bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus lockdown: Business group calls for phased easing

Ministers should immediately set out plans for a `` carefully phased '' lifting of the UK 's coronavirus lockdown , a business group has said .
`` This is a time to be bold , '' said the British Chambers of Commerce , adding high public spending should continue if needed to restart the economy .
Boris Johnson has said he will outline plans relating to schools , commuting and the workplace in the coming week .
But the PM stressed the UK must not `` risk a second spike '' in infections .
Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stagger employees working hours , once lockdown eases , to help prevent crowding on public transport .
`` There are a series of different things that we can do including staggering work times , and we 're working with businesses and organisations to do that , '' he said .
The British Chambers of Commerce ( BCC ) said business groups and major employers expect to receive draft guidance from the government on Sunday about the safe return to work when the lockdown eases .
In a letter to Mr Johnson , BCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communication of the government 's approach to leaving lockdown `` must begin immediately if we are to harness the public health and economic benefits '' .
`` Fundamental prerequisites to beginning this journey include mass testing and contact tracing , '' she writes .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • PUBLIC TRANSPORT : Is it safe to travel ?
• WILL I GET PAID IF I CA N'T WORK ?
The rules on sick pay , wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I get tested for coronavirus ?
The BCC 's director general Adam Marshall also said that businesses need to be given adequate time to prepare to reopen .
He told BBC Breakfast : `` A number of firms need a couple of weeks or possibly even longer in order to prepare to reopen their operations .
`` I think they understand that of course public health considerations have to come first and the government may have to make changes to that plan as we go but they need to start seeing some timeframes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confidence to get ready . ''
Baroness McGregor-Smith also calls for `` clear decisions and guidance '' on the protective kit employees should wear in workplaces , as well as steps to ensure adequate supply to both the NHS and businesses , where necessary .
The government has set out five tests to be met before lockdown restrictions can be eased , including : • making sure the NHS can cope • a `` sustained and consistent '' fall in the daily death rate • ensuring supply of tests and personal protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident any adjustments would not risk a second peak `` that overwhelms the NHS '' Since the pandemic hit the UK , Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced tens of billions of pounds in emergency support aimed at helping businesses and saving jobs .
A job retention scheme in which the government covers 80 % of workers ' wages , up to a maximum of £2,500 per worker , per month before tax , received applications from 185,000 firms on the day it launched last month .
And the number of people applying for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .
Companies feeling the hit from the shutdown are starting to accept that a reopened economy will not be `` business as usual '' .
But they want to know when and how they can get going again .
Elizabeth and Phil Gabriel own a health club near Nottingham .
They have furloughed staff , benefitted from a cash grant and been able to defer VAT payments .
But fixed costs continue and cash will run out if they have to close for four months or more .
They are asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear guidance on how many customers - especially those who are older - will be allowed in at once .
Then there 's office-based firms .
David Morel runs Tiger Recruitment .
His staff are currently either working from home or on furlough .
While he waits for clarity from government , he 's considering a range of options for safe office working .
There will be different dilemmas for different industries .
Hospitality businesses , for example , such as restaurants are trying to work out how they can make enough money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean fewer customers .
Mr Marshall said that the government needs to extend its various support schemes to help businesses survive .
`` Unfortunately quite a lot of firms are facing a very serious cash crunch , '' he said .
`` Many businesses have been able to hold on through the period of lockdown [ but ] some unfortunately wo n't be able to last very long which is why we need to see an extension to the government support schemes that are in place .
`` So the furlough scheme , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be extended and become more flexible to help more firms survive over the coming months and avoid some of the mass redundancies that none of us want to see . ''
• Five firms booming despite the lockdown • The businesses adapting to life under lockdown In her letter , Baroness McGregor-Smith urges the prime minister to act further to minimise job losses and business failures , putting the UK economy on a `` high-growth , high-wage and low unemployment trajectory '' as soon as possible .
`` Government should not shy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending in order to restart and renew our communities and the economy in the short and medium-term , while not tying the hands of future generations , '' she says .

"Unfortunately quite a lot of firms are facing a very serious cash crunch," he said. "Many businesses have been able to hold on through the period of lockdown [but] some unfortunately won't be able to last very long which is why we need to see an extension to the government support schemes that are in place.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Doctors 'buy their own PPE or rely on donations'

Almost half of doctors in England might be buying their own protective equipment or are relying on donations , according to a survey by the British Medical Association ( BMA ) .
The survey of more than 16,000 doctors also found that 65 % feel they are only partly or not at all protected on the front line of the coronavirus crisis .
One said the situation is `` an outrage for all staff '' .
The government said it is `` working round the clock '' to deliver equipment .
The survey found that 48 % of doctors reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) directly for themselves or their department , or had received donations from a charity or local firm .
`` At the moment we 're at the mercy of donations or purchasing them , '' Dr Chaand Nagpaul , chairman of the BMA council , told BBC Breakfast .
`` That does n't give you security and it has n't met the government 's own commitment and promise that it will be protecting its workforce . ''
• Why some NHS workers are wearing bin bags He said the survey showed supplies were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a point where all staff could be assured they would be adequately protected from infection .
GPs appear to be more affected by PPE shortages : 55 % of family doctors said they had to source their own equipment , compared with 38 % of hospital doctors .
Dr Nagpaul said his own GP practice had received no eye protection from the NHS and was using equipment donated by a local school and business .
`` When those run out , I do n't know where we 're getting the next supplies from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Almost a third of doctors told the survey that they had not spoken out about PPE , staff shortages , testing or drug shortages because they did not think any action would be taken if they did .
In a statement , the government said it was `` working around the clock to ensure PPE is delivered '' to healthcare staff and said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items since the outbreak began .
Ensuring adequate protective equipment would be needed before lockdown restrictions are eased , the BMA said , as it will mean resuming normal NHS services , with greater numbers of non-coronavirus patients .
Dr Nagpaul also told BBC Breakfast that the government should not introduce an `` arbitrary age limit '' as it eases lockdown measures , by maintaining stricter rules for over-70s .
He said that while this group was at a `` higher risk '' , there were also large numbers of younger people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Requiring older people and those with serious health conditions to stay indoors for a prolonged lockdown could lead to other problems affecting mental and physical health , he warned .
Instead , he called for the government to manage the easing of the lockdown in a controlled way , with measures to prevent the spread of the virus such as requiring face coverings .
`` We do n't want people going out and mixing more , only to find the infection is rife and cases surge , '' he said .
Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to source your own PPE or rely on donated equipment ?
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"Our biggest fear is what is going to happen next autumn when it will be impossible to know who has coronavirus and who has the normal types of winter bugs. Everyone will have to wear PPE."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Antibody test 'ready for production by June'

A reliable coronavirus antibody test could be ready for mass production by June , according to a firm in the south Wales valleys involved in the project .
BBI Solutions in Crumlin is part of a consortium working with Oxford University to create the test .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described antibody tests - which check whether someone has had Covid-19 - as a potential `` game changer '' .
But the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has questioned their reliability .
It has said there was `` no evidence '' they show whether an individual `` has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Antibody tests look for immunity signs by examining blood drops .
So far no home test has proved reliable .
• Coronavirus : Why biggest challenge is yet to come on testing • Coronavirus : Why did the UK need 100,000 tests a day ?
The UK Government has said `` an unreliable test is worse than no test '' .
Dr Mario Gualano , BBI Solutions chief executive , told the BBC 's Politics Wales the new test 's reliability had `` to be in the high 90s for both sensitivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspects that they have been infected with coronavirus , they would be able to order a test and very easily test themselves and demonstrate whether they have developed an immune response to the coronavirus , '' he said .
When infected the body generates different `` classes '' of antibody .
Dr Gualano explained : `` We 're looking for a class that would suggest a historic infection and therefore the presumption would be that , on the basis that an individual has that type of antibody , they would be immune .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick antibody tests because of an absence of information about coronavirus immunity .
Dr Maria van Kerkhove , a WHO specialist in emerging infectious diseases , said there was no evidence a test could `` show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection '' .
She said it was `` a good thing '' tests are being developed , but added : `` We need to ensure that they are validated , so that we know that what they say they attempt to measure , they are actually measuring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cardiff University 's viral immunology group , said tests would be `` incredibly useful '' for understanding if people had been previously infected .
But he said tests do not show the `` the type of immune response '' a person has .
`` We need to know a lot more before we can make definitive conclusions about how important those antibody responses are , '' he said .
Dr Gualano accepted there was a possibility Covid-19 could mutate , which `` would render your immune response redundant '' .
The consortium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests a week .
But the UK government says orders `` will be cancelled '' if they are unreliable .
Dr Gualano said the tests would be `` very easy to use . ''
He said BBI is also developing an app to record test results .
A test is already in use at the UK government 's Porton Down labs in Wiltshire , but is being reserved to estimate population immunity - not to give information on individuals .
Scotland 's health secretary Jeane Freeman announced on Friday work would begin next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how many people have had coronavirus .
Public Health Wales said it would bring in plans for antibody testing beginning next week `` to monitor the progress of the disease across Wales as part of our recovery plan '' .
BBC Politics Wales is on BBC One Wales at 10:15 BST on Sunday , 3 May , and later on the BBC iPlayer .

She said it was "a good thing" tests are being developed, but added: "We need to ensure that they are validated, so that we know that what they say they attempt to measure, they are actually measuring."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus doctor's diary: Take care when you clap for carers

The Thursday evening celebration of NHS workers causes a spike in arrivals at A & E , Dr John Wright of Bradford Royal Infirmary writes in his regular diary .
And below he tells the story of one of those workers , a nurse who suffered badly from the virus but has been discharged just in time for her son 's first birthday .
The Thursday evening clap for carers gets louder and more joyous every week .
It is a deeply moving tribute that captures the very essence of our communal spirit in these times of adversity .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together and generates a rare feeling of release and togetherness , a faint memory of a previous era .
But when people have gone out to clap we 've seen interesting little peaks in accident rates that we were n't expecting .
People might need to be a bit more cautious , especially if they 've been sitting down all day and then get up to clap .
It might be one of the only times older people come outside and so there is a risk of falling and I 'd just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The clap for carers has made us a little busier , '' says Richard Pilling , consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Harrogate District Hospital .
`` It 's very nice that everyone is very enthusiastic about showing support but it 's escalated , so people are coming out banging pans and seeing who can clap the loudest , and therein accidents lie .
`` It 's nice to walk on to your doorstep and show appreciation , it 's a chance to see your neighbours , and it 's lovely to see people sticking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it less vigorously - you do n't have to be the loudest on the street . ''
Ella Simkin , 23 , went out with her parents to clap on Thursday at their house in south London , and decided to jump up on to a raised concrete flower bed to get a better view of all the neighbours .
She missed her footing , and suddenly `` there was this sharp pain , '' she says .
`` It sliced into my knee - I was wearing jeans and at first I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot and we went to Accident and Emergency .
`` I was very embarrassed when we got there .
When I went for the X-ray I was telling them I was out clapping when it happened .
Everyone found it very funny and lots of people said my heart was in the right place . ''
Richard points out that some people have been exercising more than usual during the lockdown , but others have stopped exercising , and problems can occur when they suddenly get up and clap .
They may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example .
Some people arrive at hospital immediately after the clap , others later in the evening , after trying and failing to get over their injury at home .
`` When you 're trying to keep pressure off the NHS , it 's adding to the workload at a time when we really want to avoid that happening , '' Richard says .
`` I think people need to be careful and just slow down a bit if they 're going out into the street . ''
Despite the precautions taken in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch Covid-19 - and even fit young people without previous health problems may find themselves needing hospital treatment .
Palliative care nurse Kelly Ward , aged 35 , had been looking after elderly Covid patients at a neighbouring Bradford hospital , when she began to feel out of breath at the end of a shift one day .
By the time she got home she was feverish , and the following day she was brought into hospital by ambulance , hardly able to breathe .
Prof John Wright , a medical doctor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute for Health Research , and a veteran of cholera , HIV and Ebola epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa .
He is writing this diary for BBC News and recording from the hospital wards for BBC Radio 4 's The NHS Front Line • Listen to the next episode at 11:00 on Tuesday 5 May , catch up with the previous episodes online , or download the podcast • You can also read the previous online diary entry : 'We are n't diagnosing many cancers now' She was put on a continuous positive airway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been our secret weapon in the treatment of Covid-19 .
It blows air into the lungs , keeping them inflated , but the feeling is unpleasant - and the mask needed for machine to work can make people feel claustrophobic .
Some of our patients just can not tolerate it .
`` At first I panicked , I 'm not going to lie , '' Kelly told me when I visited her on the ward 10 days ago .
`` I 've never had anything like that before and I tolerated it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I was fine .
And then I told the doctors overnight that I was n't having it on any more , it was so claustrophobic .
It felt like I had no control over what was going into my lungs , even though I know it was helping me .
I felt like I could n't breathe .
`` And one of the doctors gave me strict talking to and said , 'You know , if you do n't have it on you are going to go downhill . '
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She got on fine with it for the rest of that day , but the following morning - the day we met - she started panicking again and rejected it .
Fortunately , by this stage , Dr Paul Whitaker , a consultant in respiratory medicine , felt she had turned a corner , and could already start to be weaned off oxygen .
Kelly agreed .
She confessed that there had been a moment during her first 48 hours in hospital when she 'd thought she might die , but that moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Whitaker talking to another patient , a woman in her early 70s who had tried CPAP and could n't face it again .
He asked her whether she would use it if it was a case of life or death .
`` No , '' was the answer .
`` It 's not what my family would want but it is n't their decision , '' she said .
Then she added : `` I know I 'm not giving you much chance to help me . ''
She died a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however .
It was her objective to be home in time for her son 's first birthday on Sunday 3 May , and I 'm glad to say she was well enough to be discharged on Friday .
In our experience it 's taking people a long time to recover from Covid-19 .
Kelly is still breathless and told me she had to crawl up the stairs on her hands and knees .
Once at the top she had to stop and draw breath , before continuing to her bedroom .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overjoyed to be home , '' she says .
`` It 's been much harder than I expected .
I did n't expect to feel as weak as I do .
It 's really taken it out of me , it really has .
I 've been downstairs once and have spent the rest of the time in bed . ''
Kelly 's son is so young he may not have realised she 'd been away .
Her eight-year-old daughter , however , shed tears of joy to see her mother again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorly and I 'm getting better .
She knows it will be a while until I 'm back to full force , but she 's not frightened , '' Kelly says .
`` When this all started I was very open with her and told her I was looking after very poorly people , as was everyone in the NHS .
It 's been tough and she 's done very , very well . ''
`` Next Thursday , when everyone in the city comes out to clap , they will be clapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told her .
`` I 'll be clapping for every single person in the NHS , '' she replied .
`` Everyone has been unbelievable .
My life has been saved and I 'm so , so grateful . ''
Two more patients have been discharged .
A week ago I wrote about Michael and Mary Blessington , a couple in their 60s who have been together from the age of 13 , and who were together in hospital with Covid-19 .
Mary was finally able to leave hospital today .
Their son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gate waiting for her , after she rang to say she was leaving .
Then , when it proved impossible to get the fish and chips she had been waiting for for so long , Michael made her scrambled egg .
Another Covid-19 patient who is very pleased to be home - and who at one point thought it might never happen .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look after your mental health

"I've never had anything like that before and I tolerated it for maybe about an hour or two, and I was fine. And then I told the doctors overnight that I wasn't having it on any more, it was so claustrophobic. It felt like I had no control over what was going into my lungs, even though I know it was helping me. I felt like I couldn't breathe.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: 'The only thing on my mind is coming back'

`` The only thing on my mind is coming back and how we do it .
And I have a lot of time to think , '' says restaurateur David Moore .
He has run the Michelin-starred Pied à Terre in central London for 28 years .
It took just days to close the restaurant 's doors when the coronavirus lockdown was introduced .
Now , like many other businesses , Mr Moore wants clarity about what restrictions might be in place when his restaurant can start serving again .
Next week , the government will release a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK economy up and running again once the pandemic passes .
Research by business groups show that companies overwhelmingly want to get back to work as soon as possible and want information on how to do so .
• How the government plans to get the UK back to work • Coronavirus : How do you hire during a pandemic ?
• If we can not get a loan we 'will go under' For Mr Moore that means finding out things like : `` Will there be a quota on the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ square foot ?
Will there be rules about distances between tables ? ''
Reopening will not be a quick process .
His staff are on furlough , he 'll have to reconnect with his suppliers and write a new pared-down menu that does n't require too many chefs in the kitchen .
And there is concern about when customers might feel confident to eat out again .
Meanwhile , other businesses are facing their own challenges .
If social-distancing in a restaurant sounds difficult , in some industries it 's nigh on impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flood of customers desperate for post lockdown haircuts and beauty treatments when he reopens his Leeds salons .
Like so many , he 's thinking about how to do this safely .
`` We 've ordered disposable gowns , disposable towels , hand sanitiser and we 've been thinking about how we can isolate areas of the salons , '' he says .
`` Most importantly we need to work on client confidence . ''
Removing the number of chairs in the salon will cut the number of customers , so he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compensate .
Mr Eaton thinks they will be able to offer nail and waxing treatments safely , but not massages or facials .
He also expects customers will be opting for more natural and less high-maintenance looks , with few requests for colour , which will all have an effect on the salon 's revenue .
Optometrists have similar concerns about how to work with their patients safely .
Bhavin Shah of Central Vision Opticians is planning to do part of his consultations by phone and use new digital imaging equipment so examinations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company is going to space out appointment times to give them opportunity to disinfect surfaces , equipment and spectacle frames that have been touched by customers .
Nonetheless he says `` I believe it will take at least a year to start to become even close to some normality and another year to rebuild the thriving business that we used to have just one month ago . ''
He is also worried about when - and if - customers will decide to come back .
`` So far , if we can keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming through , we 'll be able to manage our cash flow .
If there is a second wave of infections in the country and a new lockdown , I 'll have to hope that another round of government grants would carry us through . ''
Tamzen Isacsson , chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association , has been working with the Department for Business , Innovation and Skills on getting offices back to work after the lockdown .
She says that office-based companies will the last to open their doors , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She argues that home working will become more commonplace and in some cases will cause major shifts for firms .
Social distancing will mean that companies will lose large amounts of office space , as much as two thirds , and they will have to think differently about where their staff work .
But many firms are reporting problems with the mental health of their teams caused by self-isolation .
Ms Isacsson says : `` We should n't underestimate staff not wanting to go back to office and those who are very fearful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be carefully managed as people should not be put under pressure . ''
Not quite business as usual Some companies not on the lockdown list are already starting to go back to work .
Shower manufacturer Roman stopped work at the start of April as all of its customers closed .
It is now bringing in a quarter of its staff this week , to fulfil demand as the house builders also reopen their sites and need showers in their supply chains .
Managing director David Osborne says he 's expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lull until October .
Their high speed assembly lines makes social distancing on the factory floor straightforward , what 's more complicated is how their sales force interact with customers .

"So far, if we can keep at least half of our normal customers coming through, we'll be able to manage our cash flow. If there is a second wave of infections in the country and a new lockdown, I'll have to hope that another round of government grants would carry us through."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Michael Palin shares his hospital stories for NHS charity book

Monty Python legend Michael Palin is sharing his lighter moments in hospital as part of a new book to raise @ @ @ @ @ Speaking to the BBC 's Andrew Marr , Palin said humour on hospital wards helps @ @ @ @ @ but also staff - get through the long days .
Well known for his travel @ @ @ @ @ lockdown we may have to 'travel less and travel better ' and if that means @ @ @ @ @ country - that is n't such a bad thing .
You can watch The Andrew @ @ @ @

Monty Python legend Michael Palin is sharing his lighter moments in hospital as part of a new book to raise money for NHS charities.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr, Palin said humour on hospital wards helps not only the patients - but also staff - get through the long days.
Well known for his travel documentaries, Palin said post lockdown we may have to 'travel less and travel better' and if that means exploring more of our own country - that isn't such a bad thing.
You can watch The Andrew Marr Show here.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: How Covid-19 can hit the kidneys

‘ This virus took me and threw me to the floor' Primary school teacher Brian Mepham says it 's `` @ @ @ @ @ people you love '' after recovering from coronavirus .

New figures show more than 2,000 patients admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 suffered kidney failure.
They all needed specialist renal treatment to keep them alive.
Maurice, who spent 20 days on a ventilator in intensive care, spoke to the BBC.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--The Papers: PM's 'hospital hell' and schools 'go back in June'

The Sun on Sunday 's interview with the prime minister yields details about his personal experience of coronavirus in intensive care .
The paper says Boris Johnson `` welled up '' as he relived an `` extraordinary two weeks '' that saw him nearly lose his own life before recovering in time to see the birth of his son .
Its political editor , David Wooding , writes that the PM 's `` brush with death '' has left him a changed man .
Describing him as `` Boris 2.0 '' , he says Mr Johnson `` no longer feels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' but that it remains to be seen whether the whole experience becomes a `` galvanising moment '' that makes him a great prime minister .
Several papers carry the first image of the prime minister and Carrie Symonds ' son , Wilfred , on their front pages .
`` Yes , he has the hair , '' notes the Sunday Telegraph .
The paper 's associate editor , Camilla Tominey , praises the couple for releasing the image on Instagram .
It `` dispensed with some of the stuffiness '' that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bygone era , she says .
Get news from the BBC in your inbox , each weekday morning There 's a keen focus on how Mr Johnson is going to set about easing the country from the current lockdown .
The Sunday Express claims to reveal the `` government 's blueprint '' for doing just that .
It says workplaces will be advised to have floor markings , restrictions on the number of people allowed in lifts , and frequent deep cleans .
Specific guidance for shops , outdoor sites , salons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published shortly as the government seeks a `` national consensus '' to get people back to work safely .
But the Express says theatres , sports grounds and pubs will have to wait to get going again until the risk of a second wave of infections has diminished .
The Mail on Sunday says ministers are preparing to lift restrictions on outdoor activities first , because of scientific advice that transmission of Covid-19 is `` substantially lower '' outside than it is indoors .
If the infection rate continues to fall , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than once a day , drive to the countryside for walks and sit outside for picnics , albeit only with fellow members of their household and two metres away from others , the Mail says .
But it adds the move would `` end the sight of police officers moving on solitary sunbathers in parks '' .
The Sunday Times believes the UK 's future will resemble a `` marathon game of whack-a-mole '' - with restrictions eased very gradually and areas that subsequently become virus hotspots `` hit hard '' .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government : `` Give us a date '' .
The `` constraints on personal and economic freedom '' have taken a considerable toll and a `` great opening-up '' plan is needed this week , it says .
It suggests ministers should be aiming for 18 May - the date rail operators have reportedly been told to return to 80 % of normal service - to get more than half of people back working as normal .
The Sunday Telegraph says Mr Johnson is expected to address the nation on the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as 1 June .
One Whitehall source is quoted saying the measure is `` crucial ... to get things moving '' and for early years development .
`` Do n't open restaurants , schools or stadiums , '' is the message from British people , according to the Observer .
A survey conducted for the newspaper between Wednesday and Friday last week suggests fewer than one person in five believes the criteria has been met to send pupils back to the classroom , hold sporting events in front of crowds or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychologist from King 's College London , Prof Dame Til Wykes , is quoted by the paper as saying the public will feel `` anxious and risk averse '' once restrictions are eased because they have been used to `` strict behavioural advice '' for weeks .
It quotes a Whitehall source saying the government is working on how to build up public confidence that it is safe to go to work .
One option being considered is for Boris Johnson to appear publicly with a scarf around his mouth , the paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential easing of lockdown restrictions , the Sunday Mirror 's editorial points out there will be `` little respite '' for healthcare staff on the frontline .
Doctors and nurses have just more `` blood , sweat and tears to look forward to '' , the paper notes .
Shopping at Harrods is set to return for `` the favoured few , '' according to the Mail on Sunday .
Described by the department store as `` remote clientelling '' , staff are reportedly set to come back on shift to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaging for the shop 's `` most prized customers '' .
The Mail suggests the next phase would see Harrods open up departments to customers where it was easy to practise social distancing .
`` Strewth mate , '' is the Sun on Sunday 's headline on a proposal to complete the Premier League football season in Perth , western Australia .
The paper says the option would require fewer coronavirus tests and remove the need for police to control neutral venues in England .
The paper reckons it 's a `` ripper @ @ @ @ @

Specific guidance for shops, outdoor sites, salons and factories is reportedly set to be published shortly as the government seeks a "national consensus" to get people back to work safely. But the Express says theatres, sports grounds and pubs will have to wait to get going again until the risk of a second wave of infections has diminished.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Daughters' tribute to Sheffield healthcare worker

A healthcare worker described as the `` perfect dad and granddad '' has died after contracting Covid-19 .
Ray Lever , 62 , a domestic services assistant at Sheffield 's Northern General Hospital , was a `` credit to the NHS '' , the trust said .
His daughters paid tribute to medical staff who fulfilled his last request to have a drink of his favourite beer .
His daughters Rachel , Kathryn and Rebecca said : `` Our world will never be the same again . ''
They added : `` Dad was the perfect dad and granddad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him if it meant helping someone else .
`` He was always cheerful and loved a laugh and joke . ''
They thanked Sheffield Hospitals for `` unbelievable care '' , which included providing protective clothing to ensure one of them could be with him at the end of his life .
His daughters added : `` They even fulfilled his last request to have a drink of beer by sending someone out to get a bottle of his favourite tipple .
`` A small gesture but it demonstrated the kindness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Mr Lever , who died on Friday , had previously worked in patient areas but was moved to non-patient areas early on in the outbreak , according to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ( STHNHSFT ) .
Andrew Jones , STHNHSFT facilities director , said : `` He was always showing pictures of his family and particularly his grandchildren who he doted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyone who had the privilege to know and work with Ray . ''
Trust chief executive Kirsten Major said : `` His family can be justifiably proud that he made a difference to people 's lives each and every single day . ''
She added : `` He was a genuinely , lovely , kind man who put others before himself in his personal and work life and we were very fortunate to have someone like him as part of our team . ''
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook , Twitter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .

She added: "He was a genuinely, lovely, kind man who put others before himself in his personal and work life and we were very fortunate to have someone like him as part of our team."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Staggered work times considered when lockdown eases

Businesses could be asked to stagger employees ' working hours when the coronavirus lockdown eases , the transport secretary has said .
Grant Shapps told the BBC that the move would help to prevent crowded commutes .
He said more buses and trains would run but he hoped to encourage cycling and walking .
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said a `` staged '' easing would mean measures could be reintroduced to tackle `` localised '' outbreaks .
The government is expected to announce the next steps in its response to the epidemic next Sunday .
Speaking at the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said consultations are under way with employers , trade unions and public health experts to ensure that people return to work in the `` safest possible '' environments and understand official guidance .
• What travel may look like ahead of a virus vaccine • Lockdown breakers : 'We got a dirty look and packed it in' Business groups and unions received draft government guidelines on Sunday , and have until 21:00 BST to respond .
Mr Gove stressed that the UK 's approach would not be `` flicking a switch and going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` A phased approach is one which allows us to monitor the impact that those changes are having on public health , '' he said .
`` And - if necessary , in a specific and localised way - that means that we can pause or even reintroduce those restrictions that might be required in order to deal with localised outbreaks . ''
It comes as businesses called for a `` carefully phased '' plan for lifting lockdown restrictions to be set out immediately , as many say they need weeks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last month that social-distancing of any kind would be `` extraordinarily difficult '' to manage and police , and could reduce the capacity of an individual train by between 70 % and 90 % .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Earlier , Mr Shapps told the Andrew Marr Show that the government was looking at a range of options for people to travel to work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` massive expansion '' in interest in `` active travel '' such as cycling or walking .
`` There are a series of different things that we can do including staggering work times , working with businesses and organisations to do that , '' he said .
He also said he was working with train companies and unions on maintaining social distancing rules on platforms and at bus stops .
Hand sanitiser could also be made available and one-way systems for passengers introduced , he told Sky News ' Sophy Ridge on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK stands at 28,446 - an increase of 315 on Saturday 's figure .
The government said only 76,500 coronavirus tests were carried out on Saturday , falling short of its daily target of 100,000 .
Mr Gove said the dip in the number of tests was due to the fact that fewer people were at work over the weekend .
Dr Elisabetta Groppelli , a lecturer in global health at St George 's , University of London , said that 76,500 was still a `` fantastic number '' and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries with similar population sizes .
`` What is important is that the UK has steadily increased the number of tests that have been performed , '' she said .
Mr Shapps said with testing now available to all staff and residents , infection rates were now falling in care homes as well as other parts of the community .
• Is social distancing on trains here to stay ?
For that reason , he said he hoped the country would avoid care homes transmitting the virus back into the rest of society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died if testing capacity had been greater sooner , he said : `` Yes .
If we had had 100,000 test capacity before this thing started and the knowledge that we now have retrospectively I 'm sure many things could be different . ''
But he said that although the UK has a big pharmaceuticals industry , it does not have a testing industry like Germany 's , making it more difficult to increase test numbers .
Defending the decision not to close airports or introduce screening for international arrivals earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was that a `` complete lockdown of the borders '' might only have delayed the virus by three to five days .
`` We had millions of people abroad who needed to return home , '' he said .
But he said that now the infection rate was falling to a more manageable level , plans for screening and quarantining people travelling to the UK from abroad were `` a serious point under consideration '' .
Chief executive Tim Alderslade said it would be a `` blunt tool measure '' that would `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the world when other countries are opening up their economies '' and the UK should be leading the way on common standards such as health screening , which would enable the sector to restart .
• Boris Johnson has revealed in an interview with the Sun on Sunday that `` contingency plans '' were made for his death while he was seriously ill in hospital with coronavirus • A survey by the British Medical Association suggests that almost half of doctors in England might be buying their own protective equipment or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app aimed at limiting a second wave of coronavirus will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week , Mr Shapps said • Wales ' first minister said schools would need about three weeks to prepare for a phased return and mentioned June as an example of when some children could go back • A group of experts put together by former government chief scientific adviser Sir David King will look at how the lockdown could be eased .
Sir David said the group was designed to act as an alternative to @ @ @ @ @

Chief executive Tim Alderslade said it would be a "blunt tool measure" that would "completely shut off the UK from the rest of the world when other countries are opening up their economies" and the UK should be leading the way on common standards such as health screening, which would enable the sector to restart.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Contact tracing app to be trialled on Isle of Wight

An NHS app aimed at limiting a second wave of coronavirus will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week .
It will be the first place where the new contact-tracing app will be used before being rolled out more widely this month , said transport secretary Grant Shapps .
The government will be asking the whole of the UK to download it , he told the BBC 's Andrew Marr Show .
`` That will help with a lot of the automation of the tracking . ''
Epidemiologists advising the NHS say that about 56 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of smartphone owners - need to use the app in order to suppress the virus .
However , they add that the spread of the disease could still be slowed even if the take-up is lower .
At the government 's daily briefing , Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said he hoped more than half of the 80,000 households on the Isle of Wight would download the app .
`` When it comes to contract tracing , the more people who download the app developed by the NHS the better , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribution that all of us can make to helping to keep our communities and neighbours safe is a very powerful incentive . ''
Prof Stephen Powis , the medical director for NHS England , said the app was one component of a number that will be needed to try to bring the virus under control .
`` It will need to sit aside other measures that we have become used to , such as if you have the virus you will need stay at home for a period . ''
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shortcomings in the government 's plan as not everybody has a smartphone and there are issues around privacy and security .
`` There are people for whom location services on their mobile devices are turned off for particular safety reasons , '' he told Sophy Ridge on Sky News .
The government has also promised to recruit 18,000 people to do manual contact tracing , as it pursues a track-and-trace strategy with a view to lifting the lockdown .
Using Bluetooth , the free smartphone app will track when its users come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tracing process .
If a user develops coronavirus symptoms , the disclosure could trigger an anonymous alert to users with whom they have recently had contact , enabling those people to go into quarantine or be tested .
It has previously been suggested that areas that trial the contact-tracing app could also have some lockdown measures eased early .
Contact tracing has been credited with helping to lift restrictions in other countries , when combined with other measures .
The app has raised concerns about the government and third parties being given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"When it comes to contract tracing, the more people who download the app developed by the NHS the better," he said. "Knowing this is a contribution that all of us can make to helping to keep our communities and neighbours safe is a very powerful incentive."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: UK hospital trials new treatment drug

A new drug developed by UK scientists to treat Covid-19 patients is being trialled at University Hospital Southampton .
Developed by UK bio-tech company Synairgen , it uses a protein called interferon beta , which our bodies produce when we get a viral infection .
Initial results from the trial are expected by the end of June .
There are currently few effective treatments for coronavirus with doctors relying on patients ' immune systems .
What is the new drug ?
Interferon beta is part of the body 's first line of defence against viruses , warning it to expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief executive of Southampton-based Synairgen .
He says the coronavirus seems to suppress its production as part of its strategy to evade our immune systems .
The drug is a special formulation of interferon beta delivered directly to the airways when the virus is there , with the hope that a direct dose of the protein will trigger a stronger anti-viral response even in patients whose immune systems are already weak .
• When will we have a drug to combat coronavirus ?
• How long does it take to recover ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body Interferon beta is commonly used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis .
Synairgen has already shown its preparation can stimulate the immune response in the lungs of patients with asthma and other chronic lung conditions .
But we can only know whether it works for Covid-19 patients after it has been through a rigorous clinical trial .
Kaye Flitney is one of 75 people who have been enrolled in the clinical trial , filmed exclusively by BBC Panorama .
It requires Covid-19 patients , like her , to inhale the drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the lungs .
Kaye , 67 , struggles to sit up in her hospital bed and coughs as she puts the dispenser to her lips .
She says when she first found out she had coronavirus her first thought was not for her own health .
`` I was frightened because my husband has heart failure .
It would kill him . ''
The 67-year-old , who was taken to hospital due to difficulty with her breathing , said taking the drug has n't caused her much discomfort .
`` You do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're finished .
It 's not so bad .
I could see myself taking it at home . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
How does the trial work ?
The 75 volunteers involved so far have been recruited from some 10 hospitals around Britain .
Half get the drug , half get what is known as a placebo - an inactive substance .
No-one involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been given which treatment until the trial is over .
`` If you know it 's a drug , your mind might have a bias , '' explains Sandy Aitken , the nurse administering the drug .
The hope is , it will show the patients getting the drug do much better than those that do n't , says Professor Tom Wilkinson , of the University of Southampton .
Synairgen 's drug trial is the template for a new fast-track clinical scheme that has just been set up by the government .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is designed to accelerate the development of new drugs for patients with Covid-19 .
The first phase of the programme involves six other drugs .
More than 100 treatments are being explored worldwide and a drug called remdesivir , which was developed as an Ebola treatment , has generated particular excitement .
US officials have claimed there is `` clear-cut '' evidence it helps people recover from the coronavirus .
How far away could the UK treatment be ?
Initial results from the interferon beta trial are expected by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does show promise , it will face further scrutiny before it can be used routinely on patients .
That could take months , although the government has said it will work as fast as possible .
If deemed effective , the drug and the nebulisers used to deliver it would then need to be manufactured in huge quantities .
Mr Marsden says he is already talking to suppliers around the world about whether it will be possible to start producing the drug as soon as the clinical trial is over .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely available until the end the year .
You can watch Panorama : When Will We Be Safe ?
at 19:30 BST on Monday , on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer .

Kaye, 67, struggles to sit up in her hospital bed and coughs as she puts the dispenser to her lips. She says when she first found out she had coronavirus her first thought was not for her own health.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Unions warn over move to increase rail services

Rail union leaders have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson with `` severe concerns '' over plans to increase train services .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC on Sunday that more buses and trains would run as part of a staggered approach to easing the lockdown .
The letter says it is `` completely unacceptable '' to put passengers and rail staff at risk .
The government says workers should still stay at home where possible .
`` Our advice is clear that the best way to protect our NHS and save lives is to stay home if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( DfT ) spokesperson said .
`` Our rail system has been carrying key workers and freight around the country since the current restrictions were put in place , however we must ensure the network is ready to respond to a change in demand when these are lifted . ''
Union bosses say there is currently no plan to be able to increase services while also maintaining social distancing .
`` We therefore call on the government and train operators to work with us in establishing where there is a real demand to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists , how it can be delivered safely , '' says the letter , signed by the general secretaries of Aslef , the RMT and the TSSA - Mick Whelan , Mick Cash and Manuel Cortes .
Last month , one rail boss told the BBC that social-distancing of any kind would be `` extraordinarily difficult '' to manage and police .
Another said it could reduce the capacity of an individual train by between 70 % and 90 % .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
At the moment about half of normal train services in the UK are running so that essential journeys are possible .
The DfT said in response it understood that talks would be needed to work out how to increase services .
`` Reinstating services is a complex and time-consuming task , which is why we are in talks with the rail industry and unions on this issue , '' it said .
`` In the meantime it is imperative people continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and only use public transport if you have to . ''
Earlier , Mr Shapps told the Andrew Marr Show that the government was looking at a range of options for people to travel to work , including encouraging what he described as a `` massive expansion '' in interest in `` active travel '' such as cycling or walking .
`` There are a series of different things that we can do including staggering work times , working with businesses and organisations to do that , '' he said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies and unions on maintaining social distancing rules on platforms and at bus stops .
Eurostar passengers will be required to cover their faces from Monday or risk being refused travel .
The rail company said the rule for travellers to wear face coverings was in line with guidelines from the French and Belgian governments .
Any type of face covering is allowed `` as long as it effectively covers your nose and mouth '' , a statement said .

"We therefore call on the government and train operators to work with us in establishing where there is a real demand to increase services and, where that demand exists, how it can be delivered safely," says the letter, signed by the general secretaries of Aslef, the RMT and the TSSA - Mick Whelan, Mick Cash and Manuel Cortes.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Online students face full tuition fees

University students in England will still have to pay full tuition fees even if their courses are taught online in the autumn , the government has said .
`` We do n't believe students will be entitled to reimbursement if the quality is there , '' universities minister Michelle Donelan said .
But the university sector 's request for a £2bn bail-out has been rejected .
Universities had warned of financial danger from a reduction in overseas students because of the coronavirus .
University campuses have been closed by the pandemic - and there is uncertainty for students whether there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whether courses will be taught fully or partly online .
The universities minister said no formal decision had been taken on the next academic year , but if courses are taught online and `` students are really getting the quality , and they 're getting a course which is fit for purpose '' , they would not get a discount on fees .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their overheads and their expenses during this time , and it 's no fault of their own , '' she said .
If students were not getting adequate teaching online , she said there were processes for them to complain .
As well as weighing up whether they want to study online , applicants will be waiting for information on how a reopened campus might function , in terms of social distancing , social activities and student accommodation .
The National Union of Students has highlighted how difficult it can be for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some struggling with a lack of computer equipment and broadband access and not having enough space in which to work .
A study from the Sutton Trust suggests some applicants are reconsidering their university plans , in a year group that has already seen exams cancelled and replaced by estimated grades .
There is a `` huge degree of worry and uncertainty , '' says trust founder , Sir Peter Lampl .
There are particular financial worries for universities about an expected drop in overseas students , who pay a higher level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for at least £2bn in emergency funding , saying that otherwise some institutions could go bust .
Ms Donelan has announced measures to stabilise university finances , but without the extra cash requested .
To help with cash flow , £2.6bn of tuition fee income and £100m of research funding will be brought forward and universities will be able to access the Treasury 's support for businesses disrupted by coronavirus , worth another £700m .
`` Should providers require further support the government will continue to review their financial circumstances , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be more flexibility in the clearing system , which matches applicants to empty places after results are issued .
Universities have been worried about `` volatility '' in applications and that some universities could be so short of recruits they would be financially unviable .
• Students angry at having to pay rent on empty rooms • Universities warn of going bust without emergency funds To stop such fluctuations , there will be controls on student numbers , designed to stop some universities adding many more students , while others could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher education watchdog , the Office for Students , said it would impose financial penalties on universities using pressure selling tactics `` to increase student intake beyond normal levels '' .
The Russell Group of leading universities said the `` big remaining challenge '' was funding for research .
`` Universities face significant shortfalls in international students and other sources of income that we need to underpin vital work that otherwise goes under-funded , '' said chief executive , Tim Bradshaw .
Universities UK said the stability measures were a recognition of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` recovery of the economy and communities '' in the wake of the pandemic and the `` severe financial storm '' it had created .
The universities body has said that in the forthcoming weeks current students and applicants will be given a clearer idea of arrangements for opening in the autumn .

The universities minister said no formal decision had been taken on the next academic year, but if courses are taught online and "students are really getting the quality, and they're getting a course which is fit for purpose", they would not get a discount on fees.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Upminster shooting: Two arrests for aggravated burglary

Two teenage boys have been arrested after an 11-year-old boy was shot in east London .
The child sustained potentially @ @ @ @ @ in Upminster on Friday and his father , in his 40s , suffered cuts to @ @ @ @ @ the homeowner opened the door to a person claiming to be a delivery driver , @ @ @ @ @ suspects '' forced their way inside .
The two boys , aged 16 and 18 @ @ @ @ @ of aggravated burglary .
Two firearms were recovered from the address in Kerry Drive , @ @ @ @ @ the boy and his father were taken to hospital , and the child remains in @ @ @ @ @ .
His injuries are `` not life-threatening but may be life-changing '' , according to @ @ @ @ @ it was not known whether his father 's injuries were caused by a firearm or @ @ @ @ @ is said not to be life-threatening or life-changing .

Both the boy and his father were taken to hospital, and the child remains in a serious but stable condition.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Piers Morgan off Good Morning Britain to await test result

Piers Morgan has said he will temporarily step back from presenting Good Morning Britain after developing a `` mild '' coronavirus symptom .
The ITV programme will be hosted by Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid , as Mr Morgan awaits test results on Monday , he said .
In a tweet , Mr Morgan said he was acting `` on medical advice , and out of an abundance of caution '' .
Last week , he was cleared of breaching TV watchdog Ofcom 's rules after 4,000 complaints about his questioning .
During an animated interview , he asked care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health workers and care workers who had died from the illness .
She accused him of `` shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your questions '' and `` attempting to score points '' .
Mr Morgan defended his approach , saying it was not as `` uncomfortable '' as the conditions for the carers on the front line of the coronavirus crisis .
The presenter has also attracted positive publicity recently , as one of the famous faces taking on the 2.6 challenge , which replaced the London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Treasury rolls out small business 'bounce back' loans

Businesses will be able to apply for loans of up to £50,000 from Monday in a scheme backed by the Treasury .
The new scheme , dubbed bounce back loans , will offer smaller amounts than the existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) .
But the Treasury says they will be quicker and easier to apply for and will have a 2.5 % interest rate .
The form will be seven questions long and the loan is 100 % guaranteed by the government .
The CBILS provide loans of up to £5m for companies with a turnover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme loans have come in for criticism by some businesses , especially smaller ones .
Banks can often apply their usual lending criteria , which makes it harder for smaller enterprises to qualify while locked down .
On Thursday , the number of CBILs agreed was 8,638 , down from more than 9,000 the previous week .
Of 52,807 loans applied for , almost 28,000 have still to be approved .
Banks have been criticised for delays in handing out loans but have blamed the heavy workload , the need to complete the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
The government insists these new loans will be easier to apply for .
While the loans are aimed at smaller businesses , with £2,000 to £50,000 on offer , there is no limit of business size which can apply .
Sole traders and limited companies affected by the coronavirus lockdown may apply .
When will the money be available ?
Businesses should apply through the bank with which they have a business account .
The Treasury says funds should then be available `` within days '' .
Borrowers answer seven questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What are the terms ?
The government will cover the cost of fees and interest for 12 months and businesses get this year as a holiday .
All lenders will charge a flat rate of 2.5 % and the loans will last up to six years .
You can still apply for one of these new loans .
You can switch your CBILS application to a bounce back one if it was under £50,000 .
Or , if you already have a CBIL you can convert it , the Treasury says .

"This new scheme looks much more suitable for us. We've got enough money to cover our costs for a while," she said. "We had hoped sales over the next few months would generate enough money to launch a new website and a mail order business."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Testing falls short of 100,000 daily target

Testing for coronavirus fell sharply on Saturday , days after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government had met its daily target of 100,000 tests .
In the past 24 hours , ministers said just under 76,500 tests were carried out , a drop of more than a third on the 122,000 tests carried out on 30 April .
NHS England medical director Prof Stephen Powis acknowledged that testing had taken a `` little bit of a dip '' .
On Friday Mr Hancock described the 100,000 target as `` audacious '' .
The health secretary set the goal on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 10,000 tests a day .
Announcing the government 's success , Mr Hancock suggested the 100,000 goal had a `` galvanising effect '' , adding that the bolstered testing capacity would `` help us to unlock the lockdown '' .
However , the government came in for criticism for including 40,000 tests which were dispatched by post and may not have been taken .
Since then , the number of tests has dropped by about 40,000 , according to official statistics .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on self-isolation and exercise • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
At the Downing Street briefing on Sunday , cabinet minister Michael Gove praised Mr Hancock 's `` amazing achievement '' in reaching his target .
Mr Gove said the massive increase in tests had been an example of what `` the public sector and the private sector working together under a very strong political leadership can achieve '' .
He said the dip in the number of tests was due to the fact that fewer people were at work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hard work of so many across the NHS , Public Health England , our pharmaceutical sector and our universities , we have tested over 200,000 key workers and their families , allowing those who do n't have the virus to go back to work and protecting those who do . ''
Also speaking at the briefing , Prof Powis said testing capacity `` had ramped up very quickly '' .
`` We are now at a very high level of testing , over 100,000 - a little bit of a dip in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that testing capacity will continue to increase , '' he said .
Dr Elisabetta Groppelli , a lecturer in global health at St George 's , University of London , said 76,500 was still a `` fantastic number '' and that the UK was `` becoming comparable '' to countries with similar population sizes .
`` What is important is that the UK has steadily increased the number of tests that have been performed , '' she said .
Testing was expanded in England last week to millions more people with symptoms including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home to work , and people living with someone in these groups .
In Scotland , First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced earlier that testing would be expanded to over-65s with symptoms and also all those in care homes where there had been an outbreak .
And on Friday , the Welsh government extended coronavirus testing to people in care homes even if they are not showing symptoms of the disease .
The UK government is hoping the enhanced testing regime , alongside contact tracing and continued social distancing , can stay on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of infection .
A `` comprehensive '' road map on a gradual easing of lockdown measures is expected at the end of next week .
A total of 28,446 people have now died with coronavirus across the UK .
That number includes deaths in hospitals , care homes and the community , but only for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 .

"Thanks to the hard work of so many across the NHS, Public Health England, our pharmaceutical sector and our universities, we have tested over 200,000 key workers and their families, allowing those who don't have the virus to go back to work and protecting those who do."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Saleem Butt killing: Man charged with Batley murder

A man has been charged with murdering a 61-year-old who was tied up and killed in his own home .
@ @ @ @ @ died from severe head and neck injuries at Hyrstlands Road , Batley , between 22 @ @ @ @ @ said he had been `` severely beaten in what was clearly an horrific sustained attack @ @ @ @ @ 42 , of Southgate , Huddersfield , is due to appear before Leeds magistrates on @ @ @ @ @ A man a woman who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have been @ @ @ @ @ Ch Insp Tony Nicholson previously said the attack was `` an awful offence committed against @ @ @ @ @ and very gentle by those who knew him '' .
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .

A 46-year-old man from the Dewsbury Moor area was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of murder. He is being held in custody, police said.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Harry Dunn: Brother tells Boris Johnson 'we deserve truth'

Harry Dunn 's twin brother has told Prime Minister Boris Johnson `` we have had enough of the lies '' .
Niall Dunn , 20 , said he and his parents have been `` going through hell '' since his brother 's death in a crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire .
He wrote to Mr Johnson , saying he was `` sick and tired '' of seeing his parents suffer and urged him to intervene .
Suspect Anne Sacoolas left for the United States after the crash in August , citing diplomatic immunity .
Niall said he was confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly commented on his letter - would respond personally .
`` I 've had enough of the lies , the deceit .
They think they can just walk all over us and get away with it , '' he said .
`` My parents have been and are going through hell .
So am I .
We all are .
`` I just do n't understand how they think they can get away with it . ''
In the letter , he urged Mr Johnson to take up the case as his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mess '' of the case and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had `` lost control of this scandal '' .
Part of his letter reads : `` It was bad enough losing Harry .
But watching [ my parents ] go through this torture is just awful .
It 's just cruel . ''
`` Please get involved in our case ... We are not the dirt at the bottom of the government 's shoes .
We are UK citizens and we have the right to know the truth . ''
Mrs Sacoolas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based at RAF Croughton , was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December .
However , an extradition request for her to return to the UK , submitted by the Home Office , was rejected by US authorities in January .

"Please get involved in our case... We are not the dirt at the bottom of the government's shoes. We are UK citizens and we have the right to know the truth."


bbcuk--2020-05-04--Sir Cameron Mackintosh: 'Theatres could be closed until next year'

Theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh has said that West End and Broadway theatres are unlikely to be able to stage musicals until early next year .
Speaking to Michael Ball on BBC Radio 2 , Sir Cameron said it 's impossible for theatres to plan for the future while social distancing is in place .
`` We want the audience to feel safe , and we want the actors to feel safe . ''
Theatres in many countries have been closed indefinitely in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
In the UK , all West End performances have been cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How live theatre is running despite lockdown Sir Cameron is a lauded theatre owner and theatrical producer , who has staged musicals including Cats , Les Miserables and the Phantom of the Opera .
His comments follow calls from other theatre professionals for urgent government bailouts , in order to save the industry from collapse .
What did Sir Cameron say ?
Sir Cameron told Michael Ball it looked as if the West End and Broadway `` are going to be the last to go back '' .
`` For major producers both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is until social distancing does n't exist anymore , we ca n't even plan to reopen , '' he said .
`` We will be back , but we need time to get back .
If we do n't hear [ about lockdowns lifting ] in a few weeks , I think the truth is we wo n't be able to come back until early next year .
I think that 's quite clear .
`` And the longer it is until we can say social distancing is gone , the longer it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back . ''
Last month , playwright James Graham said an `` aggressive government bailout '' would be needed to save UK theatres from the impact of the pandemic .
In several months ' time , `` all of the reserves will have dried up and there will be no money left '' , Graham warned .
`` I do n't even know if there will be a theatre or film industry that we can recognise when this is all over . ''

"We will be back, but we need time to get back. If we don't hear [about lockdowns lifting] in a few weeks, I think the truth is we won't be able to come back until early next year. I think that's quite clear.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Social distancing and coronavirus: The science behind the two-metre rule

Ministers are reported to be considering whether to relax the two-metre rule for social distancing in workplaces .
It could make it easier for people to get back to jobs where it is not always feasible to stay apart .
But a key question is whether that would be safe , given how little is known about how far the virus can spread .
A new report by the government 's scientific advisers is due to be released shortly assessing latest research into the risks .
What does science say about the rule ?
There is a wide variety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple guide is that the closer you are to someone who is infected , the greater the risk .
The World Health Organization says that a distance of one metre is safe , while others suggest 1.5m or 1.8m with the UK opting for two metres .
A simple guide is that the closer you are to someone who is infected , the greater the risk .
Also the longer you spend in close proximity with them , the more your chances of catching the virus go up .
That 's why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is essential , `` this should be kept to 15 minutes or less wherever possible '' .
And one leading scientist says that timing can really make a difference .
`` Spending two seconds one metre apart is as dangerous as spending one minute two metres apart , '' he says .
Where does the two-metre rule come from ?
Surprisingly , it can be traced back to research in the 1930s .
Back then scientists established that droplets of liquid released by coughs or sneezes will either evaporate quickly in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground .
And the majority of those droplets , they reckoned , would land within one to two metres .
That is why it is said the greatest risks come from having the virus coughed at you from close range or from touching a surface - and then your face - that someone coughed onto .
How conclusive is that ?
Many scientists regard close proximity and surface contacts as the main routes of transmission .
But some researchers are now concerned that the coronavirus is not just carried in droplets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transported through the air in tiny particles called aerosols .
If that is the case , then the flow of wind from someone 's breath could carry the virus over longer distances .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • PUBLIC TRANSPORT : Is it safe to travel ?
• WILL I GET PAID IF I CA N'T WORK ?
The rules on sick pay , wages and time off • TESTING : Can I get tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) used high-speed cameras to capture a cough projecting miniature specks as far as six metres .
She is critical of the current safety guidance : `` Having this false idea of safety at one to two metres - that somehow drops will just fall to the ground at that distance - is not based on what we have quantified , measured and visualised directly . ''
And a study carried out at hospitals in China , which found traces of coronavirus in Covid-19 wards and intensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a better safe distance .
But for the US Centres for Disease Control , the role of aerosols in spreading the virus is `` currently uncertain '' .
And what 's still not established is whether any virus that spreads further than two metres can still be infectious .
Is it safer to be outdoors than indoors ?
There is wide agreement that the answer to that is yes .
That is why construction is typically among the first type of work to be allowed when lockdowns are eased .
To try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigated 110 cases of Covid-19 , following up the contacts of the people infected .
They estimated that the odds of the infection being passed on were nearly 19 times greater indoors than when outside in the fresh air .
Their study concluded : `` It is plausible that closed environments contribute to secondary transmission of Covid-19 and promote superspreading events . ''
Why do n't we have definite answers ?
It is only a few months since the coronavirus emerged and in that short time scientists have learned a great deal about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to go and confirming exactly the right distance is one of the unanswered questions .
It will take careful studies of how the virus can be carried , and how viable it remains , which will all take time .
Amid the uncertainty , many governments are urging - or ordering - their citizens to cover their faces .
In Spain , anyone using public transport from Monday will have to wear a mask , and the same applies in Germany .
The logic is that where keeping apart is not realistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - then even a homemade covering can limit how much virus is released from an infected person 's mouth or nose .
The Scottish government is among those to recommend that in confined spaces , a non-medical mask should be worn .
The UK government is still considering what to advise the British public as a whole .
Health professionals have long worried that medical and care staff might lose out if supplies are snapped up and that masks would give people a false sense of security leading them to give up other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson has suggested that masks might help slow the spread of the disease and may give people confidence to resume their jobs , presumably in workplaces where two-metre separation is not an option .

Coronavirus: Could social distancing of less than two metres work? Published 23 June 2020
Image source, Getty Images
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that, from 4 July, a "one metre plus" rule will be introduced in England when it is not possible to stay 2m apart.
He announced the change as part of a series of moves to further ease lockdown.
The distance could be lowered with "mitigations", so people can be closer without a higher risk of transmission, he said.
A review into the 2m (over 6ft) social distancing rule was first announced by Mr Johnson last month.
The government had been under pressure from MP and the hospitality industry to allow people to be closer together, to help businesses after they reopen.
Sage, the government's committee of scientific advisers say current evidence suggests being 1m (just over 3ft) apart carries between two and 10 times the risk of being 2m apart.
What does the science say?
The simple answer is that the nearer you are to someone who is infected, the greater the risk of catching the virus.
The World Health Organization recommends keeping a distance of at least 1m.
Some countries have adopted this guidance, often because they also insist on people wearing masks.
But there are also regional variations inside countries.
For example, Germany's general guidance is to keep a distance of 1.5m, but it is more in some parts of the country
Spain also observes 1.5m, but in Catalonia, for example, this can be reduced at open-air events if masks are worn
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, One and two metre social distancing - what does it look like?
What can be done to mitigate risk at 1m?
Scientists advising the British government say every workplace or building should carry out its own assessment because the risks at each location will vary.
And they highlight several strategies for people who are within 2m of each other.
The most obvious is to minimise the length of time spent together.
Plastic screens can block the movement of infected droplets, as can face coverings.
In a growing number of countries, including all parts of the UK, people are being encouraged to wear face coverings on public transport and "enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible".
Other changes in the workplace include moving to shift patterns to reduce the numbers in an office or factory at any one time.
Seating can be arranged to minimise how many people are face to face - which is judged to carry more risk than being side by side.
Making sure that legal requirements on ventilation are met with the correct supply of fresh air to dilute and disperse any virus - and frequent cleaning of surfaces including tables, desks, chairs and handles also becomes more important the busier a place gets.
What's the latest research?
In a study published in medical journal The Lancet, scientists looked at research into how coronavirus spreads.
They concluded that keeping at least 1m from other people could be the best way to limit the chances of infection.
The risk of being infected is estimated to be 13% within 1m, but only 3% beyond that distance.
And the study says that for every extra metre of distance up to 3m, the risk is further reduced by half.
Where does the distancing rule come from?
It can be traced back to research in the 1930s.
Scientists found that droplets of liquid released by coughs or sneezes evaporate quickly in the air or fall to the ground.
Most of those droplets, they reckoned, would land within 1-2m.
That is why it is said the greatest risks come from having the virus coughed at you from close range, or from touching a surface that someone coughed onto, and then touching your face.
Image source, Getty Images
Can the virus travel further in other ways?
Proximity and surface contact are considered the main transmission routes.
But some researchers fear coronavirus can also be transported through the air in tiny particles called aerosols.
If true, then the flow of wind from someone's breath could carry the virus over longer distances.
Prof Lydia Bourouiba from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) used high-speed cameras to capture a cough projecting miniature specks as far as 6m.
And a study carried out in Chinese hospitals which found traces of coronavirus in Covid-19 wards and intensive care units, estimated that 4m was a better safe distance.
But the US Centers for Disease Control says the role of aerosols in spreading the virus is "currently uncertain".
And what's still not known is whether any virus that spreads further than 2m can still be infectious.
It's not just about distance
Timing is also key. The longer you spend in close proximity with an infected person, the bigger the risk.
Scientists advising the UK government say spending six seconds at a distance of 1m from someone is the same as spending one minute at a distance of 2m.
Being exposed to someone coughing is riskier. Being 2m away from a cough carries the same risk as someone talking to you for 30 minutes at the same distance.
The quality of ventilation also matters
A crowded stuffy room is bound to increase the chances of infection.
The direction of air flow is also crucial - whether a draught or fan behind someone infected is pushing any virus they breathe out towards you.
And a good supply of fresh air can make all the difference.
In a restaurant in China, where nine people caught the virus, the air conditioning units mounted on the walls were blamed for recirculating the air rather than refreshing it.
Japanese researchers investigated 110 cases of Covid-19 and found the odds of infection were nearly 19 times greater indoors than outside.
Image source, Reuters
Why don't we have definite answers?
It is only a few months since the coronavirus emerged, and in that short time scientists have learned a great deal about it.
But we still don't know how much virus can be released by people who are infected and how much someone has to receive to catch the disease.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Could Wales' schools return begin in June?

Schools would need about three weeks to prepare for a phased return , according to First Minister Mark Drakeford .
In an interview on The Andrew Marr Show , Mr Drakeford mentioned June as an example of when some children could go back to school .
But this has caused confusion , according to a teaching union .
NAHT Cymru said : `` At no point has June been mentioned in talks between Welsh Government and trade unions . ''
The Welsh Government also clarified that no decision had been made on when schools would partially reopen .
Some schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although others have been open for the children of key workers and vulnerable pupils .
On Tuesday , Education Minister Kirsty Williams said there would be `` a phased approach in allowing more pupils to return to school '' .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WHAT WE DO N'T KNOW How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Speaking on the Marr programme , the first minister gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are thinking about ways in which we can bring young people with special educational needs back in to education .
`` We 're thinking about particular year groups , Year 6 children in primary schools , children going up to secondary school this September . ''
`` We have a bilingual education system here in Wales .
`` Children who are learning through the medium of Welsh and who may not have Welsh spoken at home , do we need to get those children back in to education sooner ?
`` Those are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on at the moment , '' he added .
• 'Three years of GCSEs has come down to nothing' On the issue of when schools in Wales might partially reopen , Mr Drakeford said : `` Our advice from the trades unions and from the local education authorities is that we will need three weeks as a minimum from the point that we decide to do that to when schools can reopen , so we are talking about the beginning of June there . ''
Speaking to BBC Wales after the programme , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an example : `` If we make the decision to return next week then the return to school will be in June . ''
But he stressed that no decision had been made .
In an interview on the BBC 's Politics Wales programme , Counsel General Jeremy Miles said : `` We 're not saying it 's the start of June .
`` We 're saying there needs to be a lead in time so that schools and local education authorities can adjust to that . ''
Teaching union NAHT Cymru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June been mentioned in talks '' between Welsh Government and unions .
`` Speculation on dates is unhelpful , '' it said .
It went on to say that the `` profession must be at the heart of reopening decisions - the health and wellbeing of staff and pupils is paramount '' .
Eithne Hughes , director of the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru , said : `` We would caution against fixing a date in stone at this stage , and to make sure the conditions are right first of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan towards a proposed date , but we would urge that it is clearly stated from the outset that it is moveable if more time is needed .
`` We welcome the thought and care that the Welsh Government is putting into the reopening of schools .
`` And we agree that the only realistic approach to doing this while sustaining social distancing is through a phased approach , in which certain groups of children are brought in first , '' she added .

On the issue of when schools in Wales might partially reopen, Mr Drakeford said: "Our advice from the trades unions and from the local education authorities is that we will need three weeks as a minimum from the point that we decide to do that to when schools can reopen, so we are talking about the beginning of June there."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus lockdown: How does it affect babies?

Having a baby or young child can be difficult at the best of times , but with parents now in @ @ @ @ @ challenging time .
Educational psychologist Dr Abigail Wright , from the British Psychological Society , @ @ @ @ @ a child 's development is their parents .
Dr Wright , who is also the @ @ @ @ @ and three-year-old , offers her advice and we hear from two parents who share their @ @ @ @ @ babies in isolation .

Having a baby or young child can be difficult at the best of times, but with parents now in lockdown it is a particularly challenging time.
Educational psychologist Dr Abigail Wright, from the British Psychological Society, says the key thing for a child's development is their parents.
Dr Wright, who is also the mother of a four-month-old baby and three-year-old, offers her advice and we hear from two parents who share their experiences of caring for their babies in isolation.
Video journalist: Alex Dackevych


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Black hair: Dealing with my curls during lockdown

Kezia from Birmingham , is struggling to find the products she needs for her hair during lockdown .
High street @ @ @ @ @ usually get advice and products to keep her hair moisturised , are currently closed .
@ @ @ @ @ from Dominique , who has been running online hair tutorials during the coronavirus crisis .

Kezia from Birmingham, is struggling to find the products she needs for her hair during lockdown.
High street hair shops, where she would usually get advice and products to keep her moisturised, are currently closed.
She asked for some tips from Dominique, who has been running online hair tutorials during the coronavirus crisis.
Video journalist: Simone Stewart


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Newspaper headlines: Coronavirus vaccine race and post-lockdown workplace rules

The Daily Telegraph offers an alternative excerpt from Mr Johnson 's speech , saying he will describe the race to @ @ @ @ @ the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes '' .
He will urge countries not @ @ @ @ @ competition , the paper says , by insisting : `` We must work together to @ @ @ @ @ all our people . ''

"Year 6 first in phased return to school," is the headline as the Guardian reports that Mr Johnson will announce next Sunday that children in the final year of primary education will be the first to be allowed back into schools in England.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: 'Significant' outbreak at Skye care home

A `` significant '' number of residents and staff at a care home on Skye have tested positive with Covid-19 .
The outbreak was first detected at Home Farm independent care home in Portree last week .
Local MP Ian Blackford said 28 of the home 's 34 residents and 26 of its 52 staff had tested positive .
In a joint statement , NHS Highland and Highland Council said there was no evidence the virus had spread further into the community .
They have not released details on the number of cases but urged islanders to adhere to government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Half of Scots coronavirus deaths now in care homes Mr Blackford , SNP MP representing Skye and Lochaber , said having such an outbreak on Skye was `` shocking and worrying '' .
He pointed out that there were no ventilators on Skye and that the nearest one was 112 miles away in Inverness .
He said : `` Enhanced case monitoring has been put in place , public health guidance has been reinforced and steps have been taken to ensure the family members of those affected are fully supported .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all residents and staff members , the availability of testing at the NHS hospital in Portree will be complemented by a mobile testing unit being established at Broadford from today , run by the 3 Scots battalion of the Army .
`` Critically , contact tracing is going to be an important part of our capability in dealing with the outbreak of Covid-19 , this will be a vital part of NHS Highland 's response . ''
He said people could help protect NHS and care workers by `` taking all necessary '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the area , said : `` Having such an outbreak as we have on Skye is shocking and worrying .
`` By supporting the NHS and our care staff , by protecting all our frontline workers , and by taking all necessary hygiene steps , we can contain the spread of this virus and do our bit to save lives - not just on Skye but in every community . ''
Every member of staff at Home Farm who has tested positive has been asked to self-isolate for seven days .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolate for 14 days .
NHS Highland and Highland Council said Home Farm had put in place extra staffing , and the health board had made available a support team .
Dr Ken Oates , director of public health at NHS Highland , said : `` There is no evidence at this stage that Covid infection has spread further into the community .
`` The measures that have been put in place will support us in ensuring , as best as we can , that the outbreak is contained as possible . ''

"By supporting the NHS and our care staff, by protecting all our frontline workers, and by taking all necessary hygiene steps, we can contain the spread of this virus and do our bit to save lives - not just on Skye but in every community."


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: NI Executive to discuss lockdown easing

The executive will meet this week to discuss `` a co-ordinated plan '' on how coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland can be eased , according to the communities minister .
Deirdre Hargey said `` a phased approach '' would be needed and `` we wo n't just go back to how we were seven weeks ago '' .
On Friday , the Irish government announced a timeframe for relaxing restrictions , beginning 18 May .
Ms Hargey said Stormont had to provide `` a clear public health message '' .
She told BBC Radio Ulster 's Sunday with Steven Rainey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday , Wednesday and likely Thursday this week as part of intensive work evaluating lockdown restrictions .
`` We have to have that done within the legislation by 9 May , so we 'd always said that we would start to review it this week .
`` So I think that will start to materialise and be made public within this week or the week after . ''
She added that the lockdown will not be completely lifted and that there will still be a `` level of social distancing '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do n't get a second wave or a second peak of this virus . ''
Another spike in cases , she said , would do damage `` that we probably could n't come back from '' .
Ministers ' motivation , she added , `` is to keep the death toll down as much as we can '' .
On Sunday , Department of Health figures recorded five further Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland bringing the total up to 381 .
In separate figures , statistics agency Nisra has recorded 393 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes wider data based on the community and care homes .
Across the UK , there have been 28,131 reported deaths and 1,286 people have died in the Republic of Ireland .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced on Friday that his government would enact a five-stage approach to `` reopen the country in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This would culminate in a final phase by 10 August whereby larger social gatherings would be allowed , schools could begin to reopen and all workers could return to the workplace .
He said , however , that moving through each stage would be dependent on the success of the previous one .
Ms Hargey said she would like to see more of an all-island approach , but similar stages will be needed in Northern Ireland also to `` minimise any future risk '' .
`` Even if we start to open up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at things like ensuring that for workers , ahead of opening up their places of work , there 's a safe environment in which they can go in and operate within the workplace .
`` So obviously the employers have responsibilities that they have to do .
`` That ca n't be done overnight , that needs to be planned .
`` The guidance needs to be given out , so we are hopeful , we are going to move through this next week . ''

"Even if we start to open up the economy again, we need to look at things like ensuring that for workers, ahead of opening up their places of work, there's a safe environment in which they can go in and operate within the workplace.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--Coronavirus: Call to set up 'Covid-free' cancer hubs quicker

Wales is lagging behind England when it comes to setting up hubs free of Covid-19 to treat cancer patients , a charity has warned .
Cancer Research UK in Wales said the response to treating patients in a safe environment had been too slow .
It has been announced in England that thousands of cancer patients will be seen at new centres designed to be clear of coronavirus .
The Welsh Government said decisions on services should be decided locally .
The new centres in England have been set up in 21 areas for urgent surgery during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some independent hospitals to continue certain procedures in a Covid-free environment .
Andy Glyde , Cancer Research UK in Wales ' public affairs manager , said patients were `` worried and anxious '' .
`` Wales is lagging behind England when it comes to setting up Covid-19 free hubs to treat cancer patients in Wales , '' he said .
`` The response to treating cancer patients in Wales in a safe environment has been slower than I would like . ''
• Courts must resume to deal with 'backlog of cases' Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun designating specific hospitals to ensure cancer treatment and other urgent primary care can resume safely .
But according to Wales ' clinical cancer care director , Prof Tom Crosby , only about a quarter of urgent referrals are being dealt with .
Patients and staff needed to be sure services were safe and access was consistent and equal , he said .
Prof Crosby said : `` We need to specifically designate hospitals to look at cancers and these probably need to be separate to those hospitals looking after patients with acute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these are slightly different hospitals than we 're used to using and potentially provided on a regional basis . ''
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said it was finalising plans in a number of designated non-Covid-19 areas .
It said the private Spire Cardiff hospital , a wing at Llandough hospital , and a section of University Hospital Wales will be used .
Cwm Taf health board said The Vale private hospital , in Pontyclun , will be supporting it to continue providing urgent procedures .
All health boards have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Plaid Cymru 's health spokesman , Rhun ap Iorwerth AM , said : `` Just as the effort to re-design the NHS overnight for Covid-19 was a huge effort , there has to be a huge effort now in bringing back those primary and regular elements of NHS provision . ''
'It 's just progressively getting worse now' Cancer patient Robert Wright is waiting to have a cancerous tumour in his bladder removed .
The 74-year-old was meant to have an operation last month .
That was postponed until August due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tumour is growing , which is creating an increasing amount of discomfort .
Mr Wright , from Llanfachraith , Anglesey , is concerned the longer he 's left waiting , the greater the chance the cancer could spread .
`` It 's just progressively getting worse now , '' he said .
`` Each time I sit down , you can feel the situation there and you ca n't take it out of your mind .
`` You can try and do things to keep your mind busy , but it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
`` Realistically I do n't see an outcome as quickly as what they say .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : What is the UK 's 'delay ' phase ?
• TRAVEL PLANS : What are your rights ?

Prof Crosby said: "We need to specifically designate hospitals to look at cancers and these probably need to be separate to those hospitals looking after patients with acute Covid illnesses.


bbcuk--2020-05-03--David Gomoh stabbing: Two teens charged with murder

Two teenagers have been charged with murdering an NHS worker who was stabbed to death days after his father died @ @ @ @ @ , 24 , was attacked after leaving his home in Newham , east London , @ @ @ @ @ Jalloh , 18 , of Stratford , Newham , and a boy , 16 , @ @ @ @ @ are charged with murder .
They are also charged with conspiracy to cause GBH and @ @ @ @ @ Thames Magistrates ' Court on Monday .
Police said a post-mortem examination found Southbank University @ @ @ @ @ in the chest and abdomen .
Mr Gomoh , whose mother is a nurse , @ @ @ @ @ to supply staff with essential equipment .
The Met said he was killed just days @ @ @ @ @ father , who died after contracting Covid-19 .

They are also charged with conspiracy to cause GBH and are due to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.