bbcuk--2020-06-12--UK economy shrinks record 20.4% in April due to lockdown

The UK 's economy shrank by 20.4 % in April - the largest monthly contraction on record - as the country spent its first full month in lockdown .
The Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) said the `` historic '' fall affected virtually all areas of activity .
The contraction is three times greater than the decline seen during the whole of the 2008 to 2009 economic downturn .
But analysts said April was likely to be the worst month , as the government began easing the lockdown in May .
The ONS also published figures for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which showed a decline of 10.4 % compared with the previous three-month period .
News of the slump comes as almost nine million UK workers are having their wages paid by the government , while the number of people claiming unemployment benefit rocketed by 856,500 to 2.1 million in April .
How bad is this in real terms ?
In normal times , a country 's Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) - the value of the goods and services it produces - increases , making its citizens on average slightly richer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall in GDP was the biggest the UK had ever seen .
`` [ The fall was ] more than three times larger than last month and almost 10 times larger than the steepest pre-Covid-19 fall , '' said Jonathan Athow , the agency 's deputy national statistician for economic statistics .
`` In April , the economy was around 25 % smaller than in February . ''
• What is GDP and how is it measured ?
Virtually all areas of the economy were hit , with pubs , education , health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the decline .
Carmakers and housebuilders were also badly affected , although Mr Athow told the BBC 's Today programme : `` It 's highly likely April will be the low point .
`` Our own surveys and wider indicators have suggested a pick-up in economy activity , but I think it 's really too early to know how quickly economic activity will recover in the coming months . ''
So the economy has shrunk 25 % .
How come the other 75 % is still standing ?
In large part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention propping it up .
More than one in four UK workers - some 8.9 million - are now on the government 's furlough scheme that allows them to receive 80 % of their monthly salary up to £2,500 .
The scheme has cost £19.6bn so far , while a similar programme for self-employed workers has seen 2.6 million claims made worth £7.5bn .
Without these schemes , household consumption , which makes up nearly two-thirds of the UK 's GDP , would have fallen even further .
What does the government say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` In line with many other economies around the world , coronavirus is having a severe impact on our economy .
`` The lifelines we 've provided with our furlough scheme , grants , loans and tax cuts have protected thousands of businesses and millions of jobs - giving us the best chance of recovering quickly as the economy reopens . ''
The chancellor said life would get `` a little bit more back to normal '' once High Street shops could reopen .
That is set to happen on Monday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already been allowed to resume trading .
Scotland and Wales have their own timetables for easing restrictions .
In response , shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds warned that the UK 's economy was shrinking faster than those of other countries .
She said the UK would need `` strong action to help us climb out of this as quickly as possible '' .
The ONS numbers add to the pressure to ease the lockdown more quickly , but fears around the control of the disease have led to a step-by-step cautious approach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider similar economic rescue packages to those made across Europe .
Germany , for example , has cut VAT and offered billions in a package to help families with children and purchasers of green cars .
France is offering huge rescue funds to the car and aerospace industry .
The unprecedented jobs schemes here will help to protect livelihoods .
But with this scale of hit , it will not be enough .
Sophie Lawler 's 17 health clubs remain closed to their 100,000 members in the north of England and Wales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fitness sector , she has no idea when she might get the green light to reopen .
`` The whole sector has struggled financially , and may do so for years to come , '' she said .
`` The industry is shouldering quite some rental burden , costs we still incur even while we 're closed . ''
Furloughing has been vital , she says , but she 'd like the government to do more - perhaps in the form of VAT exemptions or more support for leaseholders .
Despite the uncertainties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will weather the storm .
`` It terms of demand , we will do pretty well when we get through to the other side of this . ''
• Three firms still positive despite the crisis How does this slump compare historically ?
During the global financial crisis , from the peak in February 2008 to the lowest point of March 2009 , a total of 13 months , GDP shrank by 6.9 % .
April 's unprecedented contraction is three times that - although it is only a figure for one month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shrinking even before April .
It contracted by 2 % in the first three months of 2020 , as just a few days of impact from the virus pushed it into decline .
Economists expect an even bigger slump in the April-to-June period , plunging the country into a deep recession .
So where do we go from here ?
`` Given the lockdown started to be eased in May , April will mark the trough in GDP .
So we are past the worst , '' said Andrew Wishart , UK economist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery will be a drawn-out affair , as restrictions are only lifted gradually and businesses and consumers continue to exercise caution . ''
Tej Parikh , chief economist at the Institute of Directors , said coronavirus had caused `` unparalleled '' economic turmoil which was `` likely to scar the UK economy for some time yet '' .
`` Having provided businesses life support , the government must now figure out how to stimulate activity , '' he added .
`` Waiting until later in the year to act will risk more businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How does the UK economy compare with other countries ?
We do n't really know yet .
The UK is one of the few countries to publish monthly economic data - most others just produce quarterly and annual figures .
We do know , however , that coronavirus has already pushed several major economies into recession : • Japan saw a 3.4 % fall in GDP for the first three months of 2020 , following a 6.4 % decline during the last quarter of 2019 • Germany 's economy shrank by 2.2 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , after contracting 0.1 % in the final three months of 2019 • And France saw a 5.8 % contraction in the first quarter of 2020 , after a 0.1 % decline in the October-to-December period .
On Wednesday , the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that the UK could be the hardest hit by Covid-19 among major economies .
The British economy is likely to shrink by 11.5 % in 2020 , slightly outstripping falls in countries such as Germany , France , Spain and Italy , it said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when this happens for two three-month periods - or quarters - in a row .
Technically , we are not at that point yet .
But the UK , along with much of the rest of the world , is thought to be heading into the worst recession for decades .
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • AIR TRAVELLERS : The new quarantine rulesUK economy shrinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?

Bank of England 'ready to act' as economy shrinks record 20% Published 12 June 2020
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Image source, Getty Images
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said he will be "ready to take action" to help the UK economy weather the coronavirus crisis.
He was speaking after figures showed that the country's economy shrank by 20.4% in April - the largest monthly contraction on record - as the country spent its first full month in lockdown.
"We are still very much in the midst of this," Mr Bailey said.
But he said the figure was "pretty much in line" with what the bank expected.
"Obviously it's a dramatic and big number, but actually it's not a surprising number," he said.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said April's "historic" fall affected virtually all areas of activity, as large parts of the economy remained shut to battle the pandemic.
The contraction is three times greater than the decline seen during the whole of the 2008 to 2009 economic downturn.
But analysts said April was likely to be the worst month, as the government began easing the lockdown in May.
What else did the governor say?
Mr Bailey said there were "signs of the economy now beginning to come back into life", but the big question was how much long-term damage the pandemic would cause.
"That's the thing we've got to be very focused on, because that's where jobs get lost," he said.
"Now we hope that will be as small as possible, but we have to be ready and ready to take action, not just the Bank of England, but more broadly on what we can do to offset those longer-term and damaging effects."
The ONS also published figures for the three months from February to April, which showed a decline of 10.4% compared with the previous three-month period.
News of the slump comes as almost nine million UK workers are having their wages paid by the government, while the number of people claiming unemployment benefit rocketed by 856,500 to 2.1 million in April.
What was the political reaction?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a "tough" few months ahead, but added: "We will get through it."
"We've always been in no doubt this was going to be a very serious public health crisis but also have big, big economic knock-on effects.
"The UK is heavily dependent on services, we're a dynamic creative economy, we depend so much on human contact. We have been very badly hit by this."
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Chancellor Rishi Sunak expects life to get "a little bit more back to normal" when shops reopen
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said life would get "a little bit more back to normal" once High Street shops could reopen.
That is set to happen on Monday in England, while shops in Northern Ireland have already been allowed to resume trading. Scotland and Wales have their own timetables for easing restrictions.
In response, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds warned that the UK's economy was shrinking faster than those of other countries.
She said the UK would need "strong action to help us climb out of this as quickly as possible".
What has happened to the economy?
In normal times, a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - the value of the goods and services it produces - increases, making its citizens on average slightly richer. However, the ONS said April's fall in GDP was the biggest the UK had ever seen.
"[The fall was] more than three times larger than last month and almost 10 times larger than the steepest pre-Covid-19 fall," said Jonathan Athow, the agency's deputy national statistician for economic statistics.
"In April, the economy was around 25% smaller than in February."
He said virtually all areas of the economy had been hit, with pubs, education, health and car sales all seeing marked falls in activity.
Carmakers and housebuilders were also badly affected, although Mr Athow told the BBC's Today programme: "It's highly likely April will be the low point.
"Our own surveys and wider indicators have suggested a pick-up in economy activity, but I think it's really too early to know how quickly economic activity will recover in the coming months."
So the economy has shrunk 20%. How come the other 80% is still standing?
In large part, thanks to the extraordinary levels of state intervention propping it up.
More than one in four UK workers - some 8.9 million - are now on the government's furlough scheme that allows them to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500.
The scheme has cost £19.6bn so far, while a similar programme for self-employed workers has seen 2.6 million claims made worth £7.5bn.
Without these schemes, household consumption, which makes up nearly two-thirds of the UK's GDP, would have fallen even further.
Staying positive
Sophie Lawler's 17 health clubs remain closed to their 100,000 members in the north of England and Wales. And like the rest of the fitness sector, she has no idea when she might get the green light to reopen.
"The whole sector has struggled financially, and may do so for years to come," she said. "The industry is shouldering quite some rental burden, costs we still incur even while we're closed."
Furloughing has been vital, she says, but she'd like the government to do more - perhaps in the form of VAT exemptions or more support for leaseholders.
Despite the uncertainties, however, she thinks the sector will weather the storm. "In terms of demand, we will do pretty well when we get through to the other side of this."
The ONS numbers add to the pressure to ease the lockdown more quickly, but fears around the control of the disease have led to a step-by-step cautious approach.
There is some pressure on the Treasury to consider similar economic rescue packages to those made across Europe.
Germany, for example, has cut VAT and offered billions in a package to help families with children and purchasers of green cars. France is offering huge rescue funds to the car and aerospace industry.
The unprecedented jobs schemes here will help to protect livelihoods. But with this scale of hit, it will not be enough.
How does this slump compare historically?
During the global financial crisis, from the peak in February 2008 to the lowest point of March 2009, a total of 13 months, GDP shrank by 6.9%.
April's unprecedented contraction is three times that - and it happened in one month.
The UK's economy was already shrinking even before April.
It contracted by 2% in the first three months of 2020, as just a few days of impact from the virus pushed it into decline.
Economists expect an even bigger slump in the April-to-June period, plunging the country into a deep recession.
So where do we go from here?
"Given the lockdown started to be eased in May, April will mark the trough in GDP. So we are past the worst," said Andrew Wishart, UK economist at Capital Economics.
"But the recovery will be a drawn-out affair, as restrictions are only lifted gradually and businesses and consumers continue to exercise caution."
Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said coronavirus had caused "unparalleled" economic turmoil which was "likely to scar the UK economy for some time yet".
"Having provided businesses life support, the government must now figure out how to stimulate activity," he added.
"Waiting until later in the year to act will risk more businesses and jobs will be lost."
How does the UK economy compare with other countries?
We don't really know yet. The UK is one of the few countries to publish monthly economic data - most others just produce quarterly and annual figures.
We do know, however, that coronavirus has already pushed several major economies into recession:
Japan saw a 3.4% fall in GDP for the first three months of 2020
Germany's economy shrank by 2.2% in the first three months of this year
And France saw a 5.8% contraction in the first quarter of 2020.
On Wednesday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that the UK could be the hardest hit by Covid-19 among major economies.
The British economy is likely to shrink by 11.5% in 2020, slightly outstripping falls in countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Italy, it said.
What is a recession?
A recession is usually defined as two three-month periods - or quarters - of economic contraction in a row.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Protests threat to Churchill statue shameful, says Boris Johnson

It is `` absurd and shameful '' that a statue of Winston Churchill has had to be boarded up because of fears it could be vandalised , the prime minister says .
Boris Johnson said the war-time leader had expressed opinions which were `` unacceptable to us today '' but remained a hero for saving the country from `` fascist and racist tyranny '' .
Protesters daubed `` was a racist '' on the monument last weekend .
Mr Johnson also urged people not to gather amid the coronavirus pandemic .
In a series of tweets , he said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edit or censor our past , '' adding that such monuments were put up by previous generations .
It comes after the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into the river in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter protest on Sunday .
Demonstrations have been taking place across the world following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a police officer held a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
Mr Johnson said that , while he understood `` legitimate feelings of outrage '' at what had happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action '' was to `` stay away from these protests '' .
They had been `` hijacked by extremists intent on violence '' , he said .

Another criticism is for his part in the Bengal famine in India in 1943, during which at least three million people are believed to have died after Allied forces halted the movement of food in the region - including through British-run India - following the Japanese occupation of Burma.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: 'Start public inquiry now to prevent more deaths'

Relatives of 450 people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic are demanding an immediate public inquiry .
The families want an urgent review of `` life and death '' steps needed to minimise the continuing effects of the virus and a guarantee that documents relating to the crisis will be kept .
A full inquiry would take place later , says lawyer , Elkan Abrahamson , who is representing the families .
The government has said its current focus is on dealing with the pandemic .
But the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group say immediate lessons need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that waiting for ministers to launch an inquiry will cost lives .
The call for an inquiry comes as a report from the National Audit Office - assessing the readiness of the NHS and social care in England for the pandemic - has shown it is not known how many of the 25,000 people discharged from hospitals into care homes at the peak of the outbreak were infected with coronavirus .
Health and Social Care Select Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt said it seemed `` extraordinary that no one appeared to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health says it took the `` right decisions at the right time '' .
Ministers have insisted throughout that their response to the pandemic has been based on scientific advice .
But for Jamie Brown , whose father , Tony , died of Covid-19 in Colchester General Hospital on 29 March , two-and-a-half weeks after travelling into central London by train , the government 's decision to lock down on 23 March came too late .
Jamie , 28 , who said his father made the journey once a week at most , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ca n't help but believe that if we 'd entered lockdown sooner he would n't have been exposed in the way he was , '' he said .
Tony Brown , 65 , became ill with a dry cough and a temperature on 17 March .
He was bedridden but was adamant he would `` wait out '' the illness at home .
He appeared to be getting better but on 28 March he developed chest pains .
By the following morning his family were so concerned they called an ambulance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a cardiac arrest - caused by respiratory failure - and died .
Jamie said government advice to `` stay at home '' meant his 65-year-old father did not seek medical help early enough .
`` He was trying to wait it out and if you wait too long it turns out it kills you really quickly , '' he said .
He added that a detailed public inquiry into the broader handling of the crisis in the UK must eventually take place , but right now he believes it is crucial that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
`` We need to learn the lessons immediately from what has gone wrong to get us to this point , '' he said .
• 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 ?
The group of families , which has 450 members and is expected to grow further , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broudie Jackson Canter that acted for the Hillsborough families .
Their lawyer Mr Abrahamson has backed their call for an early phase to any inquiry , with full proceedings taking place once the pandemic is over .
`` What we need to look at straightaway are the issues which are life-and-death decisions , '' he told the BBC .
`` We expect there will be a second spike .
We want to know what the government is going to do when that happens . ''
Mr Abrahamson said an early phase to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for fully reopening schools and easing the lockdown and lay out the science behind these decisions more clearly .
The government has rejected calls for an early start to any public inquiry .
A spokesperson said : `` At some point in the future there will be an opportunity for us to look back , to reflect and to learn some profound lessons .
`` But at the moment , the most important thing to do is to focus on responding to the current situation . ''
The National Audit Office 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social care in England for the pandemic said 25,000 people were discharged from hospitals into care homes between 17 March and 15 April .
That was 10,000 fewer than the same period last year .
`` It is not known how many had Covid-19 at the point of discharge , '' said the report .
It said NHS England and NHS Improvement advice at the time was to urgently discharge from hospital `` all patients medically fit to leave '' in order to free up bed space for coronavirus patients .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NAO noted that , as of 17 May , one in three care homes had declared a coronavirus outbreak , with more than 1,000 homes dealing with positive cases during the peak of infections in April .
It follows a separate report by care chiefs in England , who said there were `` tragic consequences '' of moving patients from hospitals to care homes at the start of the pandemic .
The Department of Health and Social Care said 60 % of all care homes had avoided outbreaks entirely .
Mr Hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary , said : `` It seems extraordinary that no-one appeared to consider the clinical risk to care homes despite widespread knowledge that the virus could be carried asymptomatically .
`` Places like Germany and Hong Kong took measures to protect their care homes that we did not over a critical four-week period . ''
Latest government figures show another 151 people with coronavirus have died in the UK , across all settings , taking the country 's death toll to 41,279 .
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The call for an inquiry comes as a report from the National Audit Office - assessing the readiness of the NHS and social care in England for the pandemic - has shown it is not known how many of the 25,000 people discharged from hospitals into care homes at the peak of the outbreak were infected with coronavirus.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry 'murdered by stranger'

Two sisters found dead in a park after a party nearly a week ago were murdered by a stranger , police say .
Nicole Smallman , 27 , and Bibaa Henry , 46 , were stabbed to death in Fryent Country Park off Slough Lane in Wembley , north-west London .
They had met friends in the park at about 19:00 BST last Friday to celebrate Ms Henry 's birthday .
A pond and tonnes of rubbish , which may contain vital evidence , are being searched by police .
The sister 's bodies were found shortly after 13:00 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from multiple stab wounds .
Det Ch Insp Simon Harding said on Friday : `` We can now say with some certainty that Nicole and Bibaa were murdered by someone who was unknown to them . ''
He said investigators were searching a large area , including a pond , and trawling through hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish which may contain evidence that was accidentally cleared from the scene .
`` We believe the suspect received injuries during the incident which have caused significant bleeding , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been wounded in the last week who is unable to account for their injuries ? ''
Police believe the killer left the park via the Valley Drive entrance .
The sisters and their friends had been in part of a park which was about a five-minute walk from the Valley Drive entrance to the park .
Mr Harding also urged anyone who was in the park on Friday evening through to Sunday lunchtime and saw the group or noticed anything suspicious to come forward .
Extra resources have been brought in to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including additional detectives .
A 36-year-old man arrested in south London on suspicion of murder was released with no further action .

Det Ch Insp Simon Harding said on Friday: "We can now say with some certainty that Nicole and Bibaa were murdered by someone who was unknown to them."


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: Positive tests continue to fall in England, says ONS

The number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England is continuing to fall , according to estimates from the Office for National Statistics .
Around one in 1,700 people were infected between 25 May and 7 June , or 33,000 individuals , compared to one in 1,000 before then .
The figures are based on 20,000 tests on people in private households .
Everyone in the study was tested whether they had symptoms or not .
The ONS figures are thought to give a good picture of the proportion of people infected with the virus in the community - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals and care homes .
However , there are wide margins of error around the figures because they are based on small numbers of people testing positive .
In this analysis , 19,933 people from 9,179 households carried out their own swab tests of their throat and nose , which look for the presence of the virus .
Just 11 individuals from eight households tested positive for coronavirus , allowing statisticians to come up with estimates for the whole population .
At the end of April , the percentage of the population in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now it 's less than 0.1 % , the ONS says .
That would mean an average of 31,600 new infections per week in private households , or 4,500 per day .
The ONS analysis is part of a long-term study to track coronavirus in the general population with researchers from the University of Oxford , the University of Manchester and Public Health England .
• How does contact tracing work in England ?
• Whatever happened to the NHS contact-tracing app ?
The NHS test and trace scheme in England identified 31,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during its first week of operation , up to 3 June .
But only two-thirds of cases shared details of their close contacts so they could be followed up and ask to self-isolate for 14 days .
There is no new data on how many people have already had the virus , using antibody tests of blood samples from people in households .
This is estimated to be around 7 % in England as of 24 May .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RECOVERY : How long does it take ?
• LOCKDOWN : How can we lift restrictions ?
• ENDGAME : How do we get out of this mess ?

The ONS figures are thought to give a good picture of the proportion of people infected with the virus in the community - but they do not include infections in hospitals and care homes.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Black actor Alfred Fagon's statue damaged in Bristol

A statue of an Jamaican poet , playwright and actor has been covered with what appears to be a bleach-like substance .
The monument to Alfred Fagon in St Pauls , Bristol , was erected in 1987 on the first anniversary of his death .
Mr Fagon was the first black person to have a statue erected in their honour in the city .
It is thought the incident happened overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday and was reported to police on Thursday .
Avon and Somerset Police said it was liaising with Bristol City Council to establish ownership of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered any permanent damage .
It comes after Black Lives Matter anti-racism protesters tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol on Sunday .
Mr Fagon 's sister-in-law , Judy Malone-Fagon , said if it was vandalism , it was `` ignorant and idiotic '' .
`` It 's the only statue to a black person in Bristol , who would do something like that ? ''
she said .
`` It 's shocking .
Alfred did n't do anything to anyone but he would definitely have laughed at it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than that . ''
Anton Phillips , an actor and friend of Mr Fagon , said following the `` dumping '' of the Colston statue it `` does n't surprise me '' .
`` My memory of Alfred is he quite liked to laugh at things , '' he said .
`` So I do n't think he would have been angry , he would have laughed his head off about the absurdity of it and might have written something about it . ''
He was born in Jamaica in 1937 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sisters .
At the age of 18 he came to England to work on the railways before joining the army before moving to Bristol to work as a welder in the 1960s .
One of his first plays , No Soldiers in St Pauls , explored the social tension between the police and the black community in 1970s Bristol .
His final role was in the BBC 's Fighting Back , set in St Pauls .
He died suddenly from a heart attack on 28 August 1986 outside his flat in Camberwell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were unable to identify him and he was given a pauper 's funeral .
The annual Alfred Fagon Award was named after him and is for playwrights of Caribbean or African descent , resident in the UK .

Since that statue was toppled several other statues around the UK of people linked to the slave trade have been removed, or it has been announced that they may be taken down.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: Deprived areas hit twice as hard

The most deprived parts of England and Wales have been hit twice as hard by coronavirus as wealthier areas , the Office for National Statistics said .
And London had significantly more deaths from coronavirus per 100,000 people than any other region .
Mortality rates are `` normally higher in more deprived areas '' and coronavirus appeared to be `` increasing this effect '' , an ONS statistician said .
In England , once you adjust for the age of population , there were 128 deaths involving Covid-19 per 100,000 people in the population in the most deprived areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ half that rate ( 60 deaths per 100,000 ) in March , April and May .
In Wales a similar pattern was seen , with a rate of 110 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 in the most deprived areas - nearly double the rate of 58 deaths per 100,000 in the wealthiest areas .
There was also a clear link between coronavirus mortality and how densely populated an area is .
Between March and May , the most built-up areas , classified as a `` urban major conurbations '' , like Greater Manchester and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths per 100,000 people .
In contrast , across `` urban cities or towns '' , like Preston and Brighton , there were 74 Covid deaths per 100,000 people .
This shrank to 48 in rural villages and 23 per 100,000 in the most sparsely populated areas of England and Wales .
Broadly , the more people who come into contact with each other in a given area , the better infection spreads .
There may also be some overlap with the deprivation effect .

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Map notes
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3. Deaths occurring between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 and registered by 6 June 2020
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7. Figures are provisional.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Fawlty Towers: The Germans episode removed from UKTV over 'racial slurs'

An episode of sitcom Fawlty Towers has been taken off UKTV 's streaming service because it contains `` racial slurs '' .
The BBC-owned platform said it had made The Germans unavailable while it carries out a review .
In the 1975 episode , Basil Fawlty declares `` do n't mention the war '' around German guests , while the Major uses highly offensive language about the West Indies cricket team .
Actor and creator John Cleese described the move as `` stupid '' .
Speaking to The Age newspaper , he said the episode was clearly a critique of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things I 've learned in the last 180 years is that people have very different senses of humour , '' he said .
`` Some of them understand that if you put nonsense words into the mouth of someone you want to make fun of , you 're not broadcasting their views , you 're making fun of them . ''
UKTV also operates channels including Gold , and a spokesman said : `` UKTV has temporarily removed an episode of Fawlty Towers The Germans from Gold 's Box Set .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the episode down while we review it .
We regularly review older content to ensure it meets audience expectations and are particularly aware of the impact of outdated language .
`` Some shows carry warnings and others are edited .
We want to take time to consider our options for this episode . ''
• Netflix and iPlayer at odds over BBC comedies • Ant and Dec sorry for acting as people of colour • Little Britain pulled from iPlayer and Netflix The BBC 's commercial arm BBC Studios took over many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player last year .
The Germans is still available to view on Britbox , which is part-owned by the BBC , with a message saying it `` contains some offensive racial language of the time and upsetting scenes '' .
It is also on Netflix , carrying a warning about `` language , [ and ] discrimination '' .
Journalist and broadcaster Carl Anka described the removal as `` a waste of time '' , noting many people would prefer it if UKTV and other companies simply `` committed to hiring black creatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channels and comedy figures have been making moves to reassess what is acceptable in today 's society , following mass Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd .
HBO Max temporarily removed Gone With The Wind because of its `` racial depictions '' , and Little Britain was removed from the BBC iPlayer and Britbox because `` times have changed '' .
Netflix has also removed Little Britain plus David Walliams and Matt Lucas 's Come Fly With Me , and The League of Gentlemen and The Mighty Boosh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impersonating `` people of colour '' on Saturday Night Takeaway , and requested ITV remove the 2003 and 2004 sketches from its catch-up service .
Last week , comedian Leigh Francis issued an emotional apology for having dressed as black celebrities in the noughties impression show Bo ' Selecta .
Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

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bbcuk--2020-06-12--BA, Ryanair and EasyJet launch fight over 'devastating' quarantine plan

British Airways , Ryanair and EasyJet have filed a formal legal challenge to the government 's quarantine policy .
The airlines say the policy will have `` a devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy '' and destroy thousands of jobs .
They have applied for a judicial review at the High Court .
The challenge claims that the quarantine rules for travellers are more stringent than those applied to people who actually have Covid-19 .
• Coronavirus : What are the UK travel quarantine rules ?
The new rules came into force this week .
They require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days , although there are more than 40 categories of incomers , largely pertaining to certain workers , who are exempt .
Rules for those actually infected with the virus require self isolation for seven days .
The airlines state that there was no consultation and no scientific evidence provided to support the policy ; that weekly commuters from France or Germany can be exempted ; and that the government is preventing people from travelling to and from countries with lower infection rates than the UK .
However , the government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportionate and time-limited approach '' to protect public health .
In a statement , the three airlines said they had not seen any evidence on how and when so-called `` air bridges '' , allowing quarantine-free travel between the UK and other countries with low infection rates , could be implemented .
They have called on the government instead to re-adopt a previous policy , where quarantine was limited to travellers from high risk countries .
The air industry has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus outbreak , which has all but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are under way : • British Airways is proposing to make 12,000 of its 45,000 staff redundant , with more than 1,000 pilot roles at risk • Ryanair is set to shed 3,000 jobs - 15 % of its workforce - with boss Michael O'Leary saying the planned cuts are `` the minimum that we need just to survive the next 12 months '' • EasyJet has said it will cut up to 30 % of its workforce - about 4,500 jobs • Virgin Atlantic , which employs 10,000 people , has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European airlines cutting back include Germany 's Lufthansa , which on Thursday said it would cut 22,000 jobs .
Friday 's legal move marks another sign of a breakdown in relations between airlines and the UK government .
Willie Walsh , the boss of IAG , which owns BA , Iberia and Aer Lingus , has called the quarantine policy `` irrational '' , while Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said the policy was a `` stunt '' and would not be enforceable .
Industry body Airlines UK has said quarantine `` would effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC has approached the Home Office for a comment .

The new rules came into force this week. They require most inbound travellers to self isolate for 14 days, although there are more than 40 categories of incomers, largely pertaining to certain workers, who are exempt. Rules for those actually infected with the virus require self isolation for seven days.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Brexit: UK backtracks on full EU border checks amid coronavirus crisis

The government is to apply much less rigorous EU border checks on imports than it initially had planned , after the Brexit transition period finishes at the end of this year .
The UK had committed to introduce import controls on EU goods in January .
But ministers have now abandoned plans for full checks , with sources saying a `` pragmatic and flexible approach '' was needed due to coronavirus .
Business welcomed the move , saying it was no time for `` chaotic changes '' .
Government sources told the BBC that ministers recognised the impact the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pragmatism and flexibility on imports made sense - `` to help business adjust to the changes '' that were now imminent .
The UK left the European Union at the end of January , but is in a transition period until the end of this year , during which existing trading rules apply .
• What are the sticking points in the trade talks ?
• Trade deal still possible with EU , says UK minister The government is expected to formally confirm soon it will not ask for an extension to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , there will be an about turn , in the short term at least , on the checks carried out on imports .
In February , Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said import controls were `` necessary '' to keep the country 's borders `` safe and secure '' and to collect the appropriate taxes .
Now a `` temporary light-touch regime '' is planned at UK ports such as Dover , regardless of whether a deal is done with the EU or not .
The proposal , first reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules on imports , which the UK will set .
Checks on exports to the EU will be determined by Brussels .
Analysis : How the new system might work At the end of the transition period on 31 December , the UK is free to set its own rules for trade .
The government has announced a new list of tariffs and will now unveil how companies will pay them when they import goods into the UK and what checks will be enforced at the border .
Last year the UK announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it left without a deal .
This would have allowed importers to delay payment of the tariffs due on their goods .
This limited the risk that new checks could lead to delays that would gum up the border and slow the supply of goods into the UK .
The situation is not dissimilar this time around - particularly for goods crossing the straits of Dover from Calais .
Coronavirus has hit businesses hard and limited their capacity to prepare for new checks .
Relaxed controls will bring some relief as new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the pandemic had not struck .
Moving in the other direction , it is up to the EU what checks and tariffs being exported from the UK are subject to .
The EU has a long-standing import regime and in the absence of a deal , the same default rules will apply to the UK as apply to other countries that do n't have a free trade agreement with the EU .
There is one exception to this , with no checks for goods moving from Northern Ireland to the EU .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said government sources were insisting this was n't a permanent arrangement and was specifically designed to help with the adjustments businesses will soon have to make .
Business lobby group the CBI , said employers struggling with the impact of coronavirus wanted both sides to `` find a route through '' the process that protects jobs and living standards across Europe .
`` If confirmed this would be welcomed by businesses , which simply are n't ready for chaotic changes with our biggest trading partner at the end of the year , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CBI also welcomed news that Boris Johnson will meet the presidents of the European Commission , Council and Parliament remotely on Monday , as attempts to secure a trade deal with the EU are stepped up .
The respective negotiating teams have also agreed to `` an intensified timetable '' for July after the fourth round of negotiations last week failed to reach a breakthrough .
The UK has until the end of June to ask for the `` transition period '' - during which the country stays in the single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended into next year .
But the prime minister has repeatedly ruled this out .
The two sides will discuss later on Friday how the terms of the UK 's exit from the EU are being implemented .
Mr Gove will speak to European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič , by videoconference , about the enforcement of the Withdrawal Agreement in areas such as citizens ' rights .


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: Face masks mandatory for Uber passengers and drivers

Ride-sharing giant Uber is to make it mandatory for passengers and drivers to wear face coverings from Monday in the UK .
The minicab app firm said it was taking measures `` to help everyone stay safe '' and had introduced measures to give drivers access to protective equipment .
Face coverings will become compulsory on public transport and in hospitals in England from Monday .
It comes after a study suggested masks could cut Covid-19 spread by up to 40 % .
Uber drivers in London will have to submit a picture of themselves to verify they are following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working .
Other measures include trialling in-car partitions in Newcastle , distributing more than two million masks to drivers and sending out 54,000 units of cleaning spray and hand sanitiser .
• How to make your own face mask • Why we should all be wearing facemasks Uber 's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe , Jamie Heywood , said : `` For months we 've been urging people to stay home , for their safety and the safety of drivers who make essential trips .
`` Now , as cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , we 're taking measures to help everyone stay safe and healthy every time they use Uber . ''
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
Are you an Uber driver ?
If so , have you taken steps to protect yourself and passengers ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

But studies in laboratories have shown not only how far droplets can be spread by coughs but also how various kinds of materials can dramatically reduce how many of those droplets do get through.


bbcuk--2020-06-11--Coronavirus: Boy reunited with dad stuck on boat near house

A boy has finally been reunited with his seaman father who he had longed to see while his boat was moored near their house during lockdown .
Four-year-old Euan Gordon had only been able to wave to his dad Alasdair when the vessel docked just 100m ( 328ft ) from their home in Oban .
But now Alasdair has finished his stint at sea and returned to his family .
Mum Seonaid Russell said it had been like Christmas Day when her son was reunited with his father .
She said Euan had woken up at 05:00 with `` excitement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 , is in charge of the deck on the Pharos , which is responsible for the operation of Scottish lighthouses .
Under normal circumstances , when the boat is moored near his home he can spend the night with his family .
• Boy yearns to see dad moored outside house But since the lockdown began , Alasdair and his crew have been instructed to stay on the ship when it is tied up in dock .
However , he has now finished his latest stint at sea and been allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 34 , said Euan had been counting down the days and knew his dad would be allowed off the ship on Thursday .
She said : `` Euan was very excited and woke up particularly early because he he was so looking forward to seeing his dad .
It was like Christmas for him .
`` It was so lovely to see the smile on Euan 's face . ''
The family live in a cabin in the grounds of Seonaid 's mother 's house .
`` Euan loves baking and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cake with him in the morning for his dad , '' Seonaid said .
`` So he ran through the garden to his granny 's house at 06:00 and baked a beautiful cake for Alasdair 's welcome home . ''
Seonaid and Euan then went to the pier for the reunion .
`` Euan was so excited but he waited patiently until his dad came through the gates , '' she said .
`` I also felt excited , and was so happy to see Euan so happy to see his dad again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would now be staying with us for a while and he was delighted when we said yes . ''
They went back to the house for cake , then Alasdair took his son cycling in the park .
Seonaid said : `` They spent time together to reacquaint themselves with each other .
`` It 's so lovely to see them back together . ''
Seonaid added that she was grateful that the Northern Lighthouse Board had stuck to the guidelines , and understood why it had done so .
Alasdair said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
`` I 'm delighted to be home after a month at sea , '' he said .
`` I can finally spend the summer with my family . ''
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?

She said: "Euan was very excited and woke up particularly early because he he was so looking forward to seeing his dad. It was like Christmas for him.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: Three firms still positive despite the virus crisis

The scale of the UK 's economic troubles have been laid bare by the latest GDP figures .
Will the recovery be V-shaped , L-shaped , U-shaped , or is it far too early to tell ?
Despite the uncertainties , however , some British companies are nothing if not positive .
Here , the owners of three firms that went into lockdown in March tell the BBC why they can see light at the end of the tunnel .
The lockdown hit just as Little Moons was enjoying its best month of trading .
The business , which makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and supermarkets , shut down overnight .
Co-founder Vivien Wong said lockdown did n't come as a great surprise .
`` We 'd followed what was happening in China and Hong Kong , '' she said .
More than 50 % of revenues came from restaurants , money that dried up immediately .
`` We were were n't sure what was going to happen with supermarkets , but we knew immediately we had to go into cash preservation mode . ''
Luckily , Little Moons struck a deal with its landlord , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled marketing and all unnecessary spending .
Basically , we just hunkered down , '' Ms Wong said .
The London-based company trades throughout Europe , which has helped Little Moons to get back to business .
Ms Wong said : `` Europe opened up a little earlier , so from about mid-May we started getting orders from supermarkets .
`` We started un-furloughing a few members of our team , and have just started cranking up production again . ''
But a return to the record trading Little Moons saw in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Wong said : `` We have halved the number of people on the production floor and changed shift patterns .
`` It means we are not as efficient as before .
That 's really affected us financially . ''
Little Moons is employing more cleaners , and the cost of face masks and other food hygiene equipment has soared .
The firm 's future is tied up with the restaurant sector , which she worries may never fully recover .
That said , supermarket orders are rising , which Ms Wong puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It was pretty catastrophic '' is how Adam Redhouse describes the first few days of lockdown .
Sales and lettings at his London estate agents firm disappeared virtually overnight .
`` We furloughed sales staff immediately , and closed all the offices , '' he said .
`` We lost over 50 % of the sales pipeline over the first few days as people cancelled . ''
And yet , over the following weeks the business continued to get what Mr Redhouse said were `` a fair few inquiries .
That was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't do viewings , you ca n't sell properties . ''
Still , even though Squire Estates did very few transactions , the continuing customer interest at least gave him hope that business would pick up once the lockdown eased .
It was only in mid-May that estate agents began re-opening for business , but Mr Redhouse has been amazed at the pace of recovery .
`` It sounds crazy , given how much business we lost , '' he said .
`` It was on a Tuesday night that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wednesday morning we un-furloughed all the sales staff .
There was a lot of pent up demand for transactions and viewings , '' he said .
It helped , Mr Redhouse believes , that he and his partner made a special effort to keep in touch with clients and potential clients during the lockdown .
Business continues to pick up , but will it get back to normal ?
`` I like to think so .
The amount of demand that we are seeing shows that people want to move .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sophie Lawler 's 17 health clubs remain closed to their 100,000 members in the north of England and Wales .
And like the rest of the fitness sector , she has no idea when she might get the green light to re-open .
`` The whole sector has struggled financially , and may do so for years to come , '' she said .
`` The industry is shouldering quite some rental burden , costs we still incur even while we 're closed . ''
Furloughing has been vital .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep the business going , '' she said .
Staff wages are the biggest fixed costs after property rents and rates .
As soon as Total Fitness is given the go-ahead to re-open Ms Lawler plans to bring all the staff back from furlough .
`` We will need all our people , maybe even more . ''
She 'd like to see the government do more to help , perhaps with some VAT exemptions and support for landlords to let them ease the burden on leaseholders .
Despite the uncertainties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` has an exceptionally bright future if we can weather this storm '' .
Ms Lawler said the sector has proved particularly resilient to recessions in the past , and will do so again .
She expects to see a uptick in customers who recognise the importance of fitness and exercise in the fight to stay healthy against viruses .
`` It terms of demand , we will do pretty well when we get through to the other side of this , '' she said .
The trouble is , she has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our single biggest challenge is that there is just no guidance on re-opening . ''

Ms Lawler said the sector has proved particularly resilient to recessions in the past, and will do so again. She expects to see a uptick in customers who recognise the importance of fitness and exercise in the fight to stay healthy against viruses.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: What will a night out be like after lockdown?

When people in the UK were asked last month what they were most looking forward to post-lockdown , only seeing friends and family ranked higher than a night out .
And with limited socialising now a possibility , attention is turning to Britain 's pubs , bars and clubs .
The government has said the hospitality sector , which includes pubs and bars , could reopen `` no earlier than 4 July '' .
But can nightlife in the UK ever conform to social distancing rules ?
And what would a Covid-safe evening out look like ?
`` It might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear masks , it might be that people have to have their temperature taken on entry , '' says Alex Black , manager of Thekla , a 600-capacity club and music venue in Bristol .
Thekla is unusual in that it is a former cargo ship moored in a dock in the city centre .
Yet it faces the same problems as many bars , clubs and pubs on dry land : it can be cramped inside and has limited outside space .
`` The plan at the moment is to utilise outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council about using the car park , '' Alex tells the BBC .
• When will pubs , bars , cafes and restaurants reopen ?
• Should we be allowed closer than 2m ?
Any outside space would have to be filled with heavy or fixed furniture to ensure social distancing , and people would need to rely on table service for drinks , with orders likely placed through an app .
Crucially , Alex says the dancefloor will be closed : `` If they have a couple of drinks and start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't going to be possible . ''
Other new features could involve one-way systems - similar to supermarkets - and temporary outdoor toilets , with stewards brought in to regulate both .
The cost of these extras , plus any cut taken by the ordering app and fees paid to the council for using extra land , mean profits will be hard to come by .
The answer for clubs , Alex says , might be to still treat each night as an event , with a DJ or band and an admission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implement some sort of entertainment to warrant the admission charge .
Realistically , that is the way you 'd have to do it to make it profitable . ''
And it is not just venues that rely on music that need more space .
Pubs too are facing the possibility of being unable to open .
`` We could normally fit about 70 people in here , '' says Sean Hughes , who runs The Boot , a grade II listed pub in St Albans .
`` At 2m distancing , we 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
`` It 's a horseshoe bar , it 's very narrow .
It 's about two metres from the door to the bar , and then all around the edge you have tables .
On one side we have toilets , so that takes out all of the tables on that side because people have to queue . ''
The only option for The Boot , as with many pubs , is to put tables outside , or on the street , which the local council has temporarily closed .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get in , table service - again , possibly via an app - and gloves and face coverings for staff might be necessary .
These measures , he fears , will detract from the experience and could keep customers away .
And not all pubs , clubs and bars will even be lucky enough to make use of outside space .
Among those working to ensure venues of all kinds can operate safely and profitably in larger cities are London night czar Amy Lamé and Manchester 's night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , to begin with , you 'll have to be seated , '' Sacha says of bars and pubs .
`` I think it will be table service , you wo n't be asked to take your glasses back to the bar . ''
He says that disposable menus and Perspex screens could be common .
`` It 's not going to have the atmosphere for quite a while . ''
With reduced capacities , could pubs and bars opt to charge more for drinks ?
`` I do n't think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that paying more is really an option , '' says Amy , but she concedes making a profit will be a struggle .
`` Overwhelmingly , bars , pubs and clubs rely on the last 20 % of people walking through their door before they make a profit , so it 's really important they 're operating at the fullest capacity possible . ''
But the UK is not alone in trying to open its evening economy .
Close to 40 night-time advisers from around the world - including from the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Netherlands and Germany - have joined forces in a WhatsApp group to share potential solutions .
So what steps are others taking ?
Germany allowed some venues with large outdoor spaces to open from 15 May .
These operated as beer gardens with food being served .
Dancing , however , was banned and closing time was set at 22:00 .
Bars were opened on 2 June , although guests have to sit at tables , one and half metres apart - and last orders are at 23:00 .
Clubs remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and France , has reopened bars , though there is a limit to 30 customers inside , while in Italy plastic screens have been installed between tables .
Spain reopened its bars and some clubs on 8 June , though again dancing is not allowed .
Switzerland opened its nightlife on 6 June , albeit with limits on numbers of visitors and the requirement to record customers ' details to help trace outbreaks .
In China , where bars have been open since March , the tracing of customers goes far further .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to present a government-developed app on their phone , which displays an overview of their health .
They then have a temperature check , usually on their wrist , before filling out a form with their name , phone number and passport number .
Alex Blatt , a UK citizen based in Beijing , says the experience is far from what it was before the pandemic .
`` You 're quite conscious of checking you 're doing everything by the rules .
Have I signed in correctly ?
Is my temperature OK ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What tables am I allowed to sit at ?
Do I wear my mask all the time ?
`` It 's that uncertainty in a domain that once felt so ordinary .
But at the end of the day it 's still a place people go to relax , so fundamentally these places get that and they 're trying to do that as best they can . ''
The pressing question for the UK industry is not just what venues will look like when they return , but - with social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to return at all .
The deciding factor for many will be whether the current 2m rule will have to be enforced indoors .
`` With 2m distancing , we 're only looking at 30 % to 40 % of bars and pubs , and even less clubs , being able to open , '' says Mike Kill , CEO of the Night Time Industries Association .
`` Once you get to 1.5m you 're looking at about 50 % , and once you get to 1m you 're looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 % of venues unable to operate under any form of social distancing will be The Jazz Cafe , in Camden , north London .
`` We worked out logistical examples of distancing and how many people we could get in and it just does n't make any sense , '' says head of music Ruari Frew .
With the government 's furlough scheme due to end in October , The Jazz Cafe , one of the city 's best-loved music venues , is now planning to survive until 2021 through crowdfunding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and businesses to call for more clarity around when and how the UK government wants pubs and bars to reopen .
A government spokesman told the BBC the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy was `` working closely with businesses across the hospitality sector '' to help them reopen .
But whatever the government 's guidelines , it is likely to be some time before the familiar enjoyment of pre-coronavirus nightlife returns .

"It's a horseshoe bar, it's very narrow. It's about two metres from the door to the bar, and then all around the edge you have tables. On one side we have toilets, so that takes out all of the tables on that side because people have to queue."


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: What does a working 'test and trace' system look like?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has expressed `` renewed confidence '' NHS Test and Trace will become the `` world-class system '' promised by the prime minister - although Mr Hancock acknowledged the system needed to get `` better and better '' as it developed .
But what does an already world-beating test and trace programme look like ?
There is no need to look as far as Singapore , South Korea or even Germany for one ; an extremely successful example can be found much closer to home .
Guernsey has not recorded a new coronavirus case in 43 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the island .
This has led to significant easing of its lockdown rules and the Channel Island 's 63,000 residents can go shopping , get a haircut and meet up with friends and family .
Such is the success of the response , from 20 June the government will remove nearly all lockdown restrictions and life will effectively return to normal , with no social distancing requirements for businesses or restrictions on gatherings .
Overall , 252 people in Guernsey are recorded as having contracted coronavirus between 9 March and 1 May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died with the virus and three further suspected Covid deaths .
The people of Guernsey are currently the only ones in the British Isles who can lawfully drink a pint in a pub without a meal - landlords aside .
Currently , everyone who enters a `` controlled environment '' , like a pub , restaurant or hairdressers , must leave their name and contact details with the business .
These must be available at all times for the island 's Public Health Services to access , should a new case be found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be lifted .
It 's an imposition that does not seem to trouble people enjoying a drink in the sunshine at the Rockmount in Cobo .
One of them , Colin Saxby , said the ability to order a pint was `` very pleasant '' , especially when the weather was good .
`` I like a beer and crossword at lunchtime , so I 'm quite happy . ''
According to the island 's director of public health , Dr Nicola Brink , the backbone of this relaxation of lockdown was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test , trace and isolate '' system .
Dr Brink said she began preparing at the end of January , by which point it had become `` clear '' to her Covid-19 had `` pandemic potential '' .
With just one hospital and a relatively elderly population - nearly 20 % of islanders are over 65 - a serious outbreak could have been catastrophic .
The trained virologist 's calm presence at live-streamed government briefings has turned her into something of a local celebrity .
She began recruiting contact tracers in January and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was found , they were `` ready and waiting '' .
Dr Brink said : `` Having those trained individuals on the 9th of March meant we were able to implement our programme immediately . ''
So far , contact tracers have spoken to 1,757 people in the island - the equivalent of about 1.8 million in the UK .
However , despite this early action , the response was not without challenges .
During the height of the crisis in mid-March , when cases were emerging rapidly and there were concerns the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speed of returning test results became a significant problem .
Guernsey was entirely dependent on UK laboratories and was unable to `` deliver our strategy efficiently '' , Dr Brink explained .
She said : `` We were waiting two or three days for a test result and that was not enabling us to respond . ''
As a result , schools were closed on 22 March and a full lockdown was introduced three days after .
Fortunately , the Public Health team realised delays were a possibility and had already ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the beginning of March .
The project came together with `` remarkable '' speed , and the capacity to test an equivalent of 160,000 people daily in UK terms was up and running by the end of the month , Dr Brink said .
This will have increased to 400,000 by July , once an expected shipment of testing equipment arrives and is installed .
Because Guernsey is a Crown Dependency , it has total control over its borders .
A mandatory two-week quarantine for new arrivals was imposed on 19 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after life returns to near normality to prevent reintroducing the virus .
This ability to regulate who comes in and goes out of the Bailiwick , which also includes the islands of Alderney and Sark , has been fundamental to its response to the pandemic .
Dr Brink herself acknowledges the advantageous position , and how test and trace is `` ideal '' for the island .
A difficulty the team encountered as the pandemic progressed into April was over concerns they were not picking up on symptoms .
Dr Brink said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence coming from around the world led them to expand their list of symptoms early on .
By 8 April , they had included the loss of smell and taste to their list which would cause people to get tested , nearly a month before the UK did so .
Guernsey 's contact tracing system is based around interviewing coronavirus patients over the phone and establishing who could be at risk .
An essential part of this process is establishing a `` rapport '' with them and building trust , Dr Brink said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really important that we provide people with detailed explanations of what we 're doing .
`` They 're entitled to that information and if people have it they are more likely to co-operate and understand . ''
Nurse Andrea Tostevin was trained as a contact tracer in January .
She said it was essential people doing the work had good communication skills .
Case interviews , where contact tracers establish who patients have interacted with , begin within an hour of the test results coming in , Mrs Tostevin explained .
She said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and worried about themselves and their family .
`` It 's important you could give some reassurance and have the information . ''
Mrs Tostevin explained that a small number of those being asked to isolate for two weeks were confused or pushed back at her , but the vast majority were happy to comply with the restrictions .
`` People who were several days from their contact and feeling really well would occasionally question 'why do I need to do this ? '
. ''
However , she said they were invariably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for self-isolation and get sceptical people on board , praising the `` community spirit '' shown by most people .
Dr Brink echoed this view , praising the `` incredible support '' of the people of Guernsey for their response to the pandemic .
She said : `` It 's been incredibly humbling .
At times , at the end of a long day , it 's the type of thing that 's kept me going . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• RISK AT WORK : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has expressed "renewed confidence" NHS Test and Trace will become the "world-class system" promised by the prime minister - although Mr Hancock acknowledged the system needed to get "better and better" as it developed. But what does an already world-beating test and trace programme look like?


bbcuk--2020-06-11--How will launderettes come out in the wash?

Launderettes have been at the heart of communities for decades but despite being deemed an essential service during the coronavirus lockdown , many owners say their businesses are suffering .
What does the future hold for them ?
From the outside , they look a bit like a waiting room - the occupants gazing quietly at the machines as their clothes whirl round .
Photographer James Wise has always been drawn to the charm of their interiors and facades , photographing the people who own them and the people who use them in towns across Lancashire .
When the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document those near his home in Chorley .
`` I find launderettes fascinating .
They are preserved anomalies - a time capsule .
High street shops are so sterile and are geared towards not offending anyone , whereas launderettes are full of character .
`` I still use the machines and feel nostalgic about my childhood , as I have so many memories from them .
Pre-coronavirus , I remember them being bustling with people .
`` Now there is a nervous apprehension from people not wanting to get close to each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is just a hum of the machines . ''
The Washtub on Moor Road features heavily in James ' photographic series , which he posts on his Instagram account .
Owner Imtiaz Master , who has been in the business for 12 years , said his shop has been `` significantly impacted '' due to the outbreak .
The 32-year-old said he is worried about the future of his business .
`` We 've seen a 90 % reduction in a lot of the elderly customers who come in on a weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of customers I 'm receiving , I may have to shut as I wo n't be able to afford my bills for electric , gas and water . ''
The Washbowl Launderette on Pall Mall has been in operation since 1960 and its owners span three generations of the same family .
Taryn Baker left a job in London to take over the business last year .
`` I grew up with the business being part of family life , '' said the 31-year-old .
`` During school holidays , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my grandparents to check on the machines and staff . ''
Taryn said she `` remains hopeful '' about the future and is working on updating her business strategy to move forward .
`` There is no doubt that Covid-19 has financially impacted our business with our turnover dropping substantially . ''
The landscape is similar at launderettes across England .
Derek Read inherited Swift Launderette from his father , who opened in Kings Heath , Birmingham , in 1950 .
`` I grew up in launderettes and I remember when it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a machine .
For many years , they were the social hub of many communities , with much gossip and many scandals being discussed .
`` We chat to our regular elderly customers as much as possible as many are lonely due to the social isolation , '' the 63-year-old added .
Derek has seen dry cleaning turnover drop to `` almost zero '' and is unsure what the future holds .
`` I suspect many in this industry will find it impossible to continue if the lockdown continues much longer . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ How are coastal resorts faring during lockdown ?
'They were fighting for a pack of chicken breasts' The effect of lockdown on Little America Mark Gillows quit his job at a rugby club to open four shops in Wiltshire and Bath in 2004 .
`` My first memory of launderettes was the warmth from the big old tumble driers hitting me - like when you step out of an aeroplane in Barbados , '' said the 48-year-old .
`` It has become quite trendy to want to own one .
They are community-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who use the launderette facility to not only do their laundry , but to socialise too . ''
The impact on the Bath branches have been `` dramatic '' , but `` not by all means grave '' .
In fact , Mark remains `` hugely optimistic '' for the industry .
`` The word cleaning has taken on even greater meaning now , as people come to terms with living in a society where it has become even more essential . ''
James , who has struck up friendships with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show his photographs at an exhibition in July at The Tap in Manchester .
`` I would be so upset if [ the launderettes ] had to close .
The owners are in a precarious position and their livelihoods are at stake .
`` Launderettes are some of the last shops left in the world with personality . ''

"We've seen a 90% reduction in a lot of the elderly customers who come in on a weekly basis. If this continues with the amount of customers I'm receiving, I may have to shut as I won't be able to afford my bills for electric, gas and water."


bbcuk--2020-06-11--Quiz of the Week: Whose statue got dunked?

It 's the weekly news quiz - how closely have you been paying attention to what 's been going on @ @ @ @ @ past seven days ?
If you can not see the quiz , follow this link @ @ @ @ @ quiz via this link .

It's the weekly news quiz - how closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on in the world during the past seven days?


bbcuk--2020-06-12--Coronavirus: What is a recession?

Coronavirus: What is a recession?

The UK , along with much of the rest of the world , is thought to be heading into the worst recession for decades .
So what exactly does that mean ?
Its citizens , on average , get slightly richer as the value of the goods and services it produces - its Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) - increases .
But sometimes the value of goods and services produced falls .
A recession is usually defined as when this happens for two three-month periods - or quarters - in a row .
If a recession carries on for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad , it is known as a depression .
Why does it matter if there is a recession ?
For most people , economic growth is a good thing .
It usually means there are more jobs to go round .
Companies are generally more profitable and can afford to pay employees and shareholders more .
A growing economy also means the government gets more money in taxes .
So it has room to cut taxes , or spend more on benefits , public services and the wages of government workers .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go into reverse .
Are we in recession yet ?
Most of the developed world saw negative growth - or falling GDP - for January to March 2020 , as the economic impact of coronavirus began to hit .
The official figures for April to June have n't been published yet , but they are likely to show even bigger falls .
This would mean a second quarter of negative growth , confirming that much of the world is in recession .
In the UK , the economy shrank by 2 % from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for National Statistics .
It then shrank by 20.4 % in April - the largest monthly contraction on record - in its first full month in lockdown .
The International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) predicts huge falls in GDP for 2020 as a whole - an extraordinary fall of 5.9 % for the US and 6.5 % for the UK .
In fact the IMF estimates the entire world economy will shrink by 3 % this year , making it the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some people may lose their jobs , or find it harder to secure new opportunities and promotions .
Graduates and school leavers looking for their first job could find fewer openings available .
Those staying in work may miss out on pay rises - or have to work longer hours or accept pay cuts .
The UK government 's spending watchdog , the Office for Budget Responsibility ( OBR ) , suggested the unemployment rate could more than double , to 10 % this summer .
It also estimates that the government might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover the cost of the crisis .
However , the pain of a recession is typically not felt equally across society , and inequality can increase .
For instance , many people in the UK who owned houses with mortgages and kept their jobs during the last recession did OK .
The Bank of England cut interest rates to support the economy , which reduced mortgage interest payments for many considerably , leaving them with more money to spend .
Others , such as benefit recipients or public sector workers , did less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • PUBLIC TRANSPORT : Is it safe to travel ?
• WILL I GET PAID IF I CA N'T WORK ?
Sick pay , wages and time off rules • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
How long was the last recession ?
In the UK the last recession , caused by the global financial crisis , lasted five quarters - from the second quarter of 2008 onwards .
GDP fell by an estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unemployment rose sharply , but it began to fall back again two years later .
And there was a massive deficit - the gap between what the government raises in taxes and what it spends on public services .
This resulted in a near-doubling of the national debt , and a decade-long programme of austerity .
There were steep cuts in many areas of government spending , except health , education and international aid .
When will the recession end ?
The IMF predicts the recession will be over next year and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we are in uncharted territory , and no-one knows how strong that recovery will be .
If all the businesses which shut during the pandemic and lockdown could open quickly , the consequences of the recession would be less severe .
However , there are fears over whether the virus will start spreading again , and people may be wary of travelling or going out even if they 're told it 's safe .
Cruises , air travel and business conferences in particular could take years to bounce back .
So the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years to come .
What can be done ?
A reliable way of controlling Covid-19 , such as a vaccine , would help create a strong recovery .
But until that is found , there are a few remedies available .
In the last recession , central banks cut interest rates to support the economy .
That meant people and businesses could borrow more easily , and had more to spend .
But interest rates are already close to zero in many places , and it may not be possible to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world are already borrowing huge sums to support their economies through tax cuts and higher public spending - such as furlough schemes , support for businesses , and even direct cash payments to citizens .
But that borrowing comes at a cost , which will be felt for decades to come .

The OBR, which provides independent advice to the government, now expects the UK economy to shrink by 0.2% in 2023 but is not predicting falls in two successive three-month periods, meaning, technically, the country will not go into recession.


bbcuk--2020-06-12--The peaceful protester falsely accused of burning the union jack

A peaceful protester received racial abuse and threats online - all because of a case of mistaken identity .
The first message was confusing .
It came from a journalist via Instagram , asking Momo whether he was the person captured on video atop a war memorial , seemingly trying to burn a union jack .
He had no idea what it was all about , so at first he ignored the message .
But soon a friend sent him a Facebook post .
It featured Momo 's photo .
Threats and abuse dominated the comments .
`` He should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Go back to your country ! ''
Others were much , much worse .
It dawned on him that he had become the target of a campaign accusing him of torching the national flag at the Cenotaph , the memorial to Britain 's war dead on Whitehall in central London .
It was a case of mistaken identity - obvious to anyone who bothered to make even the most cursory check .
For one thing , photos and news reports identified the person who climbed on to the Cenotaph not as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But a few influential accounts published Momo 's real name - we agreed to call him by a pseudonym because of the risk of further abuse - and soon his picture was going viral for the wrong reasons .
The 23-year-old Londoner is a recent graduate , working as a tutor and looking to set up a sustainable fashion brand .
He spoke exclusively to BBC News about what happened to him .
The death of George Floyd moved him to action - he wanted to highlight the roots of racism beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
And so on Wednesday 3 June , he joined peaceful anti-racism protests in London .
He donned a red , white and blue anorak and headed out into the drizzle with a few friends , carrying a sign that read : `` The UK invented racism '' .
They marched and chanted , and a few hours later , wet and shivering , Momo returned home .
He deliberated for a few days about posting the photo of himself at the protests on his social media accounts , but eventually did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unbeknownst to him , something significant had happened in between .
On Sunday 7 June , further protests were held in central London .
Although large and mostly peaceful , they were marred in the evening by a smaller , violent group .
Twelve arrests were made and eight officers were injured , police said , following similar scenes the day before .
The Cenotaph flag incident happened in the middle of the melee .
Pictures and news reports clearly show a person atop the monument 's plinth .
Like Momo three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red , white and blue anorak .
That 's where the similarity ends , however .
Momo bears little resemblance to the woman pictured at the monument .
They have different face shapes and builds , and if you look closely , the pattern on their anoraks is clearly different .
But apparently fuelling the online mob is one thing they do have in common : they are both black .
`` It 's become clear to me that this is n't about naming and shaming the person who set fire to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead it 's about targeting a black person with abuse . ''
The Metropolitan Police say a 20-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with the incident at the Cenotaph .
She has been bailed to a later date in July .
Momo did n't panic until his brother noticed one particular viral tweet .
Momo 's picture was shared by a Twitter account , @ nathansbritain , which recently has been devoted to messages opposing the Black Lives Matter protesters and supporting US President Donald Trump .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a good idea to set the Union Jack on fire on Whitehall , '' @ nathansbritain wrote .
`` I hope he is proud of himself , the filthy rat . ''
Although the account was n't huge , thousands of people retweeted and commented .
The replies were littered with racist abuse .
In a statement , Twitter told BBC News : `` Users can not promote violence against , threaten or harass other people on the basis of race , ethnicity or other protected groups . ''
But the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nathansbritain is not in violation of its rules .
The person behind @ nathansbritain did not respond to attempts to contact them for comment .
From Twitter , Momo 's picture was shared in other places , including on Facebook and Reddit .
In one group , the poster declared : `` Let 's make this scumbag famous '' .
That post racked up 1,500 shares and hundreds of comments before Facebook removed it along with another one repeating the false claim .
A Facebook spokesperson said : `` We do n't tolerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms and we encourage those affected by this behaviour to report it so we can take swift action . ''
Despite dozens of people pointing out the clear case of mistaken identity , many other accounts sharing Momo 's picture have not corrected their posts or taken them down . '
I did n't expect it to be like this' The abuse continues , but Momo says he 's not removing his original photo - the one of him at a peaceful protest - from his social media accounts .
He 's asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the false claim , and says he 's not surprised by the abuse .
`` So many friends messaged me saying , 'Can you believe this is happening ? '
Trust me , I can believe it , '' he says .
`` As a black person , I 'm so used to hearing and seeing these kinds of comments .
`` This whole situation really highlights the dehumanisation of black people online .
People just see a picture , people just see a face .
People do n't see a human with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of fact-checking - and the Black Lives Matter movement . ''
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Others were much, much worse. It dawned on him that he had become the target of a campaign accusing him of torching the national flag at the Cenotaph, the memorial to Britain's war dead on Whitehall in central London.