bbcuk--2020-05-30--Coronavirus: Renters struggle most with pandemic costs, report says

Private renters are more likely to be struggling with payments than those who own their homes , new research by the Resolution Foundation suggests .
The think tank concludes one in eight private renters have fallen behind with housing costs since the coronavirus crisis began , compared to one in 12 mortgaged home owners .
Its report is based on a YouGov survey of around 6,000 adults in the UK .
The government says it took action to support renters during the pandemic .
The action , which the government calls `` unprecedented '' includes banning evictions for three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lindsay Judge , principal policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation , said renters tended to be in a weaker financial position going into the crisis .
`` They had lower levels of savings for example , and they spent considerably more of their income on housing costs in the first place .
It 's also fair to say home owners have been more successful at directly reducing their housing costs , so we 've seen many more home owners issued a mortgage holiday than renters are being given reductions in rent . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee has warned `` there is a looming crisis in the private rental sector '' , with thousands of tenants unable to pay their rent having lost their jobs or seen a significant loss of income .
The committee 's chair , Labour MP Clive Betts , told the BBC the UK was currently in `` the lull before the storm . ''
Citizens Advice has estimated that around 2.6 million tenants expect to fall behind on their rent because of coronavirus .
Its principal policy manager Joe Lane warned renters are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection from eviction .
`` What we want the government to do is make sure there are protections for people who have fallen into arrears due to coronavirus , and also take steps to make sure landlords have to put in place things like affordable repayment plans and make sure the requirement to work with renters has some teeth . ''
The housing charity Shelter said its emergency helpline has been inundated with calls from distressed renters who have lost their jobs and are terrified of losing their homes .
Dennie Smith has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
She says that until the pandemic came along , she had never missed a payment .
The £1,950 monthly rent has been a struggle since her husband lost his job last autumn .
Then her South Croydon hair salon Vintage 62 had to close in late March because of the Covid-19 shutdown , meaning a sudden loss of income .
Dennie says her landlord agreed she could postpone two months ' rent , but she will still need to pay back the arrears in future .
`` We managed to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April and May , and then June is due on Monday .
I feel sick actually , because at the moment that 's one of our biggest outgoings , the rent . ''
Her husband is about to start a new job , but will have a lower salary than before .
She hopes her business is able to re-open as soon as possible and that customers do come back quickly .
But landlords are also feeling the knock-on effects .
The National Residential Landlords ' Association ( NRLA ) says that due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its members have experienced some combination of rent payment problems or unanticipated periods when properties are empty .
Buy-to-let landlords are eligible for three-month mortgage holidays .
The NRLA says this is helping to sustain tenancies , but means a cost further down the line .
Sussex-based landlady Sue Hull has eight properties .
One set of tenants , a couple who work full-time , had to self-isolate after their child displayed Covid-19 symptoms .
Sue was sympathetic when they said how much they received in statutory sick-pay would affect their ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defer payments for two months , to be paid back over two years .
Sue does not want to apply for a mortgage holiday from a buy-to-let lender because she fears it would affect how lenders perceive her situation when she tries to re-mortgage two other properties .
`` I 've also got another property that 's empty I 'm paying council tax on '' she says .
`` Presently I 'm having to take £600 pounds a month from my own savings .
So it is not something I want to sustain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beadle , chief executive at the NRLA said landlords are nervous .
`` A number of our members are having issues that arose pre-Covid and not able to get possession of their property .
With any sort of ban - we do n't see that as being a long-term solution .
We think a careful re-opening of evictions needs to take place that prioritises pre-Covid debt , anti-social behaviour and prioritises domestic violence . ''
The NRLA wants to see existing support extended to help tenants cover their costs , including the elimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Universal Credit .
Clive Betts said that although the government was considering a `` Pre-Action Protocol '' encouraging landlords to reach out to private tenants to understand their position before taking court action , this would only be worthwhile if the courts had discretion to make sure an attempt had been made to reach an agreement with their tenants .
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government said : `` We 've taken unprecedented action to support renters and landlords during the pandemic - including banning evictions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and we 've always said we will keep this under review .
`` To help prevent people getting into financial hardship or rent arrears , we 've given support for business to pay staff salaries and strengthened the welfare safety-net .
`` Our guidance to landlords and tenants is clear they should work together to address any concerns and find solutions to overcome rent arrears , such as an affordable repayment programme . ''
Citizens Advice said people who are struggling to pay their rent should get in touch with their landlord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They should also try to arrange for any arrears to be paid back over a manageable period and keep a note of discussions .
The organisation also suggested exploring options for increasing income - for instance , making claims for benefits or other financial support introduced by the government to help ease the financial impact of the pandemic .
The government has paused eviction proceedings until 25 June and has also temporarily extended notice periods for some tenancy types to three months .
It is not yet clear what , if any , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post 25 June .

"They had lower levels of savings for example, and they spent considerably more of their income on housing costs in the first place. It's also fair to say home owners have been more successful at directly reducing their housing costs, so we've seen many more home owners issued a mortgage holiday than renters are being given reductions in rent."


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus furlough scheme to finish at end of October, says chancellor

The UK 's coronavirus furlough scheme will finish at the end of October , Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed .
At the No 10 briefing , Mr Sunak also set out how employers will have to start sharing the cost of the scheme .
From August , employers must pay National Insurance and pension contributions , then 10 % of pay from September , rising to 20 % in October .
Also , workers will be allowed to return to work part-time from July , but with companies paying 100 % of wages .
Mr Sunak said the Coronavirus Job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are able to work can do so '' .
Some 8.4 million workers are having 80 % of their salaries paid for by the government - up to £2,500 a month - under the scheme , which was originally intended to last until the end of July .
Earlier this month , the chancellor extended the scheme until the end of October , but did not spell out how employers would start contributing .
• What does it mean if I 've been furloughed by work ?
Under Friday 's changes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of pay until the end of October , but by then a fifth of their salary will have to be met by employers .
`` Then , after eight months of this extraordinary intervention of the government stepping in to help pay people 's wages , the scheme will close , '' Mr Sunak said .
Asked if he would `` switch the furlough scheme back on '' in the case of a second peak in cases and the reintroduction of lockdown measures , the chancellor said the scheme `` as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way that it is designed '' will end in October .
`` Eight months , as I said , is I think a generous and long period of time , '' he said .
Slowly withdrawing very expensive government support programmes without crashing the economy .
Cash-strapped employers must decide if they can take on an increasing burden to keep workers for whom there may be little or no work .
The chancellor says the government ca n't go on meeting the full cost of the furlough scheme .
But the withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the government hopes that the support withdrawal will be mirrored by business demand recovering .
We may be about to find out how many real jobs are left in the post-coronavirus economy .
Read more from Simon here .
Employers ' claims under the scheme have reached £15bn so far , however the scheme is expected to cost a total of around £80bn , or £10bn a month .
The Office for Budget Responsibility is set to publish detailed costings next week .
It comes as the latest UK-wide figures show another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus in hospitals and the wider community , bringing the total to 38,161 .
Some 131,458 people were tested for coronavirus on Thursday , with 2,095 more positive cases reported .
Restaurateur David Moore told the BBC he is `` deeply , deeply worried '' about the changes to the scheme .
Mr Moore , who owns London restaurant Pied a Terre , said it is unfair for hospitality firms to start paying towards wages when they do not have any revenues .
`` It is massively disappointing and sheer lunacy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't had any revenues for what will be then probably five months , to ask them to start contributing , '' he told BBC Radio 4 's The World at One .
He warned that some businesses could go bust as a result .
`` Will we have any money coming through the door to help contribute ?
If we do n't it is all too late , a lot of businesses are heading down the pan . ''
`` It is concerning that there is no commitment within these plans for support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the removal of lockdown , '' she said .
`` Nor is there any analysis of the impact on unemployment of a 'one size fits all ' approach being adopted across all sectors . ''
How will the scheme change ?
From 1 July , businesses will be allowed to bring furloughed employees back part-time , a month earlier than previously announced .
The move is aimed to help support people back to work , the government said .
It will be down to individual firms to decide what part-time means .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours and shift patterns staff will work when they return , but companies will have to pay wages while they are in work .
`` Extending the job retention scheme and making it more flexible is key to getting the economy back on its feet , '' said Federation of Small Businesses national chairman Mike Cherry .
`` By providing employers with the adaptability they 'll require as businesses adjust to a new normal , and bringing forward the flexible furlough launch date , the government is giving hope to small firms right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August the level of government grant will be reduced `` to reflect that people are returning to work '' .
Furloughed workers will continue to receive 80 % of their pay , but from August it will include a growing employer contribution .
It will start with bosses paying NI and pensions in August , plus 10 % of pay in September , rising to 20 % in October .
The details : How employers ' contributions will increase ?
During August the government will pay 80 % of wages up to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay NI and pension contributions .
For the average claim , that 's 5 % of the gross employment costs the employer would have incurred had the employee had not been furloughed .
In September , the government will cut its grants to 70 % of wages up to a cap of £2,190 .
Employers will pay NI and pension contributions and 10 % of wages to make up the 80 % total up to a cap of £2,500 .
That works out at 14 % of the average gross employment costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October the government grant will be cut to 60 % of wages up to a cap of £1,875 .
Employers will pay NI and pension contributions and 20 % of wages to make up the 80 % total up to a cap of £2,500 .
That 's 23 % of the gross employment costs the employer would have incurred had the employee not been furloughed .

"It is concerning that there is no commitment within these plans for support to only be scaled back in step with the removal of lockdown," she said. "Nor is there any analysis of the impact on unemployment of a 'one size fits all' approach being adopted across all sectors."


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Virus-hit self-employed to receive second payment

Self-employed people whose work has been affected by coronavirus will receive a `` second and final '' grant in August , the government says .
More than two million people have applied for a single grant of up to £7,500 so far .
They , and other self-employed people , will be eligible for a second payment in August of up to £6,570 , Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced .
It comes as details of the extended furlough scheme were also outlined .
Until now , self-employed workers who qualify have been in line for a grant of 80 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £2,500 a month for three months .
This is being paid in one instalment .
Some 2.3 million of these workers have signed up for grants totalling £6.8bn .
Those whose work has been affected by coronavirus will still be able to apply for this lump sum until 13 July .
At the government 's daily press conference , Mr Sunak has now announced applications for a second taxable grant will open in August .
This will be slightly less generous , covering 70 % of the applicant 's average monthly trading profits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single payment , covering three months and capped at £2,190 a month , or £6,570 in total .
Applicants will need to confirm their work has been affected by the virus , but they would not need to have taken the first grant to be eligible for the second .
One of those eligible is musical director Yshani Perinpanayagam , who has seen work dry up since her show at the Royal Shakespeare Company was cancelled at the start of lockdown .
She was worried that without more support she would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having paid many essential bills using savings , but she still worries about the long-term outlook if people are unable or slow to return to arts venues .
`` Another grant would make things more manageable in the immediate future , but hopefully it is not just a short-term plug , '' she said .
`` I hope this is the beginning of looking into the bigger problems for the arts . ''
• Full details of help for the self-employed The announcement comes after a cross-party group of 113 MPs signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonagh to Mr Sunak calling for more support for the self-employed .
It warned that failing to offer an extension would `` would pull the safety net from under the feet of millions of self-employed workers '' .
Mr Sunak also announced more details of how the furlough scheme for employees will be paid for in the coming months .
That scheme has been extended until October .
The Treasury says that there is not direct parity between the two schemes but , unlike furloughed workers , the self-employed could technically continue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
`` Our five million-strong self-employed community will be greatly relieved to know that the income cliff-edge they were facing in two days ' time has now been removed , '' said Mike Cherry , of the Federation of Small Businesses .
`` The hope is that more and more sole traders will be able to return to work safely as restrictions are eased .
Policymakers have rightly recognised that self-employed business owners working in a lot of sectors - not least hair and beauty , events and travel - will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many weeks to come .
He added that more should now be done for those not receiving these payments .
A number of self-employed people , such as directors who pay themselves in dividends and the newly self-employed , are unhappy at missing out on the government 's self-employment support package .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?

It will also be made in a single payment, covering three months and capped at £2,190 a month, or £6,570 in total. Applicants will need to confirm their work has been affected by the virus, but they would not need to have taken the first grant to be eligible for the second.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: Greece to open up in two weeks, but not to the UK

Greece is to open up to tourists from 29 countries in two weeks - but not those travelling from the UK .
Tourists from EU countries including Germany , Austria , Denmark and Finland will be able to visit from 15 June , the tourism ministry said in a statement on Friday .
But some of the world 's worst-affected countries - including the UK , France , Italy and Spain - are not on the list .
More countries could be added before 1 July , the ministry added .
Only airports in Athens and Thessaloniki will open on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries will be allowed into the country , including the Czech Republic , Baltic countries , Cyprus and Malta .
• We will have summer tourist season , promises EU • Will I be able to go on holiday this year ?
Other countries include China , Japan , Australia , New Zealand , South Korea , Israel and Lebanon .
Some visitors could be tested for Covid-19 on arrival , the ministry said .
`` Our aim is to be able to welcome every tourist who has overcome their fear and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said on Antenna television .
Greece , which imposed an early lockdown , has reported 175 deaths and just over 2,900 confirmed cases .
Most of the country 's islands have no reported cases .

"Our aim is to be able to welcome every tourist who has overcome their fear and has the ability to travel to our country," Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said on Antenna television.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: Death of Belly Mujinga 'not linked to spit attack'

The death of a railway worker who was spat at by a man claiming to have coronavirus was not linked to the attack , police have concluded .
Belly Mujinga , 47 , who died with Covid-19 on 5 April , was working at Victoria station when she was assaulted .
Following `` extensive inquiries '' British Transport Police ( BTP ) decided the attack did not lead to her death .
The force also said no further action would be taken against a 57-year-old man interviewed by officers .
The BBC understands that the man , who was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test in the time after the incident .
It was reported Ms Mujinga had been spat on and coughed at while working in the ticket hall with two colleagues .
BTP said it had scoured CCTV footage and spoken to key witnesses to `` establish the full circumstances of what happened on 21 March '' .
`` Following a review of all the information , senior detectives have concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate any criminal offences having taken place , '' it said .
`` As a result , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crown Prosecution Service . ''
The family of Ms Mujinga , who is survived by her husband and her 11-year-old daughter , have been informed , BTP added .
Det Ch Insp Sam Blackburn said : `` I know the loss of Belly has moved so many people , and I can assure you we have done everything we can to provide answers for her family .
`` As a result of our inquiries , we can now be confident that this incident did not lead to Belly 's tragic death .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will continue to support them as they come to terms with the loss of their much-loved mother and wife . ''

Det Ch Insp Sam Blackburn said: "I know the loss of Belly has moved so many people, and I can assure you we have done everything we can to provide answers for her family.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--UK weather: Sunniest spring since records began

The UK has experienced its sunniest spring since records began in 1929 , the Met Office has said .
It is also set to be the driest May on record for some parts of UK , including the driest in England for 124 years .
Some areas are already warning of drought conditions despite exceptionally wet weather and flooding earlier in the year .
But there are no plans for hosepipe bans yet , according to the water industry trade body Water UK .
The UK spent much of spring in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic , but thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun following a slight easing of restrictions in England .
Only nine springs on record have topped 500 hours of sunshine but , by Wednesday , the UK had clocked up 573 hours .
• UK 's hottest day of 2020 so far - in pictures While the Met Office 's full figures will not be available until Monday , the village of Benson in Oxfordshire is likely to have been the driest place , with `` no measurable rain '' falling in their rain bucket , BBC Weather meteorologist Matt Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said the jet stream - strong winds driving much of the UK 's variable weather - was largely anchored to the north of the UK during spring .
That allowed high pressure to build , whilst the rainy low pressure systems stayed out in the Atlantic .
`` Some scientists say these 'stalled ' weather patterns are a result of climate change and the warming that is taking place in the Arctic region could lead to more extreme weather events in future , '' he said .
Prof Liz Bentley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the swing from record-breaking wet weather to the months of sunshine was `` unprecedented '' and `` concerning '' because it showed how much the UK 's climate was changing .
National Farmers ' Union deputy president Stuart Roberts said while water availability was `` generally good '' at the moment , `` it could shape up to be an extremely challenging season for farmers and growers '' .
But the spring weather has been good news for strawberry farmers , with 2020 on track to produce one of Britain 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Tesco , the record levels of sunshine have resulted in an estimated 20 % increase in strawberry production .
The months of sun followed the wettest February since records began in 1862 .
Storms Ciara , Dennis and Jorge all brought masses of rainfall and flooding to England and Wales .
But some of the rivers that flooded at the time are now running at exceptionally low levels , including the Rivers Lune and Kent in the north-west of England .

While the Met Office's full figures will not be available until Monday, the village of Benson in Oxfordshire is likely to have been the driest place, with "no measurable rain" falling in their rain bucket, BBC Weather meteorologist Matt Taylor said.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Islamic State: RAF carries out four air strikes in May

Royal Air Force drones and Typhoons carried out four sets of air strikes against the Islamic State group ( IS ) in May , the Ministry of Defence has said .
It said the strikes in northern Iraq all hit their targets .
Two similar operations in April were the UK 's first strikes against the militant group in seven months .
But the MoD said the RAF had flown daily armed patrols since March 2019 , when IS lost its last strongholds in Iraq and Syria .
The operations come as IS stepped up attacks on security forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preoccupied with responding to the coronavirus pandemic .
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the actions showed UK Armed Forces were continuing to protect the country and its allies from `` all those who seek to do us harm '' .
The first strike took place on 8 May , when a remotely piloted RAF Reaper destroyed a bunker , which the MoD said contained a group of IS fighters , at a location west of Tuz Khurmatu in northern Iraq .
On 10 May , two Typhoons struck a cave system identified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two Reapers struck another two bunkers on 13 May , while on 23 May , the MoD said a patrolling Reaper struck IS fighters hiding in woods .

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the actions showed UK Armed Forces were continuing to protect the country and its allies from "all those who seek to do us harm".


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation rules?

Lockdown restrictions are gradually being eased across the UK , but the rules are different in each of the four nations .
So , who can you meet and what can you do ?
How many people can I meet ?
By Monday , all four UK nations are due to have guidelines in place allowing more than two people to meet outside : In England , groups of up to six people can gather from Monday 1 June .
They can be from different households , but they have to meet outside - such as in parks or private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households - up to a maximum of eight people - can meet outdoors , ideally travelling no more than five miles .
In Wales , any number of people from two different households will be able to meet each other outside from Monday .
As in Scotland , families should aim to travel no more than five miles .
Beauty spots remain closed .
In Northern Ireland , groups of up to six people who do not live together can meet outdoors .
Children are included in the headcount for groups meeting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Wales , two large families can meet - as long as each of them lives at a single address .
And remember , social distancing rules - with people from different households remaining 2m ( 6ft ) apart from each other - still apply across the whole of the UK .
The overall advice remains `` stay at home '' as much as possible .
But some non-contact outdoor sport is allowed - although rules vary across the UK .
Tennis , for instance , can be played in England , Scotland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wales .
However , golf can be enjoyed everywhere .
Socially-distanced picnics and barbecues could also be possible for many people who want to see their friends and family .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned people in England : `` It remains the case that people should not spend time inside the homes of their friends and families , other than to access the garden or use the toilet . ''
He also said people could not stay overnight in the homes of others .
Hand washing and hygiene should remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the toilet while visiting another home , you should take steps to clean any surfaces you have touched .
Prof Chris Whitty , the UK government 's chief medical adviser , said : `` If you were to do something like a barbecue , remember that passing things from one person to another , if you have n't washed your hands , you can pass the virus that way . ''
The guidelines in Scotland say that for a barbecue , each household should bring their own food , cutlery and crockery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say you can eat while out on a walk , run or cycle .
But First Minister Mark Drakeford said allowing more people to meet was not `` an invitation to go into a garden , have a few beers and start mixing in a way that potentially harms you or other people '' .
Who has to still stay home ?
People with certain underlying health conditions , or who are pregnant or aged over 70 , are deemed to be clinically vulnerable .
If you are in this category , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as possible and , if you do go out , take particular care to minimise contact with others outside your household .
There is another group of about 2.5 million people , categorised as clinically extremely vulnerable .
These include people who have had organ transplants , cancer patients and those with severe respiratory conditions .
This group is being strongly advised to stay at home at all times until at least the end of June and avoid face-to-face contact - so called `` shielding '' .
Read more about shielding in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Will over-70s have to stay in lockdown ?
Why is social distancing necessary ?
Despite the easing of lockdown restrictions across the UK , scientists stress the need for people from different households to remain 2m ( 6ft ) apart .
Social distancing is important because coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets - packed with the virus - into the air .
These can be breathed in , or can cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on , and then touch your face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to thrive in crowded , indoor spaces which is why pubs , restaurants and many workplaces remain closed and the public has been advised against using public transport .
But virus transmission is less likely when `` fresh '' air is involved - usually when people are outside .
What is self-isolation and what if I have symptoms ?
If you show symptoms of coronavirus - such as a dry cough , high temperature or loss of taste - you must take extra precautions .
You should stay at home and not leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as self-isolation .
You should not leave your property even to buy food or medicine , and instead order these online , or ask someone to drop them off at your home .
• What if NHS coronavirus tracers contact me ?
If the NHS Test and Trace team in England gets in touch because you 've been close to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus , you will have to self-isolate for up to 14 days - even if you feel fine .
The people you live with do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take extra care regarding social distancing and hand washing .
There are similar tracing systems in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

The current restrictions in England don't include any limits on socialising - so friends and family are legally allowed to see each other in private houses, or to meet in public places like pubs and nightclubs.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: What help are self-employed getting from government?

The self-employed are receiving government support to cover some of the losses they face as businesses struggle in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Ultimately , it may not be as generous as the scheme for furloughed workers , but it will now extend into the summer , following the latest announcement from Chancellor Rishi Sunak .
What help is there ?
If they have suffered a loss in income , a taxable grant is being paid to the self-employed or partnerships , worth 80 % of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scheme , and is open to those who were trading in the last financial year , still trading now , and planning to continue doing so this year but who confirm business has been hit by coronavirus .
Initially , this was for three months in one lump-sum payment .
In August , applications will open for a `` second and final '' payment , the chancellor has said , which will cover 70 % of profits , up to a cap of £2,190 a month for another three months , so £6,570 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made as a lump sum direct into bank accounts .
More than half of a claimant 's income needs to come from self-employment .
The scheme has been open to those with a trading profit of less than £50,000 in 2018-19 , or an average trading profit of less than £50,000 from 2016-17 , 2017-18 and 2018-19 .
• Why is it taking so long to help the self-employed ?
Those who are recently self-employed , having set up since April 2019 , will not receive any help under this scheme .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tax return and therefore HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) will not know of their self-employed status .
Self-employed people can apply for the first grant until 13 July , and the second from August - at a date to be set .
They do not need to have received the first to apply for the second .
The government 's help comes on top of a six-month delay for tax payments through the self-assessment system .
Those with the lowest incomes are in line to receive more generous benefits payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those applying for universal credit should be paid within a few days .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
How do I claim the help ?
The chancellor said this will cover 95 % of the self-employed who make most of their money from self-employment .
This is how it works : • HMRC will use existing information to identify those eligible and invited applications • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they meet the eligibility requirements • It will be paid straight into a bank account , which eligible taxpayers will need to confirm on their application form • HMRC should have directly contacted those eligible Those who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company are not covered by the scheme but will have 80 % of their salary covered by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if operating through PAYE .
How many people are affected ?
There are more than five million self-employed people in the UK , earning an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number has risen fast since the financial crash of a decade ago .
About 3.8 million of them may be covered by this scheme .
So far , 2.3 million self-employed have signed up to grants totalling £6.8bn .
Roughly a fifth of the self-employed are in the construction sector , according to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) , with hundreds of thousands of others working in the motor trade , professional services , and education .
The chancellor also suggested tax breaks for the self-employed , such as lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These were in place because , for example , the self-employed do not get sick pay or holiday pay , and to encourage entrepreneurship .
This signals a massive change in UK tax policy , potentially equalising the tax treatment of the self-employed with employees .
How does the new help compare with salaried workers ?
A plan had already been announced for those who are employed .
The government says 80 % of gross wages in the private sector , up to £2,500 a month , for those not working and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be covered by these grants from HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) .
These was backdated to March and the scheme has been extended to October .
The idea is to prevent mass unemployment .
Employers will have to make a contribution to these payments from the summer .
The self-employment support package is slightly less generous , but the Treasury says this is because , unlike salaried worker , self-employed people are still free to operate if work is available .

Self-employed grants: What help is available and when can you apply? Published 3 March 2021
Image source, Getty Images
More help for the self-employed has been announced in the Budget, with grants available until the end of September.
These will be the first payments available to an estimated 600,000 people who missed out on earlier support because they couldn't demonstrate their self-employed status on their tax return.
Previous claimants will also be able to apply.
What will the new help be?
Two further payments will be available for self-employed people struggling to work because of coronavirus.
These represent the fourth and fifth grants paid out by the Coronavirus Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
The fourth covers the three-month period from February until the end of April. As with two of the previous SEISS grants, it is worth up to 80% of trading profits, averaged over three months, up to £7,500 in total.
Image source, Getty Images
The fifth grant covers May to the end of September, but the amount available depends on loss of income.
Workers whose turnover has fallen by at least 30% can still apply for a grant for up to 80% of profits, up to a value of £7,500 in total.
Those whose income has fallen by less than that can apply for up to 30% of trading profits capped at £2,850.
Claims can be made from next month for the fourth grant. Claims for the fifth grant will open in July.
Who is eligible for the new payments?
Nearly a fifth of self-employed people - 600,000 people - missed out on previous grants. That's because they had only recently started working for themselves, and so could not prove their income status on their tax return.
Image source, Getty Images
But those who completed tax returns for the 2019-2020 financial year will qualify for these new payments, provided they filed their return by midnight on 2 March 2021.
However, self-employed people who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company are still not covered by the scheme. (Although they will have some of their salary covered by job retention schemes if they operate through PAYE).
As a result, an estimated 18% of those for whom self-employment makes up most of their income have been ineligible for SEISS grants, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
What help have the self-employed received so far?
The chancellor's first package of measures were unveiled in March last year.
If they suffered any loss in income, people who were self-employed or in partnerships were paid a taxable grant worth 80% of their profits, up to £2,500 per month.
Help was initially given as one lump-sum payment to cover three months, and businesses have also been able to apply to banks for government-backed support loans.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, "I'm devastated that I have been penalised because of my husband's death"
Who is eligible?
More than half of a claimant's income needs to come from self-employment.
The schemes have been open to those with a trading profit of less than £50,000 in 2018-19, or an average trading profit of less than £50,000 from 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The government's help comes on top of extended delays for tax payments through the self-assessment system. Payment plans can be set up, giving people more time to pay their full tax bill up to January 2022.
Those with the lowest income are in line to receive more generous benefits payments compared with before the crisis.
How do I claim the help?
This is how it has worked:
HMRC uses existing information to identify those eligible and invite applications
The application requires people to confirm they meet the eligibility requirements
It will be paid straight into a bank account, which eligible taxpayers need to confirm on their application form
How many people are self-employed?
There are more than five million self-employed people in the UK, earning an average of £781 a month. The number has risen fast since the 2008 financial crash.
Of those eligible for previous grants, 77% have taken up the offer - a total of 2.6 million people, averaging around £10,800 in payments each.
Roughly a fifth of the self-employed are in the construction sector, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with hundreds of thousands of others working in the motor trade, professional services, and education
The chancellor has suggested that in future, tax breaks for the self-employed - such as lower national insurance - may end. These were in place because the self-employed do not get sick pay or holiday pay. They were also meant to encourage entrepreneurship.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: What does it mean if I've been furloughed by work?

Bosses who have furloughed staff during the coronavirus crisis will have to start paying a share of the government scheme from August .
The furlough scheme is designed to help people put on leave due to the coronavirus outbreak , and to prevent employers having to make mass redundancies .
So how does it work and who is eligible ?
The government is currently paying the wages of more than a quarter of UK jobs through its furlough programme - the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme .
It puts workers on leave and allows them to stay on the payroll .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ since March , with the government paying 80 % of their salaries up to £2,500 a month .
Companies can top up this pay if they choose and must let employees know they have been furloughed .
The scheme - backdated to 1 March - opened to applications on 20 April .
By the end of May £15bn of claims had been made .
It will run until the end of October and is expected to end up costing about £80bn .
What changes has the chancellor announced ?
On 29 May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 July , businesses can bring furloughed employees back to workplaces part-time , a month earlier than previously announced .
It will be down to individual firms to decide what part-time means and pay the wages for that time .
They will be able to set the hours and shift patterns staff will work .
For example , Mr Sunak said an employer could bring someone back to work two days a week .
In that situation , the employer would pay for those days , while the furlough scheme would cover the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From 1 August , employers will have to pay national insurance and pension contributions .
Furloughed workers will continue to receive 80 % of their pay .
In September , employers will then pay 10 % of employees ' salaries - rising to 20 % in October .
How can my business apply ?
Check you are eligible for the scheme , and then work out how much to claim using the government 's online calculator .
You can claim 80 % of your employees ' wages - capped at £2,500 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £576.92 a week .
If employees are not paid set amounts each month - for example if they have returned from maternity leave , or receive top-up pay - you will need to calculate your claim manually , or seek professional advice .
Furlough covers overtime and commission payments built in to an employee 's salary , but not discretionary payments such as tips or optional bonuses .
All the money claimed must be paid to your workers , or to cover their national insurance and pension payments , even if a firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your claim , and pay you through a UK bank account , if you are eligible .
Claims take about six working days to process .
Can I be put on furlough ?
Potentially yes , if your company ca n't give you work to do because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The scheme covers those who were on an employer 's PAYE payroll on 19 March 2020 .
This includes full-time and part-time workers , and employees on flexible , zero-hour or agency contracts .
You must be furloughed for at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furloughed more than once .
If you have been made redundant since 19 March , your former employer can re-hire you under the scheme .
But newly hired employees are not eligible .
Any UK organisation with employees can apply , but it will mainly be private sector businesses and charities making a claim .
Apprentices can also be furloughed and continue their training .
An individual can furlough an employee , such as a nanny , if they are paid through PAYE .
The self-employed who are adversely affected by the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 80 % of their average monthly profit , if they meet certain conditions .
They must have been self-employed since at least the start of April 2019 , and earn an average of less than £50,000 in a tax year .
Those who receive it can continue to work .
The grant is a one-off payment covering three months , up to a maximum of £7,500 .
Will I still get sick pay and a bonus ?
Anyone placed on furlough has the same employment rights as before .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick pay or can be placed on furlough .
If you are on unpaid leave , shielding for health reasons or have caring responsibilities , you are also eligible .
Staff on maternity , paternity , adoption or shared parental leave will still receive statutory pay from the government .
Employers do not have to top up salaries that no longer reach the minimum wage .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WILL I GET PAID IF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick pay and wages • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Can I work or volunteer if I 've been furloughed ?
If you are placed on furlough you ca n't do any work for your employer .
This will change from July onwards when the government says furloughed workers can return on a part-time basis .
You can volunteer in the community or even for your company as long as you are n't creating revenue or providing a service .
Employers can give employees additional training , but must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reach minimum wage .
From July to October , you may be able to work part time , and be furloughed for the remainder of your hours .
If you work for more than one firm , you can receive furlough from any of them , up to £2,500 a month per employer .
You can continue working for any that still need you or for a new employer , provided you are not breaching any existing contracts .
Is my job guaranteed when furlough ends ?
Companies do n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and can not use these payments to subsidise redundancy packages .
The hope is that by the time the scheme ends , restrictions will have lifted and businesses can start paying full salaries again .

Covid: What will happen when furlough ends? Published 30 September 2021
Image source, Getty Images
The furlough scheme, which protected millions of jobs during the pandemic, is being wound up at the end of September.
How did furlough work?
The government has been paying towards the wages of people who couldn't work, or whose employers could no longer afford to pay them, up to a monthly limit of £2,500.
At first it paid 80% of the wages, but in August and September it paid 60%, with employers paying 20%.
How many people are still on it?
The most recent figures show 1.6 million people were on furlough at the end of July - the lowest level since the start of the pandemic and 340,000 fewer than a month earlier.
Nearly one million workers were expected to still be on the scheme at the end of September, according to research by the Resolution Foundation.
The numbers have dropped as the economy reopened. In May 2020, nearly nine million people were on furlough.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, High numbers of workers in restaurants and hotels were furloughed
Will unemployment rise when it ends?
Some employers with workers on furlough may find they cannot afford to keep them on when furlough ends.
International travel, and other businesses which depend on it, are still seriously disrupted. Some furloughed workers in these areas may lose their jobs.
Many forecasters, including the Bank of England, are expecting a small rise in unemployment.
What if I'm made redundant?
If you were made redundant while on furlough, you have a number of legal rights.
The selection process must be fair, you must be given notice, and you are entitled to tax-free redundancy pay.
If you've been made redundant - or been told that you will soon be made redundant - there are three main types of financial support that you may be entitled to:
You might be able to claim a combination of these benefits.
The amount of help you get depends on your personal circumstances, including the amount of national insurance contributions you made while you were employed.
You may be entitled to extra money if you have children or are a carer, or have a disability or health condition. You may also be entitled to help with housing costs.
There is lots of free benefits guidance and advice available, including:
What has furlough cost?
The government says 11.6 million jobs have been supported by the scheme.
From March 2020 to the end of September 2021, the cost of furlough will come to about £66bn, according to estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
That's a huge sum, around one fifth of the money the government has spent on the response to Covid.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, launched the furlough scheme in March 2020
However, the scheme has undoubtedly helped to save millions of jobs.
At the start of the pandemic it was feared that more than one in 10 workers would become unemployed.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: What happens next?

Coronavirus: What happens next?

In a special series of films , we 've been reporting from the coronavirus wards at the Royal London Hospital @ @ @ @ @ in the series , the BBC 's Clive Myrie considers what the future now holds @ @ @ @ @ a virus still out there with no cure or vaccine , and reflects on the @ @ @ @ @ 've been worst affected in the local community .
See more of Clive Myrie 's @ @ @ @ @ Hospital : Prayers for the sick in community hit by Covid-19 - BBC News How @ @ @ @ @ harder than others - BBC News

In a special series of films, we've been reporting from the coronavirus wards at the Royal London Hospital.
In the final film in the series, the BBC's Clive Myrie considers what the future now holds for the NHS, with a virus still out there with no cure or vaccine, and reflects on the continuing grief of those who've been worst affected in the local community.
Cameraman: Dave McIlveen, Producer: Sam Piranty
See more of Clive Myrie's reports from the Royal London Hospital:
Prayers for the sick in community hit by Covid-19 - BBC News
Life and death on coronavirus ward - BBC News
How the virus is hitting some harder than others - BBC News


bbcuk--2020-05-29--DIY dentistry: What is safe to do to your own teeth?

Like many patients , Debroy Parrington has been unable to get dental treatment during lockdown .
Toothache had left him @ @ @ @ @ decided to pull out one of his own teeth using a pair of pliers .
@ @ @ @ @ an emergency dental problem is supposed to be referred to an Urgent Dental Care ( @ @ @ @ @ .
NHS England has said dentists and orthodontists can reopen from 8 June if they @ @ @ @ @ measures , but the British Dental Association has warned that practices will take a while @ @ @ @ @ running .
Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland have not set a date for routine @ @ @ @ @ But can you treat your own teeth while waiting to see a dentist ?
Dentist @ @ @ @ @ could do .

Like many patients, Debroy Parrington has been unable to get dental treatment during lockdown. Toothache had left him in so much agony he decided to pull out one of his own teeth using a pair of pliers.
Currently, any patient with an emergency dental problem is supposed to be referred to an Urgent Dental Care (UDC) hub for treatment.
NHS England has said dentists and orthodontists can reopen from 8 June if they put in place appropriate safety measures, but the British Dental Association has warned that practices will take a while to get fully up and running.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not set a date for routine dentist appointments to restart.
But can you treat your own teeth while waiting to see a dentist? Dentist Catherine Tannahill explains what you could do.
Produced and edited by Caroline Lowbridge


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Newspaper headlines: Weekend lockdown warnings and 'border farce'

Looking ahead to the easing of restrictions next month , the Daily Mail has dubbed plans for a two-week quarantine @ @ @ @ @ the UK as a `` border farce '' .
Police and Border Force officials have @ @ @ @ @ `` unenforceable '' , according to the paper .
The plan is due to come @ @ @ @ @ , but officials were accused of `` making it up as they go along '' @ @ @ @ @ with claims Mr Johnson is preparing to water down parts of the scheme , or @ @ @

"Border farce!" declares the front page of the Daily Mail. It claims police and border officials are worried that they won't be able to enforce the government's plan to quarantine people for two weeks, when they arrive in the UK.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Lullingstone Castle: Man died 'confronting poachers'

A man may have been confronting poachers shortly before he died in the grounds of a castle , an angling society has said .
The victim , named locally as Charles Hilder , in his 60s , was pronounced dead on Thursday at Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford , Kent .
Officers were called to the grounds of the medieval estate to reports of `` rocks being thrown '' .
Kent Police said the victim 's family had been informed .
The Kingfisher Angling and Preservation Society , said : `` Although the exact circumstances surrounding Charlie 's death are unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confrontation with poachers .
`` At this stage we would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Charlie 's family and friends . ''
Earlier , it emerged residents nearby had complained to Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott about increased anti-social behaviour in the area .
She said she was raising concerns with police `` as a matter of urgency '' .
Police have said the death was an isolated case .
Eynsford Parish Council said it was `` fully aware of the dreadful incident that occurred '' , and said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a statement , the council said it was asking for an increased police presence .
Ch Insp John Kirby said the death was currently being treated as unexplained , with a post-mortem examination expected on Monday .
He said there had been an increase in anti-social behaviour as a result of the coronavirus lockdown , but regular patrols were taking place in the area , adding : `` Kent Police do treat it incredibly seriously . ''
Officers called to a disturbance within the castle grounds said they believed the man may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boys or teenagers near a lake , before his death .
The castle is owned by Tom Hart Dyke , cousin of comedy actor Miranda Hart and the property has been closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
On Twitter , the family posted they were safe .

He said there had been an increase in anti-social behaviour as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, but regular patrols were taking place in the area, adding: "Kent Police do treat it incredibly seriously."


bbcuk--2020-05-29--'Lockdown boredom led me to smoke more weed’

Like most of us at the beginning of lockdown , Reece had big plans about what he and his partner would do with the extra time .
They were going to paint the decking and the house as well as upholstering the furniture .
`` Now , 10 weeks later , we 've given up doing that , '' he told BBC Scotland 's Unlocked podcast .
As hairdressers , the couple have gone from full-time employment to being at home all day every day .
Boredom soon started to creep in and that brought with it some lifestyle changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple of joints around the weekend , '' he said .
`` After lockdown it was becoming every day .
`` We used to wait until about 8 o'clock at night .
But then it got to one o'clock , three o'clock in the afternoon and we thought , 'should we be smoking it this early ? '
.
`` But then we thought 'there 's nothing else to do , we 're stuck in the house , so why not ? '
. ''
Reece said : `` I 've noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weed in my joints so it 's basically all just pure marijuana now . ''
Since lockdown began , the Edinburgh-based charity Crew 2000 has surveyed hundreds of recreational drug users .
More than 50 % have reported drinking and taking drugs more often , and in bigger quantities , than before the pandemic .
The drugs which have had the biggest upsurge in usage are cannabis , cocaine and alcohol .
The charity 's Kira Weir said : `` A lot of that was to do with boredom .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoking more because they had more time on their hands , and actually they saw it as a way to de-stress ; they saw it as some 'me time ' .
`` Other people mentioned that it was because of isolation , because they 've lost their other support networks , and for some people they saw it as a coping mechanism . ''
As well as higher and more solo usage , the survey also reported changes to the drugs market since the Covid-19 outbreak , including price rises , shortages and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we can see as well though is that the drug market 's been quite adaptable .
`` A lot of people report that a lot of sales have moved online , to crypto markets or social media .
Whereas they would normally be buying things face to face , around 30 % of our respondents have now moved online . ''
For Reece , it 's just as easy to get cannabis now as it was before lockdown .
It 's a socially distant transaction , with his dealer leaving it in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the payment made by bank transfer .
But he said he and his partner are now trying to rein in how much they 're using .
`` We 're still smoking most days of the week but we 're trying to limit how much we smoke , '' he said .
`` We 're basically rationing it out , because we 've not been working for 10 weeks so we need to ration . ''
Crew 2000 's survey suggests the majority of recreational drug users are also drinking more .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to .
He said : `` We got a new house last year and the alcohol that people had got us from Christmases before , and for moving in - it all just sat there .
We probably put our glass recycling bin out twice in six months .
`` And it 's been out near enough every single week since lockdown 's come on .
`` We usually drink on a Monday , Tuesday , not the weekend , but I think that 's just because you still get that Monday feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drugs Forum said : `` When we start thinking about triggers for drug use , boredom is definitely one feature .
With the temptation of it , you can see why young people would probably use a bit more than they planned .
`` Drug services have had to adapt in the current climate - there are things like Skype counselling , FaceTime and phone support , which makes it easier for some young people to access services because that 's how they might be comfortable interacting . ''
Kira from Crew 2000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved online .
`` We 've got a digital drop-in that can be accessed via our website , '' she said .
Kira said people might need support during a period of re-adjustment when lockdown ends , because patterns of drinking and taking recreational drugs as a coping mechanism might be difficult to shift .
She said : `` If anybody feels that they want to get some support around drugs , particularly around cannabis and cocaine - those are the main drugs that we deal with - we can offer distanced counselling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Reece plans to return to how he used to use cannabis .
`` It 's going to be a total adjustment going from doing absolutely nothing during lockdown to going back to work , '' he said .
`` So things will have to change .
I need to be back at work . ''
The BBC Action Line offers information and support on drug and alcohol issues .
You can hear more about recreational drug use during lockdown on BBC Scotland 's podcast Unlocked .

The charity's Kira Weir said: "A lot of that was to do with boredom. For example, with cannabis, people say they're smoking more because they had more time on their hands, and actually they saw it as a way to de-stress; they saw it as some 'me time'.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Transfer test: Five Catholic grammar schools scrap academic selection

Five Catholic grammar schools have said they will not use transfer tests to select pupils for 2021 .
The schools in County Down said they had made the move `` in light of the current circumstances '' .
None of the five schools will use the transfer test run by the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium ( PPTC ) set by GL Assessment this year as a result .
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland had previously urged Catholic grammars not to use the test in 2020 .
Abbey Christian Brothers ' Grammar School , Our Lady 's Grammar School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St Colman 's College which are all in Newry , and St Louis Grammar School , in Kilkeel , announced the move in a letter to parents .
In the joint letter , they said that they had considered the impact of school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic on the local community .
They added that they recognised `` there has been disruption to the education of pupils since March 2020 , including that of P6 pupils , and understand that there may be further disruption during the 2020-21 academic year '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the five schools will use outcomes from GL Entrance Assessment as part of their admissions criteria for the academic year 2021-22 . ''
Pupils applying to these schools will not be required to provide a GL Entrance Assessment result .
The five schools said the move was for one year only for pupils due to sit the transfer tests in December 2020 and enter the schools in September 2021 .
They added that the decision was made after `` careful consideration '' and is `` specific and particular to this group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains committed to its own ethos and academic focus on high quality teaching and learning .
`` It is hoped that this decision will provide clarity in the local area for P6 pupils and their parents or carers . ''
Over 20 other Catholic grammar schools who use the transfer tests run by the PPTC have yet to announce if they will also change their admissions procedure for 2021 .
Around 30 other grammar schools in Northern Ireland use the transfer test set by AQE to admit pupils .

They added that they recognised "there has been disruption to the education of pupils since March 2020, including that of P6 pupils, and understand that there may be further disruption during the 2020-21 academic year".


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Sexual health: Online STI testing rolled out in Wales

People in Wales will be able to carry out sexual health tests from home with an online testing service .
Testing kits for HIV , hepatitis B and C , syphilis , gonorrhoea and chlamydia will be posted to people 's homes for free if they feel they are at risk .
Samples will then be returned via post and results sent out via text , with face-to-face consultations arranged at sexual health clinics if needed .
Walk-in sexual health clinics have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
• Lockdown 'once in a lifetime chance ' to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus in Wales Dr Olwen Williams , the immediate past president of the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV , said the home testing kits were `` another tool '' to help promote positive sexual health .
She said : `` It 's unique in that it 's one portal for everybody .
As long as you 're over the age of 16 , you can access syphilis , HIV , hepatitis C and B tests , and now genital swabs for people exposed to chlamydia and gonorrhoea , for free .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frisky Wales - which is run by Public Health Wales - in the Hywel Dda health board area in west Wales since 2018 , with more than 1,000 people testing at home .
Two different types of test can be dispatched , one for chlamydia and gonorrhoea , while another will test for HIV , syphilis and hepatitis B and C. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to walk-in sexual health services across Wales closing and Dr Williams said they would remain closed for the `` foreseeable future '' , although consultations can still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
She added the coronavirus lockdown may have had a positive impact for some who may be at risk of sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) or HIV .
`` One of the great things is it 's a really good opportunity for people coming out of lockdown knowing they do n't have an STI or HIV , '' she added .
`` This test will allow people to make decisions about whether they want to access ( the antiretroviral medicine ) pre-exposure prophylaxis ( Prep ) , which will help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

She said: "It's unique in that it's one portal for everybody. As long as you're over the age of 16, you can access syphilis, HIV, hepatitis C and B tests, and now genital swabs for people exposed to chlamydia and gonorrhoea, for free."


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: Six percent of staff at virus-hit hospital test positive

Bosses at a hospital that closed its doors to new patients because of a high number of coronavirus cases have said about 100 staff are infected .
In a message sent to staff , seen by the BBC , Weston General Hospital said most of its 1,700-strong workforce had been tested , and results indicated 6 % were infected and asymptomatic .
It added that no new cases of Covid-19 had been identified among patients .
The hospital in Weston-super-Mare shut its doors to new patients on Monday .
On Thursday the NHS trust that runs it said the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least a week .
The message to staff also stated a second round of testing would begin on Monday morning .
Bill Oldfield , medical director of the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust , said : `` We have now completed testing of the current inpatients and no patients who were previously green , or not with coronavirus infection , have become infected so it looks like any intra-hospital transmission has now stopped . ''
He said it was too early to say what was the `` root cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added that staff working at Weston General Hospital had been asked to no longer work in `` any other healthcare situation '' .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?

Bill Oldfield, medical director of the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We have now completed testing of the current inpatients and no patients who were previously green, or not with coronavirus infection, have become infected so it looks like any intra-hospital transmission has now stopped."


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Coronavirus: Risk in UK lockdown easing too soon, warn scientists

Scientific advisers to the government have warned of the risk of lifting the lockdown in England , as the UK begins the final weekend before rules change .
Professor John Edmunds said it was a `` political decision '' to ease measures ; Sir Jeremy Farrar said the NHS test and trace system should be `` fully working '' .
From Monday schools will reopen and up to six people can meet in England , with other nations also easing measures .
The government said it had followed the data and evidence at all times .
The Scientific Advisory Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advises the government , has published details of its confidential meetings .
It includes minutes of 34 Sage sessions , going back to 22 January , and a series of scientific reports .
They show one Sage meeting on 23 April estimated there would be only 1,000 cases per day by mid-May .
Instead , estimates by the Office for National Statistics suggest there are currently 8,000 cases per day in England alone .
Those figures do not include cases in care homes or hospitals .
• A practical guide to how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a member of Sage , said the levels of coronavirus were still `` very high '' and many scientists would rather the number of cases declined before measures were relaxed .
Sir Jeremy Farrar , director of the Wellcome Trust and a member of Sage , said on Twitter that Covid-19 is `` spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England '' and NHS test and trace `` has to be fully working and infection rates have to be lower '' .
Speaking on BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peter Horby , who sits on Sage and chairs its NERVTAG subcommittee , agreed , saying the R number was still close to one and it was important we `` do n't lose control '' .
`` What I would say is that returning to a situation where we lost control again is far worse than another week or two of social measures , '' he said .
A fourth Sage member , Prof Calum Semple , said a `` brave '' political decision had been made to coincide with when schools were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , but warned that high levels of transmission were still being seen .
`` Essentially we 're lifting the lid on a boiling pan and it 's just going to bubble over , '' he said .
`` We need to get it down to simmer before we take the lift off , and it 's too early . ''
The Sage documents warned there would be `` little time '' to reimpose stricter lockdown measures if the infection rate started to creep up again .
Epidemiologist Prof Sian Griffiths told BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decisions , lockdown would probably not be eased currently , but she said there were other factors to consider .
`` I would say there is a huge amount of stress and strain which goes along with not being able to see your friends and your family and that to be able to see them , albeit at a distance , may actually help people 's mental health and may help them live with lockdown better and may help them comply better , '' she said .
Prof Sally Bloomfield , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicine , warned against having a barbecue with guests , saying the virus could be present on bottles , cutlery and other objects .
Picnics where people brought their own food were a better option , she said .
One method of managing the easing of lockdown would be to give people a Covid risk score which would account for age , gender , ethnicity and health conditions , according to Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter - chairman of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to need some sort of individualised Covid risk score that can be used in that way , to group people according to their risk , and then that would be advisory , and if people wanted to move , and they protected other people , then that would be open to them , '' he said .
A Number 10 spokesperson said the government had `` at all times been informed by the data and evidence '' , and the measures has been carefully designed `` so that we can ease the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that R below one '' .
It comes as police forces in England have warned people to take care in busy areas and beauty spots and as a fine weekend of weather is forecast .
Each of the UK 's nations has a different approach - and timescale - to lifting the lockdown on Monday .
England is the only nation to reopen primary schools to selected year groups on Monday and will allow groups of up to six to meet outside .
In Scotland , two separate households - up to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors and in Northern Ireland , groups of up to six people who do not live together can meet outdoors .
In Wales , any number of people from two different households will be able to meet each other outside from Monday , but beauty spots will remain closed .
England remains at level four on the government 's Covid-19 alert system , which means transmission of the virus is high or rising exponentially .
When the system was introduced the prime minister said the country was heading towards level three - at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules .
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was `` deeply concerned '' that the government was rushing too fast to lift lockdown measures as the Joint Biosecurity Centre , which sets the alert level , had not said the country was ready to move to level three .
`` I urge Londoners to act with caution - lives depend on it , '' he tweeted .
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The warnings come as former Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to her constituents saying Boris Johnson 's chief adviser Dominic Cummings did not `` follow the spirit '' of the lockdown guidance .
In March Mr Cummings drove more than 260 miles from London to County Durham with his wife , who had coronavirus symptoms , at a time when the public was being told to `` stay home '' .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 days later - a journey which police said might have broken lockdown rules .
Mrs May said in a letter to her constituents in Maidenhead , Berkshire , that she can `` well understand the anger '' of people who had obeyed the guidance .
On Friday , Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out how the UK 's coronavirus furlough scheme will finish at the end of October .
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"I would say there is a huge amount of stress and strain which goes along with not being able to see your friends and your family and that to be able to see them, albeit at a distance, may actually help people's mental health and may help them live with lockdown better and may help them comply better," she said.


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Chad Gordon shooting: Clive Spencer charged with murder

A man has been charged with murdering an autistic man who was `` gunned down '' on his doorstep in a suspected case of mistaken identity .
Chad Gordon , 27 , was shot at close range after he answered his door in Haringey , north London last week .
Clive Spencer , 23 , of Ermine Road , north London , was charged on Friday with murder and assisting an offender .
He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates ' Court later .
A post-mortem examination into Mr Gordon 's killing gave the cause of death as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death Mr Gordon 's mother , Anne Marie Wilson , said the family had been left `` devastated '' , adding : `` Chad would n't hurt a fly , he was so gentle and caring . ''
British rapper Chip also paid tribute to Mr Gordon in an Instagram post .
`` He was disabled and autistic so would not speak much at all , '' he wrote .
`` Just wanted to put my public condolences out for Neighbour Hood Chad and his family . ''
The Met Police said officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BST on Monday after there were reports that shots had been fired .
Mr Gordon was found with a gunshot wound to the head , and was pronounced dead at the scene .

The Met Police said officers were called to Wiltshire Gardens at 20:20 BST on Monday after there were reports that shots had been fired.


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Eastchurch cliff fall: Families evacuated as homes at risk

Twenty homes were evacuated overnight after a large section of cliff collapsed on to a beach in Kent .
Residents of Surf Crescent in Eastchurch said they heard the ground `` groaning '' before a `` great big lump '' of road fell away on Friday evening .
One home has been left `` hanging '' over the cliff edge , said local resident Malcolm Newell .
He first warned authorities in 2015 that action was needed to prevent further erosion , he said .
`` This should have been dealt with a long time ago , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have people 's home , their livelihoods , falling into the sea . ''
Firefighters arrived at the scene at about 22:00 BST and discovered a `` large section of the cliff edge had fallen away leaving a number of properties at potential risk '' , Kent Fire and Rescue Service ( KFRS ) said .
Mr Newell , a member of Eastchurch Parish Council , said the family , who have four children living at home , were forced to flee their home late on Friday evening .
`` It was scary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get out of the house and not take anything with you .
They could n't even get shoes or socks for the kids . ''
He said Swale Borough Council had agreed to take action to protect the cliffs `` sooner rather than later '' in November 2019 , but work was yet to begin .
All but two of the evacuated households were told they could return to their homes on Saturday morning , with 13 people sheltering in a nearby community centre , the borough council said .
Council leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` shocking news , '' adding that the council would do `` all we can to help people '' .
The fire service warned the public to stay away from the area , with coastal paths and large sections of the underlying beach closed .

"It was scary [for them], to have to get out of the house and not take anything with you. They couldn't even get shoes or socks for the kids."


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Cricket West Indies: England Test tour in July agreed 'in principle'

Cricket West Indies has agreed `` in principle '' to July 's Test tour of England , but players and staff will take a 50 % pay cut .
Next week , the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) is expected to announce a revamped summer schedule .
England 's three-Test series against West Indies is set to start on 8 July .
The matches are to be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment at Hampshire 's Ageas Bowl and Lancashire 's Old Trafford .
The series must first be approved by the UK government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine for 14 days upon arrival under current rules .
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`` The board gave approval in principle for the proposed upcoming West Indies Test tour of England , '' said a Cricket West Indies statement .
`` The decision comes only after Cricket West Indies medical and cricket-related representatives and advisers have been involved in detailed discussions with the ECB , and its own medical and public health advisers . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ series , which for England is expected to be followed by one-day internationals against Ireland and a tour by Pakistan .
Earlier in May , the International Cricket Council revealed plans to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball amid the coronavirus pandemic .
England have named 14 uncapped players in a group of 55 that have been asked to return to training .
Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt said of the temporary pay cuts : `` This pandemic is hurting every West Indian and this decision to cut staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult one to make ; one that will impact so many members of the cricketing family around the Caribbean . ''

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
England toured the West Indies at the beginning of 2019
Cricket West Indies has agreed "in principle" to July's Test tour of England, but players and staff will take a 50% pay cut.
Next week, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to announce a revamped summer schedule.
England's three-Test series against West Indies is set to start on 8 July.
The matches are to be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl and Lancashire's Old Trafford.
Despite the pay cut, West Indies players will still receive their full match fees for the series.
The series must first be approved by the UK government and the West Indies squad would have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival under current rules.
"The board gave approval in principle for the proposed upcoming West Indies Test tour of England," said a Cricket West Indies statement.
"The decision comes only after Cricket West Indies medical and cricket-related representatives and advisers have been involved in detailed discussions with the ECB, and its own medical and public health advisers."
Coronavirus replacements could be allowed during the series, which for England is expected to be followed by one-day internationals against Ireland and a tour by Pakistan.
Earlier in May, the International Cricket Council revealed plans to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball amid the coronavirus pandemic.
England have named 14 uncapped players in a group of 55 that have been asked to return to training.
Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt said of the temporary pay cuts: "This pandemic is hurting every West Indian and this decision to cut staff and player incomes has been a very difficult one to make; one that will impact so many members of the cricketing family around the Caribbean."


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Burnley man, 88, receives football medal after 74 years

An 88-year-old man has finally received his football cup winner 's medal - 74 years after his team lifted a trophy .
John Zelly , who was aged 14 when he played inside left as his school won the 1946 Keighley Cup final 2-1 , said `` it means so much to me '' .
It was the first match to be played at the Turf Moor home of Burnley FC after World War II .
A post-war metal shortage is believed to have delayed the Abel Street School team 's players receiving their medals .
Mr Zelly wrote about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , councillor Anne Kelly , who admitted : `` I had no idea where to start looking . ''
She asked council leader Charlie Briggs , who contacted the Lancashire football league to see if it could help .
The medal was later presented to Mr Zelly outside his home .
He said : `` I have often thought of that missing medal and it means so much to me to get it after all these years , for me to be able to hold it and eventually pass it on to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean the world . ''
Ms Kelly said : `` He was thrilled .
He proudly pinned it on himself immediately and it 's set to become a family heirloom .
`` The winner 's medal was 74 years in coming but John richly deserved it and it was a really lovely moment . ''

He said: "I have often thought of that missing medal and it means so much to me to get it after all these years, for me to be able to hold it and eventually pass it on to my son to whom I know it would mean the world."


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Coronavirus: Peter Gough died at Oxford hospital after 'lack of PPE'

The daughter of a hospital worker who died after contracting coronavirus said her father should have been better protected from the disease .
Peter Gough , who was 56 , worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford as an admin assistant and died on 12 May .
Emma Gough said staff like him should be able to work from home or have access to personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
Oxford University Hospitals Trust said it had followed government guidance .
Ms Gough said : `` I do n't believe the guidance for protecting admin workers is sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't know whether that could be more working from home , or more cleaning of shared spaces , or more provision of PPE . ''
She told BBC South Today : `` By speaking out I hope it will encourage the hospital to make more positive changes .
`` Even if this saves one other person then it 'll be worth it . ''
Ms Gough said : `` The sun is out and we are still getting on with our lives , but this is going to change our lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 'll graduate , but my dad wo n't be there .
`` I 've got a boyfriend and I 'd like to get married one day , but my dad wo n't be there . ''
A friend has previously said how Mr Gough worried about a lack of hand sanitiser at the hospital .
Oxford University Hospital 's chief people officer , Terry Roberts , said : `` Peter spent his working life as a dedicated public servant , joining the NHS after a long period working at HMRC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He will be missed . ''
The trust said it had followed guidelines `` throughout this pandemic '' and that PPE was available to staff `` whose contact with patients mean they require it '' .
The trust said : `` The levels of PPE are determined by the level of risk and exposure .
`` Staff who do not come into direct contact with patients are not considered to need PPE .
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Ms Gough said: "The sun is out and we are still getting on with our lives, but this is going to change our lives.


bbcuk--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: Boy yearns to see seaman dad moored outside house

A mother has told of the heartbreak of seeing her four-year-old son waving to his father who is unable to get off his ship when it is moored outside their house during the coronavirus lockdown .
Seonaid Russell , 34 , said it was `` tough '' to watch her son Euan yearn to see his bosun father when he was just 100 metres from their house in Oban .
The family live in a cabin which overlooks the town 's port .
Alasdair Gordon , 41 , is an officer in charge of the deck on the Pharos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Scottish lighthouses .
Since the lockdown , Alasdair and his crew have been instructed to stay on the ship when it is tied up in the dock .
It has meant that when he is moored outside his own house he is not allowed to spend the night with his family as he usually would do .
Seonaid said : `` His boat this week was back on Wednesday and it leaves on Monday , so that would have been five nights he would have been with us .
`` Seeing him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's so near but yet so far .
`` It was disheartening when I realised this was the position we were going to be in during the lockdown .
`` Euan shouts 'dad ' from the garden and balcony and waves and Alasdair can hear him and waves back , but he 's not allowed to shout back .
`` Euan can see him waving and runs into the kitchen and tells me 'dad 's waving ' and tells me to come and see , it 's the highlight of his day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeding support worker , said she was used to her partner being away at sea , but had found it difficult during the lockdown .
She said she worried about her son being affected by not being able to see his father when he knew he was so close .
She said : `` It 's a difficult thing .
I 've tried to keep upbeat in the hope it rubs off on to Euan .
`` At the age of four the sense of loss can be overwhelming .
I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as normal as possible for him by being honest that it will be a while before dad is back , but the feeling of sadness and loss will pass .
`` We talk about it a lot and I explain to him in very basic terms , using words he understands , that germs mean dad has to stay on the boat and he understands . ''
Seonaid , who is pregnant with their second child , said : `` Euan always wants to get a closer look at his dad so we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get a better look .
The gates are closed so we ca n't go right up to the ship but it is close and Euan gets very excited about our daily trips there to the edge of our garden to see his dad .
`` He says he is missing his dad but I 'm astounded at how well he is coping with it and his strength at such a young age .
`` I 'm very thankful about this because the sense of loss for a four year old can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around especially when you know your dad is so close . ''
Alasdair said : `` I find it quite frustrating , but I have to try and put it out of my mind and try to be professional about my work .
`` It is quite difficult being so close to home but not able to go over there , especially when I can see them both and I can hear Euan shouting in the garden .
`` It would be better to be out at sea , away from the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How exposed is your job ?
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Seonaid, who is pregnant with their second child, said: "Euan always wants to get a closer look at his dad so we go to the edge of the garden to get a better look. The gates are closed so we can't go right up to the ship but it is close and Euan gets very excited about our daily trips there to the edge of our garden to see his dad.


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Coronavirus: Footballers help girl, 10, to 1.7m keepy-uppies

Thousands of people have been helping a football-mad 10-year-old reach her target of 7.1 million `` keepy-uppies '' in aid of charity .
Imogen Papworth-Heidel wants one keepy-uppy for each of the UK 's key workers .
Realising she could not achieve her target alone , the Cambridgeshire schoolgirl last month asked others to help .
Footballers , including Lioness Lucy Bronze , have helped bring the total to 1.7 million and raise more than £7,000 .
About 2,000 sports clubs , school groups and individuals have `` donated '' about 1.5 million keepy-uppies and Imogen has done more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge about five weeks ago .
Imogen , from Hauxton , was inspired to do something to raise funds for charities supporting key workers after seeing Captain Tom Moore , the Bedfordshire centenarian , walking laps of his garden for the NHS .
The footballer , who trains with Cambridge United 's youth development academy , thought she could keep her ball up in the air about 200 times each day .
But when her parents told her it would take 97 years to reach the magic number of 7.1 million , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keepy-uppies .
`` We told her otherwise she would be older than Captain Tom by the time she completed the challenge , '' her dad Karl said .
Imogen does as many as she can in a row without dropping the ball , adding them all up to reach her daily total .
She is now achieving between 5,000 and 8,000 keepy-uppies herself each day and donations have poured in from across the globe .
`` We 've had some from a football team in California and support from Australia and South Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children across the UK , '' her mum Sarah said .
Some of the more well-known faces to offer support were football pundit Alex Scott and England women 's footballer Lucy Bronze , who earlier this month got in touch with Imogen and then donated 500 of her own keepy-uppies .
Imogen said she was `` blown away '' by the support for her efforts to help key workers , whom she calls `` Covid heroes '' .
`` People are sending me tens of thousands of keepy-uppies every day , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd be doing most of them myself and that I was going to be doing it for years and years . ''
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bbcuk--2020-05-30--Rutland osprey project grows online audience in lockdown

Bird-watchers have turned their eyes from the skies to the web as the coronavirus outbreak forces more people to watch rare birds online .
Rutland Water Nature Reserve closed in March to limit the spread of the disease , meaning visitors could not observe wildlife from hides .
The Rutland Osprey Project said it had led to greater engagement and connection with people online .
Rutland was the first place in England where ospreys bred in 150 years .
The project , run by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust , observes the `` extremely rare '' birds from their arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to Africa .
Visitors can usually observe the fish-eating birds throughout the summer from hides at Manton Bay , across from where the pair Maya and 33 ( 11 ) have been nesting since 2015 .
They both arrived in Rutland on 16 March from Africa , with 23 other ospreys also returning , but days later the reserve was forced to close due to coronavirus .
Last year saw the 150th wild chick fledge , while this spring Maya and 33 ( 11 ) have had four chicks , which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bream .
About 45,000 people logged on the project website between 14 and 20 May - more than 10 times the total number of visitors who came to see the birds last year - with 87 % of those visitors being new users .
Between 1 and 21 May , the project 's Facebook page also had 2,000 new followers and about 900,000 minutes of its videos were viewed .
Most online visitors were from the UK , but the birds were also watched in Canada , Finland , Spain and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project , said : `` With more people being engaged , hopefully we could be helping to raise the awareness of how important it is to stay connected to nature . ''
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About 45,000 people logged on the project website between 14 and 20 May - more than 10 times the total number of visitors who came to see the birds last year - with 87% of those visitors being new users.


bbcuk--2020-05-30--Work under way to remove dead 40ft whale from Clacton beach

Work is under way to remove a dead whale washed up on a beach on the Essex coast .
The 40ft ( 12m ) -long creature , believed to be a fin whale , was first reported in shallow water close to the sand near Clacton , at about 05:30 BST on Friday .
Part of the area has been cordoned off while the recovery operation takes place .
A Tendring District Council spokesman said it was hoped the whale would be removed by the end of Saturday .
People had been warned by police to stay away from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the carcass was spotted at Holland-on-Sea .
`` Initially the beach had been closed off as far down as Jaywick Sands , as a precaution , '' said the council spokesman .
`` This cordon has now been significantly reduced .
`` We understand people may be interested and want to see the whale for themselves or watch the clearance work - we would remind people to observe social distancing and to avoid crowded areas as we are still in the Covid-19 pandemic . ''
Staff from British Divers Marine Life Rescue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fin whales , which are the second largest animal on the planet , can grow to about 70ft ( 21m ) , so it was likely to be a juvenile .
It is not yet clear how the mammal died and is thought a similar-sized whale has not washed up along that stretch of coast in more than 20 years .
Rob Deaville , from Zoological Society of London 's Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme , said it was `` investigating whether it may be possible to collect any samples '' to help future @ @

Staff from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who went to the scene, said fin whales, which are the second largest animal on the planet, can grow to about 70ft (21m), so it was likely to be a juvenile.