bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: UK interest rates slashed to lowest level ever

The Bank of England has cut interest rates again in an emergency move as it tries to support the UK economy in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
It is the second cut in interest rates in just over a week , bringing them down to 0.1 % from 0.25 % .
Interest rates are now at the lowest ever in the Bank 's 325-year history .
The Bank said it would also increase its holdings of UK government and corporate bonds by £200bn with an effort to lower the cost of borrowing .
It 's a dramatic move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over from Mark Carney as Bank of England governor on Monday .
Last week , the Bank announced a 0.5 % cut in rates to 0.25 % and a package of of measures to help businesses and individuals cope with the economic damage caused by the virus .
The move coincided with additional measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Budget .
• Coronavirus : How the Bank rate cuts affect you However , the Bank said the measures it had taken so far were not going to be enough , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was warranted '' .
`` The spread of Covid-19 and the measures being taken to contain the virus will result in an economic shock that could be sharp and large , but should be temporary , '' it added .
The move comes as international investors are trying to secure more cash , in particular dollars .
This means they 're ditching assets such as UK government gilts , which are the `` IOU '' notes the government hands over to private investors willing to lend it money .
As the gilts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yield - the effective interest rate compared to the price - rises .
What that means is the cost of borrowing to private investors as well as to the government rises - just when the Bank of England wants it to fall and the government is about to borrow huge sums .
The Bank of England 's plan to buy £200bn more bonds is aimed at fighting that effect .
The fresh rate cut takes interest rates to the lowest they can feasibly go , said Jeremy Thomson-Cook , chief economist at payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and additional quantitative easing can keep markets satisfied and borrowing costs for both businesses and the government down but unless money is forced into the hands of small businesses soon , then it will be for nothing ; they are the ones laying off staff due to a liquidity shock , '' he added .
Karen Ward , chief European market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management , said : The support to the economy and health system will require vastly higher government borrowing .
The central bank showing willing to buy government debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional issuance without undue stress . ''
The Bank of England Governor has said today 's second emergency rate cut in just over a week occurred after financial markets became `` borderline disorderly '' , with fears about coronavirus leading to a rush into the US dollar away from sterling and lending to the UK government .
`` We 've seen very sharp moves in financial markets in the last few days , which is the pace of which frankly , was increasing very rapidly .
And we were moving into conditions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bordering on disorderly let me put it that way , '' Andrew Bailey told journalists .
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee had an emergency call this morning so that rate cuts and further `` quantitative easing '' could be agreed and announced , with the Bank needing to be `` on the offensive '' because : `` We ca n't wait for the hard economic data it will be too late by then '' , he said .
He said he had seen a range of private forecasts about the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We do n't have a precise forecast - every picture we look at has a very sharp V in it '' .
The governor also partly blamed rumours that appeared to emerge from Westminster of a shutdown to London for adding to the volatility in markets that saw sterling fall 5 % against the dollar .
Such a shutdown would be likely to impact on the functioning of the City .
He said : `` I do have to say that , you know , there were rumours going on the market this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a lockdown in London .
And I 'd observe that did cause market prices to start moving around at that point .
But I think the government has been clear , and it 's clear that that is not the intention at the moment . ''
The governor also said that he had already intervened to try to get loans to businesses to keep people in employment , and he said the Bank had its thinking cap on as regards further monetary boosts it can make .
He reiterated his lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of their impact on the banking system 's capacity to lend , and suggested that was the reason for limiting the cut to an unusual 0.15 % ( rather than the usual 0.25 % or 0.5 % ) to a record low of 0.1 % .
The key Monetary Policy Committee will meet again next week .

He said: "I do have to say that, you know, there were rumours going on the market this time yesterday that there was going to be a lockdown in London. And I'd observe that did cause market prices to start moving around at that point. But I think the government has been clear, and it's clear that that is not the intention at the moment."


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Scottish exams cancelled for first time in history

Exams for Scottish school pupils will not take place this year , the education secretary has announced .
John Swinney told MSPs the `` unprecedented '' move was a measure of the `` gravity '' of the situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak .
It is the first time the exams have been cancelled since the system was put in place in 1888 .
The Scottish government announced on Wednesday that all Scottish schools would be closing on Friday .
Mr Swinney said a model would be put in place to ensure that young people in schools and colleges who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be disadvantaged in any way .
• How the coronavirus has spread in Scotland Pupils will be graded on coursework , teacher assessment and prior grades .
Mr Swinney said : `` In all of our history Scotland has never cancelled the exams .
Since 1888 they have been held every May and June without fail .
`` In the midst of two world wars the exams went ahead .
`` It is a measure of the gravity of the challenges that we now face that I must today announce that the exams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' • LIVE : Latest updates from around the world • EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
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Mr Swinney stressed that saving lives was the Scottish government 's top priority but said it was important to protect the `` interests and life chances '' of young people .
`` I want the 2020 cohort to hold their heads high and get the qualifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The education secretary also urged teachers to do all they could safely to meet deadlines and allow young people to get their grades .
He added that the chief examiner would ensure that awards were made by 4 August so students could secure entrance to further or higher education .
The Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA ) said work had started `` at pace '' to develop an alternative certification model .
The SQA 's chief executive Fiona Robertson said : `` I fully appreciate that this will be an uncertain time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and will now , with their families , be worried about what this means for them .
`` Everyone here at SQA will do their utmost , with the support of the education system , to ensure that their hard work is rightly and fairly recognised , and allows them to proceed to further learning or work . ''
Schools in England , Wales and Northern Ireland will also be closing this week .
The UK government has already announced that GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales will be cancelled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after testing positive for coronavirus .
The first minister told the Scottish Parliament on Thursday that the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 had risen to 266 , an increase of 39 from Wednesday .
But Nicola Sturgeon warned the figures were `` likely to be an underestimate '' .

The SQA's chief executive Fiona Robertson said: "I fully appreciate that this will be an uncertain time for learners who have worked hard throughout the year and will now, with their families, be worried about what this means for them.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Knottingley food bank closes after raid

Thieves have taken advantage of the coronavirus crisis and targeted a food bank to sell stolen goods in pubs , its manager has said .
Donations , including sanitary products and toilet rolls , were taken from the site in Knottingley , West Yorkshire .
Stockpiling restrictions mean the Trussel Trust food bank can not replace the items and will close .
The town 's MP , Yvette Cooper , described the crime as `` shameful '' .
She called for supermarkets to change their rules to allow food banks to buy in bulk .
The food bank , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large donation of goods before one of its storage containers was raided at about 18:00 GMT on Wednesday .
Four men were seen fleeing the scene .
Project manager Janet Burns said : “ I ’ m absolutely positive it ’ s coronavirus-related .
They ’ re stealing stuff because they know they can sell it at pubs and clubs.
” She said there had been a long queue outside the food bank , including people with school meal vouchers which they fear will be unuseable when closures come into force from Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our food is donated by the general public so it ’ s just taking the kindness of people and throwing it back in their faces .
“ People who came in today might not have got as much as they might have done otherwise .
These are people that are desperate for some help . ''
Before the break-in , the food bank had decided to move to a reduced service from next week , dealing with emergency cases only because many of its volunteers are older and classed as being at higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ms Burns said losing so many donated goods had “ forced our hand ” and it will now close .
Ms Cooper called on the public to come forward with donations to help the food bank continue to provide for those in need .
She said : “ If someone has done this in order to make profit from other people ’ s desperation that is a shocking and shameful crime.
” Insp Phillippa Child , from West Yorkshire Police , said : `` Foodbanks are there to help the most needy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime . ''
She said the force was looking at CCTV and asked anyone with information to get in touch .

“People who came in today might not have got as much as they might have done otherwise. These are people that are desperate for some help."


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Train cancellations due to outbreak

Train operators will be running reduced timetables across several routes amid a collapse in demand due to coronavirus .
Northern , TransPennine Express , South Western Railway and Great Western Railway confirmed services would be affected by cancellations .
The cuts are down to a decrease in travel and an increase in staffing absence caused by the virus .
Avanti West Coast is still running a full timetable but urged passengers to check before travelling .
Northern apologised for any inconvenience caused but said the cancellations were due to increased staff absence .
Passengers took to Twitter to voice their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I work for the NHS and now with a reduced service my train is busier than usual making it impossible to socially distance myself .
I understand the complexities but this is ridiculous . ''
Steve Barcello said : `` Folks still need to get to work .
Some doing essential jobs in this crisis .
Hope rush hour morning and evening are not affected much . ''
TransPennine Express said `` it is anticipated that an increasing number of our services may be altered , delayed or cancelled for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our colleagues are affected '' .
South Western Railway confirmed it was cancelling trains at short notice as , `` like most organisations , we 're seeing more staff having to stay at home unwell '' .
Great Western Railway said its sleeper service between London Paddington and Penzance - known as the Night Riviera - would be suspended after Friday `` to protect our customers and colleagues '' .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has spoken of his desire to avoid `` ghost trains '' , but noted that it may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services running as possible to provide space for passengers to comply with social distancing requirements .
He told MPs on Tuesday that rail companies , as well as bus firms and airlines , could be temporarily nationalised to help them through the coronavirus outbreak .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said the government will not rule out imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Confirmed cases in the UK rose to 2,626 on Wednesday , from 1,950 on Tuesday .
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bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Formula 1 teams are to help in supply of ventilators

Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the coronavirus crisis .
Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties , one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms .
The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production .
F1 said the aim was to `` provide as much help and assistance as we can '' .
A spokesman said : `` The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide further details in due course . ''
A number of teams have applied-technologies divisions that could directly feed into the national production capacity of ventilators in the UK and Italy , particularly McLaren , Red Bull , Williams , Mercedes and Ferrari .
But all teams have advanced manufacturing capability that could potentially be used to make complex devices such as this , and as many will help as can .
The idea is to increase the supply of the existing design of ventilators rather than try to come up with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to need an extra 20,000 ventilators to deal with the crisis as it develops over the coming months .
It is hoped that an approach can be agreed within the next week that will help teams feed into capacity as quickly as possible , to boost the capability of health services to deal with increasing numbers of patients with breathing difficulties .
The move follows the Agnelli family which controls Ferrari and Fiat donating €10m ( £9.3m ) to the Italian government to help deal with the coronavirus emergency at a national level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators and providing a fleet of cars to distribute food and medicine .

The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after a McLaren team member tested positive for the virus
Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the coronavirus crisis.
Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties, one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms.
The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production.
F1 said the aim was to "provide as much help and assistance as we can".
A spokesman said: "The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant stakeholders regarding this issue and we will provide further details in due course."
A number of teams have applied-technologies divisions that could directly feed into the national production capacity of ventilators in the UK and Italy, particularly McLaren, Red Bull, Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari.
But all teams have advanced manufacturing capability that could potentially be used to make complex devices such as this, and as many will help as can.
The idea is to increase the supply of the existing design of ventilators rather than try to come up with a new approach.
The UK is estimated to need an extra 20,000 ventilators to deal with the crisis as it develops over the coming months.
It is hoped that an approach can be agreed within the next week that will help teams feed into capacity as quickly as possible, to boost the capability of health services to deal with increasing numbers of patients with breathing difficulties.
The move follows the Agnelli family which controls Ferrari and Fiat donating €10m (£9.3m) to the Italian government to help deal with the coronavirus emergency at a national level, as well as buying 150 extra ventilators and providing a fleet of cars to distribute food and medicine.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Prosecutor claims Alex Salmond was a 'sexual predator'

A prosecutor has alleged that Alex Salmond was a `` predator '' who `` abused his power to satisfy his sexual desire with impunity '' .
In his closing speech to the trial , Alex Prentice QC claimed Mr Salmond had shown a pattern of `` brazen '' conduct and said : `` He did it because he could . ''
He urged the jury to convict the former first minister of all 13 sexual assault charges that he faces .
Mr Salmond says he is innocent of all of the charges against him .
He has pled not guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women while he was serving as Scotland 's first minister and the leader of the SNP .
And he has described the allegations as being `` deliberate fabrications for a political purpose '' or `` exaggerations '' .
• Follow @ bbcphilipsim for live updates from the trial Mr Salmond 's defence lawyer will make is own closing speech to the trial on Friday , after which the jury will be sent out to reach a verdict .
Mr Prentice told nine women and six men on the jury that the case was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy '' .
He said : `` It is about a powerful man who abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity .
`` It is hard to complain when you rely upon your abuser for opportunities and career development , and when you are fully aware of an abuser 's reach and control . ''
He alleged that Mr Salmond 's conduct had been `` intimidating , humiliating , degrading and created an offensive environment '' .
And he described the complainers in the case as being `` courageous , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the abusive conduct of the former first minister . ''
Several witnesses during the trial had described Mr Salmond as being a `` tactile person '' - but Mr Prentice argued that this was `` not a licence to grope women '' .
Outlining the various allegations against the former first minister , Mr Prentice said some involved young women being left alone at night with Mr Salmond in his Bute House residence .
He put it to the jury : `` There is an emerging pattern here .
Brazen conduct .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There is a common theme here - that of a sexual predator with escalating gravity . ''
Mr Prentice went on to argue that some of the complainers `` felt they could not speak out and expose what had been taking place '' .
He added : `` Some were concerned with potential damage to the campaign for an independent Scotland , but there were also concerns over anonymity and the procedure the government would embark on .
`` They felt they had no-one to turn to for an effective remedy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , ladies and gentlemen , to convict Alexander Salmond of the charges against him . ''
Mr Salmond says he is innocent of all the allegations against him .
He has entered not guilty pleas to all 13 of the charges which he still faces , which include one charge of attempted rape , one of sexual assault with intent to rape , nine sexual assaults and two indecent assaults .
He has already been acquitted of a further sexual assault charge against a 10th woman after the Crown dropped the allegation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial heard so far ?
• Woman claims former first minister gave her 'very sloppy ' kisses • Woman says former first minister 'apologised ' for behaviour • Woman says Salmond kissed her after 'zombie walk' • Witness says Salmond accuser did not attend dinner

He has entered not guilty pleas to all 13 of the charges which he still faces, which include one charge of attempted rape, one of sexual assault with intent to rape, nine sexual assaults and two indecent assaults.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Windrush scandal: Home Office showed 'ignorance’ of race

The Home Office showed “ ignorance and thoughtlessness ” on the issue of race , a review of the Windrush scandal says .
The long-awaited review comes after some of those who came to the UK from Commonwealth countries were wrongly told they were in Britain illegally .
There was a “ profound institutional failure ” which turned thousands of people ’ s lives upside down , it said .
Warnings about the “ hostile environment ” policy were “ not heeded ” , the review concludes .
Report writer Wendy Williams , an inspector of constabulary , called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apology ” to those affected and the wider black African-Caribbean community .
Speaking in the House of Commons Home Secretary Priti Patel said there was `` nothing I can say to undo the pain '' but added `` on behalf of this and successive governments I am truly sorry for the actions that span decades '' .
Ms Patel said people from the Windrush generation were subject to `` insensitive treatment by the very country they called home '' .
`` I am sorry that people 's trust has been betrayed . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would receive compensation .
• Who are the Windrush generation ?
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told the home secretary that : `` People will believe her apology when they see her genuinely seek to implement the recommendations in the review . ''
Ms Abbott , whose mother was a member of the Windrush generation , said for those affected `` it is n't necessarily the money , the inconvenience or the tragedy of being deported , it is the insult to people who always believed they were British . ''
Theresa May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal came to light , added her own apology to the home secretary 's .
`` They [ the Windrush generation ] should not have been treated in this way , '' she said .
The 275-page report says the “ root cause “ of the scandal can be traced back to legislation of the 1960s , 70s and 80s , some of which had “ racial motivations ” .
“ Race clearly played a part in what occurred ” , said Ms Williams , adding that some failings could be indicators of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors that I identified demonstrate an institutional ignorance and thoughtlessness towards the issue of race and the history of the Windrush generation .
“ These aspects were among those included in the elements of the definition of institutional racism considered in the Macpherson inquiry [ which looked into the murder of Stephen Lawrence ] .
“ Operational and organisational failings ” at the Home Office had a “ causative impact ” on the “ detrimental ” way Windrush migrants were treated .
They were “ caught up in measures designed for people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK ” .
• The Home Office was fragmented and decision-making was `` siloed '' • A lack of empathy in some cases along with dehumanising jargon and cliches • Some senior civil servants and former ministers showed ignorance , lack of understanding and acceptance of the full extent of the injustice • Changes to legal aid contributed to the scandal • A history of prejudice towards black people and wider society also a factor Ms Williams says she spoke to former Home Secretaries Amber Rudd - who resigned over the affair in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jacqui Smith .
Commenting on speculation that the document has been watered down , with a finding that the Home Office is institutionally racist removed , she said : “ If anyone thinks I ’ ve pulled my punches I ’ d be very surprised indeed.
” Among 30 recommendations , the review says the Home Office should set up a full review of the hostile environment policy , appoint a Migrants Commissioner , develop a programme of cultural change for the department and establish a race advisory board .
David Isaac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Commission , said the Windrush scandal had exposed `` deep flaws '' in the UK 's immigration system .
He added : `` This independent review underlines many of our serious and long-standing concerns about the impact of the government 's hostile environment policies on some groups .
These are highly significant findings and we will be using our legal powers so this does not happen again . ''
Today ’ s review is a damning indictment of Home Office immigration policy which goes as far back as the 1960s , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprehensive report attempts to draw a line under the government ’ s woeful action but many Caribbean migrants have lost faith and fear the UK immigration system .
They ’ ve been put through years and in some cases decades of misery .
Broken families , shattered careers and being denied NHS healthcare won ’ t be forgotten anytime soon .
Meanwhile those who were wrongly deported or detained say the way they ’ ve been mistreated is unforgivable .
The government ’ s compensation scheme has also been heavily criticised with victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access the financial support they ’ ve been promised .
Many of these communities have lost complete trust in the government and the chances of restoring it are slim .
An estimated 500,000 people now living in the UK who arrived between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries have been called the Windrush generation , a reference to a ship which brought workers to the UK in 1948 .
They were granted indefinite leave to remain in 1971 but thousands were children travelling on their parents ' passports , without their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 meant those without documents were asked for evidence to continue working , access services or even to remain in the UK .
Some were held in detention or removed despite living in the country for decades , resulting in a furious backlash over their treatment .
The scandal prompted criticism of `` hostile environment '' measures introduced to tackle illegal immigration .

He added: "This independent review underlines many of our serious and long-standing concerns about the impact of the government's hostile environment policies on some groups. These are highly significant findings and we will be using our legal powers so this does not happen again."


bbcuk--2020-03-19--'Miss Hitler' and three others guilty of National Action membership

A `` Miss Hitler '' contest entrant and her ex-partner have been convicted of being members of the banned far-right terrorist group National Action .
Alice Cutter , 23 , and Mark Jones , 25 , were found guilty of being members of the neo-Nazi organisation after a retrial at Birmingham Crown Court .
Garry Jack , 24 , and 19-year-old Connor Scothern were also found guilty of being members of the group .
All four will be sentenced at a later date .
National Action , founded in 2013 , was outlawed under anti-terror legislation three years later after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jo Cox .
During their trial Cutter , from Sowerby Bridge , near Halifax , was described by prosecutors as a `` central spoke '' among the organisation 's hardcore members , while Jones , also from Sowerby Bridge , was a `` leader and strategist '' .
Jurors heard how Cutter had entered the Miss Hitler beauty pageant under the name Miss Buchenwald - a reference to the Second World War death camp .
They were also told how she had exchanged hundreds of messages , many racist and anti-Semitic , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ban .
In an exchange with another National Action member a day after MP Mrs Cox was gunned down , Cutter wrote : `` Rot in hell , bitch . ''
She claimed not to have considered herself a member , even before the ban , despite attending meetings with group leaders and posing for a Nazi-style salute on the steps of Leeds Town Hall in 2016 .
Cutter also attended a demo in York in May 2016 .
Jones , a former member of the British National Party 's youth wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of admiration '' for Hitler , while the court heard he had a special wedding edition of Mein Kampf .
He also accepted that he posed for a photograph while holding a National Action flag and giving a Nazi-style salute in Buchenwald 's execution chamber on a trip to Germany in 2016 .
Cutter and Jones embraced in the dock before being taken down to the cells .
Also convicted of the same offence were two other men ; Garry Jack , 24 , of Shard End , Birmingham , and 19-year-old Connor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack was described as a foot soldier in the group , having joined six months before the ban .
Scothern , who was a one-time practising Muslim , and an Antifa - anti-fascist activist - before eventually joining National Action , did not give evidence at trial .
But in messages he sent following the ban in August 2017 , he talked of setting up `` a clear and openly fascist youth movement '' .
A fifth man , Daniel Ward , 28 from Bartley Green , Birmingham , pleaded guilty to being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was jailed for three years .
Det Ch Supt Kenny Bell , of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit said : `` Being convicted of membership of this extreme right terrorist group is the same as belonging to other terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda or Daesh .
`` They share a real toxic extreme ideology which is a danger to the public , the same ideology that we have seen manifested in the tragic attack in New Zealand , the murder of Jo Cox MP and the attack at Finsbury Park mosque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amassing weapons and recipes for bomb-making .
They communicated through secret channels to recruit others to their cause .
Left unchecked they presented a real threat to the public . ''

"They share a real toxic extreme ideology which is a danger to the public, the same ideology that we have seen manifested in the tragic attack in New Zealand, the murder of Jo Cox MP and the attack at Finsbury Park mosque in 2017.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Price-hike pharmacy offers Calpol for £19.99

A pharmacy which priced bottles of Calpol at £19.99 has been criticised for the `` extortionate '' move .
A branch of West Midlands-based chain Jhoots had 200ml bottles of the liquid paracetamol advertised at about three times its usual price .
Birmingham councillor Majid Mahmood said people from his Hodge Hill ward had phoned him `` in tears '' to complain .
Blaming a communication error , Jhoots said it would refund customers and ensure no repeat of the error .
Mr Mahmood posted a photo of the pharmacy shelves on Twitter , which also showed smaller 100ml bottles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same shop had been offering a 32-pack of paracetamol at £1.39 a week ago , but was now asking £9.99 for the item .
Jhoots , based in Walsall , said in a statement `` disparities '' in some branches had stemmed from `` an erroneous communication '' and it had since taken steps to correct prices .
Pharmacists have warned that wholesale paracetamol prices have gone up amid the coronavirus crisis .
`` Business is business , they have to make a profit , '' Mr Mahmood said .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you know people are desperate in a national crisis .
`` When you 've got people crying down the phone because they ca n't afford Calpol - that 's wrong . ''
In a statement posted on Twitter , Jhoots said : `` We have acted immediately and conducted a thorough investigation into this matter and have found that following an erroneous communication , price increases were made at branch level .
`` In order to rectify the issue we will make full refunds to our customers affected by this and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this does not happen again . ''
Government watchdog the Competitions and Markets Authority said it was receiving `` an extremely high number of calls '' about inflated pricing during the Covid-19 outbreak .
A Birmingham City Council spokeswoman said its trading standards department could take action over `` dual-pricing '' .
She said traders could charge `` what they want '' for items without a price mark , but it was a criminal offence to charge more for pre-priced products .
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bbcuk--2020-03-19--Next boss: 'People do not buy a new outfit to stay at home'

The boss of Next has warned that the retailer faces a `` very significant drop in sales '' as a result of the effect of coronavirus on the business .
Lord Wolfson said online sales were `` likely to fare better '' than the shops , but would also suffer `` significant losses '' .
`` People do not buy a new outfit to stay at home , '' he added .
The risk to demand is by far the greatest challenge posed by coronavirus , said Lord Wolfson .
`` We need to prepare for a significant downturn in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
When coronavirus first appeared in China , Lord Wolfson said Next assumed that the threat was to its supply chain .
The warnings were contained in Next 's annual results statement , which showed that in the year to January 2020 total group sales rose by 3.3 % to £4.36bn , while profit edged up by 0.8 % to £728.5m .
Online sales performed strongly , rising by 11.9 % to £2.14bn , but retail sales fell by 5.3 % to £1.85bn .
However , in the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % and declined by 30 % between 15-17 March .
Lord Wolfson said since it had no experience of a similar crisis there was no way of predicting the impact that coronavirus would have on its business .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
He added that the company had carried out a detailed stress test looking at the likely impact on cash and profits of different levels of sales decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales of £445m , or 10 % of annual turnover , up to a loss of £1bn , the equivalent of 25 % of annual turnover .
The stress test concluded that the business could `` comfortably sustain the loss of more than £1bn ( 25 % ) of annual full price sales , without exceeding our current bond and bank facilities '' .
The retailer added that some products were likely to do better than others .
So far homeware and childrenswear sales have not been as badly hit as adult clothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses have revealed details of how the pandemic is affecting them .
• Supermarket chain Waitrose said from Friday it would reserve its first hour of opening for elderly and vulnerable customers and those who look after them .
It also said it would close all its cafes and rotisseries and stop making coffees to free up staff to restock shelves .
And from Thursday it has imposed limits on how many toilet rolls and certain other grocery items any one customer can buy in store .
• Aldi said it would reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour a day from Friday to allow for restocking .
• Fashion firm Burberry warned that the negative effect of the coronavirus on demand for luxury goods had intensified .
It said that sales in its stores have fallen by up to 50 % over the past six weeks .
Sales in China have started to pick up , but that has been offset by falls in sales in Europe , the Middle East , Africa and the US .
Burberry expects store sales to fall by between 70 % and 80 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and fourth quarter sales to drop by a third .
• Fashion retailer Joules said the decline in the number of people visiting its shops had `` significantly accelerated '' .
Online sales have also declined , but to a lesser extent , as people start to be more careful with their money .
The company has cancelled its dividend .
• Ocado said first quarter sales revenue was up by more than 10 % , but that increased demand had placed it under `` unprecedented strain '' .
Ocado temporarily closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand than it could meet .
• Travel firm National Express said it had seen a significant decline in passenger numbers in recent weeks .
However , it has contractual protections in place and as a result it thinks it will get in a little more money than it spends in the coming months .
It has reduced its outgoings such as cutting spending on adverts and other discretionary spending .
• Brewer Shepherd Neame cancelled its dividend and said that following government advice for the public to avoid pubs , theatres and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that trading will deteriorate rapidly '' .
It called for taxation to be cancelled immediately and for the government to give support with staff costs .
• Sushi restaurant chain Yo !
said that it had taken the decision to close 54 of its restaurants `` for the time being '' .
The remaining 16 will remain open `` while this is in our control '' , but will offer restricted hours and a reduced menu .
• Italian restaurant chain Prezzo announced it would temporarily close its restaurants .
The move came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants .
`` It was always going to be question of when , not if , we would need to close our doors for a time , '' the company said .

The retailer added that some products were likely to do better than others. So far homeware and childrenswear sales have not been as badly hit as adult clothing, it said.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--How long could schools be closed?

How long could schools be closed?

Schools across England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are to close on Friday because of the coronavirus epidemic .
What will the impact be ?
How long are schools likely to be closed ?
Head teachers in England , at least , think schools will not open again properly before September .
Scotland 's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she can not guarantee that schools in Scotland will reopen before August .
The peak of the virus outbreak is likely to be in May and June , after which most schools start to wind down .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent on the effectiveness of measures to reduce the spread of the outbreak .
Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said school closures were necessary to reduce social contact throughout society and hence the spread of the virus .
So will every school be completely closed ?
No .
Some schools will be kept open with a skeleton staff to provide support for the children of key workers .
A list of who this covers is to be released later on Thursday , but it is expected to include NHS staff , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be asked to help those most in need - for example , children who receive free school meals and those with special educational needs or education health care plans .
But it is not yet clear which schools will be the ones to provide these services .
Mr Williamson said in England the aim would be to provide support in school for an estimated 10 % of pupils .
Teaching unions are supportive of the plans , but say they want to see more details of the plans urgently .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private schools to close , and will provide financial support if needed .
• How families can cope with self-isolating together • Should you let your children play with other children ?
What will happen about exams ?
The summer exams have been cancelled in England , Wales and Scotland .
This includes GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales , plus primary school national curriculum tests , known as Sats , in England .
In Scotland , Highers and Nationals will not be going ahead .
Mr Williamson told the Commons on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not go ahead with assessments or exams and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year .
`` We will work with the sector and [ the exams watchdog ] Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications that they need . ''
More details will be released on England 's plans on Friday .
How will children be assessed instead ?
Exams watchdogs have been working together for some time to look at alternative arrangements .
• considering other evidence of candidate performance It is likely the exam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland will agree a uniform system to ensure comparability .
With regard to offers of university places , Universities UK - the vice-chancellors ' organisation - suggested universities may honour the offers already made on the basis of predicted grades .
What does this mean for parents ?
For many working parents , the closures will mean huge childcare issues ( this was one of the reasons why the government delayed closures as long as possible ) .
Some may need to take time off work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financially .
Head teachers have told the BBC that they have been making plans to continue teaching and supporting pupils during the closure , using social media and technologies such as Google Classroom and Maths Watch .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • TRAVEL PLANS : What are your rights ?
Why did government hold out against closures ?
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were closed earlier on in the outbreak .
The UK 's reluctance to follow suit was based on information that children are not as vulnerable to coronavirus as adults .
There were also fears about elderly relatives - the group most at risk from the virus - from being called upon to provide childcare .
However , head teachers have been struggling with the growing number of staff who have taken time off because they are ill , have underlying health conditions or are self-isolating .
Many individual schools had already been closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups home .
Have you been affected by the school closures due to coronavirus ?
Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms of use and privacy policy

How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? Published 23 February 2022
Image source, Getty Images
All remaining Covid restrictions have now been scrapped in English schools.
Rules have also been eased elsewhere in the UK, but some measures are being retained for the moment.
How are the Covid rules changing in schools?
The legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test is also being removed, although it is still recommended.
Head teachers groups have warned that the changes to testing and self-isolation "may actually lead to an increase in disruption", as Covid is more likely to spread in the classroom, leading to further pupil and staff absence.
Image source, Getty Images
All school staff and secondary school pupils in Scotland and Northern Ireland are still asked to take two lateral flow tests (LFTs) a week (three in Wales).
In Wales, schools are largely back to normal. Face coverings will no longer be required in classrooms after 28 February, but should still be worn in communal areas of secondary schools.
In Northern Ireland, schools reopened with the same measures as last term. If a primary or post-primary class has multiple Covid cases, all pupils should take an LFT. The guidance that pupils in post-primary schools should wear face coverings still applies.
In Scotland, social distancing remains in place. However, pupils will no longer have to wear masks in school from 28 February.
How many teachers and pupils are off because of Covid?
The latest data for England shows that 182,000 pupils (2.2%) of pupils were absent for Covid-related reasons on 10 February, down from 320,000 (3.9%) on 3 February.
On the same date, 2.8% of teachers and school leaders and 2.5% of teaching assistants and other staff were absent due to Covid, down from 4.4% and 4.1% respectively the previous week.
Almost half England's schools (45%) had one in 20 teachers absent due to Covid.
In Scotland on 17 February, 12,638 students (2.4%) were missing from school due to Covid-related reasons. The highest absence rate this year was seen on 7 January, when 43,565 students (14.1%) were off.
In Northern Ireland, 5.2% of students, 9% of teachers and 11% of classroom assistants in schools were absent due to Covid over the week 24 to 28 January - the highest rates since the new term began.
Image source, Getty Images
Many schools have told the BBC they have struggled to find temporary staff to cover the teachers who are off.
England's Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi urged retired teachers to return and join teacher supply agencies to fill gaps, but a BBC survey suggested there had been a limited response.
Mr Zahawi also suggested schools could merge classes. But teaching unions said there were logistical difficulties and safety issues with teaching large groups of children.
Image source, Getty Images
Can a child go to school if they or someone in their household or class has Covid?
After Thursday 24 February, people in England with Covid will no longer have a legal obligation to self-isolate.
However, people who test positive will still be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days, including school staff and students.
The legal requirement to self-isolate remains in place across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As long as they don't have Covid symptoms, under-18s already don't have to self-isolate if someone else in their household has Covid.
Similarly, whole classes are no longer automatically sent home to isolate if a pupil or teacher tests positive.
However, close contacts aged five or above are strongly advised to test for at least seven days.
All primary and post-primary pupils in Northern Ireland are advised to take an LFT if there are multiple Covid cases in their class.
Which pupils are being vaccinated?
All children aged five to 11 in the UK will be offered a low-dose vaccine, which is being rolled out on a "non-urgent" basis.
It's expected to be offered in England in April, and plans are also under way in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In addition:
the low-dose vaccine is already being offered to five to 11-year-olds with medical conditions that put them at greater risk
all children aged 12 and over are being offered two doses of the Pfizer jab
sixteen and 17-year-olds who had a second vaccine dose at least three months ago can have a booster
the JCVI has also recommended that the booster is also offered to children aged 12-15 who are in an at-risk group or live with someone who is immunosuppressed
Children who aren't at high risk from Covid should wait 12 weeks after a positive test before having a jab.
How will exams work this year?
Grades will again be decided by external marking, instead of the teacher assessments used in 2020 and 2021, but grade boundaries will be more lenient in England, Wales and Scotland.
English exam boards have published details about this year's GCSE, AS and A-level papers for most subjects, including maths, biology, chemistry and languages.
Students taking GCSE exams in English Literature, geography, history and ancient history won't have to answer questions on one option from their course.
In maths and science exams, students will be given sheets of formulae and equations.
Students taking vocational B-Tec qualifications will have fewer internal assessments.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: How to exercise while staying at home

The Green Goddess - the original keep-fit queen of the 80s - is making a comeback on BBC Breakfast .
Eighty-year-old Diana Moran will be doing exercises three times a week from self-isolation so viewers can follow along at home .
So what else can you do to keep fit and healthy while heeding the new advice about staying at home ?
`` There are tonnes of things you can do from your chair or sofa - squats , tricep dips , crunches , body work exercises and so on , '' says Cardiff-based personal trainer Keris Hopkins .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can get them involved .
Make activities fun , like running around or playing hide and seek .
Just keep moving , '' says the 37-year-old , who has started filming workout videos at home for people to follow along .
`` It 's important to plan your day - for example 7am to 8am work out online .
It will help people find a focus if they plan .
And if you can get outside , try to get your 10,000 steps done . ''
Becky Hill and Kate Williams run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For now , they continue to take place for whoever is able to attend - with people keeping at least 10 feet apart and equipment being cleaned between each use .
But they are also launching an online version for people self-isolating , a move which many gyms and personal trainers are making .
Exercise `` decreases stress and anxiety , '' says Becky Hill , who is also a fitness trainer and therapist .
Everyone is stressed at the moment and people are n't sleeping she says .
`` But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sleep better . ''
But how much you can do , depends on which type of household you fall into says , Dr Charlie Foster , Head of the Centre for Exercise , Nutrition and Health Sciences at Bristol University , who also advises the UK chief medical officers on physical activity .
If you are under 70 with no underlying conditions you can still be active outside as long as you stay at least two metres ( three paces ) away from other people .
So walking the dog ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going for a run or going for a bike ride are all fine - provided you keep your distance .
Public spaces such as swimming pools and gyms are not banned - but if you use them , be sure their equipment and surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned .
And of course you can do your bit cleaning any equipment you use .
Dr Foster says it 's preferable to exercise outside .
Team sports are not advised for now - but tennis is ok for the moment as long as you wash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands afterwards and keep your distance .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health If you are over 70 and self-isolating , pregnant or have an underlying health condition , but feel well , you can also go outside with the same caveat of keeping your distance from others .
For older people , strength and balance exercises are particularly important , says Jess Kuehne , senior program manager from the Centre for Ageing Better , as muscle strength starts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommends yoga , tai chi , resistance training and seated exercises .
If you are self-isolating with symptoms , or someone in your household has them , you should n't leave home but that does n't mean you should stop moving .
It 's really important to use movement and activity as a way of breaking up your routine , if you feel well enough .
Cook , play active games , dance , go into the garden if you 've got one .
If you are unwell - use your energy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be active .
If you can get out of bed , then do so but do n't try to do too much .
Finally , if you are feeling better after having had the virus , return to your normal routine very gradually .
We do n't know what the long term effects are but as far as we know , there is no reason why you ca n't gently return to normal activity .
Of course there are many fitness websites and online apps people can use to help find a routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calm , a meditation and sleep app currently among the most popular downloads in the UK .
And while you 're at home , tempting as it is , try not to eat everything in sight , Ms Hopkins reminds us .
`` Aim to minimise stress .
And try to use the time wisely - read that book , do an online course , learn a new language , clear out the cupboards .
It will all help , '' she says .
Exercises to try at home ( as advised by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dips - Sit on the edge of a chair holding onto the front with your hands .
Place your feet out in front of you ( bent legs for easier option or straight legs to make it harder ) and lower your elbows to a 90-degree angle before pushing back up .
• Table top press ups - Incline press ups can be done anywhere around the home - on a table , a bed , a chair or even a wall .
To use a table , place your hands on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , body nice and straight .
Lower your weight down keeping your elbows tight to your body , and press back up .
• Living room wall sits - find a wall with a big enough space for you to lean on .
Sit against the wall like you would in a chair with your legs at 90 degrees , and hold .
Give it time and you 'll soon feel the burn !
• Milk bottle Russian twists - Sit on the floor holding a milk bottle ( or any bottle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a straight back and engage your core .
Rotate your torso and try to touch the floor each side with the milk bottle .
Make it harder by lifting your feet off the floor .

If you are under 70 with no underlying conditions you can still be active outside as long as you stay at least two metres (three paces) away from other people. So walking the dog (or even your neighbour's dog), going for a run or going for a bike ride are all fine - provided you keep your distance.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Will I be paid when I'm at home with kids?

Everyone should work from home if they can , according to stringent new measures in the UK to combat the spread of coronavirus .
Meanwhile , schools are shutting , leaving parents trying to work out how to juggle childcare and work .
For many people , homeworking will not be possible , but they still face the possibility of 14 days of self-isolation , under the guidelines announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
Some changes have been made to the sick pay system given the current circumstances , which workers may need to fall back on .
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look after my children ?
When your children 's school is closed , or if you have a relative who is ill , your employer must give you time off to look after them .
But your employer is not forced to pay you unless your contract requires it .
However , many employers are allowing parents to work flexibly , to try to manage both work and childcare .
Who needs to work from home ?
Everyone who can work from home should do so .
That creates practical issues for employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given clear guidance as to what that means for them .
In normal circumstances , anyone working from home should receive an assessment of their domestic workplace .
Clearly , this will not be possible at present , but some rights can be made clear .
For example , working hours can still be clearly defined , and staff should receive their normal pay .
Who provides the equipment ?
An employer is responsible for equipment they supply , and must say what it should be used for .
The question of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlined as soon as possible , and would normally be part of any working from home agreement .
Given the current situation , extra costs , such as phone bills , may need to be claimed .
Employers will need evidence , but can explain how the expenses system works , and whether these costs are taxable .
Employees should only take home documents that are proportionate to their job , and should take particular care over safekeeping .
If personal laptops or mobile devices are used to connect to workplace servers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through secure links .
If it is particularly sensitive , work equipment should be supplied .
`` The data commissioner will treat cyber and data breaches that happen whilst staff work from home in exactly the same way as if happened in the workplace , attracting the same penalties , '' warns James Medhurst , a senior associate in the employment law team at legal firm Royds Withy King .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PLANS : What are your rights ?
If a business regularly has staff working from home , it is likely that Employers Liability Insurance will already cover staff irrespective of where they work .
If home working is entirely new to a company , business owners should check the wording of their policy and amend it accordingly , Mr Medhurst says .
Who is responsible for workers while they work ?
An employer has a duty of care for staff , even if they are working at home .
The requirements of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , according to the employment conciliation service Acas .
What if I can not work from home ?
Owing to the financial pressures , some businesses have asked staff to take unpaid leave .
Employers have the right to tell workers to take holiday if they decide to shut for a period of time .
However , they usually must give the employee twice as much notice as the period of leave being taken .
So for one week of annual leave , they would have to give two weeks of notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work from home .
However , under the new guidelines , if one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever , everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days .
Will I get paid if I self-isolate in this way ?
Provisions for sick leave vary from company to company .
Many employees will have contracts that allow them their normal pay while they are unable to work because they are sick .
Even where people do not get their fully paid sick leave , or if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have contractual sick leave , there may be minimum payments they can rely on , known as statutory sick pay .
Statutory sick pay ( SSP ) is money paid by employers , so self-employed workers are not eligible , but casual or agency workers are .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that SSP would be paid to people who had been told to isolate themselves , even if they did not have any symptoms .
He said people would soon be able to obtain a sick note from the NHS 111 service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rules were also changed so that those people would be eligible for SSP on their first day away from work , instead of having to wait until the fourth day as used to be the case .
He also announced that businesses with fewer than 250 employees would be able to claim back from the government two weeks of SSP paid to staff affected by coronavirus .
How much is statutory sick pay ?
It is set at £94.25 a week , although of course employers could pay more if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context , average weekly earnings in the UK in December last year stood at £544 a week .
To get SSP people need to be earning at least £118 a week .
Many people such as those on zero-hours contracts - who work variable hours every week - may earn less than this .
The Trades Union Congress ( TUC ) has calculated that there are two million workers who are not eligible for SSP and Labour has asked the government whether they will now be covered .
We asked the Office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they estimated that there were 1,766,000 jobs done by adults in the UK that paid less than £118 a week .
The number of people involved is likely to be somewhat lower than this because one person could have more than one of these jobs .
And indeed , if somebody has more than one of these jobs it could take them above the £118 a week needed to qualify .
About 70 % of these jobs are done by women .
The GMB union has called on the government to force companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are isolating themselves to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
It says that the government could use legislation that allows for staff to be suspended on full pay for up to six months for specific medical reasons involving risks of radiation or lead poisoning .
The government could use a statutory instrument in Parliament to extend that to include people isolating themselves because of coronavirus .
Broadly speaking , employees are entitled to sick pay and self-employed people are not .
In the latest UK figures for the last three months of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and about five million self-employed .
The government has said it will make it `` quicker and easier '' for self-employed people affected by coronavirus to access benefits .
The chancellor said that those on contributory employment and support Allowance ( ESA ) will be able to claim from day one , instead of day eight .
He is also temporarily removing the minimum income floor from universal credit .
The minimum income floor would have taken into account how much you would normally expect to earn in a month when calculating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having the floor means they will be able to claim for time they spend off work due to sickness .
He said they would not need to attend a job centre and could apply on the phone or online instead .
The government has also announced a new £500m fund to support economically vulnerable people , which will be allocated by local authorities .
Update : This piece was first published on 6 March and has been updated to reflect changes announced since .

Coronavirus: Wages, sick pay and time off explained Published 29 May 2020
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Image source, Getty Images
Millions of workers are receiving a smaller pay packet as the economic realities of coronavirus bite.
Struggling companies and self-employed workers have been offered financial help by the government, to help keep their businesses afloat and staff paid during the coronavirus outbreak.
But, with millions on reduced wages, who is affected and what happens when workers fall ill?
Will my salary be paid?
If you work in the private sector, and pay tax through the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) system, your employer can put you on furlough - essentially, lay you off temporarily - by applying for a government grant to pay 80% of your gross salary up to a limit of £2,500 per month.
More than eight million workers have been furloughed since March, at a cost of billions of pounds to the government. Full and part-time employees are eligible, as are those on agency, flexible or zero-hour contracts.
The typical full-time worker is paid £585 a week, about £2,340 a month, using a median average - the middle point of all workers.
It has been hoped the grants, available through Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by the end of April, will stop big redundancy announcements.
The money was backdated to March and the scheme will last until the end of October. New rules will apply over the summer that will see employers sharing some of the burden of these costs.
Employers will be able to bring back furloughed employees part-time from July - although they will be expected to share the cost of paying people's salaries.
An employer still pays their staff, and can decide whether to pay in full or only the 80% that has been covered.
'It is a relief to be paid'
Ria Fortin only started her job as a coordinator with Morepour, a cellar and bar installation and maintenance company, four months ago. Now, she has been furloughed.
"There was an intake of breath when I was paid. It was not as much as I have been used to," says the 34-year-old, who has just bought a home with her self-employed partner.
"But it is a relief just to be paid. At least it is something. Other people are in a much worse situation."
Image source, Ria Fortin Image caption, Ria Fortin says she feels lucky to still have her job
The company she works for is small, so she feels grateful to have been furloughed, rather than laid off, given that the hospitality industry may be one of the last to reopen.
The couple have organised payment holidays on regular bills, but know these will eventually have to be paid, so Ria - a former NHS worker - says they are very conscious of budgeting.
What if I'm self-employed?
If you are self-employed and have had a loss of income, you can receive a taxable grant of 80% of your average monthly profits over the past three years - up to a cap of £2,500 per month.
Initially, this has been available for three months in one lump-sum payment. A "second and final" payment, covering another three months and representing 70% of profits up to a cap of £2,190 a month will be available from August.
You can access the Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) as long as you traded in the past financial year, are still trading now and plan to continue doing so.
Most of your income needs to come from self-employment and your average trading profit needs to have been less than £50,000 a year.
If you became self-employed since April 2019, you will not receive any help under this scheme. This is because you haven't yet have filed a tax return, which is needed to help calculate financial support.
HMRC will contact those who are eligible.
Image source, Getty Images
What if the self-employed support scheme doesn't cover me?
You will have to try to claim benefits - such as universal credit and/or contribution-based employment and support allowance (ESA).
In his Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said claimants could apply for ESA straight away, rather than waiting a week. He also temporarily removed the minimum income floor criteria for self-employed people - which looked at how much people could expect to earn in a month to calculate universal credit levels.
Self-employed people not covered by the SEISS can now access universal credit in full, potentially allowing them to receive a payment equivalent to statutory sick pay (SSP).
However, this does depend on your household's financial situation. If you are already in receipt of other benefits, these could stop when applying for universal credit, so it may be worth getting some advice.
You can now apply on the phone or online, instead of having to attend a job centre.
Benefit levels have also been increased temporarily.
What if I work in the public sector?
You should continue to work and have your wages paid as normal, even if you are home-working or have been told to work at another location temporarily.
What if I'm working from home?
If you can work from home, you should do so. Working hours can still be clearly defined.
Employers still have a duty of care and are responsible for any equipment they give you. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has set out guidance.
Image source, Getty Images
What if I need to look after my children or a sick relative?
If you are an employee, your employer must give you time off in an emergency. But you might not get paid - it depends on the terms of your work contract.
However, many bosses during this period are allowing parents to work flexibly, to try to manage both work and childcare.
Will I be paid if I have to self-isolate or I am sick?
If you are an employee, any sick pay you may receive will depend on where you work.
Some workers' contracts offer full pay to those off ill - albeit for a limited time.
If that time runs out, or if you don't get paid sick leave in the first place, you should receive SSP.
The money - set at £95.85 a week - is paid by employers for up to 28 weeks. So if you are self-employed, you will not be eligible - but if you are a casual or agency worker, you will be.
Image source, Getty Images
To receive SSP you need to be earning at least £120 a week. The ONS estimates there are 1,766,000 adult jobs in the UK that pay less than that amount - although some people will earn money from several jobs over the course of a week.
SSP can now be claimed from a person's first day away from work, rather than the fourth day as before.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: What next in the UK coronavirus fight?

Coronavirus is spreading in the UK and the government is seeking ways to minimise its spread .
A worst-case scenario , if nothing is done , could see 80 % of people infected .
So what is the UK doing about coronavirus ?
The government 's strategy has been changing quickly over recent weeks .
It started off trying to contain the outbreaks by isolating people who tested positive and asking anyone who had close contact with them to self-isolate too .
In early March , ministers accepted that was no longer viable so instead introduced policies to delay and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that by pushing the peak back to the summer it would allow the NHS to cope .
But new modelling released by Imperial College London then prompted a change in approach .
It warned the policy of a managed spread could still lead to more than 250,000 deaths with hospital intensive care units getting overwhelmed .
Ministers are now seeking to suppress the spread completely - hoping in the process to keep deaths below 20,000 .
What steps are being taken ?
The government is taking arguably the most drastic steps in peacetime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce social contact , with the strongest warnings for the most vulnerable .
Those who show symptoms , and those they live with , are being asked not to leave their homes .
• Anyone with a fever or persistent cough should stay at home for seven days if they live alone or 14 days if they live with others .
Anyone who lives with someone displaying coronavirus symptoms should also stay at home for 14 days .
People who have to isolate themselves should ask others for help • Everyone should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is particularly important for people over 70 , those with underlying health conditions and pregnant women • People should work from home where they can • People should avoid places like pubs , clubs and theatres .
This applies especially to those in London which is `` a few weeks ahead '' of the rest of the UK • By the weekend , those with the most serious health conditions - around 1.4 million with conditions such as heart disease , diabetes , or asthma - should be shielded from social contact for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice also remains , which is that everyone should regularly wash their hands and avoid contacting the NHS unless it 's essential .
After trying to keep schools open , the decision was taken to close them from 19 March .
A number of schools will remain open for children of `` key workers '' , such as NHS staff and the police .
All exams in May and June have been cancelled .
The reticence to close schools was based on the fact children are the age group least likely to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases end up in hospital .
What is more , there were doubts as to whether it would help reduce cases .
Early modelling suggested while closing schools could suppress the peak - a 15 % reduction was put forward - some of the gain would be offset .
Children will still mix outside of school , parents , including health workers , may have to take time off work or grandparents may have to look after them , one of the vulnerable groups they are trying to protect .
In the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come down two factors .
Firstly , it might just do enough to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed - as suggested by the new modelling by Imperial College London published on Monday that prompted the government to move towards outright suppression .
Secondly , practicalities - increasing numbers of teachers and children are having to isolate at home and classes and exams would be seriously disrupted in the coming months regardless of what was done .
What is going to happen next ?
We are in uncharted territory - so it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to suppress the virus is that as soon as you lift those measures the fear is it rebounds with a vengeance .
One option put forward by experts advising the government is to go through a cycle of lifting and reapplying the brakes , using demand on intensive care as a guide .
There will be close attention paid to China which is now looking at how it lifts restrictions .
The hope is that you break the spread of transmission and the virus goes away .
But that is not considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the social and economic factors at play .
Businesses are going to struggle and people are going to lose their jobs .
And how long are the public going to put up with being told they can not go out , need to work from home and can no longer watch sport or go to festivals ?
How do you balance stopping society against saving lives ?
It leaves the government with some very difficult decisions to take .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak What about the NHS ?
Can it cope ?
The whole of the NHS has been put on an emergency footing .
From mid-April all routine operations , such as knee and hip replacements , are being cancelled for three months .
Hospitals have plans to keep coronavirus patients separate and supply staff with protective masks and suits .
All hospital patients with flu-like symptoms are being tested .
Patients with mild symptoms - a high temperature or new and persistent cough - are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams will keep an eye on them if need be .
But people are being advised not to ring NHS 111 to report their symptoms unless they are worried .
How will the NHS treat seriously ill patients ?
Currently there is no treatment or cure , so hospitals are trying to relieve the symptoms .
Specialist ECMO breathing equipment is at five units for patients whose lungs fail .
There are between 4,000 and 5,000 intensive care beds .
But NHS officials said they can effectively increase that to between 11,000 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery and those available in the private sector , Ministry of Defence , new ones being made and old stocks that are no longer used .
Ministers are also working with private companies to ramp up production .
A third of patients who need hospital care require intensive care support , evidence from China and Italy suggests .
Doctors warn that some difficult decisions may need to be made about which patients get treatment .
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But NHS officials said they can effectively increase that to between 11,000 and 12,000 by using ventilators reserved for planned surgery and those available in the private sector, Ministry of Defence, new ones being made and old stocks that are no longer used.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus testing: What is the UK government's plan?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans to test more people for coronavirus .
At the moment only people in hospital are being routinely tested , so if you have symptoms and you are not sure if you have the virus , you may well not be able to find out .
As of 19 March , 64,621 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus .
The number of tests has been rising from just over 1,000 a day at the end of February , when testing began , to more than 6,000 per day by mid-March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 a day initially , with a goal of reaching 25,000 tests a day within four weeks .
But it has been criticised by some experts for not testing widely enough , and people have been complaining online about not having access to tests despite having symptoms .
There are two main reasons for testing people - to diagnose them individually , and to try to understand how far the virus has spread in the wider population .
This second reason is referred to as `` surveillance testing '' .
This can involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have symptoms , or testing samples of people with symptoms , to get an idea of the total number of people with the virus .
Positive results can also be used to try to trace the contacts of people who are known to be infected .
The failure to test more widely means that many people might be self-isolating for no good reason .
Public Health England says it will do some surveillance testing on a local level if clusters of cases are identified , using a network of 100 designated GP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a sense of how many milder cases there are in the community that do not result in hospitalisation .
But the UK is not currently doing any mass surveillance testing or actively tracing people who have come into contact with known cases .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• CONTAINMENT : What it means to self-isolate • UK LATEST : What 's the UK 's plan and what could happen next ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be testing more people ?
The director general of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had a `` simple message '' for all countries : `` Test , test , test . ''
He added : `` We can not stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected . ''
So why is the UK not testing more people ?
Ultimately , this mainly comes down to resources .
Every country is limited by how much money , equipment and staff it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to test every single person , so healthcare systems have to prioritise .
The UK 's chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance told a group of MPs that `` we simply do n't have mass testing available for the population now '' , and that `` when you only have capacity to do a certain number of tests '' you have to prioritise the most vulnerable groups .
But it 's also partly to do with how widespread the virus is .
`` Testing and contact tracing is critical - particularly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prof Mark Woolhouse , an infectious diseases expert at the University of Edinburgh .
However , he says once you are beyond the `` containment phase '' , this may become less useful .
If the illness becomes so widespread that the cases known to health services are just the tip of the iceberg , and there are many more milder cases among people who do n't present , then `` contact-tracing of the small fraction of cases that are visible wo n't do very much , '' he said .
But Prof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Nottingham , believes the current testing regime `` does n't go nearly far enough '' .
`` To have any impact on the spread of this virus there has to be more widespread testing out in the community , '' he says .
`` We need to get a handle on where the virus is circulating most and better inform people of the cause of their respiratory symptoms , so that self-isolation is better informed and more likely to be enacted . ''
He points to South Korea , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far more extensive and has had `` a major impact on flattening the curve and relieving pressure on stretched health services '' .
Healthcare workers have n't been able to be widely tested , raising concerns that they could spread the infection unknowingly .
And some may end up self-isolating unnecessarily even though they do n't have the virus , risking leaving the health service even more short staffed .
The Department of Health and Social Care says healthcare workers are a high priority and it wants to increase testing to `` make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - but it has not set out any details as to how it plans to do that .
At the moment , those who can be tested are being checked for signs they currently have the virus .
But scientists are working towards a test to see whether someone has had the disease in the past , by checking for the presence of antibodies ( produced by the body to fight off infection ) .
This can help work out how widespread the disease has been and whether people are safe to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was in negotiations to buy `` literally hundreds of thousands '' of antibody tests which would be `` as simple as a pregnancy test '' , once they were available and shown to work .
What are other countries doing ?
The UK has done more testing than many other countries , although not more than the most rigorous testers like South Korea .
The UK passed its 2,500th case as of 18 March and has tested 828 people per million of its population .
At this point in their outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million citizens , while South Korea had done more than 2,000 tests per million .

The government says it will be able to expand the testing system again in the future if necessary, such as if a new variant of concern emerges.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: What are shops doing about stockpiling?

Shoppers should be sensible when buying food and groceries , Prime Minister Boris Johnson and supermarkets have said .
Shelves have been emptied around the UK during the coronavirus outbreak , but can panic-buying be controlled and what is being done to restock shops ?
What are supermarkets doing ?
The major supermarkets are imposing limits on how many of each item people can buy .
• Tesco is limiting customers to three of any product , and only two of toilet roll and paracetamol • Sainsbury 's says people can buy up to three of any grocery product and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper , soap and long-life milk • Asda will let people purchase up to three of any food , toiletry or cleaning product • Aldi is limiting customers to four of any product • Waitrose is allowing people to buy only three of any grocery product and two packets of toilet roll On Thursday , Sainsbury 's dedicated the first hour of opening in stores , apart from its Local shops , to elderly and vulnerable customers .
Iceland has also been opening an hour early for elderly and vulnerable people , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Services like cafes and deli counters have been shut by Sainsbury 's , Asda and Waitrose , to allow more staff to focus on tasks like restocking shelves .
Tesco has said it will introduce distancing measures at checkouts to reduce the risk of infection .
And it is also going to introduce a special hour in its large stores on a Sunday morning for its own staff and NHS workers to shop .
Aldi is installing clear screens at all its checkouts from next week to protect staff and customers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 20:00 .
Meanwhile , several food retailers are `` drastically cutting '' the range of products they sell .
They are also telling manufacturers to stop making some products to focus on those for which there is greatest demand .
For example , one retailer , which makes 60 kinds of sausages , will only make a fraction of those .
And Morrisons have reduced their bakery lines from 17 to seven .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Online deliveries are being used by more people , but there are questions over how robust the systems are .
Ocado has taken its website offline until the weekend and has also closed its app because of heavy traffic .
Some Tesco deliveries are not arriving in their scheduled time slot and others are not being delivered at all if the driver runs out of time to reach all the addresses on the list .
Most of the major supermarkets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for at least the next couple of weeks .
Morrisons said it would increase the number of delivery slots by recruiting 2,500 extra pickers and drivers .
Sainsbury 's says it is going to prioritise delivery slots for elderly and vulnerable people , and said it could identify who was eligible through its customer data .
How many people are panic-buying ?
Social media is full of reports of empty shop shelves , with similar scenes in countries such as Australia , the US , South Africa and Japan .
At the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data on the scale of stockpiling in the UK .
But the main items on supermarkets ' restricted list include : What is the government saying ?
The government has said there is no reason for anybody to stockpile .
Speaking on Tuesday , Mr Johnson said : `` We are absolutely confident our supply chains are working , and will work , and we will get `` farm to fork '' food supplies .
`` Therefore people should have no reason to stockpile or panic-buy . ''
Public Health England has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they will need , if they have to self-isolate for at least seven days .
The advice is that they should ask friends or family to drop off anything they need , or order supplies online .
Any deliveries should be left outside their homes .
However , the government 's powers to deal with this situation are so far untested , according to Paul Dobson , from the University of East Anglia .
But he said he expected the government to speak to supermarkets to secure a series of voluntary agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic buying .
Supermarket delivery hours were extended earlier in March to help shops remain stocked .
The Competition and Markets Authority watchdog has warned retailers not to `` exploit '' fears about coronavirus by dramatically increasing the price of protective goods like hand gels and face masks .
The government has announced the temporary relaxation of competition laws to help supermarkets pool staff and data .
This means retailers will be able to discuss stock levels , co-operate to keep shops open and share distribution depots and delivery vans .

Other initiatives include Tesco introducing floor markings showing which direction to walk down the aisles in some of its larger stores. Morrisons has a queuing zone if there are too many customers to be separated by the floor markings, while Asda is bringing in directional barriers.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation?

Everybody in the UK has been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel .
This is known as social distancing .
It follows people with flu-like symptoms - such as dry cough and high temperature - being asked to self-isolate at home , to avoid infecting others .
So , what do you need to know about social distancing and self-isolation ?
It means spending less time in public places , where a lot of people are around .
Everyone is now advised to follow self-distancing measures , especially the over-70s , pregnant women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jab .
• Work from home whenever possible • Stay away from pubs , clubs , theatres and other such social venues • Avoid gatherings with friends and families wherever possible What am I allowed to do when social distancing ?
• You can go for a walk or run outdoors if you stay 2m ( 6ft ) away from others • You can see family and friends if it 's essential • You can walk your dog • You can provide essential care for elderly relatives and neighbours if you have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shops to buy food and groceries Self-isolating means staying at home and not leaving it , other than for exercise .
Do n't go to work , school or public areas during this time .
If possible , you should not go out even to buy food or other essentials .
If you are unable to get supplies delivered , you should do what you can to limit social contact when you do leave the house .
Everyone who shows coronavirus symptoms - a fever of above 37.8C , a persistent cough or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same house or flat as someone with symptoms .
• If you live alone , you must stay at home for seven days from the day symptoms start • If you or someone you live with has symptoms , then the entire household needs to isolate for 14 days from the day they start • Anyone in the household who starts displaying new symptoms during the 14-day period will need to stay at home for seven more days , regardless of how long they have already been isolated The person with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room with a window that can be opened , and keep away from other people in the home .
People are being advised not to ring NHS 111 or their GP to report their symptoms unless they are worried .
Who else should self-isolate ?
People with very serious health conditions need to be shielded from the virus for about 12 weeks , using special isolation and precaution measures to be announced soon .
This group includes : • People with severe diseases or on dialysis What happens if you have a vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should keep at least 2m away from a vulnerable person ( such as pregnant women , the elderly or those with an underlying health condition ) during any period of isolation , according to PHE .
Limit time spent together in shared spaces , like kitchens , and keep all rooms well-ventilated .
If they can , the vulnerable person should take their meals back to their room to eat .
A vulnerable person should also use separate towels from the rest of the household .
If possible , they should use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not possible , the bathroom should be cleaned every time it 's used ( for example , wiping surfaces with which you have come into contact ) .
People living with someone in isolation should wash their hands often , using soap and water for at least 20 seconds - especially after coming into contact with them .
Personal waste ( like tissues ) should be double-bagged and put aside for 72 hours before being put in your outside bin .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HEALTH MYTHS : The fake advice you should ignore • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Will I still get paid ?
Workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work , not the fourth , to help contain coronavirus , the prime minister has said .
This means that people who have to self-isolate or who are ill would get an extra £40 to cover the first four days .
This would take it up to its usual rate of £94.25 per week .
Many casual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sick pay but self-employed people are not .
Citizens Advice says people on zero-hours contracts can still get sick pay and should ask their employer .
In the meantime , the government says you can claim universal credit or employment and support allowance if you 're prevented from working for public health reasons .
If you need to care for a relative or your child 's school is closed and you need to look after them at short notice , your employer must give you time off , but it may be @ @

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--2020-03-19--Coronavirus in UK: How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

A total of 3,269 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK - but the actual number of cases is estimated to be between 35,000 and 50,000 .
The number of deaths is now 144 , according to the latest figures available .
Some 61,352 other people in the UK have been tested for the respiratory infection but found not to have it .
All schools in the UK will close from Friday , except for vulnerable pupils or children of key workers , following a ramping up of measures to tackle the outbreak .
Find out how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : If you ca n't see the look-up click here .
The following charts and graphics will help you understand the situation in the UK and how the authorities are dealing with it .
1 .
The UK has changed course The new coronavirus , which causes the respiratory disease known as Covid-19 , was first confirmed in the UK at the end of January .
While there were a number of people testing positive throughout February , figures in the UK began to increase at the beginning of March .
On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced significant new measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus .
They included asking people to work from home where possible , halting all unnecessary travel , and asking those aged over-70 to self isolate at home in the coming weeks .
Up to 40 Tube stations in London have also been closed and rail services reduced elsewhere .
More than 20,000 troops are on standby to help if needed .
The measures have come into force as the UK death toll continues to rise .
A total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , according to the latest figures on 19 March .
Confirmed UK figures are lower than other European countries , such as Italy , for example , where there have been more than 40,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths , according to 19 March figures from the Johns Hopkins University .
Globally , authorities have confirmed more than 235,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 9,700 deaths .
There have now been more than 155,000 cases outside China - overtaking the 82,000 in the country where the virus originated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What are the symptoms ?
• EASY STEPS : How can I try to stay well ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the pandemic 2 .
We are in the second phase of the government 's response The government has published its action plan for dealing with the virus , which involves three phases - contain ; delay ; mitigate - alongside ongoing research .
While the emphasis has been on the contain and research phases up until this week , the country has now moved to the `` delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
As part of the delay phase , people with even mild coronavirus symptoms - defined as a temperature above 37.8 C or a `` new , continuous '' cough - are being asked to self-isolate at home for at least seven days to protect others and help slow the spread of the disease .
Even if you have no symptoms , the government says you should still : • Stop all non-essential contact with others • Work at home where possible The government is now encouraging self-isolation at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable to the virus , for 12 weeks from Friday .
Mr Johnson said that through `` determined collective action and scientific progress , we will turn the tide of this disease and beat it together '' .
British nationals should avoid all non-essential foreign travel to tackle the spread of coronavirus , the Foreign Office has advised .
If the virus becomes even more widespread , the government may then decide to enter the third phase of mitigation , when health services are asked to focus on critical care and retired NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
3 .
People who think they have coronavirus should self-isolate If you have a `` new , continuous '' cough or high temperature and think you have coronavirus you are advised not to go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
Instead , you stay at home for seven days .
If you live with other people - they should also stay home for 14 days to see if they develop symptoms .
If your symptoms persist or worsen you should contact the NHS 's dedicated 111 online coronavirus @ @ @ @ @

Based on the survey, the estimated peak of the pandemic, in cases if not in deaths, was in late March 2022, where at one point about 4.9 million people were thought to have the virus. However, the survey did not capture the first wave of the pandemic, with trials only beginning in England in April 2020.