bbcuk--2020-06-09--Daniel Radcliffe hopes JK Rowling trans tweets don't 'taint' Harry Potter

Daniel Radcliffe hopes JK Rowling 's comments about gender will not `` taint '' the Harry Potter series for fans .
In a statement posted on an LGBT suicide prevention charity website , the actor said : `` Transgender women are women .
`` Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people . ''
JK Rowling had been criticised for tweets taking issue with the phrase `` people who menstruate '' .
Radcliffe said this was not about `` in-fighting '' and added he felt `` compelled to say something '' because Rowling was responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken '' .
Writing on The Trevor Project 's website he said he was sorry to anyone whose `` experience of the [ Harry Potter ] books has been tarnished '' .
`` If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe ... that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups ; if you believe that a particular character is trans , non-binary , or gender fluid , or that they are gay or bisexual ; if you found anything in these stories that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any time in your life - then that is between you and the book that you read , and it is sacred .
`` I hope that these comments will not taint that too much . ''
The actor started supporting the charity , which provides suicide-prevention counselling to young people in the US , in 2009 .
Rowling had tweeted at the weekend about an article discussing `` people who menstruate '' .
`` I 'm sure there used to be a word for those people .
Someone help me out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ In response , she was called transphobic .
Rowling stood by her comments , saying it `` is n't hate to speak the truth '' .
`` My life has been shaped by being female .
I do not believe it 's hateful to say so .
`` I know and love trans people , but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives . ''
Radcliffe said it 's important not to `` invalidate '' transgender people 's identities and `` cause further harm '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I . ''
The actress who played character Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films , Katie Leung , also shared support for trans people .
Conversation online had touched on the representation of black , Asian and minority ethnic characters in the Harry Potter series , with Cho Chang trending on Twitter .
Leung tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughts on Cho Chang ?
Okay , here goes ... '' Instead of commenting , she used the rest of the thread to share links to charities helping black trans people .
JK Rowling 's comments feel like `` the biggest slap in the face '' , says Scarlet Marie , a Harry Potter fan who recently came out as a trans woman .
`` Harry had all of this power and a world awaiting him , but he hid away .
I related to that , '' she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the Harry Potter series `` saved '' her .
`` No matter what torture I was feeling , I could escape it .
What people said to me could n't hurt me .
I was no longer in Birmingham , I was at Hogwarts . ''
Now she no longer wants to read the books .
`` As children , watching the movies , you 'd with siblings and say ' I 'll be Hermoine !
I 'll be Harry ! '
.
She 's taken that away .
I know she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I was n't born one .
`` It feels like this magical world she created for me , where anyone can be themselves , was n't real . ''
Rowling was criticised in December last year for defending a woman who lost her job after saying children can not change their biological sex .
At Maya Forstater 's employment tribunal , which she lost , the judge spoke about the `` enormous pain that can be caused by misgendering '' .
JK Rowling used the hashtag # IStandWithMaya , and said women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of jobs for `` stating that sex is real '' .
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

"If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe... that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, non-binary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life - then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--London statues with slavery links 'should be taken down'

Statues and street names in London with links to slavery `` should be taken down '' , the city 's mayor has said .
Sadiq Khan said he had set up a commission to review the capital 's landmarks to ensure they reflect its diversity .
It comes after anti-racism protesters tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol on Sunday .
Mr Khan said London had `` an uncomfortable truth '' with historical links to slavery .
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will review the city 's landmarks - including murals , street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other memorials - and consider which legacies should be celebrated before making recommendations .
Mr Khan said London was `` one of the most diverse cities in the world '' , but said recent Black Lives Matter protests had highlighted that the city 's statues , plaques and street names largely reflect Victorian Britain .
`` It is an uncomfortable truth that our nation and city owes a large part of its wealth to its role in the slave trade , '' he said .
`` While this is reflected in our public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our communities to life in our capital has been wilfully ignored . ''
• Are you allowed to protest during lockdown ?
During a Black Lives Matter protest in central London on Sunday , a statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was sprayed with graffiti .
But Mr Khan said he did not consider statues of the likes of Churchill to be included in the review .
He said pupils needed to be educated about famous figures `` warts and all '' and that `` nobody was perfect '' , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Malcolm X .
Petitions have also been launched to remove statues of controversial people around London , such as one of Robert Milligan in West India Quays .
Mr Khan told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme he did not have ownership of the statues and the land they are on .
He also said it would be `` inappropriate '' to single out which statues and street names he thinks should go .
Instead a number of new memorials in the capital have been pledged by Mr Khan , including ones for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a National Slavery Museum or memorial and a National Sikh War Memorial .
• Sir Thomas Guy made his fortune through ownership of a very large amount of shares in the South Sea Company , whose main purpose was to sell slaves to the Spanish Colonies • Robert Milligan was a noted West Indian merchant , slaveholder and founder of London 's global trade hub , West India Docks .
There is a statue to him outside the Museum of London Docklands • Aside from founding an educational charity , Sir John Cass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of the slave trade and the Atlantic slave economy , directly dealing with slave agents in the African forts and in the Caribbean

"The Museum of London recognises that the monument is part of the ongoing problematic regime of white-washing history, which disregards the pain of those who are still wrestling with the remnants of the crimes Milligan committed against humanity," they added.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Prince Andrew 'falsely portraying himself as willing', US prosecutor claims

The Duke of York has `` sought to falsely portray himself '' as eager to co-operate with an inquiry into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , the US prosecutor in charge of the investigation has said .
US attorney Geoffrey Berman said Prince Andrew `` has repeatedly declined our request '' to schedule an interview .
The prince 's lawyers previously rejected claims he had not co-operated , saying he offered to help three times .
The duke will not be extradited , the US government 's chief lawyer has said .
US Attorney General William Barr told Fox News : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question of handing him over .
I think it 's just a question of having him provide some evidence . ''
Prince Andrew stepped away from royal duties last year after an interview he gave to the BBC about his relationship with Epstein .
Epstein took his own life in a US jail cell in August , aged 66 , while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges .
The duke has been heavily scrutinised for his friendship with Epstein , but he has said he did not witness any suspicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's homes .
Mr Berman , the US attorney for the Southern District of New York , has criticised the duke in the past .
In January he accused him of providing `` zero co-operation '' and in March he said Andrew had `` completely shut the door '' on helping investigators .
On Monday , Prince Andrew 's lawyers responded for the first time and hit back at the claims as `` inaccurate '' .
Mr Berman then issued a statement , deepening the row .
He said : `` Today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co-operate with an ongoing federal criminal investigation into sex trafficking and related offences committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates . ''
He said the duke `` has not given an interview to federal authorities , has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview , and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally - through the very same counsel who issued today 's release - that he would not come in for such an interview '' .
`` If Prince Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-operating with the ongoing federal investigation , our doors remain open , and we await word of when we should expect him . ''
The duke 's lawyers declined to comment further .
But a source said : `` This is the third time Berman has breached his own confidentiality rules , further diminishing our trust in the DoJ 's willingness to play a straight bat .
It 's frankly bewildering . ''
Earlier , the legal team said : `` As the public record indicates the DoJ has been actively investigating Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 years , yet the first time they requested the duke 's help was on 2 January 2020 .
`` Importantly , the DoJ advised us that the duke is not and has never been a 'target ' of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential , voluntary co-operation . ''
Lawyer Gloria Allred , who represents some of Epstein 's victims , told BBC Breakfast she thinks Prince Andrew has `` very little credibility '' .
`` I have a lot of suspicion about what he is saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that she did not feel the same way towards Mr Berman .
She added that the victims are in pain and `` deserve the truth '' .
`` Questioning the motives of the prosecutors , I just think that 's meaningless in this situation , '' she said .
`` Let him step up to the bar of justice , take the oath and just tell the truth . ''
The duke 's lawyers said they had asked US prosecutors to confirm the co-operation would remain confidential , adding : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our discussions and the interview process would remain confidential . ''
They added : `` The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DoJ .
`` Unfortunately , the DoJ has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the duke has offered zero co-operation .
In doing so , they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered . ''
The legal team added : `` It is a matter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to breach its own rules of confidentiality , not least as they are designed to encourage witness co-operation .
`` Far from our client acting above the law , as has been implied by press briefings in the US , he is being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen .
Further , those same breaches of confidentiality by the DoJ have given the global media - and , therefore , the worldwide audience - an entirely misleading account of our discussions with them . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak to the prince as part of its Epstein inquiry , by submitting a mutual legal assistance ( MLA ) request to the UK Home Office .
Under the terms of a MLA request if Prince Andrew does not voluntarily respond , he can be called to a UK court to answer questions .
The duke 's lawyers described the request as `` disappointing '' because the Duke of York was `` not a target of the DoJ investigation and has recently repeated his willingness to provide a witness statement '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2005 when the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in Florida that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home .
The financier was accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005 .
However , a controversial secret plea deal in 2008 saw him plead guilty to a lesser charge of soliciting a minor for prostitution .
He received an 18-month prison sentence and was released on probation after 13 months .
In July 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further allegations of sex trafficking and conspiracy and was due to face trial .
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges .
In his interview with the BBC 's Newsnight programme in November 2019 , the duke said he did not regret his friendship with Epstein - which led to Epstein attending events at Windsor Castle and Sandringham - because it had `` some seriously beneficial outcomes '' .
• Six things we learned from Prince Andrew interview However , he admitted it was wrong of him to visit Epstein at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also denied having sex with Virginia Giuffre , when she was a teenager , who said she was trafficked by Epstein when she was 17 and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew .
Prince Andrew emphatically denies any form of sexual contact or relationship with her and says any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation .
He said he has no recollection of ever meeting the woman , who was previously known as Virginia Roberts .
Shortly after the interview was broadcast , Prince Andrew said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement agency '' .

"Far from our client acting above the law, as has been implied by press briefings in the US, he is being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen. Further, those same breaches of confidentiality by the DoJ have given the global media - and, therefore, the worldwide audience - an entirely misleading account of our discussions with them."


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: Holiday lettings firm owner reverses no-refund policy

The holiday firm behind Hoseasons and Cottages.com has agreed to give customers refunds for trips which have been cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis .
The Competition and Markets Authority said Vacation Rentals had changed its policy after action by the regulator .
The CMA said a `` significant proportion '' of complaints it received about holiday lettings were about Vacation Rentals .
However , the firm said it had been offering refunds since 30 April .
This date is when the CMA published guidance to travel firms on consumer rights and refunds , a Vacation Rentals spokesman said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and responsibly at all times , '' the spokesman said .
`` We responded and adapted to the evolving issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic whenever new guidelines from the government were made available . ''
Vacation Rentals runs 22 brands offering holiday lets in the UK , as well as Italy , France and Ireland .
Its other sites include Blue Chip Holidays and Welcome Cottages .
The competition watchdog said Vacation Rentals voluntarily changed its policy after originally failing to offer refunds to all customers whose trips were cancelled .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that customers will have the option of a full refund if a booking has been cancelled because of restrictions associated with the coronavirus outbreak , the CMA said .
In a statement , the CMA said : `` The CMA 's Covid-19 Taskforce has so far received around 4,500 reports about UK holiday rental companies , with complaints about Vacation Rentals making up a significant proportion of those reports . ''
However , Vacation Rentals maintains it had been offering refunds for some time .
A spokesman said : `` Following the CMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view on the law on cancellations of consumer contracts during the Covid-19 pandemic , we acted immediately and expanded the options available to any customers who were due to travel during the government imposed lockdown period to include a full cash refund .
`` By the time the CMA 's investigation into our business commenced , we were already acting in line with the CMA 's guidance . ''
The CMA is hoping that by trumpeting its success with one holiday let provider , it can push the others into paying full refunds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been reluctant to pay full refunds , in some cases arguing that they are simply the agents and should not be liable .
It is important that people who have been fobbed off with vouchers can now go back and demand their money , even if they accepted them .
Companies may now decide there is no point in holding out against the CMA if they are going to have to re-open previous cases as well .
The CMA said other holiday companies face `` further scrutiny '' because , despite consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms are still refusing to offer customers their money back .
Legal action was a possibility , the CMA said .
Andrea Coscelli , chief executive of the CMA , said : `` Our Covid-19 Taskforce is working hard to ensure that consumers get what they are entitled to , so it 's good news that Vacation Rentals has agreed to offer people the refunds they are due .
We welcome this step and other holiday lets firms must now follow suit . ''
He acknowledged that some firms faced financial challenges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are being left hundreds or even thousands of pounds out of pocket - on top of having to sacrifice their holidays .
`` Consumer protection law exists for a reason ; businesses must observe the law or face the possibility of enforcement action . ''
The CMA said that common complaints it had received included companies refusing to provide full refunds at all or offering only vouchers instead of cash refunds .
The holiday lettings business is just one area where consumers are complaining about refunds .
Airlines have also faced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rory Boland , travel editor at the consumer group Which ?
, said : `` While it is positive to see some firms changing their policy on refunds , there are still many customers struggling to get their money back for cancelled holiday accommodation and package travel bookings .
`` The CMA must continue to investigate these sectors and come down strongly on any firms found to be flouting the law . ''
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Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: "Our Covid-19 Taskforce is working hard to ensure that consumers get what they are entitled to, so it's good news that Vacation Rentals has agreed to offer people the refunds they are due. We welcome this step and other holiday lets firms must now follow suit."


bbcuk--2020-06-08--Britain goes coal free as renewables edge out fossil fuels

Britain is about to pass a significant landmark - at midnight on Wednesday it will have gone two full months without burning coal to generate power .
A decade ago about 40 % of the country 's electricity came from coal ; coronavirus is part of the story , but far from all .
When Britain went into lockdown , electricity demand plummeted ; the National Grid responded by taking power plants off the network .
The four remaining coal-fired plants were among the first to be shut down .
The last coal generator came off the system at midnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been burnt for electricity since .
The current coal-free period smashes the previous record of 18 days , 6 hours and 10 minutes which was set in June last year .
• Coronavirus : Five charts about the biggest carbon crash The figures apply to Britain only , as Northern Ireland is not on the National Grid .
But it reveals just how dramatic the transformation of our energy system has been in the last decade .
That the country does not need to use the fuel that used to be the backbone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive investment in renewable energy over the last decade .
Two examples illustrate just how much the UK 's energy networks have changed .
A decade ago just 3 % of the country 's electricity came from wind and solar , which many people saw as a costly distraction .
Now the UK has the biggest offshore wind industry in the world , as well as the largest single wind farm , completed off the coast of Yorkshire last year .
At the same time Drax , the country 's biggest power plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to renewable energy .
The plant , which is also in Yorkshire , generates 5 % of the country 's electricity .
A decade ago , it was the biggest consumer of coal in the UK but has been switching to compressed wood pellets .
`` We here at Drax decided that coal was no longer the future , '' explains Will Gardiner , the chief executive of the power group .
`` It has been a massive undertaking and then the result of all that is we 've reduced our CO2 emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year to almost zero . ''
He says the plant now uses seven million tonnes of pellets sourced from commercial forests in the US a year and says Drax will phase out coal entirely by March next year .
And it is not just coal that is being eclipsed by renewables .
So far this year , renewables have generated more power than all fossil fuels put together .
Breaking it down , renewables were responsible for 37 % of electricity supplied to the network versus 35 % for fossil fuels .
Nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the remaining 10 % or so , according to figures from the online environmental journal , Carbon Brief .
`` So far this year renewables have generated more electricity than fossil fuels and that 's never happened before '' , says Dr Simon Evans of Carbon Brief .
`` With gas also in decline , there 's a real chance that renewables will overtake fossil fuels in 2020 as a whole . ''
Setting the figures for this year context shows just how quickly this turnaround has happened .
The first day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2016 .
Before this year , there had been a total of 154 days when the combined power created from renewable sources exceeded those from fossil fuels .
Carbon Brief says that 91 of those days occurred in 2019 .
The decline in the role of fossil fuels in general and coal in particular looks set to continue .
The remaining three coal plants in the UK will be shut down within five years .
Then the fuel that sparked the industrial revolution here in Britain almost two centuries ago will @ @ @ @ @ @ @

They also say it will take many years for the trees in US forests where Drax sources the seven million tonnes of wood pellets it now burns each year to absorb the CO2 the power plant and its wood processing operations produce each year.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Legal aid: Woman in abuse case challenges rules

A woman is challenging rules which deprived her of legal aid for action to protect her from her former partner .
`` Claire '' gets universal credit but not legal aid because there is equity in the home she owns with her ex-partner .
About one in five women who suffer domestic violence can not access legal aid because they are deemed to have `` capital '' - even if they can not access it - lawyers say .
A review of these rules , promised by government , has not yet been completed .
Claire , who asked not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her two children in the home she co-owns with her ex-partner .
She says he subjected her to physical , emotional and psychological abuse , so she went to court to obtain a non-molestation order to stop the abuse and an occupation order to remove him from the home .
However , even though she receives universal credit , she was not entitled to legal aid because she owns some of the equity in the home .
Claire can not sell the home because that would make her and her children homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
In any event , whether the house should be sold is itself subject to proceedings for which she needs legal aid .
She can not borrow against its value because she would require her ex-partner 's consent .
`` My ex-partner has all the money , controlled all the money .
I did n't have any of it .
He has to agree to everything because the mortgage is joint .
He would n't agree to anything .
`` Selling would also mean that me and my children were homeless .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety , and we would be made homeless because we were being forced to sell our house to get any legal support and advice , '' she told BBC News .
Claire had no option but to represent herself in court .
She describes the experience as `` horrendous , because I had to speak for myself '' .
`` I was in a really vulnerable position .
I had to speak against his barrister who was a top barrister .
He could afford to have a barrister and I could n't .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting the non-molestation and occupation orders .
Claire returned to court for a second hearing four weeks later , but this time her ex was present .
`` It was the first time I saw him after he 'd been removed from the home .
So I knew he was extremely angry .
I was terrified and I did n't have any legal advice or help .
When I heard his voice it made me physically vomit in court .
`` The judge told him and his barrister to leave , they got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid of the vomit and give me some water . ''
Claire needs legal aid for proceedings about arrangements for her children and to respond to her ex 's application to force a sale of their home .
Her application has been refused by the Legal Aid Agency , and she is challenging the decision at the High Court .
She is being supported by the rights group Public Law Project ( PLP ) , which sees contradiction and unfairness in the Department for Work and Pensions not taking into account the equity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the Legal Aid Agency does take it into account for assessing eligibility for legal aid .
`` It means that the same person can be destitute enough to get Universal Credit but not destitute enough , even if they are a victim of domestic violence , to get legal aid to protect them from their abuser , '' says PLP lawyer Katy Watts , who is representing Claire .
Ms Watts also points out such equity is often `` dead '' for domestic violence victims , in that `` even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is trapped capital .
They often have no way of accessing it .
Selling will involve getting permission from the person who has been abusing them '' .
In 2012 the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act ( LASPO ) made large cuts to legal aid in England and Wales , removing many areas of civil and family law from its scope .
The only route to getting legal aid for a private family law matter is if a person is a victim of domestic violence - but this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both income and capital .
In February 2019 , the Ministry of Justice promised to conduct a review to `` assess the effectiveness with which the means-testing arrangements appropriately protect access to justice , particularly with respect to those who are vulnerable '' .
The review would include a look at capital thresholds for domestic violence victims , the MoJ promised .
The review has not yet concluded 15 months later .
`` Sadly I am having to turn cases like Claire 's away every single day , '' says her solicitor Jenny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working `` pro bono '' for her .
`` The current rules mean that one in five women who are living on benefits and suffering abuse will not get legal aid , and will face the terrifying task of representing themselves .
`` The justice system should be accessible to all , and this undermines both access to justice and the rule of law . ''
Many family lawyers believe that with the reported incidence of domestic violence and deaths resulting from it rising during lockdown the need for non-means tested legal aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Legal Aid Agency says it can not comment on ongoing proceedings .

Ms Watts also points out such equity is often "dead" for domestic violence victims, in that "even though they may have equity on paper, this is trapped capital. They often have no way of accessing it. Selling will involve getting permission from the person who has been abusing them".


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Amazon worker loses engagement ring in customer's parcel

An Amazon worker has issued a desperate plea to customers after accidentally losing her engagement ring while packing parcels .
Jasmine Paget , 18 , was left in tears after finishing her shift in the packaging department at the Swansea depot and discovering the silver band was missing .
She got engaged to fiancé Josh Mannings , 20 , on Valentine 's Day .
The ring has a central diamond and smaller rocks around the main gem .
Jasmine believes she dropped the ring into one of hundreds of parcels she packed on Saturday .
• Ring lost in field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner On arriving at her Swansea home , she shared her story on Facebook , prompting thousands of people to share her post .
`` I reckon I lost the ring in the last hour of my shift as I do tend to glance down to admire it now and then and when I looked down this time , it was just gone , '' she said .
The ring vanished at about 17:50 BST , `` right at the end of my shift , '' she said .
`` I was so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my stomach , I started crying and just went to my managers to find out if there was any way they could find it .
`` It definitely went into a parcel , we just ca n't tell what one , which is so frustrating !
`` I roughly pack 160 packages an hour and I package up such a wide variety of parcels , so it could be in any type . ''
Jasmine said her husband-to-be had been `` so understanding . ''
`` He 's just made a big joke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , '' she added .
`` The response on social media has been incredible and we 're just trying to stay positive and hope that somebody finds it . ''
She is asking people to check their parcels in case it is inside one and the couple have their fingers crossed someone will return the ring .
Amazon Swansea general manager , Chris Law , said : `` As soon as we heard Jasmine had lost her engagement ring we immediately mounted an extensive search of the fulfilment centre and also appealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their items . ''

"I reckon I lost the ring in the last hour of my shift as I do tend to glance down to admire it now and then and when I looked down this time, it was just gone," she said.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: Wider school reopening dropped and university dilemma

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Tuesday morning .
We 'll have another update for you at 18:00 BST .
Plans to get all primary pupils in England back to school before the end of term have been dropped .
Some years began returning last week , but head teachers and governors warned further expansion was unrealistic while social distancing measures limit classroom capacity .
It 's now going to be left up to individual schools to decide whether or not to increase numbers .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested on Monday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September .
Before Education Secretary Gavin Williamson delivers a statement to the House of Commons on that schools story , Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a cabinet meeting later to discuss the next steps in easing England 's restrictions .
Here 's a reminder of the rules right now and the latest figures on UK coronavirus cases .
Students must decide by the middle of next week whether or not to accept university offers for the new academic year .
It 's an even bigger decision than usual given how different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with many lectures online and restrictions imposed on socialising .
Those who put off university often hit the backpacking trail instead , but what is it like in towns normally full of young people now travel is off the cards ?
4 .
May 'another tough month ' for retail Total UK sales fell by 5.9 % in May compared with the previous year , the British Retail Consortium says .
Online sales growth rose fifteenfold , but failed to offset that drop .
The numbers are n't as bad as April 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope is pinned on the planned reopening of bricks-and-mortar stores from next week .
All non-essential retailers in Northern Ireland have been told they can reopen from Friday .
Places of worship have been forced to close their doors to worshippers during this time , but one of the largest Sikh temples , or Gurdwaras , in the UK has responded by reinventing itself as a community kitchen , delivering thousands of meals a day to NHS staff and those most in need .
Get a longer coronavirus briefing from the BBC in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by signing up here .
You can find more information , advice and guides on our coronavirus page and visit our live page for the latest developments .
Plus , as lockdowns ease , thermal imaging cameras are popping up in all sorts of public places to assess the state of people 's health .
How do they work ?
What questions do you have about coronavirus ?
In some cases , your question will be published , displaying your name , age and location as you provide it , unless you state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be published .
Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy .
Use this form to ask your question : • HOSPITAL SPECIAL : The human stories behind the headlines • JESSE LINGARD 'S HOME WORKOUT : Can you keep up ?

Students must decide by the middle of next week whether or not to accept university offers for the new academic year. It's an even bigger decision than usual given how different the experience is likely to be, with many lectures online and restrictions imposed on socialising. Those who put off university often hit the backpacking trail instead, but what is it like in towns normally full of young people now travel is off the cards?


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Why are more people from BAME backgrounds dying from coronavirus?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are `` disproportionately '' dying with coronavirus .
A number of reviews , including by the Office for National Statistics and Public Health England , have now concluded that this is the case .
What is the situation in the UK ?
There were at least 3,751 deaths of black and minority ethnic ( BAME ) individuals in hospitals in England up to 28 May .
This means that , where ethnicity is known , BAME people represented 16 % of all deaths to this point .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - showed that 14.5 % of the English population were from BAME backgrounds .
But clearly the proportion may have grown since then .
• Coronavirus cases to be tracked by ethnicity In 2016 , the Office for National Statistics estimated that it could have increased to 15.4 % of the population .
Similar breakdowns by ethnicity for Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland are not currently available .
These numbers do not show a great disproportionality in BAME deaths , but once we account for demographics - such as age and location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the highest death and hospitalisation rates during the outbreak have been in London , where 40 % of the population are from ethnic minority backgrounds ( according to the 2011 census ) .
But even when you adjust for where the coronavirus outbreak has hit hardest , the Office for National Statistics , the think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Public Health England , all conclude that people from ethnic minorities are being disproportionately impacted .
Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies ( IFS ) shows that if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentrated , we might expect to see higher death rates than that for white British individuals .
However , the research says that this geographical factor is counter-balanced by the factor of age .
Most minority groups are much younger on average than white Britons - and therefore should be less susceptible to the virus .
The IFS concludes that , if we look at both geography and age combined , the death rate should be lower for most ethnicities than for white people .
They estimate that the deaths of black Africans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected by geography and age , 2.9 times higher for Pakistanis and 1.8 for black Caribbean ( who are older on average than other minority groups ) .
Public Health England , who approached the issue in a similar way by adjusting for age , found similar disparities in both the infection rate and deaths for BAME people .
The ONS research goes one step further than these reviews and looks at other factors , such as health and deprivation .
• Black people are 1.9 times more likely to die than white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times more likely to die • Indians are around 1.5 times more likely Analysis from Public Health England ( PHE ) showed that once in hospital , people from BAME backgrounds were also more likely to then require admission to an intensive care unit .
BAME people accounted for 11 % of those hospitalised with Covid-19 but over 36 % of those admitted to critical care .
What reasons could there be ?
Health issues , living conditions and occupation could all play a role .
While there is no conclusive evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease , some are more likely to have certain underlying health conditions .
Black people are more likely to be overweight than white people , for example , while both Asian and black populations have been found to have a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease , according to the IFS .
Both of these have been linked to higher coronavirus death rates .
Various factors can play into these health inequalities , according to Public Health England , including socio-economic situation , access to health care and deprivation in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deprivation in general , regardless of ethnicity , appears to play a role .
According to the Office of National Statistics , the death rate in the poorest communities in England and Wales is twice as high as the wealthiest .
Issues with self-isolation in larger households could also play a factor .
Just under a third of Bangladeshi households are classified overcrowded , as are 15 % of black African households , according to government statistics .
Only 2 % of white British households are classified as overcrowded .
• A SIMPLE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Black and other ethnic minority individuals make up a large share of jobs considered essential in tackling the virus .
One in five people working for the NHS in England , for example , is from an ethnic minority background , however these numbers are even higher when we look solely at doctors and nurses .
Analysis by BBC News suggests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from coronavirus as of 23 April .
Black , Asian and minority ethnic ( BAME ) people represented 65 of those deaths , where ethnicity has been established .
This article was first published on 24 April and has been updated several times since to reflect new figures .

"Historic racism and poorer experiences of healthcare or at work may mean that individuals in BAME groups are less likely to seek care when needed or as NHS staff are less likely to speak up when they have concerns about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or risk," the report says.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: 'We started going out in the first week of lockdown'

Sarah and Tom had been on a few dates together , but when lockdown began they had to make a decision about their relationship .
They could either let it fizzle out or take the plunge .
They decided to take the plunge .
Dialling into a video call from their separate homes - Sarah in Loughborough and Tom in Leicester - they shared their experiences of what it 's like to be in the early stages of a relationship at a time when you ca n't see one another .
Tom Edwards matched with Sarah Greatrex on Tinder in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after .
It was crazy golf .
`` We were both bad at it , '' the 29-year-old says , prompting a raised eyebrow from Sarah , also 29 .
`` Who won though ? ''
she retorts .
They went on eight dates in total before the lockdown was announced on 23 March .
But they 'd never had that conversation .
So six days after lockdown began , Tom found himself dressed up in his kitchen , Sarah 's face on the laptop screen at the other end of the table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He had n't planned on asking her to be his girlfriend on Zoom .
`` I thought , ' I do n't want to do this over video call ' .
But then on the first date I sort of said , 'do you want to start an actual relationship ? '
'' he says .
The answer was yes .
Sarah says the pair had n't planned for the lockdown .
When she said goodbye to Tom a few days before it was announced , she assumed she would see him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow research technicians at the University of Leicester had asked her how the pandemic might change things .
`` They asked 'what will happen if we do go into lockdown ? '
.
I was like , ' I have no idea ' . ''
`` We did n't know what was happening , so we did n't think about it , '' she shrugs .
`` It was n't that panic of 'we 're not going to see each other ' .
I think we knew we could adapt . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to friends that I 've got a boyfriend now , '' she adds .
`` They 're like : 'What ?
But you 're in your house on your own - how does that work ? '
'' Tom , a physiotherapist who has spent much of the pandemic working on a coronavirus hospital ward , says having to date on video calls has brought them closer together , quicker .
`` I think because you 're on Zoom , you literally have just got each other to entertain each other .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film and have a hug .
You 're just talking to each other , '' he says .
`` I think if you can do that for eight weeks in a row , it makes you stronger . ''
• 'Isolating together after two dates – but we do n't have a future ' - BBC Three • ' I moved in with my ex for the lockdown' • Watch : A new way of dating during lockdown It 's still not the same as meeting up in person , he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ best out of a bad situation . ''
`` We got out of our pyjamas and actually put some nice clothes on , '' he laughs .
They cooked the same meal - roast lamb one week , slow-cooked chilli the next - and `` just sat down with wine and a candle like we were on a date '' .
Frustrated by their failed efforts to break free from a pandemic-themed escape room on a pre-lockdown date , they tried out a virtual version for Tom 's birthday in April .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Tom 's housemate and his girlfriend .
`` I tried to make charades happen but it was a one-way game , really , '' he says .
Every Friday , Sarah now takes part in a virtual quiz with Tom 's family - even though she has n't met them yet .
Sarah is teammates with Tom and they talk on the phone .
But while she catches snippets of the group conversation , she has n't been formally introduced on the Zoom chat yet .
`` I 'm not doing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` My parents both tried as hard as they could to shout to Sarah and try to embarrass me but I do n't think Sarah could hear them properly . ''
Sarah has even taken part in family scavenger hunts .
She thinks these snippets of communication will ease the pressure when she does finally meet his family in person .
`` I know their personalities a little bit now , so at least there 's something to talk about , '' she says .
`` It 's not just initially meeting ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what are your intentions ' ? ''
Last month , after Boris Johnson announced that two people from different households could meet in England , Sarah and Tom were finally able to see each other in person again .
They had n't realised quite how much of an impact the decisions of the prime minister would have on their relationship .
The first time , Sarah found it odd to sit on separate picnic blankets outdoors , each with their own afternoon tea in a takeaway box .
`` I said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touch my food ' '' she says .
Because of the nature of their jobs - and the fact that she has been shopping for her parents who are shielding - she says they both `` overthink '' social distancing measures .
But Sarah says it `` just would n't work '' if one person was less strict than the other .
`` We 'd just think , 'we ca n't be together if we 're not of the similar mind-set about it ' .
`` It 's just funny - instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bottle of sanitiser . ''
And so the couple are now making plans for the future .
Tom has a `` freedom list '' saved in the notes on his phone of date ideas for when the lockdown does end .
It features the names of restaurants they want to go to , meals they plan to cook together , a second attempt at a real escape room , and a visit to an alpaca farm .
For now though , socially-distanced meet-ups are still an improvement on not seeing one another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are they and how to guard against them ?
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"We got out of our pyjamas and actually put some nice clothes on," he laughs. They cooked the same meal - roast lamb one week, slow-cooked chilli the next - and "just sat down with wine and a candle like we were on a date".


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Homes to be heated by warm water from flooded mines

Burning coal has contributed to the over-heating of our planet .
But can abandoned British coal mines help tackle the climate crisis ?
A new garden village in County Durham will soon be getting its heat from a surprising source : it will be warmed by water from a disused mine .
The temperatures are raised naturally , by heat from the Earth 's crust .
The water is then pumped up from flooded shafts and used to heat the whole district using a single system .
The 1,500 residents of South Seaham Garden Village shouldn ’ t notice that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dust-smeared sweat of their forebears .
Surveying work for the scheme is due to happen soon .
If the project succeeds , it ’ ll help meet the UK target of virtually zero carbon emissions by 2050 .
• Coronavirus : Five charts about the biggest carbon crash The potential is large because around a quarter of Britain ’ s homes sit on coalfields .
Although some mines won ’ t be suitable , it ’ s hoped that many will supply consistent warm water .
For the Coal Authority , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn a liability into a profit .
Selling warm water might cover the costs of pumping mines , which has to be done anyway to prevent them burping dirty mine water up to the surface .
It would be good news for the environment too , because heat for homes , business and industry is the single biggest contributor to UK emissions – producing almost 40 % of Britain 's CO2 .
The energy minister , Kwasi Kwarteng , told BBC News : “ I think it ’ s potentially transformational .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coal , and being able to use that footprint and turn it into a source of green energy – that ’ s incredibly positive.
” Jeremy Crooks from the Coal Authority , which is responsible for closed mines , told us : “ The mines are an asset that ’ s been seen as a liability .
Now , with people being much more aware of the damage to climate , other opportunities are being seen.
” He said in the right circumstances the costs could compare with gas – which warms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central heating .
Minewater heating is low-carbon , but not carbon-free because the water has to be further warmed using a heat pump , which operates like a fridge in reverse .
The Coal Authority said electricity to run the pumps would be sourced from renewables where possible .
• How much warmer is your city ?
• What is your diet 's carbon footprint ?
• Where we are in seven charts There are other caveats too , according to Dave Banks , a hydrogeologist at Holymoor Consultancy .
These include : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorly-mapped and engineers drilling 300 metre boreholes may have to hit a target four metres wide .
That 's no mean feat , he said • Hydrology : The quantity of water in the shafts might run out after time • Maintenance : Mine water can be corrosively salty .
It may also contain high quantities of iron or manganese which can clog up pumps and heat exchangers Mr Banks said one small trial heating scheme in Scotland had closed after it became too costly to maintain .
He said maintenance could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one underway in Gateshead town centre .
It will heat council buildings , a new care home , and up to 1,250 new homes .
• Coalfields in Northern Ireland are not covered by the Coal Authority Plans are also underway at Rugeley in Staffordshire , where a former coal-fired power station will be turned into a village of 2,300 homes heated partly by water from disused shafts .
Currently 14 minewater heat schemes are planned for the north , with seven in the rest of England .
Five are planned for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scheme at Caerau , Bridgend the furthest progressed .
The technology could prove important in countries such as Poland , which suffer cold winters but have plentiful coal mines .
The developments come as campaigners in the UK complain that the government is poised to end grants for commercial users of heat pumps extracting warmth for buildings from sewage farms and industrial plants .

Currently 14 minewater heat schemes are planned for the north, with seven in the rest of England. Five are planned for Scotland and four for Wales - with a scheme at Caerau, Bridgend the furthest progressed.


bbcuk--2020-06-08--The black British history you may not know about

`` We have existed in Britain and been pioneers , inventors , icons .
And then colonialism happened , and that has shaped the experiences of black people - but that is not all we are . ''
These are the words of Lavinya Stennett , founder of The Black Curriculum , an organisation which teaches black British history in schools - and is campaigning for Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to make it compulsory .
The death of George Floyd in America has inspired thousands of people in Britain to demand justice , marching through the streets of our biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insist that the UK `` is not innocent '' .
But some commentators have questioned whether racism exists in Britain , and to what extent .
George The Poet , who was questioned about this on Newsnight , believes a lack of education about black British history - and the British Empire - plays a part in racism in the UK and our discussions about it .
The transatlantic slave trade and the US civil rights movement are largely the only black history taught in UK schools , normally in October when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're omitting different histories and narratives , you 're saying that these people are n't part of this country , this nation , this heritage - or they 're not important enough to be taught as common knowledge , '' says Melody Triumph , policy specialist at The Black Curriculum .
These are just a few episodes of black British history we were n't taught in school .
Some might think the first black people in Britain arrived from Britain 's colonies - the countries in Africa , the Caribbean and Asia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases for centuries - after World War 2 .
But that 's not true , says Lavinya from The Black Curriculum .
`` We know that black people were in Britain since Roman times - and there 's specific examples . ''
The Ivory Bangle Lady is the name given to remains discovered in York in 1901 which are now on display in the York Museum .
Archaeological analysis reveals that although she was born in Roman Britain , she 's likely to be of North African descent .
The remains have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4th Century .
She was found with jet and elephant ivory bracelets , earrings , pendants , beads , a blue glass jug and a glass mirror .
In other words , she was n't poor .
`` It puts into question assumptions that black people have never been aspirationally wealthy or had any kind of wealth , '' Lavinya says .
During the Tudor period there were hundreds of black migrants living in England .
For those of us a bit rusty on our Tudor dates , we 're talking about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trumpeter , was one of them .
His face can be seen inscribed into a 60ft long roll depicting the prestigious Westminster Tournament of 1511 - an elaborate party which Henry VIII put on to celebrate the birth of a son .
There 's even a letter from John Blanke to Henry VIII asking for a pay rise .
`` He petitioned for 8p a day .
I do n't know what the conversion is today , but that showed he knew his worth , '' Lavinya says .
She was a princess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after marrying King George III - and many historians believe Queen Charlotte had African ancestry .
They married in 1761 and Charlotte was the mother of two British monarchs - George IV and William IV .
It 's been argued that despite coming from Germany , Queen Charlotte was descended from a black branch of the Portuguese royal family .
King Afonso III of Portugal conquered the city of Faro from the Moors - Muslims from North Africa who lived in modern-day Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages - in the 13th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had three children with the city governor 's daughter .
One of their sons , Martim Afonso Chichorro , is also said to have married into a family with black ethnicity .
He and his wife , Ines Lourenco de Sousa de Valadares , founded the Portuguese house of Sousa-Chichorro , which had many descendants , including Queen Charlotte .
Queen Charlotte , whether she had African ancestry or not , joined the Royal Family in the century when Britain started slave-trading - which made it vastly wealthy .
`` A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history in London - it 's London-centric .
But a lot of Glasgow 's wealth actually comes from the tobacco , the sugar , the cotton that was created and sustained by enslaved people in Jamaica , Trinidad and Barbados , '' Lavinya says .
Many of Glasgow 's prominent city centre streets are named after 18th Century slave owners who made fortunes from plantations .
`` You 're told that black people were slaves , but you 're not told the fruits of their labour are actually the streets we walk on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important but you need to `` contextualise it '' .
`` Talk about who gained from it , the people not only in the colonies but also here in the UK . ''
That also means teaching about the `` black people in Scotland who were part of the abolition of the slave trade '' .
`` All you hear about is William Wilberforce '' - a British politician who campaigned to abolish slavery - Lavinya says .
5 .
WW1 and the race riots that followed When we talk about Caribbean migration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Windrush generation , who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1971 .
`` But black people were actually brought over from Jamaica to fight in World War One , '' says Lavinya .
Her great-uncle came to England at the age of 17 to help the war effort , settling in London afterwards .
But she says her uncle was `` one of the lucky ones '' - because he was n't sent back after the war .
When soldiers returned to the UK after WW1 there was a jobs shortage and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the link that they were not getting jobs because of the black people '' - and violence towards black communities followed .
They 're known as the 1919 race riots in Glasgow , Liverpool , Cardiff and other seaports across Britain , during which three people were killed and hundreds injured .
But there were economic consequences too .
Many black serviceman and workers found themselves without jobs after a `` colour bar '' was introduced in many industries , with white workers , often backed by unions , refusing to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men were sent back to the countries they had lived in before the war .
Poverty and a lack of jobs were a big factor in the riots , but according to researcher Jamie Baker , there was also a fear that black men and white women were starting families .
`` It fits into the hyper-sexualisation of black men .
White men felt threatened because they felt that black men were taking their women , '' Lavinya says .
After WW2 black people from the Caribbean and Africa , and people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain to help rebuild the country .
They were put to work in the NHS and other public sector roles , like driving buses .
But in Bristol the Omnibus Company , run by the council , refused to employ black and Asian drivers , which eventually led to a boycott of buses across the whole city .
`` But it was n't as easy as that , '' Lavinya says .
At the time it was not illegal to discriminate based on race - the first Race Relations Act was passed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about employment or housing until 1968 .
Paul Stephenson , Roy Hackett and Guy Bailey were the brains behind the boycott and Paul drew inspiration from the bus boycott in the US , started when Rosa Parks refused to sit in the `` coloured '' section at the back of the bus , for what they did in Bristol .
Hackett organised blockades and sit-down protests to prevent buses getting through the city centre .
`` White women taking their kids to school or going to work would ask us what it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Later they came and joined us . ''
Students showed support too and it was backed by the local MP Tony Benn as well as Harold Wilson , who became Labour leader a year later .
On the same day Martin Luther King Jr delivered his famous `` I have a dream '' speech after marching on Washington DC - 28 August 1963 - pressure had built enough over the summer that the Bristol Omnibus Company announced a change in policy .
By mid-September Bristol had its first non-white bus conductor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who 'd lived in Bristol since 1959 - and further black and Asian crews followed .
Paul Stephenson , Guy Bailey and Roy Hackett all received OBEs for their action .
• The Bristol Bus Boycott , from those who were there • Amazing black women you should know about Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

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bbcuk--2020-06-09--Can thermal cameras help spot coronavirus?

As lockdowns ease , thermal imaging cameras are popping up in all sorts of public places to assess the state of people 's health .
What do thermal imaging cameras do ?
Using infrared technology , thermal cameras detect radiating heat from a body - usually from the forehead - and then estimate core body temperature .
These cameras are an extremely powerful tool , often deployed by fire fighters to track smouldering embers and police to search for out-of-sight suspects .
But they are not designed to be medical devices .
So how useful are they in the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure of skin temperature , to within half a degree - but that 's not the same as body temperature .
`` These devices , in general , are less accurate than medical device thermometers like those you stick in the ear , '' says Derek Hill , professor of medical imaging science from University College London .
About 37C ( 98.6F ) .
A high temperature is usually considered to be 38C or over .
But normal temperature can vary from person to person and change during the day .
It can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle .
Taking an accurate reading of core body temperature is n't easy .
Although it can be measured on the forehead , in the mouth , the ear and the armpit , the most accurate way is to take a rectal reading .
No , they only measure temperature .
A high temperature or fever is just one common symptom of the virus .
Others include nausea , headaches , fatigue and loss of taste or smell .
But not everyone with the virus gets a high temperature and not everyone with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So thermal cameras alone will miss infected people with other symptoms or no symptoms at all - known as false negatives .
They will also identify people unwell with a fever for another reason - known as false positives .
So are thermal cameras useful ?
On its own , temperature screening `` may not be very effective '' says the World Health Organization .
Cameras have to be set up correctly and take account of ambient temperature .
A risk is that cameras can lull operators into a false sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool among many , '' says James Ferryman , professor of computational vision , from the University of Reading .
What if I 'm wearing a face mask or covering ?
`` Heat radiating from the skin will likely be impacted by wearing face masks , '' says Prof Ferryman .
That 's why most temperature measurements are based on the forehead , which is usually exposed .
Will I be hotter if I 've been exercising ?
Not necessarily .
Skin temperature actually goes down during exercise as sweat appears on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pretty good at regulating its temperature even after exercise , so it would have to be really quite high to show up .
• FACE MASKS : When should you wear one ?
• TESTING : Who can get a test and how ?
• SCHOOLS : Which are re-opening , when ?
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• TWO METRES : Could less than 2m work ?
How else can my temperature be taken ?
With portable thermometers pointed at foreheads .
They do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do need to be within a few centimetres of it .
While accurate to a fraction of a degree on skin temperature , they correctly detect fever about 90 % of the time compared with a rectal thermometer , Prof Hill says .
Where can I expect to be temperature tested ?
Thermal scanners are now in place at some UK airports - including Bournemouth .
Temperature screening is being trialled for some passengers at Heathrow , while Manchester Airport says equipment is also being tested - but results will not be communicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether a customer can travel '' .
Portsmouth international ferry port has also installed a thermal scanner to screen departing passengers .
• Coronavirus : What are the UK travel quarantine rules ?
Schools are deploying hand-held laser thermometers to check children each morning .
And some employers are looking at introducing staff-testing in workplaces .
At work , do I have to submit to a temperature test ?
Under UK employment law , individuals must agree before an employer can temperature-screen members of staff .
Some work contracts will already allow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , by so-called `` implied consent '' .
If employees do not consent - and there is no pre-agreed policy covering the situation - then taking someone 's temperature is unlawful , says the professional body for HR and people development .
Employers must also handle the medical information they gather fairly and transparently - according to the Information Commissioner .

Antibodies test A medical test that can show if a person has had the coronavirus and now has some immunity. The test detects antibodies in the blood, which are produced by the body to fight off the disease.
Asymptomatic Someone who has a disease but does not have any of the symptoms it causes. Some studies suggest some people with coronavirus carry the disease but don't show the common symptoms, such as a persistent cough or high temperature.
Containment phase The first part of the UK's strategy to deal with the coronavirus, which involved trying to identify infected people early and trace anyone who had been in close contact with them.
Coronavirus One of a group of viruses that can cause severe or mild illness in humans and animals. The coronavirus currently sweeping the world causes the disease Covid-19. The common cold and influenza (flu) are other types of coronaviruses.
Covid-19 The disease caused by the coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It primarily affects the lungs.
Delay phase The second part of the UK's strategy to deal with the coronavirus, in which measures such as social distancing are used to delay its spread.
Fixed penalty notice A fine designed to deal with an offence on the spot, instead of in court. These are often for driving offences, but now also cover anti-social behaviour and breaches of the coronavirus lockdown.
Flatten the curve Health experts use a line on a chart to show numbers of new coronavirus cases. If a lot of people get the virus in a short period of time, the line might rise sharply and look a bit like a mountain. However, taking measures to reduce infections can spread cases out over a longer period and means the "curve" is flatter. This makes it easier for health systems to cope.
Flu Short for influenza, a virus that routinely causes disease in humans and animals, in seasonal epidemics.
Furlough Supports firms hit by coronavirus by temporarily helping pay the wages of some staff. It allows employees to remain on the payroll, even though they aren't working.
Herd immunity How the spread of a disease slows after a sufficiently large proportion of a population has been exposed to it.
Immune A person whose body can withstand or fend off a disease is said to be immune to it. Once a person has recovered from the disease caused by the coronavirus, Covid-19, for example, it is thought they cannot catch it again for a certain period of time.
Incubation period The period of time between catching a disease and starting to display symptoms.
Intensive care Hospital wards which treat patients who are very ill. They are run by specially-trained healthcare staff and contain specialist equipment.
Lockdown Restrictions on movement or daily life, where public buildings are closed and people told to stay at home. Lockdowns have been imposed in several countries as part of drastic efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Mitigation phase The third part of the UK's strategy to deal with the coronavirus, which will involve attempts to lessen the impact of a high number of cases on public services. This could mean the NHS halting all non-critical care and police responding to major crimes and emergencies only.
NHS 111 The NHS's 24-hour phone and online service, which offers medical advice to anyone who needs it. People in England and Wales are advised to ring the service if they are worried about their symptoms. In Scotland, they should check NHS inform, then ring their GP in office hours or 111 out of hours. In Northern Ireland, they should call their GP.
Outbreak Multiple cases of a disease occurring rapidly, in a cluster or different locations.
Pandemic An epidemic of serious disease spreading rapidly in many countries simultaneously.
Phase 2 This is when the UK will start to lift some of its lockdown rules while still trying to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
PPE PPE, or personal protective equipment, is clothing and kit such as masks, aprons, gloves and goggles used by medical staff, care workers and others to protect themselves against infection from coronavirus patients and other people who might be carrying the disease.
Quarantine The isolation of people exposed to a contagious disease to prevent its spread.
R0 R0, pronounced "R-naught", is the average number of people who will catch the disease from a single infected person. If the R0 of coronavirus in a particular population is 2, then on average each case will create two more new cases. The value therefore gives an indication of how much the infection could spread.
Recession This happens when there is a significant drop in income, jobs and sales in a country for two consecutive three-month periods.
Sars Severe acute respiratory syndrome, a type of coronavirus that emerged in Asia in 2003.
Self-isolation Staying inside and avoiding all contact with other people, with the aim of preventing the spread of a disease.
Social distancing Keeping away from other people, with the aim of slowing down transmission of a disease. The government advises not seeing friends or relatives other than those you live with, working from home where possible and avoiding public transport.
State of emergency Measures taken by a government to restrict daily life while it deals with a crisis. This can involve closing schools and workplaces, restricting the movement of people and even deploying the armed forces to support the regular emergency services.
Statutory instrument These can be used by government ministers to implement new laws or regulations, or change existing laws. They are an easier alternative to passing a full Act of Parliament.
Symptoms Any sign of disease, triggered by the body's immune system as it attempts to fight off the infection. The main symptoms of the coronavirus are a fever, dry cough and shortness of breath.
Vaccine A treatment that causes the body to produce antibodies, which fight off a disease, and gives immunity against further infection.
Ventilator A machine that takes over breathing for the body when disease has caused the lungs to fail.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: Will UK universities open in September?

Students must decide by the middle of next week whether or not to accept university offers for the new academic year .
It 's a big decision - even more so this year , with many lectures due to take place online and socialising very difficult .
Universities are currently considering how they will operate from September , and many of them have already decided to alter their normal schedule .
• Cambridge 's lectures will be held online for the entire year • Manchester , Reading and Queen 's Belfast will have online lectures for the autumn term • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , similar to the government 's coronavirus scheme , to decide its policy • Aberdeen is delaying the start of next term by two weeks You need to contact individual universities or check their websites to find out what they have decided .
Do I have to go ?
Deadlines to decide on whether to accept offers have been pushed back to 18 June .
You make two choices - a firm first-choice university and an insurance , or back-up one , and then decline any other offers .
If you meet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are in - otherwise the back-up alternative comes into play .
Even then , you are not committed to going if you choose not to .
Places at specific universities can be cancelled online , and if you decide not to go to university at all , you must phone the ones holding you a place to ask for your application to be withdrawn .
None of this will leave you out of pocket .
The government says university students in England will still have to pay full tuition fees even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autumn .
However , some students are unhappy about this .
One started a petition , demanding a refund for lost teaching , after the early end to the academic year , in March .
It gained more than 330,000 signatures , enough for a parliamentary debate .
The maximum UK university tuition fee is £9,250 a year , which is totally covered by a student loan , although international students may pay more .
Scottish and European Union students pay no tuition fees for attending a university in Scotland .
Accommodation costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several thousand pounds .
Maintenance loans for living costs are means-tested , so you have to make up the difference , which often means falling back on parents .
Claire Sosienski-Smith , a National Union of Students ( NUS ) official , told the BBC : `` We would recommend that students think carefully before signing any binding contracts or agreements for next year , especially in the case of rental contracts . ''
Some students had their accommodation fees removed for the cancelled summer term , but others had to pay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at university because of the lockdown .
The numbers of students in UK universities could be much lower than usual from September .
A survey by the University and College Union found that more than one in five students could defer going to university this year .
Universities and colleges take varied approaches to the issue .
Some will not allow deferred entry for subjects such as medicine , but will consider it for other courses .
However , you need to check that the same course is being offered the following year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons for wanting to defer when your application is considered .
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
Will international students still come to the UK ?
A recent study revealed that two-thirds of international students still intend to take up their offers abroad , including in the UK .
IDP Connect , which works in global marketing for students , surveyed nearly 6,900 students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not changing their plans .
However , prospective postgraduate students from East Asia largely favour a face-to-face start in January to an online one in the autumn , according to a British Council study .
The survey of more than 15,000 students , carried out in April and May , also showed that UK universities are likely to have nearly 14,000 fewer new enrolments in 2020-21 , compared to 2018-19 .
This would lead to a drop of £463m in spending on tuition and living expenses .
• Students might have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be the same' • Universities ' move online 'must be done the right way' A plea from universities in England for a £2bn bailout from the government was rejected .
However , to help with cashflow , £2.6bn of tuition fee income and £100m of research funding will be brought forward .
The universities can also access the Treasury 's support for businesses disrupted by coronavirus , worth another £700m .
The number of new UK and EU students is going to be controlled by the government , which may add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any additional capacity would be given to people studying courses like nursing .

The pandemic cost pupils nearly a third of their learning time between March 2020 and April 2021, according to research from the LSE and the University of Exeter. This was especially damaging for those starting university this term.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: Duchess makes virtual visit to addiction centre

There are fears of a spike in people requiring help with alcohol , gambling and other addictions when lockdown ends @ @ @ @ @ Addiction research suggests a significant number of people who were recovering from addictions have suffered @ @ @ @ @ .
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to staff from Clouds House addiction treatment centre and @ @ @ @ @ are now receiving support online .

There are fears of a spike in people requiring help with alcohol, gambling and other addictions when lockdown ends.
Research by Action on Addiction research suggests a significant number of people who were recovering from addictions have suffered a relapse in recently months.
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to staff from Clouds House addiction treatment centre and heard from former residents who are now receiving support online.
Reporter - Michael Cowan.
For detail on a range of addiction charities, visit BBC Action Line.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Newspaper headlines: Prince Andrew and US 'at war' over Epstein inquiry

Several of Tuesday 's papers urge the Duke of York to co-operate with the US authorities over their investigation into the sex offender , Jeffrey Epstein .
The prince was a friend of the financier , but denies he saw any suspicious behaviour during his visits to Epstein 's homes .
For the Times , the allegations against Epstein are of the utmost seriousness and the prince has a moral duty to assist the US inquiry .
Until he agrees to do so - the Mirror says - his name will be dragged through the mud and there is zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Sun says the longer he stays silent , the worse the situation will get .
The Guardian leads with a report that the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is drawing up urgent plans to reduce tensions and address fury over disproportionate police action against black and minority ethnic people .
According to the paper , he wants to apply pressure on the Metropolitan Police over the use of stop and search , Tasers and other force .
Mr Khan tells the paper the focus should be on `` rooting out '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society and he wants `` a clear commitment to change '' .
The response of Home Secretary Priti Patel to the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol on Sunday is the main story for the Times and the `` i '' .
The Times says she had a `` firm conversation '' with the chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police and demanded an explanation for what happened .
She 's said to have made clear that she expected those who pulled the statue down to face criminal prosecution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ papers .
For the Guardian columnist , Suzanne Moore , history is made and unmade in a moment - and to witness such moments is thrilling .
She describes the pulling down of the statue as beautiful .
The Mail takes the police to task for `` turning a blind eye to the statue 's wanton vandalism '' , as it puts it .
The paper describes the failure to act as scandalous inaction and says the chief constable 's explanation that he did not want to inflame tensions was a pathetic excuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` i '' , the police were being pragmatic .
It says they decided , sensibly , that officers using force to defend a statue of a slave trader was not an image that should be broadcast around the world .
The Telegraph leads with the suggestion by Health Secretary Matt Hancock at Monday 's Downing Street news briefing that all schools may not be able to reopen fully in September .
The paper says that while the cabinet is preparing to meet to discuss ways of accelerating the exit from lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Express highlights a more positive message from Mr Hancock 's briefing - that coronavirus is `` in retreat '' .
Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox Dare we dream of a late summer cocktail on a sun lounger by the Med ?
the Mirror asks .
It reports that travel firms are slashing prices by up to two-thirds to tempt nervous passengers into booking late summer breaks .
According to the Times , travel companies have been given private assurances that the government 's quarantine measures will be dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favour of `` travel corridors '' to low-risk countries .
It says the Foreign Office is also believed to be on the verge of dropping its advice against all non-essential travel worldwide .
Finally , an Amazon employee has launched an appeal to find her engagement ring after she dropped it into a parcel which was posted out .
Jasmine Paget , 18 , from Swansea , was given the silver band with diamonds by her fiance , who proposed on Valentine 's Day .
The Mail says she thinks it went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she packaged up on Saturday - and is pleading with customers to check their deliveries .
`` We 're staying positive and hope somebody finds it , '' she tells the paper .
• WHO IS WATCHING YOU WORK ?
The future of working from home

The Mail takes the police to task for "turning a blind eye to the statue's wanton vandalism", as it puts it. The paper describes the failure to act as scandalous inaction and says the chief constable's explanation that he did not want to inflame tensions was a pathetic excuse.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: Cancer referrals fall by half during lockdown

The number of people being referred to consultants with suspected cancer has fallen by about 50 % during lockdown .
BBC Spotlight has obtained figures showing that during April and May there were 7,500 fewer `` red flag '' referrals than in the same months in 2019 .
The number of hospital referrals by GPs for all conditions fell by 48,278 .
Health Minister Robin Swann has acknowledged the damage done to normal services by the need to fight coronavirus .
On Tuesday morning , he is due to launch a blueprint for what he is describing as the rebuilding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgeon Luke Cascarini told Spotlight the problems being stored up for the NHS are concerning .
`` Where are all the patients that we would have been treating if we had n't been treating Covid ? ''
he asked .
`` I do n't think there 's any reason to think that the incidence of cancer has dropped over the last few months , so I think there 's a big backlog .
`` I think a lot of doctors are beginning to feel extremely proud of everything that 's been done to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we now need to deal with those undiagnosed or untreated cancers . ''
Spotlight will also reveal for the first time the parts of the scientific modelling on the pandemic which Robin Swann did not want shared with the public .
Spotlight is on BBC One Northern Ireland on Tuesday at 22:45 BST .

"I don't think there's any reason to think that the incidence of cancer has dropped over the last few months, so I think there's a big backlog.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: All primary pupils no longer going back to school

Plans for all England 's primary children to return for a month before the summer break have been dropped by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson .
Confirming the move , he told MPs he wanted all children back to school in September and that `` exams will take place next year '' .
Labour 's Rebecca Long-Bailey expressed `` deep dismay '' at how the plans for bringing back pupils had been handled .
Head teachers ' leaders said the plan had never been a practical possibility .
The education secretary told the House of Commons that there was a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - but that would no longer mean all primary year groups going back before the end of term .
Mr Williamson said that if schools had the capacity they could take more pupils if they chose .
• Who is going back to school next ?
• How can schools double the classes without extra classrooms ?
A-levels and GCSEs were cancelled this year by the pandemic - but he indicated that exams would go ahead in 2021 .
The Department for Education issued figures showing about half of primary schools opened for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williamson told MPs that had risen to 70 % this week .
But the Shadow Education Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said the plan for bringing back all primary pupils had never been possible with social distancing - and she accused Mr Williamson of failing to listen to the advice of the teaching profession .
`` For weeks , head teachers , education unions , school staff and many parents have warned that the plans to open whole primary schools before the summer were simply impractical , '' she said .
The Labour education spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to help children catch up with missed lessons .
`` I believe a crisis in education and children 's attainment and well-being could come at us incredibly quickly if we do not step in and mitigate it now , '' Ms Long-Bailey told MPs .
About a quarter of primary pupils took up places Primary pupils in England in Reception , Year 1 and 6 began to return to school last week - and the Department for Education has published the first official figures showing how many attended , based on 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the children of key workers and vulnerable children who have been able to keep going to school through the lockdown .
The figures on take-up show that about three quarters of those who could have returned to school were still at home - reflecting that almost half of schools were not open for extra pupils .
• 11 % of primary pupils were in school - about a quarter of those year groups who could have gone back • 659,000 children were in all schools , including children of key workers , almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up from 2.6 % before half term Head teachers had warned several weeks ago that it was not a realistic possibility to accommodate all primary year groups at the same time , with social distancing limiting their capacity .
Class sizes are now only 15 pupils or less - so if each class occupied two classrooms , school leaders argued that they would have no space for all year groups to return .
`` The 'ambition ' to bring back all primary year groups for a month before the end of the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over-promising something that was n't deliverable , '' said Geoff Barton , leader of the ASCL head teachers ' union .
`` It is n't possible to do that while maintaining small class sizes and social bubbles , '' he said .
However the practicalities can be explained away - and it is true that the government always said the return was an ambition , not a firm plan - the retreat from the full return looks messy and gives the impression to millions of families that Downing Street did n't deliver what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense in government that they were damned if they set out a timetable that they then failed to keep to , and damned if they continued to leave the nation 's diaries blank for months .
Remember , for several weeks opposition politicians were calling for Number 10 to give their exit strategy as quickly as they could .
When it was published , the documents and the speeches were full of `` ifs '' and `` buts '' .
But there is a curious sense of impotence about all of this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that many primary school children , outside of Reception , Years 1 and 6 , will not be back in school until September .
Apart from some lessons for Years 10 and 12 from 15 June , secondary schools will also not return until September - and the Children 's Commissioner for England , Anne Longfield , said the prospect was `` deeply worrying '' .
`` It 's a disruption we 've not seen since the Second World War , '' she said , warning that `` the education divide is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of catching up on that education gap may well be lost '' .
Robert Halfon , chair of the education select committee , called for a national strategic plan to get schools open as soon as possible .
He also warned that with schools remaining closed the majority of pupils would lose 40 % of their time in class this year .
Jonathan Wills a parent from Barnton Primary in Northwich in Cheshire says families need to get back to some sort of routine - and that it was long way off for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autumn .
`` I think it 's going to be extremely difficult for kids and some families , because it 's a long time to try to recreate the structure that schools give you .
`` I think the kids that were struggling before will be struggling even more now . ''
• How parents have responded to school opening plans But mother-of-one Molly told the BBC she is relieved that not all primary years will be returning this term , as she would not have been prepared to send her daughter back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe for Parliament to sit next to each other and until it 's 'safe ' to cuddle your own blood mother , then how is it deemed safe to mix your children with numerous other households ?
`` But our children can be placed into school with numerous other households ' children .
Even at small groups of 15 , how is that safe ?
When we are only allowed to meet up in groups of six ? ''
`` I think we 're a strange country in which we turn a blind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every city , we campaign for pubs and cafes to open and yet we say to open schools before September is too risky , '' said Mr Halfon .
Schools in Wales will reopen from 29 June to all age groups for limited periods during the week , while Scottish schools are to reopen at the start of the autumn term on 11 August , with some continued home-learning .
Some Northern Irish pupils preparing for exams and those about to move to post-primary schools will go back in late August , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September.The UK has recorded its lowest daily rise in the number of coronavirus deaths since before lockdown on 23 March , according to the latest government figures .
• 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 out of this mess ?
A further 55 people died after testing positive with the virus as of 17:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 40,597 .
There tends to be fewer deaths reported on Mondays - due to a reporting lag over the weekend .
The figures came as a study estimated lockdowns have saved more than three million lives from coronavirus in Europe .
Researchers from Imperial College London used computer models to predict the spread of the virus if no restrictions had been put in place in 11 European countries , finding that the `` death toll would have been huge '' without lockdown .
• I MAY DESTROY YOU : The next must-see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown prevented 470,000 deaths up to 4 May , according to the study .
According to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) , less than a fifth of deaths registered in England and Wales during the last week of May involved Covid-19 - the lowest proportion since the lockdown began .
There were 9,824 deaths registered during that week - less than the previous week , but still 1,653 deaths higher than what would usually be expected , the ONS said .
Of these , 1,822 involved the virus .

However the practicalities can be explained away - and it is true that the government always said the return was an ambition, not a firm plan - the retreat from the full return looks messy and gives the impression to millions of families that Downing Street didn't deliver what they promised.


bbcuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus lockdown: All shops can open on Monday in England

All non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen in England on Monday , the business secretary has confirmed .
Alok Sharma said `` we continue to meet '' the government 's five tests for lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions .
He said retailers can open as long as they follow safety guidelines , or they could face enforcement notices .
But asked about the possibility of reducing the 2m social distancing rule , Mr Sharma said `` we keep these matters under review '' but did not give a date .
He also said pubs , bars , restaurants and hairdressers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 July `` at the earliest '' .
In Northern Ireland , all shops are allowed to open from Friday .
No dates have been set for the reopening of non-essential shops in Scotland and Wales , although each country has set out its planned stages for lifting lockdown .
It comes as the number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus increased by 286 to a total of 40,883 , official government figures on Tuesday show .
The previous day , the UK had recorded its lowest daily rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown on 23 March .
There tends to be fewer deaths reported on Mondays , due to a reporting lag over the weekend .
The number of new confirmed cases in the UK has also increased by 1,387 .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson signalled in May that all non-essential shops would be allowed to reopen in England on 15 June .
Confirming that it was still going ahead at the daily Downing Street briefing on Tuesday , Mr Sharma said the change would allow the High Street to `` spring back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow the government 's social distancing and hygiene guidelines published last month , and all retailers that open must complete a coronavirus risk assessment .
Enforcement notices can be issued if shops reopen without the safety steps in place , Mr Sharma added .
Some retailers have already said they will open their stores in England gradually from 15 June .
Department store John Lewis will only open 13 branches initially , while Next will only open 25 of its 500 stores at first .
Some shops , such as supermarkets , corner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations have been able to remain open during the coronavirus lockdown .
And others - including furniture stores , open-air markets and car showrooms - were allowed to reopen at the start of June .
How will shopping be different ?
Perspex screens at the tills and floor markings to keep shoppers 2m ( 6ft 5ins ) apart have already become a regular fixture in supermarkets .
And those measures are also likely to feature in other shops .
But some more unfamiliar measures are also expected to be put in place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
Shoe shop Kurt Geiger will put footwear aside for 24 hours after a customer has tried them on , and Waterstones has said it will quarantine books for 72 hours after people have touched them .
Stores have been asked to encourage people to shop alone , if they can , and talk to local authorities about providing extra parking and bike racks where possible , to stop people using public transport .
Mr Sharma said other businesses such as restaurants , pubs , bars and hairdressers will remain closed until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per the government 's `` road map '' .
Pub companies have called on the government to halve the 2m rule , saying many pubs would struggle to operate .
The trade body UK Hospitality estimated that , with a 2m rule still in place , outlets would be able to make about 30 % of normal revenues , whereas 1m would mean about 60-75 % .
Asked about the distance , Mr Sharma said : `` We , of course , take advice from our scientists and of course when it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether you can move to a shorter distance but ultimately we keep all of these things under review . ''
He acknowledged that other countries had moved to shorter distances but said `` they are further along in terms of their road map , in terms of opening up businesses '' .
• 40,000 DEATHS : Could they have been prevented ?
• FACE MASKS : When should you wear one ?
• EUROPE LOCKDOWN : How is it being lifted ?
• TWO METRES : Could less than 2m work ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding one ?
• FOOD : How can I shop or get deliveries safely ?
It comes as the government dropped its plan to get all of England 's primary schoolchildren back for a month before the summer holidays begin in July .
Labour 's Rebecca Long-Bailey expressed `` dismay '' at how the plans for bringing back pupils had been handled , while head teachers ' leaders said the plan was never practical .
• People in Wales have been asked to wear face coverings on public transport and other places where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms are being warned they face court action if they refuse to give refunds to customers who had trips cancelled because of the pandemic • Less than one fifth of UK deaths in the last week of May were linked to coronavirus , according to new figures which show the number of weekly deaths continue to fall • The League One and League Two football seasons have ended early and both tables will be settled on points per game

Asked about the distance, Mr Sharma said: "We, of course, take advice from our scientists and of course when it is safe to do so we will see whether you can move to a shorter distance but ultimately we keep all of these things under review."