Coronavirus: 'Everyone thought it would be me who died'

A Lanarkshire woman who was admitted to hospital along with her husband says it is a miracle she survived coronavirus when her husband did n't .
Edith and Donald McCracken , from the village of Symington in South Lanarkshire , were admitted to hospital at the start of April .
Edith is 76 and has been suffering from a rare form of severe asthma for the past six years .
Donald was 73 and in good health , despite heart problems in the past .
`` Everyone thought that I would go , and Donald would survive , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asthma and COPD but my symptoms were gastric , and that 's why I survived .
`` It was definitely a miracle because my asthma is very , very bad and it went away when I was in hospital . ''
Donald was n't so fortunate .
He developed double pneumonia .
The staff at Wishaw General allowed Edith to be with him when he died .
She says their kindness and her Christian faith helped her through .
`` I have the comfort of knowing he 's with the Lord .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was lovely for me . ''
Her daughter Denise Williamson is a Christian too , but said her faith could only carry her so far .
She said : `` I know that he 's in heaven , but it 's just not easy being here on earth , '' said Denise .
`` I 'm really missing him now and it 's been really difficult . ''
When her parents were in hospital , Denise says she became obsessed with news reports about the virus , seeking out the stories of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search led her to a Facebook group called Alone Together Covid-19 Support Network which already has hundreds of members .
The support group was set up by an NHS worker in Devon .
Liam Meyer 's father David was a 62-year-old retired bus driver who died from Covid just days before Donald McCracken .
`` The main reason I wanted to start it is because I 've got quite a big family and even though we could n't physically be together , we still had that network and we could communicate with each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was thinking there must be someone out there who 's just literally stuck in the house on their own and getting reminded of the person every day because they lived with them .
`` So I think the network helps with the isolation and being alone . ''
Denise says the group , which has members from the UK , South Africa , the USA and Australia has been been a huge help to her and many others .
'We are all here' She said : `` His dad died just before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the courage of him to be functioning and doing something as productive as that . ''
Now Denise is urging anybody who has lost members of their family during the pandemic to join a support group and get similar help .
She said : `` It 's a closed group so no-one can see , only people that are going through the same thing .
`` It 's very much clear you 're not alone .
We 're all here . ''
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"The main reason I wanted to start it is because I've got quite a big family and even though we couldn't physically be together, we still had that network and we could communicate with each other," said Liam.